PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Ranjan

Publications and source records attributed to A Ranjan.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Field trial of an ecological approach for the control of Phlebotomus argentipes using mud & lime plaster.

A pilot study for the control of Ph. argentipes, a known vector of kala-azar in India, was carried out using an ecological approach. Of the 15 houses selected for the study 10, including the cattle sheds and latrines, were plastered with a mixture of mud and lime, up to a height of 1.22 m taking care to seal all cracks and crevices. The remaining five houses were left unplastered and were considered as control areas. The pre-treatment and post-treatment resting densities of the sandfly were monitored both in treated and untreated houses. A sudden drop in the sandfly density was noticed in the treated houses, whereas there was no significant reduction in the check houses, suggesting an effective control.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Codon usage in the prototype baculovirus--Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

The overall codon usage profile of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) was analyzed, using UWGCG sequence analysis software package from the known protein coding gene sequences available in GenBank Release 72. The analysis revealed that although only 45% of the codon used by AcNPV have G/C at wobble base position, 15 out of 20 AcNPV codons over-utilized for their given amino acids has G/C at the wobble position indicating a possible selection of these codons. The differences in codon usage profile were studied using a parameter called D squared value, calculated with the aid of CORRESPOND program of UWGCG software package. While most of the codon usage profile of the individual genes was very similar to the overall AcNPV codon usage profile (D squared value less than 1.5), there were notable differences (D-squared value greater than 1.5). These genes were polh, p10, ub, sod, gp41, core, 25k, 39k, ie-n, etm, ets most of which, interestingly, belonged to late or very late class and were expressed relatively more efficiently. The two highly expressed genes of AcNPV, polh and the p10, differ from the overall AcNPV codon usage profile with respect to at least nine amino acids (Val, Ala, Ser, Lys, Ile, Thr, Leu, Phe, Arg). Our findings that the two highly expressed late genes polh and p10 utilize a codon usage profile different from the early genes have important implications.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone and firefly luciferase simultaneously synthesized in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus are differentially expressed and transported.

A recombinant baculovirus vAc beta hCG-luc was constructed that carried the cDNAs encoding firefly luciferase (luc) and beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG) placed under the transcriptional control of individual copies of the baculovirus polyhedrin gene promoter. The simple, rapid, and sensitive detection of LUC expression was used for selecting recombinant viruses that simultaneously expressed beta hCG, which was identical in all respects to that synthesized using a recombinant baculovirus carrying the beta hCG gene alone. Immunofluorescence staining of virus-infected cells using anti-LUC antibodies revealed that LUC, a nonglycosylated, intracellular protein was retained within the cells whereas beta hCG, an extensively glycosylated, secretory protein, was processed and secreted into the culture medium. LUC and beta hCG were both immunoreactive on Western blot. beta hCG was bioactive, as evident from its ability to associate with alpha hCG and bind with the receptor and produce testosterone in an in vitro mouse Leydig cell assay system. Comparison of recombinant LUC and beta hCG synthesized by the virus-infected insect cells surprisingly revealed that the level of the former was quantitatively higher by at least 10-fold than the latter. A blot of total RNA isolated from vAc beta hCG-luc-infected insect cells, when probed with probes corresponding to the 3' region of the beta hCG or luc genes, indicated differential transcription of the two genes. Computer-aided sequence analysis indicated extensive secondary structure and stem-loop complex-forming potential of the beta hCG gene, which could be responsible for the transcriptional difference observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Intrasellar tuberculoma.

Although intrasellar tuberculomas have been reported in post-mortem examinations, they are exceptionally rare in clinical practice. Five patients with biopsy proven intrasellar tuberculoma with suprasellar extension are described. In four cases the clinical and radiological diagnosis was that of a pituitary adenoma. One patient, however, presented similar to a subarachnoid haemorrhage, but the CSF analysis was suggestive of tuberculous meningitis. All these patients presented either with intermittent headache or a sudden severe headache suggestive of an ictus. Hypopituitarism was diagnosed on clinical grounds in two patients and one patient had an associated galactorrhoea-amenorrhoea syndrome. Only one patient had a bitemporal field cut. In all other patients ophthalmological examination was normal. The CT scan showed a hyperdense sellar mass with suprasellar extension brightly enhancing with contrast in all cases. An angiogram in four patients did not reveal any vascular lesion. Laboratory investigation showed some degree of hypopituitarism in all cases. Transsphenoidal surgery was performed in four patients and operative findings were typical, and unlike those of a pituitary adenoma. All patients responded well to antituberculous treatment and at the end of 12 months were clinically and radiologically normal.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1994

Intraspinal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. Case report.

A 52-year-old man presented with symptoms of progressive cervical radiculomyelopathy. A myelogram showed an intradural block at the C-6 level. Magnetic resonance T1-weighted imaging revealed a hypointense, sausage-shaped mass extending from C-3 to C-6, located posterolaterally on the right side and pushing the spinal cord to the left and anteriorly. At surgery, a mass was found attached solely to the pia mater, with a normal arachnoid and dura mater overlying it. The mass was excised completely and microscopic examination identified a mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. The patient was symptom-free 6 months after surgery.

Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal↗
PubMed1994

Giant aneurysm of anterior ethmoidal artery presenting with intracranial hemorrhage. Case report.

This forty-five-year-old woman presented with a history suggestive of an intracranial hemorrhage. Clinical examination indicated mild right pyramidal signs and neck stiffness. Computerized tomography demonstrated contrast enhancement in the region of a left frontal intraparenchymal hematoma with an adjacent subdural hematoma. Angiography revealed the presence of a giant aneurysm on the left anterior ethmoidal artery. Surgical evacuation of the hematoma with excision of the aneurysm and coagulation of the feeding artery was achieved. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. Vascular lesions of the anterior ethmoidal artery and the rarity of a giant aneurysm at this site are discussed.

Aneurysm↗
PubMed1993

Ascorbic acid and focal cerebral ischaemia in a primate model.

Neuronal cell damage following ischaemia is postulated to be due to free radical induced lipid peroxidation, and ascorbic acid is supposedly an important non-enzymatic scavenger of such free radicals. This study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of ascorbic acid on the brain in a primate model after focal cerebral ischemia. Consumption of ascorbic acid in the monkey brain following ischaemia and its effect on macroscopic infarct size as demonstrated by 2, 3, 5, Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining were used as parameters. The monkeys in the treated group were given 1 gram ascorbic acid parenterally every day for six days. The mean level of total ascorbic acid in right basal ganglia was 35.1 +/- 4.2 micrograms/mg of protein in the treated group as opposed to 22.9 +/- 2.1 micrograms/mg of protein in the nontreated group both before ischaemia. After right middle cerebral artery occlusion to produce focal cerebral ischaemia, the total ascorbic acid in the right basal ganglia 2 hours post ischaemia was 13.3 +/- 3.1 micrograms/mg of protein in the treated group as opposed to 9 +/- 1.6 micrograms/mg of protein in the untreated group. The average consumption of total ascorbic acid was 21.8 micrograms/mg of protein in the treated group and 13.9 micrograms/mg of protein in the nontreated group. Macroscopic infarct size as determined by TTC staining in the right cerebral hemisphere was 11.7 +/- 6.9 in treated group whereas it was 24.4 +/- 4.4 (expressed as percentage of right hemisphere) in the non-treated group. There was significant reduction in the size of the infarct in the treated group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Nondiagnostic CT-guided stereotactic biopsies in a series of 407 cases: influence of CT morphology and operator experience.

Nondiagnostic biopsies were analyzed in a consecutive series of 407 patients undergoing computerized tomography (CT)-guided stereotactic biopsies. These were categorized as either negative biopsies, when normal tissue or nonspecific pathology was found, or inconclusive, when a definitive diagnosis could not be made although representative tissue was obtained. Nineteen biopsies (4.7%) were negative and 10 (2.4%) were inconclusive, giving an overall nondiagnostic biopsy rate of 7.1% (29 of the 407 cases). Suspected neoplastic masses (390 cases) were classified on the basis of their CT morphology into four groups: Group 1 included purely hypodense nonenhancing masses; Group 2 included isodense nonenhancing masses; Group 3 included ring-enhancing masses; and Group 4 included mixed-density enhancing masses. Although a higher proportion of hypodense nonenhancing masses (six of 56, or 10.7%) yielded a negative result, there was no statistically significant difference in the negative biopsy rates for the different CT categories (p = 0.06). The negative biopsy rates for the 6 years of the study, 1987 to 1992 (1987 being an incomplete year) were as follows: 13.3%, 6%, 3.2%, 3%, 5.8%, and 2.7%. There was no significant decrease in the negative biopsy rate as experience with this procedure increased (p = 0.20). A total of eight surgeons independently performed the biopsies. There was no significant difference (p = 0.24) in the negative biopsy rate of the surgeon with the most experience (124 biopsies, 2.4% negative biopsy rate) compared with that of the seven other surgeons combined (283 biopsies; 5.7% negative biopsy rate). These findings suggest that the yield in a stereotactic biopsy is independent of the CT appearance of the mass. Adherence to certain basic principles in patient and target selection will ensure a reasonable percentage of positive yield with stereotactic biopsy procedures even if the surgeon is relatively inexperienced. There does not appear to be a learning curve in the performance of CT-guided stereotactic biopsies. The management of patients with nondiagnostic biopsies is discussed.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Atypical ductal hyperplasia in stereotactic breast biopsies: enhanced accuracy of diagnosis with the mammotome.

There is little literature assessing the incidence of subsequent carcinoma in patients diagnosed with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) by mammotome. We reviewed 216 stereotactic mammotome biopsies (SMBs) and compared the results to the 121 automated tru-cut biopsies (ATC) performed at our breast care center from June 1994 to July 1998. The median age in the mammotome series was 57 years, compared to 56 years in the ATC group. An increase in biopsies for microcalcifications (49% versus 41%) was noted in the SMB series. This was accompanied by an increase in the number of cases with a diagnosis of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (10% versus 4%). Compared to the tru-cut, in which 38% (3 of 8) of the cases diagnosed as atypical hyperplasia (AH) showed DCIS and/or invasive carcinoma on open biopsy, none of the cases diagnosed as AH on mammotome revealed carcinoma on open biopsy. ADH is more accurately diagnosed with SMB than by the ATC method and may not be an indication for subsequent open biopsy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Age patterns of fertility in Madhya Pradesh.

"The purpose of this paper is to analyse age-patterns of fertility in Madhya Pradesh [in India] based on district level estimates of aggregate measures of fertility data collected in 1981.... Four clusters of districts have emerged which reveal a clear zonal pattern in age-specific fertility rates in the state. These groups bring out high fertility rates in the north and north-western parts of the state, gradually declining toward the south-eastern zone. The author suggests that separate policies and programmes be evolved for each of the clusters of districts for the purpose of bringing about reduction in fertility and promoting family welfare in the state of Madhya Pradesh."

Asia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Magnitude of unresponsiveness to sodium stibogluconate in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar.

BACKGROUND: The Indian government proposes to eliminate kala-azar, which has been a serious public health problem in Bihar. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of unresponsiveness to sodium stibogluconate in the treatment of new cases of visceral leishmaniasis and to identify the associated factors. METHODS: Patients with clinically and parasitologically confirmed visceral leishmaniasis (n = 182) who had received no prior treatment, were enrolled for the study. The patients were treated with sodium stibogluconate (20 mg/kg body weight; upper limit 850 mg), intramuscularly for 30 days. The vital parameters and side-effects, if any, were monitored. Patients who developed toxicity during treatment were excluded from the study but were given rescue treatment with liposomal amphotericin B. All patients who completed the treatment were followed up for 6 months. RESULTS: Unresponsiveness to sodium stibogluconate at the end of treatment was 43%. It was higher in women (48%) compared to men (40%). A significant association was observed between unresponsiveness and level of endemicity (p = 0.0002), large spleen size (p = 0.04) and immune response (migration inhibition factor) (p = 0.00002). At the end of 6 months' follow up, 27% of patients relapsed, giving a total unresponsiveness rate of 58%. CONCLUSION: Unresponsiveness to sodium stibogluconate is a serious problem in the management of patients with visceral leishmaniasis. In patients with factors associated with nonresponse to sodium stibogluconate, alternative drugs such as miltefosine or amphotericin B should be considered as first-line drugs.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Scope and efficacy of complex radiofrequency ablation.

Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for various tachycardias. In some patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation, there are additional complexities. Of 254 consecutive patients (161 males, 93 females, aged 38 +/- 15 years) who underwent radiofrequency ablation, two groups were identified. Patients with structural heart disease, multiple accessory pathways, multifocal idiopathic ventricular tachycardia, parahisian accessory pathways, and multiple mechanisms of tachycardia were considered as complex radiofrequency ablation (Group I) and the remaining as non-complex radiofrequency ablation (Group II). There were 23 patients in Group I. The overall success rate was not different in the two groups: 20/23 (87%) vs 208/231 (90%) in groups I and II, respectively. The procedure and fluoroscopy time (212 +/- 91 min vs 136 +/- 45 min; p = 0.0001; and 55 +/- 31 min vs 31 +/- 21 min; p = 0.001, respectively) were significantly longer in Group I. There was a higher recurrence rate in Group I (6/20, 30% vs 20/208, 9.6%; p = 0.02); repeat radiofrequency ablation was successfully performed in four patients with recurrence in Group I. Complications were rare in both the groups. There was no mortality. Thus radiofrequency ablation in complex situations was effective, though more demanding than non-complex radiofrequency ablation and associated with higher recurrence.

Adolescent↗