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Biomedical subjects

J Biswas

Publications and source records attributed to J Biswas.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Ocular and systemic lesions in children with HIV.

The spectrum of ocular lesions in children with HIV infection is different from that seen in adults. Ocular lesions in pediatric AIDS patients have not been studied in India. We analyzed the clinical profile, demographic characteristics, ocular and systemic lesions in children with AIDS seen in a referral eye institute in India. The clinical profile and demographic features were studied and complete ocular examination was done. Systemic findings were evaluated at an AIDS care center and recorded in a precoded proforma. Out of the 218 cases of HIV infection seen at our hospital between December 1993 and October 1999, 12 (5.50%) were below 15 years of age. Seven (58.33%) were males and 5 (41.66%) were females with the mean age of 6.5 years and median age of 6.2 years. Vertical transmission was the most common mode of infection (58.33%). Seven (58.33%) of these patients had systemic infection, the most common being pulmonary tuberculosis (42.85%). Ocular lesions were found in 6 (50%) patients. The most common ocular lesions were anterior uveitis and cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMV) (33%) followed by retinal detachment (16.66%) and vitreous hemorrhage (16.66%). High prevalence of ocular lesions in pediatric AIDS patients in India in a referral eye centre was observed. The most common lesions were anterior uveitis followed by CMV retinitis. The management in such cases was often challenging in a developing country like India.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Ultrasound biomicroscopy in the diagnosis and management of pars planitis caused by caterpillar hairs.

PURPOSE: To report the use of ultrasound biomicroscopy in the detection of caterpillar hairs in the pars plana in a patient with unilateral pars planitis. METHOD: Ultrasound biomicroscopic imaging of the anterior segment of the eye. RESULTS: Ultrasound biomicroscopy located a hair in the posterior chamber at the first visit and five more in the pars plana 1 month later. This finding was confirmed intraoperatively. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is useful in the diagnosis and management of unilateral pars planitis of uncertain cause.

Animals↗

Ocular lesions associated with HIV infection in India: a series of 100 consecutive patients evaluated at a referral center.

PURPOSE: To document the ocular disorders seen in patients known to be infected with human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus at a referral eye clinic in India. METHODS: The first 100 individuals known to be HIV-positive at a referral eye clinic between 1993 and 1998 were enrolled in a prospective study. They underwent complete ocular and systemic evaluation. RESULTS: Most of the patients (76%) were in the 20-to 40-year age group. Heterosexual exposure to commercial sex workers was the most common risk factor (70%) for HIV infection. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis (17%) and HIV retinopathy (15%) were the most common HIV-associated ophthalmic lesions. Pulmonary tuberculosis (67%) and oropharyngeal candidiasis (66%) were the most commonly associated systemic infections. Ocular involvement was most common in children who contracted the disease through perinatal transmission (66.7%) and in homosexual patients (60%). Ocular involvement was comparatively less common in patients who contracted the disease through blood transfusions (33%) or exposure to commercial sex workers (24.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the spectrum of ocular lesions associated with HIV infection in India is different from that seen elsewhere in the world. The prevalence of CMV retinitis and HIV retinopathy is lower in India, and there have been no cases of ocular Kaposi sarcoma. Adnexal infections, albeit rare, were seen in our series. The nonavailability and cost of therapy influenced the visual prognosis in these patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Hepatopulmonary syndrome in inferior vena cava obstruction responding to cavoplasty.

Reports show that hepatopulmonary syndrome mostly occurs in the setting of advanced hepatic dysfunction, with the associated vasoactive substance imbalance believed to be responsible for its pathogenesis. However, hepatopulmonary syndrome has also been reported in cases of mild hepatic dysfunction or noncirrhotic portal hypertension, indicating that portal hypertension also plays a part in the pathogenesis. Liver transplantation remains the only therapeutic option of proven benefit. We describe 2 cases of hepatopulmonary syndrome in the setting of inferior vena cava (suprahepatic) obstruction, but with minimal hepatic dysfunction. After balloon cavoplasty, 1 patient showed, in addition to improvement of the features of hepatic outflow obstruction, significant reduction of dyspnea, cyanosis, and hypoxemia with arterial blood gas normalization within 2 weeks and intrapulmonary shunt reversal within 8 weeks. This implies that hemodynamic alterations (such as portal hypertension) independently contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome in at least some of the cases. Therapies aimed at correcting these abnormal hemodynamics may be important in the treatment of this condition, especially when the hepatic functional status by itself does not warrant a liver transplant.

Adult↗

Postoperative Mycobacterium chelonae endophthalmitis after extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Mycobacterium chelonae after extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: The history and clinical presentation of a 66-year-old female patient, in whom a low-grade delayed-onset endophthalmitis and keratitis developed after extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation, is described. Microbiologic investigations of the scrapings of corneal infiltrate at the cataract incision site, aqueous humor and eviscerated material, and histopathologic study of eviscerated material and an enlarged cervical lymph node were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The clinical, histopathologic, and microbiologic findings in a case of low-grade delayed-onset endophthalmitis. RESULTS: Analysis of the direct smear of both the corneal infiltrate as well as the eviscerated material revealed acid-fast bacilli. M. chelonae was isolated from these specimens. Direct smear and culture of the aqueous humor were negative for bacteria (including mycobacteria) and fungus. Histopathologic examination of the eviscerated material showed a dense infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the uveal tissue, extensive necrosis and hemorrhage, and exudates with hemorrhage in the vitreous cavity. Histopathologic examination of the lymph node revealed granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis, but did not reveal acid-fast bacilli. CONCLUSIONS: M. chelonae, although infrequent, should be considered an etiologic agent of delayed-onset, postoperative endophthalmitis and early bacterial diagnosis should help in institution of appropriate therapy.

Abscess↗

Clinical and haemodynamic aspects of hepatopulmonary syndrome in Indian patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatopulmonary syndrome consists of the triad of hepatic dysfunction and/or portal hypertension, intrapulmonary vascular dilatation and hypoxaemia, in the absence of detectable primary cardiopulmonary diseases. In the present study, we examined the frequency of hepatopulmonary syndrome among Indian patients with cirrhosis, and studied clinical predictors and pulmonary haemodynamic alterations. METHODS: Forty-five patients with cirrhosis and no cardiopulmonary diseases were investigated by air-contrast echocardiography. Where patients were positive, arterial blood gas analysis was carried out. Positive contrast echocardiography with PO2 < 70 mmHg confirmed the diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome. Three cases with the syndrome and 24 without were assessed for haemodynamic status by hepatic and pulmonary catheterization. RESULTS: Four of 45 cases of cirrhosis (8.9%) had positive contrast echocardiographies, including three (6.7%) with hepatopulmonary syndrome and one 'subclinical' case (positive contrast echocardiography without hypoxaemia). Under haemodynamic study, the mean pulmonary arterial and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures appeared to be lower among those patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, the frequency of hepatopulmonary syndrome was relatively low (6.7%). Cyanosis was the only reliable clinical indicator, and there was no clear relationship with the severity of cirrhosis by Child's grading.

Adolescent↗

Conjunctival rhinosporidiosis associated with scleral melting and staphyloma formation: diagnosis and management.

PURPOSE: Although conjunctival rhinosporidiosis is endemic in India, associated scleral melting and staphyloma formation are quite rare. We report clinical features and management in three patients with this unusual presentation. METHODS: Retrospective review of case records of three patients with conjunctival rhinosporidiosis. RESULTS: Infection occurred in young, healthy adults and was localized to the forniceal conjunctiva in all patients. The affected conjunctiva had numerous grey-white spherules, but a polyp-like lesion was not present in any patient. Diagnosis was based on clinical features and examination of scrapings from the involved conjunctiva. Treatment was surgical, with excision of infected conjunctival tissues and staphyloma repair with homologous sclera or autogenous periosteum. Failure to recognize the conjunctival pathology in one patient resulted in recurrence of the staphyloma. CONCLUSION: Conjunctival rhinosporidiosis can be associated with scleral staphyloma in young, healthy, adults. Differentiating this entity from idiopathic scleral ectasia requires knowledge of the clinical features of conjunctival rhinosporidiosis and a high index of clinical suspicion.

Adolescent↗

Propranolol in primary and secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding among cirrhotics in India: a hemodynamic evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we attempted to complete the hemodynamic assessment of propranolol response in cirrhotics with esophageal varices at high risk of bleeding, in one sitting, so as to identify nonresponders at the earliest. Some noninvasive indicators of this response were also evaluated. METHODS: Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) was measured in 33 such cases (18 nonbleeders, 15 bleeders) before and 90 min after an oral dose of 80 mg propranolol, and reduction by > or =20% taken as responder. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (66.67%) responded (HVPG reduction > or =26%), whereas 11 (33.33%) did not (HVPG reduction < or =6%). Postdrug HVPG between responders and nonresponders showed a significant difference (p < 0.001). Neither baseline HVPG (p > 0.1), baseline CI (p = 0.665), nor baseline stroke volume index (p > 0.1) could predict responder status. Difference of HVPG reduction (percent) between bleeders (21.49 +/- 35.53) and nonbleeders (40.58 +/- 23.95) approached, but did not reach, statistical significance (p = 0.076). However, logistic regression showed this difference to be significant (p = 0.026). Age of responders was found to be significantly lower than that of nonresponders (p approximately equals 0.05). During a follow-up of 9-38 months, only one of 22 responders (on propranolol) had an episode of variceal bleed. None in whom HVPG fell to < or = 12 mm Hg bled. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that single-sitting hemodynamic assessment of acute response to high-dose oral propranolol clearly differentiates between responders and nonresponders. Moreover, it appears that prior history of variceal bleeding and old age negatively influences the effect of propranolol.

Administration, Oral↗

Polymerase chain reaction for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in epiretinal membrane in Eales' disease.

PURPOSE: Tuberculous etiology has been suggested in Eales' disease. Because epiretinal membrane (ERM) is formed on the inner surface of the retina in Eales' disease, it could be the most appropriate intraocular specimen for investigation. Therefore, a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), which detects MPB64 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on the archival specimens of ERM of well-documented Eales' and non-Eales' patients, was applied and the results compared. METHODS: nPCR technique was standardized, and the sensitivity and specificity of the primers were determined. nPCR technique was applied to tissue sections obtained from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of ERM from 23 patients with Eales' disease and 27 noninfective and non-Eales' disease patients as controls. RESULTS: nPCR technique was specific for M. tuberculosis genome and sensitive enough to detect 0.25 fg (corresponding to the presence of a single bacillus). Eleven (47.8%) ERM of 23 Eales' disease and 3 (11.1%) of 27 controls were positive for M. tuberculosis genome. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.001), indicating association of this bacterium with Eales' disease. CONCLUSIONS: The demonstration of the presence of M. tuberculosis DNA by nPCR technique in significant number of ERM of Eales' disease compared with the controls further emphasizes the probable role of this bacterium in the pathogenesis of this enigmatic clinical condition.

Antigens, Bacterial↗