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Biomedical subjects

M Basak

Publications and source records attributed to M Basak.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Antioxidant vitamins E and C as adjunct therapy of severe acute lower-respiratory infection in infants and young children: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of antioxidant Vitamins E and C as adjunct therapy of severe acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in children. DESIGN: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING: A large childrens' hospital serving the urban poor in Kolkata, India. SUBJECTS: Children aged 2-35 months admitted with severe ALRI. INTERVENTION: In total, 174 children were randomly assigned to receive alpha-tocopherol 200 mg and ascorbic acid 100 mg twice daily or placebo for 5 days. All children received standard treatment for severe ALRI. Outcome measures were: time taken to recover from a very ill status, fever, tachypnoea, and feeding difficulty; and improvement in oxidative stress and immune response indicated by thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and response to skin antigens, respectively. RESULTS: Recovery rate ratios (95% CI) using proportional hazards model were 0.89 (0.64-1.25), 1.01 (0.72-1.41), 0.86 (0.57-1.29), and 1.12 (0.77-1.64) for very ill status, feeding difficulty, fever, and tachypnoea, respectively. TBARS values were high and similar in the two groups at admission, discharge, and at 2 weeks follow-up. Serum alpha-tocopherol significantly increased in treated group at discharge. Immune response to skin antigens were very poor at admission and after 2 weeks, in both groups. CONCLUSION: Infants with severe ALRI failed to benefit from two antioxidant nutrients as adjunct therapy. Severe ALRI in infants may cause cell-mediated immune dysfunction. We need a better understanding of oxidative processes in growing infants to help us better design interventions with antioxidant therapy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Visceral adipose tissue as an indicator of insulin resistance in nonobese patients with new onset type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are characterized by insulin resistance. We determined the relationship between insulin resistance and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and their correlation with bioimpedance analysis in nonobese new onset type 2 diabetes patients. METHODS: A number of 30 new onset type 2 diabetes patients and 20 healthy control subjects with similar features, age between 45 - 72 years old, BMI < 27 kg/m (2), C-peptide > 0.6 nmol/L, were included in study. Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, serum lipids, BMI, insulin, C-peptide, HOMA-IR, bioimpedance analysis and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (by computed tomography) were measured. RESULTS: In the patient group, VAT was significantly higher compared to healthy control group (33.17 +/- 10.23 % vs. 16.53 +/- 7.85 %, p < 0.001). In the patient group VAT was correlated with HOMA-IR (r = 0.62, p = 0.003), but no significant correlation was observed between VAT and bioimpedance analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of VAT is significantly higher in nonobese new onset patients with type 2 diabetes than the healthy control group. In these patients, VAT measured by CT is an important indicator of insulin resistance. Although bioimpedance analysis can give an idea about total body fat and obesity, it is not sufficient in evaluating fat distribution and therefore is not effective in predicting insulin resistance.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2006

Pseudoaneurysm of the renal interlobar artery in Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease is a rare clinical event characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, and iridocyclitis. Vascular involvement is a rare but serious form of the disease. We present a case of renal interlobar artery pseudoaneurysm occurring in a 20-year-old male patient with a 5-year history of Behçet's disease, who had been admitted because of right flank pain. Findings obtained on abdominal ultrasonography, abdominal computed tomography, and renal angiography confirmed a right renal pseudoaneurysm and subcapsular hematoma.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Multivoxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy in gliomatosis cerebri.

Gliomatosis cerebri is a rare entity with non-specific clinical and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings; accurate diagnosis is a differential diagnostic challenge. MR spectroscopy has recently been introduced as a useful diagnostic tool for detection of this entity. We present a gliomatosis cerebri case in which we made the radiological diagnosis using the MR spectroscopy findings; the diagnosis was confirmed by subsequent biopsy and histopathologic evaluation. Multivoxel spectroscopy (CSI, PRESS, 1500/135) shows a marked increase in Cho/NAA (6.6), normal to mild increase in Cho/Cr (1.2), and marked decrease in NAA/Cr (0.2) compared with the normally appearing contralateral side (Cho/NAA: 0.8, Cho/Cr: 0.9, NAA/Cr: 1.2).

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Comparative bioavailability of a novel timed release and powder-filled glucosamine sulfate formulation--a multi-dose, randomized, crossover study.

OBJECTIVE: The absorption of 2 different formulations of glucosamine sulfate were studied in a randomized, multi-dose, two-way, crossover study. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this study, a novel timed release pellet-filled hard gelatin shell capsule (TimeOsamine) was compared with a powder-filled hard gelatin shell capsule. The timed release capsule was used in a double dose with an interval of 12 h whereas the powder-filled hard gelatin capsule was used in a triple dose schedule with an interval of 8 h after 10 h pre-dose fasting. Twelve healthy male subjects were administered a 1,000 mg (2 x 500 mg) dose of timed release glucosamine sulfate (TimeOsamine) or a 1,500 mg (3 x 500 mg) dose of the powder-filled glucosamine sulfate formulation. The concentration of glucosamine was measured over the next 24 h. Pharmacokinetics properties including area under the curve (AUC), maximum concentration in plasma (C(max)), time to maximum plasma concentration (t(max)) were measured. RESULTS: The C(max) of the powder-filled and timed release formulation (TimeOsamine) was 543.12 ng/ml and 520.98 ng/ml, respectively. The t(max) of TimeOsamine was delayed by 4.13 h, whereas the powder-filled preparation was 1.00 h. The AUC0-24 of the 2 doses of TimeOsamine (2 x 500 mg = 1,000 mg) and the 3 doses of the powder-filled formulation (3 x 500 mg = 1,500 mg) was 6,263.32 ng x h/ml and 6,499.55 ng x h/ml, respectively. CONCLUSION: After reduction in the dose by 33%, the AUC0-24 of TimeOsamine is 96.37% with respect to the powder-filled formulation AUC0-24, which is comparable.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Magnetic resonance imaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the importance of magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnostic process of the upper motor neuron involvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen patients (Group 1) who were diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the neurology department of the Sisli Etfal Hospital and 20 controls (Group 2) entered the study. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed in the radiology clinic of the same hospital. T2 and proton density weighted axial images were obtained. These images were evaluated by two blind radiologists. The radiologists looked for two signs: the presence of a low signal intensity at the precentral cortex and the presence of symmetrical rounded foci of high signal intensity within the internal capsule on both T2 and proton density weighted images. RESULTS: For the first sign there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups but for the latter one there was a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: We think that the presence of the latter sign may make it possible for the radiologists to help the clinicians further in this difficult and confusing diagnosis.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed2002

Can negative appendectomy rate be decreased by using spiral computed tomography without contrast material?

Approximately 15-20% of error in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis argues for new diagnostic methods. In recent years it has been proposed that Computed Tomography be used in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis with high sensitivity and specificity. In our study, the effect of Computed Tomography on the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and on negative appendectomy was investigated on patients with suspected acute appendicitis. In the last 18 months, spiral Computed Tomography without contrast material has been used for 65 patients. The history, physical findings, laboratory results and Computed Tomography images of patients were compared and the final decision to operate was always made by an attending surgeon. The results of Computed Tomography have been correlated with the reports of pathology and operation findings. Other patients who have not been operated on have been followed up clinically. Correlating Computed Tomography results with operation findings revealed; 42 true positive, 3 false positive, 17 true negative and 3 false negative results. The sensitivity and specificity of CT have been found to be 93.3% and 85% respectively. Forty-eight out of 65 patients have been operated on for acute appendicitis and the negative appendectomy rate has been calculated as 6.25%. As a consequence, it was thought that in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis the use of Computed Tomography could decrease the negative appendectomy rate when used together with clinical follow-up.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Cervical hematomyelia secondary to oral anticoagulant therapy: case report.

We report a patient with cervical hematomyelia associated with oral anticoagulant therapy, which is a very rare case. Intraspinal hemorrhage is a rare but life-threatening complication of anticoagulant therapy. Early diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prevents major morbidity and mortality from intraspinal hemorrhage.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2001

Biochemical responses of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze to heavy metal stress.

Three heavy metals-mercury (II), copper (II) and nickel (II), each at a concentration of 10 and 100 micrograms/ml, were tested for their effects on various biochemical constituents of tea leaves. Both NI (II) and Hg (II) decreased the phenolic contents, while Cu (II) increased it to some extent. The metal treatments enhanced the activity of phenyl alanine ammonia lyase (PAL), while the activity of poly phenol oxidase (PPO) showed a decline. Heavy metal stress also decreased the chlorophyll content of the leaves, along with a significant reduction in Hill activity. Proline content increased significantly in all treatments.

Copper Sulfate↗
PubMed2000

Impact of zinc supplementation in malnourished children with acute watery diarrhoea.

A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 malnourished children with acute dehydrating diarrhoea to evaluate the efficacy of oral supplementation of zinc as an adjunct therapy to oral rehydration solution (ORS). After decoding it was observed that 44 children received zinc sulphate (177 mg/kg/day in three divided doses equivalent to 40 mg elemental zinc) in a syrup form and 36 children received only syrup placebo. Clinical parameters and microbiological findings of stool samples were comparable in the two groups at the time of enrollment. All the children (100 per cent) in the zinc supplemented group and 32 (89 per cent) children in the placebo group recovered within 5 days of hospitalization (p = 0.04). The zinc supplemented group had a significantly shorter duration of diarrhoea (70.4 +/- 10.0 vs. 103.4 +/- 17.1 h; p = 0.0001), passed less liquid stool (1.5 +/- 0.7 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.7kg; p=0.0001), consumed less oral rehydration solution (2.5 +/- 1.0 vs. 3.6 +/- 0.8 litre; p = 0.0001) and other liquids (867.0 +/- 466.1 vs. 1354.7 +/- 675.6 ml; p = 0.0001) as compared to the placebo group. Our findings suggest that zinc supplementation as an adjunct therapy to ORS has beneficial effects on the clinical course of dehydrating acute diarrhoea.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Magnetic resonance imaging in Duane's retraction syndrome.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to visualize the subarachnoid portion of the nervus abducens by magnetic resonance imaging and to analyze whether aplasia of the nervus abducens is an etiologic factor in Duane's retraction syndrome. METHODS: We performed thin-sectioned magnetic resonance imaging across the brainstem level in 8 cases (11 eyes) that were clinically diagnosed as Duane's retraction syndrome. The same test was applied to 8 healthy control subjects to verify the accuracy of this technique. RESULTS: The nervus abducens on the affected side could not be observed in 6 (54.5%) of 11 eyes (8 cases) that were clinically diagnosed as having Duane's retraction syndrome. The nervus abducens was observed in 15 (94%) of 16 eyes that were screened as the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that aplasia of the nervus abducens, although an important etiologic factor, is not the only factor responsible for the diagnosis of Duane's retraction syndrome.

Abducens Nerve↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early neonatal morbidity and mortality in a city based medical college nursery.

Early neonatal morbidity & mortality were studied in 7972 viable live born babies over one year period in Medical College, Calcutta. Early neonatal morbidity and mortality rate were 66.85 & 32.86 respectively. About 48% of Early neonatal deaths occurred in 1st 48 hours & 80% within first 72 hours of life. Early neonatal mortality rate per 1000 was maximum in babies born of a primi (43.03) and grand multiparous mother (103.89); maternal age less than 20 yrs. (44.15), and more than 30 yrs. (46.04) & in multiple pregnancy (142.85). It was highest in breech delivery (114.28) & with maternal disease like dribling (179), hypertension (146) & APH (116). Birth asphyxia contributed 65.26% of early neonatal deaths, followed by septicaemia (10.3%). Klebsiella was the most common (55%) organism.

Adult↗