Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Jain

Publications and source records attributed to M Jain.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Aqueous extract of Rhodiola imbricata rhizome stimulates proinflammatory mediators via phosphorylated IkappaB and transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB.

Modulation of immune response to alleviate diseases has long since been of interest. Plant extracts have been widely investigated for their possible immunomodulatory properties. We have evaluated the immunomodulatory activity of aqueous extract of Rhodiola rhizome in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. The Rhodiola extract was found to stimulate production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in human PBMCs as well as RAW 264.7 cell line. It also increased production of nitric oxide synergistically in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7. Rhodiola at 250 microg/ml increased the p-IkappaB expression in human PBMCs. Aqueous extract of Rhodiola (250 microg/ml) also activated the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB in human PBMCs, which is comparable to the positive stimulant LPS. Thus, our present study suggests that Rhodiola most likely activates proinflammatory mediators via phosphorylated inhibitory kB and transcription factor NF-kB. Our study demonstrates immunostimulatory potential of aqueous extract of Rhodiola rhizome, that can be used for upregulation of immune response in patients with inadequate functioning of the immune system.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed2006

Decline in ICU adverse events, nosocomial infections and cost through a quality improvement initiative focusing on teamwork and culture change.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections occur in approximately 10% of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Several studies have shown that a quality improvement initiative can reduce nosocomial infections, mortality, and cost. CONTEXT: Our hospital is located in Northern Mississippi and has a 28 bed Medical-Surgical ICU unit with 95% occupancy. We joined the ICU collaborative with the IMPACT initiative of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in October 2002. A preliminary prospective before (fiscal year (FY) 2001-2) and after (FY 2003) hypothesis generating study was conducted of outcomes resulting from small tests of change in the management of ICU patients. KEY MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT: Nosocomial infection rates, adverse events per ICU day, average length of stay, and average cost per ICU episode. STRATEGY FOR CHANGE: Four changes were implemented: (1) physician led multidisciplinary rounds; (2) daily "flow" meeting to assess bed availability; (3) "bundles" (sets of evidence based best practices); and (4) culture changes with a focus on the team decision making process. EFFECTS OF CHANGE: Between baseline and re-measurement periods, nosocomial infection rates declined for ventilator associated pneumonia (from 7.5 to 3.2 per 1000 ventilator days, p = 0.04) and bloodstream infections (from 5.9 to 3.1 per 1000 line days, p = 0.03), with a downward trend in the rate of urinary tract infections (from 3.8 to 2.4 per 1000 catheter days, p = 0.17). There was a strong downward trend in the rates of adverse events in the ICU as well as the average length of stay per episode. From FY 2002 to FY 2003 the cost per ICU episode fell from $3406 to $2973. LESSONS LEARNED: A systematic approach through collaboration with IHI's IMPACT initiative may have contributed to significant improvements in care in the ICU setting. Multidisciplinary teams appeared to improve communication, and bundles provided consistency of evidence based practices. The flow meetings allowed for rapid prioritization of activity and a new decision making culture empowered team members. The impact of these changes needs to be assessed more widely using rigorous study designs.

Cooperative Behavior↗
PubMed2006

Transplanted human neural precursor cells migrate widely but show no lesion-specific tropism in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD), while primarily associated with degeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons, is now increasingly recognized to have more widespread cell loss and so the most effective cell replacement therapy should target all these neuronal losses. Neural precursor cells might be ideal in this regard as in certain circumstances they have been shown to migrate widely following transplantation into the CNS. The aim of this study was to investigate whether transplanted human expanded neural precursor cells (hENPs) could migrate to sites of established or evolving pathology in the adult brain using the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model of PD. hENPs were grafted into the striatum prior to, at the same time as, or after the animals received a 6-OHDA lesion to the medial forebrain bundle. The presence of donor cells was then assessed in a distant site of cell loss (substantia nigra) or sites where cell death would not be expected (frontal cortex and globus pallidus). Donor cells were found distant from the site of implantation but the migration of these hENPs was not significantly greater in the 6-OHDA-lesioned brain and the cells did not specifically target the site of cell loss in the substantia nigra. The temporal relationship of grafting relative to the lesion, and therefore dopaminergic cell death, did not affect the migration of hENPs nor their differentiation. We conclude that while transplanted hENPs are capable of migration away from the site of implantation, they show no specific tropism for sites of ongoing or established nigral dopaminergic cell loss in this lesion model. Therefore, the use of such cells to replace the range of neurons lost in PD is likely to require a deeper understanding of the migratory cues in the damaged adult brain and some manipulation of these cells prior to transplantation.

Adrenergic Agents↗
PubMed2006

Variation in clinical and genitourinary lesions associated with pulmonary hypoplasia in Potter's syndrome--two autopsy reports.

Potter's syndrome is a rare entity with an incidence of 1 in 2000 to 1 in 5000 live births. All babies born with this condition are either stillborn or die very early within neonatal period. We present two autopsy cases which presented with abnormal facies, oligohydramnios, pulmonary hypoplasia and genitourinary abnormality. One case presented with infantile polycystic kidney whereas in the other case both the kidneys were normal but had adenomatoid tumour of left testis. Both the children died few hours after birth. In both the cases pulmonary hypoplasia was the cause of death rather than genitourinary abnormality.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2005

Ocular angiostrongyliasis in a child--first case report from India.

A rare case report of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lung worm) from the eye is presented here. This worm generally causes eosinophilic meningo-encephalitis and accidentally infects humans by ingestion of uncooked snails, slugs, frogs etc. The child was presented to us with diminished vision in left eye. Slit lamp examination showed an actively motile worm in the anterior chamber. Surgical extraction of the worm was performed and it was identified as A. cantonensis. This is the first case of ocular A. cantonensis infection from India with no signs or symptoms of meningitis. After surgery, the visual acuity of the patient returned to normal.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis↗
PubMed2005

All radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions seen on breast screening mammograms should be excised.

AIM: To determine the incidence of pre-malignant and malignant conditions in radial scars identified from screening mammograms in women taking part in the UK NHS breast cancer screening programme. METHODS: All women in our screening population from 1988 to 2002 with a radiological diagnosis of radial scar or complex sclerosing lesion confirmed on subsequent histopathology were included in this study. Patients were investigated with fine needle aspiration cytology then localisation biopsy (n=46) or straight to localisation biopsy (n=78). Patients where divided into two groups, one with pure RS/CSL with no associated epithelial features and the second with associated ADH, DCIS or invasive cancer. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four lesions were confirmed histologically as radial scar or complex sclerosing lesions. The median age was 58 years. Of the 124 patients, 82 were pure RS/CSL. Forty-two had associated epithelial lesions, 22 patients had ADH and 20 patients had either in situ or invasive carcinoma. Where FNA was performed (n=46), mammograms had shown three lesions suspicious of cancer, which were not proven histologically. Mammograms picked up five malignancies out of the nine RS/CSL with associated cancers. Of these, FNA confirmed malignancy in only two patients. Where FNA was not done (n=78), mammogram had read five pure RS/CSL as cancers. It picked up only four cancers in RS lesions with DCIS/Ca out of 11. CONCLUSION: All screen-detected stellate lesions should be excised due to their association with pre-malignant and malignant conditions.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

Pain response of neonates to venipuncture.

OBJECTIVE: To study the physiological and behavioral response to pain. METHODS: 80 healthy neonates requiring bilirubin estimation, blood sugar etc, were randomly assigned to receive a venous puncture. All parameters were recorded 10 minutes prior, during and 10 minutes after the procedure. Evaluated NIPS score and RR. HR, NIBP and O2 saturation observed on Datex-Ohmeda multimonitor. RESULTS: After the venepuncture, heart rate (p<0.001) and blood pressure (p<0.001) were significantly increased in both the groups but more significant increase was present in Group I (>2.5 kg) as compared to Group II (>2.5 kg). Respiratory rate was also increased but more significant in Group II (p<0.001) whereas oxygen saturation was decreased in both the groups but more significant in Group I (p<0.001). Median Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) score was higher in both the Groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The outcome measures appear to be reliable indices of term neonates responses to painful stimulation. NIPS are suitable instruments for neonatal pain evaluation.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed2005

Acylation-stimulating protein: effect of acute exercise and endurance training.

INTRODUCTION: Acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) is an adipocyte-derived protein that contributes to fatty acid clearance. Regular exercise training improves fatty acid handling. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of acute exercise and short-term endurance training on ASP levels. SUBJECTS: Eight untrained men (age: 23.5+/-3.4 y; maximal power output (Wmax): 3.7+/-0.6 W/kg body weight). DESIGN: Subjects were trained for 2 weeks. Before and after training, blood was sampled during a 3-h exercise test, and insulin sensitivity was assessed by an insulin tolerance test. RESULTS: Before training, ASP levels decreased during exercise (from 17.9+/-2.9 to 15.5+/-3.7 nmol/l at t=0 vs 180, P<0.05). Endurance training decreased fasting ASP levels significantly (17.9+/-2.9 vs 13.4+/-2.3 nmol/l pre- and post-training, P<0.001). Interestingly, after 2 weeks of endurance training, ASP levels tended to increase during exercise (from 13.4+/-2.3 to 17.2+/-4.5 nmol/l at t=0 vs 180, P=0.09). Baseline ASP levels correlated negatively with insulin sensitivity both before (r=-0.86, P<0.01) and after training (r=-0.82, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term endurance training reduces baseline ASP levels. These data fit with the hypothesis that reduced ASP levels indicate improved ASP sensitivity.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A study on the perinatal transmission of the hepatitis B virus.

The purpose of this study was to determine the age wise prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in children under five years and to analyze the relative importance of horizontal or vertical transmission. This study included 400 children in the age group of less than five years attending the outpatient department of pediatrics with minor complaints. History of HBV immunization was taken as the exclusion criteria. All the samples were tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti HBs using commercial ELISA kits. Liver function tests were performed on all the HBsAg positive patients. Hepatits B nucleocapsid antigen (HBeAg) was detected in few HBsAg positive mothers. Overall HBsAg positivity in children below five years was 2.25%. There was no statistically significant difference in HBsAg positivity in the different age groups by chi square test. HBsAg positivity in mothers was 4.25%. However only in three cases the pair of mother and child were both positive for HBsAg. The mean anti HBs positivity in children was 23.75%. There was no statistically significant difference in the anti HBs positivity in different age groups of children. The observation that there is no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of HBV infection (HBsAg and HBs) amongst different age groups of children below five years signifies that a large proportion of HBV infection in children of this age is acquired via vertical transmission. It is also indicated that this mode of disease transmission is responsible for the majority of chronic carriers. Universal immunization of all infants is desirable to decrease the carrier pool and it is inferred from the present study that Hepatitis B immunization should begin at birth to have greater impact.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2005

Assessment of a modified Mini-Mental Scale for cognitive functions in children.

This study was conducted to standardize a clinical test to assess cognitive functions in children between 3-14 years and to evaluate its use in patients with encephalopathy. We included 50 children in Group A with non-neurological illness. Another 50 children were included in Group B with encephalopathy due to varied etiologies. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) used in adults was modified, using tests from standardized assessment tools previously used in Indian children. It was administered independently by two observers at admission and after a few days in the two Groups. In Group A, the mean and SD of the score in various age groups were calculated. Sensitivity and specificity of the test in predicting poor outcome with a cut-off score of 10 was calculated at admission and after a mean of 4 days. The average time taken for the test was 6.03 minutes. No significant interobserver variability was found. Cut off abnormal scores calculated as 2 SD below mean in different age groups were 3 to 5 years 24, 6 to 8 years 28, 9 to 11 years 30, 12 to 14 years 35. In children with encephalopathy a score below 10 predicted poor outcome with a sensitivity of 35 percent and specificity of 100 percent at admission. Retest after 4 days had sensitivity and specificity of 68 percent and 100 percent respectively. We conclude that the modified Child MMSE may be used as a screening test to assess and monitor cognitive functions in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Spinacia oleracea L. protects against gamma radiations: a study on glutathione and lipid peroxidation in mouse liver.

The present study deals with the protective effect of Spinacia oleracea L. against radiation-induced oxidative stress, which is evaluated in terms of lipid peroxidation (LPO) product and tissue levels of glutathione. Swiss albino male mice aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 22+/-3 g, each were selected from an inbred colony and divided into four groups. One group served as normal and a second group (extract of S. oleracea L. (SE) treated un-irradiated) were administered methanolic (50%) SE at a dose of 1100mg/kg body wt./day dissolved in distilled water. A third group (untreated-irradiated) was administered distilled water orally, which served as control. A fourth group (SE pre-treated irradiated) was administered methanolic (50%) SE at a dose of 1100 mg/kg body wt./day dissolved in distilled water. Two groups, one untreated-irradiated and another S. oleracea pre-treated irradiated were exposed to 5 Gy of gamma radiation at a rate of 1.07 Gy/min with a source-to-surface distance of 77.5 cm. The animals were autopsied at 1, 3, 7, 15, and 30 days post-exposure. LPO increased after irradiation up to day 15 in the untreated-irradiated group and up to day 7 in SE pre-treated irradiated mice. LPO values were significantly lower in the SE pre-treated irradiated group as compared to their respective untreated-irradiated group at all intervals, which reached normal values from day 7 onward. The percentage of protection observed in the SE pre-treated irradiated group was, 22.22%, 24.8%, 33.25%, 42.84% and 26.36% at 1, 3, 7, 15, 30 days post-exposure, respectively. Radiation-induced glutathione depletion was checked after 7 days' exposure in SE pre-treated irradiated as compared to untreated-irradiated in which recovery started after day 15. Values were significantly higher in the SE pre-treated irradiated group from their respective untreated-irradiated group at all intervals. The percentage of protection observed in the SE pre-treated irradiated group was, 29.41%, 42.68%, 43.55%, 53.81%, 39.28% at 1, 3, 7, 15, 30 days post-exposure, respectively. It is found that radiation-induced augmentation in malondialdehyde contents and depletion in glutathione changes in liver can be altered by S. oleracea L. The protection may be attributed to the combined effects of its constituents rather than to any single factor as the leaves are rich in carotenoid content (beta-carotene, lutein, Zeaxanthine), ascorbic acid, flavonoids and p-coumaric acid. Thus Spinacia, showing protection in liver, may prove promising as a rich source of antioxidants because its use is cost-effective, especially for peoples in adverse and hazardous circumstances who are living in poverty.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Beneficial effects of 'lamivudine pulse' therapy in HBeAg-positive patients with normal ALT*.

Currently no therapy is given to patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who are HBeAg positive with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Steroid priming has been shown to enhance T-helper-1 (Th-1) cell response. Lamivudine may restore immunologic competence against HBV by causing a sudden decline in the level of the virus. We examined the efficacy of lamivudine pulse therapy on the seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe. This was a prospective single-blinded trial including 27 patients with chronic hepatitis B, HBeAg positive with ALT < or =1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN). Lamivudine was administered initially for 4 weeks, then stopped for 2 weeks and later restarted and continued till 3 months after seroconversion or completion of 2 years of therapy. Twenty-six patients completed the study. Lamivudine withdrawal led to a rise in ALT levels above the ULN in 11 (42.3%) patients at 6 weeks; seven of them (63.6%) lost HBeAg compared with only two of the 15 patients (13.3%), in whom ALT levels did not rise (P = 0.011). As one patient showed a relapse, a total of eight (31%) patients responded to lamivudine pulse therapy over a mean period of 17.3 +/- 4.5 months. Responders had a higher serum albumin (P < 0.05), a lower fibrosis score (P < 0.05), and a relatively high baseline serum ALT levels (P = 0.024) than the nonresponders. YMDD mutations developed in three patients and none responded. No patient developed hepatic decompensation. Hence lamivudine pulse therapy has potential in converting HBeAg-positive, 'not-treat-worthy' (ALT < 1.5 ULN) patients to treat-worthy (ALT > 1.5 ULN) in 42%, with sustained HBeAg and HBV DNA loss in 31% patients. The effects are possibly because of a combination of antiviral and immunomodulating activities of lamivudine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the testis: can it be a single diagnostic modality in azoospermia?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of testis alone is sufficient to diagnose testicular function and whether follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) estimation can be safely eliminated from the evaluation protocol of the azoospermic subject. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 46 adult azoospermic males who were infertile for more than 2 years following marriage. Hormonal profile was done in all. Later all 46 patients were subjected to bilateral FNAC of the testes. The cytological findings were correlated with histological findings. RESULTS: We found 95.65% agreement between FNAC and testicular biopsy. Though serum FSH estimation was done in all patients in this series, in none of the cases did it affect overall management. CONCLUSION: FNAC is a quick, safe and minimally invasive modality. Following a well-performed semen analysis in an azoospermic subject, it appears that FNAC may be the only investigation needed. It provides a reliable diagnosis in patients with either obstructive or non-obstructive azoospermia. Routine estimation of FSH can be omitted from the investigative protocol in these patients.

Adult↗