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Biomedical subjects

G Sandhu

Publications and source records attributed to G Sandhu.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Primary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the parotid gland: a case report and review of the literature.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytomas are uncommon malignant neoplasms with a great predilection for the upper respiratory tract. Extramedullary plasmacytoma involving the parotid gland is an extremely rare condition. This report describes the case of a primary extramedullary plasmacytoma arising in the right parotid gland of a 63-year-old man. A review of the literature reveals that this disease has generally a good prognosis. provided that multiple myeloma has been excluded. The treatment of choice should be surgical excision followed by radiotherapy, although from this study there is insufficient evidence to suggest that this is more effective than surgery alone. All patients must have regular long-term follow-up to monitor for recurrence or dissemination, in which event chemotherapy may be considered in addition to the other treatment modalities.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Tissue-specific pattern of stress kinase activation in ischemic/reperfused heart and kidney.

In this report we investigate the molecular mechanisms that contribute to tissue damage following ischemia and ischemia coupled with reperfusion (ischemia/reperfusion) in the rat heart and kidney. We observe the activation of three stress-inducible mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in these tissues: p38 MAP kinase and the 46- and 55-kDa isoforms of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK46 and JNK55). The heart and kidney show distinct time courses in the activation of p38 MAP kinase during ischemia but no activation of either JNK46 or JNK55. These two tissues also respond differently to ischemia/reperfusion. In the heart we observe activation of JNK55 and p38 MAP kinase, whereas in the kidney all three kinases are active. We also examined the expression pattern of two stress-responsive genes, c-Jun and ATF3. Our results indicate that in the heart both genes are induced by ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion. However, in the kidney c-Jun and ATF3 expression is induced only by ischemia/reperfusion. To correlate these molecular events with tissue damage we examined DNA laddering, a common marker of apoptosis. A significant increase in DNA laddering was evident in both heart and kidney following ischemia/reperfusion and correlated with the pattern of kinase activation, supporting a link between stress kinase activation and apoptotic cell death in these tissues.

Activating Transcription Factor 2↗

The stigma and enigma of chronic non-malignant back pain (CNMBP) treated with long-term opioids (LTO).

Certain diseases and drugs, like chronic non-malignant back pain (CNMBP) and opioids, are maligned by society, resulting in sufferers and users experiencing discrimination within the health care system which has the effects of increasing, rather than alleviating their pain and suffering. Many patients with severe CNMBP suffer not because their pain is untreatable but because their pain and personhood have not been validated by doctors and nurses who are opioiphobic. Such ignorances fears, beliefs and biases not only deny some CNMBP patients adequate pain relief but also puts their lives at risk as it has long been recognised that chronic pain can lead to immunosuppression, affecting morbidity and mortality. Beyond the effects on patients, CNMBP treated with long term opioids (LTO) has a profound impact on families, whose pain and suffering is rarely addressed in practice. There is an urgent need to change current practice if CNMBP patients treated with LTO are to maximise their health potential and become responsible consumers of health care.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Crystal structures of the thymidine kinase from herpes simplex virus type-1 in complex with deoxythymidine and ganciclovir.

The crystal structures of thymidine kinase from herpes simplex virus type-1 complexed with its natural substrate deoxythymidine (dT) and complexed with the guanosine analogue Ganciclovir have been solved. Both structures are in the C222(1) crystal form with two molecules per asymmetric unit related by a non-crystallographic two-fold axis. The present models have been refined to 2.8 A and 2.2 A, with crystallographic R factors of 24.1% and 23.3% for the dT and Ganciclovir complexes respectively, without the inclusion of any solvent molecules. The core of the molecule exhibits high structural homology with adenylate kinase and other nucleotide binding proteins. These structural similarities provide an insight into the mechanism of nucleoside phosphorylation by thymidine kinase.

Adenylate Kinase↗

Expeditious location of the embedded proximal left anterior descending coronary artery.

Retrograde passage of an intraluminal coronary artery probe to the proximal segment of the anterior descending coronary artery facilitates location of the vessel at operation. No related complications have occurred in 18 patients in whom this maneuver was performed. This method reduces the required dissection time and the hazard involved when aortocoronary bypass to an embedded left anterior descending coronary artery is necessary.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗

Slow filling period/rapid filling period ratio in the apexcardiogram: relation to the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Apexcardiograms were performed in 68 consecutive patients who had either normal findings or coronary artery disease on cardiac catheterization. The height of the a wave in relation to the total apexcardiographic deflection (a/H) and the duration of both the rapid (RFW) and the slow (SFW) filling periods were determined in each case. The patients were classified into three gorups: I, no evidence of heart disease on catheterization; II, significant coronary artery disease with elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure; and III, coronary artery disease with normal filling pressure. There was a significant difference (P less than 0.001) between the SFW/RFW values (mean +/- 1 standard deviation) in control subject (group I, 2.3 +/- 0.5) and in subjects with coronary artery disease (group II, 4.7 +/- 1.6 and group III, 4 +/- 1.7). Setting the upper limit of normal for SFW/RFW at 2.8 (mean + 1 standard deviation) identified 94 percent of patients, in group II, 71 percent of patients in group III and 86 percent of all patients with coronary disease (group II plus group III). This sensitivity appeared greater than that of the a/H ratio. Only 2 of 17 patients (12 percent) without coronary atherosclerosis had an SFW/RFW ratio greater than 2.8. It is concluded that (1) the slow/rapid filling period ratio is a useful noninvasive measurement for identifying subjects with ischemic heart disease; (2) the increased values for slow/rapid filling period ratio associated with obstructive coronary lesions may be caused by impairment of early left ventricular distensibility; and (3) this ratio should be determined in patients with other forms of heart disease to determine its specificity.

Adolescent↗