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Biomedical subjects

Daljit Singh

Publications and source records attributed to Daljit Singh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Clinical and anthropometric profile of children with celiac disease in Punjab (North India).

This prospective study was carried out to evaluate the clinical and anthropometric profile of 71 children confirmed to have celiac disease on the basis of clinical features, duodenal biopsy and unequivocal improvement on gluten-free diet. Serological tests were performed in 35 cases. The patients were divided into three age groups <5 years, 5-10 years, and >10 years as per the age of presentation to the hospital. Mean age was 8.7 years with a slight female preponderance. Diarrhea was the commonest presentation in group I and failure to thrive in group III. All patients in group III, had weight for age (w/a) <3rd percentile and majority (83 per cent) had short stature, with delayed puberty in all. All children had significant improvement in symptoms and growth on gluten restriction. None of the patients had been suspected to have celiac disease before, which signifies that in spite of increasing incidence of celiac disease, this disease is grossly under-diagnosed in North India where wheat is the staple diet. It is essential to make an early diagnosis of celiac disease in children to prevent growth delay.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Recurrent tumefactive demyelination in a child.

A 13-year-old female presented with two episodes of hemiplegia and hemianopia involving opposite sides, each time associated with seizures. On both occasions, the magnetic resonance (MR) scan showed a giant demyelinating, peripherally enhancing lesion with mass effect. MR spectroscopy (MRS) was indistinguishable from a tumor. At the first episode, she had undergone tumor decompression but the histopathology revealed an acute demyelinating lesion with no evidence of tumor. Each time there was partial clinical recovery and resolution of the radiological lesion, the patient having received corticosteroids during both of the episodes. She also developed hemiballismus postoperatively which resolved on withdrawing phenytoin. It is suggested that a trial of corticosteroids be given in suspected tumefactive demyelinating lesions, although they may be indistinguishable from a tumor.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Effect of phenobarbital on free radicals in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy--a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Phenobarbital is one of the oldest, cheapest and easily available cerebroprotective drugs for the hypoxic brain. However, its potential and various actions have not been fully explored. AIM: To evaluate the effects of Phenobarbital on levels of oxidants and anti-oxidants in term and near term neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. METHODS: Design--randomized controlled trial. Setting--tertiary care referral perinatal centre. Procedure--asphyxiated neonates (gestation > or = 34 weeks) with HIE were randomized to receive Phenobarbital 20 mg/kg i.v. within first six hours of life or to control group. CSF levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and blood levels of vitamins A and E were estimated at 10-12 hours of age. RESULTS: CSF levels of MDA, SOD, GPx and blood levels of vitamins A and E were significantly lower in the Phenobarbital group (p<0.001). There was a trend towards lower levels of CSF MDA, SOD, GPx and blood vitamins A and E in babies with normal outcome as compared to babies with adverse outcome (death or neurologically abnormal at discharge). CONCLUSION: Phenobarbital in the dose of 20 mg/kg i.v. given within 6 hours of life in term and near-term neonates with HIE, was associated with a decrease in lipid peroxides, anti-oxidant enzymes and anti-oxidant vitamins.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2003

R5 retrotransposons insert into a family of infrequently transcribed 28S rRNA genes of planaria.

A small (100 bp) region of the 28S rRNA gene has been shown to serve as the target site for the insertion of non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons in both arthropods and nematodes. Here we characterize a lineage of non-LTR retrotransposons that inserts into this target site in the phylum Platyhelminthes. Dugesiid planaria contain elements, named R5, that insert 8 bp upstream of the target site used by arthropod R2 elements. The complete sequence of this element from Girardia tigrina revealed that it encoded two open reading frames (ORFs). The second ORF contained reverse transcriptase and restriction enzyme-like endonuclease domains similar to those found in R2 and R4, the elements that insert into the 28S genes of nematodes. The closest relative of R5, however, was the element NeSL-1, which inserts into the spliced leader 1 exons of nematodes. The rRNA genes of dugesiid planaria are unusual in that they comprise two types of rDNA units that differ by 8%-10% in nucleotide sequence of the 18S and 28S coding regions. Type II units are transcribed in adult tissues at levels that are less than 1% that of the type I units. R5 elements were only found inserted in the type II units, where presumably they cause less harm to the host. A second unusual aspect of the dugesiid rRNA genes is that the target site for the R5 insertion is duplicated 300 bp upstream of the original insertion site. R5 elements were identified at both sites. These findings expand the distribution of non-LTR elements that are specialized for insertion into the 28S gene and suggest that still more elements exist in other eukaryotic taxa. Attempts to trace the phylogeny of R5 did not offer sufficient resolution to determine whether R2, R4, and R5 represent the same lineage or whether they represent independent specializations for the 28S gene.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Surgical management and outcome of tuberculous atlantoaxial dislocation: a 15-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberculous atlantoaxial dislocation is a rare disease entity. However, tuberculosis continues to be endemic in developing countries. Its earliest clinical presentation may be nonspecific, and delay in diagnosis may lead to irreversible neurological deficit. The management of tuberculous atlantoaxial dislocation includes ventral cervicomedullary decompression, occipitocervical arthrodesis, and administration of antituberculous medications. METHODS: Eighteen patients with tuberculous atlantoaxial dislocation who presented with neck pain and/or occipital headache, restriction of neck movement, difficulty swallowing, and signs of myelopathy were studied. Four patients had evidence of associated pulmonary tuberculosis. Plain x-rays of the cervical spine, computed tomographic scans, and magnetic resonance images were obtained in all patients for diagnosis and to assess the degree of dislocation and cervicomedullary compression. Simultaneous anterior neural decompression, via a transcervical retropharyngeal approach, and posterior arthrodesis were performed on all patients while they remained under anesthesia. Antituberculous chemotherapy was continued for 18 months. RESULTS: Histopathological analysis of excised tissue was consistent with tuberculosis in all patients. However, Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli was positive in two cases, and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was negative in all patients. Patients with severe myelopathy experienced marked improvement. One patient died of fulminant resistant tuberculous meningitis. CONCLUSION: The transcervical retropharyngeal approach to the craniovertebral junction provides direct access to the lesion and avoids the potential bacterial contamination of the oral and pharyngeal cavity. It also prevents the development of persistent fistulae. Posterior stabilization should be performed directly after anterior neural decompression, while the patient remains under anesthesia, to prevent neurological deterioration before subsequent posterior fixation. This technique also is helpful for early mobilization of patients. The aim of surgical treatment should be to obtain biopsy tissue and to perform radical excision of epidural granulation tissue/abscess and infected bone using microsurgical technique. Antituberculous medication must be continued for 18 months with four drug regimens, and continuous monitoring of drug toxicity should be performed throughout the course of treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Intracranial hemorrhage in late hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.

This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical profile and outcome in late hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN) with particular reference to intracranial hemorrhage. Infants (n = 42) presenting with late HDN from January 1998 to December 2001 were studied. Majority (76%) were in the age group of 1-3 months. All were term babies on exclusive breast-feeding and none received vitamin K at birth. 71% patients presented with intracranial hemorrhage, commonest site being intracerebral and multiple ICH. Visible external bleeding was noted in 1/3rd of patients only. Three patients expired. Late HDN is still an important cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries where vitamin K prophylaxis is not routinely practiced. Isolated intracranial hemorrhage is a common mode of presentation.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Impact of bed side communication with fathers on their anxiety about newborn.

This study assessed the impact of bedside communication with fathers (N = 100) on their anxiety about sick neonates admitted in SCNU. The control group consisted of fathers of 100 sick babies communicated outside the unit. Anxiety was measured in both the groups on day 1 (at admission) and day 7, by using 5 point Likert Scale. At the time of admission there was no difference in the level of anxiety between the study group and controls (p >0.05; Mann Whitney test). There was a statistically significant difference (p <0.01; Mann Whitney test) in the level of anxiety between the study and control group at 7 days. When compared within the group, the anxiety in the fathers of study group was significantly less (p <0.01) at 7 days than at admission. In the control group there was no such significant difference. To conclude, bed side communication with fathers of admitted neonates reduces their anxiety significantly.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Intramedullary arachnoid cyst. Case report.

The authors present an unusual case of intramedullary arachnoid cyst diagnosed in a patient after the lesion was resected. A wide decompressive surgery was performed and the lesion removed. Histopathological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of arachnoid cyst. Postoperatively the patient exhibited marked improvement in neurological status. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no case report of intramedullary arachnoid cyst reported in the literature. With the advent of newer neuroimaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging the number of cases of intramedullary arachnoid cysts encountered in the future may increase.

Arachnoid Cysts↗
PubMed2002

Chronic/recurrent cough in rural children in Ludhiana, Punjab.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, age distribution and common causes of chronic/recurrent cough in rural children. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Pediatric population in five villages of Dehlon Block of Ludhiana, Punjab. METHODS: 2275 children in the age group of 1 to 15 years were screened by house to house survey for chronic/recurrent cough using defined criteria. A detailed work up of selected cases was carried out. Underlying etiology was determined using clinical and laboratory parameters. Five hundred children in the study population formed the control group. Variables associated with chronic/recurrent cough were analyzed in cases and controls. RESULTS: Twenty four children were diagnosed with chronic/recurrent cough showing a prevalence rate of 1.06 percent. The most common cause was bronchial asthma (66.7 percent) followed by postnasal drip syndrome (25 percent). Family history of allergy/asthma was noted in 11 (45.8 percent) children as compared to 52 (10.4 percent) in the control group (p < 0.01). Family history of smoking was recorded in 16.7 percent of cases in contrast to 6.4 percent in controls (p = 0.05). There was no significant association with overcrowding, pets and kind of cooking fuel used. CONCLUSIONS: The most common cause of chronic/recurrent cough was bronchial asthma. There was a significant association with family history of allergy/asthma and smoking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Histological analysis of cystic tumour like lesions of central nervous system.

True cysts of the central nervous system (CNS) are rare lesions. A retrospective study of patients with symptomatic non-neoplastic cystic lesions of CNS operated in the Department of Neurosurgery, G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi between Jan 1994 and Feb 2001 was conducted. Parasitic cysts, cystic transformation of hemmorhages, vascular malformations and cystic tumours were excluded from the study. A total of 109 cases were reviewed. There were 34, 27, 17, 16, 8, 3 and 2 cases of epidermoid, arachnoid, dermoid, colloid, neurenteric, Rathke's and ependymal cysts and 1 case each of choroid plexus and glial cysts. The clinical presentations, locations, incidence and pathogenesis of these cysts is discussed.

Central Nervous System Neoplasms↗