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Biomedical subjects

S Kapadia

Publications and source records attributed to S Kapadia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Percutaneous transluminal alcohol septal myocardial ablation after aortic valve replacement.

When left ventricular outflow tract obstruction develops after aortic valve replacement, few treatment choices have been available until now. We present a patient with prior aortic valve replacement who developed left ventricle outflow tract obstruction that was successfully treated with a percutaneous transcoronary myocardial septal alcohol ablation. This technique is a useful tool for the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, especially in those patients with prior heart surgery.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Static input-output non-linearity as the source of non-linear effects in maximum length sequence click-evoked OAEs.

The application of the maximum length sequence (MLS) technique to the recording of click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) allows for a reduction in test time by one to two orders of magnitude. This is because the technique permits the use of extremely high click rates, as inter-click intervals are not constrained to be greater than the duration of the response. However, increasing the click rate also causes a progressive reduction in amplitude, or 'suppression', of the CEOAE. The origin of this suppression is unclear, with diverse suggestions in the literature as to its nature and mechanism. This paper presents a simple model of the well-known compressive non-linearity of the CEOAE level function, based on a static amplitude non-linearity within each of a number of narrowband frequency channels. The response of the model to MLS stimulation demonstrates suppression broadly of the form and magnitude previously reported in experimental studies. Furthermore, the model exhibits the generation of additional non-linear components that have been speculated on in connection with CEOAE recordings using the MLS technique. It is concluded that the MLS suppression phenomenon is derived largely, if not entirely, from the static non-linearity of the CEOAE level function. The approach to modelling the phenomenon as described here also bears promise for understanding various aspects of non-linearity in MLS-based CEOAE recordings.

Cochlea↗

Herbal remedy poisoning presenting with acute abdomen and raised urine porphyrins.

We describe a case of lead poisoning due to herbal remedies, presenting with an acute abdomen, raised porphyrins and increased liver enzyme activities. We suggest that lead poisoning should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the 'acute abdomen', and that the presence of liver dysfunction points to the possibility of Asian herbal remedies as the source of the lead poisoning.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Regulation of the bovine kidney microsomal chloride channel p64 by p59fyn, a Src family tyrosine kinase.

p64 is a chloride channel of intracellular membranes which is present in regulated secretory vesicles. Mechanisms by which the p64 channel could be regulated are largely unknown. p59(fyn) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase of the Src family that has been implicated in a variety of intracellular signaling events. The N-terminal portion of p64 has several potential binding sites for Src family SH2 domains. In this paper, we demonstrate that p64 becomes tyrosine phosphorylated when co-expressed with p59(fyn) in HeLa cells. We show that co-expression of p64 with p59(fyn) renders p64 a ligand for the SH2 domain of p59(fyn) and this SH2 binding is eliminated by treating p64 with alkaline phosphatase. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we find that tyrosine 33 in the p64 sequence is necessary for SH2 binding. We also characterized p64-p59(fyn) interactions using native material from bovine kidney. We found that a small fraction of native kidney p64 can bind Fyn SH2 in vitro. Immunoprecipitation of p64 from solubilized kidney membranes yields a kinase activity with the same mobility by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as authentic bovine p59(fyn). Finally, we demonstrate that co-expression of p64 and p59(fyn) in HeLa cells results in enhanced p64-associated chloride channel activity.

Animals↗

Nonlinear temporal interactions in click-evoked otoacoustic emissions. I. Assumed model and polarity-symmetry.

Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) are reduced in amplitude by the presentation of 'suppressor' clicks that either closely lead or follow the stimulus ('test') clicks. This suppression of the response represents nonlinear temporal interactions between the test and suppressor clicks and/or the CEOAEs they evoke. There are some discrepancies amongst previous reports of the phenomenon, and the underlying mechanisms are not understood. In particular, it is unclear whether the suppression reported simply reflects the compressive nonlinearity of the CEOAE input-output (I-O) function. This paper presents a simple model of the nonlinear interactions between CEOAEs evoked by two closely-spaced clicks. The model shows that suppression as reported may be entirely derived from CEOAE I-O nonlinearity, in combination with the extended duration of the cochlear responses to click stimuli. It is also shown experimentally that suppression is insensitive to the polarities of test and suppressor clicks, which is consistent with the model based on I-O nonlinearity. A companion paper (Kapadia and Lutman, Hear. Res. 146 (2000)) presents experimental findings from a detailed parametric study of nonlinear temporal interactions in CEOAEs in human subjects with normal hearing. The findings are compared with the pattern of results generated by the above model, in order to assess the role of I-O nonlinearity in these nonlinear interactions.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Nonlinear temporal interactions in click-evoked otoacoustic emissions. II. Experimental data.

Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) are reduced in amplitude by the presentation of 'suppressor' clicks that either closely lead or follow the stimulus ('test') clicks. A model described in a companion paper (Kapadia and Lutman, Hear. Res. 146 (2000) 89-100) shows that such nonlinear temporal interactions, as previously reported, may be explained in terms of the compressive non-linearity of the CEOAE input-output (I-O) function. This paper presents the results of a detailed parametric investigation into such nonlinear interactions, studied in 12 normal adult ears over a wide range of test and suppressor click levels and inter-click intervals. The results differ from those generated by the model in a number of respects. Principally, maximum suppression is generally obtained for suppressors presented in advance of test clicks, rather than co-incident with the test clicks. The amount of advance depends systematically on the two click levels. The measured suppression can also exceed the theoretical maximum allowed by the model. It is concluded that the nonlinear temporal interactions measured do not simply reflect CEOAE I-O function non-linearity. They may, instead, arise from disturbance of the generator elements from their resting state prior to generation of the CEOAE. These results may also have general implications relating to cochlear responses to transient stimuli and indicate the potential of CEOAEs in probing aspects of cochlear mechanics.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Prognosis of patients with vascular disease after clinical evaluation and dobutamine stress echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Coronary disease is an important cause of long-term morbidity in patients needing major vascular surgery. We sought to assess the efficacy of preoperative clinical evaluation and the detection of inducible ischemia for prediction of immediate and long-term cardiac outcomes of patients undergoing vascular surgery. METHODS: In 233 patients undergoing vascular procedures, we assessed risk clinically on the basis of Eagle's criteria. Dobutamine echocardiography was performed with a standard protocol and results were classified as showing ischemia, scar, or a normal response. Patients were observed perioperatively, and late follow-up (28 +/- 13 months) was completed in all surgical survivors. A composite end point of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and unstable and progressive angina requiring late revascularization was used to judge event-free survival. RESULTS: Of 233 patients undergoing preoperative dobutamine echocardiography, 39 (17%) had inducible ischemia and 36 (15%) had scar. Perioperative events occurred in 8 patients (3%). None of the patients with ischemia had perioperative events, reflecting the effect of revascularization in 9 patients. Late events occurred in 36 patients; ischemia on preoperative stress testing was a predictor of these events even after adjusting for clinical variables and left ventricular dysfunction (relative risk = 3.3; 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 6.8; P =.001). The association of ischemia with clinical predictors was associated with incrementally worse outcome. CONCLUSION: In addition to perioperative assessment, the combined use of clinical and dobutamine echocardiographic evaluation may stratify the risk of late cardiac events.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Targeted expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide to osteoblasts increases bone density in mice.

The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is concentrated in fine sensory nerve endings innervating all tissues, including bone. CGRP inhibits osteoclasts, stimulates insulin-like growth factor I and inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha production by osteoblasts in vitro. To investigate the role of CGRP in bone in vivo, mice were engineered to express CGRP in osteoblasts by placing the human CGRP gene under the control of the rat osteocalcin promoter (Ost-CGRP tg+ mice). Calvaria cultures from transgene positive (tg+), but not tg- mice, produced bioactive CGRP. Trabecular bone density and bone volume, determined by peripheral quantitative computed tomography and bone histomorphometry, respectively, were higher in tg+ than tg- littermates. This increase in bone volume was associated with an increased bone formation rate. Trabecular bone density decreased in tg+ mice as a result of ovariectomy, but remained higher than in sham tg- mice. Targeting CGRP to osteoblasts appears to favor the establishment of a higher trabecular bone mass in mice.

Animals↗

Differential expression of heat shock proteins in normal and failing human hearts.

BACKGROUND: Heat shock proteins (hsp) constitute an endogenous stress response that protects cells from injury. Most work on these important proteins has focused on the immediate response to acute stress in cell culture systems and mammalian models of heart disease. Little is known about the expression of the hsps in human hearts. We were interested in whether there was increased expression of the hsps in heart failure, a setting of chronic, sustained stress. Five different hsps were examined: hsp27, hsp60, hsp72, hsc70 and hsp90. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three groups of explanted hearts were studied: dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), ischemic cardiomyopathy (IHD), and normal controls. Western-blotting with a standard curve of purified protein on each blot was used to quantify the expression of the hsps. Hsp27 was increased almost two-fold in DCM compared to normal hearts, and was significantly greater than in IHD hearts. Levels of hsp60 were doubled in both DCM and IHD hearts (P < 0.05). Hsp72, hsc70 and hsp90 were not significantly changed. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows for the first time that differential changes in hsp levels occur in end-stage heart failure. Since hsps can render cells resistant to apoptosis, and are associated with the mitochondria and the cytoskeleton, which are known to be abnormal in heart failure, these studies may lead to new insights into the pathogenesis of cardiac decompensation.

Adult↗

The role of cytokines in the failing human heart.

Despite repeated attempts to develop a unifying hypothesis that explains the clinical syndrome of heart failure, no single conceptual paradigm has withstood the test of time. In this regard, recent studies have shown that a class of biologically active molecules, generically referred to as cytokines, are overexposed in heart failure. This article will review recent clinical and experimental material that suggest proinflammatory (stress activated) cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TFN-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) may play a role in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure. The scope of this article includes an overview of the biology of cytokines in the heart, as well as review of the clinical studies that have documented elevated levels of cytokines and cytokine receptors in patients with heart failure.

Animals↗

Tissue repair in the fetal intestinal tract occurs with adhesions, fibrosis, and neovascularization.

Cutaneous wound healing in the fetus can occur in a nonfibrotic, regenerative manner. However, other fetal tissues such as bone and stomach heal with scar formation. In light of potential ramifications for adult hollow visceral scarring (biliary and intestinal strictures), this study was undertaken to determine if tubular visceral tissue repair in the fetus is regenerative or fibrotic. Fetal rabbits underwent laparotomy on day 24 of gestation, during which a controlled intestinal enterotomy was created and suture repaired immediately using microsurgical techniques. Maternal rabbits and adult male rabbits also underwent enterotomy and repair. After 5 days all animals were sacrificed and the wounds analyzed histologically by a pathologist in a blinded fashion. All animals demonstrated a similar degree of peri-intestinal adhesion formation. Fetal and maternal wounds contained fibroblastic and smooth muscle cell proliferation, mild inflammatory infiltration, and new blood vessel formation. The male adult wounds demonstrated a more pronounced fibrovascular healing response. Immunohistochemical staining for CD31 (endothelial cell marker) was quantitated on a scale of 0 to 4+, indicating degree of neovascularization. The mean scores for the fetal and maternal groups were similar (1.70 +/- 0.68 and 1.23 +/- 1.07 respectively), but were significantly greater for male adults (2.93 +/- 0.12; p = 0.001 by analysis of variance). The results of this study indicate that hollow visceral tissue repair in the fetal rabbit intestine occurs in a similar fibrotic manner as adult healing. This provides further evidence that regenerative healing in the fetus is not ubiquitous. Differences in the degrees of fibrosis and neovascularization between adult male and pregnant female wounds deserve further investigation.

Animals↗

Progressive septal and palatal perforation secondary to intranasal cocaine abuse.

Septal perforation from intranasal cocaine abuse is well recognised. We present a case of progressive septal as well as palatal perforation. Progression from septal perforation to palatal perforation occurred after cessation of intranasal cocaine abuse. This patient had a weakly positive cytoplasmic antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (C-ANCA) but no histologic evidence of Wegener's Granulomatosis. The differential diagnosis for septal and palatal perforation is reviewed. This case represents the fifth reported case of palatal perforation secondary to cocaine abuse in the literature, and the second associated with positive C-ANCA.

Administration, Intranasal↗

On borderline phenomena.

The author describes his struggle to resolve some theoretical and technical problems posed by borderline patients. For this he has made use of an ancient Indian myth of King Trishanku taken from Bhagwat Puran--the Hindu Book of Genesis. He has tried to demonstrate, step by step, how fruitfully this myth has helped him to understand such patients. Special emphasis has been laid on the language used by borderline patients. The contrary and apparently meaningless nature of this language is likened to the formulation of King Trishanku's unique desire, 'to go to heaven without actually dying'. The author then proceeds to show that this language is not quite as meaningless as it appears to be--that it is the result of a complicated system of projective identification devised by these patients to manipulate their objects in order to achieve their own omnipotent ends. Detailed clinical examples are given to describe the handling of the problems of appropriation, manipulation and consequent suspended state of such patients. Taken from three different stages of various analyses these examples show how a very slow and gradual change was brought about in the mental structures of the patients treated by the author.

Adult↗

Cardiac outcomes in coronary patients with submaximum dobutamine stress echocardiography.

This study evaluated the prediction of cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or late myocardial revascularization) in patients with submaximum responses to dobutamine stress, defined by attainment of <85% age-predicted heart rate. Of 1,772 patients undergoing dobutamine echocardiography over a 2-year period, 425 had a submaximum heart rate response. After exclusion of patients treated with beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents, 255 patients formed the study group. In these patients, the test was terminated after administration of the maximum dose of 40 microg/kg/min of dobutamine with atropine (end of protocol, n = 186), severe angina, ischemic ST-segment changes, or intolerable side effects (n = 69). Dobutamine-induced changes (ischemia, viability, or both) were detected in 46 patients, involving ischemia in 133 segments, viability in 23, and ischemia and viability in 16 segments. Patients were followed for an interval of 28 +/- 17 months; 5 (1.2%) were lost to follow-up. Of the medically treated patients, cardiac events occurred in 73 of 228 (31%), including cardiac death in 25 (11%), nonfatal myocardial infarction in 11 (4.8%), severe unstable angina in 35 (15%), and late revascularization in 2 (0.9%). Cardiac events occurred in 11 of 30 (36%) with inducible abnormalities, and 62 of 198 without inducible abnormalities (31%, p = NS). Thus, cardiac event rates are high in patients with inadequate chronotropic responses to dobutamine stress, irrespective of whether stress-induced changes are detected. A negative dobutamine echocardiogram at submaximum heart rate should be considered nondiagnostic.

Aged↗

Are normal hearing thresholds a sufficient condition for click-evoked otoacoustic emissions?

Transiently evolked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) have been reported in several studies as absent in a small minority of normal ears. Other studies have reported TEOAEs in all normal ears. Differences between studies may arise directly from criteria for TEOAE identification, criteria for selection of normals, or statistically due to limited sample sizes. In order to understand and model cochlear processes involved in TEOAE generation, it needs to be known whether the presence of normal hearing leads automatically to generation of TEOAEs. The present study set out to establish in a large sample if any ears could be found that lacked TEOAEs despite normal hearing threshold levels (HTL). A total of 397 ears from highly cooperative adult subjects were examined under laboratory conditions. Using cross correlation between replicate nonlinear waveforms as the criterion, TEOAEs were present in 99.2% of the sample (lower CI 98.1%). However, careful visual assessment of the recorded waveforms for the remaining ears did not unequivocally show absence of TEOAE characteristics in any ear with normal HTLs. While TEOAE strength varies widely among ears, no clear evidence was found to show that TEOAEs can be absent when HTLs are normal.

Acoustic Stimulation↗