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Biomedical subjects

K Balasubramaniam

Publications and source records attributed to K Balasubramaniam.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Measuring Newtonian viscosity from the phase of reflected ultrasonic shear wave.

In this paper, an acoustic shear impedance model is employed to obtain a relation between the viscosity of a Newtonian fluid and phase characteristics of ultrasonic shear wave reflection from a solid-fluid interface. The phase and magnitude of the reflection coefficient can be decoupled in this model. The decoupling allows an independent relation between the acoustic shear impedance (viscosity-density product) and phase of the reflection coefficient. The model was experimentally verified for different fluid-solid combinations. Comparison of the results with the commonly used absolute reflection coefficient method demonstrates that phase measurement provides improved measurements.

Aluminum↗

World Bank.

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Developing Countries↗

Early diagnosis of cytomegalovirus hepatitis in liver transplant recipients: role of immunostaining, DNA hybridization and culture of hepatic tissue.

Immunostaining techniques that use a monoclonal antibody against an early cytomegalovirus antigen or a polyclonal antibody, in situ DNA hybridization and inoculation of cell cultures for the detection of cytomegalovirus from liver biopsy specimens were studied in 20 liver transplant patients with cytomegalovirus hepatitis, as defined by histological criteria. A total of 108 liver biopsy specimens from 20 patients with a diagnosis of cytomegalovirus hepatitis (obtained per protocol at 7, 21, 90, and 180 days or whenever liver dysfunction occurred), which had previously been examined histologically and in cell culture, were again studied by recutting the liver tissue for histological examination, DNA hybridization and immunostaining with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies to cytomegalovirus. In 5 of 20 patients, the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus hepatitis could have been made earlier (mean = 9.6 days) by immunostaining with a monoclonal antibody. Of 47 biopsy specimens with cytomegalovirus inclusion bodies, the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic procedures were immunostaining with monoclonal antibody (84% and 90%) and polyclonal antibody (72% and 97%), in situ DNA hybridization (72% and 100%) and cell culture detection (52% and 95%), respectively. Immunostaining with a monoclonal antibody against an early CMV antigen frequently detected cytomegalovirus infection in the liver allograft earlier than identification of typical histological inclusion bodies. DNA in situ hybridization was less sensitive than other techniques but highly specific; cytomegalovirus cell culture lacked sensitivity compared with the other procedures.

Adult↗

Diminished survival in asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis. A prospective study.

Data from 73 asymptomatic patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were analyzed to determine clinical course and long-term survival. Of these, 44 entered a D-penicillamine treatment trial; 29 qualified but chose not to participate. Median follow-up was 7.6 yr (range, 2.8-12.2 yr). Liver biopsy at the initial visit showed advanced disease (fibrosis, cirrhosis) in 61% of the patients. During prospective clinical follow-up, which was available for 37 of the 44 study patients, one or more symptoms of liver disease developed in 33 (89%); esophageal varices were found in 15 (41%), and histologic progression to cirrhosis was found in 20 (67%) of the 30 precirrhotic patients. Significant (p less than 0.01) biochemical progression was reflected by a decrease in mean serum albumin concentrations and an increase in mean serum bilirubin levels in 32 patients followed for 4-6 yr. Survival data were available for all 73 patients; 17 died (11 secondary to liver failure), and 1 underwent liver transplantation. These patients had a 4-fold increase in mortality rate (p less than 0.001) compared with the U.S. population matched for age, race, and sex.

Adult↗

India in AD 2001.

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Health Planning↗

Primary sclerosing cholangitis with normal serum alkaline phosphatase activity.

We report 12 cases of primary sclerosing cholangitis (confirmed by cholangiography) in which the serum alkaline phosphatase activity was normal. The enzyme activity remained normal during follow-up in 7 cases and fluctuated in 5 cases (it returned to normal in 4). The presence of advanced histologic stage (fibrosis/cirrhosis) with marked cholangiographic changes in 4 patients establishes that cirrhotic-stage primary sclerosing cholangitis can occur without a concomitant increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Therefore, primary sclerosing cholangitis may exist in an occult state without symptoms or increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Our findings suggest that primary sclerosing cholangitis may be more prevalent than realized, especially in patients who have inflammatory bowel disease. A normal value for serum alkaline phosphatase activity should not preclude further investigation for primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease when symptoms or signs suggest liver disease.

Adult↗

An attempt to identify amino groups of Naja naja siamensis neurotoxin that interact with acetylcholine receptor by a comparison of their reactivities in free and receptor-bound neurotoxin.

An attempt to identify amino groups of Naja naja siamensis neurotoxin that interact with acetylcholine receptor by a comparison of their reactivities in free and receptor bound neurotoxin. Toxicon 21, 219-229, 1983--Free Naja naja siamensis neurotoxin was acetylated with non-radioactive and acetylcholine receptor-bound neurotoxin with radioactive acetic anhydride. The toxins from the two experiments were combined and the monoacetyl derivatives isolated by chromatography on Bio-Rex 70. The yields were determined by spectrophotometry and scintillation counting. To localize the acetyl group, a radioactive monoacetyl toxin was oxidized with performic acid, digested with trypsin and a peptide with the radioactive acetyl group was isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 and high voltage paper electrophoresis. Amino acid analysis indicated from which part of the molecule the peptide was derived. In free toxin, Ac-Lys 23 and 49 account for 56% and 12%, respectively, of the monoacetyl derivatives, and in bound toxin for only 25% and 8%. Lys 49 is as reactive as Ile 1 in free toxin and 50-150% more reactive than Lys 69, 35 and 12, but it has the lowest reactivity in bound toxin, being only about half as reactive as any of these three residues. The large decrease in reactivity of Lys 23 and 49 indicates that they interact with the receptor. The proximity of the receptor makes them less accessible to acetic anhydride. The reactivities are compared to that of Lys 12, which in free toxin has the least reactive amino group. The yield of Ac-Lys 23 relative to that of Ac-Lys 12 drops from 12.4 to 1.5, or by 88%, Lys 49, 2.6 and 0.5 (81%); Ac-Ile 1, 2.6 and 1.1 (58%); Ac-Lys 69, 1.9 and 0.9 (53%); Ac-Lys 35, 1.8 and 1.0 (44%). The drop in reactivity relative to that of Lys 12 indicates a real decrease, provided that Lys 12 does not become more reactive in bound toxin. This is unlikely, since sequence homology shows that Lys 12 corresponds to Lys 15 of the neurotoxin oxiana II of Naja naja oxiana, a residue known to interact with the receptor. Sequence homology also supports the conclusion that the drop in the reactivity of Ile 1 has the same cause. The receptor-binding region of the siamensis toxin is rather large, containing the residue Lys 23 and 49, Ile 1 and probably also Lys 69 and 35.

Acetylation↗

Impairment of cognitive function associated with hydroxyamylobarbitone accumulation in patients with renal insufficiency.

1. Sodium amylobarbitone was given by intravenous infusion to six patients with chronic renal insufficiency and to six healthy volunteer subjects. Serum concentrations of amylobarbitone and its major metabolite hydroxyamylobarbitone were measured by a gas chromatograph method.2. The serum concentrations of amylobarbitone were consistently lower in the patient group than in the control group and the concentration half time was shorter (0.10>P>0.05); the 48 h urinary excretion of hydroxyamylobarbitone was reduced (P<0.001) and the serum concentrations of hydroxyamylobarbitone were consistently raised.3. When two patients were given 200 mg of sodium amylobarbitone daily over five consecutive days the serum concentration of hydroxyamylobarbitone rose steadily to a maximum of about 8 mug/ml. The serum concentrations in two healthy control subjects did not exceed 0.5 mug/ml.4. Three parallel tests of cognitive function (Otis matched test forms A, B and C) were given to 16 control patients and to 12 amylobarbitone-treated patients. Significant impairment of performance was observed in test B (P<0.001) at a time when amylobarbitone only could be detected in the patients' serum, and in test C (P<0.001) when amylobarbitone concentrations were very low (0.52+/-0.08 mug/ml+/-SEM) but hydroxyamylobarbitone concentrations were still high (3.30+/-1.23, mug/ml+/-SEM).5. There was a strong (r=-0.71) and significant (P<0.01) negative correlation between the performance in test C and the serum concentration of hydroxyamylobarbitone. It is concluded that hydroxyamylobarbitone has cerebral depressant effects in man.

Adult↗

The kinetics of amylobarbitone metabolism in healthy men and women.

1. Sodium amylobarbitone (3.54 mg/kg) was given by intravenous injection to seven healthy men and nine healthy women who were not receiving other drugs. Serum amylobarbitone and urine hydroxyamylobarbitone concentrations were measured by gas-liquid chromatography. There was no significant difference between the groups either in the serum amylobarbitone concentration/time curves or in the urinary excretion of hydroxyamylobarbitone.2. The serum amylobarbitone concentration decayed over 48 h as a double exponential function of time; the first exponential component had a mean half-time of 0.6 h (males 0.56 +/- 0.06 h, females 0.62 +/- 0.08 h, +/- S.E.) and the second exponential component had a mean half time of 21 h (males 22.7 +/- 1.6 h, females 20.0 +/- 1.0 h, +/- S.E.).3. The urinary excretion of hydroxyamylobarbitone over 48 h accounted for 34% of the dose (males 33.8 +/- 3.2%, females 35.2 +/- 3.0%, +/- S.E.). One male and two female subjects excreted hydroxyamylobarbitone partly as a conjugate which was readily hydrolysed in acid.4. An elimination constant (k(el)) derived from the serum concentration/time curve by the application of a two compartment model was approximately proportional to beta (h(-1)), the rate constant of the second exponential component. There was a positive correlation (r=0.78, P<0.001) between beta and the mean rate of urinary excretion of hydroxyamylobarbitone during the 24 to 48 h period.

Adult↗

Addition of enemas to oral lavage preparation for colonoscopy is not necessary.

To evaluate whether the addition of enemas to oral electrolyte lavage is helpful for colonoscopic preparation, we conducted a prospective, randomized, observer-blinded trial to compare oral lavage plus enemas with oral lavage alone. The quality of preparation, mucosal visualization, and the volume of retained colonic fluid did not differ between the two groups. Twenty-two percent of the patients in the group who received oral lavage plus enemas compared with 12% of the patients in the group that only received oral lavage stated that they would refuse to repeat the preparation for future colonoscopic examination. Seventeen percent of the patients in the group that received oral lavage plus enemas demonstrated anorectal trauma or inflammation compared with only 5% in the group that received oral lavage alone (p = 0.09). These results indicate that the addition of enemas to oral lavage preparation for colonoscopic evaluation cannot be routinely recommended. However, enemas may be considered on an individual basis in the occasional patient unable to consume the complete oral lavage or in whom residual stool is found during colonoscopic evaluation after oral lavage preparation.

Colonoscopy↗