PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to L Kumar.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Knowledge of asthma among parents of asthmatic children.

The knowledge and attitude towards asthma, of parents, of 85 asthmatic children was assessed using a 17 item questionnaire. Results showed that 34.1% believed asthma to be contagious, 48.2% of the parents hesitated in referring to their child's illness as asthma. Other commonly held beliefs were that asthma is a life long illness (35.3%); food items are important precipitating factors for acute attacks (88.2%); mild exacerbations need to be treated with bronchodilators (6.3%); bronchodilators should be started at home before consulting a physician in case of an acute attack (61.2%); and cure of asthma is possible through modern drugs (30.6%) or through alternative systems of medicine (65%). Ninety one per cent of parents lacked an awareness of the side effects of anti-asthma medication. It is concluded that parental education through improved physician parent communication is necessary for enhancing the quality of care being provided to children with asthma, a fact also highlighted by the International Consensus Report on Management of Asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Impairment of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity following enterotoxigenic Campylobacter jejuni infection: changes in Na+, Cl- and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose transport in vitro, in rat ileum.

Unidirectional fluxes of Na+, Cl- and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-MG) were measured in vitro across Campylobacter jejuni live culture-infected and control rat ileal short-circuited tissues by the Ussing Chamber technique. Net secretion of Na+ and enhanced secretion of Cl- ions was observed in the infected animals (P < 0.001, n = 6) as compared to the net absorption of Na+ and marginal secretion of Cl- ions in the control animals. There was a significant decrease in the mucosal-to-serosal fluxes of 3-MG in C. jejuni-infected rat ileum. The specific Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity when measured biochemically in the membrane-rich fraction of enterocytes was found to be significantly lower (58%) in the infected group as compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Our results therefore suggest that infection with an enterotoxigenic C. jejuni inhibits the Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in rat enterocytes. The impairment of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity thus appears to induce a secondary change in Na+,Cl- and 3-MG transport in vitro in rat ileum.

3-O-Methylglucose↗
PubMed1994

Chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in locally advanced cervical cancer: a randomized study.

Between August 1990 and January 1992, 184 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, FIGO stage IIB-IVA, were randomized to receive either two cycles of bleomycin, ifosfamide-mesna, and cis-platinum (BIP) chemotherapy (CT) followed by radiotherapy (RT) ("CT-RT group," n = 94) or RT alone (RT group, n = 90). In the CT-RT group, of 89 evaluable patients, 64 responded: complete response (CR) 4 (4.5%) and partial response 60 (67.5%). Of the remaining 25 patients, 23 had stable disease and 2 progressed. Eighty of 89 patients completed RT as planned. Following RT 56 (70%) achieved CR, 19 (23.7%) had residual disease, and 5 (6.3%) had progressed. CT responders had a better response to RT: 83% (49/59) vs 33.3% (7/21), P < 0.01). The stage of disease, histologic grade, duration of symptoms, and history of smoking had no influence on the response to CT. Patients aged > 45 years and those with Hb > 10 g/dl had significantly better response. Nausea/vomiting, alopecia, grade I-II myelosuppression, diarrhea, and mucositis were the major side effects of CT. Two patients died of CT toxicity. In the RT group, 88 patients were evaluable: 61 (69.3%) patients achieved CR, 25 had residual disease, and 2 progressed. The side effects of RT were cystitis, proctitis, and local skin reaction. These were equally distributed between the two groups. There was no significant difference in overall and disease-free survival in the two groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Results of radical radiotherapy in carcinoma of the uterine cervix stage I-III.

A retrospective analysis is described of 271 diagnosed cases of carcinoma of the uterine cervix who were treated with radical radiotherapy between January 1987 and July 1988 at the Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital. The mean age at presentation was 49 years and 89% of the tumours were FIGO Stage II and III. The median duration of follow-up was 60 months. The early cases were treated with two intracavitary insertions of 34 Gy each to point A with a Selectron LDR intracavitary system, followed by 36 Gy external radiotherapy to the parametrium. Late stage disease was treated with 50 Gy of external radiotherapy, followed by a single intracavitary insertion of 30 Gy to point A. To compensate for the higher dose rate of the Selectron (180 cGy/h) a dose reduction factor of 15% was applied over the intracavitary dose. There were 2.5% and 4.7% of late Grade III bladder and bowel complications, respectively, requiring surgical intervention. There was no relationship between haemoglobin level at diagnosis and the development of late complications. The actuarial 5-year survivals were 65%, 63% and 35% for Stages I, II and III disease, respectively. This study from the Indian subcontinent shows the effectiveness of radiotherapy in Stages I, II and III carcinoma of the uterine cervix, with acceptable morbidity rates.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1994

Extra gonadal germ cell tumours: report of two cases.

Extra gonadal germ cell tumours (EGGCT) in women are rare. We report here two such patients. The clinical and laboratory features were--young age, 25 and 22 years, midline location (mediastinum, scalp), elevated tumour marker and normal ovaries on CAT scan. The histological subtype was embryonal carcinoma in both cases. Complete response (CR) was achieved with cisplatin based chemotherapy (CT). Both patients had return of normal ovarian functions and have delivered normal babies (1st patient one, 2nd patient 2 babies). Both remain asymptomatic and disease-free at 30 + and 55 + months follow-up. We conclude that patients with EGGCT after treatment with cisplatin based CT achieve CR with return of normal ovarian functions and prolonged survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Breast metastasis from primary cervical cancer.

Metastasis to the breast from primary cervical cancer is rare. A 52-year-old woman developed breast metastasis 6 months after the diagnosis of primary cervical cancer. The mammography showed discrete well defined nodules without microcalcification. Fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed the diagnosis. Treatment with cis-platinum chemotherapy and local radiotherapy resulted in complete response. The patient continues to be alive and disease-free 18 months since the diagnosis of breast metastasis.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Leukemia: management of relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

PURPOSE: To review the current state of knowledge regarding the management of leukemic relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The literature was analyzed using MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD) and reports were identified through review of report bibliographies. Pertinent studies were selected and data synthesized into a review format. RESULTS: Leukemic relapse after allogeneic BMT is an important cause of treatment failure. The risk of leukemic relapse varies from 20% to 60% depending on the diagnosis and phase of disease. Reinduction chemotherapy (CT), second BMT, interferon (IFN) alfa, and donor leukocyte infusions are various options, but none of the approaches is clearly optimal. Approximately 50% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients achieve remission after standard induction CT. However, most patients finally relapse and die of uncontrolled leukemia. Second BMT is successful in 20% to 25% patients and is a reasonable option in patients who relapse more than 6 months after the initial transplant. Young patients with a good performance status and those in remission from initial transplant relapse have a better outcome after second BMT. Venocclusive disease (VOD), interstitial pneumonitis (IP), and acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are the main complications. Therapy with IFN alfa results in cytogenetic complete remission (CR) in 10% to 25% patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The initial results of leukocyte infusions from the original donor are promising. However, acute GVHD and bone marrow aplasia are associated complications. The correct dose and schedule of donor leukocyte infusions need to be determined in future studies to minimize GVHD while maintaining the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. CONCLUSION: Identification of patients at increased risk for relapse and use of biologic response modifiers post-transplant to augment the GVL effect in such patients are possible areas of improvement for future studies.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

Generation of reactive oxygen intermediates in relation to short course chemotherapy in children suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.

Functional status of phagocytes in relation to 6 months' short course chemotherapy of tuberculosis was studied with special reference to antigen-5 (Ag-5) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Phagocytic capacity and overall generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) measured as chemiluminescence (CL) response was studied in peripheral blood monocytes obtained from 20 children with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTb) and was compared with 20, age and sex matched, controls. In untreated children the CL response (mean +/- SD) with latex (0.90 +/- 0.08) and Ag-5 (0.99 +/- 0.11) was found to be severely depressed compared with controls (Latex, 19.2 +/- 5.10; Ag-5, 48.12 +/- 7.10). A significant improvement was seen in response to both the stimulants (Latex, 15.20 +/- 1.50; Ag-5, 28.15 +/- 7.32) after 3 months of therapy and became equal to, or slightly higher than, the values obtained with controls by the end of therapy. This study suggests that newly diagnosed untreated PTb is associated with an in vitro antigen specific compromise of phagocytic capacity and oxidative metabolic burst activity that is gradually and progressively corrected during the course of effective short course chemotherapy. In addition, Ag-5 is a potent stimulator of monocytes/macrophages; its potency being far greater than latex.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1994

Socio-economic burden of childhood asthma.

The socio-economic burden of childhood asthma has not been assessed in India. We interviewed parents of asthmatic 85 children in the age group of 6-17 years who were suffering from asthma. Socio-economic burden of asthma was assessed by using Pai and Kapur's interview schedule and the results were analyzed by using Chi square, Student's 't' test and Pearson's product movement correlation coefficient. Severe burden was experienced by the family in 25.9% cases. Total burden score was significantly associated with severity of asthma (p < 0.001) and socio economic status of the family (p < 0.01). These results indicate that there is need for health professionals and social support organizations to chalk out programmes to provide support at least to families of children with chronic/recurrent illness like bronchial asthma in order to reduce the anxiety and other hardships suffered by the families.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Solitary intracranial plasmacytoma of the skull base.

Two cases of extradural solitary plasmacytoma (SIP) with infiltration of the dura, destruction of the skull base, multiple cranial nerve palsies and proptosis are presented. The cases were treated aggressively with surgery and radiotherapy and showed no signs of progressing to multiple myeloma after 15 months and four and a half years respectively.

Adult↗