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Biomedical subjects

N Rao

Publications and source records attributed to N Rao.

142 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of food on the relative bioavailability of deflazacort.

The effect of high- and low-fat meals on the relative bioavailability of deflazacort tablets was investigated in 12 healthy, adult males who were administered 36 mg deflazacort under fasted and fed conditions in a crossover fashion. Serial plasma samples were drawn up to 24 h post-dose and quantified for the active metabolite 21-desacetyl deflazacort (DFZ 21-OH) by a rapid and sensitive HPLC method. Following deflazacort administration with high-fat and low-fat meals and under fasted conditions, DFZ 21-OH area under the curve to infinity averaged 508.39 +/- 131.70, 510.05 +/- 148.30 and 511.90 +/- 188.16 ng.h/ml. DFZ 21-OH Cmax averaged 156.31 +/- 33.31, 156.85 +/- 40.17 and 188.05 +/- 53.35 ng/ml for high-fat, low-fat and fasted treatments, respectively. Differences in Cmax between the fed versus fasted treatments were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The decrease in Cmax under fed conditions was accompanied by an increase in mean Tmax of approximately 17-85% compared to fasted conditions. As expected, terminal half-life was not affected. These data indicate that co-administration of deflazacort tablets with high-fat and low-fat meals leads to a small decrease in rate but does not affect its extent of absorption.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

JMH variants: serologic, clinical, and biochemical analyses in two cases.

BACKGROUND: JMH is a high-frequency red cell blood group antigen that resides on a 76- to 80-kDa glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked protein also known as CDw108. Antibodies with JMH specificity are often autoimmune and are usually, if not always, clinically benign. Some individuals with JMH-variant antigen produce alloantibodies to JMH, but little evidence concerning their clinical significance is available. This article reports on two patients who express a JMH-variant antigen and produced alloanti-JMH. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Murine monoclonal antibodies and human antibodies to JMH were used in hemagglutination, radioimmunoassay, and Western blot testing of red cells from two JMH-variant patients; antiserum from one of these patients was also used in biochemical studies. In addition, in vivo survival of JMH-positive red cells was studied in the same patient. RESULTS: Biochemically, both examples of red cells with the JMH-variant phenotype expressed a JMH protein with a molecular weight similar to that of the normal JMH protein. For both patients, family studies suggested an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. Survival study demonstrated reduced in vivo red cell survival in one patient. CONCLUSION: JMH-variant phenotypes express a protein of normal molecular weight and are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Furthermore, individuals with this phenotype can produce clinically significant antibodies.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quantitative estimation of serum proteins in newborn and their mothers.

The present study investigates the effects of factors such as birthweight, gestation and infants' sex on serum protein levels of newborn and their mothers. The mean concentration of serum proteins in newborn and their mothers was found to be similar. The levels of albumin were high with a corresponding decrease in the levels of globulins in infants which may be related to placental transfer of these molecules. A study of the relationship between birthweight and levels of maternal serum protein fractions revealed a positive correlation of the maternal albumin and a negative correlation of the maternal gamma component with the birthweight of infants. Premature infants showed higher levels of serum proteins than full-term infants, which may be due to an increased rate of degradation in the latter group. A decrease in the levels of serum proteins was observed in male infants and their mothers.

Birth Weight↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Social marketing and diffusion-based strategies for communicating with unique populations: HIV prevention in San Francisco.

We conducted a 2-year investigation of the extent to which strategies based on social marketing and diffusion of innovations concepts are used in preventive health communication with unique (highly ostracized) populations. Of the 49 organizations in San Francisco that operate HIV prevention programs (N = 100), programs that most highly targeted unique populations were surveyed. Personal interviews were then conducted with 38 staff leaders who operated the most and least effective programs. Audiotapes and transcripts were content analyzed to identify the strategies used by program staff. Strategies based on social marketing concepts were more prevalent than strategies based on the diffusion of innovations: More effective programs were characterized by emphasis on homophily, audience segmentation, compatibility-based strategies, and interorganizational collaboration.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of mosaicism in amniotic fluid cultures: a CYTO2000 collaborative study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the assumptions on which the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines for detecting mosaicism in amniotic fluid cultures are based. METHODS: Data from 653 cases of amniotic fluid mosaicism were collected from 26 laboratories. A chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to compare the observed number of mosaic cases with the expected number based on binomial distribution theory. RESULTS: Comparison of observed data from the in situ colony cases with the expected distribution of cases detected based on the binomial distribution did not reveal a significant difference (P = 0.525). CONCLUSIONS: The empirical data fit the binomial distribution. Therefore, binomial theory can be used as an initial discussion point for determining whether ACMG Standards and Guidelines are adequate for detecting mosaicism.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Orthopaedic manifestations in de Barsy syndrome.

de Barsy syndrome is a rare, genetically transmitted condition characterized by severe cutis laxa, joint hypermobility, growth retardation, mental retardation, and characteristic facies. Affected individuals have many orthopaedic manifestations, including developmental dysplasia of the hip, scoliosis, multiple joint dislocations and subluxations, and congenital vertical talus. The management of the orthopaedic manifestations of this syndrome is presented in two typical cases.

Bone Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Physical and cDNA mapping in the DBH region of human chromosome 9q34.

Chromosome 9q34 has been extensively studied and mapped due to the presence of known disease genes, principally tuberous sclerosis 1 (TSC1), in this region. During the course of our mapping of this region we constructed a 555-kb contig beginning approximately 50 kb proximal to the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) gene and extending, with one small deletion, distal to the D9S114 marker. The contig consists of 11 P1 clones, four PAC clones, one BAC clone and six cosmid clones and contains 27 new nonpolymorphic STSs. We have found the region to be unstable in P1, PAC and BAC cloning vehicles and have identified several deleted genomic clones. In addition, we have isolated and mapped the 3' portions of three putative genes located within or immediately distal to the DBH gene, including one large gene that runs on the opposite strand to DBH and utilizes portions of two DBH exons. The genomic clones of the contig, cDNAs and new STSs will be useful reagents for the further study and mapping of this region.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Localized current field hyperthermia: effect on normal ocular tissue.

Using a 500 kHz radiofrequency electromagnetic heating system, the effects of localized current field hyperthermia in normal rabbit eyes were examined. A specially designed scleral plaque placed on normal rabbit eyes was heated to temperatures of 43 degrees C, 45 degrees C, and 47 degrees C for a period of 45 min. The effects of hyperthermia were monitored by clinical examination, fluorescein angiography, electroretinography and histopathology. A graded effect with increasing temperature was found at the lower temperature, and it was confined to the treatment field. At 47 degrees C the electroretinogram was extinguished due to diffuse photoreceptor damage outside the treatment field, as demonstrated by histopathology and electron microscopy. This study indicates that hyperthermia at 45 degrees C for 45 min is the maximum allowable temperature without causing diffuse retinal damage in the normal rabbit eye.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recovery in non-vascular locked-in syndrome during treatment with Sinemet.

A case of successful pharmacological therapy of non-vascular locked-in syndrome (LIS) is described. A 22-year-old male experienced aqueductal stenosis following an episode of viral meningitis 11 months prior to admission. A ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was inserted and subsequently revised three times. Following the last procedure, the patient remained mute, quadriplegic and aphagic. There was no change in the patient's status for 9 days. Bromocriptine (2.5 mg daily) was begun and increased to 45 mg daily without any change in PECS scores. It was then tapered and Sinemet (75/300 daily) was begun and increased to 75/750 daily. The PECS scores in all areas rose steadily during the subsequent 6 weeks. Sinemet may be of value in the rehabilitation therapy of non-vascular LIS; serial patient evaluation by a PECS system may facilitate assessment of the response.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Return to work after rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury.

The relationship of medical variables and discharge functional status to vocational and educational outcomes was examined in 79 closed head-injured patients who were consecutively admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital during a two-year period. A follow-up study, conducted after hospital discharge (median, 16.5 months), found that 66% (n = 52) of the patients had returned to work or school, while 34% (n = 27) did not. Patients were divided into return and non-return to work groups. Traditional variables included age, severity of brain-damage as characterized by CT head scan, duration of post-traumatic amnesia, duration of coma, length of stay and acute inpatient rehabilitation program. Discharge functional scores were analysed by t-tests and chi-square analysis. Results suggest that traditional factors of younger age, shorter length of coma, minimal CT head scan findings and shorter length of stay were significant contributors to educational/vocational outcome. Their significance was enhanced by discharge functional profile measurement of medical, physical and psychological/neuropsychological integrity. Those functional measures not significant were in social, vocational, recreational and communication areas. These factors may continue to improve over a longer period of time and should be tracked in the post-acute rehabilitation phase for their significance in return to work/school.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Beating the odds.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

California↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Compelled weightbearing in persons with hemiparesis following stroke: the effect of a lift insert and goal-directed balance exercise.

The hypotheses have been tested that 1) symmetry of weightbearing in persons who have sustained a stroke could be improved by the addition of a lift to the shoe on the non-paretic lower limb and 2) compelled weightbearing resulting from the addition of a lift in conjunction with targeted exercise helps to overcome the learned disuse of the paretic limb. Weightbearing on the paretic side was measured in eight persons with hemiparesis during quiet standing and in conditions of compelled weight shift. Compelled weight shifts were applied with special lifts to the shoe on the non-paretic limb of the subjects. An increase in symmetrical weightbearing was recorded in conditions of compelled weight shifts: 10-mm lift provided the best symmetry of bipedal standing. We suggest that improved symmetry of bipedal standing obtained with the lift of the non-paretic limb would help in overcoming the learned disuse of the affected limb. Pre- and post-test results of a person with hemiparesis who was wearing a shoe lift on the non-paretic limb during a 6-week physical therapy program showed statistically significant improvement of walking speed, stride length, and weightbearing. Such findings support the idea of using compelled weightbearing via lifting and targeted exercise during treatment.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinicopathologic study of healing excimer laser radial excisions.

Four radial linear excisions were created by an argon fluoride (193 nm) excimer laser in the edematous cornea of a blind eye of a diabetic human patient. Partial thickness corneal trephinations were performed at 3, 7, and 18 months after surgery for histopathologic examination. At 3 months, a wide gap in Bowman's layer permitted extension of an epithelial plug to a depth of 0.35 mm; at 7 and 18 months, the depth of the epithelial plug was decreased to 0.29 mm and 0.01 mm, respectively. With wound healing, excision width decreased and the two cut ends of Bowman's layer were almost reapposed by 18 months, suggesting wound contraction. Linear excisions with the excimer laser appear to be wider than incisions made with a diamond blade, but the pattern of wound maturation appears to be similar.

Biopsy↗