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Biomedical subjects

B K Girdhar

Publications and source records attributed to B K Girdhar.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

In vitro studies on dermal granulomas of human leprosy--cellular characteristics.

Single-cell suspensions from the granulomas of leprosy cases were prepared for an in vitro study of the properties of the infiltrating cells. Biopsies from 44 untreated patients with tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy were analyzed. The granulomas were found to contain lymphocytes and "large cells" (epithelioid cells and macrophages). The number of lymphocytes was significantly higher in the suspensions from the tuberculoid granulomas in comparison to the suspensions from the lepromatous granulomas. A high percentage of lymphocytes from the tuberculoid granulomas formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes, and also showed the presence of esterase as dots in the cytoplasm. However, the lymphocytes did not form rosettes with EAC. Most of the "large cells" from both types of granulomas were esterase positive, exhibited peroxidase activity, and did not carry receptors for C3. A high percentage of "large cells" in the tuberculoid granulomas was nonadherent to a plastic surface, while the lepromatous granulomas contained a high proportion of adherent "large cells."

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1983

Short course treatment of tuberculoid cases--a feasibility study.

With an aim to reduce the length of treatment of leprosy, as a first step an investigation has been undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of maintenance therapy in non-lepromatous cases. Relapse rates in a group of 47 cases, in whom treatment had been given only til the point of inactivity (the trial group) have been compared with a similar group of 27 cases who received additional 18 months maintenance therapy (the control group). No difference in relapse rates has been found (2.13 per 1000 patient months in trial group as against 2.58 per 1000 patient months in the control group). This suggests that additional 18 months maintenance therapy, as is currently recommended, does not offer any additional advantage in reducing the relapses.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Involvement of subcutaneous veins in lepromatous leprosy.

Venous involvement in 31 patients with lepromatous leprosy has been studied in biopsies from clinically involved and clinically normal subcutaneous veins from the forearm. Twenty-nine of these showed histological evidence of leprous phlebitis. The earliest lesion was intimal cell hyperplasia with the presence of acid-fast bacilli in small groups in the intimal cells. This gradually progressed to total occlusion of the vein by lepromatous exudate. The results indicate much greater involvement of veins and possibly other components of the vascular system in patients with lepromatous leprosy than is generally accepted. The importance of such involvement in the pathogenesis of leprosy is also discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

The morphology of bacilli at different levels of the dermal infiltrate in lepromatous leprosy.

The Morphological Index (MI) of bacilli at three levels of the granuloma in 20 skin biopsies from untreated lepromatous patients has been recorded. The more superficial part of the granuloma and the subepidermal free zone showed a significantly higher MI, compared to the mid and lower zones. Possible reasons for this non-uniform distribution of morphologically intact bacilli are discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1982

Disposition of dapsone in protein deficiency--an experimental study in mice.

With an aim to evaluate the metabolic disposition of Dapsone (DDS) in protein malnutrition, a study was undertaken to determine DDS content of blood and tissues of protein deficient mice in comparison to the levels in ad-libitum and pair-fed mice. Three groups of Rockfeller's strain mice of same sex (roughly weighing 25 gm) were fed on low protein diet and high protein diet (for pair-fed and ad-libitum groups). After one month feeding DDS was administered by oral intubation daily for 7 days at a dose of 0.01 mg per g body weight. On 7th day animals were sacrificed 3 hours after DDS administration. Heparinised blood was collected from ocular plexus. Tissues (liver and kidney) were taken out for DDS estimations. DDS levels were determined by the method of Simpson (1949) and tissue protein content was assayed by the method of Lowry et al (1951). Hypoproteinemic mice presented higher values for blood and tissue DDS as compared to their pair-fed and ad-libitum fed groups. Our observations indicate that in hypoproteinemic mice, on account of the possible diminished binding of DDS to plasma albumin, the concentration of free DDS in blood and in tissues is higher.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Discharge of M. leprae in milk of leprosy patients.

A quantitative estimation of discharge of M. leprae in the milk of 39 leprosy female patients has been made. Twelve of the 39 patients (10 LL/BL and 1 each of T/BT and BB) showed bacilli in their milk. Only one of these patients was on treatment. AFB count in 10 ml of milk was found to range from 4.3 X 10(4) to 4.3 X 10(5). Significance of discharge of such a large number of bacilli in breast milk is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Dapsone induced hypohaptoglobinemia in lepromatous leprosy patients.

Dapsone has been used in various dermatological disorders and in leprosy. One of the main side effects of dapsone therapy is anemia, mostly hemolytic. We aimed at finding the effect of dapsone therapy on serum haptoglobin levels which could be an indirect evidence for intravascular hemolysis, supported by secondary investigations such as liver functions (serum lactic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin), blood hemoglobin levels, urinary excretion of urobilinogen, and erythrocytes. As in other infectious conditions, haptoglobins were raised in untreated lepromatous cases, compared to controls (p less than 0.05). Dapsone treatment of 100 mg daily for 14 days brought down the haptoglobin level significantly as compared to the untreated cases and the controls (p less than 0.05). An elevated alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase indicate some liver dysfunction following dapsone therapy. A significant drop in blood hemoglobin level and a concomitant increase in serum bilirubin, urinary excretion of urobilinogen, and a significant fall in the serum hemoglobin binding capacity (haptoglobin level) following treatment with dapsone are quite suggestive of mild intravascular hemolysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Persister M. leprae after introductory rifampicin followed by dapsone therapy.

Lepromatous patients of "Introductory Rifampicin therapy' (Lepr. India, 50: 1978) who received 300 mg Rifampicin daily for 3 months followed by 50-100 mg DDS daily for another 21 months are investigated for persisters in the skin. Mouse foot pad results revealed that at the end of 2 years of treatment viable M. leprae are still persisting in 3 out of 6 patients.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Renal functions in lepromatous leprosy patients.

While leprosy does not primarily affect the kidneys, secondary involvement of kidneys has been reported in lepromatous leprosy and especially in lepra-reaction. In the present study the authors have investigated the functional status of the kidneys of lepromatous leprosy patients by focussing attention to parameters like acidification of urine, glomerular filtration rate and excretion of a foreign dye administered intramuscularly. This study revealed a decreased ability to acidify urine and to excrete the dye as well as a drop in glomerular filtration rate in untreated LL patients. The said disturbances were more pronounced in lepra reaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Serum protein bound fucose (PBF) in untreated leprosy patients.

Protein-Bound Fucose (PBF) content in sera from normal persons and untreated lepromatous or near lepromatous leprosy patients was measured and statistically analysed. Normal serum gave a mean value of 8.15 +/- 2.7 mg% and the sera of leprosy patients gave a value of 13.3 +/- 3.38%. The fucose contents in the glycoprotein and mucoprotein fractions were determined and found to increase in untreated leprosy patients. The values for ratio of fucose to protein also were found to be high in the sera of patients studied.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Intermittent rifampicin therapy in lepromatous leprosy.

A double blind trial involving intermittent administration of Rifampicin in addition to daily DDS has been undertaken in order to evaluate the efficacy as also the potential dangers of such a regimen. Twenty untreated LL cases who were otherwise healthy were included in the study. Ten cases received weekly 900 mg Rifampicin for 6 weeks in addition to 100 mg daily DDS, while the rest were treated likewise but were given similar looking placebo capsules instead of RFP. A nine month follow-up, as also mouse foot pad results indicate that the efficacy of this regimen was found to be better than that with DDS alone and this compares favourably with trials involving 600 mg Rifampician administration daily. No major untoward side effects were encountered in the trial group thought the incidence of ENL was slightly higher in the trial group.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1980

Leprous phlebitis.

Six cases of phlebitis of leprous origin affecting the superficial veins have been recorded. This lesion does not seem to be as rare as was previously believed. The clinical and histopathological details of these cases are presented.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

Effect of single dose (1500 mg) rifampicin on infectivity of patients with lepromatous leprosy.

The effect of treatment with a single dose of Rifampicin (1500 mg) has been investigated in previously untreated lepromatous leprosy patients. A group of 14 cases were administered 1500 mg of Rifampicin in a single dose along with 100 mg Dapsone (DDS) daily. A control group received only 100 mg DDS daily. The patients were followed up for a period of 24 weeks. The clinical, bacteriological and results of mouse foot-pad inoculations do not indicate a significant advantage of the addition of a single dose of Rifampicin to the conventional therapy with DDA.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

A bacteriological and histopathological study of apparently normal skin in lepromatous leprosy.

A comparative study of clinically affected and apparently uninvolved skin in lepromatous patients has been undertaken in 22 cases. Parameters studied include skin smears for bacillary Index; bacillary load/gm of tissue and histopathological comparison of granuloma fraction and biopsy index. The results showed that the clinically unaffected sites have a lower bacillary index and lesser bacterial load. Histologically the granulomas were smaller and biopsy index was lower in uninvolved areas. The possible reasons for this comparative less involvement are discussed.

Adolescent↗