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Biomedical subjects

V K Sharma

Publications and source records attributed to V K Sharma.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Clinical spectrum of drug rashes due to antiepileptics.

Clinical profile of 105 patients with cutaneous drug eruption due to antiepileptic drugs was studied between 1992-1996. Maculopapular rash was the most common presentation though significant number of patients (29.5%) had serious rashes like Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrosis (TEN). Phenytoin and carbamazepine were the two commonly implicated drugs. Significant number of our patients had liver and kidney involvement (47.34 and 21.04%, respectively). The overall prevalence of drug rash with antiepileptics in a review of 240 cases was found to be 2.5%. Patch testing with antiepileptic drugs done in 20 patients gave 60% positive results with the suspected drug. Thus patch test is a useful tool in confirming the diagnosis of drug rashes and warrants further studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Computed tomographic study of paranasal sinuses in lepromatous leprosy.

Twenty patients (18 males, 2 females) with lepromatous leprosy and 10 age- and sex-matched controls were subjected to computed tomographic (CT) scans of the paranasal sinuses (PNS). The mean bacterial (BI) and morphological indexes were 3.4+ and 1%, respectively. Nasal symptoms were present in nine (45%) patients; 15 (75%) out of 20 patients showed significant abnormalities on CT scans of the PNS compared to none of the 10 controls. The maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were affected in 11 (55%) patients each, followed by the sphenoid sinus in four (20%) patients. Frontal sinus involvement was least frequent, only one (5%) patient showed CT changes. Mucosal thickening was the most common finding followed by soft-tissue densities and, rarely, a fluid level was seen in the PNS. Involvement of the PNS correlated with a high BI of 4+ or more (75% vs 37.5%). Paranasal sinus involvement is an integral part of lepromatous leprosy since histological involvement was present even when the CT scan was apparently normal.

Female↗
PubMed1998

[The influence of 5-week relaxation therapy on arterial blood pressure in patients with borderline hypertension].

The present study was performed to evaluate the influence of 5-week relaxation therapy on office and ambulatory blood pressure in young borderline hypertensives. Thirty patients were studied. The office blood pressure decreased significantly after 5 weeks of relaxation therapy (P < 0.001 for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure). Ambulatory monitoring revealed only a slight decrease of 24-hour blood pressure (P = 0.02). Our results indicate limited efficacy of relaxation therapy in treatment of borderline hypertensives.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[The influence of 5-week relaxation therapy on psychological state of patients with borderline hypertension].

The aim of the present was to evaluate the influence of 5-week relaxation therapy on psychic state of patients with borderline hypertension. The study group consisted of 30 hypertensives. We observed significant changes in anxiety scale, defensiveness, self-confidence, intraception, nurturance, affiliation, heterosexuality, change and succorance scales. In conclusion, 5-week relaxation changes significantly psychological status of patients with borderline hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Does mammalian heart contain only the M2 muscarinic receptor subtype?

Five muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) subtypes, m1-m5, have been cloned and sequenced to date. The question as to which mAChR subtypes exist in mammalian heart has been studied extensively and is still under considerable debate. We used the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to amplify mRNA from adult rat ventricular myocytes, and found that these cells express mRNA for m1 and m2 mAChRs. Immunocytochemical analysis confirmed that m1 and m2, but not m3, mAChR proteins are present on the surface of these cells. Finally, the functional significance of these receptors was examined. Administration of the m1 mAChR antagonist pirenzepine inhibited the stimulatory effect of the muscarinic agonist carbachol on Ca transients. These findings are consistent with the presence of at least two mAChR subtypes in mammalian heart, m1 and m2, and suggest that activation of m1 mAChRs is involved in the stimulatory effects of muscarinic agonists in mammalian heart.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[3H]benzylpempidine, a new radioligand for probing a putative channel site on nicotinic cholinergic receptors.

A study was undertaken to assess the receptor binding characteristics of [3H]4-benzylpempidine to an allosteric site on calf brain membranes associated with nicotinic cholinergic receptors and to compare the binding affinity of novel arylpempidine analogs with their ability to antagonize the behavioral effects of nicotine in mice. Scatchard analysis of the binding yielded a K(d) of 20 nM and a B(max) of 330 fmols/mg membrane protein. [3H]4-benzylpempidine appears to be a more satisfactory ligand than [3H]mecamylamine, since it possessed a 50-fold greater affinity and its binding was far less sensitive to inorganic ions and Tris. Among the arylpempidine analogs 4-m-chlorobenzylidenepempidine and 4-benzylidenepempidine had the lowest K(i) values (1.4 nM and 5.0 nM, respectively) and were the most potent in antagonizing nicotine-induced seizures in mice. Although the K(i) values for pempidine and mecamylamine were 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than any of the arylpempidines, the dose required to antagonize nicotine-induced seizures in mice was comparable to the arylpempidines. One explanation for this apparent discrepancy in the correlation of binding affinity and nicotine antagonism is the lower brain penetration of arylpempidines compared to mecamylamine, following their systemic administration to mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Relationship between free-running period and minimum tolerable light pulse interval of skeleton photoperiods in field mice Mus booduga.

The entrainment of the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity was studied in the field mouse Mus booduga in order to examine the relationship between the free-running period (tau) and minimum tolerable light pulse interval of the skeleton photoperiods. The animals were entrained under three different light/dark (LD) schedules, each out of phase with the other. They were then subjected to various skeleton photoperiods created by two repeated light pulses (LPs) interrupting darkness. Animals that selected the shorter interval between the LPs as their "subjective night" had significantly shorter tau (23.13 +/- 0.38 h) as compared to those that selected the longer dark interval as subjective night (tau = 23.87 +/- 0.18 h). When the longer dark interval was 12 h, animals selecting that interval as their subjective night included both long-tau and short-tau individuals. When both intervals of darkness were of equal duration, no difference in the selection of subjective night was seen between short and long-tau animals. When the "dusk" LP for the animals that selected the longer dark interval as subjective night was advanced by 2 h to create a new skeleton photoperiod, the number of transient cycles appearing before steady-state entrainment was found to depend on the duration of the photoperiods. When the night defined by the two LPs was reduced below 6h, a dramatic "phase jump" in the activity rhythm was observed, and the initial phase relationship was restored after a relaxation in the night duration. We observed considerable interindividual variation in the "minimum tolerable light pulse interval of skeleton photoperiods," which we suggest may be due to the observed variation in tau among individuals.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Rapid phase resetting of a mammalian circadian rhythm by brief light pulses.

The phase-shift (delta phi) responses of the circadian rhythm in the field mouse Mus booduga to brief light pulses (LPs) of 15 minutes duration and 1000 lux intensity were measured in 90 experiments. In each experiment, a resetting light pulse LP1 was administered at CT14 (CT, circadian time), and a scanning light pulse LP2 was then variously administered in separate experiments at CT16, CT20, and CT22 in the same and in the next circadian cycle. The delta phi obtained in all these two-pulse experiments did not differ significantly from theoretical values computed on the assumption that LP1 reset the phase response curve (PRC) rapidly. In each case, the steady-state delta phi observed after LP1 and LP2 differed significantly from the delta phi obtained at the same CT in determination of the single-pulse PRC (control) and also differed significantly from the values on the assumption of no delta phi in the PRC following LP1. These results indicate that the circadian pacemaker of M. booduga, as measured by its PRC, is substantially reset within 2h after a light pulse at CT14.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Randomized, controlled comparison of two forms of preparation for screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: There is a paucity of data regarding the optimal form of bowel preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy. Most endoscopists recommend enemas. A simpler preparation that is easy, acceptable, and that reduces patient encounter time would be desirable, and might be cost-effective. Our objective in this study was to evaluate a simple oral form of preparation for screening flexible sigmoidoscopy. METHODS: In this randomized, single-blind, controlled trial, we compared two forms of preparation in consecutive male patients referred for screening flexible sigmoidoscopy. The oral preparation consisted of one bottle of magnesium citrate and two "Dulcolax" tablets on the evening before flexible sigmoidoscopy. This was compared with the standard form of preparation, namely, two Fleet's enemas given on arrival at the endoscopy suite. Thirty-seven patients received the oral preparation [mean age, 62.8 +/- 8.9 (SD) yr]; 33 received enemas (mean age, 65.2 +/- 7.3 yr). Endoscopists were blinded to the preparation. RESULTS: Mean time between arrival and starting flexible sigmoidoscopy was 36 +/- 22 (SD) min for patients on oral preparation, and 62 +/- 25 min for patients receiving enemas (p < 0.0001). Mean times performing flexible sigmoidoscopy were 10 +/- 3 min and 13 +/- 4 min, respectively (p = 0.004). Mean patient satisfaction score (range 0-13) was higher for patients given the oral preparation (11.4 +/- 1.8) than for patients receiving enemas (9.6 +/- 2.4) (p = 0.001). Fifteen patients randomized to receive the oral preparation had previous flexible sigmoidoscopy with an enema preparation; all preferred the oral form. Mean technical difficulty (range 1-10) was 3 +/- 2.2 for patients given the oral preparation and 4.9 +/- 3.1 for patients receiving the enema preparation (p = 0.01). Polyps were identified in 10/37 patients who received the oral preparation and in 3/33 patients who received enemas (p = 0.05). Quality of colon preparation was judged "good" in 29, "fair" in four, and "poor" in four, among the 37 patients given the oral form; corresponding values for 33 patients given enemas were 16, 10, and 7 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Patient acceptance, encounter time, technical ease, and quality of colon preparation were significantly better with the oral form of colon preparation than with the standard Fleet enema preparation.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Nonencapsulated, intact omeprazole granules effectively suppress intragastric acidity when administered via a gastrostomy.

UNLABELLED: Because of its acid-labile nature, omeprazole is usually administered as encapsulated enteric-coated granules. The gelatin capsule and acid-resistant coating are essential for effective drug absorption and optimal bioavailability. OBJECTIVE: This study tested the effectiveness of nonencapsulated, intact omeprazole granules in suppressing intragastric acidity when administered through a gastrostomy. METHODS: Fourteen male patients with established gastrostomies underwent a baseline 24-h intragastric pH monitoring study while off any acid-suppressing medication. Via the gastrostomy, they then received 7 days of dosing with 20 mg omeprazole as intact granules in orange juice. Twenty-four-hour intragastric pH monitoring was repeated on the seventh day. RESULTS: Mean intragastric pH during the baseline study was 1.8 (+/- SD 0.7). This pH increased to 4.9 +/- 0.8 with omeprazole granules (p < 0.0001). Median intragastric pH rose from 1.3 to 5.3 (p < 0.0001). During the baseline study, intragastric pH was above 3 for 21.2 +/- 14.1%, above 4 for 14.9 +/- 11.0%, and above 5 for 9.5 +/- 8.4% of the 24-h recording period. Corresponding values after 7 days of omeprazole were 80 +/- 15.1%, 72.5 +/- 16.3%, and 59.1 +/- 16.6% (p < 0.0001 for each comparison with pretreatment values). CONCLUSION: Omeprazole effectively suppresses intragastric acidity when given through a gastrostomy tube as nonencapsulated, intact granules.

Aged↗