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Biomedical subjects

K Ramachandran

Publications and source records attributed to K Ramachandran.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Failure to detect an antimutator phenotype following disruption of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DDR48 gene.

The antimutator phenotype, reportedly conferred by disruption of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DDR48 gene, was suggested to affect only a specific spontaneous mutational pathway. We attempted to identify the types of mutation that are DDR48-dependent by determining the specificity of the ddr48 antimutator. However, disruption of DDR48 did not decrease the rates of spontaneous forward mutation in a plasmid-borne copy of the yeast SUP4-o gene, the reversion or suppression of the lys2-1 allele, or forward mutation at the CAN1 locus. Interestingly, the latter gene had been reported previously to be subject to the antimutator effect. DNA sequence analysis of spontaneous SUP4-o mutations arising in DDR48 and ddr48 backgrounds provided no evidence for a reduction in the rates of individual mutational classes. Thus, we were unable to verify that disruption of DDR48 causes an antimutator phenotype.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

Gastric acid study in patients operated on for perforated duodenal ulcer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the acid secretory status of patients operated on for perforated duodenal ulcer, with or without prior history suggestive of acid-peptic disease. METHOD: Basal and peak acid output were measured in 48 patients with perforated duodenal ulcer who were treated by simple closure alone, 10 patients with uncomplicated chronic duodenal ulcer and 30 normal controls. Patients operated on for perforated duodenal ulcer were analyzed according to presence (or absence) and duration of prior history of acid-peptic disease. RESULTS: Peak acid output was similar in controls and patients with perforated duodenal ulcer with no prior symptoms. However, patients with prior symptoms had significantly higher peak acid output, similar to those with uncomplicated duodenal ulcer. CONCLUSION: Patients with perforated duodenal ulcer with no antecedent history of acid-peptic disease have normal gastric acid output. These patients may therefore have other etiological factors for their ulcers.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Neuroblastoma with testicular metastasis. Review of literature and report of a case.

Eventhough neuroblastoma presents with wide spread tumour dissemination, metastasis to testes had rarely been reported. We report a case of Stage IV neuroblastoma who developed metastasis to both testes. He had massive infra-diaphragmatic disease with involvement of left supraclavicular lymph node at presentation. Treatment received by him was not adequate and five months later he developed metastasis to both testes. Hematogenous spread might have been the possibility in this case.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Differentiation of keloid and hypertrophic scar; correlation of the water proton relaxation times with the duration of the scar.

Spin lattice relaxation times of water protons have been reported to correlate with the water contents of malignant as well as benign tissues. In order to investigate whether such a correlation exists in keloid and hypertrophic scars, T1 values of keloid and hypertrophic scars were measured using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and compared with that of normal skin. A linear correlation of the T1 values of the scars with their age was observed. Even though both the scars exhibited higher T1 values in the early stages of lesion, a faster return to the steady state level was observed in hypertrophic scars compared to keloids. It is suggested that the measurement of T1 values could serve to differentiate the two abnormal wound healing situations.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A 3-year follow-up study of coronary heart disease in Delhi.

A follow-up study of coronary heart disease (CHD) was carried out among adults in Delhi 3 years after an initial community-based epidemiological survey of the same population. A total of 575 of the 814 cases of CHD detected clinically and by electrocardiogram (ECG) in the initial survey took part. On re-examination of the original cohort of 4151 adults who were free of CHD both clinically and by ECG in the initial survey, 245 new cases of CHD were detected - 73 on a clinical basis (21 with myocardial infarction and 52 with angina pectoris) and 172 by ECG (13 with myocardial infarction and 159 with probable CHD based on ST and T changes). The overall incidence of CHD was 19.7 per 1000 (males, 17.3 per 1000; females, 21.0 per 1000). The incidence on a clinical basis was 5.9 per 1000 (males, 6.5 per 1000; females, 5.5 per 1000) compared with 13.8 per 1000 by ECG (males, 10.8 per 1000; females, 15.5 per 1000). Although the incidence of myocardial infarction was higher in men (3.6 per 1000) than women (2.2 per 1000), the incidence of angina pectoris was 36.5% higher in women (18.7 per 1000) than in men (13.7 per 1000). Hypercholesterolaemia and systemic hypertension were the commonest risk factors in the 245 new cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A prospective randomized trial comparing repeated endoscopic sclerotherapy and propranolol in decompensated (Child class B and C) cirrhotic patients.

A prospective randomized study was conducted to compare the efficacy of long-term endoscopic sclerotherapy vs. propranolol in Child class B and C patients with variceal bleeds within the 30 days before the study. Forty-five and 46 patients were randomized to receive sclerotherapy and propranolol, respectively, after preentry stratification for Child scores. Sclerotherapy was administered with 1% polidocanol at 10-day intervals until obliteration of varices was achieved. Propranolol was administered to achieve a reduction in resting pulse rate of 25%. Rebleeding occurred in 19 patients undergoing sclerotherapy and in 31 receiving propranolol (p less than 0.05). The number of episodes of rebleeding was higher (p less than 0.05) in the propranolol group (n = 64) than in the sclerotherapy group (n = 35). The mean bleeding risk factor, number of hospitalizations for rebleeding and blood transfusion requirement were also significantly higher in the propranolol-treated patients. The median bleed-free period was more than 36 mo in the sclerotherapy group and 2.5 mo in the propranolol group (p less than 0.01). The median survival time was significantly longer in the sclerotherapy group (greater than 36 mo) than in the propranolol group (greater than 24 mo). We conclude that in decompensated cirrhotic patients, long-term endoscopic sclerotherapy is superior to propranolol in preventing rebleeding and improving survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Biochemical assessment of cholelithiasis.

Bile and serum were analysed in 45 cases of cholelithiasis and 25 control subjects for cholesterol, phospholipids, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and LCAT activity. Serum phospholipids were found to be elevated in sixty percent of cases, whereas phospholipids in bile were found to be decreased. Serum alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase were normal. Serum and bile LCAT activity was found to be significantly depressed.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1992

Endoscopic sclerotherapy versus propranolol in prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding in patients with child's B and C cirrhosis: a preliminary report.

Thirty two patients with cirrhosis of the liver of Child's B and C class and an episode of endoscopically proven variceal bleed were randomly assigned to receive endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) or oral propranolol for the prevention of recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding. EST was performed at 3 week intervals using 1% polidocanol intravariceally, till eradication of varices. Propranolol dose was adjusted to reduce the resting heart rate by 25% of the basal value (mean +/- SD, 194.3 +/- 63.9 mg/day) Two patients in the propranolol group were excluded within 48 hours due to side effects of the drug. Thirty patients (EST-16, propranolol-14) completed the trial. Patients were followed up for a maximum of 480 days. Mean follow-up in the EST and propranolol groups was 217 and 243 days respectively. The median bleeding free intervals were 480 and 194 days and number of rebleeding episodes was eight and 16 respectively in the EST and propranolol groups (both p = ns). Our study suggests a trend in favor of EST in preventing variceal rebleeding in patients with hepatic cirrhosis who belong to Child's B and C classes.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Epidemiological study of coronary heart disease in Gujaratis in Delhi (India).

A community based survey of coronary heart disease (CHD) was carried out in Gujarati families settled in Delhi. The number of adults surveyed in the age group 25-64 yr was 1317. CHD was diagnosed either on the basis of clinical history supported by documentary evidence of treatment in the hospital or at home or on ECG evidence in accordance with the Minnesota Code. The prevalence rate of CHD on clinical history was 25.1 (28.2 in males and 22.4 in females) per 1000 adults (25-64 yr). The prevalence rates were slightly lower in Gujaratis than the general Delhi urban population. The prevalence rate based on both clinical history and ECG criteria was estimated at 66.8 as compared to 96.8/1000 in general urban Delhi population. The risk factors for CHD such as socio-economic status, family history, obesity, smoking, physical activity and hypertension were studied. The mean and 5th, 50th and 95th percentile values of blood lipids were also estimated in CHD patients and compared with the control group. Hypertension ranked the leading risk factor. Prevalence rate of CHD was higher in the upper socioeconomic group. The positive correlation of higher levels of serum lipids e.g., total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride with CHD was confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Electrical burns treated in an Indian hospital.

A 17-year survey of all electrical burns admitted to the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Madras between 1973 and 1990 has been made. A total of 8040 cases of burns were treated in this Department and in this group 923 were pure electrical burns. The majority of electrical burns occurred in the age group 20-40 years. Some of the clinical features of our electrical burns resembled closely those of a crush injury. Most of the patients required primary reconstruction and this was delayed when the viability of tissues was in doubt. Human error was responsible for the injury in 68 per cent of patients and all the 64 patients who were below the age of 10 years belonged to this group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Sonographic evaluation of operability of malignant cervical lymph nodes.

Infiltration of the carotid artery by malignant cervical nodes is considered to be a contraindication for radical neck dissection in many centers. Clinical examination alone is unlikely to provide information on the fixity of nodes to the carotid artery. We studied the role of ultrasonography as an adjunct to clinical examination in screening patients for neck dissection. Twenty-seven patients with clinical neck node metastasis were chosen for ultrasonography. All of them had surgery and the findings were correlated. The findings revealed that this procedure is effective in delineating involvement of carotid artery by neck nodes and in identifying false-positive and false-negative cases. Since the sample of patients studied was small, the study is continuing in order to accrue a larger sample.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiological study of coronary heart disease in urban population of Delhi.

A community based survey of coronary heart disease (CHD) was carried out on a random urban sample of 13,723 adults in the age group 25-64 yr in Delhi, India. CHD was diagnosed either on the basis of clinical history supported by documentary evidence of treatment in a hospital or at home; or on ECG evidence in accordance with the Minnesota Code. The overall prevalence of CHD based on clinical history, was 31.9 (39.5 in males and 25.3 in females) per 1000 adults in this age group. The number of patients with CHD increased with advancing age in both sexes. The total prevalence rate based on both clinical history and ECG criteria (asymptomatic patients with ECG changes of definite myocardial infarction and ST-T changes suggestive of CHD) was estimated as 96.7/1000 adults in this age group. Analysis of information on socio-economic status, family history of CHD, obesity, hypertension and smoking obtained from this sample of 13,723 adults suggested that hypertension had the strongest association with CHD. Obesity, diabetes and family history were also found to be associated with CHD. It should, however, be noted that risk factor assessments in CHD can be done satisfactorily only through incidence studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Prevalence, awareness & treatment status of hypertension in urban population of Delhi.

A community based survey for the prevalence of hypertension was carried out on a random urban sample of 13,723 adults in the age group 25-64 yr from the Union Territory of Delhi (India). Hypertension was defined as systolic pressure greater than 160 mm Hg and/or a diastolic pressure greater than 90 mm Hg or a history of current antihypertensive medication. The overall prevalence rate/1000 adults was 127.5 (116.6 in males and 136.8 in females). Mild hypertension (diastolic pressure between 91-104 mm Hg) predominated in the whole group, the proportion decreasing with increasing age in both sexes. Fifty per cent of the hypertensives were aware of their problem, the awareness being slightly higher in females (51.8% versus 46.5%). Approximately 30 per cent of the hypertensives were on medication for high blood pressure. The status control of blood pressure was low in the population, being only 9 per cent, with little difference between the two sexes. The study emphasises the enormity of the problem of hypertension in an urban population in India and poor control of blood pressure achieved in the community.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Deepithelialized turnover flaps in burns.

Acute and chronic burns leave behind a full-thickness defect that always requires a flap cover. Such defects are common in electrical burn injuries of the limbs. This paper deals with 35 patients with full-thickness defects following burns in whom deepithelialized turnover dermis flaps and deepithelialized turnover flaps with deep fascia have been used. This flap is an extension of Hynes's reversed dermis graft and Smahel's deepithelialized turnover flap where there is a larger area of blood supply on the deeper aspect of the dermis. If a good hinge is provided for safe blood supply, such a flap settles well in the defect, and cumbersome multistaged procedures can be avoided. If there is less fatty tissue in the area of flap used, then reversed dermis flaps are ideal because split-skin graft take is good. When there is a lot of fatty tissue on the undersurface of dermis, the fascia is also included to make it a reversed fasciocutaneous flap to augment the blood supply and for better split-skin graft survival. Advantages of the procedure and complications are elaborated.

Arm Injuries↗
PubMed1988

Denervated palmaris longus tendon as a skeletal muscle transplant in circumferential pharyngoplasty.

The incidence of velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) following cleft palate surgery is fairly high in our country. We have attempted to analyse the aetiology and then selected 50 cases of VPI from our group of operated cleft palates. These patients were then evaluated using cephalometry, speech rating, pressure studies and nasendoscopy. We identified 13 patients in whom there was incompetence due to failure of movement of the walls responsible for proper closure of the velopharyngeal port. In these patients we performed circumferential sling pharyngoplasty using denervated palmaris longus; since this procedure narrowed the port circumferentially. We re-evaluated these patients and the results have been gratifying. Speech rating improved and E.M.G. tracings after 6 months showed evidence of reinnervation of the Palmaris Longus.

Cephalometry↗
PubMed1986

The management of anaerobic infection in extensive burns.

A survey of 300 patients with burns covering more than 30 per cent of the body surface area indicated that 33 patients had proven wound infection with anaerobic bacteria and 11 patients showed positive blood cultures. Although metronidazole was the anti-bacterial agent of choice for treating these 33 patients, treatment was not always successful since 7 patients died. The most common sites of infection were the perineum and upper parts of the legs.

Adolescent↗