Biomedical subjects

Philip Aloysius Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to Philip Aloysius Thomas.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Protective effect of an extract of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, on antioxidants of major organs of aged rats.

This study was undertaken to investigate the putative antioxidant activity of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status of major organs of aged (24 month old) rats when compared to young (4 month old) rats. Elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly lowered levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and of vitamins C and E were observed in the liver, kidneys, heart and brain of aged rats, when compared to values in young rats. Quantitative analysis of the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) revealed significantly lower values in the liver, kidneys, heart and brain of aged rats. An analysis of isozyme pattern of these enzymes in aged rats also revealed variations in relative concentration, presumably due to oxidative stress. Administration of the extract of P. ostreatus to aged rats resulted in elevated levels of reduced glutathione and vitamins C and E and in increased activities of CAT, SOD and Gpx so that the values in most of these parameters did not differ significantly from those in young rats. In addition, the level of MDA was lowered on administration of mushroom extract to aged rats. These results suggest that treatment with an extract of P. ostreatus can improve the antioxidant status during ageing, therein minimizing the occurrence of age-associated disorders associated with involvement of free radicals.

Aging↗

PubMed2006

Comparison of topical gatifloxacin 0.3% and ciprofloxacin 0.3% for the treatment of bacterial keratitis.

PURPOSE: To compare the bacteriologic and clinical efficacy of gatifloxacin and ciprofloxacin for the treatment of bacterial keratitis. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. METHODS: A total of 104 eyes of 104 patients with bacterial keratitis seen at a tertiary eye-care center were randomized to treatment with gatifloxacin 0.3% eyedrops (GAT group, 50 eyes) or ciprofloxacin 0.3% eyedrops (CIP group, 54 eyes). Patients and the treating physician were masked to the antibiotic being used. Main outcome measure studied was healing of the ulcer. Patients lost to follow-up before complete healing were excluded from further analysis. RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of ulcers in the GAT group exhibited complete healing compared with those in the CIP group (39 eyes [95.1%] vs 38 [80.9%]; P=.042). Gatifloxacin demonstrated a significantly better action than ciprofloxacin against gram-positive cocci in vitro (P<.001), and the percentage of ulcers caused by these pathogens that healed in the GAT group was significantly better than in the CIP group (P=.009). Mean time taken for healing of ulcer and the efficacy against gram-negative bacteria did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Gatifloxacin had a significantly better action against gram-positive cocci both in vitro and in vivo when compared with ciprofloxacin. In view of these organisms being the leading cause of keratitis worldwide, gatifloxacin may be a preferred alternative to ciprofloxacin as the first-line monotherapy in bacterial keratitis.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2006

Anterior chamber contamination during phacoemulsification and manual small-incision cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the per-operative contamination of anterior chamber among eyes undergoing manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) and phacoemulsification (PE). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, interventional clinical trial. METHODS: In this study conducted at a tertiary-care center in southern India, 150 eyes undergoing cataract surgery were randomly allocated to undergo MSICS (group A, 75 eyes) and PE (group B, 75 eyes). Aqueous samples were taken before and at the end of surgery. Collected material was subjected to standard microbiological analysis. No preoperative antibiotics were used, but povidone-iodine 5% drops were instilled before surgery. Main outcome measures studied were the incidence of positive cultures in aqueous samples obtained from eyes in both groups. RESULTS: The incidence of anterior chamber contamination in the MSICS group (4%) did not significantly differ from the PE group (2.7%; P = .65). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of anterior chamber contamination is similar among eyes undergoing MSICS and PE.

Anterior Chamber↗

PubMed2006

Optical coherence tomography in choroidal tuberculosis.

PURPOSE: To report the optical coherence tomographic (OCT) features in eyes with tuberculous choroidal granuloma. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: Nine eyes of nine patients with tuberculous granuloma of the choroid were studied using OCT scans. RESULTS: OCT scan through the lesions revealed a distinctive feature of attachment between the retinal pigment epithelial- choriocapillaris layer and the neurosensory retina over the granuloma ("contact" sign). This was associated with surrounding subretinal fluid and inflammatory infiltrate in the deeper retinal layers. CONCLUSIONS: OCT can be useful in the differentiating choroidal tuberculous granulomas from noninflammatory lesions with a similar clinical appearance.

Adolescent↗