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Biomedical subjects

V Ramesh

Publications and source records attributed to V Ramesh.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Isolation of drug-resistant tubercle bacilli in cutaneous tuberculosis.

Cutaneous tuberculosis in a teenage boy that did not respond to conventional antitubercular therapy is described. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was recovered on culture and found to be resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid. Gradual regression of the lesions was observed after the addition of streptomycin and ethambutol. Later streptomycin was stopped and the boy was advised to continue ethambutol along with ofloxacin and thioacetazone until complete regression was achieved.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Electroejaculation and seminal parameters in bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata).

In the present study, our experience in the collection of semen from adult bonnet monkeys and some of the characteristics of semen are reported. Semen samples were collected by penile stimulation every 15 days over a period of 3 years. The penile method of ejaculation was more consistent with an increased volume of semen. A distinct sesonality in the sperm count of the bonnet monkey was observed. Sperm counts were high during the months of August to October and started declining from November onwards. The sperm counts were significantly (P < 0.05) higher during the mid and post-monsoon (July to November) periods than the pre- and early monsoon (March to June) periods.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of chronic administration of Tamoxifen on fertility in male bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata).

Administration of Tamoxifen via the Alzet pump at a rate of 50 micrograms hr-1 for 90 days in the adult male bonnet monkeys Macaca radiata had no effect on the serum testosterone concentration determined at 10 AM and 10 PM as well as total sperm count determined at 15-day intervals over a period of 260 days. However, a significant reduction in sperm motility was observed beyond 90 days up until the 225th day. Breeding studies conducted from day 90 to 260 revealed that these males were infertile.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Geographic variations in structure and composition of gallstones and their correlation with brittleness.

Cholesterol gallstones obtained from different geographic regions have been reported to show significant differences in their minor chemical constituents. We undertook the present study with two objectives: (i) to investigate the possible physiochemical and radiological differences between cholesterol gallstones obtained from Indian and German patients; and (ii) to compare the brittleness of the two stone groups. Forty Indian and 36 German gallstones (matched in size and shape) were subjected to assessment of physical characteristics, in vitro computed tomography (CT) and chemical analysis. German stones more often had a stone density distribution index of > or = 50 Hounsfield units (HU) (26 vs 14; P < 0.01), peripheral calcification (18 vs 9; P < 0.02), maximum CT density > or = 90 HU (17 vs 9; P < 0.05) and significant calcium carbonate (9 vs 5; P < 0.05), compared to Indian stones. The in vitro lithotripsy performed with the Siemens Lithostar Plus machine at a constant energy level showed the German stones to be more brittle (easy to fragment), more often requiring < 1000 shocks for fragmentation (25/36; 69%) compared to Indian stones (18/40; 45%, P < 0.05). Gallstones from different geographic regions may show significant variations in their physicochemical characteristics that may explain the differences in their brittleness to lithotripsy.

Calcinosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cutaneous signs.

Cutaneous signs play a significant role in clinical medicine. Signs have often been named after the initial observer. They may indicate either dermatologic or systemic illness and aid the examiner in diagnosis and relevant investigations. Some are specific, some have been described in other conditions, and few have lost their relevance. Most of the signs are related to the pathogenesis of the disease but the cause of some is not clear.

Dermatology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pigmentary mosaicism of hyperpigmented type in two sisters.

A 17-year-old girl and her 15-year-old sister presented with progressively increasing streaks of reticulate hyperpigmented macules arranged in a whorled pattern over the trunk and extremities (Figure), which appeared soon after birth. The face, palms, soles, eyes, and mucous membranes were spared. Both parents were unrelated Saudis. There was no history of any preceding eruption or any associated systemic abnormality, except for recurrent oral ulcers in both patients for several years. The younger one also had one episode of genital ulcers. Dermatological examination of both parents and the patients' three brothers and one sister were normal with no history of oral ulceration. Examination revealed few aphthous ulcers in either cases, but no joint or eye symptoms. Pathergy testing in both cases was negative. Ophthalmological examination and consultation revealed no signs of Behcet's disease. Routine blood tests did not show any abnormalities. Skin biopsies were taken from pigmented and normal skin in both patients. Histopathological examination of pigmented skin in both cases revealed basal cell hyperpigmentation with pigmentary incontinence. Similar features but in milder form were seen in the biopsies of normal skin in both cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lamellar ichthyosis in a Saudi kindred.

A series of 20 patients aged 4-16 years presented with lamellar ichthyosis at the dermatology unit of King Faisal Hospital at Taif in western Saudi Arabia. Though they had come from different families, they all belonged to the same tribe that was confined to a rural area in the precincts of Taif. The tribe is known for consanguineous marriages. The affected children are from 5 sibships. All the children presented with generalized thick dark scales. The history revealed that they all were born with a thick membrane around them, which was shed soon after. Gradually over months and years there was development of generalized scaling. A prototype is shown in the Figure. The scales had become darker and thicker with the passage of time. There was no pruritus. Teeth and mucous membranes were normal. None of the patients had erythroderma. The associated findings in some of the children were ectropion and alopecia. Contractures including pseudoainhum were also observed in some children. None of the patients' parents was found to be affected with a similar condition. There was no improvement with age. Skin biopsies from several of the patients revealed only hyperkeratosis. All had to be managed with topical emollients since they could not afford oral retinoids.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increasing trend of HIV seropositivity in a sexually transmitted diseases centre and epidemiology of HIV seropositive individuals.

11,539 STD clinic attenders and 20,897 antenatal clinic (ANC) attenders at a New Delhi hospital were screened for HIV antibodies by ELISA over a 3-year period. Results were confirmed by Western Blot. A low HIV seropositivity rate (1 per 1000) with an increasing trend in 1993 (4 per 1000) was observed in the STD attenders as against 0.1 per 1000 in the normal control populations. Most of the STD attenders including all the HIV seropositives had heterosexual contact with female sex workers. Both the HIV seropositive ANC attenders acquired the infection through blood transfusion. Thirteen of 23 HIV positive STD attenders had genital lesions, 5 having ulcerative and 8 having nonulcerative STD. Their clinical presentation did not differ from the HIV negative cases but the therapeutic response in 4 was altered. None had signs of symptoms of ARC/AIDS. Two out of 6 spouses and a 2-year-old child of HIV seropositive patients were seropositive. Increasing HIV seropositivity observed in this study reflects the changing situation in the country and highlights the importance of improvement of surveillance, early diagnosis and combined approaches to the management and control of STDs and HIV.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein B-100 gene: association with plasma lipid concentration and coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of apolipoprotein B gene polymorphisms with coronary artery disease and lipid levels in Indians. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred patients of angiographically proven atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and one hundred age- and sex-matched control subjects (treadmill negative) were included in the study. Serum lipids including cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein B were analyzed. Genomic DNA was extracted and the apolipoprotein B 3' hypervariable region amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Regions carrying Xba1, EcoR1, and Msp1 restriction sites present in the apolipoprotein B gene were amplified and digested separately by the respective enzymes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis showed that EcoR1 with the R+/R+ genotype was significantly more common in patients with coronary artery disease. Overall, the genotypes EcoR1+/+, Msp1+/+, Xba1+/+ and Eco R1+/+ Msp1+/-, Xba1-/- were significantly more common in patients as compared to controls (p<0.05). When gene polymorphisms were compared with lipid abnormalities, the genotypes EcoR1+/+, Xba1-/-, and Msp1+/+ were more frequent in patients with elevated apolipoprotein B and very low-density lipoprotein levels. On the other hand, these genotypes were less common in patients with increased total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels. When we studied the individual alleles of the variable number of tandem repeats region, we observed that allele 34 was significantly increased in patients with coronary artery disease as compared to controls. Allele 36 was present with a frequency of 1% in controls while it was totally absent in patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies the apolipoprotein B gene polymorphism associated with coronary artery disease. An association between apolipoprotein B gene polymorphisms and elevated apolipoprotein B and very low-density lipoprotein levels was observed. However, there was no positive association with other elevated lipid levels in North Indians from Uttar Pradesh.

Apolipoprotein B-100↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in coronary artery disease in north India.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in patients with coronary artery disease in north India. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred forty-six patients with angiographically proven atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and 146 age- and sex-matched control subjects (treadmill-negative) were included in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted and analyzed for angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism. Two independent investigators scored the genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: When we compared the genotypes of patients with coronary artery disease with those of normal controls, it was seen that all three genotypes, i.e. DD, ID and II, were not statistically different among patients and controls. Further, we categorized the patient and control groups into 2 subgroups, i.e. below and above 50 years of age. Interestingly, it was observed that the DD genotype was significantly higher in patients in the higher age group (i.e. above 50 years of age). However, this needs further validation by studying patients with coronary artery disease from other parts of India.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of Barr bodies obtained from oral smears in the determination of sex.

Barr body is an inactivated X chromosome in the normal female somatic cell. Inactivation of these chromosomes is known as Lyonization. Lyonization has both genetic and clinical significance. Barr body can be easily identified with ordinary stains. It also helps in identifying the sex of an individual when used judiciously. A review is made on the lyonization of Barr body and its utility in sex determination.

Chromosomes, Human, X↗