Biomedical subjects

G Menon

Publications and source records attributed to G Menon.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1977

Betahistine hydrochloride (Serc) in cerebrovascular disease: a placebo-controlled study.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study was performed to assess the effects of oral betahistine hydrochloride (Serc) on mental impairment and physical disability in patients with established cerebrovascular disease. Fifty-three patients were admitted to the study during 18 months. Forty-five patients completed the study. They received either betahistine 24 mg daily or placebo for eight weeks. Clinical assessments of general functional activity were done and a battery of nine mental function tests was administered pretreatment and at two-weekly intervals during therapy. The results were analysed statistically using distribution-free tests. Significant differences were demonstrated between betahistine and placebo at week 8 of treatment for associate learning, digit retention, general knowledge, orientation, sentence learning and simple arithmetic. These differences were consistently in favour of betahistine at or close to the 5% level of significance. The results of the remaining mental function tests showed no significant differences between betahistine and placebo, but trends were in favour of the former. General functional activity assessments also demonstrated that betahistine-treated patients were significantly better than those on placebo (P less than or equal to 0.05). No untoward side-effects were noted during the study.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1977

Differentiated regions of human placental cell surface associated with exchange of materials between maternal and foetal blood: a new organelle and the binding of iron.

To elucidate the method of uptake of a neutral iron compound into the placenta, isolated human chorionic villi were incubated in a medium containing the substance and were fixed at intervals and subsequently examined using transmission electron microscopy. None of the specimens examined showed evidence of vesicular transport in either micro- or macro-pinocytic vesicles which were either coated or smooth-surfaced. Iron uptake may involve attachment of particles to differentiated regions of the cell surface of the syncytiotrophoblast. These differentiated zones in the syncytial cell surface are composed of morphological distinct parts and therefore probably merit classification as an organelle. Our interpretation of the organelle's structure is that it is flattened, with a maximum distance across of about 30 nm in the plane of the membrane. It is of otherwise uncertain shape but possesses a multilaminar structure. The external layer is apparently composed of the iron compound to be taken up. Beneath this is an electron-lucent layer possibly composed of glycoacalyx. The next innermost layer is continuous with the trilaminar unit membrane of the cell surface, however no trilaminar appearance is observed within the organelle. Beneath the membrane layer is an electron-dense plaque of amorphous material. Occasionally in favourable sections there is the suggestion of a thin electron-lucent strip interposed between the dense plaque and the membrane layer. The whole structure is composed therefore of 4 or 5 different regions. One possible function is that of initial binding in a process of active as opposed to passive transport of iron into the cell.

Binding Sites↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pneumoconiosis in an Indian slate-pencil factory worker.

A male slate-pencil factory worker who inhaled dust for 10 years came to our hospital with complaints of breathlessness of two months duration. He developed massive fibrotic lesions in both lungs but was not diagnosed earlier due to the absence of symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cryptococcosis: involvement of more than one system.

We report a 37-year-old female patient with pulmonary cryptococcosis who presented with a one week old history of cough and fever. Within a week of admission, she developed cryptococcal meningitis and 5 months later cryptococcomas of the brain were detected. She was successfully treated with 2 courses of amphotericin-B at an interval of 5 months. 5-flucytosine was also administered initially along with amphotericin-B. The pulmonary lesions resolved completely whereas the cryptococcomas reduced in number.

Adult↗