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Biomedical subjects

R Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to R Gupta.

At least 901 records · Page 50Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Screening for genetic predisposition to mutagens in cancer patients.

Both genetic and environmental factors are known to play an important role in the development of cancer. To determine whether, among individuals who develop cancers, some may have been more susceptible to the mutagenic effects of environmental agents, skin biopsies were taken from 79 cancer patients with different common types of cancers (e.g., lung, breast, bladder, colon, cervix, ovary, brain, vocal cord, uterus, skin, testis, stomach, basal cell carcinoma, leukemia, etc.). Fibroblast cultures have been established from skin explants from nearly all of the patients. The sensitivity of some of these cells as well as a number of other fibroblast strains established from "clinically normal" individuals to a battery of mutagenic agents (e.g., ethylmethane sulfonate, methylmethane sulfonate, ethidium bromide, actinomycin D, mitomycin C, bleomycin, camptothecin), which induce different kinds of DNA damage was examined. For the control group of fibroblasts, a normal range of toxicity for all of the above agents have been established. In contrast to other mutagens for which sensitivity of all of the control cell strains lay within a narrow range, large and interesting differences in sensitivity were observed for ethidium bromide. The fibroblast strains established from fetal tissue were found to be highly resistant to ethidium bromide, whereas fibroblasts from two clinically normal persons exhibited greatly enhanced sensitivity to this agent. The genetic or biochemical basis of increased sensitivity or resistance to ethidium bromide remains to be determined. The sensitivity of cells from 28 cancer patients to a number of the mutagenic agents was also examined. Most of these strains exhibited normal range of sensitivity to the mutagens; however, a few showed small but noticeable differences in sensitivity to specific agents. The fibroblast strains from cancer patients provide a useful resource to examine the genetic and metabolic factors that may be important determinants in cancer susceptibility.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Combined action of inhibitors of polyamine biosynthetic pathway with a known antimalarial drug chloroquine on Plasmodium falciparum.

Difluoromethylornithine (alpha-DFMO), a specific enzyme activated inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase activity, a bis (benzyl) polyamine analogue (MDL 27695) and chloroquine resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the parasite. The IC50 value of alpha-DFMO, MDL 27695 and chloroquine was 1.85 mM, 2.0 microM and 23 ng ml-1 respectively. The combined action of MDL 27695 (3 microM) and chloroquine (5 ng ml-1) on P. falciparum growth showed near additive effect, whereas the combination of alpha-DFMO (1.0 mM) and chloroquine (5 ng ml-1) was more than the effect of each drug individually but not additive. Similarly the combined effect of MDL 27695 (3 microM) and alpha-DFMO (1.0 mM) on P. falciparum growth was not additive. The effect of these inhibitors alone and in combination on polyamine biosynthesis is also reported.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Endoscopic and histologic appearance of the gastric mucosa in patients with portal hypertension.

To assess reliability of the endoscopic and histologic appearance of the gastric mucosa for diagnosing portal hypertension, 50 patients with portal hypertension and 1323 controls were studied. Endoscopic evidence of mild gastritis was seen more frequently in patients with portal hypertension than in the control group (42% vs. 13.1%, p less than 0.001). The mosaic sign was also seen more frequently in patients with portal hypertension compared with controls (14% vs. 0.9%, p less than 0.001). However, the mosaic sign was found to be nonspecific, and the sensitivity for diagnosis of portal hypertension was only 14%. Biopsy specimens from the stomach of all patients with portal hypertension and 100 controls with a normal endoscopic appearance revealed mucosal vascular congestion in 72% of patients with portal hypertension compared with 59% of controls (NS). There was no correlation between endoscopic and histologic evidence of congestive gastropathy. Similarly, there was no correlation between the severity of mucosal vascular congestion and the degree of inflammatory changes observed in the biopsy specimens; both in the control (r = 0.1) and in patients with portal hypertension (r = 0.14). It is concluded that endoscopic and histologic features of the gastric mucosa in patients with portal hypertension are of low sensitivity and nonspecific and cannot be used to diagnose portal hypertension.

Biopsy↗
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Evaluation of complications during and after conscious sedation for endoscopy using pulse oximetry.

All events prolonging an endoscopic procedure or recovery, or requiring a medication or an intervention, were analyzed from a consecutive sample of 508 patients receiving conscious sedation. Although 102 events were identified (20%), 33 of these (7%) were major. These included four episodes of apnea and four patients with a prompt and sustained fall in oxygenation during the procedure; 19 additional patients had a decrease to less than 89% in oxygen saturation in the 30 minutes after the completion of the procedure. The patients with observed events had significantly more major illnesses, a higher fraction older than 70 years, and a higher fraction of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography than those without events (p < 0.05) but had a similar dose of sedative medications, mean age, and fraction of colonoscopies.

Age Factors↗
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Synthesis and study of some 4-aza and 17a-azasteroidal isoxazoles.

4-Aza-5 alpha-androstano[2,3-d]isoxazole 4 and 17a-aza-D-homo-5-androsteno[17,16-c]isoxazole 7 have been prepared by treating alpha,beta-unsaturated-beta-chloroaldehydes 3 and 6 [1, 2] with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in pyridine. [16,17-d]Isoxazole derivatives 4 and 8 were found to be unstable in most of the organic solvents. beta-Cyanolactam derivatives 5 and 9 have also been prepared in both the series.

Androstenes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recurrent giant cell reparative granuloma of hard palate: role of Tc-99m-MDP three-phase bone scan.

A 42-year-old female presented with pain in the hard palate following surgical curettage for giant cell reparative granuloma. Radiographs of the face at this time did not reveal any abnormality. The surgeons' query was to differentiate fibrosis from recurrence before considering her for recurettage. The three-phase bone scan helped in establishing the diagnosis of recurrence, which was confirmed after histological examination of the curettaged tissue.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variations in body dimensions in relation to altitude among the Sherpas of the eastern Himalayas.

A biomedical study was undertaken on the Sherpas of Upper Khumbu (3500-4500m), Nepal, and their migrant counterparts in the lower altitudes (1000-1500m) of Kalimpong subdivision, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, to study the impact of altitude on human biological characteristics in this Himalayan population, following the basic design of the IBP/Human Adaptability Panel. The results of the anthropometric survey of the adults (234 males and 169 females) are presented here. The high-altitude Sherpas of both sexes have significantly higher values than their low-altitude counterparts for most of the length, breadth and girth measurements, weight, cormic index, weight/stature ratio, weight/(stature)2 ratio, chest/stature ratio, surface area and body fat.

Adipose Tissue↗
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Intracranial Aspergillus granuloma simulating meningioma on MR imaging.

A case of intracranial granuloma caused by Aspergillus fumigatus involving the anterior cranial fossa is reported. The patient was nonimmuno-compromised and was asymptomatic until he had an accident. The magnetic resonance appearance simulated a meningioma, showed isointense mass with brain parenchyma on both T1- and T2-weighted images with pial vascular rim. The final diagnosis was established after surgery and histopathological examination.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnosing ascites: value of ascitic fluid total protein, albumin, cholesterol, their ratios, serum-ascites albumin and cholesterol gradient.

Ascitic fluid total protein, albumin, cholesterol, their ascites/serum ratios, serum-ascites albumin and cholesterol gradients were measured for their ability to differentiate cirrhotic, malignant and tuberculous ascites in 76 patients. The mean +/- s.d. ascitic fluid total protein, albumin, cholesterol, their respective ascitic fluid/serum ratios in cirrhotic ascites were lower than malignant and tuberculous groups (P < 0.001 for each). The difference between malignant and tuberculous groups was significant for ascitic fluid/serum total protein (P < 0.05) and ascitic fluid/serum albumin (P < 0.01) only. Mean serum-ascites albumin gradient in cirrhotics was higher than in the malignant and tuberculous groups (P < 0.001 for each). The difference between malignant and tuberculous groups was significant (P < 0.01). Mean +/- s.d. serum-ascites cholesterol gradient in cirrhotics was higher than that in malignant and tuberculous groups (P < 0.001 for each). The difference between malignant and tuberculous groups was also significant (P < 0.01). Both serum/ascitic fluid total protein less than 0.5 and ascitic fluid cholesterol less than 55 mg/dL had 94% diagnostic accuracy for differentiating cirrhotic from malignant and tuberculous differentiating cirrhotic from malignant and tuberculous ascites. Serum ascitic fluid albumin gradient greater than 1.1 g/dL, ascitic fluid/serum albumin less than 0.65 and ascitic fluid albumin less than 2 g/dL had diagnostic accuracy of 92, 92 and 91%, respectively. Ascitic fluid total protein had diagnostic accuracy of 88%. None of the tests was able to differentiate between malignant and tuberculous ascites. Measurement of ascitic fluid cholesterol concentration is a simple method of differentiating cirrhotic from non-cirrhotic ascites.

Albumins↗
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Benign vascular tumors of female genital tract.

Vascular tumors are rare in female genital tract (FGT). The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of vascular tumors in FGT and to highlight their clinicopathologic features. As a retrospective study, clinical features including imaging studies, gross findings, and microscopic features of cases (ten) diagnosed as having vascular tumors of FGT over 4 years were reviewed. The age range of our cases was 12-52 years. The presenting complaint was abdominal pain/mass, postcoital bleeding, and vaginal and vulval mass. In most cases, duration of symptoms was 6 months to 2 years. Only one case had a long-standing history of 8 years. The vascular tumors occurred most commonly in ovary (six), followed by vulva (two), and one each in cervix and vagina. Clinical diagnoses ranged from cystadenoma in ovarian tumors to endocervical polyp in cervical tumor. Histologically, all were benign vascular neoplasms, ranging from hemangioma (five), lymphangioma (one), lymphangioma circumscriptum (one) to angiomatosis (two) and arteriovenous malformation (one). Thus, we conclude that vascular lesions in FGT can present with symptoms similar to epithelial malignancies and may lead to unwarranted radical surgery. Vascular lesions of cervix and vulvovaginal region pose special problem during pregnancy. Risk of Kasabach-Merritt coagulopathy has to be considered in larger vascular tumors. Most of these cases can be treated by surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Combined action of inhibitors of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase with an antimalarial drug, chloroquine, on Plasmodium falciparum.

Methylglyoxal bis (guanylhydrazone), (MGBG) a potent competitive inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase activity, Berenil, a trypanocidal agent and chloroquine, the commonly used antimalarial resulted in a dose dependent inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. The IC50 values of MGBG, Berenil and chloroquine were 224 microM, 40 microM and 42 nM respectively. Parasites treated with different concentrations of MGBG or Berenil were arrested at the trophozoite stage of the erythrocytic cycle. The combined action of chloroquine (10 nM) with either Berenil (0.1 mM) or MGBG (0.1 mM) on P. falciparum growth showed an additive inhibitory effect. The effect of these inhibitors alone and in combination on polyamine biosynthesis is also reported.

Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pain during mammography: impact of breast pathologies and demographic factors.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to systematically assess the pain experienced by patients undergoing mammography for various clinical presentations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-five patients aged 25-85 years (45.43 +/- 8.25 years) presenting for mammography were included in the study. Presenting symptoms and clinical diagnosis were provided by the referring physicians and demographic information was obtained from self-reported questionnaires. Mammography results were recorded by the radiologist. Two different but reliable and valid measures of pain--Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Pain/Discomfort Rating Scale (DRS)--were used to assess pain during mammography and data were statistically analyzed to examine the possible predictors of pain. RESULTS: Forty-nine percent of the patients reported pain during mammography when cut-off level of VAS score was 40; however, when the cut-off level was raised to 60 (considering the preexisting pain as presenting symptom in some patients) only 23% reported pain. With DRS, 7% reported pain, 27% discomfort and 66% neither pain nor discomfort. Biserial correlation between the VAS and DRS scores suggested strong positive agreement between the two measures of pain (r = 0.56, d.f. = 90, p < 0.01). Patients presenting with coexisting breast lumps and preexisting breast pain and those diagnosed with inflammatory conditions of the breast and fibrocystic changes experienced more pain during mammography. CONCLUSION: Preexisting breast pathologies and demographic factors such as age and educational level of the patient were important in reporting pain during mammography. This finding indicates that proper assessment of pain using standard measures and its association with breast pathologies and demographic factors is important for planning pain management in women undergoing mammography.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of perianal fistulas.

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in preoperative assessment of fistula-in-ano. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients (21 male and 5 female, age 19-65 years) were prospectively studied from July 1999 to December 2001 using a 1.0-tesla superconducting magnet. T(1)-weighted fast spin echo (T1W FSE) images before and after gadolinium injection and fat suppressed T2-weighted fast spin echo (T2W FSE) images were obtained in transverse and coronal planes. MRI findings were correlated with surgical findings. RESULTS: Twenty-one of the 26 patients demonstrated active fistulas. The MRI findings were in accordance with the examination findings under anesthesia and/or surgery in 15 of 16 cases. Both coronal and transverse planes were useful in assessing the location and direction of tracts and abscesses. Both contrast-enhanced T1W FSE and fat-suppressed T2W FSE images were useful in assessing the activity of lesions and the course of tracts. CONCLUSION: MRI showed accurate correlation with surgical findings and aided in preoperative management and planning for surgery.

Abscess↗
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Breast metastasis of cervical carcinoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic disease of the breast is often an unexpected diagnosis in a female presenting with a breast mass. The most common metastatic cancer to involve the breast is melanoma. Among gynecologic tumors, the most common primary is ovarian carcinoma. Carcinoma of the cervix metastasizing to the breast is extremely rare. CASE: A 45-year-old female developed multiple bilateral breast masses during a course of radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. Cytologic smears of the breast masses revealed adenocarcinomatous cells as well as keratinizing and nonkeratinizing malignant squamous cells, consistent with a histopathologic diagnosis of metastasizing adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast from primary cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of malignancy metastatic to the breast is important to differentiate it from a second primary tumor and avoid an unnecessary mastectomy.

Biopsy, Needle↗
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Protection against radiation induced chromosome injury by sulfhydryl compounds.

The radiation induced changes in a critically radiation-sensitive tissue, bone marrow of Swiss albino mice and its modification by two sulfhydryl compounds, MPG and WR-2721, were studied cytogenetically after whole body exposure to 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 Gy of 60Co gamma radiation. The changes in the structural arrangements of chromosomes in the bone marrow were studied at various post-irradiation times from 1 to 28 days. Both the control (irradiated) and experimental (drug + irradiation) animals showed qualitatively similar types of aberrations; the severity of lesions increased with the radiation dose. The maximum damage in all the groups was seen on day 1, post-irradiation. Both the drugs afforded better protection at lower doses of exposure, their effectiveness decreasing with an increasing radiation dose. Of the two drugs, WR-2721 was more effective than MPG against initial aberration yield but the former, at the present drug dose, showed some toxic effect at the later post-irradiation intervals (2 weeks onward) as manifested by an increase in the chromatid breaks and polyploidy.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of congenital adduction palsy with synergistic divergence.

OBJECTIVE: To report on successful management of congenital adduction palsy with synergistic divergence by performing weakening surgery on the superior and inferior oblique muscles. METHODS: We performed a total tenotomy of the lateral rectus muscle, followed by resection of the medial rectus muscle and tenotomy of the superior oblique and myectomy of the inferior oblique muscles in a patient who had congenital adduction palsy with synergistic divergence. RESULTS: Total tenotomy of the lateral rectus muscle had no effect on synergistic divergence, resection of the medial rectus muscle reduced it to some extent and tenotomy of the superior oblique and myectomy of the inferior oblique muscles further reduced this phenomenon. The improvement in synergistic divergence was maintained at 2 1/2 years later at follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Weakening surgery on the superior and inferior oblique muscles should be considered in the management of synergistic divergence.

Adolescent↗