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Biomedical subjects

M Jain

Publications and source records attributed to M Jain.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Complete spontaneous regression of a functioning adrenocortical carcinoma in an infant.

A 9-month-old female presented with Cushing's syndrome. Investigations suggested the diagnosis and revealed a functioning left adrenal carcinoma without metastasis. However, when the abdomen was explored 30 days later after controlling the hypertension only normal adrenals were encountered, suggesting complete spontaneous regression. This is the fourth case of its kind. The case along with a review of this rare phenomenon is presented.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Spontaneous perforation of the extrahepatic bile duct in an infant.

A 1.2-year-old male presented with gradual-onset biliary ascites, mild icterus, and failure to thrive due to spontaneous bile-duct perforation (SPBD) confirmed by technetium 99Tc HIDA scan and abdominal paracentesis. Peritoneal tube drainage for 2 weeks helped the perforation to seal spontaneously, as there was no distal obstruction. No surgery was needed. Only less than 100 cases of SPBD have been reported in the English literature. The pathogenesis and treatment options are reviewed and discussed.

Ascites↗
PubMed2001

Precipitation and aerosol studies in India.

In India, rain water and atmospheric aerosols are observed to be alkaline in nature due to the influence of soil-derived particles which are rich in components like Ca and Mg. These components increase the neutralization potential of rain water and have a greater influence at rural site compared to urban site. However, if there are continuous rains, the concentration of crustal components becomes lower resulting in lower pH of rain water. Unlike the characteristics of rain water on continent, the pH of rain water has been observed to be acidic in all the events over the Indian Ocean during Pre-campaigns of Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX). The possible reason for acidic rains over Indian Ocean could be the anthropogenic contribution from continent transported by NE winds coming towards the ocean during this period.

Acid Rain↗
PubMed2001

Generation of free fatty acids from phospholipids regulates stratum corneum acidification and integrity.

There is evidence that the "acid mantle" of the stratum corneum is important for both permeability barrier formation and cutaneous antimicrobial defense. The origin of the acidic pH of the stratum corneum remains conjectural, however. Both passive (e.g., eccrine/sebaceous secretions, proteolytic) and active (e.g., proton pumps) mechanisms have been proposed. We assessed here whether the free fatty acid pool, which is derived from phospholipase-mediated hydrolysis of phospholipids during cornification, contributes to stratum corneum acidification and function. Topical applications of two chemically unrelated secretory phospholipase sPLA2 inhibitors, bromphenacylbromide and 1-hexadecyl-3-trifluoroethylglycero-sn-2-phosphomethanol, for 3 d produced an increase in the pH of murine skin surface that was paralleled not only by a permeability barrier abnormality but also altered stratum corneum integrity (number of strippings required to break the barrier) and decreased stratum corneum cohesion (protein weight removed per stripping). Not only stratum corneum pH but also all of the functional abnormalities normalized when either palmitic, stearic, or linoleic acids were coapplied with the inhibitors. Moreover, exposure of intact murine stratum corneum to a neutral pH for as little as 3 h produced comparable abnormalities in stratum corneum integrity and cohesion, and further amplified the inhibitor-induced functional alterations. Furthermore, short-term applications of an acidic pH buffer to inhibitor-treated skin also reversed the abnormalities in stratum corneum integrity and cohesion, despite the ongoing decrease in free fatty acid levels. Finally, the secretory-phospholipase-inhibitor-induced alterations in integrity/cohesion were in accordance with premature dissolution of desmosomes, demonstrated both by electron microscopy and by reduced desmoglein 1 levels in the stratum corneum (shown by immunofluorescence staining and visualized by confocal microscopy). Together, these results demonstrate: (i) the importance of phospholipid-to-free-fatty-acid processing for normal stratum corneum acidification; and (ii) the potentially important role of this pathway not only for barrier homeostasis but also for the dual functions of stratum corneum integrity and cohesion.

Acetophenones↗
PubMed2001

Autoimmune hepatitis in the Indian subcontinent: 7 years experience.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is presumed to be rare in India. The present prospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence, clinical, biochemical and histological profile of patients with AIH in India. METHODS: Consecutive patients with chronic liver disease suspected to be AIH, were screened for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antismooth muscle antibodies (ASMA), antimitochondrial antibody (AMA), and anti-liver kidney microsomal antibodies (anti-LKM-1). Serum protein electrophoresis and liver biopsy were done. Autoimmune hepatitis was diagnosed according to the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group criteria. RESULTS: Fifty of 1358 (3.43%) patients with chronic liver disease were diagnosed as autoimmune liver disease; 39 with AIH, two with overlap syndrome, five with primary sclerosing cholangitis, and four with primary biliary cirrhosis. Twenty-nine patients were categorized as definite AIH and 10 as probable AIH. Autoimmune hepatitis was common in females (males : females 1:3), with a mean age of 31 +/- 17 years. Patients often presented with fatigue, jaundice and anorexia. Skin lesions (58%), joint symptoms (30%), and menstrual abnormalities (26%) were not uncommon. Mildly elevated alkaline phosphatase and hyper gamma globulinemia were seen in 78 and 91% patients, respectively. Eighty percent of patients were type I AIH, while 20% of cases remained unclassified. Histopathological changes included piecemeal necrosis (100%), plasma cell infiltration (91%), rosette formation (82%), and cirrhosis (76%). Overall mortality was 25% during a mean follow up of 15.7 +/- 17.0 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly demonstrate that: (i) AIH is not uncommon in India; and (ii) while the profile and spectrum of AIH resembles that seen in the West, Indian patients present late, often in a cirrhotic state.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Splenic tuberculosis presenting as hypersplenism.

A 9-year-old girl with a 5-6-month history of abdominal distension and fever was found to have massive splenomegaly with features of hypersplenism. Apart from a strongly positive Mantoux test, all investigations for massive splenomegaly proved negative. Splenectomy was carried out and histopathological examination of the spleen revealed granulomatous lesions suggestive of tuberculosis. The child improved after splenectomy and anti-tuberculous therapy and is doing well on follow-up. Splenic tuberculosis should be considered as an unusual cause of massive splenomegaly and hypersplenism.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Targeted inactivation of Galpha(i) does not alter cardiac function or beta-adrenergic sensitivity.

Inhibitory Galpha(i) protein increases in the myocardium during hypertrophy and has been associated with beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) desensitization, contractile dysfunction, and progression of cardiac disease. The role of Galpha(i) proteins in mediating basal cardiac function and beta-AR response in nonpathological myocardium, however, is uncertain. Transgenic mice with targeted inactivation of Galpha(i2) or Galpha(i3) were examined for in vivo cardiac function with the use of conscious echocardiography and for ex vivo cardiac response to inotropic stimulation with the use of Langendorff blood-perfused isolated hearts and adult ventricular cardiomyocytes. Echocardiography revealed that percent fractional shortening and heart rate were similar among wild-type, Galpha(i2)-null, and Galpha(i3)-null mice. Comparable baseline diastolic and contractile performance was also observed in isolated hearts and isolated ventricular myocytes from wild-type mice and mice lacking Galpha(i) proteins. Isoproterenol infusion enhanced diastolic and contractile performance to a similar degree in wild-type, Galpha(i2)-null, and Galpha(i3)-null mice. These data demonstrate no observable role for inhibitory G proteins in mediating basal cardiac function or sensitivity to beta-AR stimulation in nonpathological myocardium.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed2001

High-throughput assessment of calcium sensitivity in skinned cardiac myocytes.

Isolated permeabilized cardiac myocytes have been used in the study of myofilament calcium sensitivity through measurement of the isometric force-pCa curve. Determining this force-pCa relationship in skinned myocytes is relatively expensive and carries a high degree of variability. We therefore attempted to establish an alternative high-throughput method to measure calcium sensitivity in cardiac myocytes. With the use of commercially available software that allows for precise measurement of sarcomere spacing, we measured sarcomere length changes in unloaded skinned cardiac myocytes over a range of calcium concentrations. With the use of this technique, we were able to accurately detect acute increases or decreases in myofilament calcium sensitivity after exposure to 10 mM caffeine or 5 mM 2,3-butanedione monoxime, respectively. This technique allows for the simple and rapid determination of myofilament calcium sensitivity in cardiac myocytes in a reproducible and inexpensive manner and could be used for high-throughput screening of pharmacological agents and/or transgenic mouse models for changes in myofilament calcium sensitivity.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Multiplex capillary denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection.

Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) is a sensitive, robust, and operationally inexpensive method for the detection of single-base substitutions and small deletions and insertions. To increase sample throughout, we have developed a multiplexing strategy using fluorophores to distinguish different PCR products. The system combines recent advances in the synthesis of monolithic poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) capillary columns with four-color confocal argon ion laser-induced fluorescence detection. Depending on the change in retention caused by the fluorophores, adjustments in the analysis temperature may be required to ensure the maximum mutation detection sensitivity.

Argon↗
PubMed2001

Parathyroid carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare tumor with an incidence of 0.5 to 4%. Preoperative differentiation from benign adenoma is very difficult. Several features, though nonspecific, have been used in differentiating parathyroid carcinoma from the adenoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective analysis during the period of nine years, four cases of parathyroid carcinoma were diagnosed on the basis of per-operative local invasion and on histological evidence of capsular invasion and vascular invasion. RESULT: We have different observations to make. Diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma which was done on the basis of intra operative suspicion only. One patient died on 6th post operative day due to development of pancreatitis. At the follow-up of two years there was no local recurrence or distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: It is preferable to have a high index of suspicion for parathyroid carcinoma when these features are present than to miss the opportunity for surgical cure by failing to consider it in the differential diagnosis.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2001

Mitral valve prolapse with pulmonary haemosiderosis and severe anaemia: cause or association?

A 12 years boy presented with the history of pallor for one month. Two days before hospitalisation he developed fever, cough, shortness of breath. He had past history of such episode. On examination, his heart rate was found to be 120/minute, respiratory rate 40/minute and moderate anaemia was detected. Scattered creptus was audible over mid and lower lung fields and a soft systolic murmur was auscultated at apex. On investigations, Hb was found as 4.6 g/dl and HbF was less than 2%. Plasma Hb was 5 g/dl. Straight x-ray chest showed bilateral patchy opacities over mid and lower zones. His sputum was found to be blood stained and prompted the possibility of blood loss occurring in the lungs, which was confirmed by demonstrating haemosiderin laden macrophages on three consecutive sputum specimens. Echocardiography revealed a systolic displacement of mitral valve leaflets into the left atrium with co-optation superior to the plane of mitral annulus. Doppler study showed a minimal late systolic regurgitation. It was decided to treat the case as idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis. Oxygen inhalation, hypertonic saline nebulisation, i.v. hydrocortisone, packed cell transfusion followed by oral prednisolone improved the patient's condition. After 3 months of discontinuing prednisolone, he remained asymptomatic. Here one case of pulmonary haemosiderosis characterised by abnormal accumulation of haemosiderin in the lungs following repeated alveolar haemorrhages with the presence of mitral valve prolapse is reported.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of endoscopic brush cytology with biopsy for detection of Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastroduodenal diseases.

Upper GI endoscopy was performed in 50 adult patients attending the gastroenterology OPD with gastroduodenal diseases. Gastric antral mucosal brushings were taken for cytological evaluation and urea broth test followed by antral biopsy. The slides prepared were stained with Wright Giemsa (WG), Hema toxylin & Eosin (H&E) and Papanicolaou (Pap). Brush Cytology Smears were compared with biopsy sections for detection of Helicobacter pylori and the staining techniques were evaluated to see which stain was easiest to perform and interpret on routine basis. H&E stained sections were examined for histomorphological parameters associated with H. pylori infection. Brush cytology was rapid and simple with observed sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 100%. On evaluating the various stains, M.B. and W.G. were found to the rapid and easy to perform and the bacteria stood out very well against the background. Of the histomorphological parameters studied, presence of actively and lymphoid aggregates and absence of intestinal metaplasia correlated positively with the presence of the bacteria. Cytological brushing urea broth test was not very sensitive (55.2%) and specific (51%) for detection of the bacteria.

Adult↗