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Biomedical subjects

N Kumari

Publications and source records attributed to N Kumari.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Arthritis as presenting manifestation of pure neuritic leprosy--a rheumatologist's dilemma.

OBJECTIVES: Leprosy classically presents with cutaneous and neurological manifestations. In diagnosed cases of leprosy, rheumatological involvement varies from 1% to 70%. A primary articular presentation without cutaneous manifestations is not yet known. Herein, we present our experience of five cases of leprosy that presented with predominant articular involvement in the absence of cutaneous manifestations. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Department of Clinical Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, one of the nine endemic states in India. Case records of patients with a definite diagnosis of leprosy were screened for the presenting manifestations, pattern of articular involvement, tenosynovitis, neurological signs and symptoms. Reports of nerve conduction study (NCS), nerve and synovial biopsy and other diagnostic tests were retrieved from laboratory records. Available radiographs were examined for evidence of juxta-articular osteopenia and erosions. RESULTS: Case records of 11,740 patients were screened, of which 28 had a diagnosis of leprosy. Twenty patients had presented with rheumatological complaints primarily. Five of the patients who presented with inflammatory arthritis with/without tenosynovitis (n = 4) and tenosynovitis alone (n = 1) had pure neuritic leprosy. All of these patients had thickened peripheral nerves and abnormal NCS. Sural nerve biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of leprosy in all these cases. CONCLUSION: A combination of tenosynovitis and thickened nerves in association with symmetric polyarthritis should raise a suspicion of leprosy even in the absence of cutaneous features.

Adult↗

Brain abscess due to Scedosporium apiospermum in a non immunocompromised child.

Scedosporium apiospermum is a filamentous fungi that commonly causes cutaneous infection. In certain circumstances, S. apiospermum can also cause invasive disease, which can involve the central nervous system (CNS). When the CNS becomes involved, treatment is difficult, therapeutic options are limited and the prognosis is poor. Early identification and treatment can decrease the mortality rate. Here we present a case of brain abscess with chronic suppurative otitis media, caused by S. apiospermum. This is the first such case report from Nepal. We could identify the organism only post mortem. We could not save the patient, probably due to delay in diagnosis.

Aminoglycosides↗

Evaluation of the pesticidal potential of the congress grass, Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. on the mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.).

Petroleum ether extracts of leaves, stem and inflorescence of Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. at 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 ppm concentrations were tested in the laboratory for their toxic effects on the mean life span and progeny production of adults of the mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.). The investigations revealed a significant decrease in life span and progeny production with treatment. Among the three plant parts tested for their efficacy, the leaf extract showed the most significant effect in causing a dose dependent decline in both the life span and progeny production.

Animals↗

Coagulase negative Staphylococci as causative agents of urinary tract infections-prevalence and resistance status in IGIMS, Patna.

Previously considered solely as the laboratory contaminants and normal flora of skin in man, coagulase negative Staphylococci are now a major cause of nosocomial and opportunistic infections. This study was conducted at IGIMS, Patna to find out the coagulase negative Staphylococcus isolates from urine and their antimicrobial resistance. In a period of ten months, the relative frequency of main coagulase negative Staphylococci were as follows--Staphylococcus epidermidis-45.90%, Staphylococcus saprophyticus 34% and Staphylococcus haemolyticus-8.50%. others were 11.60%. most of the Staphylococcus saprophyticus was isolated from young female patients suffering from uncomplicated acute cystitis and Staphylococcus epidermidis was mainly from patients with indwelling catheters and complicated cases. Staphylococcus saprophyticus showed the highest sensitivities to all the antimicrobials whereas Staphylococcus haemolyticus had the highest resistance rates. 66.6% of staphylococcus epidermidis and 60% of staphylococcus haemolyticus were resistant to oxacillin, whereas only 10% of staphylococcus saprophyticus resistant and 90% were sensitive to it. As is in the emerging state, vancomycin resistance was very less but in future it may cause a major problem to treat these cases. So this area needs further exploration.

Adolescent↗

Inhibition of phagocytosis of E. coli by B. fragilis group--an in vitro study.

Bacteriodes fragilis group can inhibit the phagocytosis and killing of co-existing aerobes. Forty six strains of B.fragilis group are tested for their ability to resist phagocytosis and inhibit the killing of indicator organism, E. coli by denoting the viable count. Among the species of B. fragilis group, the inhibitory index of the phagocytic system was the highest with B. fragilis followed by B. thetaiotamicron. None of the strains of B. fragilis group were phagocytosed or killed in this system. This property of resisting the phagocytosis and killing of E. coli by B. fragilis group might be the contributing factor towards their prevalence in mixed infections.

Bacteroides↗

How specific are negative automatic thoughts to a depressed population? An exploratory study.

This paper is concerned with the relationship between negative or dysfunctional automatic thoughts and dysphoric mood in a non-clinical population. It addresses the question of how specific are these automatic thoughts to a depressed population. Negative automatic thoughts were obtained from 27 normal subjects via a thought-sampling method using the Daily Record of Dysfunctional Thoughts Form (Beck, Rush, Shaw & Emery, 1979) over a two-week period. A thought-content analysis was conducted. The resultant data were compared using X2 with Blackburn & Eunson's (1989) data from depressed patients. The results presented in this paper indicate that basic cognitive distortions occur in a normal population, but differ qualitatively and quantitatively from those found in depressed patients.

Adult↗

Morphology of the brain of Sarotherodon mossambicus (Peters) and correlation with its habits.

The correlation between the brain of an exotic fish, Sarotherodon mossambicus, and its habits was studied. The poorly developed olfactory lobes are indicative of poor olfactory sense, while the large optic lobes and stout, thick optic nerves correlate with this fish's excellent sense of vision. Similarly, its tactile and gustatory sense are determined by the extent of development of the facial and vagal lobes.

Animals↗

Surveillance of salmonellae in India for drug resistance.

Out of 3001 salmonella received during 1984-85, 2985 strains were tested for antibiotic resistance and R-pattern transfer. Multidrug resistance was observed in 73% of diarrhoeal and 43% of non-diarrhoeal isolates. Antibiotic resistance markers were transferable in 46.6% of diarrhoeal and 41.1% of non-diarrhoeal isolates. Two out of 4 salmonella sero-types isolated for the first time in India during this period were multidrug resistant.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Characteristics of Escherichia coli isolates from infantile and childhood diarrhea.

Seventy-five strains of Escherichia coli from cases of infantile and childhood diarrhea were serogrouped and analysed in terms of hydrophobicity, mannose resistant haemagglutination and enterotoxigenicity. The strains were distributed over 21 serogroups of which 54.6% were hydrophobic, 37.3% were haemagglutinating and 66.5% were enterotoxigenic. EPEC strains were less than ETEC strains. LT producers were more than LTST or ST producers. MRHA activity was found to be well correlated with hydrophobicity.

Child↗

Mild hypoglycaemia and questionnaire measures of aggression.

A glucose-tolerance test was given to a group of males who did not have a history involving aggressive behaviour or abnormal glucose metabolism. In these subjects a significant correlation was found between the tendency to become mildly hypoglycaemic and scores on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory and the Rosenzweig Picture Frustration Study. A factor analysis of the data found that both scores on the aggression questionnaires and the measure of hypoglycaemia were similarly weighted. These results extent to normal subjects the finding that there is a relationship between hypoglycaemia and aggressiveness, a result previously found in psychiatric patients.

Adult↗

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↗