Octyl salicylate: a new contact sensitivity.
We describe acute contact sensitivity to octyl salicylate, an ultraviolet filter, used in many cosmetics and sunscreens.
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact↗
Biomedical subjects
M Singh
Publications and source records attributed to M Singh.
Clear cell meningioma, an uncommon variant of meningioma: a clinicopathologic study of nine cases.
AIMS: Clear cell meningioma (CCM) is an uncommon variant of meningioma, which affect younger patients, occur more often in spinal or cerebello pontine locations and shows a higher recurrence rate. Only few case reports have been described in the literature. The study has been undertaken to document the clinicopathological features of nine cases of CCM, operated at All India Institute of Medical Sciences during 1998 to December 2005. METHODS: Clinical information was retrieved from the records of our Neurosurgery Department. The cases were stained with H&E, periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) with and without diastase. Immunohistochemistry for pancytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and MIB-1 was done in all cases. RESULTS: During a period of 8 years, nine cases of CCM were diagnosed. Age ranged from 10 to 65 years (median age 26.0 years) with female predominance. Most common location was posterior fossa (CP angle). Clinically most of the patients presented with history of headache and features of cranial nerve palsies. The duration of symptoms varied from 3 to 60 months (mean 16.7 and median of 4 months). Radiologically lesions showed homogenous enhancement and were isointense to brain parenchyma. Histopathologic examination revealed tumor cells to be arranged in sheets with clear cytoplasm and monomorphic nuclei. MIB-1 labeling index (LI) ranged from 2 to 12% with a mean of 9%. Follow up varied from 3 to 84 months (median 36 months) and recurrence was noted in two patients after 2 and 3 years of surgery, respectively, despite their low MIB-1 labeling indices. CONCLUSIONS: CCM is a rare variant of meningioma with poor outcome. Less than 50 cases have been described in the literature. Low rate of recurrence and recurrence despite their low MIB-1 LI are some of the features, which needs to be documented. Hence, larger number of cases with adequate follow-up data need to be studied further to establish the clinical significance of this variant.
Adolescent↗
Preemptive, but not reactive, spinal cord stimulation mitigates transient ischemia-induced myocardial infarction via cardiac adrenergic neurons.
Our objective was to determine whether electrical neuromodulation using spinal cord stimulation (SCS) mitigates transient ischemia-induced ventricular infarction and, if so, whether adrenergic neurons are involved in such cardioprotection. The hearts of anesthetized rabbits, subjected to 30 min of left anterior descending coronary arterial occlusion (CAO) followed by 3 h of reperfusion (control), were compared with those with preemptive SCS (starting 15 min before and continuing throughout the 30-min CAO) or reactive SCS (started at 1 or 28 min of CAO). For SCS, the dorsal C8-T2 segments of the spinal cord were stimulated electrically (50 Hz, 0.2 ms, 90% of motor threshold). For preemptive SCS, separate groups of animals were pretreated 15 min before SCS onset with 1) vehicle, 2) prazosin (alpha(1)-adrenoceptor blockade), or 3) timolol (beta-adrenoceptor blockade). Infarct size (IS), measured with tetrazolium, was expressed as a percentage of risk zone. In controls exposed to 30 min of CAO, IS was 36.4 +/- 9.5% (SD). Preemptive SCS reduced IS to 21.8 +/- 6.8% (P < 0.001). Preemptive SCS-mediated infarct reduction was eliminated by prazosin (36.6 +/- 8.8%) and blunted by timolol (29.4 +/- 7.5%). Reactive SCS did not reduce IS. SCS increased phosphorylation of cardiac PKC. SCS did not alter blood pressure or heart rate. We conclude that preemptive SCS reduces the size of infarcts induced by transient CAO; such cardioprotection involves cardiac adrenergic neurons.
Animals↗
Resurgence of chikungunya virus in India: an emerging threat.
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Alphavirus Infections↗
Characterization of asymmetric polymeric membranes by gas permeation.
Polycarbonate films (thickness 18, 25 and 38 microm) were irradiated by a beam of 100MeV Ni7+ ion. The permeability for hydrogen and carbon dioxide was measured from both sides of membrane at increasing etching time. These membranes show larger permeability from the irradiation side, than the reverse side indicating the formation of conical tracks and asymmetrical membrane. The stopping range (Se) of 100MeV Ni7+ ion beam in polycarbonate is 22microm, for 18microm thick membrane the etching time at which the permeability increases rapidly is less than that of 38microm thick membrane, for both the gases. The difference in permeability from the two sides is attributed to the conical shape of the track generated by the ions. The controlled flow rate of the membrane leads to the design of a special type of gas filter.
Journal Article↗
Studies on photodegradation of two commercial dyes in aqueous phase using different photocatalysts.
The present study involves the photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Orange (MO) and Rhodamine 6G (R6G), employing heterogeneous photocatalytic process. Photocatalytic activity of various semiconductors such as titanium dioxide (TiO(2)), zinc oxide (ZnO), stannic oxide (SnO(2)), zinc sulphide (ZnS) and cadmium sulphide (CdS) has been investigated. An attempt has been made to study the effect of process parameters viz., amount of catalyst, concentration of dye and pH on photocatalytic degradation of MO and R6G. The experiments were carried out by irradiating the aqueous solutions of dyes containing photocatalysts with UV and solar light. The rate of decolorization was estimated from residual concentration spectrophotometrically. Similar experiments were carried out by varying pH (2-10), amount of catalyst (0.25-2.0g/l) and initial concentration of dye (5-200mg/l). The experimental results indicated that the maximum decolorization (more than 90%) of dyes occurred with ZnO catalyst and at basic pH and the maximum adsorption of MO was noticed at pH 4 and of R6G at pH 10. The percentage reduction of MO and R6G was estimated under UV/solar system and it was found that COD reduction takes place at a faster rate under solar light as compared to UV light. In case of R6G, highest decolorizing efficiency was achieved with lower dose of catalyst (0.5g/l) than MO (1g/l) under similar conditions. The performance of photocatalytic system employing ZnO/solar light was observed to be better than ZnO/UV system.
Adsorption↗
Heated, humidified air for the common cold.
BACKGROUND: Heated, humidified air has long been used by common cold sufferers. The theoretical basis is that steam may help congested mucus drain better and heat may destroy cold virus as it does in vitro. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of inhaling heated water vapour (steam), in the treatment of the common cold by comparing symptoms, viral shedding and nasal resistance. SEARCH STRATEGY: In this updated review we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library issue 4, 2005); MEDLINE (2003 to December Week 2 2005); EMBASE (July 2003 to September 2005); and Current Contents (current five years). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using heated water vapor in patients with the common cold or volunteers with experimentally induced common cold. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All the articles retrieved were initially subjected to a review for inclusion or exclusion criteria. Review articles, editorials and abstracts with inadequate outcome descriptions were excluded. Studies selected for inclusion were subjected to a methodological assessment. MAIN RESULTS: Six trials were included. Three found benefits of steam for symptom relief with the common cold (odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31; 0.16 to 0.60; relative risk (RR) 0.56; 95% CI 0.4 to 0.79). Results on symptom indices were equivocal. No studies demonstrated an exacerbation of clinical symptom scores. One USA study demonstrated worsened nasal resistance, while an earlier Israeli one showed improvement. One study examined viral shedding and antibody titres in nasal washings: there was no change of either between treatment and placebo groups. Minor side effects (including discomfort or irritation of the nose) were reported in some studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Steam inhalation are not recommended in the routine treatment of common cold symptoms until more double-blind RCT trials are conducted.
Air↗
Macular hole surgery without prone positioning.
PURPOSE: To investigate the role of vitrectomy without prone posturing in the anatomic and functional outcome of macular hole surgery (MHS). METHODS: Forty-one consecutive eyes of 41 patients with stage II-IV full-thickness macular holes underwent pars plana vitrectomy and 16% C3F8 tamponade. In 25 cases posturing group (P), subjects were instructed to assume prone positioning for 10 days postoperatively, whereas in 16 cases non-posturing group (NP) patients were advised to avoid lying supine but no other posturing instructions were given. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative clinical data were collected, with macular hole closure rate and change in LogMAR visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, metamorphopsia, and 25-Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) being the primary outcome measures. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 4.21.2 months, anatomical hole closure was noted in 22/25 (88%) and 14/16 (87.5%) in groups P and NP respectively. Visual acuity improved by a mean of eight letters and there was no significant difference in the two groups (P=0.724). Similarly, postoperative prone posturing did not have an effect on the final contrast sensitivity, metamorphopsia, and VFQ-25 composite scores (P=0.238, P=0.472, and P=0.87, respectively). However, eyes in group NP developed significantly more severe cataract in the early postoperative period (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Prone posturing following MHS provides no functional or anatomic benefit but it is associated with slower progression of cataract. Combined phacovitrectomy without face down positioning may be considered for all phakic patients undergoing MHS.
Aged↗
Deficiency of beta1 integrins results in increased myocardial dysfunction after myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE: To study the role of beta1 integrins in left ventricular (LV) remodelling after myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS AND RESULTS: LV structural and functional alterations were determined in wild-type (WT) and beta1 integrin heterozygous knockout (hKO) mice one month after MI. MI increased beta1 integrin expression in both groups; however, the increase was lower in hKO. Infarct size was similar in WT and hKO mice, whereas lung wet weight to dry weight ratio was increased in the hKO-MI mice (5.17 (SE 0.13) v 4.60 (0.15) in WT-MI, p < 0.01). LV end systolic and end diastolic diameters were significantly higher and percentage fractional shortening was significantly lower in hKO-MI. The ratio of peak velocity of early LV filling (E wave) to that of the late LV filling (A wave) and the isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) were increased in both MI groups but the increase in IVRT was significantly higher in hKO-MI group than in WT-MI mice. Langendorff perfusion analysis indicated reduced peak LV developed pressure and increased LV end diastolic pressure in both MI groups. The reduction in peak LV developed pressure (36.7 (2.2) v 53.4 (1.9) mm Hg, p < 0.05) and increase in LV end diastolic pressure was higher in hKO-MI than in WT-MI. Increase in fibrosis was not different between the two MI groups. The increase in myocyte circumference was higher in the hKO-MI group (p < 0.001 v WT-MI). The number of apoptotic myocytes was significantly higher in hKO-MI than in WT-MI mice (p < 0.005) three days after MI. The number of necrotic myocytes was not different between the two MI groups. CONCLUSION: beta1 integrins are crucial in post-MI remodelling with effects on LV function, hypertrophy and apoptosis.
Animals↗
Antiulcer and antimicrobial activity of Anogeissus latifolia.
Ethnobotanically, the bark of Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Guill. and Perr.(Combretaceae) has been reported to be used in the treatment of various disorders including stomach and skin diseases. We studied the antiulcer potential and antimicrobial activity of the 50% aqueous alcoholic extract in order to validate ethnobotanical claims regarding the plant use in the above-mentioned disorders. Gastroprotective potential of the Anogeissus latifolia extract (ALE) (100 and 200mg/kg/body weight) was studied on aspirin, cold-resistant stress (CRS), pylorus ligated (PL) and ethanol-induced ulcers. Status of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase along with lipid peroxidation (LPO) was also studied in CRS-induced ulcers. The results of the present study showed for the first time that the ALE possessed gastroprotective activity as evidenced by its significant inhibition in the formation of ulcers induced by physical and chemical agents with a maximum of 84.16% curation (200mg/kg body weight) in CRS-induced ulcers. ALE decreased LPO and SOD with concomitant increase in catalase activity in CRS-induced ulcers. Moderate antibacterial activity and antifungal activity was also observed. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) showed the presence of gallic acid and ellagic acid (0.95%, w/w, 0.25%, w/w, respectively) in the plant. These findings could justify, at least partially, the inclusion of this plant in the management of gastric disorders in traditional medicine.
Animals↗
Relationship between second-trimester uterine artery Doppler and spontaneous early preterm delivery.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between impedance to flow in the uterine arteries at 22-24 weeks and subsequent spontaneous delivery before 33 weeks. METHODS: The pulsatility index (PI) in the uterine arteries was measured by transvaginal sonography at 22-24 weeks in 33,629 women with singleton pregnancies attending for routine antenatal care. The distribution of PI in the 237 patients with live births before 33 weeks, after spontaneous onset of labor, was compared to that in 31,633 patients with live births at or after 33 weeks. RESULTS: The median uterine artery mean PI was significantly higher in those women delivering before 33 weeks than in those delivering at or after 33 weeks. The mean PI was 1.57, which is the 95th centile, in 1525 (4.8%) of those delivering at or after 33 weeks and in 19 (8.0%) of the deliveries before 33 weeks. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the significant predictors of spontaneous delivery before 33 weeks were ethnic origin, smoking status, previous obstetric history and uterine artery mean PI. However, the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery by a combination of maternal characteristics and uterine artery Doppler was not significantly higher than maternal characteristics alone (area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve: 0.704, 95% CI 0.669-0.740 vs. 0.684, 95% CI 0.647-0.722; P = 0.062). CONCLUSIONS: Uterine artery PI in spontaneous deliveries before 33 weeks is higher than in those women delivering at or after 33 weeks. However, uterine artery Doppler does not provide a significant improvement in the prediction of spontaneous early delivery provided by maternal demographic characteristics and previous obstetric history.
Adult↗
Pseudohypoparathyroidism: a series of three cases and an unusual presentation of ocular tetany.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia, increased serum parathormone and insensitivity to the biological activity of parathormone. These patients may present for incidental surgery, procedures related to kidney stones, cataract removals and renal transplants. No particular anaesthetic agent or technique is indicated except that respiratory alkalosis should be avoided as it may further decrease ionised calcium levels and thereby precipitate tetany. In this report, we present the peri-operative management of three patients with this rare condition and describe an unusual presentation of hypocalcaemic extra-ocular muscle spasm.
Adolescent↗
The effect of the withdrawal of rofecoxib on prescribing patterns of COX-2 inhibitors in Scotland.
BACKGROUND: Concerns have been raised regarding the cardiovascular safety of the COX-2 inhibitors. In September 2004, rofecoxib was withdrawn from the market as a result of concerns regarding its cardiovascular safety. AIMS & METHODS: We set out to examine the effect of the withdrawal of rofecoxib on the prescription of other COX-2 inhibitors and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsNSAIDs) in Scotland, using a national prescription database. RESULTS: The withdrawal of rofecoxib led to an initial increase in the prescription of celecoxib as prescribers presumably switched to this alternative agent. However, this rise was short-lived, presumably as a result of concerns that the safety concerning rofecoxib may be a class effect. A parallel increase in the prescription of diclofenac and ibuprofen was also noted, suggesting that prescribers were prescribing these medications as alternatives to COX-2 inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: While prescribers and their patients may have initially interpreted safety concerns regarding rofecoxib to be drug specific, prescribers appear to have interpreted this effect to be class specific.
Cardiovascular Diseases↗
Proteomic analysis of suction blister fluid isolated from human skin.
The regulation of cutaneous immune responses in health and disease is mediated locally by proteins such as cytokines and chemokines. We used a novel approach involving proteomic profiling of fluid drawn from suction blisters to compare and contrast protein expression in normal skin with that in nonlesional skin from a patient with plaque psoriasis. We also examined the impact of exogenous interleukin-1beta, a proinflammatory cytokine, on protein expression in these tissues. Described here are the results of proteomic profiling of 670 proteins from blister fluid, and the identification by differential expression of nine proteins between one volunteer with psoriasis and one normal volunteer. Although the apparent disease association of these nine proteins will require validation using additional volunteers, the identification of candidate protein biomarkers through proteomic analyses of blister fluid represents a promising approach for monitoring the disease activity and efficacy of therapeutic intervention in human skin diseases.
Biomarkers↗
Tumour necrosis factor-alpha production stimulated by heat shock protein 70 and its inhibition in circulating dendritic cells and cells eluted from mucosal tissues in Crohn's disease.
Summaryand interleukin (IL)-12 by dendritic cells (DC) from patients with Crohn's disease. TNF-alpha concentration was increased significantly when DC from Crohn's disease were stimulated with HSP70 or CD40L and this was associated with signalling by the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. IL-12 production was also increased when DC were stimulated with HSP70. Cells eluted from inflamed intestinal mucosa from Crohn's disease, stimulated with HSP70, CD40L or lipopolysaccharide produced significantly greater TNF-alpha and IL-12 concentrations than cells from uninflamed mucosa. Significant inhibition of TNF-alpha production was demonstrated when DC from peripheral blood mononuclear cells or cells eluted from intestinal mucosa of Crohn's disease were treated with either the HSP70 inhibitory peptide (aa 457-496) or peptides derived from CD40 and CD40L. These inhibitory peptides target the CD40-CD40L and the emerging CD40-HSP70 co-stimulatory pathway. Our findings offer a novel strategy to prevent excessive production of TNF-alpha in Crohn's disease.
CD40 Antigens↗
Intranasal IFNgamma extends passive IgA antibody protection of mice against Mycobacterium tuberculosis lung infection.
Intranasal inoculation of mice with monoclonal IgA against the alpha-crystallin (acr1) antigen can diminish the tuberculous infection in the lungs. As this effect has been observed only over a short-term, we investigated if it could be extended by inoculation of IFNgamma 3 days before infection, and further co-inoculations with IgA, at 2 h before and 2 and 7 days after aerosol infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. This treatment reduced the lung infection at 4 weeks more than either IgA or IFNgamma alone (i.e. 17-fold, from 4.2 x 10(7) to 2.5 x 10(6) CFU, P = 0.006), accompanied also by lower granulomatous infiltration of the lungs. IFNgamma added prior to infection of mouse peritoneal macrophages with IgA-opsonized bacilli resulted in a synergistic increase of nitric oxide and TNFalpha production and a 2-3 fold decrease in bacterial counts. Our improved results suggest, that combined treatment with IFNgamma and IgA could be developed towards prophylactic treatment of AIDS patients, or as an adjunct to chemotherapy.
Administration, Intranasal↗
Anti-cancer effect of celecoxib and aerosolized docetaxel against human non-small cell lung cancer cell line, A549.
Direct delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to the lung can increase both the drug concentration and exposure period to lung tumours. The objective of this study was to formulate docetaxel (DOC) into a metered dose inhaler (MDI), assess its aerodynamic characteristics and to evaluate the effect of celecoxib (CXB), a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, on the in-vitro cytotoxicity and apoptotic response of aerosolized DOC against human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. A stable solution-type MDI formulation was developed with 0.25% DOC and 15% w/w ethyl alcohol using HFA 134a propellant. The formulation was evaluated for medication delivery, mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD), geometric standard deviation (GSD), percent throat deposition, respirable mass and respirable fraction. A six-stage viable impactor was used to assess the in-vitro cytotoxicity of DOC-MDI alone or in combination with CXB. Induction of apoptosis in A549 cells by DOC (non-aerosolized and aerosolized) in combination with CXB was evaluated by established techniques, such as caspase-3 estimation and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining. The influence of different treatments on the expression of COX-2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma(PPAR-gamma) in A549 cells was studied by RT-PCR. The DOC-MDI formulation had a MMAD of 1.58 microm, (GSD = 3.2) and a medication delivery of 80 microg/shot. DOC-MDI (one shot) in combination with CXB (10 microg mL(-1)) had a cell kill of more than 80% as determined by in-vitro cytotoxicity assay. The specific caspase-3 activity in A549 cells treated with DOC (0.01 microg mL(-1)) and CXB (10.0 microg mL(-1)) combination was 4 times higher than CXB and untreated control group, respectively. Further, TUNEL staining showed significant apoptosis of A549 cells treated with aerosolized DOC alone or in combination with CXB when compared with CXB and untreated cells. The RT-PCR experiments showed similar expression of COX-2 in both control and treated groups. PPAR-gamma expression was increased in the combination treatment (0.01 microg mL(-1) DOC and 10 microg mL(-1) CXB) as compared with control (untreated), DOC (0.01 microg mL(-1)) and CXB (10 microg mL(-1)) treatments. Our results indicate the potential of inhalation delivery of DOC in the treatment of lung cancer.
Aerosols↗