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Biomedical subjects

K Gopal

Publications and source records attributed to K Gopal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Nurse-led central venous catheter service: Christie experience.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the success and complication rate of Nurse-led subclavian central venous catheter (CVC) insertion using the landmark technique. A prospective study was performed on all subclavian CVC insertion between 13/01/03 to 01/07/03. Data recorded included indication for catheter insertion, type of catheter, complications during the procedure and patient satisfaction. A total of 348 subclavian cuffed tunnelled catheters were inserted over the study period. The age group ranged from 31 years to 84 years with a mean age of 53 years. This included 192 women and 156 men. The majority of CVC insertions were through the right subclavian (79%) and were single lumen (76%). In total, complications were encountered in 48 patients (14%). These included misplaced tip in 29 (8%), arterial puncture in 16 (4%), pneumothorax in 3 (1%) and the procedure failed in 3 (1%). Of these multiple complications were seen in 3 (1%). No interventions were required for the pneumothoraces or for the arterial punctures. In conclusion, nurse-led subclavian CVC placements using the landmark technique are both safe and effective.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Cochlear implantation in postirradiated ears: outcomes and challenges.

OBJECTIVES: Radiotherapy to head and neck tumors can potentially damage the auditory pathways. This has relevance in cochlear implants and there is a need for clinical studies to confirm the feasibility of cochlear implantation in these patients. METHODS: The records of all patients who had received cochlear implants at our institution were reviewed in this retrospective study and those who had prior irradiation for head and neck tumors were further studied. Case controls consisted of comparable cochlear implant recipients who did not have prior radiotherapy. RESULTS: Four of 230 patients met the criteria for further study. They had received radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma 11 to 28 years ago and the postimplant follow-up period ranged from 9 to 46 months. The implanted ear of each patient had favorable preoperative promontory stimulation results. Postimplant, all patients were satisfied with their hearing outcomes and the improvement in speech discrimination scores was comparable to the controls. These cases also illustrated specific clinical concerns, including 1) radiation-induced endocrine dysfunction was common and, if overlooked, could result in increased anesthetic risks, and 2) irreversible eustachian tube dysfunction led to chronic middle ear problems, which complicated surgery; the use of modified surgical techniques overcame these difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: Deafened postirradiated patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were able to achieve good postimplant hearing outcomes comparable to those of nonirradiated patients. Should cochlear implantation be indicated in patients who have had prior radiation to the head and neck, specific preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative issues have to be addressed.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

MRI appearances of pelvic malakoplakia.

We report the MRI appearances in a patient with parametrial malakoplakia. The patient complained of pelvic pain and vaginal discharge. Physical examination revealed a "frozen" pelvis suggestive of malignancy. MRI showed bilateral parametrial "infiltration", but no overt primary pelvic tumour. The combination of these findings together with the inflammatory symptoms suggested an inflammatory condition. Malakoplakia was confirmed at resective biopsy.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2005

Efficiency of modified H2S test for detection of faecal contamination in water.

Faecal contamination is a major causative factor for incidence of water borne infectious diseases. Certain hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) producing enteric bacteria such as Salmonella sp. and Citrobacter sp., associated with coliforms, have been considered for rapid detection of recent faecal contamination in water. The basic H(2)S test medium, modified by adding 0.25 gm/L of L-cystine HCl, was examined for its efficiency with 90 water samples collected from 40 pipe supplies, 20 open wells, 15 hand pumps and 15 different surface water bodies (river, streams and ponds). Sterilized modified culture medium in glass vials was inoculated with 100 mL of each sample and incubated at 20, 25, 30, 35 and 44 degrees C for 18, 24, 42, 48, 66 and 72 h. Blackening of content in incubated vials was considered positive. For comparison, most probable number (MPN) of coliform and faecal coliform per 100 mL was also estimated in each sample by multiple tube fermentation (MTF) method. H(2)S positive result was exhibited by 78% of samples. Coliform (> 10) and faecal coliform/100 mL were also detected in 59% of samples. Maximum H(2)S positive results (100%) were found with well and surface water samples incubated at 30, 35 and 44 degrees C for 18 h. Coliform (> 10) and faecal coliform/100 mL were also detected in most of these samples. Pipe supplies (60%) and hand pumps (73%) also exhibited considerable H(2)S production. Coliforms and faecal coliforms were also found in significant number of these samples. Thus, the modified H(2)S test may prove a useful alternative indicator of faecal contamination for water quality surveillance and screening of large number of water samples in short duration, particularly during any outbreak of water borne disease among rural population.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed2005

Occurrence of antibiotic and metal resistance in bacteria from organs of river fish.

Bacterial populations in some organs, viz., liver, spleen, kidney, gill, and arborescent organ of the catfish Clarias batrachus were enumerated followed by determination of resistance for antibiotics and metals. The total viable counts in these organs, observed, were 2.24x10(4), 2.08x10(4), 1.44x10(4), 1.23x10(4), and 6.40x10(3) colony-forming units/mL, respectively. The random bacterial isolates from these fish organs showed resistance in decreasing order for colistin (98%), ampicillin (82%), gentamycin (34%), carbenicillin (28%), tetracyline (20%), streptomycin (12%), and ciprofloxacin (02%). Most of the isolates exhibited an increasing order of tolerance for the metals (microg/mL) copper (100), lead (200), manganese (400), cadmium (200), and chromium (50), with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from <50 to 1600 microg/mL. These observations indicate that the significant occurrence of bacterial population in organs of fish with high incidence of resistance for antibiotics and metals may pose risk to fish fauna and public health.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Hypertension and myocarditis in rabbits exposed to hexachlorocyclohexane and endosulfan.

Male albino rabbits were exposed to the organochlorinated pesticides hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and endosulfan (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, ip) twice a week for 12 mo. The mean body weight of the rabbits at 12 mo was lower than that of the controls. There was rise in blood pressure and heart rate. Electrocardiograms (ECG) in both the exposed groups showed increases in PR, QT and RR intervals. Extensive myocardial damage was recorded with marked degeneration of muscle fibers vacuolization and leucocytic infiltration. Adrenals had thickened capsules and hyperplasia of cortical cells. Both pesticides produced significant increases (p less than 0.001) of 11-hydroxycortisone at all time intervals. Hypertension and myocarditis occurred in rabbits exposed to HCH and endosulfan.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1989

Role of neurotransmitters in fenitrothion-induced aggressive behaviour in normal and lesioned rats.

Normal and brain-lesioned (amygdala, septal and nigral regions) rats exposed to fenitrothion (10 mg/kg) for 15 subsequent days showed elevated foot-shock fighting behaviour (septal and nigral lesioned rats). Treated animals failed to perform the rotorod test and showed decreased locomotor activity followed by convulsions. The brain-lesioned rats treated with 10 mg/kg fenitrothion showed a marked decrease in the level of norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT).

Aggression↗
PubMed1988

Effect of repeated exposure to lindane and cadmium on lindane metabolism in rats.

The effects of daily administration of cadmium and lindane for 35 days on the metabolism of lindane in rats were investigated. The results indicate that cadmium induces a significant inhibition of lindane metabolism, since the group dosed with lindane plus cadmium had a significantly higher concentration of lindane in plasma and tissues than the group dosed with lindane alone. The inhibition in the metabolic rate of lindane is associated with the cadmium-induced alterations in the disposition of essential trace elements, Zn, Cu and Fe, in the liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Endosulfan induced inhibition of 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine uptake in platelets.

Endosulfan, a chlorinated pesticide, is widely used to control various insect pests. Rats exposed to 1 mg and 3 mg endosulfan/kg for periods of 10, 30, and 60 days showed significant (P less than 0.05) inhibition of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake by platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in an ex vivo study. Rats treated with endosulfan (1 and 3 mg/kg) up to 60 days elucidated a marked inhibition of ADP-induced aggregatory responses of the platelets. Incubation of PRP with 10 microM and 100 microM endosulfan for 15 min at 37 degrees C also resulted in significant (P less than 0.05) inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro. The paper discusses the use of rat blood platelets as a model for the study of neuro- and cardiovascular toxicity of endosulfan.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Endosulfan and cholinergic (muscarinic) transmission: effect on electroencephalograms and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate in pigeon brain.

Single exposure of endosulfan (5 mg/kg) to pigeons (Columbia livia) caused neuronal hyperexcitability as evidenced by spike discharges of 200-500 microV in the electroencephalograms (EEG) from the telencephalon and hyperstriatum, but there was no effect on the ectostriatal area. Cholinergic (muscarinic) receptor binding study using [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) as a specific ligand indicated that a single exposure to 5 mg/kg of endosulfan caused a significant increase (P less than 0.05) in [3H]QNB binding to the striatal membrane. Behavioral study further indicated that a single dose of 200 micrograms/kg of oxotremorine produced a significant induction in the tremor (P less than 0.01) in endosulfan-pretreated pigeons. The results of this behavioral and biochemical study indicate the involvement of a cholinergic (muscarinic) transmitter system in endosulfan-induced neurotoxicity.

Animals↗