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Biomedical subjects

M Bhandari

Publications and source records attributed to M Bhandari.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Predictors of in-hospital mortality following operative management of hip fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of in-hospital mortality and hospital stay following hip fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of 185 consecutive patients. SETTING: Tertiary Care University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals requiring operative treatment of a proximal femoral fracture excluding those individuals < 50 years old, with femoral head or subtrochanteric fractures, and significant co-morbidity. OUTCOMES: In-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay (days). RESULTS: 116 patients met the inclusion criteria. Predictors of in-hospital mortality from logistic regression analysis included male gender (odds ratio with 95% CI: 5.5, 1.5-20.5), admission from a long term care facility (5.5, 1.4-22.6), age greater than 90 years (4.5, 0.9-22.1), and living at home with support (0.2, 0.03-0.9). Predictors of hospital stay from multivariate regression analysis in order of magnitude included presence of a post-operative complication (odds ratio with 95% CI: 14.1, 4.7-44), living at home with support (3.4, 1.3-8.9) and older age (> 85 years) (2.7, 1.0-7.3). Moreover, confusion, urinary tract infections and decubitus ulcers accounted for greater than 50% of all complications encountered. A trend between the number of positive predictors and length of hospital stay was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly individuals admitted from a long term care facility are at high risk of mortality following operative fixation of hip fractures. Early recognition and aggressive management of post-operative complications such as confusion, urinary tract infections and decubitus ulcers through careful patient monitoring may decrease hospital stays in those that survive.

Aged↗

Analysis of the botulinum neurotoxin type F gene clusters in proteolytic and nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium barati.

Comparison of genes encoding type F botulinum neurotoxin progenitor complex in strains of proteolytic Clostridium botulinum strain Langeland, nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum strain 202F, and Clostridium barati strain ATCC 43256 reveals an identical organization of genes encoding a protein of molecular mass of approx. 47 kDa (P-47), nontoxic-nonhemagglutinin (NTNH) and botulinum toxin (BoNT). Although homology between the protein components of the complexes encoded by these different species all producing botulinum neurotoxin type F is considerable (approx. 69-88% identity), exceptionally high homology is observed between the C-termini of the P-47s (approx. 96% identity) and the NTNHs (approx. 94% identity) encoded by Clostridium botulinum type F strain Langeland and Clostridium botulinum type A strain Kyoto. Such a region of extremely high sequence identity is strongly indicative of recombination in these strains synthesizing botulinum neurotoxins of different antigenic types.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Relief of urinary tract obstruction in tuberculosis to improve renal function. Analysis of predictive factors.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of the relief of obstruction on the ultimate function of the affected renal unit in urinary tuberculosis, and to identify predictors of functional recoverability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of a total of 82 patients with urinary tuberculosis presenting over 7 years, 38 with evidence of upper tract obstruction were analysed. All patients were assessed with pre-operative excretory urography, urinary mycobacterial cultures and serum chemistry. Patients with subnormally functioning kidneys were assessed with baseline renal scans. Preliminary intervention in the form of JJ stenting or percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) was carried out in patients with reasonable renal function. Function was reassessed after 4 weeks to detect evidence of improvement and factors which could affect the outcome were determined. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients had documented upper tract obstruction, of whom six had bilateral obstruction (total of 44 renal units). Ten renal units were not functioning at presentation, with a mean (SD) glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 3.0 (5.73) mL/min, and no preliminary intervention was performed. In the remaining 34, preliminary intervention was carried out before definitive surgery (JJ stenting in 14, PCN in 15 and PCN followed by antegrade JJ stenting in five); 21 of these renal units were salvaged but 13 were lost despite overcoming the obstruction. Three of the 13 units deteriorated from having acceptable pre-treatment GFRs to becoming non-functional. Good renal cortical thickness, a low grade of renal involvement (Semb 1 or 2), the presence of more distal disease in the form of ureteric stricture and a GFR of > 15 mL/min were good predictors of renal recovery after diversion. CONCLUSIONS: The loss of some renal units seems inevitable in patients with urinary tuberculosis, despite advances in chemotherapy. Having pre-operative predictors of renal recovery may ensure optimal patient selection, thereby reducing the number of procedures and economic burden on the patient who does not require intervention.

Adult↗

The effects of standard and low molecular weight heparin on bone nodule formation in vitro.

Previously, we demonstrated in a rat model of heparin-induced osteoporosis that low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) produces less bone loss than unfractionated heparin, and that only heparin increases osteoclast number and activity. In contrast, both heparin and LMWH were found to decrease osteoblast function to a similar extent, possibly because at the doses tested both agents produced maximal inhibition. To examine the relative effects of heparin and LMWH on osteoblast function more closely we used an in vitro bone nodule assay, together with measurements of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Both agents inhibited bone nodule formation and ALP activity in a concentration-dependent manner, but 6 to 8-fold higher concentrations of LMWH were required to achieve equivalent effects. The effect of heparin on osteoblast function was both chain-length and negative charge-dependent because the ability of defined heparin fragments to inhibit nodule formation correlated with their molecular weight (r = 0.98), and N-desulfated heparin was less inhibitory than heparin. In contrast, the effect of heparin on osteoblast function was pentasaccharide-independent because heparin with low affinity for antithrombin had similar activity to heparin with high antithrombin activity. These findings help to explain mounting clinical evidence that the risk of osteoporosis is lower with LMWH than with heparin.

Animals↗

Molecular characterization of the clusters of genes encoding the botulinum neurotoxin complex in clostridium botulinum (Clostridium argentinense) type G and nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum type B.

The cluster of genes encoding components of the progenitor botulinum neurotoxin complex has been mapped and cloned in Clostridium botulinum type G strain ATCC 27322. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the region has revealed open reading frames encoding nontoxic components of the complex, upstream of the gene encoding BoNT/G (botG). The arrangement of these genes differs from that in strains of other antigenic toxin types. Immediately upstream of botG lies a gene encoding a protein of 1198 amino acids, which shows homology with the nontoxic-nonhemagglutinin (NTNH) component of the progenitor complex. Further upstream there are genes encoding proteins with homology to hemagglutinin components (HA-17, HA-70) and a putative positive regulator of gene expression (P-21). Sequence comparison has shown that BoNT/G has highest homology with BoNT/B. The sequence of the BoNT-cluster of genes in non-proteolytic C. botulinum type B strain Eklund 17B has been extended to include the complete NTNH and HA-17, and partial HA-70 gene sequences. Comparison of NTNH/G with other NTNHs reveals that it shows highest homology with NTNH/B consistent with the genealogical affinity shown between BoNT/G and BoNT/B genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of preoperative donor-specific transfusion and cyclosporine in haplo-identical living related renal transplant recipients.

A prospective randomized trial of use of donor-specific transfusion and cyclosporine given 24 h before operation was performed in living related renal transplant recipients. The benefits, disadvantages and effect on graft and patient outcome was analyzed. Cyclosporine was started 72 h before operation and 48 h before donor-specific transfusion (DST). Fifteen patients received DST while another 15 age- and sex-matched living related renal allograft recipients on similar immunosuppression served as controls. Patient and donor demographics were similar in the two groups. The DST group had significantly fewer rejection episodes than the control group (0.26 vs. 1.1 rejection episode per patient, p < 0.01). There were fewer episodes of acute rejection in the first 3 months posttransplant in the DST group. Hyperresponder recipients (as tested by mixed lymphocyte cultures) also benefitted by DST which significantly reduced the number of acute rejection episodes (0.25 vs. 1 episode per hyperresponder patient, DST vs. control, p < 0.05). The need for dialysis, incidence of infections and other complications were similar in the two groups. Graft function at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after transplant was significantly better in the DST group (p < 0.05). Graft survival at 1 year in DST group (85.5%) was not statistically different than control (74.8%). In conclusion, DST and cyclosporine given 24 h before live related renal transplantation is effective in improving graft function and reducing the number of acute rejection episodes which could have a beneficial effect on long-term graft survival.

Acute Disease↗

Renal & prostatic disorders in the elderly.

The population of aged people is increasing in number all over the world along with the problems associated with senescence. The functional and morphological changes that occur with ageing are accompanied by an increased risk of certain conditions like drug-induced nephrotoxicity and acute tubular necrosis. Elderly patients of end-stage renal disease can undergo renal replacement therapy with acceptably good results. If free from any medical and other illnesses, elderly persons can be considered for kidney donation without any increased risk for surgery or anaesthesia. However, such kidneys are functionally not as good as kidneys from young individuals. Prostatic diseases like prostatic hyperplasia and cancer are more a concern of the aged than the younger population. Besides, there is an apprehension about the increased risk of anaesthesia due to the frequent presence of other co-existent illnesses in the senile population. Less morbid therapeutic methods are available to deal with prostatic disorders but one should not hesitate to undertake major open or endoscopic surgeries in such patients, should it be necessary.

Aged↗

Organization and phylogenetic interrelationships of genes encoding components of the botulinum toxin complex in proteolytic Clostridium botulinum types A, B, and F: evidence of chimeric sequences in the gene encoding the nontoxic nonhemagglutinin component.

The cluster of genes encoding components of the botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) complex was mapped in proteolytic (group I) Clostridium botulinum strains encoding BoNT types A, B, and F. Two different arrangements of genes were found: type A strain 62A and type B strain NCTC 7273 have similar organizations of genes encoding BoNT, the nontoxic nonhemagglutinin component (NTNH), hemagglutinin components, and P-21; type F strain Langeland has genes encoding BoNT, NTNH, and P-21, and a previously unidentified open reading frame encoding a protein of 416 amino acids. A group of type A strains typified by infant strain Kyoto-F, which is unlike type A strain 62A, lacks genes for hemagglutinin components and exhibits an organization similar to that of type F. Sequencing and pairwise analysis revealed the presence of possible chimeric sequences in some NTNH genes of proteolytic C. botulinum. Discordance in genealogical trees derived from different regions of the NTNH genes was observed which could be symptomatic of recombination and which may indicate that the NTNH gene represents a hot spot for such events within the cluster of genes encoding the BoNT complex. It is also evident that the phylogenetics of the NTNH gene, which is linked to the gene encoding BoNT, does not mirror the evolutionary history of the BoNT, upon which the C. botulinum species complex is defined and subdivided.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Visceral leishmaniasis in a renal transplant recipient: diagnostic and therapeutic problems.

Visceral leishmaniasis is infrequently reported in renal transplant recipients. A 40-year-old renal transplant recipient developed hepatosplenomegaly and pyrexia of unknown origin 5 months after transplantation. Visceral leishmaniasis was confirmed on bone marrow examination. The usual dose of antiparasitic therapy with stibogluconate sodium failed to eradicate Leishmania donovani. High-dose conventional therapy with stibogluconate sodium for an extended period of time was successful in the treatment of a relapse of leishmaniasis.

Adult↗