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V Jain

Publications and source records attributed to V Jain.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Post-neonatal tetanus: issues in intensive care management.

Tetanus is an acute neurological disease characterized by muscle rigidity and spasms, autonomic dysfunction and in severe forms requires respiratory and hemodynamic support. Though it is entirely preventable by immunization, it still occurs in developing countries causing significant morbidity and mortality. Intensive care management of tetanus is fraught with problems of ventilator-associated pneumonia, nosocomial sepsis and a variety of other complications. Various treatment protocols have been tried in managing diverse manifestations of severe tetanus but the consensus is yet to emerge. In this review we have discussed the pathophysiology, clinical features and management controversies and suggest on basis of our experience use of high dose diazepam (20-120 mg/kg/day) and vecuronium with mechanical ventilation if required for control of spasms, and early detection of autonomic dysfunction and use of propranolol, in our circumstances.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Strangulation injury, a fatal form of child abuse.

Strangulation is a common method of committing murder, though underreported in Indian literature. We managed a girl child, victim of child abuse who later succumbed to its neurological complications. This case report describes the clinical features associated with such injuries and complications which should be anticipated in such cases.

Asphyxia↗
PubMed2001

Epidemiology of rotavirus in India.

Rotavirus is the leading cause of childhood diarrhea worldwide, causing an estimated 600,000 deaths each year. To assess the potential benefits of a national rotavirus immunization program in India, we analyzed 40 published studies of rotavirus that were conducted between 1976 and 1997 and included a total of approximately 13,000 Indian pediatric inpatients. Pediatric studies featuring 100 or more patients and lasting at least 12 months in duration and all neonatal studies were analyzed. Rotavirus was detected in a median of 18% of pediatric patients and 28% of neonates surveyed. Fifty percent of all children hospitalized with rotavirus by age 5 were hospitalized by the age of 6 months, 75% by the age of 9 months, and almost 100% by the age of 2 years. Rotavirus was most prevalent (31%) in children between 7 and 12 months of age, followed by children between 1 and 2 years of age (20%), and children < 7 months of age (13%). VP7 genotypes G1 and G2 were most commonly isolated although significant heterogeneity of serotypes was observed. P[11], G9 strains were most frequently isolated among neonates. In 1998; approximately 98,000 childhood deaths were caused by rotavirus. These data underscore the urgent need for safe and effective interventions against rotavirus such as vaccines. The significant diversity of rotavirus strains and young age of hospitalization pose unique challenges to the formulation of a rotavirus immunization program in India, but raise the possibility of utilizing a neonatal vaccine to provide effective coverage.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2001

Radiotherapeutic response of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells perfused in agarose gel threads and implanted in mice. A 31P MR spectroscopy study.

AIM: In order to obtain better understanding of radiation-induced alterations in intracellular metabolism, a dynamic and non-invasive experimental model system is required. A serial study in cultured tumor cell line followed by verification in the in vivo samples may be of considerable value for non-invasive prediction and/or detection of tumor response to therapy. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the radiation response of perfused Ehrlich ascites tumors cells (EATC) immobilized in agarose gel matrix to that observed in mouse bearing EATC tumor, in order to identify biomarkers of radiation response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Perfused EAT cells, entrapped in agarose gel threads were irradiated in the perfusion assembly outside the magnet with fast electrons (6 Gy, 1 Gy/min) using 30 MeV Betatron. Solid EATC tumors implanted subcutaneously onto right hand limb of Swiss-albino strain "A" mice, were focally irradiated using 60Co teletherapy (10 Gy, 0.4 Gy/min). Metabolites changes were monitored by 31P MR spectroscopic techniques. RESULTS: A post-irradiation decrease in the levels of ATP and ADP along with an increase in inorganic phosphate and glycerophosphocholine levels was observed. The ratios of beta-phosphate of ATP to inorganic phosphate (beta-ATP/Pi), and phosphocholine to glycerophosphocholine (PC/GPC), declined during 1-5 hours following irradiation, in perfused EAT cells and in the solid tumors implanted in mice. CONCLUSION: Perfused cells could be used as a simple model of tumor for prediction of clinical radiotherapeutic response. The present study demonstrates that radiation damage may be occurring both at the DNA protein as well as the membrane lipid levels. Therefore, the bioenergetics and phospholipid profiles of tumor cells could be used as complimentary, reliable and sensitive indirect indicators for devising predictive assays for assessment and monitoring of radiation response, which will also facilitate the individualization and optimization of tumor radiotherapy.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed2001

Keratonconjunctivitis sicca is not uncommon in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), characterised by aqueous tear deficiency, is the most common ocular complication in adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), however, it remains under-reported. For this prospective study, 50 children with JRA were examined clinically and underwent tests for KCS (Schirmer's I and rose bengal tests, fluorescein staining, and tear film breakup time). Six children (12%) with two or more abnormal tests were diagnosed as having definite KCS, while one child with only one abnormal test was labelled with probable KCS. Five of the six (83.3%) with definite KCS were males, and three (50%) had a pauciarticular form of the disease. Two children (33.3%) with definite KCS had no ocular symptoms, five were receiving only nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and one was additionally on methotrexate. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca appears to be a common ocular complication and all children with JRA should be screened for it with a comprehensive battery of tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Laser Raman and IR spectra and force fields for 2,4-dichlorobenzonitrile.

Raman spectrum of 2,4-dichlorobenzonitrile (2,4-DCBN) in powder form has been recorded in the region 50-4000 cm(-1) on a Jasco K-500 Raman spectrophotometer using the 488.0 nm radiation from an argon laser. FTIR spectra in the region 200-4000 cm(-1) have been recorded in KBr pellet and nujol mull on a Nicolet DX spectrometer. Using the observed Raman and IR frequencies, normal co-ordinate analysis has been carried out to support the vibrational analysis and to determine the planar and non-planar force fields.

Chlorine Compounds↗
PubMed2001

Endothelium dependence and gestational regulation of inhibition of vascular tone by magnesium sulfate in rat aorta.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of nitric oxide in the vasorelaxant effect of magnesium sulfate during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Segments of 3 mm of the aorta, with or without intact endothelium, from 16- or 22-day-pregnant rats were mounted in organ chambers with standard Krebs solution or low-magnesium Krebs solution for measurement of isometric tension. The rings were contracted with phenylephrine, and cumulative concentration-response curves for magnesium were determined after incubation with various inhibitors. RESULTS: Magnesium relaxed the aortic rings from pregnant rats in a concentration-dependent manner. The relaxation was significantly lower on day 22 of gestation than on day 16 of gestation. Removal of the endothelium or incubation with 10(-4)-mol/L N omega-nitro-L -arginine methyl ester (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), 10(-5)-mol/L 6-anilino-5,8-quinolinedione (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor), or 10(-5)-mol/L indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) significantly decreased the relaxant effect of magnesium on aortic rings from 16-day-pregnant but not 22-day-pregnant rats. Treatment with minimally effective concentrations of a nitric oxide donor (3 x 10(-10)-mol/L sodium nitroprusside) or a cyclic guanosine monophosphate analog (10(-6)-mol/L 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate) restored the response to magnesium. CONCLUSIONS: The relaxant effect of magnesium on rat aortic rings was dependent on both endothelium and gestational age and was lower at term than during late pregnancy. The endothelium appears to potentiate the vasorelaxant effects of magnesium through the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate and cyclooxygenase systems.

Aminoquinolines↗
PubMed2001

Traction avulsion amputation of the major upper limb: a proposed new classification, guidelines for acute management, and strategies for secondary reconstruction.

Major replantation of a traction avulsion amputation is undertaken with the goal of not only the reestablishment of circulation, but also functional outcome. This type of amputation is characterized by different levels of soft-tissue divisions involving crushing, traction, and avulsion injuries to various structures. Between 1985 and 1998, 27 cases were referred for secondary reconstruction following amputation of the upper extremity involving both arm and forearm. Replantation was performed by at least 12 qualified plastic surgeons using different approaches and management, resulting in different outcomes. Initial replantation management significantly affects the later reconstruction. For comparing studies and prognostic implications, the authors propose a new classification according to the level of injury to muscles and innervated nerves: type I, amputation at or close to the musculotendinous aponeurosis with muscles remaining essentially intact; type II, amputation within the muscle bellies but with the proximal muscles still innervated; type III, amputation involving the motor nerve or neuromuscular junction, thereby causing total loss of muscle function; and type IV, amputation through the joint; i.e., disarticulation of the elbow or shoulder joint. Some patients required further reconstruction for functional restoration after replantation, but some did not. Through this retrospective study based on the proposed classification system, prospective guidelines for the management of different types of traction avulsion amputation are provided, including the value of replantation, length of bone shortening, primary or delayed muscle or nerve repair, necessity of fasciotomy, timing for using free tissue transfer for wound coverage, and the role of functioning free muscle transplantation for late reconstruction. The final functional outcome can also be anticipated prospectively through this classification system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Great diversity of group A rotavirus strains and high prevalence of mixed rotavirus infections in India.

We previously observed a marked diversity of rotavirus strains and a high prevalence of the uncommon serotype G9 in a small survey of rotavirus strains collected from six centers in India. In the present study, we characterized a larger collection of strains from children hospitalized with severe diarrhea in seven Indian cities between 1996 and 1998. A total of 287 strains were G and P genotyped by reverse transcription-PCR, and some were further characterized by electropherotyping and subgrouping. Of the four strains common globally, three were found in only 43% of samples (P[8], G1, 15%; P[4], G2, 22%; P[8], G4, 6%), whereas G9 strains made up 17% of the total. Three different G9 strains were present: a P[8], G9 strain, which displayed the long electropherotype and subgroup II VP6 specificity, and two P[6], G9 strains, one with the long electropherotype and subgroup II specificity and the other with the short electropherotype and subgroup I specificity. Marked diversity was observed among strains collected from different cities and collected over time. Of the 253 strains that were fully typed, 54 (21%) had a mixed G or P genotype. Serotype G2 strains were detected more often in infections caused by single strains than in mixed infections (P < 0.05), whereas serotype G1 strains were found more often in mixed infections than in infections caused by single strains (P < 0.05). The diversity of rotavirus strains and the high prevalence of mixed infections confirm trends reported earlier and help to better characterize the strains of rotavirus circulating in India. Vaccines under development should clearly target G9 strains, and G9 should be included as one of the common global serotypes.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of leprosy lesions by skin smear cytology in comparison to histopathology.

Cytological evaluation of leprosy skin lesion was done to evaluate cytohistological correlation. Twenty five clinically suspected patients of leprosy were evaluated by performing fine needle aspiration (FNA) in nodular lesions and slit skin smear technique in flat lesions to classify across R-J scale. May-Grunwald-Giemsa (MGG) and Ziehl-Neelsen stain were employed on slit skin smears and fine needle aspiration material. Histopathological assessment of slides from same lesion was done. The overall diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration was 76.1% and that of slit skin smear 50%. However, on adequate material diagnostic accuracy of slit skin smear was high, 100% as compared to 81.8% of fine needle aspiration smears. In cases of polar leprosy cytological findings paralleled histopathological diagnosis. Within the constraints of cytological interpretation the cases in borderline unstable spectrum of leprosy can be classified broadly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Further search for the decay K+-->pi(+)nunu;

A search for additional evidence for the rare kaon decay K+-->pi(+)nunu; has been made with a new data set comparable in sensitivity to the previous exposure that produced a single event. No new events were found in the pion momentum region examined, 211 pi(+)nunu;) = 1.5(+3.4)(-1.2)x10(-10).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Optimization of tumor radiotherapy. Part VI: Modification of tumor glucose metabolism for increasing the bioavailability of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) in a murine tumor model.

AIM: Differential radiomodification induced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) is proving to be a feasible modality for optimizing tumor radiotherapy. Our earlier work on Ehrlich ascites tumor cells has shown that pretreatment with hematoporphyrin derivatives increases the uptake and phosphorylation of 2-DG. Moreover, the alteration induced in bioenergetic profile was more drastic and less reversible. The promising combination of hematoporphyrin derivatives and 2-DG has been further evaluated in the Ehrlich ascites tumor bearing mice for determining the effects on radiotherapeutic response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Solid tumors (average volume = 0.9 +/- 0.1 cm3) implanted in Swiss-albino strain "A" mice were focally irradiated (10 Gy) using 60Co teletherapy. Drugs were administered intravenously. Tumor bioenergetics was assessed by 31P MR spectroscopy. RESULTS: The uptake and phosphorylation of 2-DG was observed to be increased following pretreatment with hematoporphyrin derivatives. Upon hematoporphyrin derivatives + 2-DG treatment followed by irradiation, the intracellular pH reduced and a remarkable increase in glycerophosphorylcholine and inorganic phosphate levels was observed. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates the potential of hematoporphyrin derivative pretreatment in increasing the bioavailability of 2-DG in a mice Ehrlich ascites tumor model. The finding may have interesting clinical implications in the form of increased manifestation of the radiation-induced damage in the case of use of these drugs as a potential adjuvant in radiotherapy of tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Serum ferritin level as a marker of preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the serum ferritin levels in women with preterm labor (PTL) or preterm premature rupture of membranes with those in normal gravid women. METHOD: The study group consisted of 50 consecutive subjects with preterm labor and 49 subjects with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM). The control group consisted of 50 subjects matched with the study group for hemoglobin (Hb) and gestation who did not have PTL or preterm PROM. Serum ferritin levels were assayed in both the groups. RESULTS: Mean serum ferritin levels in patients with preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of membranes were 23.24+/-12.13 ng/ml and 29.44+/-28.41 ng/ml, respectively. The mean serum ferritin in control subjects was 8.69+/-3.7 ng/ml. The difference was evaluated by Student's t-test and was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The serum ferritin level is significantly raised in pregnant women with preterm labor and preterm PROM.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The role of cyclic nucleotides in the spontaneous contractility and responsiveness to nitric oxide of the rat uterus at midgestation and term.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this investigation was to study the effects of pharmacologic manipulation of cyclic nucleotide levels on the uterine spontaneous contractile activity and responsiveness to nitric oxide in pregnant rats at midgestation and term. STUDY DESIGN: Uterine rings from pregnant rats at midgestation and term were placed in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. Concentration-response curves were obtained for phosphodiesterase and guanylate cyclase inhibitors, membrane-permeable cyclic nucleotide analogs, and forskolin. In addition, the effects of minimal inhibitory concentrations of these agents on the concentration-response relationships for diethylamine nitric oxide (a nitric oxide donor) were studied. RESULTS: Nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitors induced more inhibition of contractions of uterine rings from pregnant rats at term than at midgestation and zaprinast induced less. Inhibitors of guanylate cyclase and membrane-permeable analogs of cyclic guanosine monophosphate were equally effective in tissues from pregnant rats at midgestation and term. All agents attenuated the inhibitory effect of diethylamine nitric oxide at midgestation; however, dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate and papaverine increased the inhibitory effect of diethylamine nitric oxide in tissues from pregnant animals at term. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclic nucleotides modulate both spontaneous and nitric oxide-induced changes in uterine contraction during pregnancy. Application of nonselective inhibitors of phosphodiesterase, as well as membrane-permeable analogs of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, may counteract refractoriness to nitric oxide at term.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed2000

Pulse radiolysis of the DNA-binding bisbenzimidazole derivatives Hoechst 33258 and 33342 in aqueous solutions.

PURPOSE: The DNA-minor-groove-ligands bisbenzimidazoles Hoechst 33258 and 33342 have been reported to protect against radiation-induced DNA-strand breakage. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of protection by these DNA-binding compounds, pulse radiolysis studies on the reactions of the OH radical, the solvated electron and the H atom with Hoechst as well as OH-radical-induced nucleotide radical quenching by free Hoechst (model level) was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pulse radiolysis of Hoechst 33258 and 33342 was studied in N2O and N2O/O2-(4:1)-saturated aqueous solutions in the absence and presence of azide and bromide ions and nucleotides. RESULTS: In a fully scavenged system (3 x 10(-2) mol x dm(-3) t-butanol, N2O/O2-saturated), a transient is formed which in the presence of phosphate buffer is no longer observed. This is assigned metastable quinonoid forms of Hoechst (lambdamax(Hoechst) = 340; lambdamax(transient) = 370 nm) which is generated in protonation/ deprotonation reactions by H+/OH- formed during the pulse. To prevent their formation 10(-3) mol x dm(-3) phosphate buffer was added in all other experiments. The transient spectra formed upon OH-radical attack (k=9 x 10(9) dm3 x mol(-1) x s(-1)) indicate that a major part of the primary OH-adduct radicals undergo rapid transformation (k approximately 5 x 10(5) x s(-1)), attributed to water elimination yielding an N-centered radical. This intermediate, also generated by N3. (k = 4 x 10(9) dm3 mol(-1) x s(-1)), subsequently complexes with a Hoechst molecule [k = 8 x 10(8) dm3 x mol(-1) x s(-1) epsilon(440 nm) = 1.4 x 10(4) dm3 mol(-1) x cm(-1)]. The N-centered radical does not react with O2 (k < 5 x 10(5) dm3 mol(-1) x s(-1)), but reacts readily with the superoxide radical (k= 1.0 x 10(9) dm3 x mol(-1) x s(-1)). Hoechst reacts with the peroxyl radicals derived from uridine (k approximately 5 x 10(6) dm3 x mol(-1) x s(-1)) or 5'-UMP (k approximately 1 x 10(7) dm3 mol(-1) x (s-1)), but not with the less oxidizing (e.g. methylperoxyl radical) yielding intermediates whose spectral properties are similar to those of the N-centered radical. However, they decay at a much lower rate (2k approximately 1 x 10(8) dm3 mol(-1) x s(-1)) than the N-centered radicals generated by N3. (2k= 1.1 x 10(9) dm3 x mol(-1) s(-1)), and it has been suggested that these peroxyl radicals form adducts rather than undergoing electron transfer. The H atom (k= 7 x 10(9) dm3 x mol(-1) x s(-1)) and the solvated electron (k= 2.3 x 10(10) dm3 x mol(-1) x s(-1)) yield, albeit noticeably different, H-adduct radicals which also strongly absorb in the 440 nm region. The reduction potential of Hoechst 33258 has been determined electrochemically at 0.84-0.90 V vs. NHE at pH 6.8. CONCLUSION: Hoechst reacts fast only with strongly oxidizing radicals by electron transfer (e.g. with the adenine-and guanine-derived heteroatom-centered radicals), but also more slowly with nucleo-base-derived peroxyl radicals, here albeit via addition. This may have important implications with regard to its protection owing to DNA-radical quenching under oxic vs. anoxic conditions.

Benzimidazoles↗
PubMed2000

Use of lambda phage S and R gene products in an inducible lysis system for Vibrio cholerae- and Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium-based DNA vaccine delivery systems.

Novel methods for adapting DNA vaccine technology to the prevention of mucosal diseases are greatly needed. Here we show that regulated expression of phage lambda lysis genes S and R causes dramatic lysis of both Vibrio cholerae and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium cells with concomitant release of plasmid DNA into the surrounding media. We also used single and double DNase mutant strains to show that secreted V. cholerae DNases can adversely affect the integrity of DNA molecules released upon lysis. These results suggest that incorporation of lambda SR-mediated lysis constructs and DNA stabilizing mutations into candidate live attenuated bacterial vaccines offers a promising approach for the development of effective mucosal DNA delivery vectors for humans.

Bacterial Vaccines↗