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Biomedical subjects

H Krishnaswami

Publications and source records attributed to H Krishnaswami.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Selective screening for cancer of the cervix uteri in South Indian women.

In India, the need exists for a scheme of selective screening for women at high risk of developing cervical carcinoma. In this study, the incidence of abnormal cervical cytology amongst 500 pregnant south Indian women (gravida 3, para 2 or more) who were booked under the Post Partum Programme of the Government of India was compared to that of 200 primi and second gravidas from the same out patient clinic population. Abnormal cytology was detected in 3.6% of the women in the study group which was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than that in the control (0.5%), indicating that the former are at higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Within the study group, abnormal cytology was not found to correlate with increasing age and gravidity or with any clinical parameter. The study and follow up could be carried out using existing facilities and manpower. Using existing personnel involved in the Post Partum Programme, a follow up rate of 67% could be achieved from among women with abnormal cervical cytology. The cost-effectiveness of this scheme of selective screening is borne out by the extremely modest additional cost incurred.

Adult↗

Electron microscopic changes in tropical endomyocardial fibrosis.

Electron microscopic examination of cardiac tissue from seven patients with tropical endomyocardial fibrosis showed the endocardium to be replaced by maturing granulation tissue containing haphazardly arranged collagen bundles, smooth muscle cells, blood vessels and degranulated mast cells. Mature collagen was present on the luminal aspect of the granulation tissue. Myofibres showed mitochondrial swelling, lamella bodies, focal myocytoplasmic clearing and collapsed intercalated discs. Small calibre blood vessels exhibited endothelial swelling, areas of basement membrane duplication and collections of neutrophilic and eosinophilic leucocytes. Eosinophils showed alteration in granule morphology. These changes are similar to the lesions reported in endomyocardial disease with eosinophilia.

Adolescent↗

Pulmonary hypertension in isolated secundum atrial septal defect: high frequency in young patients.

Out of 709 consecutive patients with isolated secundum atrial septal defect, the pulmonary artery systolic pressure was greater than 50 mm Hg in 118 patients (17%). Pulmonary hypertension was present in 13% of patients under 10 years and in 14% aged 11 to 20 years. The Eisenmenger reaction was present in 9% of the 709 patients. The frequency of the Eisenmenger reaction was high in young patients and was not significantly different in patients in the first and second decades as compared to older patients. None of our patients with pulmonary hypertension resided at high altitude. The high frequency of pulmonary hypertension in our young patients cannot be satisfactorily explained. Autopsy studies suggest that in some, pulmonary hypertension is due to the persistence of the fetal pulmonary vascular pattern.

Adolescent↗

Experience with fungal infections affecting the heart in necropsies at an Indian hospital.

Twenty-one cases of fungal infection of the heart were encountered among 4000 necropsies performed in a South Indian hospital over a period of 20 years. All 5 cases of endocarditis due to infection with Aspergillus followed cardiac surgery, while the 4 cases of endocarditis due to Candida affected normal heart valves. Cardiac micro-abscesses secondary to fungal infections elsewhere were caused by Aspergillus in 5 cases and Candida in 4. A fibrosing granulomatous Aspergillus infection extended from the lungs to involve the base of the heart in 3 patients.

Adolescent↗

Infections in haematological malignancies: an autopsy study of 72 cases.

Autopsy material from 72 patients with haematological malignancies treated in India was reviewed. Thirty-seven patients (51%) had documented infections; 20 (27%) had bacterial infections, 14 of which were Gram-negative organisms (Pseudomonas species in 10); tuberculosis was present in 2 patients (2.7%). Twenty-one patients (29%) had systemic fungal infections; invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and gastrointestinal candidiasis were present in 10 patients each. Only 3 patients (4%) had viral infection, all of which were due to cytomegalovirus. Eleven patients (15%) had polymicrobial infections. No patient had any parasitic infection. Systemic fungal infections due to Aspergillus and Candida predominated, while Gram-negative bacterial infections were also common.

Adolescent↗

Microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti in cytologic smears.

Microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti were observed in cytologic material in 35 cases. The material included cervicovaginal smears (17 cases), effusions (14), urine (2), bronchial washings (1) and ovarian cyst fluid (1). The initial diagnosis was made from the cytologic smear in all cases; none had clinical filariasis. Symptomatic vaginal bleeding in 9 of the 17 cases with microfilaria-positive cervicovaginal smears was reflected in the large numbers of red blood cells found in the smear. Blood eosinophilia was present in 11 of 19 cases investigated. Eosinophils were seen in the smears in 20 cases. In the majority of the cases of effusions with microfilariae the effusions were malignant. Significant adherence of inflammatory cells and macrophages to microfilariae was present in 7 of the 35 cases. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Adhesiveness↗