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Biomedical subjects

S Rao

Publications and source records attributed to S Rao.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Outcome of pregnant diabetic patients in Benghazi (Libya) from 1984 to 1991.

During the period from 1 June 1984 to 1 June 1991, 988 pregnant diabetic patients were treated by a team of physicians and obstetricians in Benghazi Diabetic Clinic. Twelve patients were insulin-dependent (type 1) and 976 patients were non-insulin-dependent (type 2). Ninety patients were diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. Thirty-nine patients defaulted. Eight hundred and seventy-six patients were treated with insulin and 112 patients were controlled by diet. The average daily insulin dose was 40.12 units. The majority, 64.5%, delivered vaginally and 35.5% by caesarean section. Rates of abortion, intra-uterine death and still birth were 7.99%, 3.28% and 2.6%, respectively. The mean birth weight was 3.78 +/- 0.89 kg. Congenital anomalies of infants were 3.4%. Perinatal morality was 11.44%. Poor metabolic control has been associated with increased rates of abortion, intra-uterine death and congenital anomalies. It was concluded that team approach and multiple insulin injections could improve the outcome of pregnancy in developing countries to near current western standards.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1993

Biomechanical assessment of surface demineralized micro-perforated femoral diaphyseal segmental allograft.

The use of surface demineralized micro-perforated femoral allograft (SDMFA), in the form of short diaphyseal segments, is of interest for anterior thoracic and lumbar spine reconstruction. Its reported osteoinductive capacity is enhanced by demineralization, though the mechanical strength is reduced. The strength of SDMFA segments was significantly higher at 24 h of demineralization time as compared to 48 h of demineralization time. The SDMFA segments from the junction of the proximal and mid-third of the femoral diaphysis had the greatest load to failure and stiffness.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Causes of childhood blindness: results from west Africa, south India and Chile.

Using World Health Organization definitions of visual loss and a standardised methodology, 905 children were examined in Chile, West Africa and South India. Of these 806 (89%) suffered from blindness (BL) or severe visual impairment (SVI). Causes of SVI and BL were classified anatomically and aetiologically, and avoidable causes identified. In W. Africa (n = 284) the major anatomical cause of SVI/BL was corneal scar/phthisis bulbi (35.9%). Retinal disease accounted for 20.4%, cataract 15.5% and glaucoma 13.0%. Aetiologically 33.8% of SVI/BL was due to childhood factors and 21.1% to hereditary disease. In S. India (n = 305) the major anatomical cause of SVI/BL was corneal scar/phthisis bulbi (38.4%). Retinal disease accounted for 22.6%, cataract 7.4% and glaucoma 3%. Aetiologically 37.0% of SVI/BL was due to childhood factors and 29.8% to hereditary disease. In Chile (n = 217) the major anatomical cause of SVI/BL was retinal disease (47.0%). Cataract accounted for 9.2%, glaucoma 8.3% and 6.9% was due to corneal pathology. Aetiologically 30.4% of SVI/BL was due to hereditary factors, and 20.8% to perinatal factors of which four-fifths (16.6%) was due to retinopathy of prematurity. Avoidable conditions accounted for 70%, 47% and 54% of cases in W. Africa, S. India and Chile respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Significance of bronchial washings smear negativity in 'suspect' pulmonary tuberculosis.

The role of bronchial washings in patients with 'suspect' pulmonary tuberculosis was studied in 55 patients. Bronchial washings increased the diagnostic yield of tuberculosis by 28%. It was also able to accurately exclude active tuberculosis in 94% patients. Hence it is inferred that absence of acid-fast bacilli in smears of bronchial washings is equally important to exclude active tuberculosis.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1993

Premenstrual experiences: the four profiles and factorial patterns.

Premenstrual experiences were studied in 112 non-complaining women using the Premenstrual Assessment Forms I (for positive experiences), II (for distressing experiences) and the bi-directional Visual Analog Scale. Overall, 27% of women reported no or minimal changes, 20% reported predominantly negative experiences, and 18% predominantly positive feelings. However, the commonest experience was a mixed picture with coexisting positive and negative feelings in 35% of the subjects. Severe premenstrual changes were noted in only nine (8%) of the women. None had a late luteal phase dysphoric disorder. The 26 items of the Premenstrual Assessment Forms I and II were factor analyzed by the principal components method using a varimax rotation. Four factors were derived. Factor I had 12 items indicating negative experiences. Factor II had seven items indicating positive feelings. The other two factors have vegetative features (like sleep and bowel changes) and sexual feelings. The findings also indicated that research needs to be directed towards understanding the mixed group of symptoms rather than the excessive emphasis on negative feelings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Genetic studies on dynamin function in Drosophila.

The shibire(ts2) mutation of Drosophila melanogaster causes a temperature sensitive inhibition of endocytosis; this in turn leads to synaptic-vesicle depletion and consequent paralysis. Heat-pulses delivered during development of shibire(ts2) individuals affect the morphology of a number of adult structures. A simple screening protocol has been used to isolate several mutations that partially suppress the temperature-sensitive paralytic phenotype of shibire(ts2) mutant animals. All of these mutations very tightly linked to shibire and are likely to be second site intragenic mutations that restore partial activity to the shibire(ts2) product. The mutations suppress both behavioral, and easily-scored developmental phenotypes of shibire(ts2) characterized in this paper. Our results suggest that defects in endocytosis, and not in microtubule interactions, are responsible for all of the phenotypes of shibire(ts2) mutant Drosophila examined in this study.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Urinary excretion of 6-hydroxymethylpterin in brain tumours.

The urinary 6-hydroxymethylpterin(Pt-6-CH2OH) excretion was determined in 87 patients with brain tumours and in 50 control patients. The Pt-6-CH2OH levels were significantly elevated in all patients with tumours. No difference was observed when malignant tumours were compared with benign neoplasms. Following therapy, the Pt-6-CH2OH levels were partially reduced when compared with control patients and their pre-operative values.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Urinary excretion of pseudouridine in patients with brain tumours.

Elevated urinary levels of modified nucleosides, especially pseudouridine (psi), have been observed in patients with a variety of malignant neoplasms. In this report, the urinary psi levels were estimated by high performance liquid chromatography in 93 patients with brain tumours and in 40 age and sex matched controls. The psi levels were found to be excreted in equal amounts in the control and the tumour groups. There was no significant difference in psi when patients with malignant diseases were compared with those with benign tumours. Following therapy, the psi levels remained unchanged when compared to the controls and their preoperative values. It is concluded that urinary psi concentration is not a useful marker for brain tumours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Perceptual dimensions of tactile surface texture: a multidimensional scaling analysis.

The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective dimensionality of tactile surface texture perception. Seventeen tactile stimuli, such as wood, sandpaper, and velvet, were moved across the index finger of the subject, who sorted them into categories on the basis of perceived similarity. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) techniques were then used to position the stimuli in a perceptual space on the basis of combined data of 20 subjects. A three-dimensional space was judged to give a satisfactory representation of the data. Subjects' ratings of each stimulus on five scales representing putative dimensions of perceived surface texture were then fitted by regression analysis into the MDS space. Roughness-smoothness and hardness-softness were found to be robust and orthogonal dimensions; the third dimension did not correspond closely with any of the rating scales used, but post hoc inspection of the data suggested that it may reflect the compressional elasticity ("springiness") of the surface.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Taxol: mechanisms of action and resistance.

Information on the mechanisms of action and of resistance to Taxol, as well as new data from our laboratory on the promoter regions of the genes that encode P-glycoprotein in a murine Taxol-resistant cell line, is discussed. Taxol induces the formation of stable bundles of microtubules, thereby interfering with the normal function of cellular microtubules. The drug can induce the multidrug-resistance (MDR) phenotype that includes the overproduction of P-glycoprotein, a membrane glycoprotein that acts as a drug efflux pump. In human tumors resistant to Taxol, P-glycoprotein could be responsible for maintaining the drug below cytotoxic levels. Analyses of the MDR promoters that are involved in P-glycoprotein expression and overproduction revealed an interesting recombination event in a Taxol-resistant cell line. As an important new clinical agent for the treatment of malignancies, Taxol requires further mechanistic investigations at the preclinical level.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1993

Primary lymphoreticular tumors of the orbit.

Primary orbital lymphomas are rare. We report nine such cases (4 with DWDL, 3 with DPDL, 1 with DHL and 1 unclassifiable lymphoma). All patients achieved clinical complete remission (CR). Of those who completed treatment more than a year ago, three continue to be in CR at 17, 24 & 25 months and two are lost to follow up.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Differential patterns of malnutrition among kindergarten children in Pune city.

In view of the fact that inadequate nutrition is not the sole cause of existing malnutrition but is a complex interaction of social, cultural and environmental factors children growing in different social economical set-ups were studied for the differentials in types of malnutrition. Total of 300 kindergarten children aged 2-5 yr from three socio-economic classes in Pune city were examined. It was observed that even in middle socio-economic class, considerable wasting (38%) was prevalent, while stunting (86%) was the major problem of low socio-economic class children. Age-wise prevalence not only indicated high risk of malnutrition around the age of 2 yr, but also suggested tendency of temporary catch up which did not last long. As wasting and stunting have important-implications for intervention programmes, it is necessary to understand the etiology of different types of malnutrition.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1993

Surgery still has a role in Graves' hyperthyroidism.

BACKGROUND: A recent survey of American thyroidologists defining their management of a 43-year-old woman with hyperthyroid Graves' disease and a thyroid weighing 40 to 50 grams revealed that 69% recommended iodine 131 therapy, 30% prolonged antithyroid drug therapy, and only 1% operation. If the patient was younger or had a larger thyroid, 4% to 7% of the respondents recommended operation. METHODS: In our clinic we often recommend operation for young adult patients with large goiters who have had recurrent hyperthyroidism after antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy, have allergic reactions to ATD, are not compliant, are ATD failures, or refuse 131I therapy. Thus operation for Graves' disease is recommended more frequently in our clinic than this survey indicates. From 1980 to 1992, 81 patients with Graves' disease (15 men and 66 women; mean age, 30 years) underwent a subtotal thyroidectomy. Patients had been pretreated with antithyroid drugs and saturated solution of potassium iodide, and thyroid conditions were normal at the time of operation. All patients underwent subtotal thyroidectomy by one surgeon and 3 to 5 grams of thyroid were left on each side. RESULTS: There was no permanent recurrent nerve damage or hypoparathyroidism. Hyperthyroidism recurred in one patient (1.2%). Hypothyroidism developed in 59% of our patients, 77% within 1 year after operation, which was easily managed with replacement doses of levothyroxine. Ophthalmopathy had not developed or progressed in any patient, as has recently been suggested to occur after 131I therapy of Graves' disease. CONCLUSIONS: Because our patients are almost always hospitalized for no more than 24 to 36 hours, have had no complications except for hypothyroidism, have had their disease abruptly terminated, did not have ophthalmopathy, required far fewer physician visits and laboratory tests compared with patients treated with ATD or 131I, surgery remains a reasonable approach to the management of Graves' disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Metastatic placental lymphoma associated with maternal human immunodeficiency virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy complicated by maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is increasing in frequency. This report describes a maternal malignancy associated with HIV infection that may complicate pregnancy. CASE: A 33-year-old primigravida was delivered by cesarean. Histologic examination of the placenta revealed the presence of metastatic non-Hodgkin lymphoma of B-cell origin. The patient was then found to be infected with HIV. Nine months postpartum, she was diagnosed with immunoblastic lymphoma. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of B-cell origin is an indication of AIDS. Pregnancies associated with maternal HIV infection may be complicated by this malignancy, which may metastasize to the products of conception. Careful examination of the placenta can detect metastases in women with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗