Nutritional requirements in infancy.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A S Saini.
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Adenosine deaminase activity was measured in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with confirmed tuberculous and bacterial meningitis. The values were compared with those of control subjects without meningitis. A statistically significant increase in the level of this enzyme was noted in the two types of meningitis, but no definite demarcation in the levels was observed between the two types. Therefore increases in adenosine deaminase activity may not be of such diagnostic significance as reported elsewhere.
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In rats on normal intakes of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D3, 3,000 and 7,500 IU of vitamin D3 were injected on the 10th day of pregnancy and the pups were investigated for the skeletal growth on 28th day of age. Compared to controls, the pups in the supplemented groups showed significantly greater dry weight and ash weight of the tibiae. However, the ash weight/dry bone weight ratios in the supplemented groups were not different from controls. Histological examination of the upper ends of decalcified tibiae and plasma calcium estimations revealed no abnormality in any group. The results suggest that vitamin D3 supplementation in pregnancy enhances the skeletal growth of the pups which involves both the organic and inorganic components.
In lactating rats consuming a commercial diet adequate in calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D, the effect of supplementation of 3000 IU and 7,500 IU of vitamin D3 on the lactational performance of the dams and soft tissue and skeletal growth in the pups has been investigated. On 28th day of age, the pups in the supplemented groups were significantly heavier than in the control group. Study of the indices of cellular growth in the liver and gastrocnemius muscle revealed that the increase in the soft tissue weight was due to a significant increase in protein, RNA and DNA contents (cellular hyperplasia) without any change in protein/DNA ratio (cell size). In the tibia, compared to controls, the dry bone weight and ash weight were more in the supplemented groups, but ash weight/dry bone weight ratio was not altered. The improvement in the neonatal growth was most probably due to the greater milk yield observed in the dams in supplemented groups and not due to any anabolic effect in the pups since direct administration of 500 IU or 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 in 10 day old pups did not increase their body weight.
Female rats were fed low protein diet (10% casein) either as such or supplemented with 3% leucine during pregnancy and lactation. Changes in litter size and the survival rate, growth and protein status of the pups were noted. The milk yield and hepatic and mammary gland protein status of the mothers were also studied. Feeding low protein diet reduced litter size, increased their mortality and resulted in poor growth of the pups. It also resulted in poor hepatic and mammary gland protein status of the mothers, as well as reduced their milk yield. On adding 3% leucine to 10% casein in the diet, the changes observed in the low protein group, did not alter in any manner.
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Groups of rats on commercial diet were injected 3,000 IU (group 2) and 7,500 IU (group 3) of vitamin D3 on the 10th day of pregnancy. Compared to control pups (group 1), the pups in group 2 and 3 weighed significantly more on the 10th, 20th and 28th day of age. At 28th day of age, study of the gastrocnemius muscle revealed significantly greater organ weight, protein, DNA and RNA contents, protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratios in group 2 and 3 pups than in controls. In the liver, whereas all these indices were significantly increased in group 3 pups, only protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratios were significantly increased in group 2 pups. Brain weight, its RNA content and RNA/DNA ratio were significantly greater in group 2 and 3 pups than in controls. The results suggest that vitamin D administration in pregnancy promotes soft tissue growth in the pups by enhancing cellular proliferation and hypertrophy.
The effect of aluminium phosphide (AlP) which is a systemic poison on the adrenal cortex was studied in 30 patients of AlP poisoning. A significant rise in the plasma cortisol level (greater than 1048 nmol/l) was observed in the twenty patients. Mortality was 50 per cent. Autopsy study could be undertaken only in 10 patients. Histopathology showed mild to moderate changes. In the rest (10 patients), the adrenal cortex was critically involved and the cortisol level failed to rise beyond normal levels (less than 690 nmol/l). The histopathology revealed severe changes (complete lipid depletion, haemorrhage, necrosis etc.) and all these patients died. In the critically ill patients, the cortisol levels remained low because of severe adreno-cortical involvement. The changes in the adrenal cortex could be due to shock or to cellular toxic effect of phosphine. The histopathological changes in various viscera showed congestion, edema and cellular infiltration. In the heart, there were patchy areas of necrosis, while the liver showed fatty changes and the lungs showed, in addition areas of gray/red hepatization. There was no adrenal apoplexy or extensive haemorrhage that could explain shock in these patients. Cardiogenic shock could not be confirmed due to lack of facilities for haemodynamic monitoring, but there was histopathological evidence in support of cardiovascular shock.
Serum magnesium levels have been estimated in 25 patients with head and neck cancer. The results have been compared with a group of 25 healthy controls. In cancer patients the mean value was significantly reduced when compared with the control group. A progressive, and significant, increase in serum magnesium concentration was observed following radiotherapy.
Serum immunoglobulin E levels were estimated in 50 patients with head and neck cancer and in 25 controls. Mean serum IgE value was significantly higher in patients with various sites of cancer in the head and neck region other than carcinoma of the tonsil. The levels increased with advancement in the stage of cancer. There was, however, no difference in mean serum IgE value with respect to the character of the lesion, to the histopathological type of growth or to radiotherapy. In patients with carcinoma of the tonsil, the mean serum IgE concentration was significantly lowered.
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Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was studied in 25 patients having different types of leprosy and 25 healthy volunteer as control. There was definite rise of ADA activity in BL (72.9 +/- 6.85), LL (56.7 +/- 3.35) and BT (39.1 +/- 8.28) which was statistically significant when compared to ADA activity in healthy control (9.7 +/- 0.53).
Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels were estimated in a group of 40 patients with head and neck cancer. The mean value was significantly higher in patients compared to controls. The increase was higher in cases of ulcerative growths than of proliferative growths, and activity was increased with advancement in the stage of the cancer. After radiotherapy, a gradual and significant decrease in serum ADA activity was observed.
Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were measured serially in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 22 patients with fresh stroke and an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. It was observed that levels of these enzymes in the CSF of control subjects were very low but were significantly elevated (p less than 0.001) in both serum and CSF in patients with stroke. The elevation was greater in the CSF than in the serum and was maximum during the first four days of stroke. Thereafter, the enzymatic activity declined. Of all these enzymes, GGTP in CSF correlated best with the clinical picture. It was possible to differentiate between the ischemic and hemorrhagic type of stroke on the basis of CSF levels of GGTP (greater than 60.0 units in hemorrhagic stroke). There was no correlation between GGTP levels in CSF and serum or among GOT, GPT, and GGTP in CSF. It can be concluded, therefore, that estimation of GGTP in CSF is helpful not only in predicting the degree of cerebral damage and functional outcome of the patient following stroke but also in differentiating the type of stroke.
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Thermal injuries lead to changes in both the cell-mediated and humoral responses of the patient. This study was undertaken to assess these responses in the post-burn period and also to see if bacterial infection altered these responses. It has been concluded that alterations in the cell-mediated and humoral immune responses following thermal injuries are altered by infection and consequently are also important in the healing process.
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