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Biomedical subjects

P Chopra

Publications and source records attributed to P Chopra.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Efficacy of valganciclovir in the treatment of cytomegalovirus disease in kidney and pancreas transplant recipients.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is relatively common following solid organ transplant, particularly if a serologically negative recipient receives an organ from a serologically positive donor (D+/R-). Although valganciclovir is approved for the treatment of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients and is used for the prophylaxis against CMV infection in solid organ transplant patients, the current standard treatment for CMV disease in solid organ transplant recipients remains intravenous ganciclovir. We retrospectively reviewed our experience using valganciclovir as treatment for CMV disease in CMV D+/R- kidney and/or pancreas transplant recipients from March 2002 to June 2005. A total of 37 cases with primary CMV disease were diagnosed and treated with either intravenous ganciclovir as induction followed with valganciclovir or valganciclovir from the beginning. We compared clinical outcomes and viremia between the two groups. Our data suggest that valganciclovir is an effective treatment modality for primary CMV disease in kidney and/or pancreas transplant recipients. It led to the resolution of disease and undetectable viremia. Valganciclovir allowed for early initiation of treatment and for treatment to be given as an outpatient. These advantages of valganciclovir have both health and economic impact for patients with CMV disease.

Adult↗

Suture foreign body granuloma masquerading as renal neoplasm.

Foreign body granulomas and pseudotumors due to retained surgical linen are well known in surgical practice. These lesions usually correspond to the actual size of residual foreign body and have characteristic presentation according to the anatomy involved. Renal suture granuloma is a rare postoperative complication of renal surgery due to persistence of sutures used to close the pelvicalyceal system/nephrotomy incisions and usually present as incidentally detected small mass lesions. This case of a suture foreign body granuloma presenting with hematuria, large peripheral mass lesion and characteristic computed tomography picture of renal cell carcinoma confounded the diagnosis and underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. In retrospect, such lesions warrant the use of selective needle biopsy and intraoperative frozen section confirmation to clinch diagnosis. Mass lesions occurring in a previously operated kidney should have granuloma as a differential diagnosis.

Adult↗

Primary care work-up of acute and chronic symptoms.

Low back pain may present as acute pain or as an acute exacerbation of a chronic pain problem. Acute low back pain is self-limited, with 90% of affected individuals recovering within 3 weeks to 3 months. Pain duration of more than 4 weeks warrants a more complete work-up, including ruling out malignancy. Pain duration of more than 6 months defines chronic pain, which is frequently associated with affective and behavioral components. When taking the history, determine pain intensity, location, pattern of radiation, onset, and duration. A gentle physical exam may help locate the source of pain through palpation and maneuvers, such as the straight leg raise test. Imaging is recommended for patients with a clinical finding that raises suspicion of spinal malignancy.

Acute Disease↗

Guide to conservative, medical, and procedural therapies.

For patients without a specific diagnosis, treatment of low back pain begins with strategies to avoid re-injury and exacerbation. Most patients benefit from some form of medical therapy, guided by the three-step World Health Organization analgesic ladder. Opioid therapy is appropriate when needed for low back pain, especially in the acute period. Adjuvant medication (eg, an anticonvulsant or antidepressant) may help reduce or eliminate the need for opioid therapy. Side effects are common with opioid medications, although many resolve with time. Patient education in exercise, back protection, nutrition, and sexual concerns is an important component of treatment. Some patients may benefit from referral to a pain center for multidisciplinary management. Those with a structural or mechanical cause of pain may do well with surgery.

Adult↗

Homograft mitral valve replacement: five years' results.

OBJECTIVE: Results of mitral valve replacement with a mitral homograft were evaluated at 5 years to assess the suitability of the procedure. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients (25 male subjects) aged 10 to 49 years (mean, 32 +/- 10 years) with rheumatic mitral valve disease underwent total (n = 35) or partial (n = 2) mitral valve replacement with a fresh antibiotic-preserved (n = 23) or cryopreserved (n = 14) mitral homograft. The predominant lesion was mitral stenosis (n = 30). RESULTS: There were 5 early deaths. Operative survivors were followed up for 1 to 60 months (mean, 26.6 +/- 12 months). Among these, 21 patients had severe mitral regurgitation during the follow-up period; 3 died and 8 underwent reoperation. The homograft failure rate was not affected by preoperative physiologic lesion (stenosis vs regurgitation, P =.4), type of homograft (antibiotic-preserved vs cryopreserved homograft, P =.9), papillary muscle pretreatment (yes vs no, P =.9), or addition of posterior collar annuloplasty (yes vs no, P =.2). Among the remaining patients, 5 had moderate mitral regurgitation, 4 had either trivial or mild mitral regurgitation, and 2 were lost to follow-up. Study of the explanted mitral homografts (n = 8) revealed that disruption of one of the donor papillary muscles was responsible for early failures (n = 2), whereas cuspal and chordal degeneration was responsible for late failures (n = 6). Microscopically, the explanted valve lacked any viable cellular elements, and there was no evidence of immunologic injury to the homografts. CONCLUSION: The mitral homograft did not fulfill our expectations as a suitable substitute for the diseased mitral valve.

Adolescent↗

A method for extraction of high-quality and high-quantity genomic DNA generally applicable to pathogenic bacteria.

In this study, we report a modified procedure for extraction of high-quality genomic DNA that is rapid, simple, biologically nonhazardous, and generally applicable to pathogenic bacteria. Bacterial cells were pretreated with 70% ethanol prior to enzymatic digestion with lysozyme. Exposure of bacterial cells to 70% ethanol sterilized the cultures, making the process biologically safe and increased the susceptibility of the cells to lysozyme-induced lysis. Consistently high yields of genomic DNA (mean average yield, 0.5-2.5 mg/ml) were obtained from 465 isolates representing over 30 clinically important bacterial species. Genomic DNA obtained was determined to be suitable for further analysis, including bacterial fingerprinting techniques like restriction endonuclease analysis, Southern hybridization, and repetitive PCR. Availability of a generally applicable procedure for extraction of high-quality and high-quantity genomic DNA would be immensely beneficial for laboratories engaged in molecular surveillance of nosocomial and community-based outbreaks.

Bacteriolysis↗

Cholelithoptysis and pleural empyema.

We report a case of delayed cholelithoptysis and pleural empyema caused by gallstone spillage at the time of laparoscopic cholecystecomy. An occult subphrenic abscess developed, and the patient became symptomatic only after trans-diaphragmatic penetration occurred. This resulted in expectoration of bile, gallstones, and pus. Spontaneous decompression of the empyema occurred because of a peritoneo-pleuro-bronchial fistula. This is the first case of such managed nonoperatively and provides support for the importance of intraoperative retrieval of spilled gallstones at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic↗

Pulmonary autograft: should it be used in young patients with rheumatic disease?

BACKGROUND: Although pulmonary autograft is being increasingly used to replace the diseased aortic valve with excellent long-term results, its use in the population with rheumatic disease still needs careful evaluation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From October 1993 through March 1998, 102 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure). The mean age was 27.9 +/- 4.2 years (range, 0.8-56 years). The cause was rheumatic disease in 75 patients (73%), bicuspid aortic valve in 26 patients (26%), and myxomatous aortoarteritis in 1 patient (1%). The root replacement technique was used in all. In addition, 31 patients had 33 associated procedures: mitral valve repair (n = 15 patients), open mitral commissurotomy (n = 15 patients), tricuspid repair (n = 2 patients), and homograft mitral valve replacement (n = 1 patient). RESULTS: Operative mortality was 6.9% (7 patients). Late mortality was 7.8% (8 patients). Follow-up ranged from 1 to 60 months (mean, 25.3 +/- 15.4 months) and was 98% complete. Two patients required reoperation for failed mitral valve repair, and 2 other patients underwent reoperation for failure of both the autograft and mitral valve repair. Echocardiographic assessment showed moderate to severe aortic regurgitation in 13 patients, along with thickening of the autograft. All of these patients had rheumatic disease and were young (<30 years). Ten of these patients had undergone associated mitral valve procedure. Morphologic and histopathologic examination of explanted autografts showed features compatible with rheumatic valvulitis. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary autograft is susceptible to rheumatic involvement. Young age (<30 years) and associated mitral valve disease are significant risk factors for autograft failure in patients with rheumatic disease. Use of pulmonary autograft in this subgroup of patients requires a cautious approach.

Adolescent↗

Root development in relation to impacted mesiodens.

Presented here is a case of 7 years 6 month old child with an apically impacted mesiodens in relation to the developing root of right upper central incisor. The removal of mesiodens was deferred in order to avoid disturbance in the natural development of the upper central incisor. Serial X-rays are presented and case is discussed.

Child↗

Congenital gingival granular cell tumor--a case report.

Presented here is a case report of a congenital granular cell tumor commonly known as congenital epulis. It has been found to be ten time more common in females as compared to males. The most common presenting problem is that of difficulties in feeding and respiration. Surgical excision is indicated in case the above problems are present. In the absence of any respiratory or feeding difficulties it is advisable to wait for spontaneous regression.

Female↗

The nature and significance of liver cell vacuolation following hepatocellular injury--an analysis based on observations on rats rendered tolerant to hepatotoxic damage.

Swelling with nonlipid cytoplasmic vacuolation of diffusely distributed hepatocytes is seen consistently after mild acute and subacute liver injury. Several lines of evidence point to the possibility that this change may reflect a cellular adaptation beneficial to the host, rather than a degenerative change. The nature and significance of this morphological manifestation were tested in batches of albino rats given small doses of a variety of hepatotoxins, some of which were subsequently challenged with a large highly necrogenic dose of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Morphological and biochemical investigations showed that cytoplasmic vacuolation of liver cells following low doses of toxins was due to excess accumulation of glycogen, predominantly of the monoparticulate form. These cells lacked features of degeneration or regeneration and were much less susceptible to injury by the large dose CCl4, as assessed by structural and serum enzyme analyses. This tolerance to toxic damage seemed to be associated with excess accumulation of intracellular glycogen. We conclude from these and other observations on animal and human livers that many of the vacuolated hepatocytes seen in liver injury are cells adaptively altered to resist further insult rather than cells undergoing hydropic degeneration, as is commonly believed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Phenotypic characterization of cellular components of cardiac myxoma: a light microscopy and immunohistochemistry study.

Cardiac myxoma is the most common primary tumor of the heart. A detailed evaluation of cell types in 41 cardiac myxomas by light microscopy and in 30 cases by immunohistochemistry was made. Reactivity to the various antisera were observed in the surface lining cells, the stromal myxoma cells and the cells in the perivascular location. Factor VIII-related antigen (FVIIIR-Ag) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA-1), both endothelial markers, were positive in 23 cases each. UEA-1 was found to be a more sensitive marker than factor VIII. Desmin and myoglobin were positive in 16 and 24 cases, respectively. Reactivity for cytokeratin was noted in ten cases, one of which showed glandular differentiation. Vimentin and S-100 positivity was obtained in 16 and 14 cases respectively. Thus, cardiac myxoma appears to arise from multipotent cells which have the potential to differentiate along several mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells and may also concurrently exhibit reactivity for both mesenchymal and epithelial markers.

Adolescent↗