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Biomedical subjects

N Gopinath

Publications and source records attributed to N Gopinath.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Epidemiological study of coronary heart disease in Gujaratis in Delhi (India).

A community based survey of coronary heart disease (CHD) was carried out in Gujarati families settled in Delhi. The number of adults surveyed in the age group 25-64 yr was 1317. CHD was diagnosed either on the basis of clinical history supported by documentary evidence of treatment in the hospital or at home or on ECG evidence in accordance with the Minnesota Code. The prevalence rate of CHD on clinical history was 25.1 (28.2 in males and 22.4 in females) per 1000 adults (25-64 yr). The prevalence rates were slightly lower in Gujaratis than the general Delhi urban population. The prevalence rate based on both clinical history and ECG criteria was estimated at 66.8 as compared to 96.8/1000 in general urban Delhi population. The risk factors for CHD such as socio-economic status, family history, obesity, smoking, physical activity and hypertension were studied. The mean and 5th, 50th and 95th percentile values of blood lipids were also estimated in CHD patients and compared with the control group. Hypertension ranked the leading risk factor. Prevalence rate of CHD was higher in the upper socioeconomic group. The positive correlation of higher levels of serum lipids e.g., total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride with CHD was confirmed.

Adult

Histopathology of cocaine hepatotoxicity. Report of four patients.

Although cocaine is believed to be hepatotoxic for humans, the hepatic histopathology has been reported in only 1 patient. That patient had zone-1 necrosis. We have encountered 4 patients with liver injury secondary to cocaine use, 1 of whom died. The biopsies from two patients showed well-demarcated zone-3 necrosis identical to that seen with acetaminophen toxicity. The patient who died had necrosis of almost all hepatocytes as found at biopsy and autopsy. Biopsy was performed on another patient after resolution of the illness, and showed hyperplastic endoplastic reticulum but no necrosis. All patients had mild large- and small-droplet steatosis in surviving hepatocytes. Inflammation was mild. Drug screenings performed on all patients showed the presence of a cocaine metabolite and the absence of acetaminophen, alcohol, and other potential toxins. Patients typically had early marked increase and rapid decrease of serum aminotransferases, mild-to-moderate increase in prothrombin time, myoglobinuria, and moderate azotemia. The predominant pattern of zone-3 necrosis is similar to that reported of mice given cocaine.

Adult

Epidemiological study of coronary heart disease in urban population of Delhi.

A community based survey of coronary heart disease (CHD) was carried out on a random urban sample of 13,723 adults in the age group 25-64 yr in Delhi, India. CHD was diagnosed either on the basis of clinical history supported by documentary evidence of treatment in a hospital or at home; or on ECG evidence in accordance with the Minnesota Code. The overall prevalence of CHD based on clinical history, was 31.9 (39.5 in males and 25.3 in females) per 1000 adults in this age group. The number of patients with CHD increased with advancing age in both sexes. The total prevalence rate based on both clinical history and ECG criteria (asymptomatic patients with ECG changes of definite myocardial infarction and ST-T changes suggestive of CHD) was estimated as 96.7/1000 adults in this age group. Analysis of information on socio-economic status, family history of CHD, obesity, hypertension and smoking obtained from this sample of 13,723 adults suggested that hypertension had the strongest association with CHD. Obesity, diabetes and family history were also found to be associated with CHD. It should, however, be noted that risk factor assessments in CHD can be done satisfactorily only through incidence studies.

Adult

Prevalence, awareness & treatment status of hypertension in urban population of Delhi.

A community based survey for the prevalence of hypertension was carried out on a random urban sample of 13,723 adults in the age group 25-64 yr from the Union Territory of Delhi (India). Hypertension was defined as systolic pressure greater than 160 mm Hg and/or a diastolic pressure greater than 90 mm Hg or a history of current antihypertensive medication. The overall prevalence rate/1000 adults was 127.5 (116.6 in males and 136.8 in females). Mild hypertension (diastolic pressure between 91-104 mm Hg) predominated in the whole group, the proportion decreasing with increasing age in both sexes. Fifty per cent of the hypertensives were aware of their problem, the awareness being slightly higher in females (51.8% versus 46.5%). Approximately 30 per cent of the hypertensives were on medication for high blood pressure. The status control of blood pressure was low in the population, being only 9 per cent, with little difference between the two sexes. The study emphasises the enormity of the problem of hypertension in an urban population in India and poor control of blood pressure achieved in the community.

Adult

Small intestinal villous adenoma and celiac disease.

We describe the first patient with presumed celiac disease to present with a jejunal villous adenoma. Small bowel adenocarcinoma complicating celiac disease probably arises from adenoma, although this has not been previously addressed. The literature concerning factors in celiac disease predisposing to small intestinal epithelial neoplasia is reviewed.

Adenoma

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of adrenal tuberculosis.

Adrenal tuberculosis remains an important cause of Addison's disease. Acute tuberculosis adrenalitis may produce mass-like enlargement of the glands which requires differentiation from primary or secondary neoplastic disease. Using percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy, the authors made the diagnosis of tuberculosis adrenalitis in two patients who presented with Addison's disease; and enlarged adrenal glands seen using computed tomography.

Adrenal Gland Diseases

Thrombotic obstruction of Bjork-Shiley valves--diagnostic and surgical considerations.

We have evaluated 12 patients with thrombotic obstruction of the Bjork-Shiley valve since 1975, 11 in the mitral and 1 in the aortic position. During this period 442 patients with 303 mitral (181 plano-convex and 122 convexo-concave) and 205 aortic (112 plano-convex and 93 convexo-concave) Bjork-Shiley valves were available for follow-up. The incidence of thrombosis for the plano-convex model was 1.06% per patient year for the mitral position and 0.19% per patient year for the aortic position. The new convexo-concave model has brought down the incidence to 0.78% per patient year for the mitral (P less than 0.01) and 0% per patient year for the aortic valve. The onset of symptoms was acute (less than 15 days) in 41.7% and subacute (greater than 15 days) in 58.3% patients. All patients presented with pulmonary edema. Evidence of inadequate anticoagulation was present in only 3 (25%) patients. Reduction of prosthetic sounds and appearance of a new murmur was highly suggestive of valve thrombosis. Echocardiography and cinefluoroscopy was very useful for the instant recognition of this condition and had obviated the need for cardiac catheterisation in the last 6 patients. Emergency surgery was obligatory in all. Thrombectomy alone was successful in 9 patients. Three patients required replacement of the prosthesis. There was one operative death (mortality 8.3%). The long-term follow-up of these patients (3-82 months, mean 34 months) is excellent. We conclude that thrombotic obstruction of the Bjork-Shiley valve is often not related to inadequate anticoagulation, and more than half of the patients do not present with abrupt onset of symptoms. The convexo-concave model has significantly reduced this problem. Emergency surgery with thrombectomy is the procedure of choice for clotted prostheses.

Adult

Valve replacement in children under twenty years of age. Experience with the Björk-Shiley prosthesis.

Prosthetic valve replacement in young patients has been reported to be associated with a high mortality and morbidity because of valve-related problems. Of 549 patients undergoing valve replacement with the Björk-Shiley valve prosthesis, 136 were under the age of 20 years. Sixty-four patients were under 16 years of age, the youngest being 6 years old. Of the 136 patients, 61 underwent mitral valve replacement, 50 received an aortic valve, and 25 received both aortic and mitral valves. Overall operative mortality was 10.3%. Late mortality over a follow-up period of 6 months to 8 years was 4.4%. Actuarial survival curves up to 8 years of follow-up are presented. Results obtained in this group are compared with those obtained in 413 patients over 20 years of age operated during the same period. Valve thrombosis was not seen in any patient under 20 years of age, but it occurred in 4.13% of the patients over 20 years of age. The incidence of thromboembolism and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage was very low. There has been no instance of structural failure of the valve. Long-term results are excellent, with 90% of the survivors returning to New York Heart Association Functional Class I. The Björk-Shiley valve gives excellent and durable long-term palliation in young patients requiring valve replacement.

Actuarial Analysis

Tissue distribution of lymphocytes in rheumatic heart valves as defined by monoclonal anti-T cell antibodies.

Fresh cardiac valvular tissues and atrial appendages removed from 106 Indian patients with rheumatic heart disease at the time of corrective cardiac surgery were examined to determine the characteristics of valvular interstitial lymphocytic infiltrates using conventional histologic staining along with indirect immunofluorescent techniques. Precise identification of the phenotypic profiles of inflammatory mononuclear cells was attempted using anti-IgG, anti-Ia, and monoclonal mouse hybridoma reagents identifying T cells (OKT3) as well as T cell subsets (OKT4 helper/inducer and OKT8 suppressor/cytotoxic cells). A similar group of 21 patients undergoing cardiac valvular resection in Albuquerque was studied. The mean age of Indian patients providing valve tissues was 27.7, whereas in those in Albuquerque, it was 52 years. Twenty-five percent of rheumatic heart valves in Indian patients showed significant interstitial lymphoid infiltrates, and one third of the rheumatic valves from patients in Albuquerque showed similar mononuclear cell collections. Lymphoid infiltrates contained a predominance of T cells (70 to 80 percent) and only occasional B cells. Most of the T cells were OKT4-positive, with only a minor representation of suppressor/cytotoxic OKT8-positive T cells. In many instances, OKT4-positive helper T cell collections were closely juxtaposed to fibroblasts and collagen fibrils. These findings suggest that the chronic rheumatic scarring process may involve helper/inducer T cells as an ancillary factor in the indolent contracture and fibrosis of deformed cardiac valvular structures. Attempts to demonstrate residual streptococcal antigens by indirect immunofluorescence using a wide panel of heterologous rabbit F(ab')2 reagents with specificity for group A streptococcal membranes, cell wall mucopeptide, or group A carbohydrate gave negative results.

Adult

Comparative studies of mitral valves in rheumatic heart disease.

Mitral valve tissues from 195 patients with rheumatic heart disease removed at the time of cardiac surgery were studied by conventional histologic techniques. One hundred seven patients from a five-year period at All-India Institute for Medical Sciences in New Delhi were studied in conjunction with 88 patients undergoing cardiac surgery in Albuquerque during a similar period. In Indian patients a correlation was noted between degree of moderate or severe valvular calcification and extent of adjacent valvular mononuclear cellular infiltration often consisting of striking lymphocytic-plasma cell collections. Similar distinct correlations were not observed among the mitral valves from the Albuquerque patients. It is possible that mitral valve mononuclear cell infiltrates among Indian patients may reflect a chronic immune reaction influencing the natural course of rheumatic heart disease in this latter population.

Adolescent

Multiple sclerosing haemangiomas of the lung.

A case of mulitple sclerosing haemangiomas of the lung is described from a 40-year-old woman, who presented with haemoptysis. A chest X-ray revealed multiple circumscribed coin lesions in both lungs. A right upper lobectomy was done for diagnosis. The patient has remained well for 2 years after surgery. Multiplicity of tumour masses of pulmonary sclerosing haemangiomas is extremely rare and, although benign, may pose a great diagnostic problem.

Adult