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Biomedical subjects

S Shukla

Publications and source records attributed to S Shukla.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The effect of hypoparathyroidism on the aging skeleton.

Serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone are frequently increased in elderly subjects. How much this increase may contribute to the development of osteoporosis in such subjects is unknown. Long-standing hypoparathyroidism has been reported to be accompanied by an increase in skeletal density. In seven consecutive women, aged 40 to 83 years, with hypoparathyroidism of at least 18 years duration, the mineral density in the lumbar vertebrae was measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and dual photon absorptiometry (DPA). In these subjects, the bone mineral density by dual photon absorptiometry was 1.4 to 6.2 standard deviations above mean values for age-matched normal women. However, the mineral density of vertebral trabecular bone as determined by quantitative computed tomography was only slightly increased above values reported for normal women. The differences between the values determined by dual photon absorptiometry and quantitative computed tomography indicate that most of the increase in mineral density was a reflection of increased cortical bone. Roentgenograms of the metacarpals did not reveal consistent differences between normals and the hypoparathyroid subjects. These findings suggest the possibility that control of parathyroid function might be of value in treating osteoporotic patients.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Utilization of acrylonitrile by bacteria isolated from petrochemical waste waters.

A bacterium, utilising acrylonitrile as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen, was isolated from Indian Petrochemical Corporation Limited (IPCL) waste waters and identified as Arthrobacter sp. This strain could also utilize acetonitrile, acetamide and acrylamide individually as a source of carbon and nitrogen. The metabolic studies with the whole cells indicated the sequential conversion of the nitrile to the respective amide and then to the respective acid and ammonia. The rate of nitrile hydrolysis was slower than the corresponding amide hydrolysis. Acrylic acid, the end product of acrylonitrile breakdown, did not support the growth when provided as a carbon source.

Acrylonitrile↗

Histoarchitecture of the genital tract of ovariectomized rats treated with an aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera roots.

The effect of an aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera roots was studied histologically on the genital tract of ovariectomized rats in the presence and absence of estradiol dipropionate and progesterone. Administration of the extract itself stimulated the uterine histoarchitecture as revealed by increases in the height of luminal epithelium, well developed glands, loose stroma and rich vascularity. The cervix showed metaplastic changes in the epithelium with marked keratinization. In the vagina, cornification was very prominent, rugae increased and stroma was loose. Conjoint administration of the extract with estradiol showed a synergistic action, and an inhibition was observed when administered conjointly with progesterone.

Abortifacient Agents↗

Clonazepam treatment of five lithium-refractory patients with bipolar disorder.

The authors describe the first five patients enrolled in an open clinical trial of clonazepam as a maintenance treatment in lithium-refractory bipolar disorder. All patients relapsed quickly after taking clonazepam (one within 2 weeks and four within 10-15 weeks), and the study was prematurely terminated. The results cast doubt over the usefulness of clonazepam as a prophylaxis in lithium-resistant bipolar patients who have histories of psychotic mania or delusional depression.

Adult↗

Characterization of a wide host range plasmid pANV-6 from Citrobacter diversus.

pANV-6 is a 5.85 kb, streptomycin resistant, high copy number plasmid isolated from a multi drug resistant clinical isolate of C. diversus by transformation in Escherichia coli C-600. The plasmid was very stable, noncurable and could not be amplified with chloramphenicol. It was non-conjugative among Enterobacteriaceae hosts. Plasmid was transferred by transformation to several Gram negative and Gram positive hosts. These included Esch. coli, Serratia marcescens, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium glutamicum. From Staph. aureus it was transferred by conjugation to other Staph. aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis. Plasmid was incompatible with standard plasmids belonging to incompatibility groups H1, H2 = S,J,P and T of coliform bacteria. Plasmid has one site for restriction enzyme EcoRI and Pst I, three for Bgl 1 and non for Bgl 1, Bam HI, Hind III and X ba I.

Citrobacter↗

Long-term continuation antidepressant treatment: a comparison study.

This retrospective study examined the clinical characteristics and the course of 26 patients with major affective disorders who repeatedly relapsed during or shortly after antidepressant tapering off at the usual 6-12-month intervals. The patients apparently required long-term antidepressant continuation therapy not preventive therapy, as they were unable to be successfully tapered off antidepressants over a mean of 36.6 months. In contrast with a group of 15 randomly selected patients with a more typical recurrent course of illness and successful tapers after 6-12 months of treatment, the long-term continuation therapy patients were younger, had a longer duration of depression before entering treatment, and were more likely to meet the DSM-III criteria for concomitant dysthymic, panic, or personality disorder or major depression with psychotic features. The findings suggest that secondary Axis I and Axis II diagnoses in antidepressant-responsive depressed patients are associated with the need for long-term continuation treatment.

Adult↗

Antifertility profile of the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera roots.

An aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera roots was investigated for its estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, progestational and antiprogestational activities. Oral administration of extract progressively increased the uterine wet weight of bilaterally ovariectomized rats. This estrogenic activity was supported by stimulation of uterine histo-architecture. When the extract was given conjointly with estradiol dipropionate (EDP), there was a successive reduction in the uterine wet weight when compared to the gain with EDP alone and uterine histological structures were also inhibited. In the deciduoma test, the highest dose of 600 mg/kg interfered with the formation of deciduoma in 50% of the rats, showing some antiprogestational activity. Doses up to 600 mg/kg of the extract orally failed to induce a decidual response in the traumatized uterus of ovariectomized rats. The antifertility effect of the extract appears to be due to multiple attributes.

Animals↗

Lithium in the treatment of bipolar disorders associated with epilepsy: an open study.

Eight DSM-III bipolar patients with seizure disorders were treated in an open study evaluating the effects of maintenance lithium treatment on affective relapses and clinical seizure activity. Lithium was effective in preventing the recurrence of affective episodes without worsening seizure frequency in patients with active seizures and did not induce seizures in those whose seizures were in remission. One patient showed remission of both affective and seizure symptoms on lithium alone. Lithium appears to be safe and effective in bipolar disorders associated with epilepsy and may have an anticonvulsant effect in some patients.

Adult↗

Life events and relapse in bipolar disorder: the impact of a catastrophic event.

The literature on life events and the precipitation of bipolar disorder is reviewed. The authors describe an unexpected increase in bipolar relapses in a Lithium Clinic following a catastrophic life event, a hurricane, and contrast the patients who relapsed with an age and sex matched control of bipolars who did not. Though retrospective, the study avoids the question of the independence of life events. The results suggest that certain bipolar patients, especially those recently unstable, may be more vulnerable to the impact of life events.

Bipolar Disorder↗

Mania with associated organic factors.

Thirty-nine patients with bipolar illness preceded by organic factors were compared to age and sex matched bipolar controls. The patients with pre-existing organic factors were older at onset of their bipolar illness, had fewer depressive episodes, less family history of affective disorder, and were symptomatically different in a number of respects. The nosology of such disorders is discussed and the literature reviewed.

Adult↗

Mania following head trauma.

The authors present psychiatric and neurologic data on 20 patients who developed mania after closed head trauma. An association was seen between severity of head trauma (based on length of posttraumatic amnesia), posttraumatic seizure disorder, and type of bipolar disorder. The manic episodes were characterized by irritable mood rather than euphoria and by assaultiveness. Psychosis occurred in only 15% of the sample, and 70% had no depressive episodes. Bipolar disorders were absent among 85 first-degree relatives. The authors suggest that posttraumatic seizures may be a predisposing factor in posttraumatic mania.

Adult↗

Alcoholism.

Alcoholism is a major health problem that impinges on a multitude of areas. This article will emphasize common primary care presentations, diagnosis, genetics, epidemiology, medical complications, and management.

Adult↗

Persistent tardive dyskinesia in bipolar patients.

The prevalence and outcome of persistent tardive dyskinesia (TD) was studied in 131 bipolar patients. There were 34 cases of persistent TD in the subgroup (n = 96) with a history of neuroleptic treatment (prevalence, 35.4%; 95% confidence interval, 25% to 45%); there were no cases of persistent TD in the subgroup (n = 35) without such treatment history. Except in one patient, signs of TD persisted in spite of lithium carbonate treatment in 23 patients (median duration, 16 months; range, five to 24 months), of whom 15 remained off of a neuroleptic regimen during the study period for a median duration of 14 months (range, four to 24 months). Using multiple regression analysis, two variables were found to predict the presence of persistent TD and account for 36% of the variance: longer cumulative duration of maintenance neuroleptic treatment and shorter duration of previous lithium carbonate treatment. There appears to be a significant risk of persistent TD among neuroleptic-treated bipolar patients. High-risk subgroups within this category need to be identified.

Adult↗

Aprosodia in eight schizophrenic patients.

Research interest in the "negative" symptoms of schizophrenia has increased in recent years. Given the clinical similarity between affective deficits in schizophrenic patients and aprosodic deficits in stroke victims, the authors conducted a study testing for aprosodia in eight schizophrenic patients. Seven were found to have aprosodia with motor components. Further study of the aprosodias may provide some insight into affective disturbance in schizophrenia.

Adult↗