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Biomedical subjects

I Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to I Gupta.

117 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in pregnant mothers and its perinatal transmission.

1000 pairs of maternal and cord blood samples were collected simultaneously at the time of delivery. 23 (2.3%) of the maternal samples were positive for HBsAg by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HBeAg was detected in 11 (47%) of the 23 HBsAg positive mothers and anti-HBeAg was detected in another 5 samples. HBsAg and HBeAg were detected in 7 (30%) of the 23 cord blood samples from HBsAg-positive mothers, and anti-HBeAg was detected in one of these samples. At follow-up (6-18 months), antigenaemia had persisted in 17 (85%) of the 20 HBsAg-positive mothers and in 9 (45%) of 20 babies born to HBsAg-positive mothers. Seven of the 10 babies (70%) born to mothers positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg had persistent HBsAg in their blood, in contrast to 2 of the 10 babies (20%) born to mothers positive for HBsAg only. However, none of these mothers or their babies were found to have anti-HBeAg at follow-up. We conclude that the presence of HBeAg in mothers' blood enhances vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus infection to their babies.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multiple vascular profiles in the umbilical cord; an indication of maternal smoking habits and intrauterine distress.

A total of 644 umbilical cords were examined over a period of 5 years, 40 cords (6.2 per cent) showed more than the normal three vascular profiles on cross-section. Both the umbilical arteries and vein showed multiple profiles, although arterial profiles were far more commonly multiple. Clinical data were correlated with the histological findings. Heavy smoking was significantly associated with multiple vascular profiles. Maternal age and rhesus group were not significantly related however, but there was some association with primiparity. Fetuses with a gestational age between 33 and 38 weeks were significantly more likely to have multiple vessels than either fetuses beyond 38 weeks or less than 33 weeks gestation. Multiple channels also occurred significantly more frequently in still birth than in live birth cords. We suggest that multiple vascular profiles represent a response to intrauterine hypoxia. Inflammation of the cord was associated with multiple channels and suggests linkage between these two indications of fetal distress.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Establishment of prenatal diagnosis for beta-thalassaemia: a step towards its control in a developing country.

Beta-thalassaemia constitutes a major health burden on the limited health resources of India and prenatal diagnosis is seen as an important preventive measure to reduce the burden of the disease. Prenatal diagnosis has been offered to 99 women in 112 pregnancies by fetal DNA analysis, using a PCR-based Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) for the common and uncommon Indian mutations. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for the beta-globin gene was used when the mutation remained unidentified in one of the parents or to complement the ARMS result. In 53 cases the fetus tested had beta-thalassaemia trait (betaTT) (47.3%), 22 were normal (19.6%) and 31 had thalassaemia major (27.6%). In five cases (4.5%), a definitive report could not be given due to maternal contamination. In one case (0.9%), there was a misdiagnosis. Pitfalls encountered in the diagnosis were maternal contamination and occasional non-amplification of the primers. Having established a regional centre for the prenatal diagnosis for thalassaemia, the screening programmes will be enlarged both to identify carriers and prevent the birth of further homozygous children, even during the first pregnancy.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunologic aspects of leprosy with special reference to the circulating antispermatozoal antibodies.

Macroscopic sperm agglutination in gelatin, sperm immobilization and tanned red cell hemagglutination tests could detect antispermatozoal antibodies respectively in 41%, 37%, and 23% sera of 35 leprosy patients, including 5 female cases. Interestingly, all of the above tests were positive in one serum from a female patient with borderline leprosy. Sperm antibodies were detected in both lepromatous and tuberculoid forms of leprosy by the above three technics and no significant difference was observed in their incidences among the two groups of patients. A three dimensional correlation was observed in 57% of 42 tests performed with 14 sera. Head-to head type of agglutination was the predominant feature of spermagglutination observed in the sera of these patients. In the control group, only 1 of 50 normal fertile male showed a positive spermagglutination test. Not one in this group showed positive sperm immobilization and tanned red cell hemagglutination tests. Antihuman globulin consumption test, presumably a very sensitive test, was also employed to demonstrate sperm-specific antibodies in the sera of these leprosy patients. These antibodies were adsorbed on the surface of the normal donor's spermatozoa when the latter were incubated with the patients sera. Antispermatozoal antibody could be demonstrated by this sensitive technic in the sera of two female patients. Moreover, antihuman globulin was consumed more intensely by the antispermatozoal antibodies present in the sera in the lepromatous than in the tuberculoid and borderline leprosy groups.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increasing toxoplasma seropositivity in women with bad obstetric history and in newborns.

BACKGROUND: Most infants with congenital Toxoplasma gondii infection have no symptoms at birth but few may develop retinal diseases or neurological abnormalities later in life. The presence of significant titres of antitoxoplasma antibodies in women in the reproductive age group indirectly indicates that Toxoplasma gondii is the cause of such congenital abnormalities and also sporadic abortions in some women. METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of antitoxoplasma antibodies detected by indirect haemagglutination assay, in women with bad obstetrical history and in newborns clinically suspected of congenital toxoplasmosis during 1981-91. RESULTS: A significant increase in seropositivity in women and newborns was seen during 1989-91 as compared to 1981-88. More seropositive patients were recorded between April-June and October-December. However, no significant correlation could be observed between rising incidence of seropositivity and the seasonal distribution or age of women. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological studies are required to ascertain the reason for the increasing trend of toxoplasma seropositivity and to suggest appropriate control strategies as it is possible to prevent congenital infection.

Adolescent↗