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Biomedical subjects

A Kaur

Publications and source records attributed to A Kaur.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Screening of azo dyes for mutagenicity with Ames/Salmonella assay.

Azo dyes, the largest portion of manufactured dyestuffs, are primarily used as colouring substances in food, textiles, and the plastic industry. It has been estimated that 128 tonnes per annum of dyes are released into the environment worldwide [Anliker, 1977]. Certain azo compounds are known to be mutagenic in bacterial tests [Yahagi et al., 1975; Venitt and Bushell, 1976; Brown et al., 1978]. Watersoluble dyes are biotransformed by intestinal micro-organisms in the gastro intestinal tract, and the toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity of these dyes in the gut or liver may be attributed to their metabolites. Since it is desirable to have a genotoxic evaluation of a chemical being released into the environment in order to check their indiscriminate use, a project has been initiated to determine the mutagenicity of the azo dyes being used commercially. The present report deals with the results of 13 dyes tested in Salmonella typhimurium with and without metabolic activation.

Azo Compounds↗
PubMed1993

Studies on the development of high-protein biscuits from composite flours.

Composite flours prepared from wheat, greengram, bengalgram and blackgram flours were studied for the preparation of biscuits. Protein content of biscuits increased as the level of the pulse flours increased. Wheat flour containing bengalgram and blackgram flours adversely affected the top grain, texture and colour of biscuits. Biscuits made with higher levels of bengalgram (more than 15%) were tough and difficult to break and required higher compression force. Addition of greengram flour did not significantly affect top grain, texture and colour of biscuits. The biscuits made from 15% greengram supplemented wheat flour scored the highest for flavour characteristics. Thickness, diameter and spread ratio of biscuits containing different levels of pulse flours were significantly different from control sample. Sensory evaluation scores showed that acceptable biscuits can be prepared from wheat flour supplemented with these pulse flours at a level of 15 percent.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed1993

The epidemiology of AIDS in the Vellore region, southern India.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of patients with AIDS in Vellore region, Southern India. DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixty-one patients with AIDS were diagnosed and treated between July 1987 and June 1992. Information on their demographic characteristics and probable modes of acquiring HIV infection was collected at interviews with them and their spouses. RESULTS: There was a progressive increase in the number of patients seen over the 5 years. The mean ages of the 51 men and the 10 women were 33 and 29 years, respectively. Of the 44 patients from our district (population, 5 million), 28 were from Vellore town and 10 from rural areas. Forty-seven (92%) men had frequently used prostitutes. Of the women, four were prostitutes, one had had multiple sex partners and five had not had extramarital sexual contact. One man and one woman had no other risk factor except blood transfusion. Thirty-one (51%) patients had died by August 1992. CONCLUSION: The AIDS epidemic in this region is in its early ascending phase, with a doubling time of approximately 1 year. Most men with AIDS were infected by heterosexual contact with prostitutes, while some women were prostitutes themselves. Together with the male-to-female ratio of 5:1, these results suggest that the male population at risk has sex with a much smaller population of female prostitutes, constituting the major chain of transmission. HIV infection is occurring in both urban and rural populations.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Fine needle aspiration of 123 head and neck masses--an initial experience.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a relatively new technique in the investigation of head and neck masses in Singapore. We present our initial experience with 123 neck masses; 82 were lymph nodes, 33 were salivary gland masses and eight were others. The inadequacy rate (percentage of hypocellular yields) was 12.2% with a cytology: histology accuracy rate of 82.6%. The aspiration trolley set-up and improvements in tissue handling reduced the number of inadequate smears. A study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with neck recurrence showed the difficulty encountered with FNA in irradiated necks. In "occult" (clinically normal nasopharynx) NPC with a neck mass as the first presentation, FNA guided us to re-search the nasopharynx.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1993

Short course ciprofloxacin therapy for enteric fever.

A short course of ciprofloxacin, 750 mgm b.i.d. for 7 days was found to be effective in the treatment of enteric fever in 21 hospitalized patients with S.typhi (18) and S.paratyphi A(3). Median time for fever response was 3 days. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin (MIC 0.0078-0.062 mcgm/ml). The mean serum peak and trough levels were 5.4 and 1.6 mcgm/ml respectively. Stool cultures were free of Salmonellae on follow up (11-24 weeks). Two developed recurrence of paratyphoid fever, 17 days and 4 months after therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Poor diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase in pleural, peritoneal & cerebrospinal fluids in tuberculosis.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) was estimated in 84 pleural, 140 peritoneal and 136 cerebrospinal fluids to study its diagnostic usefulness as a routine test for tuberculosis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for diagnosing tuberculosis in pleural fluids (ADA > 30 U/l) was 67, 92, 78 and 87 per cent respectively, in peritoneal fluids (ADA > 15 U/1) it was 89, 81, 25 and 99 per cent respectively and in cerebrospinal fluids (ADA > 10 U/l) it was 50, 90 21 and 97 per cent respectively. The differences in mean ADA levels between tuberculous (28.0 and 19.5 U/1) and non-tuberculous (9.7 and 4.8 U/1) peritoneal and cerebrospinal fluids although statistically significant (P < 0.001), were of no practical clinical value. A wide scatter in ADA values was seen in both tuberculous and non-tuberculous fluids. ADA estimation in plasma, lymphocytes and cell fractions of fluids was also not diagnostically useful nor did it throw light on the source of elevated ADA in fluids.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1992

Clinical and laboratory profile of AIDS in India.

The clinical features and results of laboratory investigations of the first 19 Indian patients with AIDS seen in our hospital are presented. Weight loss, fever, and diarrhea were the most common symptoms. Tuberculosis (TB) was the most common secondary infectious disease; among 13 patients, seven had only pulmonary TB, five had pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB, and one had only extrapulmonary TB. Oropharyngeal candidiasis was found in 11 patients. Other secondary infections were predominantly by virulent bacteria. Opportunistic infections other than candidiasis were infrequent; one patient had cryptococcosis, two had symptomatic cryptosporidiosis, one had noncoagulase-positive staphylococcus septicemia, and one had cytomegalovirus retinitis. Reduced lymphocyte counts (particularly of the CD4 subset), anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, and elevated liver enzyme levels were frequent laboratory findings. Six patients are under follow-up, two are lost to follow-up, and 11 have died. Lymphocyte counts less than 500/mm3 were only seen in those patients who subsequently died. Response to antituberculosis therapy was good in several patients. Thus, the clinical profile of Indian patients with AIDS is not different from the common picture of patients of low socioeconomic and poor hygienic standards; patients presented with TB, undernutrition, and multiple infections. Therefore, a large population of patients with AIDS in India will not be recognized unless they are tested for evidence of HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Chemiluminescence response of phagocytes in E. coli induced experimental ascending pyelonephritis.

The mechanism of tissue injury at the cellular level by following the chemiluminescence response of various phagocytes in E. coli induced experimental pyelonephritis in mice was investigated. There was a marked increase in the capacity of various phagocytic cells viz; renal neutrophils and macrophages peritoneal macrophages, blood monocytes and neutrophils to produce reactive oxygens species through the respiratory burst activity as monitored by the chemiluminescence response. The chemiluminescence response was observed to be increased significantly (p less than 0.001) with increasing days post infection in all phagocytic cells. However, the quantity of total reactive oxygen species produced per million cells was much more in the renal and peritoneal macrophages as compared to blood monocytes and neutrophils. The peak chemiluminescence response time was observed to be decreased from 4 to 2 minutes with the progression of the diseases. The implications of these findings have been discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Thyroid tumors: cytomorphology of papillary carcinoma.

Of 2,012 fine-needle aspirations (FNA) of the thyroid performed by the authors between the years 1984 and 1988, a detailed cytomorphologic analysis of 95 cases diagnosed as neoplastic on histology and/or cytology and those that received an equivocal cytodiagnosis is presented. Discussed are papillary carcinomas (28 correctly diagnosed on FNA and two false positives). In most of the cases of papillary carcinoma, the cytologic features were characteristic enough to enable accurate tumor typing. Follicular cells with dense cytoplasm, well defined cell margins, and presence of papillary clusters were the most consistent features observed. Intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, though characteristic, were found in only 66.6% of cases. In cystic papillary carcinomas (seven cases) study of the cyst wall as well as the cyst contents enabled an accurate cytodiagnosis. Two cases of multinodular goiter with papillary hyperplasia could not be distinguished with certainty from papillary carcinoma on cytologic grounds.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1991

Thyroid tumors: cytomorphology of follicular neoplasms.

From 2,012 fine-needle aspirations (FNA), performed by us between the years 1984 and 1988, we present a detailed cytomorphologic analysis of 95 cases that were diagnosed as neoplastic on histology and/or cytology and those that received an equivocal cytodiagnosis. Discussed are 37 lesions that have been diagnosed on cytology and/or histopathology as follicular neoplasms. In this group, there were 22 cases of histologically proven follicular carcinoma and 11 follicular adenomas. Three cases of multinodular goiter and one case of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with marked follicular hyperplasia have also been included because they received either a neoplastic or an equivocal cytodiagnosis. Of 22 follicular carcinomas, 12 were diagnosed on FNA as follicular neoplasms, eight as follicular carcinoma, one was a false-negative benign cytodiagnosis, and one was equivocal. Of 11 follicular adenomas, seven were diagnosed as follicular neoplasms and four were cytologically equivocal. Three cases of multinodular goiter and one Hashimoto's thyroiditis had been diagnosed on FNA as either follicular neoplasm or equivocal.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Studies on the development of nutritious cookies utilizing sunflower kernels and wheat germ.

Wheat germ and sunflower kernels were substituted at a level of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 percent of wheat flour for the preparation of cookies. The crude protein, ash and crude fiber contents increased with the addition of sunflower kernels. Similarly, with the addition of wheat germ, protein, ash and crude fibre contents increased significantly. The cookies containing 30% wheat germ and 20 percent sunflower kernels were found to be superior in overall acceptability.

Dietary Fiber↗
PubMed1991

Why do UK-born Pakistani babies have high perinatal and neonatal mortality rates?

A prospective study of 4934 babies of different ethnic groups has confirmed the high perinatal mortality rate for Pakistanis and has shown that this was not due to a reluctance to terminate a fetus who is known to be seriously malformed. The major cause of early mortality was a high rate of lethal malformations, which occurred in about 1 in 100 Pakistani babies and which accounted for about half of their perinatal mortality. Many of these were autosomal recessive and occurred only in the offspring of consanguineous parents. However, there was also an excess of lethal cardiac malformations which were not associated with parental consanguinity. The remainder of the excess perinatal mortality was probably due to socio-economic factors. These causes are partly amenable to preventive measures, such as the referral of Pakistani women for expert ultrasonography at 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1991

Electroporation of red blood cell membrane and its use as a drug carrier system.

Application of external electric field to cell suspension maintained at ice temperature induces pores in the cell membrane. At this stage, a drug added to the cell suspension equilibrates across the membrane. On raising the temperature to 37 degrees C, the pores appear to be sealed as the drug is retained in the cells. This method was used for encapsulation of Co-57 labelled cynocobalamin in rabbit erythrocytes. It was seen from the in vivo biokinetic study of the drug-loaded erythrocytes that the rate of elimination of the drug was considerably reduced as compared to that of the free drug, indicating that drug delivery by electroencapsulation can give a sustained release of the drug.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Candidal oesophagitis in Cushing's syndrome.

Opportunistic infections are known to occur with increased frequency in patients with Cushing's syndrome, particularly those due to ectopic ACTH production. This report highlights the rare situation of a patient with Cushing's disease having candidal oesophagitis as one of the major presenting manifestations.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Role of oxygen dependent mechanisms in virulence of Salmonella typhimurium.

Catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of five strains of S. typhimurium, namely SF 1546 LT2 71, SF 1835 C5 50, 386 SF 1591 Ra 20, SF 1567 Rd1, and an Indian strain were determined and correlated with their virulence profile. All five Salmonella strains exhibited catalase and SOD activities. No correlation was observed between either SOD and/or catalase activity and LD50 values of the isolates. Oxygen free radical generation elicited by macrophages, in the presence of virulent and avirulent salmonellae was also not statistically significant (P greater than 0.05), although the virulent species significantly resisted the macrophage bactericidal activity (P less than 0.05). It appears, therefore, that oxygen-dependent bactericidal mechanisms may not be important in phagocytic killing of S. typhimurium.

Catalase↗
PubMed1990

Thyroid tumors: cytomorphology of medullary, clinically anaplastic, and miscellaneous thyroid neoplasms.

Of 2,012 fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) of the thyroid performed between the years 1984 and 1988, detailed cytomorphologic analysis of 95 cases diagnosed as neoplastic on histology and/or cytology and those that received an equivocal cytodiagnosis are presented in this article. Discussed are medullary thyroid carcinomas (nine cases), clinically anaplastic thyroid tumors (CATT; eight cases), two cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and one primary leiomyosarcoma of the thyroid, for a total of 20 cases. Included in the category of CATT are all the thyroid tumors presenting clinically with an anaplastic growth pattern. The cytomorphology of these tumors varied, but the giant- and spindle-cell pattern was predominant. An accurate cytodiagnosis was possible, as per cytohistologic correlation, in seven cases, while in one case histological material was not available for study. Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT) showed a mixed spindle-cell and round-cell population in eight cases and an entirely spindle-cell population in one case. All cases of MCT were correctly diagnosed on cytology, and amyloid could be demonstrated in the cytologic smears in three cases. The cases of NHL and leiomyosarcoma could also be correctly interpreted on cytology.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Race, consanguinity and social features in Birmingham babies: a basis for prospective study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of consanguinity on children's health. DESIGN: The study is a prospective survey from birth to five years of a cohort of babies born in a multiracial community. This report details the initial findings on consanguinity. SETTING: Participating families live predominantly in three health districts of Birmingham, and were recruited in three local maternity hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Babies of 2432 European mothers, 509 Afro-Caribbean mothers, 625 Indian mothers, 956 Pakistani mothers, and 216 Bangladeshi mothers have been enrolled in the study. Eighty mothers refused to participate. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Sociodemographic information was obtained using a structured questionnaire administered at interview. Interview data were supplemented with obstetric information from the medical records. The highest prevalence of parental consanguinity was in Pakistani Muslims (69%), whereas in Muslims from other countries it was 23%, and it was less than 1% in non-Muslims. In the majority of consanguineous Muslim pedigrees the degree of inbreeding was greater than that for first cousin parents. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study will allow an assessment to be made about any ill health in childhood arising from parental consanguinity, about whether screening programmes are indicated for particular autosomal recessive diseases, and about whether premarital health education might be beneficial. The study has also documented parental ages in different races and this, together with the levels of parental consanguinity in all races, will be useful in genetic methods for assessing the frequency of recessive genes, the possibility of genetic heterogeneity, and whether or not parental age effect exists for new mutations of specific genetic disorders.

Adolescent↗