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Biomedical subjects

B Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to B Kumar.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

HIV-I antibodies in health and disease.

Antibodies to human immune deficiency (HIV) virus were studied in 2000 individuals including cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), leprosy, chronic renal failure on haemodialysis and patients attending STD clinics. A group of blood donors was also screened, ELISA kits provided by Wellcome Diagnostics were used. Results indicate that the ELISA values were far above the cut off figure in all except in a couple where the husband who had stayed in Uganda for several years, and had features of full blown AIDS died 4 months after the diagnosis. The spouse contacted AIDS within a relatively short incubation period and died within 6 months of diagnosis. The North Indian population thus appears to be free of this virus so far. This observation will be an important lead mark in the future epidemiology of HIV infection in India.

Adult

T and B lymphocytes and blastogenesis in leprosy.

T and B cell percentages and their blastogenic response to PPD and lepromin have been studied in 107 patients of various types of leprosy. T cell counts and their blastogenic response were found to be considerably lower in all types of leprosy as compared to the normal. The counts and stimulation were the lowest for lepromatous leprosy. B cell counts were unaltered in all types of leprosy.

Adult

Histopathologic study of clinically normal appearing skin in lepromatous leprosy.

Skin biopsies from clinically normal skin of the scalp, axillary and groin regions in 20 lepromatous leprosy patients revealed significant histopathological findings in upto 25 percent of the patients. The positive findings could, perhaps, be enhanced by studying larger skin materials from these body areas. Indeed, no skin area appears to be immune from invasion by Myco. leprae.

Humans

Study of apparently uninvolved skin in leprosy as regards bacillary population at various sites.

Slit smears form 16 LL and 4 BL patients were taken from scalp, axilla, inguinal regions and apparently involved skin patch. The bacilli were found in 100% LL and 75% BL patients at all sites. Scalp showed AFB in all LL and 3 out of 4 BL cases. No lesions were seen on the scalp. Bacterial morphology showed no uniform pattern. Contrary to belief, no immune zones were found on the skin as judged by results of bacteriological examination. Our studies do not support the view that the leprosy bacillus has a predilection for sites with relatively low temperature as far as human leprosy is concerned.

Axilla

Evaluation of thyroid functions in leprosy. III. Circulating auto-antibodies against thyroid and nuclear components.

Sera from twenty six patients of various types of leprosy were tested for the detection of circulating auto-antibodies and nuclear components against thyroid using various methods. Four patients of lepromatous leprosy had higher levels of thyroid auto-antibodies by latex agglutination. Three patients showed the presence of anti-nuclear antibodies, two belonged to the TT and one to the LL group.

Antibodies, Antinuclear

Evaluation of thyroid functions in leprosy. I. Thyroid function tests.

Twenty six patients of different types of leprosy were studied for radio active iodine uptake (I131) and serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). None of the patients had clinical evidence of thyroid involvement. No significant difference was found between the values obtained in patients and normals and in different varieties of leprosy.

Female