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Biomedical subjects

R K Tandon

Publications and source records attributed to R K Tandon.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

A clinico-radiological reappraisal of intestinal tuberculosis--changing profile?

Intestinal tuberculosis is still common in developing countries. In 186 patients with intestinal tuberculosis, clinical features, radiological findings and complications were carefully recorded and compared with those from earlier studies with a view to study any possible changes after the liberal use of antitubercular drugs. Sixty two percent of the patients in the present series had had prior exposure to antitubercular drugs. The incidence of systemic symptoms like fever and anorexia, alternating diarrhoea and constipation, peritoneal and lymph node involvements and associated pulmonary lesions were less frequently observed. On the other hand, an indolent and complicated course with intestinal obstruction (47%) and lower gastrointestinal bleeding (5.5%) and frequent colonic involvement (19%) often necessitating surgical intervention appeared to have become more frequent than reported in earlier series. Awareness of these changes in the clinical profile of intestinal tuberculosis should be helpful in the diagnosis and management of the condition.

Adult↗

Gastric ascariasis.

Despite the ubiquity and varied manifestations of Ascaris lumbricoides infestation in man, gastric ascariasis is rare. Herein, three patients are described all of whom presented with features of chronic intermittent gastric outlet obstruction caused by roundworms inhabiting the stomach. The ascarides were demonstrated in the stomach by radiology in two patients and by endoscopic examination in one. The possible explanations for the rarity of "gastric ascariasis" include the "housekeeping" peristaltic activity and the acid milieu of the stomach.

Adult↗

Mutagenicity of metal ions in bacteria.

The mutagenicity of 24 metal salts was investigated in plate incorporation and fluctuation assays with Salmonella TA strains or Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA pKm 101. Chromate(VI) and selenate(VI) ions were found to be mutagenic in plate incorporation assays employing conventional media. On the other hand, cadmium(II), beryllium(II), chromate(VI), and metavanadate(V) ions were detected in conventional fluctuation assays, indicating the importance of this technique in detection of metal mutagens. Modified culture media, with trimetaphosphate ions in place of orthophosphate as the sole phosphate source for bacterial growth, were also used in this study. The media modifications prevented precipitation of metals such as nickel and cadmium as their insoluble phosphates, and allowed detection of the mutagenicity of metavanadate ions in plate incorporation assays. However, the fluctuation technique using standard media was shown to detect a wider range of mutagenic metal ions than tests with modified media. It is notable that metaarsenite(III), arsenate(V), and nickel(II) ions were not found to be mutagenic in any of the assays although they are known to be carcinogenic and are mutagenic in other test systems. Their lack of mutagenicity in the modified media indicates that precipitation of these ions as orthophosphates is not the reason for their lack of activity in standard bacterial assays.

Beryllium↗

Acute viral hepatitis, intravascular haemolysis, severe hyperbilirubinaemia and renal failure in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient patients.

Five patients with acute viral hepatitis developed severe intrasvascular haemolysis and unusually high levels of serum bilirubin (427 to 1368 mumol/l). All 5 had high fever, marked anaemia, reticulocytosis and neutrophilic leucocytosis. Three of them developed acute renal failure, which was of non-oliguric type in 2. The clinical course was protracted, but complete recovery occurred in 4 patients between 4 to 10 weeks. One patient with hepatic coma and oliguric renal failure died. Deficiency of the enzyme G-6-PD was confirmed in 4 cases. Massive haemolysis in the patients was probably induced by the administration of chloroquine and other drugs. Intravascular haemolysis should be suspected in patients with acute viral hepatitis, if they show unexplained anaemia and very high serum bilirubin levels, and measures to prevent renal failure should be instituted in such cases.

Acute Disease↗

Acanthosis nigricans associated with adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder.

We present a case of malignant acanthosis nigricans in association with primary adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. The extreme rarity of the association is noted and discussed in light of the relevant literature and the suggested pathogenic mechanisms of malignant acanthosis nigricans.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗