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Biomedical subjects

M Singh

Publications and source records attributed to M Singh.

At least 919 records · Page 51Linked to original sources

Decreased responsiveness of the aortae of hypertensive rats to acetylcholine, histamine and noradrenaline.

The responses to noradrenaline (NA) of the aortae of various hypertensive rats, namely the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), the low blood pressure SHR (LBP-SHR), and the left renal artery stenosed LBP-SHR (LRAS-LBR-SHR), were compared to those of the normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The aortae of the hypertensive rats were significantly more responsive (P less than 0.05) to 10(-8) M NA. However, the reverse was true for higher doses of NA. The ED50 values for the aortae of WKY, LBP-SHR, SHR and LRAS-LBP-SHR were 20, 8.5, 7.8 and 8 nM respectively. The NA-contracted aortae of the LRAS-LBP-SHR were significantly less responsive (P less than 0.05) to the relaxant action of histamine and acetylcholine (ACh) compared to those of the WKY. This observation was not made in the aortae of the LBP-SHR. The maximal relaxation (% of the maximal contraction induced by 10(-8) M NA) observed in the aortae of WKY, LBP-SHR and LRAS-LBP-SHR were, respectively, 72 +/- 2, 66 +/- 6, 39 +/- 7 for ACh and 50 +/- 3, 36 +/- 4, 27 +/- 3 for histamine. In aortae where the endothelium had been removed by collagenase treatment, histamine induced a dose-related contraction. The rank order of this dose-related contraction was WKY greater than LBP-SHR greater than SHR greater than LRAS-LBP-SHR with the corresponding maximal tension (g) 0.89 +/- 0.04, 0.59 +/- 0.04, 0.36 +/- 0.04, 0.19 +/- 0.05. 5 The results suggested that elevation of blood pressure above the normal (due either to intrinsic or extrinsic factors), as seen in SHR and LRAS-LBP-SHR, results in a decreased response of the aortae to ACh and histamine. This effect was seen in both the endothelium mediated relaxation and the nonendothelium mediated contraction.

Acetylcholine↗

Comparison of paraffin baiting and conventional culture techniques for isolation of Nocardia asteroides from sputum.

Of 1,510 sputum samples examined from 1,016 patients with bronchopulmonary disorders, Nocardia asteroides was isolated from 67 samples by paraffin baiting, as compared with only 30 isolations by the conventional technique of culturing on Sabouraud dextrose agar. This higher efficacy of the paraffin bait technique was found to be statistically significant (P less than 0.001).

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Significance of intraocular lens power calculation.

A total of 94 patients underwent extracapsular cataract extraction and insertion of Sinsky style two-loop posterior chamber intraocular lenses. Forty-six eyes received a standard power IOL and 48 eyes were given a preoperatively calculated IOL. A significant difference was found in the two groups with regard to the postoperative refractive error and uncorrected visual acuity.

Adult↗

Tachycardia of carotid chemoreceptors originates in apneic asphyxia in dogs.

Using various anesthetics, we investigated the heart rate changes resulting from apneic asphyxia in paralyzed artificially ventilated dogs with 1) low control heart rate (LCHR) and 2) high control heart rate (HCHR). We observed that apneic asphyxia produced by stopping the ventilation pump for 1 min evoked tachycardia in dogs with LCHR and bradycardia in dogs with HCHR. In dogs breathing 100% O2 in the preapneic period, the tachycardia response was almost wholly abolished, whereas the bradycardia response was attenuated. Intracarotid injection of sodium cyanide induced a tachycardia response in dogs with LCHR and a bradycardia response in dogs with HCHR. The results suggest that 1) apneic asphyxia evokes tachycardia or bradycardia response depending on whether the resting cardiac vagal tone is high or low, respectively, and 2) both types of heart rate responses are in part due to stimulation of carotid chemoreceptors.

Animals↗

Verification of early pregnancy tests in a multicenter trial.

Tests for the diagnosis of early pregnancy have been available since 1974. However, no studies have systematically verified the accuracy of routine clinical laboratories in measuring human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) prior to the time that pregnancy is clinically evident. We have conducted such a study in association with the NICHD-funded Diabetes in Early Pregnancy Study (DIEP). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the etiology of malformations in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus, which probably occurs within the first few weeks of pregnancy, and therefore uniformity of pregnancy testing was necessary among the five centers to find an association of a teratogen at the time of organogenesis. We confirmed that routine clinical laboratories, in fact, could measure accurately hCG at the time of the missed menses; however, detection was not necessarily possible prior to that time. We conclude that in order to assure accurate diagnosis of early pregnancy, tests should ordinarily be delayed until time of the missed menses. When the test is used at this time, it is a reliable tool for early pregnancy testing and thus can be used to resolve questions relating to early pregnancy pathophysiology.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Erythrocytes sedimentation profiles under gravitational field as determined by He-Ne laser. VII. Influence of dextrans, albumin and saline on cellular aggregation and sedimentation rate.

The erythrocytes sedimentation profiles (ESP) of normal blood and of blood mixed with saline, albumin (7%), and various molecular weight dextrans of different concentrations, at various height and widths of the sample holder are determined. These observations show that the sedimentation characteristics of the erythrocytes depend on the influence of these substitutes on the plasma and cellular constituents. The normalised aggregation and the sedimentation rate, as determined from these profiles, show that the dextran 40 and dextran 70 retard the erythrocytes sedimentation, for high molecular weight it is similar to that of normal blood and is the maximum for saline. This change for high molecular weight dextrans could be attributed to the enhanced aggregation tendency of erythrocytes and for saline to the enhanced sedimentation due to decrease in the viscosity and density of suspending medium. The influence of the various concentrations of dextrans on these parameters has been determined.

Albumins↗

Effect of disodium etidronate (EHDP) on bone ingrowth in a porous material.

This study evaluated the effect of disodium etidronate (EHDP) on biomechanical and histologic characteristics of bone ingrowth in a porous material. EHDP was administered parenterally to six adult mongrel dogs at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day for eight weeks. Six additional dogs served as controls and were injected with saline. Porous titanium fiber composites were inserted into the proximal humeri and the left olecranons of all animals after the first four weeks of treatment. Upon completing a total of eight weeks of treatment, all animals were sacrificed and the bone-porous implant interfacial shear strength was determined by a pull-out test to failure. Mean shear strength of fixation for the EHDP-treated group was reduced by 76% compared to the control group (p less than 0.001). Bone ingrowth was mineralized in all of the control specimens. Mineralization of tissue ingrowth was inhibited, however, in all specimens from EHDP-treated animals. These findings suggest that cementless skeletal fixation of porous-coated implants by bone ingrowth may be delayed or prevented by the administration of EHDP.

Animals↗

Parasitic infections in Singapore.

This paper describes various parasitic infections which are encountered in Singapore. These include the soil transmitted helminths, pinworms, Clonorchis/Opisthorchis, Hymenolepis, filariae, malarial parasites, Toxoplasma and other protozoal infections. The reasons for the transmission of these parasites in the republic are discussed. Some of the problems associated with their diagnosis are highlighted.

Cestode Infections↗

Use of a germanium detector to optimize scatter correction in SPECT.

A collimated germanium detector with an energy resolution of 1 keV full width at half maximum at 140 keV was used to measure the energy spectrum of radiation emitted from a test object containing an asymmetric distribution of 99mTc and nonuniform attenuation. Energy spectra were recorded from 24 positions around the object and convolved with Gaussian functions to simulate data that would have been acquired with a scintillation camera. The scatter fraction was computed from the convolved spectra in conjunction with a scatter-free reference spectrum. After adding appropriate Poisson noise, a technique based on maximizing the signal to noise ratio was developed to optimally subtract the scatter fraction from the recorded counts. SPECT imaging of the test object was performed to evaluate the correction technique.

Germanium↗