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Biomedical subjects

R Chandra

Publications and source records attributed to R Chandra.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Picobirnavirus, a novel group of undescribed viruses of mammals and birds: a minireview.

Picobirnavirus, a novel group of viruses recently detected in children and several species of animals including chickens, are different from the existing members of the family Birnaviridae. Picobirnavirus (PBV) is the tentatively proposed name for the group of these viruses. These viruses are 30-40 nm in diameter and have icosahedral symmetry with triangulation number (T) equal to 3. Their buoyant density in CsCl is 1.4 g/ml. Their genome is bi- or trisegmented double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with segment lengths of 2.6 and 1.9 kbp for bisegmented and 2.9, 2.4 and 0.9 kbp for trisegmented genomes. The electrophoretic migration profile has considerable heterogeneity. PVBs are detected in diarrhoeic as well as non-diarrhoeic animals, hence, their potential needs further investigation.

Animals↗

Validity of using slide positivity rate (SPR) in identification of high risk malarious segments in rural areas.

The Expert Committee Report-1995, recommended various parameters for identifying worst malaria affected segments in rural areas, which are mainly based on slide positivity rate (SPR). A analysis of the epidemiological data of Uttar Pradesh was carried out in different settings to study the sensitivity of SPR in identifying high risk areas. The validity of using SPR in the entire range in all settings is examined and appropriate corrective measures suggested.

Blood Specimen Collection↗

Expression of cell cycle-regulated proteins in prostate cancer.

Markers of cellular proliferation have proven to be useful prognostic markers in several tumor types. Recently, immunoreactivity for cyclins was found to provide an independent marker of tumor proliferation in breast cancer. In this study, we sought to determine the pattern of immunoreactivity for cyclins A, B, E, and Ki-67 in surgically resected prostate cancer and to determine their possible prognostic significance. Twenty-eight tumors of American Urological Association stages B and C were selected for study. Immunoreactivity for cyclins A and B was detected in most tumors and was present at significantly reduced levels as compared with breast cancer. Staining for cyclin E was present in four tumors and was present only in focal areas in two of the four. Such focal variation in expression of cell cycle regulators may reflect genetic instability in a tumor. Immunoreactivity for cyclins A and B was correlated with both Ki-67 index (the percentage of cells with Ki-67 immunoreactivity) and with each other. A Ki-67 index greater than 4.0 was associated with shorter time to prostate-specific antigen-detected relapse (P = 0.026). The fraction of cells staining for cyclins A and B divided by the fraction of cells staining for Ki-67 [(A+B)/K] was highly predictive of relapse, with values less than 0.50 associated with more rapid progression (P < 0.001). This latter result remained statistically significant after controlling for Gleason score by stratification. Our results suggest that immunoreactivity for markers of cellular proliferation may provide useful prognostic information in localized prostate cancer, and they need to be validated in a larger numbers of patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Persistent buccopharyngeal membrane: a report of two cases.

Persistent buccopharyngeal membrane is an extremely rare clinical entity that can be diagnosed easily by simple examination of the oral cavity and confirmed by a lateral contrast x-ray. The abnormality can be easily corrected surgically.

Fatal Outcome↗

Technetium-99m-DMSA renal cortical scintigraphy to detect experimental acute pyelonephritis in piglets: comparison of planar (pinhole) and SPECT imaging.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to directly compare the sensitivity and specificity of SPECT and pinhole imaging for the detection of acute pyelonephritis using histology as the standard of reference. METHODS: Bilateral vesicoureteral reflux of infected urine was induced in 16 piglets (32 kidneys) by unroofing the intravesical ureter and subsequently instilling a broth culture of E. coli into the bladder. DMSA scans were obtained by both pinhole and SPECT techniques at 24 hr (4 piglets), 48 hr (5 piglets), 72 hr (4 piglets) and 10 days (3 piglets) after instillation of bacteria into the bladder. Kidneys were harvested immediately after scintigraphy for histopathologic examination. Results of the SPECT images, pinhole images and histologic findings were interpreted independently in a blinded fashion. The images of each kidney were classified as positive or negative for pyelonephritis regardless of the severity and number of lesions. To evaluate accuracy of SPECT and pinhole imaging for the detection of individual lesions, each kidney was arbitrarily divided into three zones (upper, middle and lower). Image findings were then compared with the pathology results for the presence or absence of pyelonephritis in each zone. RESULTS: Histopathology revealed pyelonephritis in 24 of 32 kidneys (58 of 96 zones). The sensitivity of the DMSA scan for detection of affected kidneys was 92% for SPECT and 83% for pinhole; overall accuracy was 88% for both. The sensitivity of SPECT for the detection of affected renal zones was slightly better than pinhole imaging (91% compared with 86%), but its specificity was lower (82% compared with 95%) resulting in a similar accuracy. Excluding four piglets where scans were obtained within 24 hr after instillation of bacteria into the bladder, the sensitivity of SPECT and pinhole for the detection of affected kidneys were 95% and 90%, respectively. Their overall accuracy were 96% and 92%. In this subgroup, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of SPECT for the detection of involved zones were 96%, 95% and 96%, respectively. The corresponding values for pinhole imaging were 90%, 95% and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the sensitivity of SPECT for the detection of acute pyelonephritis is slightly better than pinhole DMSA scan, the overall accuracy of these two imaging techniques is essentially the same.

Acute Disease↗

Rooting and establishment of in vitro grown shoot tip explants of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

Shoot tip explants of 5.chickpea varieties were evaluated for efficiency of rooting using MS basal medium (1/4, 1/2 and full strength). Maximum rooting was observed in 3 varieties when cultured in MS medium with 1/4 strength. Plantlets thus developed, were further cultured in Hoagland solution (1/4 strength) for 15-20 days which enhanced root number and root length. Such plantlets established well in vermiculite/soil.

Culture Techniques↗

Immunity to diphtheria in women of childbearing age in Delhi in 1994: evidence of continued Corynebacterium diphtheriae circulation.

Blood samples from 171 full-term pregnant women (aged 18-38 years) of middle socioeconomic status from Delhi were tested for diphtheria antitoxins by indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test. History of primary immunization/clinical diphtheria during childhood was not ascertainable, but none had been revaccinated against diphtheria at any time. About 94% women had very high antitoxin titers (> or = 0.125 IU/ ml); none had antitoxin titer less than 0.015 IU/ml, the minimum protective level. The titers were uniformly high in all age groups. However, women having 2 or more children had significantly higher antitoxin titers than those having no or one child (p < 0.01). The results from this study and historical data on diphtheria in Delhi are compatible with continued transmission of C. diphtheriae in recent times in Delhi which is of sufficient magnitude to boost the antitoxin levels in adults, especially mothers having two or more children. The study highlights the need of increasing the immunization coverage with DPT among children to reduce the transmission of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Adolescent↗

Cyclins as markers of tumor proliferation: immunocytochemical studies in breast cancer.

We have developed methods to use anticyclin A, B, and E antibodies as reagents to specifically detect proliferating cells in specific phases of the cell cycle in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of tissues and cells. Staining of 48 archival cases of breast cancer showed that these antibodies estimate the tumor proliferation fraction and therefore are potentially useful for the prediction of prognosis. A subset of cancers had a high frequency of tumor cells expressing cyclins A and E, out of proportion to other proliferation markers, suggesting that these tumors may have deregulated cyclin expression. In addition to recognizing authentic cyclin E in the nucleus of proliferating cells, anticyclin E antibody cross-reacted with a cytoplasmic protein in nonproliferating endothelial cells. This cross-reaction allows the simultaneous visualization and quantitation of microvessels in the tumors, measuring a second potential predictor of breast cancer prognosis, tumor angiogenesis.

Animals↗

Prenatal diagnosis of glomerulocystic kidney disease in short-rib polydactyly syndrome type II, Majewski type.

An 18-year-old gravida 1 para 0 female was presented at 35 weeks' gestation with severe oligohydramnios. Sonography revealed a fetus with hydrops, bilaterally enlarged echogenic kidneys, and short extremities. The infant died at birth and autopsy was compatible with short-rib polydactyly syndrome type II, Majewski type. Renal histology was consistent with glomerulocystic disease.

Adult↗

Cytotoxigenicity in Salmonella serovars.

Twenty two strains of Salmonella belonging to eight different serovars, namely S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar S. typhimurium, S. nchanga, S. newport, S. virchow, S. bovismorbificans, S. seftenberg, S. weltevreden and S. indiana, isolated from foods of animal origin, were tested for their cytotoxicity on MDBK and Vero cell-lines. Although all the strains were found to be cytotoxic for both the cell-lines, their cytotoxic activity varied greatly. A dose-related cytotoxic effect was observed. Polymyxin B sulphate @.25 mg/ml in PBS, pH 7.2), urea (8M in Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.2) and cell-sonication were found to augment the release of cytotoxin.

Animals↗

Maternal psychiatric disorders in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease and cystic fibrosis.

The mothers of 72 children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 44 mothers of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) were given A-SADS interviews. Fifty-one percent of IBD mothers and 41% of cystic fibrosis mothers had a lifetime history of depression. More IBD than CF mothers had a history of suicide gestures or attempts, and were more likely to have a history of obsessive compulsive disorder. However, CF mothers were more likely to have experienced panic attacks.

Adolescent↗

Correlates of depression in new onset pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Of thirty six children with new-onset inflammatory bowel disease given a Kiddie-SADS interview, five children were depressed and ten had some depressive symptoms. Depressed children had less severe illness, and were more likely to have a maternal history of depression, more life events, and families characterized by less cohesion and more conflict.

Adolescent↗