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Biomedical subjects

R N Sinha

Publications and source records attributed to R N Sinha.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Amyloid goiter due to primary systemic amyloidosis: a diagnostic challenge.

We describe a euthyroid patient who presented with a goiter that continued to enlarge despite levothyroxine administration. Three fine-needle aspirations for cytology were nondiagnostic. An open biopsy was complicated by bleeding from the surgical site. Primary systemic amyloidosis was diagnosed on the basis of the goiter histology, bone marrow aspirate, and urine immunoelectrophoresis. The patient received melphalan and steroid treatment and survived for an additional 16 months. This period was complicated by congestive heart failure, generalized seizures, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Our case illustrates the difficulties in making the diagnosis and in treatment of primary systemic amyloidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Perception and practice regarding pulse polio immunisation in an urban community of Calcutta.

A survey was conducted at an Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme project in North Calcutta among 656 mothers having children less than 3 years of age to assess their perception and practice regarding pulse polio immunisation (PPI). It was revealed that 91.8% of under 3-year children received PPI on 9-12-1995 and 94.4% on 20-1-1996. Major reasons for not accepting the services on those two days included 'mothers unaware' (22%), 'child too small' (30.5%), etc. Major source of first information was television (TV)/radio (57.2%) followed by anganwadi workers (AWWs) (33.8%). However, majority of the mothers were finally motivated for PPI by AWWs (58.8%) followed by the role of TV/radio (34.1%). Although 70.7% mothers knew the name of the vaccine correctly, only 3.5% mothers could tell the exact purpose of its administration. Most mothers (73%) opined that 2 drops of oral polio vaccine (OPV) was administered to their children and only 14.6% hoped that such programmes will be conducted by the Government in future. The average waiting time of mothers at immunisation centres was found to be 7.2 minutes.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Diurnal variation in blood pressure in insulin-dependent diabetic smokers and non-smokers with and without microalbuminuria.

In subjects with essential hypertension, loss of the normal nocturnal dip in blood pressure is associated with a greater risk of developing end-organ complications. In subjects with diabetes, smoking carries a similar association. To assess whether these factors may have an aetiological and synergistic role in the vascular complications of diabetes, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring was performed in insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) patients with normal albumin excretion (n = 19) and microalbuminuria (n = 21) of comparable age and duration of diabetes, and with no evidence of autonomic neuropathy or hypertension. The potential influence of smoking was examined by subdividing the groups, depending on smoking status. Ten of the microalbuminuric group and 9 of the normoalbuminuric group were current smokers, the remaining patients never having smoked. There was a significant difference between mean (+/-SD) daytime vs nocturnal blood pressure in patients with normal albumin excretion (114 +/- 3/70 +/- 4 vs 102 +/- 3/62 +/- 3 mmHg; p < 0.001) and microalbuminuria (109 +/- 5/75 +/- 5 vs 101 +/- 3/65 +/- 4 mmHg; p < 0.001) but mean blood pressure values did not differ significantly between the groups. A similar fall in nocturnal blood pressure was found in smokers and non-smokers with and without microalbuminuria (p < 0.001), but there was no difference between the mean blood pressure values in the different subgroups. In conclusion, normotensive IDDM patients, who do not have autonomic neuropathy, retain a significant diurnal variation in blood pressure, irrespective of smoking habit or presence of microalbuminuria.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A six-year follow-up study of smoking habits and microvascular complications in young adults with type 1 diabetes.

One hundred insulin-dependent diabetic patients (age < 45 years, 53 smokers) were followed for six years. The age, duration of diabetes and mean glycated haemoglobin levels, were comparable between the smokers and non-smokers. Microvascular complications (retinopathy and increased urine albumin excretion) were commoner and more severe in the smoking group at six years, particularly in heavy smokers. Of the 45 original smokers reviewed at six years, 12 (27%) had stopped, six of whom had developed microvascular complications. Only two of the 'heavy' initial smokers, likely to be at most risk, had stopped smoking, and three original non-smokers had started smoking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Ochratoxin A production in Bavarian cereal grains stored at 15 and 19% moisture content.

Wheat, barley, and maize, each in 15-kg parcels at 15 and 19% initial moisture content (IMC), were kept in a Bavarian farm granary from June through November 1990. During this period, the grain at each IMC was analyzed for mycotoxins and monitored for grain temperature, carbon dioxide, seed germination, and microfloral incidence and abundance. Barley and maize stored for 20 weeks at 19% IMC contained ochratoxin A in amounts of 70 and 90 microg/kg, respectively. This mycotoxin was not detected in wheat stored at 19% IMC, nor in the grains stored at 15% IMC. Aflatoxin B1, sterigmatocystin, citrinin, and zearalenone were also assayed but not detected in grains stored at either IMC. Principal component analysis of the data indicated that ochratoxin A was produced in a damp niche in maize, when abundant metabolic activity and CO2 production by Penicillium glandicola and Aspergillus spp. were common.

Edible Grain↗
PubMed1990

Mycotoxin formation in HY-320 wheat during granary storage at 15 and 19% moisture content.

Eleven-kilogram parcels of HY-320 wheat, a cultivar of the new Canada Prairie Spring class, were kept at 15 and 19% initial moisture contents (IMC) in simulated storage in a Manitoba farm granary for 60 weeks to determine biotic and abiotic changes and mycotoxin production. Ochratoxin A reached a maximum of 0.24 ppm by week 20 in the 19% IMC wheat, but was absent in the 15% IMC wheat; no other mycotoxins were detected. Temperature, moisture content, O2 and CO2 levels, fat acidity values, seed germination, microfloral incidence and abundance, and the presence of other mycotoxins were monitored. Principal component analysis of all variables showed that the first principal components accounted for 32-41% of the system variability, and contained the ochratoxin A variable. Ochratoxin A was produced in moist grain that had decreased seed germination and Alternaria activity, and high fungal activity by Penicillium and Aspergillus versicolor. Compared to other stored cereals previously studied, HY-320 wheat would be ranked in a low-risk category for mycotoxin formation, based on the ochratoxin A levels observed.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed1989

Odor volatiles associated with microflora in damp ventilated and non-ventilated bin-stored bulk wheat.

Western hard red spring wheat, stored at 20 and 25% moisture contents for 10 months during 1985-86, was monitored for biotic and abiotic variables in 10 unheated bins in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The major odor volatiles identified were 3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-octanone and 1-octen-3-ol. The production of these volatiles was associated and correlated with microfloral infection. Ventilation, used for cooling and drying of grain, disrupted microfloral growth patterns and production of volatiles. The highest levels of 3-methyl-1-butanol occurred in 25% moisture content wheat infected with bacteria, Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp. In non-ventilated (control) bins with 20% moisture content wheat, 3-methyl-1-butanol was correlated with infection by members of the Aspergillus glaucus group and bacteria. In control bins, 1-octen-3-ol production was correlated with infection of wheat of both moisture contents by Penicillium spp. The fungal species, isolated from damp bin-stored wheat and tested for production of odor volatiles on wheat substrate, included Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Aspergillus repens (Corda) Saccardo, A. flavus Link ex Fries, A. versicolor (Vuill.) Tiraboschi, Penicillium chrysogenum Thom, P. cyclopium Westling, Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon, F. semitectum (Cooke) Sacc. In the laboratory, fungus-inoculated wheat produced 3-methyl-1-butanol; 3-octanone and 1-octen-3-ol were also produced, but less frequently. Two unidentified bacterial species isolated from damp wheat and inoculated on agar produced 3-methyl-1-butanol.

Alcohols↗
PubMed1988

Fungal volatiles associated with moldy grain in ventilated and non-ventilated bin-stored wheat.

The fungal odor compounds 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone were monitored in nine experimental bins in Winnipeg, Manitoba containing a hard red spring wheat during the autumn, winter and summer seasons of 1984-85. Quality changes were associated with seed-borne microflora and moisture content in both ventilated and non-ventilated bins containing wheat of 15.6 and 18.2% initial moisture content. All three odor compounds occurred in considerably greater amounts in bulk wheat in non-ventilated than in ventilated bins, particularly in those with wheat having 18.2% moisture content. The presence of these compounds usually coincided with infection of the seeds by the fungi Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Aspergillus repens DeBarry, A. versicolor (Vuill.) Tiraboschi, Penicillium crustosum Thom, P. oxalicum Currie and Thom, P. aurantiogriesum Dierckx, and P. citrinum Thom. High production of all three odor compounds in damp wheat stored in non-ventilated bins was associated with heavy fungal infection of the seeds and reduction in seed germinability. High initial moisture content of the harvested grain accelerated the production of all three fungal volatiles in non-ventilated bins.

Alternaria↗
PubMed1987

Mycotoxin formation in moist 2-row and 6-row barley during granary storage.

Eleven-kilogram parcels of 2-row and 6-row barley initially at 18% moisture content were implanted in dry bulk oats in a farm granary in Manitoba for 60 weeks between August 1983 and October 1984. Temperature, moisture content, O2 and CO2 levels, fat acidity values, seed germination, microfloral incidence and abundance and the presence of major mycotoxins (aflatoxins, sterigmatocystin, ochratoxin A, citrinin, penicillinic acid, patulin) were monitored. Ochratoxin A reached maximum levels of 0.97 ppm by week 24 in the 6-row barley, and 0.05 ppm by week 28 in the 2-row; no other mycotoxins were detected. The effect of cultivar type was significant (P less than 0.01) with greater effects in the 6-row barley for the following parameters: fat acidity value, germination, incidence of Alternaria alternata, Penicillium spp. and Helminthosporium sativum, total fungal propagule count and ochratoxin A levels. The effect of time was significant (P less than 0.05) for all variables except oxygen, carbon dioxide, Aspergillus versicolor, and total fungal propagule count. The interaction between cultivar and time was significant (P less than 0.01) for Alternaria and Helminthosporium only.

Alternaria↗
PubMed1983

Sensitization in a grain handler to the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank).

Allergy to one of the most common Canadian storage mites. Lepidoglyphus destructor, was demonstrated in a grain worker by immediate skin testing and inhalation challenge. The frequency of sensitization to this mite was found to be 12% in 100 asthmatics by skin testing. In 4% of these asthmatics sensitization to another storage mite, Acarus siro, was found, all of whom were also sensitized to L. destructor and the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae. There was a significantly higher proportion of asthmatics sensitive to the storage mites and to fungi who had a history of exposure to grain compared to those who did not.

Asthma↗
PubMed1982

Mycotoxin formation in moist wheat under controlled temperatures.

One-kilogram parcels of wheat with 20.5% moisture content were maintained at 15 degrees and 22 degrees C for 10 weeks to study quality changes. Temperature, moisture, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, microflora incidence and abundance, seed germination, fat acidity values, aflatoxins, sterigmatocystin, ochratoxin A, penicillic acid, citrinin and zearalenone were monitored. By two weeks, trace levels of ochratoxin had formed at both temperatures. By 10 weeks, the wheat contained at least three times more ochratoxin A at 22 degrees C than at 15 degrees C. Strains of Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium were associated with ochratoxin A production. No other mycotoxins were detected. The effect of temperature was significant for all variables (greater effect at 22 degree C) except A. glaucus gr. and Penicillium (P less than .01). The effect of time was significant for all variables except bacteria (P less than .01). The shape of the response was fully characterized by the linear and quadratic terms, except for % moisture which was linear only, and for bacteria for which time was not significant. The interaction between time and temperature was significant (P less than .01) for total fungal propagule count, % moisture, and Aspergillus versicolor, indicative of the steeper rise in slope for 22 degrees C.

Food Contamination↗
PubMed1975

Microflora of stored grain in international trade.

Although the temperature of grain in the holds of ships arriving in Japan from Argintina, Australia, Canada, China and USA during 1966-67 varied with the grain, country of origin, and season, it was likely to be determined by the temperature of the grain when it was loaded into the ships. Dockage level varied among bulks of the same type of grain, but the mean dockage in any one crop was always larger when originating from the USA than from other countries. Generally the viability of the grain was good, but when it was reduced, interaction of variety and time seemed to be the principal cause. Field fungi - non-pathogenic Alternaria, and the pathogenic Helminthosporium and Fusarium species - tended to die out, during transport, thus reducing the hazards of new pathogenic strains being distributed across international boundaries. The non-pathogenic field fungi, Cladosporium and Phaeoramularia, were persistent. Although common in grain shipments from all countries, species of Aspergillus and Penicillium varied quantitatively with the different grains. In this respect, more Aspergillus spp. were found in grains originating in the USA and Australia than those originating in Canada. The primary contamination by storage fungi appeared to be at the source, at or after harvest and in storage prior to export.

Edible Grain↗