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Biomedical subjects

R Sampath

Publications and source records attributed to R Sampath.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Current trends in the diagnosis and management of renal nutcracker syndrome: a review.

Nutcracker syndrome is caused by compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery where it passes in the fork formed at the bifurcation of these arteries. The phenomenon results in left renal venous hypertension. The syndrome is manifested by left flank and abdominal pain, with or without unilateral haematuria. Other common presentation is as "pelvic congestion syndrome" characterized by symptoms of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, post-coital ache, lower abdominal pain, dysuria, pelvic, vulvar, gluteal or thigh varices and emotional disturbances. Likewise compression of the left renal vein can cause left renal-to-gonadal vein reflux resulting in lower limb varices and varicoceles in males. Its diagnosis is based on history and physical examination, basic lab tests to exclude other causes of haematuria, cystoscopy and ureteroscopy to confirm unilateral haematuria and exclude other causes of this sinister symptom. Sequence of imaging has more or less been rationalised to USS with Doppler studies, CT or MR angiography and finally phlebography with renal vein and IVC manometery to confirm the diagnosis.

Algorithms↗

A histological analysis of lens capsules stained with trypan blue for capsulorrhexis in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: Staining of anterior lens capsules with dye to facilitate completion of continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis is now being used more frequently in phacoemulsification of white and mature cataracts with poor red reflexes. This study examined the histological characteristics of anterior lens capsules stained with trypan blue. The layer(s) of the lens capsule that stained with dye and the extent of accumulation of dye in these layers of the lens capsule were determined. To the best of our knowledge this has not been described before. METHODS: A series of 10 stained lens capsules were analysed histologically. The dye used in this study consisted of a standard sterile, noninflammatory, nonpyrogenic, 2 ml solution containing 0.6 mg/ml of trypan blue. Following capsulorrhexis, samples were sent to the laboratory for histological analysis. Frozen sections (8 microm) were prepared and examined with the light microscope. All 10 capsules were cut by frozen section to preserve trypan blue staining (which would be leached by processing) and then subjected to immunohistochemistry for collagen IV. Immunohistochemical analysis using markers for type IV collagen were done on formalin-fixed specimens for morphological comparison with the frozen sections. A counterstain highlighted the epithelium. RESULTS: Continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis was successfully and easily completed in all cases without any complications. Frozen section analysis using light microscopy demonstrated accumulation of trypan blue dye in the basement membrane of the lens capsule. Staining was concentrated in the portion of the membrane adjacent to the lens epithelium. The lens epithelium could not be clearly identified on the frozen sections. Consequently, immunohistochemical analysis with markers for type IV collagen was performed. A counterstain highlighted the epithelium. This confirmed that the layer staining with trypan blue was the basement membrane, a consistent feature on all the specimens. CONCLUSION: Trypan blue selectively stains the basement membrane of the anterior lens capsule. There is a concentration of dye in the basement membrane adjacent to the lens epithelial cell layer. The lens cortex does not appear clinically to stain with trypan blue. This enables surgeons to distinguish the lens capsule from the cortex and provides sufficient contrast for successful completion of continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis during cataract surgery.

Basement Membrane↗

Erroneous automated refraction in a case of asteroid hyalosis.

To our knowledge, this is the first report of asteroid hyalosis giving rise to spurious automated refraction readings. A patient with asteroid hyalosis had uneventful phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Using a Nikon autorefractor, the postoperative refraction was +13.0 diopters (D); retinoscopy revealed that it should be +1.0 D. Asteroid hyalosis changes the optical quality of the vitreous and can cause an incorrect reading from automated equipment such as autorefractors and A-scan ultrasound scanners. In patients with asteroid hyalosis, results from autorefractors should be viewed in conjunction with clinical findings.

Aged↗

RNAMotif, an RNA secondary structure definition and search algorithm.

RNA molecules fold into characteristic secondary and tertiary structures that account for their diverse functional activities. Many of these RNA structures are assembled from a collection of RNA structural motifs. These basic building blocks are used repeatedly, and in various combinations, to form different RNA types and define their unique structural and functional properties. Identification of recurring RNA structural motifs will therefore enhance our understanding of RNA structure and help associate elements of RNA structure with functional and regulatory elements. Our goal was to develop a computer program that can describe an RNA structural element of any complexity and then search any nucleotide sequence database, including the complete prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, for these structural elements. Here we describe in detail a new computational motif search algorithm, RNAMotif, and demonstrate its utility with some motif search examples. RNAMotif differs from other motif search tools in two important aspects: first, the structure definition language is more flexible and can specify any type of base-base interaction; second, RNAMotif provides a user controlled scoring section that can be used to add capabilities that patterns alone cannot provide.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Prediction of rho-independent transcriptional terminators in Escherichia coli.

A new algorithm called RNAMotif containing RNA structure and sequence constraints and a thermodynamic scoring system was used to search for intrinsic rho-independent terminators in the Escherichia coli K-12 genome. We identified all 135 reported terminators and 940 putative terminator sequences beginning no more than 60 nt away from the 3'-end of the annotated transcription units (TU). Putative and reported terminators with the scores above our chosen threshold were found for 37 of the 53 non-coding RNA TU and for almost 50% of the 2592 annotated protein-encoding TU, which correlates well with the number of TU expected to contain rho-independent terminators. We also identified 439 terminators that could function in a bi-directional fashion, servicing one gene on the positive strand and a different gene on the negative strand. Approximately 700 additional termination signals in non-coding regions (NCR) far away from the nearest annotated gene were predicted. This number correlates well with the excess number of predicted 'orphan' promoters in the NCR, and these promoters and terminators may be associated with as yet unidentified TU. The significant number of high scoring hits that occurred within the reading frame of annotated genes suggests that either an additional component of rho-independent terminators exists or that a suppressive mechanism to prevent unwanted termination remains to be discovered.

Algorithms↗

Cytoskeletal interactions with the leukocyte integrin beta2 cytoplasmic tail. Activation-dependent regulation of associations with talin and alpha-actinin.

Circulating leukocytes are nonadherent but bind tightly to endothelial cells following activation. The increased avidity of leukocyte integrins for endothelial ligands following activation is regulated, in part, by interaction of the beta2 subunit cytoplasmic tail with the actin cytoskeleton. We propose a mechanism to explain how tethering of the actin cytoskeleton to leukocyte integrins is regulated. In resting leukocytes, beta2 integrins are constitutively linked to the actin cytoskeleton via the protein talin. Activation of cells induces proteolysis of talin and dissociation from the beta2 tail. This phase is transient, however, and is followed by reattachment of actin filaments to integrins that is mediated by the protein alpha-actinin. The association of alpha-actinin with integrins may stabilize the cytoskeleton and promote firm adhesion to and migration across the endothelium. Glutathione S-transferase-beta2 tail fusion protein/mutagenesis experiments suggest that the affinity of alpha-actinin binding to the beta2 tail is regulated by a change in the conformation of the tail that unmasks a cryptic alpha-actinin binding domain. Positive and inhibitory domains within the beta2 tail regulate alpha-actinin binding: a single 11-amino acid region (residues 736-746) is necessary and sufficient for alpha-actinin binding, and a regulatory domain between residues 748-762 inhibits constitutive association of the beta2 tail with alpha-actinin.

Actinin↗

Autogenous labial mucous membrane and banked scleral patch grafting for exposed retinal explants.

Following retinal detachment surgery, exposure of the scleral explant is uncommon and usually requires its removal. In patients with a history of multiple retinal detachment procedures or continuing vitreoretinal traction removal of an explant can lead to retinal redetachment. In such patients it is preferable to cover and retain an exposed explant rather than remove it. Various techniques have been described to cover exposed explants. If the exposed area is small a conjunctivoplasty or conjunctival graft is usually adequate. The use of banked scleral patch grafts has been described in the management of exposed orbital implants. We describe the use of this technique in combination with a labial mucous membrane graft in four patients with an exposed silicone retinal explant. With a minimum follow-up period of 11 months the explant remains covered in all patients.

Aged↗

The hydroxyapatite orbital implant: a prospective study.

The hydroxyapatite orbital implant was first released for use as an orbital implant in humans in August 1989. It has been shown to be well tolerated, providing good motility of the artificial eye with a low complication rate when used as a primary implant. This prospective study evaluated the hydroxyapatite orbital implant used as both a primary and a secondary implant. Sixty patients were implanted between October 1992 and November 1994, 28 being implanted as a primary procedure at the time of enucleation or evisceration, and 32 as a secondary procedure. Seven patients underwent second-stage drilling and pegging of the implant. The mean follow-up time was 13 months (range 2-26 months). A standardised operative and post-operative protocol was followed. The patients were evaluated post-operatively for the amount of enophthalmos, degree of upper lid sulcus deformity, motility of the prosthesis, location of the implant in the socket, socket status and the presence or absence of discharge, position of the drill hole and coverage of the implant. Complications and their management were documented. Both patient and surgeon made a subjective assessment of cosmesis and the patient's satisfaction with the overall result was noted. The results of this study show the hydroxyapatite orbital implant to provide excellent motility of the artificial eye and good cosmesis with a low rate of complications when used both as a primary and as a secondary implant.

Adolescent↗

The Fasanella-Servat procedure: a retrospective study.

A retrospective study was carried out to assess the success of the Fasanella-Servat procedure for the management of the aponeurotic defect type of adult ptosis. Eighteen procedures were carried out on 16 patients. The mean follow-up was 3 years. The success rate of the operation was 28% with a mean residual tarsal plate height of 5 mm with a very variable tarsal plate contour.

Aged↗

Use of Proplast II as a subperiosteal implant for the correction of anophthalmic enophthalmos.

BACKGROUND: A variety of autogenous and alloplastic materials have been used as subperiosteal implants to correct anophthalmic enophthalmos. Proplast II is a synthetic porous composite of Teflon polymer and alumina. Proplast II offers a number of advantages over other commonly used alloplastic materials such as silicone and polymethyl methacrylate. It is light, porous, resilient, malleable, and easy to shape. It can be readily sterilised after shaping. It has been found to integrate with the surrounding tissues, thereby minimising the risk of subsequent implant migration and extrusion. METHODS: Proplast II was used as a subperiosteal implant in a total of 15 anophthalmic patients during the period June 1990 to March 1994. The indication for this procedure in all patients was poor orbital volume replacement despite the prior insertion of an adequately sized spherical socket implant. RESULTS: The results were excellent with a good correction of preoperative upper eyelid sulcus deformity. There were no operative complications nor any serious postoperative complications. The implants were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Proplast II can be highly recommended for use as a subperiosteal implant.

Adult↗