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Biomedical subjects

M Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to M Kumar.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Cognitive-behavioral stress management increases free testosterone and decreases psychological distress in HIV-seropositive men.

The effects of a 10-week group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on psychological distress and plasma free testosterone in symptomatic, HIV-seropositive men were examined. Participants were randomized to either CBSM (n = 42) or a wait-list control group (n = 23). Men in the CBSM intervention showed significant increases in testosterone, whereas control participants showed significant decreases. Those participating in CBSM had significant distress reductions, whereas controls showed no such change. Alterations in free testosterone were inversely related to changes in distress states over time, independent of any changes in cortisol. These findings demonstrate that a short-term CBSM intervention increases free testosterone levels among symptomatic, HIV-seropositive men, and alterations in free testosterone are associated with changes in psychological distress observed during CBSM.

Adult↗

Tuberculosis of the gallbladder.

Analysis of 5 patients with gallbladder tuberculosis who had open cholecystectomy and review of literature have shown that, although still rare it presents as a part of systemic miliary tuberculosis, abdominal tuberculosis, isolated gallbladder tuberculosis and as a calculus cholecystitis in anergic patients. There are no pathognomonic signs, the diagnosis depends on suspicion of tuberculosis, peroperative findings and histological examination.

Adult↗

Renal cell carcinoma in cases of adult polycystic kidney disease: changing diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Renal cell carcinoma in adult polycystic kidney disease is of rare occurrence and poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We have treated three such patients in our department. One was male and two were females ranging in age from 20 to 60 years. All were diagnosed preoperatively with ultrasonography or contrast-enhanced CT. Radical nephrectomy was performed in all patients. During the follow-up no patient had recurrence in the contralateral kidney. One patient had local recurrence in the renal fossa and was treated with local radiotherapy and immunotherapy. In the past due to difficulty in diagnosis, invasive investigations like angiography were recommended and prophylactic contralateral nephrectomy was often undertaken. With the availability of reliable noninvasive investigations these patients can be diagnosed accurately and the contralateral kidney saved in most cases.

Adult↗

Medial displacement of grommets: an unwanted sequel of grommet insertion.

Grommet insertion is one of the commonest surgical procedures performed in the UK. We have come across three cases in which grommets have displaced medially in the middle ear after establishing a satisfactory post-insertion position. We suggest that an abnormally long myringotomy incision and improper placement of the grommet are responsible for this unwanted outcome.

Child↗

Manual dexterity and successful hearing aid use.

Fine dexterity of the hand might be expected to correlate with the successful use of a hearing aid. In this study, the manual dexterity of 30 individuals between 65 and 85 years using a hearing aid was tested by the Purdue pegboard test and the result was compared to the benefit obtained from the use of a hearing aid assessed by a questionnaire. Of the 30 individuals included in this study 16 were wearing a 'behind the ear' type of hearing aid and the rest had an 'in the ear' type of hearing aid. A comparison is made between the two types of heariing aids. The results demonstrate a correlation between manual dexterity and successful use of a hearing aid when all the 30 individuals were considered as a single group. However, no such correlation was found for 'in the ear' group when they were analysed separately.

Aged↗

Post-operative pain in tonsillectomy: bipolar electrodissection technique vs dissection ligation technique. A double-blind randomized prospective trial.

The two commonly employed methods for tonsillectomy at present are electrodissection and ligature dissection. This study was carried out on 70 patients as a randomized prospective double blind trial to compare the post-operative morbidity of these methods with special reference to pain. The post-operative pain appears to be much less for the ligation dissection technique compared to the electrodissection method except during the first post-operative day. Irrespective of the technique employed for tonsillectomy, the worst pain was experienced on the fifth and sixth post-operative day by almost all of the patients.

Adolescent↗

CD13-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma of T-cell origin--a diagnostic and histogenetic problem.

The expression of myelomonocytic-associated antigens in anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCLs), particularly those presenting in extranodal sites, can make their distinction from extramedullary myeloid cell tumors (EMCTs) or histiocytic tumors problematic. Yet, this distinction is clinically significant because of its therapeutic and prognostic implications. Herein, we describe a case of extranodal anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive CD30-positive ALCL of T-cell origin in a 12-year-old boy, which was initially called an EMCT because of the expression of CD13 and HLA-DR detected by flow cytometry and the absence of other T-cell-related surface markers. However, the detection of cytoplasmic CD3 by flow cytometry prompted further studies. The tumor was composed of large cells with abundant slightly eosinophilic vacuolated cytoplasm and ovoid or reniform nuclei with a few small nucleoli. Using immunohistochemistry, the tumor was positive for CD45, CD30, CD45RO, and CD43 with a strong cytoplasmic and nuclear anaplastic lymphoma kinase stain. The tumor cells showed a T-cell clonal genotype. Electron microscopy revealed no ultrastructural features of myelomonocytic or histiocytic origin. The patient responded well to the chemotherapy and was in complete remission for 10 months at the time of submission of this manuscript. Review of the literature showed inconsistencies regarding the diagnosis, nomenclature, and, therefore, treatment and prognosis of these tumors. In addition, the CD13 expression in ALCL raises some histogenetic questions and may indicate origin from a pluripotent stem cell, misprogramming during malignant transformation, or a microenvironmental effect on lymphoid cell expression of surface antigens. Therefore, ALCL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of EMCTs or histiocytic tumors, particularly when surface marker lineage assignment is ambiguous.

Adolescent↗

First branchial groove anomaly.

First branchial groove anomalies are very rare. We report a case of a first branchial groove anomaly presented as an infected cyst in an 11-month-old child. Management of such lesions is complicated because of their close association with the facial nerve. Surgical management must include identification and protection of the facial nerve. Embryology and facial nerve disposition in relation to the anomaly are reviewed.

Branchial Region↗

Effect of betel/areca nut (Areca catechu) extracts on intestinal epithelial cell lining.

Carcinogenic and other toxic manifestations of areca/betel nut extracts on the buccal cavity and upper digestive tract are well documented. The present study deals with in vivo and in situ effects of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of areca nut on rat intestinal epithelial cell membrane. In vivo daily oral administration by gastric intubation for 1p w produced significant declines in brush border membrane alkaline phosphatase, Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase, and the digestive enzyme sucrase. The decline in activities were more prominent after 4-w exposures. Instant short term in situ exposure to aqueous extract produced higher enzyme activities, indicating the initial activation of active sites by areca nut extract constituent(s). Significant declines in brush border membrane constituents (total hexose, sialic acid and cholesterol) were also evident following continuous exposures to areca nut extracts. These findings suggest that prolonged chewing of areca nut causes significant alterations in intestinal epithelial cell lining functions and could lead to malabsorption of nutrients.

Administration, Oral↗

Intralenticular foreign bodies: report of eight cases and review of management.

PURPOSE: The management of intralenticular foreign bodies (ILFBs) with or without cataract has varied from time to time in the last century. We evaluated the surgical removal of the ILFBs with cataract extraction as a single-stage procedure. METHODS: Eight consecutive cases with intralenticular foreign bodies presenting to the trauma centre at our institute, were included in the study. Planned ILFB removal with cataract extraction and IOL implantation as a single-stage procedure was done in all the patients. They were followed up from 2 months to 2 years after the surgery. RESULTS: ILFBs were removed with Kelman-Mcpherson forceps in seven cases and in one it was expressed with the nucleus during extra capsular cataract extraction. Co-existent posterior capsular tears were seen in two eyes, of which only one needed a localized vitrectomy. Posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation was possible without any complication in all the cases. Postoperative uveitis seen in three cases was easily controlled with periocular steroids. Best corrected visual acuity at last examination was 6/9 or better in 7 cases and 6/12 in one case with posterior capsular opacification. CONCLUSIONS: Timing and necessity of ILFB removal may be adjusted according to the foreign body characteristics and associated ocular trauma, choosing, as far as possible, the least traumatic procedure. Use of forceps rather than magnets is safer for the removal of the ILFB. Co-existent posterior capsular tears need to be anticipated and dealt with when encountered.

Adolescent↗

Surface protein changes in goat spermatozoa during capacitation.

Polypeptides of goat sperm surface before and after capacitation were examined by radiolabelling and immunologically using polyclonal antisera. Radioiodination revealed five protein bands having mol wt of 14.8, 72.4, 81, 100 and 128 kDa in uncapacitated ejaculated spermatozoa and only three bands of 23.4, 27 and 72.4 KDa in capacitated spermatozoa. The protein band with mol wt 72.4 kDa was only feebly iodinated in uncapacitated sperm surface but in capacitated spermatozoa it was heavily labelled. Western blot analysis of detergent-extracted proteins using gamma-globulin fraction of antisera raised against purified goat sperm plasma membrane revealed six antigens (17.8, 29.1, 33.4, 45.6, 85.1, 123.2 kDa) in uncapacitated spermatozoa, four (26, 32.1, 40.1, 45.6 kDa) in capacitated spermatozoa and only one (45.6 kDa) in acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. High mol wt proteins were more numerous on the surface of uncapacitated spermatozoa while the capacitated spermatozoa had relatively low mol wt proteins. An apparent effect of capacitation is the metabolism and reorganisation of proteins on goat sperm surface. Polypeptides on capacitated sperm surface revealed through radiolabelling and polyclonal antisera may have a likely receptor(s) role in the recognition and binding to homologous zona pellucida during fertilization.

Acrosome Reaction↗

Anhidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia (Christ-Seimens-Touraine syndrome)--case report with a review.

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia commonly transmitted as an x-linked recessive disorder is very rare. The complete syndrome occurs in males and females are carriers. Our patients comprised two sisters who had the complete syndrome. This is much rarer and is reported to be inherited as autosomal recessive disorder, there are only a few case reports of females presenting with a complete syndrome in the literature.

Adolescent↗

Hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Enicostemma littorale Blume (chhota chirayata) on alloxan induced diabetes mellitus in rats.

The whole plant aqueous extract of E. littorale was tested for its hypoglycemic activity on normoglycemic, hyperglycemic and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Blood sugar lowering activity was not observed in normoglycemic and glucose loaded hyperglycemic rats in the short time experiment. But in case of diabetic rats, the fall of blood sugar after 30 days treatment with the aqueous extract was found to be significant (P < 0.001). The decrease in the plasma glucose level was accompanied with decrease in the level of glycosylated haemoglobin and glucose-6-phosphatase activity in liver. The potent anti-diabetic properties of E. littorale has been reported for the first time.

Alloxan↗

Influence of cadmium on growth and development of Vicia faba Linn.

Influence of cadmium (Cd) on growth and development of broad bean (V. faba) was assessed in pot cultures with cadmium iodide (CdI2) in different concentrations ranging from 15 to 500 mg per kg of soil. There was a decline in plant height and total dry weight. Root size decreased most significantly with a corresponding reduction in the frequency of root nodules. Total soluble protein in leaf, stem and root suffered a pronounced loss with increasing concentration of cadmium. Chlorophyll a was the most sensitive pigment followed by chlorophyll b and carotenoids. Nitrate reductase activity too was adversely affected. Cadmium contamination induced abnormalities in stomata and trichomes.

Cadmium↗

SPECT brain perfusion findings in mild or moderate traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this manuscript is to present the findings in the largest series of SPECT brain perfusion imaging reported to date for mild or moderate traumatic brain injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective evaluation of 228 SPECT brain perfusion-imaging studies of patients who suffered mild or moderate traumatic brain injury with or without loss of consciousness (LOC). All patients had no past medical history of previous brain trauma, neurological, or psychiatric diseases, HIV, alcohol or drug abuse. The patient population included 135 males and 93 females. The ages ranged from 11-88 years (mean 40.8). The most common complaints were characteristic of the postconcussion syndrome: headaches 139/228 (61%); dizziness 61/228 (27%); and memory problems 63/228 (28%). LOC status was reported to be positive in 121/228 (53%), negative in 41/228 (18%), and unknown for 63/228 (28%). RESULTS: Normal studies accounted for 52/228 (23%). For abnormal studies (176/228 or 77%) the findings were as follows: basal ganglia hypoperfusion 338 lesions (55.2%); frontal lobe hypoperfusion 146 (23.8%); temporal lobes hypoperfusion 80 (13%); parietal lobes hypoperfusion 20 (3.7%); insular and or occipital lobes hypoperfusion 28 (4.6%). Patients' symptoms correlated with the SPECT brain perfusion findings. The SPECT BPI studies in 122/228 (54%) were done early within 3 months of the date of the accident, and for the remainder, 106/228 (46%) over 3 months and less than 3 years from the date of the injury. In early imaging, 382 lesions were detected; in 92 patients (average 4.2 lesions per study) imaging after 3 months detected 230 lesions: in 84 patients (average 2.7 lesions per study). CONCLUSIONS: Basal ganglia hypoperfusion is the most common abnormality following mild or moderate traumatic brain injury (p = 0.006), and is more common in patients complaining of memory problem (p = 0.0005) and dizziness (p = 0.003). Early imaging can detect more lesions than delayed imaging (p = 0.0011). SPECT brain perfusion abnormalities can occur in the absence of LOC.

Journal Article↗

Intranasal IFN-gamma gene transfer protects BALB/c mice against respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major respiratory pathogen in infants, young children and the elderly and causes severe bronchiolitis and asthma. In an effort to develop a preventive IFN-gamma therapy against RSV infection, an intranasal gene transfer strategy was utilized. Intranasal administration of a plasmid expressing the IFN-gamma cDNA (pIFN-gamma) resulted in the expression of IFN-gamma in murine lungs and decreased RSV replication. The mice administered with pIFN-gamma and then infected with RSV exhibited a significant decrease in broncho-alveolar lavage lymphocyte and neutrophil counts. A significant reduction in epithelial cell damage, infiltration of mononuclear cells in the peribronchiolar and perivascular regions, and thickening of the septa was observed in the lungs of mice treated with pIFN-gamma when compared to controls. These results suggest that intranasal IFN-gamma gene transfer results in decreased RSV replication and pulmonary inflammation and may be useful against RSV infection.

Administration, Intranasal↗