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M Kuriakose

Publications and source records attributed to M Kuriakose.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Latex based, rapid and easy assay for human leptospirosis in a single test format.

Leptospirosis is an often severe disease which requires prompt treatment. Laboratory testing is required to reach a valid diagnosis. An agglutination assay for the detection of Leptospira-specific antibodies consisting of individually wrapped agglutination cards containing a stable, dried detection reagent is evaluated. The assay is simply performed by suspending the dried reagent with a drop of serum. The result is obtained within 30 s. The sensitivity of the assay varied with the stage of the disease and was 72.3% for samples collected during the first 10 days of the illness and 88.2% for samples collected at a later stage. The specificity was 93.9% and 89.8%, respectively. These characteristics make the test ideal for use in areas where the disease is common and where laboratory support is not routinely available.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Lateral-flow assay for rapid serodiagnosis of human leptospirosis.

An assay device for the rapid detection of Leptospira-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in human sera is presented. The sensitivity (85.8%) and specificity (93.6%) of the assay compared well (91.9% agreement) with those of an IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay routinely used in the serodiagnosis of leptospirosis. The sensitivity of the assay varied with the stage of the disease. The assay uses stabilized components and is simply performed by the addition of serum and sample fluid to the sample well of the assay device. The assay is read after 10 min, and a positive result is obtained when staining of the test line is observed.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Leptospirosis in Kolenchery, Kerala, India: epidemiology, prevalent local serogroups and serovars and a new serovar.

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world. It is mostly an occupational disease especially in rural areas. Kolenchery is in the midlands of Kerala. The landscape consists of marshy land and dry land interspersed by rivulets and ponds. Irrigation of dry lands for cultivation during the summer months started in mid 1980s after the irrigation projects were commissioned. Cases of leptospirosis were rarely diagnosed in Kolenchery before 1987. Since then a yearly increase in incidence is observed. No major study on either epidemiology or clinical picture has been done on human leptospirosis in Kerala so far. The aim of this study was to define the major clinical presentations, epidemiology of the infection and demonstrate the predominant serogroups and serovars causing the illness in this limited geographical area. The study involves 976 cases of leptospirosis confirmed by culture and/or serological tests. Serogroups Autumnalis, Australis and Icterohaemorrhagiae were the commonest. Mortality rate was 5.32%. The increase in incidence is probably due to the geographical characteristics, continuous moisture of the soil due to irrigation in summer and year-round cultivation making food and cover available to host rodents. Close interaction of humans, animals, soil and water in this region make the spread of leptospirosis to humans easy. Confirmation of cases has been done by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and/or microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and/or by culture. Serovar identification has been done in 21 cultures isolated from patients. One new serovar belonging to serogroup Australis has been identified from a patient and named serovar Australis bharathy.

Adolescent↗

A technique for recording the activity of brain-stem neurones in awake, unrestrained cats using microwires and an implantable micromanipulator.

A new technique is described which is suitable for long-term recording of the activity of neurones in the brain of an awake, unrestrained cat. By using telescopic electrodes, neurones up to 39 mm from the cranial surface can be reached with a miniature micromanipulator which is small enough to be left in place between recording sessions. The most stable recordings have been obtained with electrodes made from microwire, with which units have been held for up to 8 h.

Animals↗

Hypoglycemia as a possible factor in the induction of vasovagal syncope.

Glucose level was estimated in capillary blood of 16 patients, who had vasovagal syncope during exodontia with local anaesthesia. One consistent finding was the low blood sugar level in all patients during syncope, as compared with the level 1 hour after recovery. Hypoglycemia can be induced by parasympathetic activation; this may be the product of reflex conditioning. Modest lowering of blood sugar levels can also act in synergy with hypotension and hypocapnea to induce loss of consciousness. Psychogenic syncope may be mediated through a mechanism involving hypoglycemia. Reflex conditioning perhaps accounts for the small but consistent fraction of the adult population who have repeated fainting episodes.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of oral squamous cell carcinoma in younger and older patients in India.

This study examines the demographic, aetiological and clinico-pathological features of 37 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who were less than 35 years old and a comparable number of patients who were greater than 60 years old. The study was undertaken at the Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, India, between 1988 and 1990. In patients younger than 35 years old, oral SCC occurred more commonly in females, was apparent in all social classes and was associated with fewer aetiological factors. The tumours manifested predominantly as invasive lesions affecting the tongue and there was early spread to lymph nodes. By contrast, in patients older than 60 years of age, oral SCC was more common in males, occurred more frequently in social classes III and IV and was always seen in association with smoking, alcohol or pan chewing. These latter tumours presented as exophytic lesions of the buccal mucosa or gingivae and spread late to lymph nodes. The results indicate that the biological behaviour of oral SCC in young patients may be distinct from that occurring in older patients.

Adult↗

Titanium mesh in orbital wall reconstruction.

Successful use of titanium mesh sheets in the reconstruction of orbital wall defects of up to 2.5 x 2.5 cm following trauma and followed up for a mean of 24 months is demonstrated. This material is especially useful in orbital floor and medial wall blow-out fractures, and is a valuable additional material for use in maxillofacial reconstruction.

Adolescent↗

Modulation by peripheral conditioning stimuli of the responses of trigeminal brain stem neurones and of the jaw opening reflex to tooth pulp stimulation in chronically prepared, anaesthetized cats.

The effects of peripheral conditioning stimuli on the thresholds of the jaw opening reflex (JOR) and of trigeminal brain stem neurones to tooth pulp stimulation were examined in chronically prepared, anaesthetized cats. High intensity electrical conditioning stimuli applied to the ipsilateral forepaw produced an increase in the thresholds of both responses, with the JOR thresholds being elevated significantly more, and remaining elevated for significantly longer, than those of the neurones. These findings suggest that the elevation of the JOR cannot be explained just by inhibitory effects on the brain stem neurones.

Animals↗

Leptospirosis--clinical spectrum and correlation with seven simple laboratory tests for early diagnosis in the Third World.

Twenty-four patients who were clinically suspected of having leptospirosis were subjected to 7 simple commonly available laboratory tests. The 21 patients who had 3 or more positive tests were confirmed serologically to have leptospirosis. The high frequency of acute abdominal pain (71.4%) as a major presenting symptom and the laboratory findings of raised serum amylase levels in a high percentage of patients (84.2%) were especially noteworthy.

Adult↗