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Biomedical subjects

L Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to L Kumar.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Aggressive bone metastases in urachal carcinoma.

A 38-year-old female with urachal carcinoma showed extensive bone metastases 1 year after wide excision of the urachal tumor, including partial cystectomy. A combination of radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy was offered. Local radiotherapy of 8 Gy as a single fraction or 10 Gy in two fractions was delivered to the painful regions of the skeletal system. Multiagent chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, vinblastine, Adriamycin, and cisplatin was given for three cycles. The patient died 28 months after the initial presentation with progression of the disease to pelvis and skeletal sites. The problem of metastatic spread after initial resection should be considered in urachal carcinoma, and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy should improve the outcome in this rare neoplasm.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Wheat threshing dust--a "new allergen" in April-May nasobronchial allergy.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the allergen(s) responsible for mid April-mid May nasobronchial allergy seen in North India. DESIGN: Case control study. SETTING: Children living in and around Chandigarh (urban, rural). SUBJECTS: 39 children suffering from wheat harvest period (mid April-mid May) respiratory allergy along with randomly selected controls. METHODS: Aerobiological surveys were done from March to June for identification of prevailing allergens for performing allergy tests. Patients were subjected to skin tests (ST), nasal provocation tests (NPT) and bronchial provocation tests (BPT) with extracts prepared from identified pollens and fungal spores. Specific IgE (SIgE) was assayed by ELISA and comparison between pre-season, season and post-season values made. RESULTS: 81% patients had ST positive to antigen of wheat threshing dust (WTD), 30% to fungal antigens, 14% to wheat dust antigens and none to the wheat plant (WP) antigens. Nasal provocation test and bronchial provocation tests were also positive to WTD in 80% and 66% patients, respectively. WTD SIgE was demonstrated in 77% of ST positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: These in vivo and in vitro tests confirm wheat threshing dust as a major causative inhalant allergen for the April-May nasobronchial allergy; in addition, fungal allergens also play a role in 1/3rd of these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Polyarteritis nodosa--a few unusual findings.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical spectrum of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) from North India and highlight some unusual findings. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Hospital based. SUBJECTS: Eight children with PAN. INTERVENTION: Treatment with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. RESULTS: One child had spontaneous remission while another started deteriorating rapidly in spite of treatment and died within 2 weeks. Six children went into remission-of these one died, two were lost to follow-up and the remaining three are on regular follow-up for periods ranging from 3-5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Prednisolone and cyclophosphamide can significantly improve the outcome in childhood PAN.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Plasma vitamin A, zinc and selenium concentrations in children with acute and persistent diarrhoea.

Plasma zinc, selenium, and vitamin A concentrations in 25 children with persistent diarrhoea (PD) and acute diarrhoea (AD) were determined and compared with 25 age-matched control children. Plasma retinol concentrations (PRC) and plasma zinc concentrations (PZC) (3.92 micrograms/dL and 79.4 micrograms/dL respectively) were found to be significantly lower (p < 0.05) in children with PD. PZCs were also significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in children with AD. However, reduction in PZC was more in PD than that in AD. There was no significant difference in PSC in children with either types of diarrhoea as compared with the control group. The results of the study showed that there was deficiency of vitamin A and zinc in diarrhoeas which needs to be correlated for proper nutritional management.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Calcium and protein kinase C play an important role in Campylobacter jejuni-induced changes in Na+ and Cl- transport in rat ileum in vitro.

The pathophysiological mechanism of Campylobacter jejuni (enterotoxigenic) induced secretory diarrhoea remains least understood. To investigate the mechanism(s) involved, the unidirectional fluxes of Na+ and Cl- were measured across the C. jejuni live culture infected and control (non infected) rat ileum (unstriped), in vitro by Ussing technique under short circuit conditions, in the presence or absence of: Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (5 microM), 1-verapamil (100 microM), calmodulin (CaM) antagonist W-7 (100 microM), dantrolene (25 microM), protein kinase C (PKC) activator PMA (100 ng/ml) and H-7 (60 microM), selective inhibitor of PKC. There was net absorption of Na+ and enhanced Cl- secretion in infected animals while in control animals there was net absorption of Na+ and marginal secretion Cl-.Ca2+ ionophore A23187 mimicked the effects of C. jejuni infection whereas 1-verapamil had significant antisecretory effect on Na+ and Cl- secretion in infected animals. In vitro measurement of undirectional 45Ca fluxes in Ussing chamber experiments revealed net absorption of Ca2+ in infected rat ileum as compared to net secretion of Ca2+ in control rat ileum. These observations clearly indicate that there is increased stimulation of Ca2+ uptake from extracellular milieu to the enterocytes during C. jejuni-induced diarrhoea. The intracellular calcium levels (Ca2+]i (as measured by fluorescent probe Fura-2AM) were found to be raised significantly (P < 0.0001) in enterocytes isolated from C. jejuni infected ileum as compared to the enterocytes from control ileum. The observed increase in [Ca2+]i in enterocytes isolated from C. jejuni live culture supernatant treated rat ileum further shows the involvement of enterotoxin in diarrhoeal process. Dantrolene decreased significantly C. jejuni-induced net Na+ and Cl- secretion but it could not reverse it to absorption suggesting the partial involvement of Ca2+ mobilised from intracellular stores in mediating secretion. W-7 failed to inhibit the C. jejuni-induced net Na+ and Cl- secretion. In addition the CaM activity estimated in intestinal microvillar core remained same in both the control and C. jejuni infected animals. This indicates that C. jejuni-induced diarrhoea is not mediated through the activation of Ca(2+)-CaM complex pathway of the Ca2+ messenger system. The PKC activator PMA, induced net secretion of Na+ and Cl- in the control animals but it could not enhance further the C. jejuni-induced Na+ and Cl- secretion, suggesting that there is overlapping effect of PMA and C. jejuni live culture infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1995

Induction of apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia lymphocytes by hydroxyurea and adriamycin.

The nature of the cytotoxic effects of the anticancer drugs hydroxyurea, adriamycin, cisplatin and interferon, was studied on lymphocytes obtained from chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) subjects prior to the commencement of chemotherapy. These drugs appeared to mediate their cytotoxic effects by the process of apoptosis as observed from the morphological changes, i.e., cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, cell membrane blebbing, and also from the cellular damage and DNA fragmentation into oligonucleosomal ladder of 180-bp multiples, which are all characteristics of apoptotic cell death. The effect was much more marked by hydroxyurea and adriamycin. Maximum sensitivity was seen at 24 h post treatment. Untreated CML lymphocytes cultured for 24 h also showed some apoptosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Incarcerated procidentia: a rare complication of carcinoma cervix.

A rare case of a huge carcinoma of the cervix leading to sudden uterovaginal prolapse and incarcerated procidentia, in a postmenopausal woman is presented. The woman presented as an emergency with severe distress. The problem was successfully managed by reducing the uterovaginal prolapse under deep sedation and starting radiotherapy as an emergency procedure at the same sitting. The role of immediate radiotherapy in the management of such an emergency situation is discussed.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1995

Benign cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa in children below 10 years of age--a clinical experience.

OBJECTIVE: To report 10 children younger than 10 years of age with benign cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (BCPAN). METHODS: Ten children aged 1.25-10 years (mean 4.7 years; M:F = 7:3) were admitted with an unusual vasculitis. The clinical features, laboratory investigations, treatment and follow up data were analysed. RESULTS: Clinical features of these patients included: fever (10), peripheral gangrene (eight), livido reticularis (four), ulceration, nodules and vesiculobullous lesions alone or in combination (10), black necrotic patches over limbs and trunk (three), and arthralgia or swelling of large joints (seven). Cryoglobulinaemia was transient in three children, lasting for eight months in one of them. Histopathology of the skin lesions revealed vasculitis of small and occasionally medium sized blood vessels in nine of the 10 children. Possible association of BCPAN was noted with diphtheria-pertussistetanus immunisation (one), drugs (two), streptococcal infection (two), wasp sting (one), and falciparum malaria (one). The clinical course was interspersed with remissions and exacerbations. Response to corticosteroids alone occurred in seven patients, while three children needed cytotoxic drugs in addition. In a follow up of 5.6 years (mean) no evidence of systemic involvement was noted. CONCLUSIONS: A rare form of vasculitis, BCPAN, is reported in children. The features that distinguished our patients from those reported earlier were onset in the first decade of life and higher incidence of peripheral gangrene.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Cutaneous metastases of lung cancer.

The reported incidence of skin metastases from lung cancer varies from 2.8-7.5%. In the present study 8.7% of patients had skin metastases, with head and neck being the most common sites, nodular lesions the most common, and adenocarcinoma the most frequent histology. Although most patients develop these lesions during the course of a known progressive disease, they may be the presenting manifestation of a primary tumour in the lung. The occurrence of skin lesions in lung cancer announces an ominous prognosis. The response to chemotherapy is poor, possibly due to poor blood supply to the skin; monitoring response to chemotherapy, however, is easier when such lesions are present.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Antigenic and allergenic relationships among airborne grass pollens in India.

BACKGROUND: Pollen from grasses (Poaceae) are predominant aeroallergens throughout the world including tropical countries. Studies from USA, Europe, and Australia have shown extensive allergenic/antigenic cross reactivity among the grass pollen allergens prevalent there. No such information is available about airborne grass pollens of tropical countries. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to explore common antigenic/allergenic components, if any, of five important grass pollens of India. METHODS: Intradermal tests (ID) were performed with pollen extracts of Cenchrus, Cynodon, Imperata, Pennisetum, and Sorghum in patients with nasobronchial allergy. ELISAs were performed for estimating the allergen-specific IgE in sera of patients eliciting markedly positive ID response (2+ to 4+). To detect cross reactivity, ELISA inhibition experiments were carried out using pooled patient sera and five grasses, individually, as inhibitors with different solid phase antigens. To evaluate common antigenic components in Cenchrus, Imperata, and Pennisetum pollen extracts, rocket immunoelectrophoresis (RIE) and ELISA inhibition were conducted using rabbit antisera. RESULTS: Among 133 patients, Cynodon extract elicited markedly positive skin reactivity in most patients followed by Pennisetum, Imperata, Cenchrus, and Sorghum. A large number of patients showed markedly positive skin reactions and enhanced specific IgE levels to more than one grass pollen extract. ELISA inhibition experiments showed different degrees of cross reactivity among the grass pollens studied. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis and ELISA inhibition using rabbit antisera with homologous and heterologous pollen revealed the presence of shared antigenic components in Cenchrus, Imperata, and Pennisetum extracts. CONCLUSION: The varied dose-response curves obtained with ELISA inhibition using different inhibitors suggest the presence of both common and specific antigens/allergens in the grass pollens studied. Based on the extensive immunologic cross reactivity, among the tropical grass species, it may be possible to use mixed allergen preparations for allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy.

Allergens↗
PubMed1995

Changing pattern of childhood poisoning (1970-1989): experience of a large north Indian hospital.

The epidemiology of acute poisoning in children aged 0-15 years hospitalized between 1970-1989 was retrospectively investigated. Two hundred and seventeen children were admitted during this period with 134 in 1980-1989 vs 83 in 1970-1979. Two distinct patterns were observed: accidental poisoning in under 11's and adult pattern and self poisoning in children over 11's. More children belonged to urban areas (72.3%) as compared to rural areas. In both decades more than half of children belonged to middle income group followed by lower income group and least to upper income group. The overall mortality was low (12.5%), with majority of deaths (78%) occurring in older children. The incidence of kerosene ingestion was noticed to have dropped by more than half between 1980-1989 as compared to 1970-1979 (14.9% vs 42%). The study highlights the unacceptable high rate of preventable accidental poisoning in young children and suicide and parasuicide in older children (11-15 years age group).

Adolescent↗