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Biomedical subjects

M Bal

Publications and source records attributed to M Bal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

De novo translocation (2;18)(q21;q22) in a child with severe epilepsy, developmental delay and mild dysmorphism.

De novo translocation (2;18)(q21;q22) in a patient with severe epilepsy developmental delay and mild dysmorphism: We report on a patient presenting with severe epilepsy, hypotonia, developmental delay, blepharophimosis, low-set ears, camptodactyly and tapering fingers, and cutaneous syndactyly of toes II and III of the right foot. The MRI showed some loss of volume of the white matter and delayed myelination, no other specific anomalies were present. Chromosome analysis revealed a translocation involving chromosomes 2 and 18, which was characterized further by FISH using band-specific probes. The possibility of a submicroscopic deletion is discussed and the patient is compared with patients reported in the literature with either 2q21 or 18q22 deletion.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed1999

Antibody response to a filarial antigen fraction in individuals exposed to Wuchereria bancrofti infection in India.

An antigen fraction (DssdI) was isolated from the aqueous-insoluble components of adult Setaria digitata. Rabbit antiserum to DssdI labeled the sheaths of Wuchereria and Setaria microfilariae suggesting DssdI to be surface associated. Antibody responses to DssdI were determined in Wuchereria bancrofti exposed individuals. IgM titre was highest in endemic normals (EN; asymptomatic amicrofilaraemic) followed by chronic filarial patients (CP) and asymptomatic microfilaraemics (AS). IgG titer was high in both chronic filariasis and endemic normals. The microfilaraemic group had the lowest titer. The seropositivity rate in AS was 28% for IgG and 10% for IgM, in CP 100% for IgG and 33% for IgM, and in EN 86% for both antibodies. An age-dependency of IgM but not of IgG antibodies was observed in endemic normals, with IgM prevalence reaching a plateau by 12 years of age. The subclass composition of the antibody response to DssdI appeared to be primarily IgG3 in endemic normals, IgG1 in chronic filariasis and IgG4 in asymptomatic microfilaraemics. Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment led to a significant increase in IgG and IgM levels in microfilaraemic individuals. Of interest, the expression of IgG subclasses altered. There was an increased IgG3 and IgG1 response associated with a reciprocal decrease in IgG4 following DEC therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Antigenicity of a filarial protease from Setaria digitata in Wuchereria bancrofti infection.

A protease isolated from adult Setaria digitata revealed a single, 110-kDa band in a gelatin-impregnated, substrate gel. Analysis with specific inhibitors indicated it to be a metallo-protease. IgG from chronic filarial patients living in an area of Orissa, India, endemic for Wuchereria bancrofti was able to neutralize the proteolytic activity of this enzyme completely. IgG from asymptomatic microfilaraemics and endemic normals (asymptomatic amicrofilaraemics) only caused partial inhibition and IgG from non-endemic normals was ineffective. The generation of inhibitory antibodies appears to depend on the severity of filariasis. Evaluation of IgG-subclass response to the protease indicated the dominance of IgG4 antibodies in asymptomatic carriers and of IgG1 in those with chronic filariasis. The IgG3 response was minimal and the IgG2 responses were similar for each of the filarial groups. When IgG4-subclass serology using the protease antigen was assessed, 47 of 50 microfilaraemics, 20 of 50 endemic normals and 23 of 50 chronic patients but none of 20 non-endemic normals were found seropositive. Appreciable levels of specific IgE, which correlated with those of IgG4, were detected in all filarial groups. IgG4 was detected in 35 out of 70 children (aged < 12 years) who appeared amicrofilariaemic and 38 of 40 microfilaraemic children.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Randomised trial of LHRH analogue treatment on final height in girls with onset of puberty aged 7.5-8.5 years.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues in improving final height in girls affected by early puberty. PATIENTS: Forty six consecutive girls with onset of puberty aged 7.5-8.5 years randomly divided into two groups: one treated with 3.75 mg triptorelin intramuscularly every four weeks (group 1); and the other with no treatment (group 2). RESULTS: Mean (SD) chronological age at onset of menarche was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (11.9 (1.0) v 10.8 (0.7) years). However, mean (SD) height at menarche (152.7 (7.2) v 152.5 (5.7) cm) and mean (SD) growth after menarche (4.9 (3.0) v 5.4 (2.2) cm) were similar in both groups. The mean (SD) final height was similar in the two groups (group 1, 158.1 (6.2) cm; group 2, 158. 6 (6.0) cm) and not significantly different from target height. Fourteen of 20 patients in group 1 and 12 of 18 patients in group 2 showed final height equal to or higher than target height. Final heights of girls with poor initial height prognosis were significantly lower than those of girls with good prognosis, but in patients with the same initial height prognosis, both groups showed final heights similar and not significantly different from their target heights. CONCLUSIONS: LHRH analogue has no apparent effect on final height in subjects with onset of puberty between 7.5 and 8.5 years.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Prospective study of Streptococcus milleri bacteremia.

In a prospective study of bacteremia caused by organisms of the Streptococcus milleri group a total of 32 adult patients were observed over a seven-year period. These patients accounted for 1.6% of all patients diagnosed as having significant bacteremia and 17% of all cases of streptococcal (nonpneumococcal) bacteremia diagnosed during the study period. Only five patients had polymicrobic bacteremia. In 31 cases, a presumed origin of infection was identified, generally oral or gastrointestinal disease. There were only six cases of nosocomial acquisition. The most common presenting symptom was prolonged fever. The following forms of presentation were documented: bacteremia with local suppurative infection (56%), bacteremia without local suppurative infection (25%), and endocarditis (19%). An associated focus of infection was found in the abdominal cavity in 20 cases (62%). The mortality rate was 12.5%. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin. Caution is necessary in interpreting a blood culture positive for Streptococcus milleri group organisms, since, unlike other viridans streptococci, they are rarely contaminants. For this reason patients with suppurative processes and/or digestive tract disease must be carefully investigated.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Glutathione-binding proteins of Setaria digitata: antibody responses in human infected with Wuchereria bancrofti.

Glutathione-s-transferase activity was determined in filarial parasites. The activity was detected in adult stages of cattle parasite Setaria digitata. It was absent in other stages of Setaria and also in infective larval stages of Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi. The activity was enhanced about twenty five fold following purification of adult setaria extracts on glutathione agarose column. Antibody (IgG and IgM) levels to the affinity purified proteins (SdGBP) were detected predominantly (90%) in Wuchereria bancrofti infected individuals compared with normal residents of endemic regions. IgA and IgE responses could not be detected. Filarial sera in contrast to non-filarial caused reduction in the enzymatic activities of Sd GBP. Microfilaraemic sera after diethylcarbamazine treatment resulted in enhanced reduction of enzymatic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Allergic reactivity and IgG subclasses to a proteinase fraction of Setaria digitata in filariasis.

A low molecular weight fraction (30 KDa) of the cattle filarial parasite Setaria digitata that was earlier demonstrated to have allergenic activity was characterized to be a zinc-dependent cysteine proteinase. Immediate type hypersensitivity (ITH) reaction to the proteinase was evaluated in lymphatic filariasis patients and in endemic controls from Orissa, India. The extent of ITH positivity to the proteinase in infected individuals ranged from 20% in chronic filariasis (CP) patients group to 56% in asymptomatic microfilaraemic carriers (AS). About 62% of endemic normals (EN) were also ITH positive. The serum levels of IgG subclasses were compared in ITH positive and ITH negative filarial patients (AS and CP) as well as in endemic normals (EN) respectively. IgG4 levels were found to be inversely dependent on ITH reaction only in AS groups. Asymptomatic patients (AS) with positive ITH reactivity had lower IgG4 than ITH negative individuals from the same group. The serum levels of other IgG subclasses except IgG2, did not correlate with ITH reactivity. IgG2 levels were higher in ITH negative EN and CP patients but not in the AS group.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Transformation and expression of a staphylococcal plasmid in Escherichia coli.

A multiple antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, was found to possess three plasmid bands in agarose gel electrophoresis. A plasmid of approximately 4.3 kb (pMC790/2) was found to code for ampicillin and tetracycline resistance and to have one EcoRI site when transformed into S. aureus RN 4220. pMC790/2 in unmodified form was transformed into a recA- E. coli at a frequency of 1.2 x 10(4) transformants/micrograms of plasmid DNA. Plasmid (pMC790/2) replicated, maintained itself stably and expressed far better in the E. coli host than in S. aureus.

DNA, Bacterial↗
PubMed1993

[Common variable immunodeficiency and polyarthritis: a case report].

We describe a man with common variable immunodeficiency and polyarthritis. He had suffered several infections, including septic arthritis. For this reason we commenced treatment with antibiotics without obtaining a good response. Three weeks' later, and after knowing that the results of all the cultures were negative, we discontinued the antibiotic therapy and started treatment with indomethacin. A dramatic response was rapidly observed. We feel that an arthritis in a patient with a history of previous infections should alert us to the diagnostic possibility of primary antibody deficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Comparative study of the properties of plasmid mediated staphylococcal beta-lactamase as expressed in Escherichia coli.

An unmodified natural plasmid of Staphylococcal origin having beta-lactamase determinant was introduced by transformation into Gram-negative Escherichia coli HB101 recA-SmR (plasmidless). Beta-lactamase of Staphylococcus aureus is extracellular. In recipient transformed E. coli HB101, the enzyme shows periplasmic location. The enzyme is expressed well in E. coli, and the basal level of enzyme production in E. coli, is approximately 3-4 fold higher than that of S. aureus. Beta-lactamase is inducible both in S. aureus and E. coli. Enzymatic properties as indicated by substrate profile and Km values are found to be similar.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1992

[Polyarteritis nodosa in a woman with temporal arteritis].

A case of a 74-year-old woman, with a histological diagnosis of Transient Arteritis two years before and Nodose Polyarteritis, is described. Although the coexistance of these two vasculitis in a same patient has been rarely described in the literature, we considered that the diagnostic suscpiction of Nodose Polyarteritis should be maintained in a patient with Transient Arteritis developing multisystemic signs.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Comparative study of von Willebrand factor in patients with temporal arteritis].

Giant cell arteritis, temporal arteritis (TA), is a vasculitis which affects large and medium-sized vessels. The von Willebrand factor (vWF) is synthesized by endothelial cells and megakaryocytes. Increased amounts of vWF are released into plasma in response to an endothelial damage. vWF levels were studied by Electro-Immunodiffusion in 16 patients with TA (8 of them with a positive biopsy) and their values were compared with 5 patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) and 32 controls. We found higher amount of vWF in global TA, biopsy-positive TA, biopsy-negative TA, and PMR than in controls. There were no relationship between vWF amounts in plasma and clinical findings nor the laboratory parameters. We feel that although in our study vWF might be of some help as an alternative to the biopsy in those patients with high suspicion of TA, the results of other authors raise doubt about the usefulness of the determination of vWF in TA.

Biopsy↗