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Biomedical subjects

S C Sharma

Publications and source records attributed to S C Sharma.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Secretion is a stimulus for the synthesis of human chorionic gonadotrophin by first trimester human placenta.

Time course of release of immunoreactive hCG to a placental incubation in the medium revealed a steady increase over a period of 4 hours. However, levels in the tissue, showed an increase at 10' and 60' after an initial decrease. Studies using A23187 which stimulated secretion also revealed a net increase in the quantity of hCG in the tissue. These results suggest that the secretion of hCG acts as a stimulus for fresh synthesis of hCG.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗

Delay in diagnostic biopsies in suspected cancer.

The number type and results of test done before biopsy were analyzed in patients with gastrointestinal, and lung cancers, adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site and lymphomas in an attempt to investigate the degree and type of delays in performing a diagnostic biopsy. In the 181 patients evaluated a 9 to 14 days delay diagnostic before a biopsy was done and was consistent across the four malignancies studied. In 59% delay be attributed to continued, frequently low yield, noninvasive tests.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Low dose rate vs. high dose rate brachytherapy in the treatment of carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a clinical trial.

PURPOSE: This study is a prospective randomized clinical trial undertaken at our center to compare low dose rate versus high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy for the treatment of carcinoma uterine cervix. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From June 1986 to June 1989, 482 patients with previously untreated invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were entered into the study. After an initial clinical examination and investigative work-up the patients were staged according to FIGO staging system. Depending upon the stage of the disease, the size of the local growth and the local cervical anatomy, the patients were divided into two main groups. In group I patients, the predominant treatment was by intracavitary therapy and in group II patients, the predominant therapy was by external beam radiation. In both the groups at the time of intracavity brachytherapy the patients were alternately randomized to receive either low dose rate or high dose rate brachytherapy. There were thus two hundred forty-six patients in the low dose rate group and two hundred thirty-six patients in the high dose rate group. The patients were analyzed for local control, 5 years survival and late radiation morbidity. RESULTS: Stage for stage the local control rates in the low dose rate group and high dose rate group were similar. The overall local control achieved in the low dose rate group was 79.7% as compared to 75.8% in the high dose rate group. The 5 years survival figures in the low dose rate and high dose rate group were also comparable. In Stage I, it was 73% for low dose rate patients and 78% for high dose rate patients, for Stage II it was 62% and 64% respectively and for Stage III patients it was 50% and 43%. The only statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of overall rectal complications which was 19.9% for the low dose rate group as compared to only 6.4% for the high dose rate group. However, the more severe grade 3-4 complications were not significantly different between the two groups (2.4% vs. 0.4%, respectively). The bladder morbidity in both the groups was similar. CONCLUSION: Thus high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy is an equally good alternative to conventional low dose rate brachytherapy in the treatment of carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Brachytherapy↗

Sleep apnea and complete heart block.

Sleep apnea has been associated with various types of cardiac dysrhythmias; however, complete heart block has not been reported to occur in this condition. This brief report describes the case of a patient who developed episodes of prolonged complete heart block during sleep apnea. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure resulted in complete resolution of the heart block.

Electrocardiography↗

Apoptosis in adult retinal ganglion cells after axotomy.

Lesions to the mature mammalian central nervous system cause irreversible degeneration, in which neurons have been previously thought to be passive victims. In this study, axon-lesioned adult rat neurons are shown instead to actively degrade themselves through the process of apoptosis: a programmed type of cell death in which the cellular apparatus is actively involved in the degradation process. To investigate whether retinal ganglion cells of an adult mammal follow an apoptotic type of death when their axons are severed, DNA breaks in nuclei were labeled in situ, using a method that specifically incorporates biotinylated deoxynucleotides by exogenous terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase on the 3'-OH ends of DNA. The active nature of the death mechanism was demonstrated by the reduction in biotin-labeled nuclei after administering the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Our results suggest that retinal ganglion cells of the adult rat die through apoptosis when axotomized. This raises new possibilities in the treatment of CNS injuries, by the potential interruptibility of a program for neuronal death.

Animals↗

The pattern of residual muscle paralysis in poliomyelitis.

Rural schoolchildren between the ages of 6 and 18 years were screened for residual paralysis following poliomyelitis; 503 (0.85%) out of a total of 58,592 were victims. Of these, only 16 (3.8%) had received poliomyelitis vaccine, while the remainder had not been immunised. The disease had occurred before the age of 4 years in nearly 90%, the lower limbs being affected (98%) more often than the upper (2%). In the lower limbs, the quadriceps, hip adductors and tibialis anterior were frequently affected. The muscles supplied by the L4 and L5 spinal segments were most commonly involved, while those supplied by L1 and S3 were least. Some order does exist in the apparently irregular distribution of paralysis after poliomyelitis.

Adolescent↗

Mid to late luteal phase steroids in minimal stage endometriosis and unexplained infertility.

Serum and peritoneal fluid concentrations of progesterone and 17 beta-oestradiol were measured during days 20-27 of the luteal phase in 33 women with minimal stage endometriosis and 21 with unexplained infertility. The results were analysed using Student's t-test and straight line regression analysis. In both groups, 17 beta-oestradiol and progesterone values were several-fold higher than the corresponding serum values and there were significant correlations between the peritoneal fluid and the serum steroid values. In the peritoneal fluid there was a significant reduction in both progesterone and its ratio with 17 beta-oestradiol in women with minimal stage endometriosis (P < 0.03, P < 0.04, respectively). The peritoneal fluid levels of 17 beta-oestradiol in women with minimal stage endometriosis were, however, not significantly altered. Despite the correlations between peritoneal fluid and serum steroid levels, there were no significant changes in the serum concentrations of progesterone, 17 beta-oestradiol or the ratio of progesterone to 17 beta-oestradiol in women with minimal stage endometriosis. It is concluded that luteal phase progesterone and its relationship to 17 beta-oestradiol are subtly altered in infertile women with minimal stage endometriosis compared with women with unexplained infertility. These alterations may be more clearly demonstrated in peritoneal fluid rather than in peripheral blood, possibly because the latter contains steroids which are of non-ovarian origin and are also constantly affected by the liver enzyme activity and enterohepatic circulation of individual subjects.

Adult↗

A mid-luteal phase comparison of peritoneal fluid volume and its content of PGF2 alpha and PGE2 in women with minimal stage endometriosis and a normal pelvis.

The study was carried out following the approval of our Hospital Ethics Committee and an informed patient consent. Samples of peritoneal fluid were collected from the Pouch of Douglas at laparoscopy from 32 subjects with minimal stage endometriosis (MSE) and 16 without any visible signs of endometriosis (normal group). All the subjects were in 20 to 23 day period of their menstrual cycle which was histologically confirmed. The endometriosis score was estimated according to the American Fertility Score, 1985 and the fluid samples were collected in tubes containing heparin/indomethacin and standing in ice. The samples were estimated for volume, erythrocyte count, prostaglandin(PG) F2 alpha, and PGE2. Radioimmunoassay techniques were used for the estimation of PGs. Prostaglandin F2 alpha, was measured in its parent form while PGE2 was converted into bicyclic-PGE2 before estimation. The results indicate that the peritoneal fluid in women with MSE has higher than normal levels of PGF2 alpha and lower than normal levels of PGE2 and its PGE2: PGF2 alpha ratio is also below normal. There is no difference in the volume of peritoneal fluid in the two groups. Provided the fluid sample is not contaminated with abdominal blood its erythrocyte count is not related to its prostaglandin content.

Adult↗

Furostanosides from Asparagus filicinus roots.

Two furostanosides have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of the roots of Asparagus filicinus and identified as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-alpha-methoxy-(2 5S), 5 beta-furostan-3 beta, 26-diol (filicinoside-A) and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-25S), 5 beta-furostan-3 beta, 22 alpha, 26-triol (filicinoside-B).

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Recommendations for measurement of tray and wedge factors for high energy photons.

Transmission factors for beam modifers such as wedges and blocking trays in dosimetry calculations are very common, but various methods have been used in measuring these factors. A systematic study to measure these factors as a function of field size and point of measurement was carried out. The beam modifiers were a blocking tray and the standard wedges supplied with a cobalt-60 unit and a medical electron accelerator (6- and 18-MV x rays). Several points of measurement were selected, using several depths: dmax, TG-21 calibration depth, 10 cm (wedge angle defining depth, ICRU), 15 cm and in-air (miniphantom), and various field sizes. The results show a small field size dependence in these transmission factors with more dependence found in the point of measurement.

Air↗

Spectrum of dermatological lesions in renal allograft recipients in a tropical environment.

A total of 157 renal allograft recipients were followed for over 1-23 months for the development of dermatological lesions. The non-infective lesions related to immunosuppressive drugs included cushingoid features in 133 (84.7%), xerosis in 120 (76.4%), striae in 69 (43.9%), hypertrichosis in 65 (21.6%), facial erythema in 42 (26.7%) and friable skin in 34 (21.4%) patients. Of the infective lesions, cutaneous mycoses were the most frequent (82.6%) and included tinea corporis and cruris in 82 (52.2%), tinea versicolor in 21 (13.3%), candidiasis in 7 (4%), onychomycosis in 4 (2%) and cryptococcosis in 2 (1.2%) patients. Viral infections included those due to herpes zoster in 17 (10.8%), herpes simplex in 5 (3.1%) and viral warts in 13 (8.2%) patients. Cutaneous malignancy was seen in 1 patient only.

Adolescent↗

Changes in the composition and peroxidation of yeast membrane lipids during ethanol stress.

Lipid peroxidation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells increased with ethanol treatment of the cells. Such cells have decreased amount of total lipid, phospholipid and free sterols. Sterol:phospholipid ratio decreased slightly in the cells treated with 4% ethanol. However, this ratio significantly increased with further rise in ethanol concentration to 12%. Relative content of glycolipids (glycolipid to phospholipid ratio) increased in ethanol-treated yeast cells. Diphosphatidylglycerol content increased significantly and phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine ratio decreased in ethanol-treated cells. The amount of alpha-tocopherol decreased during ethanol stress. Catalase failed to counter the effect of ethanol. The results from the present study indicated that ethanol might be interfering with the antioxidant defence mechanisms of the yeast cells.

Catalase↗

Localized amyloidosis of the nasopharynx.

A case of localized amyloidosis of the nasopharynx is presented. This is only the seventh case report of nasopharyngeal amyloidosis to the best of our knowledge. Though rare, this disease should be diagnosed early and properly treated with surgery. All patients of localized disease should be followed up for any evidence of systemic amyloidosis.

Aged↗

Topographic organization of descending projection neurons to the spinal cord of the goldfish, Carassius auratus.

Several neurons from different nuclei give rise to descending spinal tracts and project to various levels in the spinal cord of goldfish, Carassius auratus. These were visualized by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) administered to the bilaterally transected spinal cord at 6 levels, corresponding to 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th segments of the vertebral column. As many as 16 brain nuclei or neuronal aggregations and the Mauthner cells project posteriorly up to the 20th spinal segment. Restricted neurons of the dorsolateral area in the nucleus preopticus magnocellularis and those of the ventromedial nucleus of the thalamus projected up to the 20th and 25th segments respectively. In the mesencephalon, the nucleus ruber and the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus revealed retrogradely labeled somata; the former extended up to the 20th segment, while the latter projected up to the 25th segment. The remaining descending projection neurons of the brain belonged to the rhombencephalon. The nucleus of the lateral lemniscus; anterior, magnocellular, descending and posterior divisions of the octaval nucleus; raphe nucleus; Mauthner cell and the neurons located adjacent to the trigeminal tract and those in the vicinity of the secondary gustatory tract sent their processes up to 20th segmental level. However, somata of the superior, medial and inferior divisions of the reticular nucleus and restricted neurons of the facial lobe extended up to 25th segmental level. The pattern of neuronal projections into the spinal cord suggests a topographic organization.

Animals↗

Regeneration of supraspinal projection neurons in the adult goldfish.

Regeneration of descending supraspinal projections were identified in adult goldfish following administration of HRP to different levels of the spinal cord. While in the untreated normal fish 17 nuclei were shown to project into the spinal cord, only 11 of them seem to have participated in the process of regeneration. The nuclei whose axons regenerated include the nucleus ventromedialis (NVMD), nucleus of the median longitudinal fasciculus (NMLF), nucleus reticularis superior (NRS), nucleus reticularis medialis (NRM), nucleus reticularis inferior (NRI), anterior octaval nucleus (AON), magnocellular octaval nucleus (MON), descending octaval nucleus (DON) and certain neurons of the facial lobe. The neurons of the magnocellular preoptic nucleus (NPO), raphe nucleus (NR), Mauthner cell (MC), posterior octaval nucleus (PON) and somata located adjacent to the descending trigeminal tract were not labeled. The nuclei that apparently participated in the regeneration process were significantly larger in size than the corresponding cell bodies in the untreated normal fish.

Animals↗

Oligofurostanosides from Asparagus curillus leaves.

The methanol extracted leaves of Asparagus curillus furnished two oligospirostanosides (curillins G and H) and two oligofurostanosides (curillosides G and H) which were characterized as 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S)-5 beta- spirostan-3 beta-ol; 3-O-[(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2))(-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1--> 4))-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S)-5 beta, spirostan-,3 beta-ol; 3-O-[(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)) (beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->4))-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-[beta-D- glucopyranosyl]-22 alpha-methoxy-(25S)-5 beta-furostan-3 beta,26-diol and 3-O-[(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2))-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->4))- beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S)-5 beta-furostan-3 beta,22 alpha,26-triol, respectively.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Effect of calcium depletion on the secretion of newly synthesised human chorionic gonadotropin by first trimester human placenta.

Depletion of calcium in the extracellular medium used to incubate first trimester human placental minces resulted in a significant decrease in the quantity of immunoreactive hCG in the medium and a corresponding increase in the tissue. In contrast, when secretion of newly synthesised hCG was monitored in the absence of calcium by using a radioactive amino acid precursor, a significant increase in the secretion of newly synthesised hCG in the medium was noticed. This was true of secretion of other proteins also as evidenced by the increase in the trichloroacetic acid precipitable radioactivity in the medium in the absence of calcium. These results suggest that newly synthesised hCG is preferentially released over stored hormone in the absence of calcium.

Calcium↗