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Biomedical subjects

R Ahuja

Publications and source records attributed to R Ahuja.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Comparison of topical 0.3% ofloxacin with fortified tobramycin plus cefazolin in the treatment of bacterial keratitis.

PURPOSE: Ofloxacin is a broad spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic with good ocular penetration. We compared ofloxacin 3% solution with a combination of fortified tobramycin sulphate and cefazolin sodium solutions in the treatment of culture-proven bacterial keratitis. METHODS: Thirty eyes with culture-proven bacterial corneal ulcers were enrolled in a prospective randomised, controlled, double-masked study for comparison. The ofloxacin drop and saline were decanted into two identical-looking bottles to the tobramycin and cefazolin. The cases were randomly allocated into treatment with 0.3% ofloxacin solution or a combination of fortified antibiotics (1.5% tobramycin and 10% cefazolin solutions; control group) along with supportive cycloplegic, vitamins and anti-glaucoma therapy. Student's t-test was used to compare the results. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the two most common organisms isolated. Resolution of the ulcer was achieved in 93% and 87% of cases in the ofloxacin and control groups respectively. The mean time required for symptomatic relief was 7.8 +/- 1.54 days and for epithelial healing 15.0 +/- 3.86 days in ofloxacin group, compared with 8.33 +/- 1.54 days for symptomatic relief and 15.46 +/- 3.86 days for epithelial healing in the control group. Post-resolution best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or better was achieved in all but one eye in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ofloxacin and combined fortified tobramycin and cefazolin topical drops were comparable for treating cases of bacterial corneal ulcer. However, considering its easy availability and cost-effectiveness, monotherapy with ofloxacin is preferred over the combined fortified tobramycin and cefazolin therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) performance of partially remitted community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia.

Patients with schizophrenia perform worse than healthy controls on many neuro-psychological tests. However, previous studies of neuro-cognitive function have mostly been carried out on acutely ill or institutionalized patients. The objective of this study was to generate norms for performance of partially remitted community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Partially remitted outpatients attending a depot antipsychotic clinic or a clozapine clinic (n = 272) were tested using the MMSE. Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with MMSE performance, as well as the performance of specific items, were examined. MMSE score was significantly associated with educational status and race. Patients in our sample performed approximately 2-3 points below the population norms at all ages, but the mean score for the group was not in the impaired range. There was no apparent widening of this gap with advancing age. Patients who did poorly most frequently had difficulty with memory, attention and construction tasks. The MMSE is easy to administer to outpatients with schizophrenia and most patients score in the un-impaired range. The MMSE may be used to identify a subgroup of patients who score in the impaired range, for further investigations.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Time-gated autofluorescence microscopy of motile green microalga in an optical trap.

Ultrafast time-gated fluorescence imaging of optically trapped single motile cells is presented. The biflagellar green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis was confined with picoNewton trapping forces in the focal volume of a high numerical aperture objective by near infrared multitraps. Trapping radiation of 100 mW power at the sample was provided by a Nd:YLF laser (1047 nm) operating in the cw mode. Simultaneously, cellular autofluorescence was excited with a 633 nm picosecond 80 MHz laser diode. An ultrafast gated intensified slow scan CCD camera system with a tunable gate width (200 ps-1 ms) and tunable time-delay (0-20 ns) between excitation and detection was used as fluorescence detector. We demonstrate fluorescence imaging of high temporal (sub-ns) and high spatial (sub-microm) resolution and fluorescence lifetime determination of intracellular autofluorescence based on chlorophyll excitation. Exposure to the herbicide DCMU resulted in an increase of fluorescence intensity and lifetime by 250% and 150%, respectively.

Chlorophyta↗
PubMed1995

von Willebrand disease: a rare cause of puberty menorrhagia.

A 13-year-old girl with a family history of epistaxis presented with pubertal menorrhagia necessitating multiple blood transfusions. Her coagulation profile confirmed the diagnosis of Von Willebrand disease. The menorrhagia was controlled by cyclical use of oestrogen progestogen combination drugs. The important clinical implication of this case is that the patient with adolescent menorrhagia may have an underlying coagulation disorder, which can successfully be managed by hormones.

Adolescent↗