Psoriasis and calcipotriol: an overview.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Jain.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The various methods used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) have not given consistent results. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of a solution of meglumine antimoniate (MA; 85 mg Sb/ml) given intralesionally (i.l.) with that of the same solution given intramuscularly (i.m.). Eighty CL patients, with a total of 147 lesions, were randomly allocated into the two treatment groups. Forty were injected i.m. with MA (15 mg Sb/kg.day) on 6 days/week until 12 injections had been given to each. The lesions of the other 40 patients were infiltrated with MA (0.2-0.8 ml/lesion) every other day for 30 days. After 15 days' therapy, none of the lesions on those treated i.m. had fully healed (although five lesions showed some improvement) whereas two lesions on those treated i.l. had fully healed and 10 showed good improvement. After 30 days, 46 (68%) of the 68 lesions on those treated i.m. had healed completely, 11 (16%) had improved, and five (8%) worsened. The corresponding values for the 66 lesions on those treated i.l. were 48 (73%), 10 (15%) and three (5%). There was no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups, either in terms of satisfactory response (lesions fully healed or improved) or unsatisfactory response (lesions unchanged or advanced), when assessed on day 30 (P > 0.5). Intralesional antimony is a rapidly effective, safe and economical method of treating simple CL, particularly in patients with cardiac, liver or renal disease, for whom antimonials are contra-indicated.
Placenta in mouse generate increasing quantities of superoxide dismutase from day 13 of pregnancy until parturition. This is associated with a concomitant reduction in the activity of superoxide radical. This findings points to the steroidogenic control of the later half of pregnancy by the placental axis. Parturition is associated with an abrupt spurt in superoxide radical. This is a novel finding and could be a consequence of the estrogen surge at labour. It is suggested that this abrupt increase in superoxide radical level at parturition may remould the placental membrane fluid at the point of its attachment with uterine membranes so as to facilitate the separation of placenta from uterus.
The isolation and culture of human CD34+ cells could have broad clinical application for hematologic support following high-dose chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation. The need for reproducible, animal product-free conditions for the culture of progenitors is crucial to the widespread clinical implementation of ex vivo cell therapies. In these studies, we explored the use of animal serum-free (ASF) medium for the culture of isolated human bone marrow and peripheral blood CD34+ cells. In this ASF system, isolated CD34+ cells were cultured using a variety of different growth factor combinations. Such ASF culture conditions yielded equivalent to superior cell and progenitor growth when directly compared with culture containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). In cultures containing IL-1, IL-3, and stem cell factor, total cell numbers increased, on average, 33-fold over the first 2 weeks. On phenotypic analysis, the ASF cultures demonstrated sustained proliferation of CD33+ myeloid cells throughout the culture period. CD34+ cell numbers increased during the first 7-10 days of culture, with a mean 3.4-fold expansion. Concomitant with the CD34+ cell expansion was an average 8.2-fold expansion of colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and a 102.0-fold increase in burst-forming units-erythrocytes (BFU-E). Likewise, a mean 4929-fold expansion of CD41a+ megakaryocyte progenitors was observed in these CD34+ cultures. Different combinations of growth factors affected the fold increase in cell and progenitor number. When CD34+ cell cultures from normal healthy volunteers mobilized with either G-CSF or GM-CSF were compared, similar expansions of total cell and progenitor cells resulted. However, CD41+ cells expansions were greater in those samples from G-CSF-mobilized volunteers in every case tested. These studies established the feasibility of this ASF CD34+ cell culture system to generate a population of maturing progenitors for potential use in transfusion support during cytopenic periods following high-dose chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation.
PURPOSE: Large numbers of families with many members having seizures have been used to understand the role of hereditary factors in the pathogenesis of human epileptic syndromes. We aimed to establish a genetic database to form a hypothesis on the possible genetic contributions in different epileptic syndromes. METHODS: The occurrence and patterns of different epilepsies and epileptic syndromes in 1,219 Indian probands and their relatives were studied. The concordance of epilepsies between probands and relatives was also analyzed. RESULTS: Of probands, 231 (19% of 1219) had first- or second-degree relatives affected with seizures. Incidence of family history in probands with generalized epilepsies (GES) and syndrome of single, small, enhancing lesions (SSEL) was comparable and significantly higher than that in probands with localization-related epilepsies (LRES). The ratio of affected first- to second-degree relatives was close to 4:1. Generalized epilepsies were the commonest type of epileptic syndromes seen among all relatives. The proportion of sibs and second-degree relatives with epileptic syndromes similar to probands was significantly greater in the GES group as compared with the concordant relatives of probands with LRES and SSEL. CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of first- and second-degree relatives of probands with all types of epileptic syndromes have seizures. The risk of relatives being affected varied as a function of the relation with the proband. Concordance of epileptic syndromes between probands and relatives was related to the epileptic syndromes in probands. The syndrome of SSEL is probably a benign epileptic syndrome seen in Indians genetically predisposed to seizures. Hereditary factors may play an almost equal role in the predisposition of relatives to epilepsy in families of probands with different epileptic syndromes.
OBJECTIVES: The clinical data on individuals who were diagnosed to have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) on the basis of myoclonic jerks alone has been analysed. The points in favour and against individuals with only myoclonic jerks being classified as "affected" for research on JME are discussed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 15 persons diagnosed with JME on the basis of only myoclonic jerks in a series of 161 patients with JME and their relatives. Detailed information on the seizure types in JME patients and their family members was collected. All affected individuals were examined by one person and had at least one conventional scalp EEG. CT/MRI of the brain was done as and when indicated. RESULTS: Nine of these were probands while 6 were the relatives of JME patients. The EEG was abnormal in 8 of 9 probands and 1 of 6 relatives with only myoclonic jerks. All the 9 probands and 2 relatives with only myoclonic jerks were treated with anti-epileptic drugs. Three of the 4 relatives had spontaneous remission of jerks after variable intervals. Four of 15 persons with only myoclonic jerks had a first degree relative with definite JME. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that persons with myoclonic jerks alone may represent a benign subgroup of JME that may be genetically distinct from classic JME and the jerks may even spontaneously remit in a few cases. It is suggested that those persons with only myoclonic jerks and a first degree relationship with a definite diagnosis of JME can be classified as "affected" for inclusion into molecular studies, till molecular tools are available to settle the issue of phenotypic variations in hereditary neurological disorders like JME.
OBJECTIVES: To study the usefulness of short-term recording of video electroencephalography (VEEG) as an outpatient procedure with placebo induction (PLIN) and intravenous saline in cases of pseudoseizures (Psz). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty cases of suspected Psz were enrolled. They were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 consisted of patients with frank Psz, Group 2 those where diagnosis was uncertain. VEEG recording was done and 10 ml of saline used for placebo-induction. RESULTS: Of 50 patients, 24 (48%) were in Group 1 and 26 (52%) in Group 2. Fifteen (30%) had a spontaneous event during VEEG and 33% had an event only on PLIN. The diagnosis was confirmed in 60 %. In 24% of patients anti-epileptic drugs were discontinued. CONCLUSION: Short-term monitoring with VEEG using PLIN is a useful initial screening procedure and in patients where it is inconclusive, long term recordings may be done.
The effect of cromakalim, a potassium-channel opener, was studied on pylorus ligation-induced, aspirin-induced and water-immersion plus restraint stress-induced gastric ulcers in rats and on histamine-induced duodenal ulcer in guinea-pigs. Pretreatment with cromakalim (50-500 micrograms kg-1, p.o.) resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of gastric and duodenal ulceration in each model. The anti-ulcer activity of cromakalim was comparable with that of cimetidine. Cromakalim at 100, 250 and 500 micrograms kg-1 caused a reduction in the volume of the gastric content in pylorus-ligated rats, and a dose of 250 micrograms kg-1 resulted in a significant reduction in total acidity (28.81 +/- 11.73 mEq L-1, P < 0.02) in the pylorus ligation model. A significant reduction in total acid output was observed at doses of 250 micrograms kg-1 (84.27 +/- 22.33 mEqH+, P < 0.02) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (120.17 +/- 24.49 mEqH+, P < 0.01) in pylorus-ligated rats. A significant reduction in the ulcer index in pylorus-ligated rats was observed at all cromakalim doses: 50 micrograms kg-1 (0.23 +/- 0.09, P < 0.05), 100 micrograms kg-1 (0.15 +/- 0.09, P < 0.02), 250 micrograms kg-1 (0.12 +/- 0.05, P < 0.01) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (0.14 +/- 0.03, P < 0.02). A significant reduction in the ulcer index of aspirin-treated rats was also observed at all cromakalim dose levels: 50 micrograms kg-1 (0.39 +/- 0.03, P < 0.01), 100 micrograms kg-1 (0.28 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01), 250 micrograms kg-1 (0.22 +/- 0.04, P < 0.001) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (0.28 +/- 0.03, P < 0.01). In the water-immersion plus restraint stress-induced gastric ulcer model, cromakalim significantly reduced gastric ulceration at all the dose levels: 50 micrograms kg-1 (28.2 +/- 2.12, P < 0.001), 100 micrograms kg-1 (20.24 +/- 1.71, P < 0.01), 250 micrograms kg-1 (19.95 +/- 1.46, P < 0.001) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (21.61 +/- 3.00, P < 0.001) but there was no consistent reduction of gastric bleeding. In addition to gastric ulcers, duodenal lesions were also reduced by pretreatment with cromakalim at all dose levels: 50 micrograms kg-1 (97.87 +/- 20.03 mm2, P < 0.02), 100 micrograms kg-1 (70.72 +/- 12.82 mm2, P < 0.02), 250 micrograms kg-1 (48.32 +/- 8.42 mm2, P < 0.01) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (55.50 +/- 12.50 mm2, P < 0.01). Cromakalim at a dose of 100 micrograms kg-1 also reduced total acidity (99.36 +/- 9.12 mEqL-1, P < 0.02) and total acid output (172.22 +/- 45.33 mEq of H+, P < 0.05) in this model. These findings demonstrate the anti-ulcer activity of cromakalim in different experimental models and suggest its potential use in ulcer therapy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Nonspecific aortoarteritis is the commonest cause of renovascular hypertension (RVH) accounting for 87% of the patients in the present study. We compared the clinical and radiographic features and outcome in children (n = 16) and adult (n = 24) patients with aortoarteritis. Children have a shorter duration of disease and present more commonly with constitutional symptoms. All the patients were hypertensive; however, malignant hypertension and hypertensive encephalopathy were more common in children. Abdominal bruit and asymmetry of pulses were present only in 75 and 35% of the patients, respectively. Asymmetric kidney size on ultrasound was present in 15 of 24 adults, whereas 9 of 16 children had equal sized kidneys. Captopril renography had a better sensitivity for detection of RVH in children (13 of 16 in children vs. 12 of 24 in adults showing positive results). On intra-arterial digital substraction angiography, abdominal aortic involvement was invariable, whereas the thoracic aorta was involved less frequently in both age groups. Angiographic scores for the severity of vascular involvement was significantly lesser in children (6.87+/-4.8) as compared to adults (11.32+/-4.5). Thirteen of the 15 children were found suitable for revascularization, whereas 12 of 24 adults were not considered for revascularization as their kidneys were small and contributed to less than 10% of total function. Six of the adult patients underwent nephrectomy for the control of blood pressure. Results of angioplasty were also better in children than adults. We conclude that children present earlier with less severe vascular disease and respond better to revascularization, as compared to adults.
The emergence of the mammalian blastocysts from their thick glycoprotein investment known as the zona pellucida is an important, but poorly understood, event in embryogenesis. In this paper, we demonstrate that peri-hatching blastocysts generate a considerably high quantum of an active oxyradical species for an extremely short period of time when compared to the pre-hatching (unhatched) and post-hatching (hatched) blastocysts. Hatching could be induced in pre-hatching blastocysts by exposing them to superoxide artificially generated to match the observed peri-implantation stage specific levels of superoxide, without impairing their viability. These observations suggest the operation of a superoxide-dependent hatching initiation in developing mammalian embryos.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The increase in aqueous solubility of ketoprofen using hydrotropes and cosolvents in formulation, as well as stability studies of its aqueous injections have been reported earlier. These formulations were further evaluated in vitro (physical evaluation, haemolytic activity) and in vivo (pharmacokinetic studies). Some of the formulations have shown promising results.
A retrospective study of large-gauge core biopsy (LGCB) of 206 non-palpable mammographic abnormalities detected at routine screening in a community-based clinic accredited with the Australian National Program for the Early Detection of Breast cancer, was performed to ascertain the role of LGCB as an alternative to diagnostic surgical biopsy within such a programme. Of the 51 malignancies diagnosed by LGCB and proceeding to treatment, no false-positives were found and agreement as to the presence, or otherwise, of invasion between core and open biopsy was 95%. Once malignancy was established by LGCB, one-stage treatment was possible in 74.5% of cases. A total of 114 lesions were considered to be benign and returned to routine screening. One interval cancer subsequently developed in this group. Incongruity between the pathological diagnosis from core biopsy and the mammographic image occurred in 29 cases, representing potential mistargeting in 14.1% of cases. Four cancers were discovered in this group when the patients subsequently proceeded to surgical biopsy, making an overall false-negative rate of 2.4%. No core biopsy sample was considered inadequate for pathological assessment and no lesion proved inaccessible to targeting. There was no long-term morbidity. We believe that LGCB is a safe, reliable and cheaper alternative to diagnostic surgical biopsy, but a close correlation of pathology and mammography is required to avoid the erroneous return of women to routine recall.
Flurbiprofen (1) is an analgesic, antipyretic and antiinflammatory agent which is practically insoluble in water. The aqueous solubility of 1 using various hydrotropes was attempted. The solubility increased up to 63 times in the case of sodium benzoate. Using selected hydrotropes, aqueous injections of 1 were formulated. Formulations were studied for physical and chemical stability. Some of the formulations showed reasonable stability which can be further enhanced by incorporation of appropriate formulation additives. These formulations were evaluated for antiinflammatory and analgesic activity and showed promising results.