Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Saravanan

Publications and source records attributed to P Saravanan.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Role of coccidian parasites in causation of diarrhoea in HIV infected patients in Chennai.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Diarrhoea is one of the major problems of HIV positive patients. A coproparasitological study was carried out to assess the role of coccidian parasites in the causation of diarrhoea in HIV infected patients in Chennai. METHODS: During May 2000 to January 2001, 152 stool samples from HIV seropositive individuals (43 with acute diarrhoea, 59 with chronic diarrhoea, 50 without diarrhoea) and 50 normal individuals without diarrhoea were examined for enteric coccidian and other intestinal parasites by microscopy and special staining methods. RESULTS: A total of 52 enteric parasites, 15 from patients with acute diarrhoea and 24 from patients with chronic diarrhoea, 7 from patients infected with HIV without diarrhoea and 6 from normal individuals without diarrhoea were detected from 49 patients. Isospora belli was detected in 14 of 102 (13.7%) patients with acute and chronic diarrhoea. The association with diarrhoea among HIV positive individuals was significant (P < 0.001). Cryptosporidium was detected in 7 patients each with acute and chronic diarrhoea and 4 patients with HIV infection without diarrhoea, its association with diarrhoea among HIV patients was found to be not significant in the present study. Cyclospora and Microsporidia each were detected in only one HIV positive patient with chronic diarrhoea. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the coccidian parasites are one of the important etiologic agents of diarrhoea (P < 0.001) especially of chronic diarrhoea among HIV positive patients. Isospora belli was found to be a frequent enteric parasite associated with diarrhoea among HIV positive patients in Chennai.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Thyroid autoantibodies.

Although assays to detect thyroid autoantibodies have been available for more than 40 years, their place in the clinical management of thyroid disease has remained controversial; however, novel automated detection techniques using recombinant antigens are increasing the sensitivity and specificity of the assays, particularly for antibodies to the TSH receptor. In addition, new antigenic targets have been defined including the sodium-iodide symporter and four eye muscle proteins targeted in Graves' ophthalmopathy. This article summarizes the immunobiology, assay methodology and prevalence in thyroid diseases of each of the major thyroid autoantibodies before discussing the clinical indications for their use in thyroid diseases.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed2001

Comparative analysis of monoclonal antibody based enzyme immunoassay, modified genome electrophoresis & electron microscopy procedures for rotavirus diagnosis from faecal specimens.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Reliable and rapid diagnosis of rotavirus infection is necessary for patient management. Several newly introduced commercial enzyme immunoassays (ELISAs) have been evaluated using direct electron microscopy (DEM) with or without direct ultracentrifugation as the standard reference method, and have shown varying results. METHODS: In the present study we compared the diagnostic efficacy of the three methods viz., monoclonal antibody (MAb) ELISA, modified polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and DEM without ultracentrifugation in the detection of rotaviruses from 211 stool specimens. The data were analysed by two latent class model (2LC) in the absence of a gold standard reference method. RESULTS: Rotavirus was detected in 42 specimens by MAb-ELISA; in 40 specimens by PAGE and in 33 specimens by DEM. The estimates of sensitivities and specificities of the three methods were analysed by 2LC method. The analysis revealed no significant variation among the three methods. However, DEM was found with a comparatively lesser sensitivity over the other two methods. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Though DEM was found to be relatively less sensitive than the other two methods, the differences were not significant, and all the three methods were highly specific. Moreover, DEM has the additional advantage of detecting non-group A and other gastroenteritis viruses. The findings suggest the use of highly sensitive and specific MAb-ELISA and PAGE in parallel to detect group A, non-group A and atypical rotavirus infection in the population.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2000

Genomic diversity of group A rotavirus RNA from children with acute diarrhoea in Chennai, south India.

Group A rotavirus was identified in 51 of 245 (20.8%) cases with acute diarrhoea in Chennai analysed between December 1997 and March 1999. Forty eight of the 51 specimens were subgrouped and serotyped. A total of 110 rotavirus positive specimens (inclusive of 62 rotavirus positive cases reported earlier) were analysed for their subgroup (SG) specificity and genomic profiles. SGI and SGII specificity were detected in 60 per cent and 20 per cent of the cases studied. Twenty two cases showed dual SG specificity (SGI + II). Nine electropherotypic patterns (7 'short' and 2 'long') were observed with a predominance of short pattern in 87 of the 110 (79.1%) positive cases studied. Long electropherotypes were found in 23 (20.9%). Serotyping of the 48 rotavirus positives revealed a higher proportion of serotype-2 (68.8%) followed by serotype-1 (14.6%) and serotype-3 in 1 case. Mixed infection of G1-G2 was observed among 7 cases analysed, which revealed G[2,1], P[4,8] genotype specificity. Dual infection of P[4]-P[8] genotypes was observed in 12 cases with G[2] specificity.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Analysis of human rotavirus serotypes in children with acute diarrhoea in Chennai by monoclonal antibody based ELISA.

To determine the individual human rotavirus serotypes prevailing in Chennai, 345 stool specimens obtained from children with acute diarrhoea between March 1996 and November 1997, were screened for the presence of rotavirus by the standardized enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the 90 (26%) rotavirus positive specimens, 75 (83.3%) were subgrouped and 65 (72.2%) were serotyped with monoclonal antibody based ELISA. Of the 65 specimens that could be serotyped, 52.3 per cent belonged to serotype 2, 24.6 per cent were serotype 4, 15.4 per cent were serotype 1 and 7.7 per cent were serotype 3. Of the 75 specimens typed for their subgroup specificity, 50.7 per cent were subgroup I, 26.7 per cent were subgroup II, 18.7 per cent were equally specific to both subgroups I and II, 4 per cent belonged to nonsubgroups I and II. Our results indicate a predominance of serotype 2 virus. Unusual strain having both subgroups I and II specificity or neither specificity were also encountered.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Plasma exchange for dramatic gestational hyperlipidemic pancreatitis.

We describe the response to plasma exchange in a woman with extreme gestational hyperlipidemia and severe pancreatitis. Her serum triglyceride reached an astounding level of 21,300 mg/dl-among the highest concentrations ever recorded. Two consecutive plasma exchanges led to a remarkable reduction in triglyceride levels of 73% and 82%, respectively. Plasma viscosity decreased by 50% after the first plasma exchange. This was associated with an equally dramatic and unexpectedly rapid resolution of severe pancreatitis. Plasma exchange can rapidly and safely resolve extreme hyperlipidemia and be associated with prompt resolution of pancreatitis in women with severe gestational hyperlipidemic pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗