PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H C Mehta

Publications and source records attributed to H C Mehta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Hepatotoxicity of high dose salicylate therapy in acute rheumatic fever.

Liver function tests, including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, serum proteins, blood ammonia levels and intravenous glucose utilization, were monitored in 50 children with acute rheumatic fever receiving anti-rheumatic doses of aspirin. There was a significant increase in blood ammonia levels and serum ALT after aspirin therapy. A significant fall in glucose utilization coefficient was also recorded. Serum alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and total proteins did not change significantly. Twenty-two of the 50 children recorded a rise in serum ALT; in 12, the rise was five- to tenfold. These 12 children developed adverse symptoms to aspirin. Also, all had a marked rise in blood ammonia levels. The children improved clinically and biochemically on withdrawal of aspirin. There was no constant relationship between hepatocellular function and serum salicylate levels.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Management of accidental kerosene ingestion.

Accidental kerosene ingestion is still a common problem in Libya. It causes considerable morbidity and occasionally mortality. The role and choice of antibacterial agents in its management remain unsettled. Pulmonary damage has been reported as resulting from aspiration. In aspiration pneumonia, anaerobic organisms may be important pathogens and metronidazole may have a place in therapy. The present randomized trial in 100 children with accidental kerosene ingestion assesses the role of ampicillin, carbenicillin and metronidazole in its management. The results are not conclusive but chemoprophylaxis appears to decrease morbidity. Of the various regimens used, the ampicillin/metronidazole combination was found to be slightly better than the others. Further study is recommended.

Accidents↗
PubMed1985

Biochemical aspects of malabsorption in marasmus: effect of dietary rehabilitation.

1. Sixty marasmic children were investigated for the absorption of xylose, proteins and fats. Their duodenal juice samples were also analysed for bile salts and microflora. 2. The marasmic children were then studied in three groups of twenty by allocating them to three different dietary schedules: a high-protein diet (30% of the total energy from protein), a high-fat diet (40% of the total energy from fat) and a high-carbohydrate diet (70% of the total energy from carbohydrate) for 2 weeks and the previous measurements repeated. 3. Whereas the high-fat diet resulted in improved fat absorption, along with an increase in total and conjugated bile acids, and the high-carbohydrate diet led to improved xylose absorption, the diet rich in protein resulted in an improvement in the absorption of all three dietary ingredients. It appears that a high-protein diet improves the overall absorption process by improving the intestinal environment as a whole, while high-carbohydrate and high-fat diets bring about adaptive changes related to the respective absorptive processes.

Absorption↗
PubMed1979

Tyrosyluria in marasmus.

1. Plasma tyrosine and urinary p-hydroxyphenyl lactic acid (PHPLA) and p-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid (PHPAA) were studied in thirty patients with marasmus and twenty normal controls in the same age group. 2. In the control group conventional tyrosyluria was not observed but 30% of the group excreted high levels of PHPAA. In the group with marasmus, plasma tyrosine and urinary PHPLA and PHPAA values were signigificantly higher than the control values. However only 13.3% of the patients were considered to have conventional tyrosyluria and 52.3% were found to excrete high levels of PHPAA. 3. Administration of ascorbic acid resulted in a reduction of PHPLA excretion while it had no effect on PHPAA excretion. 4. It was inferred that (a) tyrosyluria in marasmus is due to the reduced activity of the hepatic enzyme 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate: oxygen oxidoreductase (hydroxylating, decarboxylating) (PHPAA-oxidase; EC 1.13.11.27) due to the deficiency of ascorbic acid and (b) high excretion of PHPAA is related to age and nutrition of the child and is unaffected by the administration of ascorbic acid. 5. It was further inferred that urinary excretion of PHPLA is a reliable index of tyrosyluria.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase↗