PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Arora

Publications and source records attributed to R Arora.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Balloon mitral commissurotomy: an intraoperative assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Advances in balloon catheter technology have revolutionized the management of obstructive cardiovascular diseases. For lesions like mitral stenosis, balloon commissurotomy has emerged as an alternative to surgical relief showing definite functional benefits in a few clinical trials, albeit with variable results. Such variability necessitated objective evaluation of the efficacy of balloon mitral commissurotomy. METHODS: The balloon mitral commissurotomy was carried out in 11 patients suffering from isolated mitral stenosis, under vision in a surgical setting. All patients were in NYHA class III/IV. Initially single balloon was used for mitral commissurotomy followed by double balloon, before completing the mitral valvotomy with surgical instruments whenever required. The commissural split was measured by firmly stretching the two commissures using nerve hooks and measuring the distance between the two hooks with the help of a caliper. Assessment of balloon dilation was made by calculating exact percentage of residual commissural split following balloon dilation as compared with completed mitral valvotomy. The exact percentage of commissural split was thus obtained by subtracting residual commissural split following balloon dilation from commissural split obtained after surgical open mitral valvotomy. RESULTS: Complete commissurotomy using the balloon technique was possible in two (18.2%) patients. In the remaining nine (81.8%) patients, balloon expansion provided only 50% to 80% of commissural split and required instrumental completion with good results. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon mitral commissurotomy, by virtue of its circumferential force, helps to develop a good cleavage and attains good hemodynamic improvement which may be life saving in critical mitral stenosis in selected group of patients with pliable mitral leaflets and minimal subvalvular pathology.

Adolescent↗

Computed tomography in miliary tuberculosis: comparison with plain films, bronchoalveolar lavage, pulmonary functions and gas exchange.

Computed tomography (CT) of the chest, pulmonary function tests, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and arterial blood gas analysis were performed in 26 patients with non-HIV miliary tuberculosis (MTB). CT was repeated after treatment in 11 patients. Nodular lesions were characteristically seen on CT. CT showed discrete and fine nodules in five patients in whom the lesions appeared to be larger than miliary on chest X-rays. Coalescing nodular lesions were noted on chest X-rays (n = 7) and CT (n = 18). Consolidation (n = 6), cavitation (n = 4), fibrosis (n = 9) and air trapping (n = 14) were detected on CT only. During follow up, air trapping increased (n = 14) and in some patients it appeared for the first time (n = 2). Lymph node enlargement and calcification were seen on both chest X-rays (n = 9 and n = 3, respectively) and CT (n = 12 and n = 7, respectively). Pleural involvement was also seen in chest X-rays (n = 4) and CT (n = 5). Total lung capacity was higher in patients with a chest X-ray score > 10. Similarly a higher total cell count in BAL fluid was observed in patients with a CT score > 10. It is concluded from this study that CT is superior to chest X-rays in detecting nodular lesions, lymphadenopathy and air trapping in patients with MTB.

Adult↗

AIDS awareness among nursing students of Delhi.

A total of 233 students of nursing school affiliated to a major hospital of Delhi were surveyed anonymously employing a predesigned, pretested and self-administered questionnaire. Although, 78.6 per cent students knew that AIDS stands for "Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome," 15.5 per cent students were unaware of the fact that AIDS had reached India. Majority of them were aware of various aspects of HIV/AIDS. However, they also had few misconceptions particularly regarding HIV transmission. Contrary to our belief, only one-fourth students acquired AIDS information from scientific journals. One training session on AIDS conducted for a small group of students could not bring any significant change in their knowledge. Findings suggest organization of AIDS-training sessions at regular intervals from the very inception of nursing programme to impart complete and correct knowledge of these future Florence Nightingales regarding various aspects of HIV/AIDS and for removal of misconceptions.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

A retained intraretinal foreign body.

A patient with an 11-mm retained intraretinal foreign body is described. Absence of any history of trauma or foreign body entry with no obvious wound of entry and little damage to the ocular structures makes this case unusual.

Adult↗

Balloon dilatation of inferior vena cava stenosis in Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Percutaneous balloon angioplasty was used to dilate inferior vena cava (IVC) stenosis in 12 patients with Budd Chiari syndrome. There were seven men and five women, aged 32.8 +/- 8.5 years. Angioplasty was performed using balloon 18-20 mm in diameter. In eleven (91.6%) patients, IVC could be successfully dilated. In these eleven patients, the caval diameter at the site of stenosis increased from 2.3 +/- 1.5 to 13.1 +/- 2.8 mm (p < 0.001), the mean IVC pressure decreased from 28.2 +/- 4.1 to 10.5 +/- 3.4 mmHg (p < 0.001) and the gradient across the stenosis decreased from 23.1 +/- 2.2 to 4.2 +/- 1.9 mmHg (p < 0.001). There was appreciable clinical improvement after angioplasty. On a mean followup of 10.8 (3-18) months four (36.4%) patients had restenosis which could be successfully dilated again. These results suggest that balloon dilatation of inferior vena cava stenosis is safe and effective, however, recurrence is common and needs redilatation.

Adolescent↗

A complete plasmid-based complementation system for RNA coliphage Q beta: three proteins of bacteriophages Q beta (group III) and SP (group IV) can be interchanged.

Our laboratory has established a bacteriophage Q beta cDNA-containing plasmid system in which virtually all coding defects present within the 4217 nucleotide Q beta genome can be complemented in trans. In this system, Q beta minus strand RNAs are constitutively transcribed from plasmid cDNA by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. Replication of these minus strands results in the synthesis of Q beta plus RNA, thereby triggering an infectious cycle in which Q beta phase particles are generated. Genetically engineered Q beta genome mutations that result in defective viral proteins can be complemented in trans by the products of one or more Q beta helper plasmids that express either: (1) Q beta maturation protein, which can complement defects in the Q beta maturation cistron (nucleotides 61 to 1320); (2) Q beta readthrough protein, which can complement defects in the readthrough cistron (nucleotides 1344 to 2330); or (3) Q beta replicase, which can complement defects in the replicase cistron (nucleotides 2352 to 4118). Each plasmid component of this system contains a unique origin of replication and carries a different antibiotic gene, thereby enabling all combinations of these plasmids to coexist in the same host. We have further developed a second series of helper plasmids that generate the corresponding viral proteins of the related group IV RNA phage SP. Each of these SP helper proteins can complement respective defects within the Q beta genome with efficiencies similar to those observed for the Q beta helper proteins. It is now possible to supply functional Q beta or SP proteins in trans to examine Q beta genomes that contain protein coding defects for their ability to synthesize Q beta proteins, replicate Q beta RNA, assemble virions, and/or lyse the host cell.

Allolevivirus↗

Effects of balloon mitral valvuloplasty on left ventricular muscle function.

Echocardiographically determined ventricular load and performance were compared in 40 consecutive patients with severe mitral stenosis before and 24 h after successful and uncomplicated balloon mitral valvuloplasty in order to clarify the role of loading conditions in causation of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. After valvuloplasty, mitral valve area increased 2-fold. A modest increase in ejection fraction (53 +/- 11% to 57 +/- 8%, P = 0.021) occurred with an insignificant increase in end-diastolic volume (44 +/- 10 to 48 +/- 16 ml/m2, P = 0.063) and no change in wall stress (61 +/- 19 to 59 +/- 19 kdynes/cm3, P = 0.85) (10(5) dynes = 1 N). There was no correlation between changes in fractional shortening and wall stress (r = 0.07) and between changes in end-diastolic volume and fractional shortening (r = 0.12). Contractile performance estimated by a performance-afterload relation was unchanged after the valvuloplasty. Factors other than a change in loading conditions might be responsible for a modest improvement in ejection performance following mitral valvuloplasty.

Adolescent↗

Balancing photosynthetic light-harvesting and light-utilization capacities in potato leaf tissue during acclimation to different growth temperatures.

We investigated the effect of temperature during growth and development on the relationship between light-harvesting capacity, indicated by chlorophyll concentration, and light-utilization potential, indicated by light- and bicarbonate-saturated photosynthetic oxygen evolution, in Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Norland. Clonal plantlets were transplanted and grown at 20 degrees C for 2 weeks before transfer to 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 degrees C for 6 weeks. After 4 weeks of the temperature treatments, leaf tissue fresh weights per area were one-third higher in plants grown at 12 degrees C vs those grown at 28 degrees C. Conversely, chlorophyll content per area in tissue grown at 12 degrees C was less than one-half of that of tissue grown at 28 degrees C at 4 weeks. Photosynthetic capacity measured at a common temperature of 20 degrees C and expressed on a chlorophyll basis was inversely proportional to growth temperature. Leaf tissue from plants grown at 12 degrees C for 4 weeks had photosynthetic rates that were 3-fold higher on a chlorophyll basis than comparable tissue from plants grown at 28 degrees C. These results suggest that the relationship between light-harvesting capacity and light-utilization potential varies 3-fold in response to the growth temperatures examined. The role of this response in avoidance of photoinhibition is discussed.

Acclimatization↗

A study of infective aetiology of chronic diarrhoea in children in Amritsar.

Examination of 150 stool samples from children of less than 3 years of age of chronic diarrhoea showed the presence of various enteropathogens in 58.7% cases. Cryptosporidium in pure form, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia were detected in 1.3%, 2% and in 4% cases respectively. In 1.3% children Candida albicans was isolated. The predominant bacterial isolate was enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (21.4%). Salmonella typhimurium, shigella and campylobacter were isolated in 8.6%, 4% and 0.7% children respectively.

Child, Preschool↗

Enterotoxigenic enteric bacteria causing secretory diarrhoea.

Two hundred and fifty enteric bacteria isolated from cases of secretory diarrhoea of all age groups were studied for their enterotoxigenicity and prevalence of drug resistance. The principal pathogens were Escherichia coli 44.4%, Vibrio cholerae 28.8%, Salmonella typhimurium 19.2% and Campylobacter jejuni 2.4%. 104 (42.6%) strains were enterotoxigenic; V. cholerae (100%), Escherichia coli (25.2%) and Non-E. coli enterobacteria (6.5%). While 89.3% and 100% Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium strains were multi drug resistant, 40% and 100% respectively showed transfer of R-plasmids to standard receipt strains. In V. cholerae multi drug resistance was observed in only 5.5% strains.

Adolescent↗

Improved Doppler assessment of the Bjork-Shiley mitral prosthesis using the continuity equation.

To assess whether derivation of an effective mitral prosthetic valve area using the continuity equation provides an improved functional assessment of the Bjork-Shiley mitral prosthesis over the pressure half-time method, Doppler echocardiographic studies were performed in 43 patients 12 +/- 7 months following the valve replacement. Effective valve orifice area used as the standard for comparison was determined by a hydraulic formula validated in vitro over a wide range of flow rates. All patients were clinically stable, without evidence of prosthetic dysfunction or aortic regurgitation. Prosthetic mitral valve orifice area determined by the hydraulic formula, by the continuity equation and by pressure half-time method for all prostheses sizes averaged 1.6 +/- 0.46 cm2, 1.83 +/- 0.56 cm2 and 2.34 +/- 0.48 cm2, respectively. Effective valve orifice area by the hydraulic formula had a strong correlation with that derived by the continuity equation (r = 0.86; P < 0.0001; standard error of estimate (S.E.E.), 0.12 cm2), but an insignificant correlation with the area calculated by the pressure half-time method (r = 0.24). Prosthetic mitral valve areas determined by the continuity equation and by pressure half-time method also correlated poorly (r = 0.24). Pressure half-time was affected by heart rate, diastolic filling period, left ventricular fractional shortening and presence of atrial fibrillation (P < 0.001). Thus, using the standard continuity equation to determine the orifice area of the Bjork-Shiley prosthesis in the mitral position provides improved assessment compared with the pressure half-time method.

Adolescent↗

Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy for severe mitral stenosis during pregnancy.

Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy was performed in 27 pregnant females aged 24.9 +/- 3.14 years (range 20-30 years) with severe mitral stenosis at 22.2 +/- 4.3 weeks (range 18-32 weeks) of gestation. All patients were in New York Heart Association functional class IV at the time of procedure. The procedure was performed using the flow guided Inoue balloon in 25 patients and double balloon technique in 2 patients. Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy was successful in 26 patients. The mitral valve area assessed by Doppler echocardiography (pressure half time) increased from 0.78 +/- 0.19 cm2 (range 0.5-1.0 cm2) to 2.2 +/- 0.12 cm2 (range 1.9-2.6 cm2) (P < 0.001). The mean mitral gradient decreased from 30.5 +/- 7.6 mm Hg (range 22.5-41.4 mm Hg) to 6.1 +/- 2.6 mm Hg (range 4.2-12.3 mm Hg) (P < 0.001). The end diastolic gradient decreased from 28.3 +/- 4.2 mm Hg (range 23-37 mm Hg) to 2.8 +/- 1.5 mm Hg (range 0-5 mm Hg) (P < 0.001). The total fluoroscopy time was 5.6 +/- 2.2 min (range 2.7-8.9 min). Mitral regurgitation increased by one grade in 7 patients. One patient developed severe mitral regurgitation with anterior mitral leaflet tear needing immediate mitral valve replacement. Twenty-six patients improved to New York Heart Association class I after the procedure. Twenty-four patients had full-term, normal delivery and gave birth to healthy infants. The patients were followed up for 1-36 months (mean 16.6 +/- 7.8 months).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus by Rashkind umbrella device: follow-up results.

Seventy-six patients (36 boys and 40 girls) with patent ductus arteriosus who had successful ductal occlusion with a Rashkind umbrella device were monitored for a period of 6 to 60 months (mean 26.7 +/- 12.3 months). All patients were evaluated by pulsed and color Doppler echocardiography before and after the procedure. The prevalence of residual left-to-right shunt and main pulmonary artery flow pattern were assessed. Residual left-to-right shunt was seen in 12 (15.7%) patients 24 hours after the procedure, but the shunt was small with a pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratio of < 1.3:1. Repeat echo Doppler study at 14 days showed residual left-to-right shunt in 10 (13.1%) patients. None of these patients showed further decrease in prevalence of residual left-to-right shunt. The patients with residual left-to-right shunt had larger ductii (mean 5.17 +/- 0.88 mm, range 4.23 to 6.6 mm) as compared to patients with no residual left-to-right shunt (3.31 +/- 0.86 mm, range 1.8 to 4.69 mm; p < 0.001). Two patients with residual shunt had successful ductus reocclusion, with 12 and 17 mm devices, respectively, at 28 month of follow-up. The Rashkind umbrella device is effective in closing ducti with diameters of < 5 mm in majority of patients.

Adolescent↗

Percutaneous transatrial mitral commissurotomy: immediate and intermediate results.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate and follow-up results of percutaneous transatrial mitral commissurotomy in 600 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transatrial mitral commissurotomy has emerged as an effective nonsurgical technique for patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis. Several studies have shown that the immediate results are comparable to closed and open mitral valvotomy. METHODS: Percutaneous transatrial mitral commissurotomy was performed in 600 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis by the double-balloon (290 patients [48.3%]) and flow-guided Inoue balloon (310 patients [51.7%]) techniques. There were 154 male (25.6%) and 446 female (77.4%) patients with a mean [+/- SD] age of 27 +/- 8 years (range 8 to 60). Atrial fibrillation was present in 26 patients (4.3%), mitral regurgitation < or = grade 2 in 62 (10.3%) and densely calcific valve in 12 (2%). All patients had clinical and echocardiographic (two-dimensional, continuous wave Doppler, color flow imaging) follow-up at 3-month intervals. RESULTS: Percutaneous transatrial mitral commissurotomy was successful in 589 patients (98.1%), and optimal commissurotomy was achieved in 562 (93.6%), with an increase in mitral valve area from (mean +/- SD) 0.75 +/- 0.18 to 2.2 +/- 0.38 cm2 (p < 0.001) and a decrease in transmitral end-diastolic gradient from 27.3 +/- 6.1 to 3.8 +/- 4.2 mm Hg (p < 0.001). Mitral regurgitation developed or increased in 208 patients (34.6%). Six patients (1%) with mitral regurgitation required mitral valve replacement. Cardiac tamponade occurred in 8 patients (1.3%). Six patients (1%) died. Restenosis developed in 10 patients (1.7%) during a mean follow-up period of 37 +/- 8 months (range 6 to 66). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transatrial mitral commissurotomy is an effective, safe procedure with gratifying intermediate results. It should be considered the treatment of choice for rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Adolescent↗