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Biomedical subjects

P Aggarwal

Publications and source records attributed to P Aggarwal.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

A study of autoimmune markers in hepatitis C infection.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with several autoimmune markers. Despite HCV being common in India, no information on this aspect is available. This study was undertaken to ascertain the frequency and clinical significance of autoimmune markers like rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antibodies to double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA), anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), anti smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA), anti liver kidney microsomal 1 antibodies (anti LKM1), anti gastric parietal cell antibodies (anti GPCA), anti mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), anti cardiolipin antibodies (ACL) and cryoglobulins in HCV infection and to determine the effect of treatment on these markers. METHODS: Twenty five patients with chronic hepatitis C and 25 healthy controls were studied. Cryoglobulins were detected by cryoprecipitation, RF by latex agglutination, anti dsDNA and ACL by ELISA while indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect all other autoantibodies. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (72%) demonstrated autoimmune markers. RF, cryoglobulins and anti LKM1 antibodies were the most frequently detected markers (in 32% patients each). ASMA, perinuclear ANCA (pANCA), ANA and anti GPCA were seen in 24, 20, 12 and 4 per cent patients respectively. None of the patients exhibited ACL, AMA or antibodies to dsDNA. No antibodies were detected in healthy controls. Sixty per cent of the patients had rheumatological symptoms. Of the seven patients followed up after treatment with alpha interferon, only two exhibited persistence of RF, while symptoms and other markers disappeared. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Rheumatological symptoms and autoimmune markers are common in HCV infection and are usually overlooked. Patients with unexplained joint pains and/or palpable purpura should be screened for HCV. Further studies are needed to delineate fully the link between infection and autoimmunity.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Status of physical exercise and its association with obesity and hypertension in two urban assembly constituencies of East Delhi.

In a community based study using systematic random sampling in two urban Assembly constituencies in East Delhi, 420 subjects above the age of 30 years were interviewed to find out their status regarding physical exercise. People doing regular exercise were found to be only 44.8%. The commonest reason associated for not doing/irregular physical exercise was nonavailability of time (63.3%), followed by no need felt by the respondents to exercise (23.3%). The prevalence of obesity in the group doing regular exercise was much lower than the group that was not doing regular exercise and the results were statistically significant. Though a similar association was found with hypertension also, the results were not statistically significant.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Estrogen replacement does not prevent the loss of choline acetyltransferase-positive cells in the basal forebrain following either neurochemical or mechanical lesions.

Recent studies have shown that estrogen replacement can enhance the functional status of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. Studies have also shown that estrogen has neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo on a variety of cells and against a variety of insults. The present study examined the ability of estrogen replacement to protect basal forebrain cholinergic neurons from the effects of neurochemical and mechanical injury. Ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats received either estrogen replacement or sham surgery, and then received either a unilateral injection of ibotenic acid into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis, or unilateral transection of the fimbria fornix. Cholinergic neurons in the medial septum and nucleus basalis were detected and quantified using immunohistochemical techniques. The data show that neither 3 weeks nor 13 weeks of continuous estrogen replacement prevented the loss of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-containing cells in the nucleus basalis following a unilateral injection of ibotenic acid. Likewise, estrogen replacement did not prevent a decrease in ChAT-positive cells detected in the medial septum following unilateral transection of the fimbria fornix. Notably, increased numbers of ChAT-positive cells were detected in the contralateral nucleus basalis, and in the ipsilateral and contralateral medial septum, at 2 weeks following a unilateral injection of ibotenic acid into the nucleus basalis; however, these effects were not related to hormone treatment. These data suggest that estrogen replacement does not protect cholinergic neurons in the medial septum and nucleus basalis from the effects of excitotoxic or mechanical injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Doxycycline in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis--a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of doxycycline as a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compare it with methotrexate, a standard DMARD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single (assessor) blind prospective study with 15 patients of RA randomized to doxycycline and 14 to methotrexate. Baseline disease characteristics were similar in both groups. RESULTS: All disease activity measures studied viz. tender and swollen joint counts, physician and patient global assessment, visual analogue pain scale, health assessment questionnaire and ESR improved in both the treatment groups after six months of treatment. The difference between doxycycline and methotrexate was not statistically significant. No major side effects necessitating drug withdrawal were reported from either group. The side effects were few and mostly gastrointestinal. CONCLUSION: Doxycycline is a safe disease modifying drug in RA whose effect is sustained at six months. It compared favourably with methotrexate over a six month follow up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Fasciolopsiasis--a persisting problem in eastern U.P.--a case report.

Fasciolopsiasis, or infection by the intestinal fluke, Fascilopsis buski, is endemic in the eastern states of our country. While it is by no means a rarity, especially in the rural set up, awareness regarding this common parasitic infestation is still a much-needed entity. The importance of a strong degree of suspicion and early diagnosis cannot be over emphasised, if a successful campaign is to be launched in its control. With this as our central theme, we proceed to report a case of and unsually heavy Fasciolopsis buski infection in our hospital, which had failed to be diagnosed in a semi urban setup in UP.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Cardiac involvement in limited systemic sclerosis: non-invasive assessment in asymptomatic patients.

Nineteen patients with limited systemic sclerosis (SSc) and without any cardiac symptoms were evaluated non-invasively for silent cardiac involvement using electrocardiography; M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography, and resting and post exercise radionuclide ventriculography. Left anterior hemiblock and mild pericardial effusion were seen in two patients. The interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness were greater in patients compared with controls. Patients with limited SSc also exhibited low early diastolic filling velocities and a low early diastolic atrial filling ratio. However, these values did not correlate with the age of the patient or disease duration. Eight patients (42.1%) were found to have cardiac dysfunction, of which four had combined systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Isolated systolic and diastolic dysfunction was seen in three patients and one patient, respectively. The age and disease duration in patients with cardiac dysfunction did not differ from patients without cardiac dysfunction. Functional cardiac involvement occurs in a large proportion (42.1%) of patients with limited SSc, and can be easily picked up by non-invasive methods such as echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography. The prognostic significance of these findings requires further long term studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Intravascular hemolysis in aluminium phosphide poisoning.

Intravascular hemolysis is most often secondary to exposure to a variety of drugs or infections, and usually occurs in patients who are deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) enzyme. Aluminium phosphide, a fumigant widely used in India, has been reported to produce intravascular hemolysis in only one patient who also had concomitant G-6-PD deficiency. This report describes the occurrence of intravascular hemolysis with aluminium phosphide poisoning in a patient with normal G-6-PD levels. This is of significance as jaundice in patients with this poisoning is often attributed to hepatic damage alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Muscle response to the twin-block appliance: an electromyographic study of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles.

An electromyographic study was performed on 10 young growing girls in the age group of 9 to 12 years with Class II Division 1 malocclusion and retruded mandible, who were under treatment with Twin-block appliances. Bilateral EMG activity of elevator muscles of the mandible (ie, anterior temporalis and masseter) was monitored longitudinally with bipolar surface electrodes to determine changes in postural, swallowing, and maximal voluntary clenching activity during an observation period of 6 months. The changes were noted at the start of treatment (0 month), within 1 month of Twin-block insertion, at the end of 3 months, and at the end of 6 months. The results revealed a significant increase in postural and maximal clenching EMG activity in masseter (P <.01) and a numeric increase in anterior temporalis activity during the 6 month period of treatment. The increased electromyographic activity can be attributed to an enhanced stretch (myotatic) reflex of the elevator muscles, contributing to isometric contractions. The main force for Twin-block treatment appears to be provided through increased active tension in the stretched muscles (motor unit stimulation) and from initiation of myotatic reflex activity and not through passive tension (viscoelastic properties) of jaw muscles. The results of this study reaffirm the importance of full-time wear for functional appliances to exert their maximum therapeutic effect by way of neuromuscular adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1999

Dengue haemorrhagic fever in adults: a prospective study of 110 cases.

One hundred and ten adult patients hospitalized with dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) during the recent outbreak in North India were prospectively studied. Of these, 48 (43.6%) were grade I, 40 (36.4%) grade II, 10 (9.1%) grade III and 12 (10.9%) grade IV DHF. Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) was seen in 22 (20%) patients. Fever, headache, myalgias and arthralgias were the common symptoms seen in 100%, 80.9%, 76.2% and 52.3% patients, respectively. Spontaneous bleeding was seen in 62 patients (56.4%) with mucocutaneous bleeding being the most common (46 patients). Gastrointestinal bleeding was seen in 38 (34.5%) patients. In as many as 40 patients, the haemorrhagic manifestations occurred after the fever had come down. Fifty-five patients (50%) required platelet transfusions. Twelve patients died, giving a mortality rate of 10.9% in the present study. Prompt recognition and supportive treatment can be lifesaving.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A prospective study of Lyme arthritis in north India.

Twenty seven patients presenting with mono/oligoarticular disease of unknown etiology were prospectively screened for Lyme arthritis. In addition, 12 healthy blood bank donors, 25 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (disease controls), and 20 deer handlers and veterinarians were also screened for IgG antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Only one patient tested borderline positive for antibodies to B. burgdorferi (more likely false positive). None of the healthy subjects, disease controls or occupationally exposed individuals exhibited serological evidence of exposure to B. burgdorferi. Screening for Lyme disease may not be warranted while investigating mono/oligoarthritides of unknown etiology in this part of the country.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1999

Role of doctors in prevention of torture.

Torture is taking place since time immemorial. Doctors can take important part in elimination of this social evil. Torture is deliberate, systematic or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons to force another person or torture victim to make confession or giving information. Torture happens to occur in 3 forms--physical, mental and/or sexual. Doctors working in prisons, police or paramilitary/military forces are most likely to confront with torture and they should follow the medical ethics, codes and conventions in true sense. MCI, IMA, WMA should play their role in educating, motivating and supporting doctors in confronting torture. NHRC and IMA should co-operate each other to protect human rights.

Humans↗