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Biomedical subjects

M M Singh

Publications and source records attributed to M M Singh.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Postcoital contraceptive activity of some indigenous plants in rats.

Crude ethanolic extract of seeds of Cichorium intybus and aerial parts of Guetterda andamanica, Memcylon lushingtonii, and Solanum crassypetalum and their fractions were evaluated for postcoital contraceptive efficacy in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. The extracts were administered orally in days 1-10 postcoitum, and significant contraceptive activity was observed. On fractionation, the activity was localized primarily in the chloroform- or butanol-insoluble fractions. The activity in these fractions was invariably associated with a significantly reduced number of implantations.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Uterine luminal epithelial alkaline phosphatase activity and pinopod development in relation to endometrial sensitivity in the rat.

The period of maximal endometrial sensitivity in the rat was characterized by high alkaline phosphatase activity in uterine luminal and glandular epithelium and endometrial stroma. The activity in endometrial stroma increased following decidualization. Pinopod development on the endometrial surface was first observed during the presensitivity period. Their number increased, apparently more so on the antimesometrial rather than the mesometrial segment of the uterus, on the day of maximal sensitivity. Inhibition in endometrial sensitivity by single anti-implantation (1.25 mg/kg, po) dose of centchroman on day 1 post-coitum (p.c.), although it did not affect alkaline phosphatase activity on days 2 and 3 p.c., caused complete inhibition in its activity in uterine luminal and glandular epithelium and pinopod development on days 4 and 5-coinciding, respectively, with time of entry of preimplantation embryos into the uterus and period of maximal endometrial sensitivity in this species. Significant decrease in enzyme activity was also evident in the entire endometrial stroma and myometrium, except blood capillaries, on these days. In comparison, prevention of entry of native embryos into the uterus by placing a ligature at the utero-tubal junction had no effect on pinopod development, but caused marked decrease in enzyme activity in luminal and glandular epithelium only during the immediate postimplantation period. The uterine lumen on the day of maximal sensitivity in centchroman-treated rats appeared highly distended and was lined with tall columnar epithelium, in comparison to low cuboidal epithelium in controls. The findings demonstrate: (a) a correlation between uterine luminal epithelial alkaline phosphatase activity and endometrial sensitivity; (b) complete inhibition in enzyme activity in luminal and glandular epithelium following centchroman treatment might be related to altered permeability characteristics of epithelial cells, which together with the absence of pinopods and highly distended uterine lumen on the day of maximal sensitivity, suggest inhibition of endocytosis/pinocytosis of luminal fluid, luminal closure, apposition of blastocyst trophoblast to luminal epithelium, and secretory activity of glandular epithelium; (c) pinopod development on the endometrial surface was independent of presence of viable blastocysts in utero; and (d) complete absence of pinopods suggests lack of endometrial sensitivity, but their presence might not necessarily indicate a sensitized endometrium in the rat.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1998

Accuracy of clinical manoeuvres in detection of minimal ascites.

A study was conducted to assess the clinical accuracy of various clinical manoeuvres and signs used routinely for detection of ascites. Sixty-six patients admitted in medical ward of a teaching hospital after initial screening by a consultant were selected. Exclusion criteria were; cases with previous history of ascites, who had undergone paracentesis in the recent past or with evidence of ascites from history. Another clinician blind to history and clinical details assessed the presence of ascites by the selected methods a sonographer blind of clinical and historical details assessed the cases for presence of ascitic fluid. The clinical findings were compared using ultrasonographic (USG) findings as gold standard. Ascites was detected in 35 patients by USG. the mean weight and abdominal girth of study subjects with or without ascites were comparable (p > 0.05). Sensitivity of auscultatory percussion was highest (65.7%) followed by flank dullness (57.1%) and least for fluid wave sign (20.0%). Fluid wave sign had the highest specificity (100%). We found that none of the manoeuvres studied for detection of ascites was both highly sensitive and specific. However, auscultatory percussion could be useful for initial screening of patients to detect ascites.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Knowledge and self-care practices of diabetics in a resettlement colony of Chandigarh.

Self-care is an important component of diabetes control programme. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in a resettlement colony of Chandigarh and 60 diabetics aged 20 years and above were identified. Their knowledge and practices regarding diet, genital hygiene, care of foot, wound, complications of diabetes and medication was assessed using a semistructured interview schedule. Most of them (60%) opined that diabetic should consume whatever is cooked in the family. Forty eight diabetics knew that sweets and fatty foods should be avoided but only 18.3% were avoiding them. Genital hygiene was maintained by 51.7% and foot care was done by 63.3% through regular washing. Monitoring of blood sugar was poor (46.7%), only 3 knew and were continuing self testing of urine. Oral anti-diabetic drug compliance rate was 62.9%. None of the patients on insulin injections knew about self therapy. Knowledge regarding diabetic complications was partial. There is a need to reorient and motivate health personnels in educating diabetics about self-care.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A study of ocular morbidity among elderly population in a rural area of central India.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in five randomly selected villages in Wardha district of Maharashtra state to study the magnitude and factors related to the prevalence of ocular diseases among the elderly population. A total of 903 persons above 50 years were screened. The prevalence of low vision was 32% while that of blindness was 12.2%. Ocular morbidity rate was 1.21 lesions per elderly person and it increased significantly with increasing age (p < 0.001). Ocular diseases were found to be more prevalent among males, low socio-economic status group and landless labourers (p < 0.001). There was a high prevalence of refractive errors (40.8%), cataract (40.4%), aphakia (11.1%) followed by pterygium (5.2%), glaucoma (3.1%) and corneal opacities (3%). Prevalence of diseases of the lens and iris increased significantly with increasing age (p < 0.001). There is a need to evolve strategies for reducing the burden of ocular diseases and improve geriatric eye health under the existing infrastructure of health care delivery in our country.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Impact of health centre availability on utilisation of maternity care and pregnancy outcome in a rural area of Haryana.

Six hundred married women of 15-45 years age group were interviewed in 4 villages of the district Ambala in Haryana. Impact of health centre (HC) availability on the knowledge, opinion and practices related to maternity care and pregnancy outcome was assessed after adjusting the effect of socio-economic status. Except 17 women (2.8%), everyone knew at least one correct purpose of antenatal care (ANC) and 98.2% women had contacted health staff for ANC. However, knowledge of the respondents about the components of ANC was found to be poor in study villages. Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) conducted delivery in 76.1% cases in sub-centre (SC), 75.6% in villages without a HC compared to 49.8% in primary health centre (PHC) village. However, preference for TBAs in PHC village was 14.9%, in SC village 33.5%, and in villages without HC 36.3% (p < 0.001). Among respondents having better awareness about ANC components, preference and utilisation of modern delivery attendants was found to be higher. For maternity illnesses, consultation rate of government functionaries was 67.9% in PHC village, 52.2% in SC village and 55.8% in villages without a HC. Perinatal mortality rate of 76.0/1000 births in villages without HC was not significantly different from the rate of 87.4/1000 in SC village but rate of 38.9/1000 in the PHC village was significantly lower (p < 0.01). Awareness and availability of modern maternity services were found to have significant influence on the health seeking behaviour and pregnancy outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Accuracy of palpation and percussion manoeuvres in the diagnosis of splenomegaly.

A study was conducted on 80 patients admitted in a teaching hospital to see the accuracy of two palpatory methods (Supine palpation and Middleton's manoeuvre) and three percussion methods (Traube's space percussion, Castell's and Nixon's manoeuvres) in the diagnosis of splenomegaly. Ultrasonographic findings were considered as gold standard for diagnosing splenomegaly. Mean age of study subjects was 31.5 years and mean Quetelet's index was 17.8 +/- 2.6 kg/m2. Sensitivity of Middleton's and Castell's manoeuvres was similar (85.7%) and higher than other manoeuvres. Nixon's manoeuvre had the least sensitivity (66.7%). Specificity was highest (92.1%) with supine palpation and least (31.6%) with Castell's manoeuvre. Supine palpation showed highest positive predictive value (91.7%). Receiver Operating Characteristics curves showed greater area with middleton's manoeuvre (0.93) followed by supine palpation (0.92), Castell's manoeuvre (0.75) and Traube's space percussion (0.74), the findings of the study suggests that palpatory methods like Middeton's manoeuvre and Supine palpation should be routinely used for diagnosing splenomegaly among non-obese individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Interobserver variations in clinical signs for diagnosis of pleuritis.

A study was conducted on 150 patients admitted in a teaching hospital to find out reliable clinical signs for diagnosing pleuritis. Cases were selected based on suspicion of pleural involvement by history and examination. Final diagnosis was made by correlations with radiographic and ultrasonographic reports. Reliability of the signs was determined on the basis of high concordance of independently observed variations between two medical consultants. Inflammatory involvement of pleura was seen in 69.3% cases and 30.7% were due to oedema disorders. Concordance between observers was high for crepitations (95.5%) and pleural rub (93.8%) followed by vocal resonance (87.6%), dull percussion note (76.9%) and mediastinal shift (76.9%).

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of methyl methanesulphonate and ethyl methanesulphonate in the bismesylate salt of DPI 201-106, a positive inotropic agent for the treatment of heart failure.

A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric procedure using single-ion monitoring and repetitive scanning was developed to characterize and determine methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) and ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) in the free base and bismesylate salt of DPI 201-106, a positive inotropic agent used in the treatment of heart failure. Mass spectral fragmentations, leading to product ions, are rationalized and mechanisms of potential rearrangement pathways are described. The apparent levels of MMS and EMS, as measured against the internal standard n-propyl methanesulphonate, were found to be 0.51 and 1.31 micrograms per gram of bismesylate salt, respectively. The presence of these alkylating agents in the free base was not observed.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed1996

Inhibition of progesterone-induced development of giant mitochondria in uterine glandular epithelial cells by an antiestrogen in rat.

Effect of antiestrogen ormeloxifene on progesterone-induced development of giant mitochondria in uterine glandular epithelial cells in ovariectomized adult Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. Antiestrogen tamoxifen and antiprogestin onapristone were used for comparison. Well-formed giant mitochondria were observed in uterine glandular epithelial cells in rats treated with progesterone (20 mg/kg, subcutaneous [SC] per se for three consecutive days. In rats primed with estradiol-17 beta (0.5 micrograms/day, s.c.) on days-2 and -1 before progesterone treatment, there was, in addition, a marked increase and distension of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) and Golgi complex, in comparison to extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and polyribosomes in progesterone per se treated rats. Cytological picture in rats receiving single (1.25 mg/kg, day 1, p.o.) or multiple (0.25 mg/kg, days 1-3, p.o.) anti-implantation doses of ormeloxifene showed marked reduction in glandular epithelial cell height, luminal surface microvilli, RER, polyribosomes and cytoplasm:nucleus ratio, straightening of intercellular membranes, and interdigitation of basement membrane. Mitochondria were of normal size and nuclei were heterochromatic. Inhibition in the case of tamoxifen (0.1 mg/kg, days 1-3, p.o.) appeared partial and rare giant mitochondria with degenerating cristae and outer membranes were apparent. Onapristone (10 mg/kg, day 1, s.c.), in addition to inhibiting development of giant mitochondria, caused extensive vacuolization and distension of intercellular membranes in glandular epithelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Uterine estradiol and progesterone receptor concentration, activities of certain antioxidant enzymes and dehydrogenases and histoarchitecture in relation to time of secretion of nidatory estrogen and high endometrial sensitivity in rat.

Alterations in uterine nuclear and cytosolic estradiol (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor concentration, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), surface and transmission electron microscopy and histology in relation to the time of secretion of nidatory estrogen and the onset of endometrial sensitivity in the rat were investigated. A significant increase in plasma estradiol (E2) concentration in control rats was observed at 22.00 h on day 4 post-coitum, whereas progesterone (P) concentration increased at 17.00 h on day 4 and was maintained until 17.00 h on day 5. The period of high endometrial sensitivity (10.00 h on day 5) was characterized by elevated uterine cytosolic ER and nuclear and cytosolic PR concentration and POD activity, low columnar luminal epithelium with undulating surface and intercellular membranes, covered with short microvilli and pinopods, and containing numerous electron-transparent apical vesicles, mitochondria, polyribosomes, rough (RER) and smooth (SER) endoplasmic reticulum, well developed Golgi, few lysosomes and lipid droplets and loose edematous antimesometrial stroma. Inhibition in endometrial sensitivity by post-coital centchroman was associated with a marked depletion in uterine cytosolic ER and an increase in nuclear ER concentration, a decrease in POD and G-6-PDH activities, compact fibroblastic stroma, an increase in luminal epithelial cell height with decreased RER, SER, polyribosomes, Golgi, straightening of intercellular membranes, reduced surface undulations and absence of pinopods. Electron-transparent vesicles appeared flattened and clumped in the apical portion of cells, tight junctions were more prominent and lipid droplets were translucent. Nuclear and cytosolic PR and the pattern of secretion or plasma E2 and P remained unaffected. CAT, SOD and LDH activities, although high throughout pre-implantation, did not vary in relation to the secretion of nidatory estrogen, endometrial sensitivity or centchroman treatment.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Correlation of pinopod development on uterine luminal epithelial surface with hormonal events and endometrial sensitivity in rat.

Intrinsic role of preovulatory and nidatory estrogen and progesterone and presence of viable blastocysts in utero in pinopod development on the uterine luminal epithelial surface and correlation between time of their development and onset of endometrial sensitivity were investigated. In adult rats, pinopods were observed on the entire epithelium even before secretion of nidatory estrogen, i.e. at 14.00 h on day 4 post-coitum (p.c.). Apparently, their number increased, more so on the antimesometrial than the mesometrial side, at 10.00 h on day 5, but were fewer and mostly collapsed at 10.00 h on day 6. Pinopods on day 4 were located within epithelial depressions and foldings, but protruded from the surface on days 5 and 6. Normal pinopods were also present on day 8 p.c. in rats under delayed implantation, but an implantation-inducing dose of estradiol-17 beta administered about 18 h earlier caused their collapse like that on day 6 in intact rats. Development and appearance of pinopods in intact or delayed rats was unaffected when native preimplantation embryos were prevented from entering the uterus. Normal pinopods were seen in immature rats receiving progesterone for at least 3 days or cyproterone acetate for 4 days, but not after estradiol alone. In animals receiving progesterone or priming/sensitizing estradiol in addition to progesterone, the decidual response was suboptimal, irrespective of the presence of pinopods on the day of stimulation. In animals in which a condition mimicking preimplantation had been produced by suitable hormone supplementation, optimal endometrial sensitivity and decidual response were elicited, even though most pinopods appeared collapsed, resembling those on day 6 in intact rats and about 18 h after estradiol in implantation-delayed rats. Findings confirm that pinopod development on uterine luminal epithelium was dependent on progesterone alone and demonstrate that: (i) preovulatory (priming) or nidatory (endometrial sensitizing) estrogen or viable blastocysts in utero have no role in their development. Nidatory estrogen, instead, appears to limit pinopod development by causing their collapse; (ii) pinopod development/presence on the endometrial surface might indicate the uterus coming into a period of sensitivity rather than actually being in it and might thus serve as a useful marker of "transfer window" rather than "implantation window"; (iii) in the rat, pinopod development might serve as an alternate assay for evaluation of progestational activity of newer test agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Early abortifacient action of RU 486 by continuous intravenous infusion in rat.

RU 486 administered through constant intravenous infusion at 20 mg/kg dose on day 8 of pregnancy induced frank vaginal bleeding and resorption of all implantations in 100% rats. This was associated with an almost 4-fold reduction in progesterone secretion rate by the dispersed luteal cells ex-vivo. At 12 mg/kg dose, an incomplete resorption of implantations was observed in all treated animals. Results indicate that slow and continuous intravenous infusion of this antiprogestin was highly effective in terminating pregnancy shortly after implantation in the rat and this could, at least partially, be related to its luteolytic action in this species.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1995

Time-related effects of a triphenylethylene antiestrogen on estrogen-induced changes in uterine weight, estrogen receptors, and endometrial sensitivity in rats.

Time-related estrogen antagonistic action of a single oral contraceptive (1.25 mg/kg) dose of the triphenylethylene antiestrogen centchroman was determined in ovariectomized immature rats. Tamoxifen and nafoxidine were used for comparison. A single oral administration of centchroman followed by three doses of estradiol-17 beta (1 microgram/d, s.c.) caused significant dose-dependent inhibition in estradiol-17 beta-induced increase in uterine weight and nuclear and cytosolic estrogen receptors. But the inhibition at antiimplantation dose was evident only if estradiol-17 beta treatment was initiated not later than 48 h post-antiestrogen. Alternatively, when antiestrogen treatment was followed by a single dose of estradiol-17 beta between days 2-7, a synergistic action, typical of antiestrogens possessing weak estrogen agonistic activity, was observed. In immature rats in which a condition mimicking preimplantation was produced by estradiol-17 beta (0.5 microgram/d, s.c.) priming on days -2 and -1, followed by progesterone (1 mg/d, s.c.) and an endometrial sensitizing dose (0.5 microgram/d, s.c.) of estradiol-17 beta at 1600 h on day 4, anti-implantation dose of centchroman administered on day 1, too, failed to inhibit uterine weight gain induced by sensitizing dose of estradiol-17 beta, but caused marked inhibition in endometrial sensitivity to a deciduogenic stimulus and decidualization and weight gain of traumatized uterine horn 96 h post-traumatization over non-traumatized horn was only about 150% (725% in controls). Inhibition in endometrial sensitivity and decidualization was evident when the interval between antiestrogen treatment and sensitizing estradiol was < 126 h. Pinopods were present on endometrial surface on day 5 whether or not priming and/or sensitizing doses of estradiol were administered, but decidual response was mild if either of these doses of estradiol-17 beta was deferred. Findings suggest that: (a) duration of antiestrogenic action of single anti-implantation dose of centchroman in rat was about 126 h, which in ovariectomized immature rats was evident only when a condition mimicking preimplantation was produced and the antiestrogenic response was based on inhibition in estradiol-induced endometrial sensitivity and not uterine weight gain; (b) priming as well as sensitizing estrogen were essential to get optimal decidual responses; (c) appearance of pinopods on endometrial surface may not be related to endometrial sensitivity; and (d) tamoxifen and nafoxidine appear slightly longer acting with duration of antiestrogenic action of approximately 150 h.

Administration, Oral↗