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Biomedical subjects

M Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to M Kumar.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Cognitive-behavioral stress management reduces serum cortisol by enhancing benefit finding among women being treated for early stage breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of a cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) group intervention on serum cortisol levels in women being treated for stage I or II breast cancer. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to undergo a 10-week intervention (N = 24) within 8 weeks after surgery or were placed on a waiting list (N = 10). Cortisol was assessed by means of a radioimmunoassay of blood samples collected at the same time of day just before the start of the intervention and immediately after its completion. The women also reported the degree to which breast cancer had made positive contributions to their lives. RESULTS: Intervention participants showed increased benefit finding and reduced serum cortisol levels, whereas control subjects experienced neither change. Path analysis suggested that the effect of CBSM on cortisol was mediated by increases in benefit finding. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that positive growth enhanced during a time-limited intervention can influence physiological parameters such as cortisol among women with early stage breast cancer.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
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Reductions in herpes simplex virus type 2 antibody titers after cognitive behavioral stress management and relationships with neuroendocrine function, relaxation skills, and social support in HIV-positive men.

OBJECTIVE: Coinfection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is common in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and may have health implications. This study examined the effect of a 10-week cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titers to HSV-2 in a group of mildly symptomatic HIV-infected gay men and the degree to which these effects were mediated by psychosocial and endocrine changes during the 10-week period. METHODS: Sixty-two HIV+ gay men were randomly assigned to either a 10-week CBSM intervention (N = 41) or a wait-list control condition (N = 21). Anxious mood, social support, cortisol/dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) ratio levels, and HSV-2 IgG antibody titers were assessed at baseline and after the 10-week period. CBSM participants also recorded their stress levels before and after at-home relaxation practice. RESULTS: HSV-2 IgG titers were significantly reduced in the CBSM participants but remained unchanged in the control group after the 10-week intervention period. Increases in one type of social support, perceived receipt of guidance, during the 10 weeks was associated with and partially mediated the effect of the intervention on HSV-2 IgG. Similarly, decreases in cortisol/DHEA-S ratio levels were associated with decreases in HSV-2 IgG, and lower mean stress levels achieved after home relaxation practice were associated with greater decreases in HSV-2 IgG among CBSM participants. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that behavioral and psychosocial changes occurring during CBSM interventions, including relaxation, enhanced social support, and adrenal hormone reductions, may help to explain the effects of this form of stress management on immune indices such as HSV-2 antibody titers.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
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Association of lymphocytic (microscopic) colitis with tropical sprue.

Lymphocytic (microscopic) colitis is a disease of unknown aetiology which manifests as long-standing intermittent diarrhoea. Diagnosis is confirmed on histological examination of the colon. An association of this uncommon disease with tropical sprue is described. Tetracycline therapy resulted in a favourable clinical response.

Biopsy↗
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Recurrence of carcinoma cervix in the scar of previous cesarean section: a case report.

Although rare, reports of carcinoma cervix recurring in abdominal incision, episiotomy scars, laparoscopic port sites, and drain sites are available. However, recurrence in the scar of a previous cesarean section (CS) is unreported. A 49-year-old female with a diagnosis of keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of cervix, stage IIB, was treated by radical radiotherapy. She had undergone CS, through midline abdominal incision, for three previous deliveries. Twenty months later, she presented with a nodule of size 2.5 x 2 cm(2) on the 26-year-old abdominal CS scar. Infiltration of the skin and extension into the deeper structures of the abdominal wall was present in an area of 5 x 4 cm(2). There was no evidence of disease on the cervix. A fine-needle aspiration cytologic examination from the nodule revealed keratinizing SCC. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography scan revealed a mass lesion along the abdominal CS scar with subcutaneous nodule and peritoneal extension. Multiple metastatic lesions were present in the liver. She was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patient has lived for more than 12.5 months. The first report of recurrence of carcinoma cervix in a CS scar is presented. Literature on surgical scar recurrence in carcinoma cervix is reviewed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
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Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of malignant gallbladder masses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy and reliability of ultrasound (US)-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) over blind aspiration in gallbladder masses. STUDY DESIGN: We performed FNAC in 107 cases of carcinoma of the gallbladder; blind aspiration was done in 71 patients (66.36%) and US-guided aspiration in 36 (33.64%). In cases where FNAC after the first aspiration showed the aspirate to be inflammatory, acellular (inconclusive) or suspicious for malignancy, FNAC was repeated under US guidance. Diagnosis was later confirmed by histopathology in all cases. RESULTS: After the first aspiration, gallbladder malignancy was confirmed in 77 (71.96%) cases. Of these 77 cases, 34 underwent US-guided aspiration, and the remaining 43 underwent blind aspiration. Cases with inflammatory or acellular (inconclusive) aspirates or that were suspicious for malignancy after the first aspiration underwent a second aspiration under ultrasonic guidance. On the second aspiration of 30 cases, 16 (53.33%) proved to be of adenocarcinoma, 7 (23.33%) were suspicious for malignancy, 5 (16.66%) were inflammatory, and 2 (6.66%) were acellular. Diagnosis was later confirmed by histopathology in all cases. US-guided FNAC had diagnostic accuracy of 95% as compared to 60% on blind aspiration. There was no major complication or needle tract recurrence of the disease. CONCLUSION: US-guided FNAC is safe, rapid, reliable, cost-effective and accurate in diagnosing gallbladder carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
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Kidney function in long-term pediatric survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Renal dysfunction may occur in survivors of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The renal function of children who have survived 5 to 10 years after BMT has not been reported. Bone marrow transplantation was performed in 55 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia less than 18 years of age at the University of Florida between September 1983 and October 1992. All received a uniform conditioning regimen of high-dose cystosine arabinoside and fractionated total body irradiation. Twenty-three are currently surviving. The survival average period following transplantation is 79 +/- 6.6 (SD) months. The longest survival is 129 months after BMT. We retrospectively examined data evaluating kidney function prior to transplantation, within 150 days after transplantation, and at each child's most recent clinic visit (1.7 to 10 years after transplantation). We were able to collect follow-up data regarding renal function for 17 survivors. Two children (11%) have renal dysfunction in the form of hypertension, glucosuria, and hematuria. One of them had acute renal insufficiency during the first 100 days following BMT. An unexpected finding was the presence of hyperfiltration in 10 patients. In conclusion, in this homogeneous group of children, allogenic BMT did not lead to significant long-term renal dysfunction.

Adolescent↗
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Double gall bladder with two disease processes.

A double gall bladder is a rare congenital anomaly which is usually diagnosed by preoperative ultrasonography. Either one, or both lobes, of the double gall bladder, may be diseased. We report a patient in whom the two lobes were affected by different disease processes, namely, cholesterosis, and cholelithiasis with mucocele.

Adult↗
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Efficacy of a combination vaccine containing MDV CVI 988 strain and HVT against challenge with very virulent MDV.

With the emergence of very virulent Marek's disease virus (MDV) strains, vaccines based on herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) appear to be not powerful enough to confer full protection, whereas in chicken flocks vaccinated with MDV CVI 988 strain protective immunity sometimes is generated not early enough for full protection. For this reason combination vaccines containing HVT as well as CVI 988 have been developed. In this paper the beneficial effect of combining both types of virus strains in one vaccine for early protection is shown in a vaccination challenge experiment, in which one-day-old chickens were vaccinated with suboptimal dosages of the monovalent vaccines and the same dosages in a combination vaccine. After 5 days the chickens were challenged with a very virulent MDV strain and subsequently observed for a period of approx. 50 days. It appeared that the combination vaccine provided better early protection than the monovalent vaccines. In addition, the combination vaccine was tested as vaccine administered in ovo. It appeared that after in ovo vaccination the vaccine conferred adequate protection against challenge with a very virulent MDV strain, 5 days after hatch, and that protection after in ovo vaccination was similar to that obtained after subcutaneous vaccination with the same combination vaccine.

Animals↗
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A bereavement support group intervention affects plasma burden of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Report of a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the potential impact of a bereavement support group on plasma viral load. METHODS: A randomly selected subsample of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive homosexual men participating in a controlled clinical trial of a bereavement support group intervention was studied. The intervention consisted of one 90-minute group session per week for 10 weeks. The plasma HIV-1 RNA copy number was measured at baseline and after intervention (10 weeks) by the Roche AMPLICOR assay. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of the intervention on the change on the plasma HIV-1 RNA copy number (limited control model, beta = -0.49, p = 0.02; extended control model, beta = -0.37, p = 0.01), independent of antiretroviral therapies; prophylactic therapies against potentially lethal HIV-1 associated conditions; CD4 cell count; viral load; and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clinical disease stage at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Bereavement support group interventions may prove to be not only a primary therapy for psychologic distress after bereavement but also an adjunctive therapy for sustained control of plasma viral load in conjunction with highly active antiretroviral therapy in this population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation of Helicobacter pylori and gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Difference of opinion about the prevalence of H. pylori association with gastric cancer exists in the literature. AIMS: To study the correlation of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) to gastric carcinoma. METHODS: 50 proved cases of gastric cancer were studied by rapid urease test, culture, histopathology and ELISA test for H. pylori IgG. RESULTS: 68% of cases of gastric cancer were found to be positive for H. pylori infection as compared to 74% of healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of H. pylori infection in our patients of gastric cancer was lower than in the control population though statistically not significant, suggesting that H. pylori may not be responsible for gastric carcinogenesis in this population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of treatment on pulmonary functions in chronic severe anaemia.

Pulmonary functions were measured in 15 patients with severe chronic anaemia (haemoglobin level < 5 g/dl). The measurements were repeated after correction of anaemia (Hb > 10 g/dl). Twenty age and sex matched, asymptomatic, non-smoker subjects served as controls. There was 80-100% improvement in various lung functions after correction of anaemia. Effort dependent parameters, viz FVC, ERV, IC, MVV were low in anaemic patients which improved with the rise of haemoglobin. The TLCO, DM, VC, KCO were not significantly influenced during anaemic state. FEV1, PEFR, RV/TLC were essentially normal. We conclude that the observed changes produced in lung functions during anaemic state are fully reversible after its correction.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intestinal trematode infection in North Bihar.

Reports of intestinal trematode infections are not common from Bihar, India. However, we herewith report one case of fasciolopsiasis from North Bihar, India. A 14 years old girl presented with diarrhea, vomiting, generalized pain abdomen and loss of weight. Routine stool examination and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed fasciolopsis buski in large numbers. Her rural life style and food habit (ingestion of raw vegetables- caltrops and water chest nuts) supported the cause of infestation. Despite treatment with praziquantel, the patient died after two days. Mild infestations of Fasciolopsis buski may pass on unnoticed. However, heavy infestations may cause considerable prostration, illness and even death in younger age groups. Awareness regarding this parasitic infestation (endemic in some regions), especially in the rural set up is still a much needed entity.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of orbit--a case report.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of orbit presenting as a case of rapid proptosis of the right eye is reported in a 4 year old male child. There was no evidence of recurrence during a follow up of 6 months. Rhabdomyosarcoma is one of the most common primary malignant orbital neoplasms of child hood. It usually produces a precipitously progressing unilateral proptosis of sudden onset. It is a highly malignant neoplasm of pleuripotential embryonic mesoderm, which commonly differentiates to form cells similar to rhabdomyoblasts of the foetus. Because of the presence of elongated cells that contain abundance of eosinophilic glycogen rich cytoplasm, it is generally referred to as embryonal form of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Child, Preschool↗