Idiopathic late onset cerebellar ataxia in a case of Takayasu's arteritis.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Jain.
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HBME-1 is an antimesothelial monoclonal antibody that recognises an unknown antigen on microvilli of mesothelioma cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the staining pattern with respect to antibody dilution, cellular distribution and intensity of immunohistochemical staining with HBME-1 in pleural mesotheliomas compared with pulmonary adenocarcinomas. A total of 27 pulmonary adenocarcinomas and 26 mesotheliomas were stained with commercially available HBME-1 at various antibody dilutions and evaluated for the site (membranous, +/- microvillous brush border or cytoplasmic), intensity and percentage of cells staining. On light microscopy, 23 mesotheliomas showed distinctive microvillous brush border staining with HBME-1 (three mesotheliomas--two sarcomatoid and one poorly differentiated--were negative). Twenty-five adenocarcinomas showed membranous +/- cytoplasmic staining but lacked the distinctive microvillous brush border staining. In a subgroup of tumours studied by electron microscopy following immunogold labelling by HBME-1, all of 16 mesothelioma cases showed strong immunogold labelling in the membranes of the long microvilli. In contrast, the 12 cases of pulmonary adenocarcinomas showed minimal labelling in the membranes of the short microvilli, but staining was seen within vesicles, often near the surface of the cells. This study shows that the presence of a distinctive microvillous brush border by immunohistochemical staining with HBME-1 allows distinction between pleural mesotheliomas and pulmonary adenocarcinomas (sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 100%). The difference in the ultrastructural distribution of immunogold labelling with HBME-1 between mesotheliomas and adenocarcinomas underscores the light microscopy findings.
PURPOSE: To localize endostatin and collagen type XVIII in human corneas and to characterize the enzymatic action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the cleavage of collagen type XVIII and generation of endostatin in the cornea. METHODS: Anti-endostatin and anti-hinge antibodies were generated using peptide fragments corresponding to the endostatin region and the adjacent nonendostatin hinge region of collagen XVIII noncollagenous (NC)1 domain, respectively. Confocal immunostaining was performed to localize collagen XVIII in human corneas. SV40-immortalized corneal epithelial cells were immunoprecipitated and incubated with active MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, or -9, and Western blot analysis was performed to study collagen XVIII cleavage. Incubation with MMP-7 was performed at various concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 microg/ml) and time intervals (0, 1, 5, and 12 hours). Purified recombinant NC1 fragment of collagen XVIII was also digested with MMP-7, and the cleavage product was sequenced. RESULTS: Collagen XVIII was immunolocalized to the human corneal epithelium, epithelial basement membrane, and Descemet membrane. Western blot analysis demonstrated a 180- to 200-kDa band corresponding to collagen XVIII. MMP-7 (but not MMP-1, -2, -3, and -9) cleaved corneal epithelium-derived collagen XVIII to generate a 28-kDa endostatin-spanning fragment in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. MMP-7 cleaved purified recombinant 34-kDa NC1 fragment of collagen XVIII in the hinge region to generate a 28-kDa fragment. CONCLUSIONS: Collagen XVIII is present in human cornea. MMP-7 cleaves the collagen XVIII NC1 domain to generate a 28-kDa fragment in the cornea.
The present study attempts to find a correlation between low serum B-12 levels and dementias. A total of 178 patients of dementia were seen at the cognitive disorder clinic from 1996 to 1998. Serum B-12 levels were studied in 100 patients. 15 patients (39.5%) of Alzheimer's dementia had reduced B-12 levels, while only 5 patients (13.9%) with vascular dementias and 3 patients (11.5%) with other types of dementias had reduced levels. The incidence of low serum B-12 was statistically significant in the Alzheimer's group when compared with the other groups, individually as well as combined together (p<0.05). The aetiopathogenesis and significance of these findings is discussed and the literature is reviewed.
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AIMS: Moxonidine, a new imidazoline II receptor agonist was evaluated in patients with essential hypertension. METHODOLOGY: After an informed consent, 16 patients with essential hypertension were recruited. After a wash out period, the patients received increasing doses of Moxonidine (maximum dose 0.6 mg) for four weeks to control the blood pressure. RESULTS: The mean reduction in blood pressure (systolic/diastolic) was 17.6/14.5 mm Hg in supine position and 18.2/12.6 mm Hg in standing position. The significant side effect was observed only in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Moxonidine thus appears to be safe and effective antihypertensive drug in patients with essential hypertension.
AIM: To establish the etiology of recent out break of polyarthritis which occurred in Kanvari village of Churu district of Rajasthan in August, 1999. METHODOLOGY: Forty eight patients of polyarthritis were studied by Hb, TDLC, ESR, CRP, throat swab Gram's stain and culture, blood culture, ASO titer, rheumatoid factor, Rose Bengal plate agglutination test, standard tube agglutination test for brucellosis, widal test, urine examination, X-ray chest, ECG and X-ray of the affected joint. RESULTS: Forty eight patients presented with acute polyarthritis with low grade fever of 1-2 week duration. Most common joint involved was sacroiliac joint (52.08%). Most of patients had multiple joint involvement (93.75%). The Rose Bengal plate agglutination test and standard tube agglutination test for brucella were positive in high titres in 44 (91.60%) patients. All the patients were treated with therapy for brucellosis and followed up for 12 weeks and responded well without complications. CONCLUSION: In case of polyarthritis possibility of brucellosis should always be kept in mind.
AIM: To study various electrophysiological parameters in clinically suspected carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electrophysiological (EPS) evaluation of 70 patients (140 hands) of clinically suspected CTS was done as per AAEM recommendation. EPS grading was done as described by Padua, et al. RESULTS: The mean age was 44.21 +/- 10.29 (range 24-66) years with female predominance (M:F 3:11). Sixty four (91.4%) patients had bilateral involvement. The mean EPS grade was 3.18 +/- 1.41. One hundred and six (75.5%) hands had moderate to severe (EPS grade 1-3) CTS. Median distal motor latency (DML) (mean 4.76 +/- 1.4 msec) was prolonged in 92 (65.71%) hands and was not recordable in seven (5%) hands. Median sensory distal latency (SDL) (mean 3.54 +/- 0.82 msec) was prolonged in 38 (27.1%) hands and not recordable in 49 (35%) hands. Sensory median mid-palm latency (MPL) (2.42 +/- 0.56 msec) was commonest EPS abnormality present in 128 (91.4%) hands. EMG was abnormal in 75% hands. CONCLUSION: This study suggests incorporation of median sensory midpalm latency as a screening test for electrophysiological diagnosis of CTS. In addition, bilateral studies are recommended as there is bilateral involvement in 64 patients.
Heavy metal concentrations viz. Fe, Ni, Pb, Cd, Co, Zn in the river Yamuna flowing along the state of Haryana through Delhi have been reported selecting 16 stations covering the upstream and downstream stations for major industrial complexes of the state. While Fe, Ni and Co concentrations exceeded the maximum permissible limits prescribed for drinking all along the river, the Cd concentrations crossed the acceptable standards in Delhi downstream. The Pb concentrations declined in the eutrophicated Delhi downstream while Zn concentrations remained within desirable limits throughout. Peak concentrations were recorded in Delhi downstream for Fe and at Sonepat-Gohana downstream for Ni, Co & Zn, which matched with the type of industrial inputs viz. Iron-works and the electroplating, galvanizing & cycle industries, respectively. The status of heavy metal pollution of the river has been discussed with respect to possible impacts on human health and aquatic life.
Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate is a rare tumour in children, mostly below 6 years of age. A case of 5 year old male child presenting with acute retention of urine due to botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate is described.
This report describes the extent and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a large maternity unit. The screening of 79 preterm babies showed that ophthalmic examinations should become an important part of neonatal care.
Bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia are severe behavioral disorders with a lifetime risk of approximately 1% in the population worldwide. There is evidence that these diseases may manifest the phenomenon of anticipation similar to that seen in diseases caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions. A recent report has implicated a potassium channel-coding gene, KCNN3, which contains a polymorphic CAG repeat in its coding region, in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We have tried to confirm these findings in Indian patients suffering from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. No statistically significant evidence for the presence of an excess of longer alleles in the patient population, as compared to ethnically matched controls, was found. However, an analysis of the difference of allele sizes revealed a significantly greater number of patients with schizophrenia having differences of allele sizes > or = 5 when compared to normal controls. This finding may be of functional significance as the KCNN3 protein is thought to act as a tetramer, and a large difference in allele sizes would result in an asymmetric molecule with a different number of glutamine residues in each monomer. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 96:744-748, 2000.
In view of varied reports on the Th1/Th2 paradigm in leprosy, we used a novel real time (RT) fluorogenic reverse transcriptase based PCR (RT-PCR) to measure cytokine expression in peripheral blood cells from lepromatous leprosy patients with stable disease and those suffering from erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL/Type II) reactions. To evaluate the role of accessory cells in Th cell differentiation, co-expression of Th cytokines interferon gamma (IFNgamma) and interleukin (IL) 4 and regulatory cytokines IL 10 and IL 12 was compared in antigen stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), cultures containing T cells reconstituted with autologous monocytes (MO) and cultures containing T cells reconstituted with autologous dendritic cells (DC). 7/8 stable lepromatous leprosy patients showed co-expression of both IFNgamma and IL 4, suggesting a Th0 or a combination of Th1 + Th2 subsets in PBMC. The RT-PCR demonstrated that stable lepromatous patients and patients in ENL had significantly higher levels of IFNgamma mRNA molecules compared to IL 4. In fact, 5/8 ENL patients had undetectable levels of IL 4 mRNA, with a skewing of the cytokine response towards a Th1-like profile. Consistent with this. IL 12p40 mRNA molecules were significantly higher in the PBMC of ENL patients compared to stable lepromatous patients (P < 0.01). Reconstitution of purified T cells with autologous DC and MO from the stable lepromatous group resulted in down regulation of IL 4 (P < 0.03 for DC and P < 0.02 for MO) and IL 10 (P < 0. 01 for DC and P < 0.02 for MO), and a consequent skewing towards a Th1 profile similar to that seen in ENL patients. The fact that accessory cells could alter the cytokine profile in the reconstituted cultures suggests that they may play a role in determining Th subset differentiation in chronic diseases, and may influence the immunological stability of such diseases.
Twenty four patients of Takayasu arteritis (TA) aged less than 18 years were studied over a period of 20 years (1978-98). There were 4 males and 20 females with a male:female ratio of 1:5. The mean age of presentation was 14 years and the disease had a mean onset of time 4+/-1.5 months prior to admission to the hospital. Hypertension was the commonest mode of presentation seen in 83% of patients. 16% patients had congestive heart failure. Left ventricular hypertrophy was present in 54% patients. Angiographic findings showed that abdominal aorta was the commonest segment of aorta that was involved (71% cases). Renal artery was involved in 75% cases. Treatment modalities included antihypertensive drugs in 19 patients, antitubercular drugs in 7 patients and steroids in 7 patients. Renal angioplasty was performed in 2 patients with excellent results. On follow up 2 patients died. The causes of mortality were renal failure and heart failure in one patient each. The clinical profile of young patients with TA is similar to that of adults with this disease.
Of 124 patients with Takayasu arteritis studied over a period of 20 years (1979-1999), 12 female patients experienced 24 pregnancies. The mean age was 23.6+/-3.6 years. The presenting features during pregnancy were severe hypertension (11 patients), congestive heart failure (two patients) and unequal pulses (one patient). Aortography revealed that abdominal aorta was involved in 11 patients and renal arteries in nine patients. Of 17 live babies born, intrauterine growth retardation was present in five babies and premature deliveries were encountered in four patients. Pregnancies resulted in abortion in two patients and intrauterine death in five patients. Maternal complications included superimposed pre-eclampsia in four patients, congestive heart failure and progression of renal insufficiency in two patients each and post partum sepsis in one patient. All patients with poor perinatal outcome had abdominal aortic involvement and a significant delay in seeking medical attention.
Percutaneous balloon angioplasty (PTBA) is a universally accepted mode of therapy for stenotic coronary and peripheral arterial lesions. To establish the role of PTBA and stent placement in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA), these procedures were performed in 20 patients with TA. All patients received steroids, aspirin and ticlodipine (for stent placement) prior to procedure. Angioplasty was carried in patients with symptomatic stenotic vessel of more than 70% of normal diameter or a peak systolic gradient of more than 50 mm across stenotic aortic lesion. Stenting was performed for ostial lesion, long segment lesion or incomplete relief of stenosis and dissection following angioplasty. Carotid angioplasty and stenting was performed in five patients, aortic angioplasty in nine patients, aortic angioplasty and stenting in four patients, renal angioplasty in three patients, renal angioplasty and stenting in two patients and subclavian angioplasty in two patients, subclavian, angioplasty and stenting in three patients and coronary angioplasty and stent placement in one patient. The procedure was successful in all but one patient. On following up, two patients with carotid stent placement had restenosis. A saccular aneurysm developed at the lower end of stent in one patient with aortic stent placement. The PTBA with or without stent placement is a safe and effective method for relief of stenotic lesion in patients with TA.
PURPOSE: Adverse drug events, especially those that may have been preventable, are among the most serious concerns about medication use in nursing homes. We studied the incidence and preventability of adverse drug events and potential adverse drug events in nursing homes. METHODS: We performed a cohort study of all long-term care residents of 18 community-based nursing homes in Massachusetts during a 12-month observation period. Potential drug-related incidents were detected by stimulated self-report by nursing home staff and by periodic review of the records of nursing home residents by trained nurse and pharmacist investigators. Each incident was classified by 2 independent physician-reviewers, using a structured implicit review process, by whether or not it constituted an adverse drug event or potential adverse drug event (those that may have caused harm, but did not because of chance or because they were detected), by the severity of the event (significant, serious, life-threatening, or fatal), and by whether it was preventable. Examples of significant events included nonurticarial rashes, falls without associated fracture, hemorrhage not requiring transfusion or hospitalization, and oversedation; examples of serious events included urticaria, falls with fracture, hemorrhage requiring transfusion or hospitalization, and delirium. RESULTS: During 28,839 nursing home resident-months of observation in the 18 participating nursing homes, 546 adverse drug events (1.89 per 100 resident-months) and 188 potential adverse drug events (0.65 per 100 resident-months) were identified. Of the adverse drug events, 1 was fatal, 31 (6%) were life-threatening, 206 (38%) were serious, and 308 (56%) were significant. Overall, 51% of the adverse drug events were judged to be preventable, including 171 (72%) of the 238 fatal, life-threatening, or serious events and 105 (34%) of the 308 significant events (P < 0.001). Errors resulting in preventable adverse drug events occurred most often at the stages of ordering and monitoring; errors in transcription, dispensing, and administration were less commonly identified. Psychoactive medications (antipsychotics, antidepressants, and sedatives/hypnotics) and anticoagulants were the most common medications associated with preventable adverse drug events. Neuropsychiatric events were the most common types of preventable adverse drug events. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse drug events are common and often preventable in nursing homes. More serious adverse drug events are more likely to be preventable. Prevention strategies should target the ordering and monitoring stages of pharmaceutical care.