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Biomedical subjects

V Joshi

Publications and source records attributed to V Joshi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Infants with neuroblastoma and regional lymph node metastases have a favorable outlook after limited postoperative chemotherapy: a Pediatric Oncology Group study.

PURPOSE: Infants less than or equal to 1 year of age with neuroblastoma (NB) have a favorable outlook with minimal to moderate therapy. Patients with complete or partial removal of the primary tumor but positive intracavitary lymph nodes (Pediatric Oncology Group [POG] stage C) have a higher risk for recurrent disease. To determine the importance of distinguishing infants with POG stage C NB from those with POG stage B disease and to assess the efficacy and toxicity of treating POG stage C infants with limited, postoperative chemotherapy, a study was conducted by the POG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-four eligible POG stage C infants received cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2 orally on days 1 to 7 and Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) 35 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on day 8 (CYC/ADR), every 3 weeks for five courses followed by second-look surgery. No continuation therapy was given if surgical and pathologic complete response (CR) was achieved. Secondary therapy with five courses of cisplatin 90 mg/m2 on day 1 followed by teniposide (VM-26) 100 mg/m2 on day 3 (CDP/VM) was given to infants with gross residual tumor after CYC/ADR and second-look surgery. RESULTS: Thirty-four infants achieved CR after CYC/ADR alone, three after CYC/ADR and second-look surgery, two after CYC/ADR, surgery, and maintenance therapy, and two after alternative treatment with CDP/VM (total CR rate, 42 of 44). The 3-year survival and disease-free survival are both 93%. Toxicity was nominal. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with POG stage C NB have a favorable outlook, which is similar to infants with POG stage B NB; the surgical staging procedure for distinguishing these infant subsets may not be necessary. Future studies should focus on the reduction of treatment toxicity and efficacy maintenance, and address methods to identify infants at risk for failure.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1992

Sandfly fauna of domestic & para-domestic habitats in arid & semi-arid zones of Rajasthan.

Sandfly fauna of three districts of Rajasthan representing arid and semi-arid environments are described. A total of 2,042 sandflies belonging to two genera and seven species were collected. The arid district of Bikaner with irrigational development (by means of canal) showed considerably higher density of species Phlebotomus papatasi (16.5 PMH) as compared to Jodhpur district (1.0 PMH). The species encountered were Ph. papatasi, Ph. sergenti, Sergentomyia punjabensis, S. babu babu, S. clydei, S. bhagdadis and S. christophersi.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Strategies for expression of foreign genes in plants. Potential use of engineered viruses.

Advances in gene transfer techniques for higher plants have already permitted important achievements towards crop protection and improvement using recombinant DNA technology. Besides plant genetic engineering, the possible use of plant viruses to express foreign genes could be of considerable interest to plant biotechnology. However, insuring containment of engineered viruses for environmental use is an important safety issue that must be addressed.

Gene Expression Regulation↗
PubMed1991

Radiotherapy improves the outlook for patients older than 1 year with Pediatric Oncology Group stage C neuroblastoma.

Children older than 1 year of age who have neuroblastoma with complete or partial removal of the primary tumor and positive intracavitary lymph nodes (Pediatric Oncology Group [POG] stage C) are a small but higher-risk subset of patients. To further evaluate the importance of identifying patients with POG stage C neuroblastoma and to assess the efficacy and toxicity of adding concurrent radiation therapy (RT) to chemotherapy (CT) in these children, a randomized study was conducted. Eligible patients received cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2 orally days 1 to 7 and Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) 35 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on day 8 (CYC/ADR) every 3 weeks for five courses with or without RT to primary tumor and regional lymph nodes (24 to 30 Gy/16 to 20 fractions). Second-look surgery was advised to evaluate response and to remove residual disease. Continuation therapy alternated CYC/ADR every 3 weeks with cisplatin 90 mg/m2 day 1 followed by teniposide 100 mg/m2 day 3 (CDP/VM) for two courses each. Secondary CT with CDP/VM alone was available for patients not achieving complete response (CR) following induction treatment and second-look surgery. Of 29 eligible patients randomized to CT alone, 13 achieved CR, and nine are disease-free (NED) 1 to 52 months (median, 35 months) off therapy. Twenty-two of 33 eligible cases treated with CT/RT attained CR, and 19 are NED 1 to 77 months (median, 23 months) off therapy. Local and metastatic relapses occurred in both arms. Differences in CR, event-free survival, and survival rates were significant, P = .013, .009, and .008, respectively. Surgical compliance was excellent and complications uncommon. Therapy was tolerable in both groups but hematopoietic toxicity was more common in the CT/RT arm. We conclude that POG stage C neuroblastoma in children older than 1 year of age is a higher-risk group that should be identified, that CT/RT provides superior initial and long-term disease control compared with CT alone in this patient subset, and that the occurrence of metastatic failures in both treatment groups suggests a need for more aggressive chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Host preference pattern of phlebotomine sandflies of Bikaner city.

Host preference pattern of phlebotomine sandflies was ascertained using the precipitin test. Engorged sandflies from endemic localities revealed that out of 126 blood meals 88.8 per cent were human blood, 7.3 per cent bovine blood and 3.9 per cent mixed for both human and bovine. Four of five Sergentomyia babu were positive for human blood and the remaining one for bovine. Two S. baghdadis collected had only human blood, of two S. punjabensis collected, one had human blood. Mixed human and bovine blood meal was detected in the other one. Phlebotomus papatasi appears to be the most common vector of leishmaniasis and another important observation was the repeated feeding by sandflies within a short period and anthropophilic nature of Sergentomyia species.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Studies on mosquito vector species in indoor habitats of desert and non-desert regions of Rajasthan.

A survey undertaken in two desert (Jodhpur and Bikaner) and one non-desert (Jaipur) districts of Rajasthan indicated that medically important mosquitoes comprised of three genera and elevan mosquito species. Culex pseudovisbnui, C. malayi and Anopheles culicifacies were found in desert districts only and A. fluviatilis, C. gelidus and Aedes vittatus in non-desert Jaipur district only. Except A. subpictus, all the species in the desert region had peak density in RH range of 21-60 per cent while in non-desert area most of the species had highest density in RH range of 61-80 per cent. No species in non-desert area occurred at temperature more than 40 degrees C.

Aedes↗
PubMed1991

Occurrence of Culex vishnui group of mosquitoes in the rural areas of a desert district (Bikaner).

Two important mosquito vectors viz., C. pseudovishnui and C. tritaeneorhynchus have been studied with respect to their occurrence, breeding and peculiar resting habitats in the desert district of Bikaner, Rajasthan. Resting habitats such as depressions made on the walls of rain water ponds by water current and breeding habitats like agricultural wells are reported. The abiotic ecological conditions peculiar to desert like saline water, pH and high temperature were correlated with species densities. Combined effect of temperature and relative humidity on species population of adults showed trend of preference of species towards high relative humidity-temperature combinations. More larval breeding in water during August was observed. High larval density was found in the alkaline pH range of 8.6 to 9.2.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

BSMV genome mediated expression of a foreign gene in dicot and monocot plant cells.

Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) possesses a tripartite genome composed of RNAs alpha, beta and gamma that have been cloned into in vitro transcription vectors from which infectious transcripts can be obtained. The BSMV genome has been engineered here to serve as an expression vector in plant protoplasts. Open reading frame (ORF) b of RNA beta, encoding a non-structural protein, was replaced by the firefly luciferase (luc) reporter gene to yield RNA beta 2-luc. In the presence of both RNAs alpha and gamma, RNA beta 2-luc mediated efficient expression of the luc gene upon transfection into tobacco and maize protoplasts. This expression ranged from 20- to 123-fold higher than the luciferase activity obtained from transfection with a luc gene mRNA. Replication of RNA beta and its derivatives i.e. 'minus' strand synthesis, was confirmed by Northern analysis, indicating that the high level of luc gene expression using RNA beta 2-luc resulted from RNA amplification. ORFa of RNA beta, encoding the coat protein, was also replaced by the luc gene to yield RNA beta 1-luc. Although transfection of RNA beta 1-luc alone produces luciferase efficiently, neither 'minus' strand synthesis nor further increase of luciferase activity was observed in the presence of RNAs alpha and gamma, or RNAs alpha, beta and gamma, suggesting that the deleted sequences within ORFa are cis-acting for replication of RNA beta. Our results demonstrate that a foreign gene can be expressed by replacement of a viral non-structural protein gene that is essential for virus multiplication in plants, leading to a potential strategy for virus 'containment' with use of 'disarmed' plant viral vectors.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cutaneous acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated Kaposi's sarcoma in pediatric patients.

Kaposi's sarcoma has only rarely been reported in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In contrast to adult patients, in whom the disease is predominantly cutaneous, among pediatric patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Kaposi's sarcoma is primarily limited to the lymphadenopathic form. We describe two children with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who developed diffuse nodular skin lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated renal disease in children.

Five children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and clinically significant renal disease had detailed pathologic examination of renal tissue (biopsy specimens, autopsy specimens, or both). All patients had proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema; one patient had persistent azotemia. In two cases, renal disease was the first manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. All patients had progressive renal disease, and four of the five died. Pathologic studies revealed focal glomerulosclerosis and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with deposits of immunoglobulins and complement demonstrated by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Characteristic tubuloreticular structures were also demonstrated in the glomerular endothelial or epithelial cells in two cases. Renal disease is part of the multisystem involvement in children with AIDS. The pathogenesis of renal disease is not known, but circulating immune complexes are known to occur in children with HIV infection and may be involved.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Geometric isomers of covalently labeled mitochondrial F1-adenosinetriphosphatase with different properties.

Two geometric isomers of covalently labeled F1-adenosinetriphosphatase (F1-ATPase) have been prepared by reaction with 7-chloro-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl): a directly labeled product denoted by O-beta'-NBD-F1 and an indirectly prepared product denoted by 0-beta'-NBD-F1. The normal isomer O-beta'-NBD-F1 is highly inhibited, and its label can be removed by 20 microM N-acetyl-L-cysteine (AC) at the expected rate with dr/dn approximately equal to -1, where n is the molar ratio of the label to F1 and r is the ratio of the ATPase activity of the labeled enzyme to that of the unlabeled control enzyme. But O-beta"-NBD-F1 is almost fully active, and its label can be removed by 20 microM AC at much slower rates with dr/dn approximately equal to 0. Cleavage of either isomer with pepsin and subsequent amino acid analysis of the isolated radioactive polypeptides show that the label is attached to Tyr-beta 311 in both isomers. At pH 9 the label in O-beta'-NBD-F1 spontaneously transfers from Tyr-beta 311 to the presumably nearby Lys-beta 162 in the dark with a half-time of 1/2 h, but the label in O-beta"-NBD-F1 does not transfer under the same conditions. The existence of geometric isomers of O-NBD-F1 with contrastingly different properties invalidates models for F1 with three equivalent beta subunits but is consistent with the model based on one principal catalytic beta' subunit and two auxiliary beta" subunits. A possible mechanism for promoting the catalytic efficiency of beta' through protein conformation change induced by ATP and/or ADP is suggested.

4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan↗
PubMed1982

Dracontiasis in Rajasthan. VI. Epidemiology of dracontiasis in Barmer district, Western Rajasthan, India.

Epidemiology of guinea worm disease was studied in relation to sex, age, community and drinking water of inhabitants of 12 desert villages in Barmer district, Western Rajasthan, India. Data were also stratified with respect to first infection and reinfection. Infection was significantly (p less than 0.001) more prevalent in males (7.5%) than females (4.1%). Among all age groups peak infection (9.9%) occurred in those aged 30-39 years. Non-vegetarian communities had a higher incidence than vegetarian communities. Between-community difference was significant (p less than 0.01). First infection cases (11.0%) peaked in those aged 20-29 years while people aged 30-39 years were most susceptible to reinfection (84.6%). Between-age differences with respect to first and reinfection were insignificant (p greater then 0.05). Of various water sources reported pond water was a major source of contamination. 82.7% of the population examined was at risk of developing guinea worm infection at any time. No effective treatment is yet available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Psychiatric manifestations in temporal lobe epilepsy: a controlled study.

Psychiatric disorder was studied in 62 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (study group) and 70 patients with grand mal epilepsy (control group), both diagnosed electroencephalographically. The two groups were similar as regards age, sex, socio-economic status, duration and frequency of fits, family history and premorbid personality. A significantly greater number of temporal lobe epileptics had emotional disturbances in childhood and psychiatric abnormalities at the time of study. Neuroses, schizophrenia and behaviour disorder occurred more commonly in the study group, while epileptic personality and confusional psychosis were seen more frequently in the controls. The findings of the study are discussed in the light of relevant literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Profile of epilepsy in a developing country: a study of 1,000 patients based on the international classification.

The present prospective study undertaken in a specialized neurological center of a developing country deals with 1,000 epileptic patients classified in accordance with the International Classification. Eighty-one percent of the patients could be classified, with a lower incidence in the younger age group. Partial epilepsy was found to be far more common than generalized epilepsy (80% versus 20%). Primary generalized epilepsy was seen in 15% and secondary generalized in 5%. Partial epilepsy with elementary symptomatology was seen in 58% and complex symptomatology in 7%. Secondarily generalized seizures were seen in the remaining 15%. Primary generalized epilepsy and partial epilepsy with complex symptomatology were more common in adults. Secondary generalized epilepsy and partial epilepsy with secondarily generalized seizures were more common in children. Partial epilepsy with elementary symptomatology, however, did not vary significantly with age. The higher incidence of partial epilepsy in our patients, compared to the West, could be due to greater frequency of CNS infections and birth injuries, which are common childhood hazards in the developing countries.

Adult↗