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Biomedical subjects

H G Desai

Publications and source records attributed to H G Desai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

New look at chronic gastritis.

Chronic gastritis (CG) is classified as Type A (Autoimmune) and Type B [Bacterial-Helicobacter pylori (HP)]. Even Type A gastritis is initiated by HP (despite its low incidence in the gastric mucosa), as the incidence of antibodies against HP (anti-HP) in sera of patients with pernicious anemia (PA) is high. Anti-HP cross react with gastric mucosal antigens, including alpha and beta subunits of the proton pump (parietal cell antigen) and determine the damage in fundus-body and/or antral mucosa. Failure to develop intrinsic factor antibodies (IFA), determined by hereditary factors, explain the rarity of PA (despite wide prevalence of CG due to HP) in the Indian population. The necessity of separating severe chronic atrophic gastritis with histamine-fast achlorhydria from PA on the basis of absence or presence of IFA and restricting the diagnosis of PA only to those with IFA, cannot be overemphasized.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1992

What is the aim of esophageal variceal sclerotherapy--prevention of rebleeding or complete obliteration of veins?

Endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS) is highly effective in arresting active esophageal variceal bleeding. Subsequent repeated EVS sessions significantly reduce recurrence of bleeding; long-term survival is reported as prolonged or unaltered. In contrast, EVS for preventing first variceal bleeding (prophylactic sclerotherapy) is not recommended, even for high-risk patients, because it enhances mortality by significantly increasing the risk of bleeding in the treated group compared with controls. The risk of variceal rebleeding is maximum within 6 weeks of index bleeding; most patients who survive 6 weeks of variceal bleeding (with or without sclerotherapy) behave like patients who have never bled from varices. Thus, EVS continued beyond 6 weeks, to obliterate the veins completely, is akin to prophylactic sclerotherapy. Significant complications of EVS--its cost, discomfort to patient, and loss of doctor and patient time--should be weighed against doubtful benefit of continuing prolonged EVS beyond 6 weeks, just to completely obliterate esophageal veins. The possibility of better long-term survival with sclerotherapy limited to 6 weeks cannot be excluded, because prophylactic sclerotherapy shortens long-term survival.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗
PubMed1992

Hepatitis C virus infection in chronic liver disease in Bombay.

To find out the prevalence of antibody of hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in patients with chronic liver disease in Bombay, sera from 126 patients (93 men, 33 women; aged 9-70 years, mean 39.7) with chronic liver disease (cirrhosis 103, cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma 3, chronic active hepatitis 20) were tested for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody. HBsAg positive sera were tested for anti-delta antibody and IgM anti-HBc. All the tests were carried out by ELISA. Of 126 patients, 51 (40.5%) were HBsAg positive, 49 (38.8%) alcoholic and 21 (16.6%) anti-HCV positive. The prevalence of anti-HCV in HBsAg positive, alcoholic and cryptogenic (HBV negative and no alcohol) liver disease patients was 13.7%, 14.7% and 20.5% respectively. Of 21 anti-HCV antibody positive patients, 8 (38%) had received blood transfusions previously. HCV is present in 15-20% of patients with chronic liver disease in Bombay.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

HIV infection in patients of liver cirrhosis.

A total of 130 patients of liver cirrhosis (97 males, 33 females; aged 9-70 yr) of various etiologies were subjected to anti HIV antibodies testing by ELISA and supplementary Western Blot (WB) tests. Eleven patients were positive by ELISA. Of these 11 patients, 5 were WB positive, 4 were WB negative and 2 were indeterminate. Of the 5 WB positive patients none had received blood transfusions and one was a homosexual. These results indicate that HIV infection was present in 3.8 per cent patients of liver cirrhosis. Further studies are required on a large number of patients to recommend HIV testing routinely in cirrhotic patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Frequency of hepatitis B, C and D and human immunodeficiency virus infections in multi-transfused thalassemics.

Of forty multi-transfused thalassemia patients (26 males, 14 females; mean age 8.1 +/- 5.3 years, range 1-35) with no clinical or biochemical evidence of liver disease, HBsAg, anti-hepatitis C virus and anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibodies were present in 18 (45%), 7 (17.5%) and 1 (2.5%) cases respectively. Three of the 18 (16.7%) HBsAg positive patients were anti-delta antibody positive. Our results indicate that more than 50% of multi-transfused thalassemia patients show serological evidence of one or more of hepatitis B, C and D and human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

To assess the prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), ascitic fluid cell count, and ascitic fluid culture by conventional method and by bedside inoculation in blood culture bottles were performed in 31 consecutive patients of liver cirrhosis. Seven (22.58%) patients had ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear count (PMN) more than 500/mm. Ascitic fluid culture by conventional method was negative in all the patients, while in 4 patients culture was positive by bedside inoculation method. Six of 7 patients with SBP or its variant were in Child class C. Clinical features in these patients were abdominal pain (5 patients), fever (4) and encephalopathy (2); serum bilirubin level was 6.8 +/- 5.5 mg/dl, serum albumin 1.98 +/- 0.2 g/dl, prothrombin index 59.8 +/- 12.2%, ascitic fluid protein 0.78 +/- 0.24 g/dl. Three of 7 patients with SBP or its variant expired during hospital stay; the other 4 patients recovered after appropriate antibiotic therapy. We conclude that SBP is a serious complication in patients of liver cirrhosis with ascites. Ascitic fluid PMN count and bedside inoculation of blood culture bottles with ascitic fluid are sensitive indicators of SBP. Hence they should be performed routinely for early detection of SBP.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of delta virus infection in high risk population and hepatitis B virus related liver diseases.

Two hundred and fifty four high risk persons or patients with hepatitis B virus related liver disease (209 men, 45 women; age range 1-78 years) were tested for anti-delta antibody and IgM anti-HBc to determine the prevalence of delta agent coinfection and superinfection. The prevalence of delta infection was as follows: acute viral hepatitis 23/148 (16%) and chronic liver disease 17/92 (19%), and asymptomatic HBsAg carriers 1/6 (17%). In the high risk population, the delta antibody prevalence was as follows: multiple transfusion recipients 3/8 (38%), patients with chronic renal failure 1/5 (20%) and medical professionals 2/7 (29%). Of 44 patients (34 men, 10 women; age 3-63 years) with delta infection, 26 (59%) had coinfection and 18 (41%) had superinfection. Six patients with anti-delta antibody had received blood transfusion(s) and six others gave history of parenteral exposure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Carcinoma in an oesophageal diverticulum.

A young male who had minimal dysphagia since childhood complained of increasing difficulty in swallowing for a few months. Upper Gastrointestinal endoscopy was normal on two occasions done by two gastroenterologists. Barium swallow showed minimal extrinsic pressure on the oesophageal wall. X-ray chest was normal. CT scan showed a large growth close to the oesophagus. Resection of the growth showed a carcinoma completely filling an oesophageal diverticulum with a normal oesophageal lumen.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Dental plaque: a permanent reservoir of Helicobacter pylori?

The aim of the study was to observe the relationship between the two reservoirs of Helicobacter pylori--that is, dental plaque and the stomach. With the Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test, H. pylori was detected in dental plaque and in gastric antral and body mucosa in 98%, 67% and 70%, respectively, of 43 consecutive patients with dyspepsia. The rapidity of the CLO test indicates that the density of H. pylori is heaviest in dental plaque, less in the antrum, and least in the body mucosa of the stomach. Triple drug therapy (bismuth, tinidazole, and amoxycillin or doxycycline) was administered for 15 days to 24 patients. By the CLO test, H. pylori was eliminated from the gastric mucosa in all 24 patients but persisted in dental plaque in all of them. Our observations indicate that dental plaque is unaffected by triple drug therapy and is perhaps a permanent reservoir of H. pylori if local therapy also fails to eradicate the organism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

What does the absence of Helicobacter pylori from the antrum imply?

Helicobacter pylori is absent in the antrum of approximately 5, 25, and 35% of patients with duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and non-ulcer dyspepsia respectively and in the majority of asymptomatic healthy subjects from the West. The absence of H. pylori from the antrum could result from failure of exposure to (Group A) or colonization by (Group B) or temporary (Group C) or permanent (Group D) clearance of H. pylori, after initial colonization. Marked differences in the incidence of absence of H. pylori in antrum of different age group of control subjects from the West and the developing nation (such as India) are discussed.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed1991

Effect of acute ingestion of tobacco on gastric mucosa. An endoscopic study.

One hundred patients with non ulcer dyspepsia with history of chronic tobacco chewing were examined endoscopically to assess the effect of tobacco ingestion on the gastric mucosa. Gastric erosions were seen in 20 patients in the fasting state. The remaining 80 patients in whom gastroscopy did not reveal erosions were subjected to repeat gastroscopy after tobacco ingestion. In 40 patients, endoscopy was repeated 30 minutes after 200 mg of tobacco ingestion (Group I) and in another 40 patients endoscopy was repeated 1 hour after 400 mg of tobacco ingestion (Group II). Eleven patients (27.5%) in Group I and 19 (47.5%) in Group II developed gastric erosions. Erosions were observed mainly along the lesser curvature, and in the fundus and the body of stomach. Gastric pH, determined after tobacco ingestion, was 2.4 +/- 0.43 in patients with erosions and 3.0 +/- 0.67 in patients without erosions. It is concluded that tobacco ingestion produces dose-dependent damage to the gastric mucosa as seen on endoscopy. Hence, history of tobacco ingestion should always be asked for in patients with gastric erosions.

Gastric Acidity Determination↗
PubMed1991

Mono and dual therapy for Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis.

Sixty patients with Helicobacter Pylori positive non ulcer dyspepsia were randomly allocated to one of the following treatment groups: Group I--norfloxacin 400 mg bid for 10 days, Group II--amoxycillin 500 mg bid plus tinidazole 500 mg bid for 15 days, Group III--colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS) 240 mg bid for 4 weeks. H pylori elimination was achieved in 14%, 81%, and 62% in Groups I, II and III respectively. Eradication of H pylori was not observed in Groups I and II, but was achieved in 25% of patients in Group III. Antral gastritis improved in 69% in Group II and 50% in Group III. We conclude that norfloxacin is not effective in H pylori infection. A combination of amoxycillin and tinidazole is highly effective in H pylori elimination with improvement in associated gastritis, but H pylori eradication is not observed with this therapy. CBS is also effective in H pylori elimination though H pylori eradication is achieved in only 25%.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Peritoneoscopy in diagnosis of ascites.

Diagnostic peritoneoscopies were performed in 226 patients with ascites. Satisfactory examination was possible in 220 patients. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed at peritoneoscopy in 82.7% of patients. Peritoneoscopic examination corrected the clinical diagnosis in 13.7%, was inconclusive in 2.6% and was incorrect in 0.8% of cases. It was 100% diagnostic in malignant peritonitis and 89.5% in patients with tuberculous peritonitis. Pseudomyxoma peritoneai and mesothelioma were suspected in one patient each at peritoneoscopy and was confirmed histologically. The utility of routine ascitic fluid examination was reviewed in all patients. The ascitic fluid was transudative in 81.9%, exudative in 8.6% and indeterminate in 9.5% of patients with cirrhosis of liver. Patients with tuberculous pertitonitis had exudative, transudative and indeterminate ascites in 71.8%, 3.2% and 25% respectively. The ascites in patients with malignant peritonitis was either exudative (80%) or indeterminate (20%). There was considerable overlap in the nature of ascites present in the three groups of patients. We therefore conclude that peritoneoscopy is the most valuable investigation in the diagnosis of ascites, particularly in exudative and indeterminate types.

Ascites↗