Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Gupta.
A case of secondary dural arteriovenous fistula presenting as infantile stroke, in a fifteen month old boy, is reported. The initial impression on CT scan in this case was misleading, due to the atypical appearance of the pathological periventricular blood vessels, interpreted as periventricular calcification.
BACKGROUND: Most family physicians and pediatricians recognize the induction of parental anxiety when a newly diagnosed childhood murmur is discussed with a child's parent. OBJECTIVES: To assess parental anxiety before and after consultation with a pediatric cardiologist for assessment of a childhood murmur. The study investigated the relationship between anxiety and parental understanding of murmurs, and assessed the possible role of the primary physician's initial diagnosis of the child's murmur on the anxiety level of parents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred ninety-five consecutive parents who presented with their child to the Alberta Children's Hospital Cardiology Clinic, Calgary, Alberta, were recruited. The children were referred for an initial consultation with a pediatric cardiologist for assessment of a heart murmur noted previously by the referring physicians. Before consultation, the patients were divided into three murmur groups for diagnosis: innocent, pathological and unknown. Anxiety questionnaires, as well as questionnaires assessing basic parent understanding of childhood murmurs, were administered to one of the parents pre- and postconsultation. RESULTS: The initial diagnosis given to the caregiver by the primary care physician as the reason for referral did not seem to affect the level of parental anxiety within groups. As expected, postconsultation anxiety levels were significantly higher in parents whose children received a pathological diagnosis from the pediatric cardiologist. A significant drop in parental anxiety post-consultation was seen in all parent groups, including parents of a child diagnosed with a significant cardiac problem or pathology requiring further investigation and/or cardiac follow-up. There was a consistent correlation between higher scores on parental understanding and lower levels of parental anxiety. CONCLUSION: The present study confirms that the finding of a childhood murmur by the family doctor or pediatrician induces significant parental anxiety, even when the presumptive diagnosis is that of an 'innocent' murmur. Pediatric cardiology consultation decreases parental anxiety, even in parents whose child has been given a diagnosis of pathology. The correlation between poor understanding of murmurs and high parental anxiety suggests that further study is required on the role of the referring physician in augmenting parental understanding of the term 'heart murmur' and the referral process.
A 46 years male presented with skin rash and acute nephritic syndrome. He had history of jaundice four months back. Rheumatoid factor and cryoglobulins were present in the serum. Although anti-HCV antibodies were negative, HCV RNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Kidney biopsy showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and thrombi in the lumen of the glomerular capillary loops. His renal functions improved with steroids.
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BACKGROUND: Despite in vivo use now over several years, in particular for nuclear medicine imaging, the influences on pharmacokinetics of chain length and base sequence of radiolabeled oligomers has not been investigated. METHODS: As test oligomer, morpholinos (MORFs), a DNA analogue, were radiolabeled with 99mTc via MAG3 and the pharmacokinetics in normal mice determined for 3 chain lengths (15, 18 and 25 mer) and 2 base sequences (MORF and its complement cMORF). In addition, LS174T-tumor bearing nude mice received the anti-CEA antibody MN14 (Immunomedics) conjugated either with MORF15 or MORF18 and subsequently received 99mTc-labeled cMORF15 or cMORF18 respectively in a pretargeting strategy. RESULTS: In normal mice, after 1 hr, regardless of chain length or sequence, all labeled MORFs and cMORFs accumulated only slightly in all tissues (e.g. at 3 hr <0.15 ID%/g) except in kidneys. Besides being excessive, the kidneys were the only tissue with levels dependent upon chain length (e.g. at 1 hr, 5, 7 and 22 ID%/g for MORF15, 18 and 25, respectively) and sequence (e.g. at 3 hrs 9 ID%/g for MORF25 and 21 ID%/g for cMORF25). Identical biodistribution trends were observed in tumored mice with all tissues including tumor showing levels independent of chain length or base sequence except for kidneys. Furthermore, while all other tissues cleared in the interval from 1-3 hrs, kidney levels remained constant in both normal and tumored animals. Largely because of these differences in kidneys, images obtained by pretargeting with 99mTc-cMORF15 were superior compared to 99mTc-cMORF18 (images of control animals not receiving the antibody showed no tumor at all). CONCLUSIONS: Judged by radiolabel accumulations in tissue, the pharmacokinetics of 99mTc labeled morpholinos were independent of chain length and base sequence. The only obvious exception was kidneys in which accumulations were significantly higher for the longer chain lengths and significantly different for cMORF vs MORF. These results show that chain length and base sequences may be varied to alter the pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled oligomers in nuclear medicine imaging studies.
BACKGROUND: In-spite of many renal transplant (RT) centres in the country, there is paucity of data on the survival results in India. Furthermore, there is hardly any data of results in second decade. In this study we present the results of RT in second decade at our centre. METHODS: RT at our hospital is being done since 1972. First eight years saw occasional RT and complete data is not available in these patients. So, we have excluded these patients from the study. We have included rest all 144 patients who had RT between Jan. 1981 to Dec. 1989, so as to have at least 10 years of follow-up or more. All these patients were on conventional immunosuppression. RESULTS: Of the 144 patients, 126 (87.5%) were males and the mean age was 29.5 +/- 8.5 years (range 14-54). Basic disease was presumed chronic glomenulonephritis (CGN) in 79.9%, vesicouretenic reflux (VUR) in 8% and diabetic nephropathy in 1.4% patients. Mean number of haemodialysis (HD) and blood transfusion before RT were 44 +/- 24.7 and 8.9 +/- 4.7 (range 0-25), respectively. Mean donor age was 40.9 +/- 10.1 year (range 18-62). HLA matching was haploidentical in 74.5% cases, HLA identical in 3% cases and 11.5% were less than two-antigen match. Of the 63% patients, who had at least one acute rejection (AR) during their follow-up, 78.8% cases had this AR within first three months after the renal transplant. During 10 years of follow up, 65 patients died (23 with normal graft function and 42 with chronic rejection) and 17 lost to follow-up. Eight patients lost their graft but were surviving at 10 years and 54 had functioning graft till the time of analysis. With mean follow-up of 83.9 +/- 61.2 (range 1-216) months, 10-year actuarial patients and graft survival was 53% and 47%, respectively. Graft half-life in these patients is 92 months. In multivariate analysis of the donor age, number of blood transfusion (BT), degree of HLA matching and AR, only AR was found to be statistically correlated with the graft outcome (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that in our set-up during eighties, on conventional immunosuppression, actuarial patient and graft survival at 10 year is 53% and 47%, respectively with graft half-life being 92 months. Only acute rejection has been found to affect the graft outcome in these patients.
Pneumocystis carinii (PC) is a common opportunistic infection in renal transplant recipients and requires an early diagnosis for its successful treatment. For its definitive diagnosis PC needs to be demonstrated in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. At times BAL may not be possible or get delayed. In such conditions typical appearances seen on high resolution CT of the chest help in early diagnosis of PC pneumonia (PCP). This easily performed procedure helped in early diagnosis of PCP in two patients.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Living unrelated donor (LURD) renal transplantation has shown a rising trend over the last 5 yr at our center following the passing of The Transplantation of Human Organs Act by the Government of India in 1994. In this paper, the results of LURD and cadaver (CAD) donor renal transplantation are compared. We have also looked into factors that have a bearing on graft survival such as the extent of HLA mismatch (MM), infections, acute rejections (AR), donor age and sex. METHODS: A total of 42 LURD and 25 CAD renal transplants performed between March 1994 and February 1999 has been included in the study. HLA typing, panel reactive antibody (PRA) screening and T and B cell cross match assay were performed by the complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) method for all patients. RESULTS: The graft survival rates were generally higher in the LURD category as compared to the CAD group and were significant at 6 month period (90 vs 56%, P = 0.002). A follow up of the patients up to 60 months revealed a matching effect since the 3, 4 allele MM group had better survival rates as compared to the 5, 6 MM group. Twenty six of the 67 recipients (39%) experienced episodes of acute rejection (AR). Patients with 3, 4 MM had fewer such episodes than those with 5, 6 allele MM (P < 0.05). Of the 32 deaths, 20 were those with a functional kidney, of which 15 were caused by severe infections. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Better HLA matching ensures fewer episodes of rejection and better long term graft survival in comparison to the poorly matched grafts. The graft survival for LURD recipients was appreciably higher than that of CAD recipients.
Posterior composite resins have gained considerable importance over last few years. However, improper placement techniques continue to be a prime cause of failure of these restorations. This study was done to compare the microleakage at the tooth restoration interface extending below cementoenamel junction when posterior composite restorations were placed directly in the cavity or when placed over a glass ionomer cement liner, both chemically cured and light cured. The results have shown that light cured glass ionomer when used as a liner under a composite restoration used below gingival cementum/dentin margin has the best sealing capability.
The present investigation was designed to study the spermicidal activity of lidocaine, a membrane stabilizer, and its combination with 2',4'-dichlorobenzamil hydrochloride, a Na+-Ca2+ exchange inhibitor, on human semen and spermatozoa separated from semen. Both drugs per se produced dose- and time-dependent reduction in motility of ejaculated human sperm. Lidocaine was found to potentiate the spermicidal activity of benzamil resulting in significant decrease in time for producing complete loss of ejaculated sperm motility. Sperm revival test revealed irreversible loss of sperm viability indicating a spermicidal rather than spermiostatic action by both the drugs. Furthermore, both benzamil (10-40 mM) per se and benzamil-lidocaine combination (0.5 and 16 mM) produced contraception in rabbit model.
We have transported gaseous Bose-Einstein condensates over distances up to 44 cm. This was accomplished by trapping the condensate in the focus of an infrared laser and translating the location of the laser focus with controlled acceleration. Condensates of order 10(6) atoms were moved into an auxiliary chamber and loaded into a magnetic trap formed by a Z-shaped wire. This transport technique avoids the optical and mechanical access constraints of conventional condensate experiments and creates many new scientific opportunities.
In almost all multicellular organisms, cell suicide or apoptosis appears to play an important role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Apoptosis is tightly regulated by a set of genes that either promote apoptosis or promote cell survival. Although a number of stimuli appear to trigger the process of apoptosis, there are two major signaling pathways of apoptosis; the death receptor pathway and the death receptor-independent or mitochondrial pathway. There is evidence to suggest that, under certain conditions and in some cell types; these two pathways may cross talk. During the past 5 years, rapid progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of apoptosis. In this brief review, I will summarize the various molecular steps of apoptosis.
This study investigated the inhibition of cyclophosphamide (CP) and dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced genetic damage by black tea (World blend) and its two active polyphenols theaflavins (TF) and thearubigins (TR) in Swiss albino mice as measured by chromosome aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE). Three different concentrations (5, 10 and 20%) of tea and a single dose of TF and TR were tested for their anticlastogenic effects against DMBA (50 mg/kg body weight) and CP (20 mg/kg for CA and 10 mg/kg for SCE). A significant decrease in CA was observed in all the three concentrations of tea extract plus DMBA treated groups when compared with the respective DMBA treated group alone. Similarly a significant decrease in CA was observed in all the three concentrations of tea extracts plus CP treated series when compared with the group treated with CP alone. In SCE assay, a significant decrease in SCE was observed in 5, 10 and 20% black tea extract plus CP and 10 and 20% tea extracts plus DMBA treated groups when compared with the CP or DMBA treated group alone. In the single dose of TF and TR treated groups a significant decrease in both CA and SCE was observed in both the TF and TR plus both the carcinogen treated groups when compared with their positive controls. The protective effects of black tea extracts were more significant than that of its two polyphenols. This study indicates that both black tea and its active polyphenols TF and TR have significant anticlastogenic effects in bone marrow cells of mice.
DNA topoisomerases I and II are essential for cell survival and play critical roles in DNA metabolism and structure. Inhibitors of topoisomerase constitute a novel family of antitumor agents with demonstrated clinical activity in human malignancies. The clinical use of these agents is limited due to severe toxic effects on normal cells. Therefore, there is a need to develop novel, nontoxic topoisomerase inhibitors that have the ability to spare normal cells. Recent studies have shown that green tea and its major polyphenolic constituent, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), impart growth inhibitory responses to cancer cells but not to normal cells. Based on the knowledge that EGCG induces DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis, we considered the possibility of the involvement of topoisomerase in the antiproliferative response of EGCG. Here, for the first time, we show that EGCG inhibits topoisomerase I, but not topoisomerase II in several human colon carcinoma cell lines. Based on this study it is tempting to suggest that combination of EGCG with other conventional topoisomerase inhibitors could be an improved strategy for treatment of colon cancer. The possible role of EGCG as a chemotherapeutic agent needs to be investigated.
[structure: see text]. Fertilin beta is an integral membrane sperm protein that is involved in sperm binding to the egg plasma membrane. We synthesized a dimyristoylated fertilin beta peptide and incorporated it into POPC liposomes at 1 mol %. The concentration of fertilin beta peptide required for 50% inhibition is reduced 100-fold to 5.2 +/- 1.6 microM relative to a monomeric control. Moreover, in contrast to the inhibition observed with monomeric peptides, we obtain complete inhibition with the peptidic liposomes.