PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Babu

Publications and source records attributed to S Babu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Health & nutritional implications of food colours.

Colour is a vital constituent of food which imparts distinct appearance to the food product. Artificial colouring becomes a technological necessity as foods tend to lose their natural shade during processing and storage. Most of the food colours tested in the conventional toxicity experiments showed toxic effects at a very high level of intake i.e., 1-5 per cent in the diet. However, such levels of intake are not normally encountered. Human studies indicated that food colours, (natural or synthetic) can induce wide range of allergic reactions only in sensitive or atopic individuals. Most of the foodborne diseases reported are due to the consumption of non-permitted textile colours or abuse of colours. The Government is pressurised periodically to place a total ban on the use of food colours due to their possible ill effects. It should be realised that surveillance should go hand in hand with legal actions.

Diet↗
PubMed1993

Dose-dependent genotoxic effect of pan masala and areca nut in the Salmonella typhimurium assay.

Aqueous extracts of different brands of pan masala and scented supari were tested for mutagenicity by the Salmonella typhimurium assay using tester strains TA98 and TA100. These extracts were found to be mutagenic to both tester strains. The mutagenic effects of pan masala and scented supari extracts were similar to that produced by areca nut extract. The addition of 500 ppm saccharin to the supari extracts did not alter the mutagenic response.

Areca↗
PubMed1993

Islet cell autoantigen 69 kD (ICA69). Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel diabetes-associated autoantigen.

We have identified a novel 69-kD peptide autoantigen (ICA69) associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) by screening a human islet lambda gt11 cDNA expression library with cytoplasmic islet cell antibody positive sera from relatives of IDDM patients who progressed to the overt disease. The deduced open reading frame of the ICA69 cDNA predicts a 483-amino acid protein. ICA69 shows no nucleotide or amino acid sequence relation to any known sequence in GenBank, except for two short regions of similarity with BSA. The ICA69 cDNA probe hybridizes with a 2-kb mRNA in poly(A+) RNA from human pancreas, brain, heart, thyroid, and kidney, but not with skeletal muscle, placenta, spleen, or ovary. Expression of ICA69 was also detected in beta cells and cell lines, as well as in tumoral tissue of islet cell origin. The native ICA69 molecule migrates to 69 kD in SDS-PAGE as detected with specific antibodies. Serum samples from relatives of IDDM patients specifically reacted with affinity-purified recombinant ICA69 on Western blotting. The structural gene for ICA69 was designated ICA1. A homologue in the mouse, designated Ica-1 was mapped to the proximal end of chromosome 6 (within 6 cM of the Met protooncogene). ICA69 adds a novel autoantigen to the family of identified islet target molecules, and by the manner of its identification and characterization large amounts of antigen are available for development of quantitative, convenient predictive assays for autoantibodies and analysis of the role of this molecule in diabetes autoimmunity, as well as its physiologic function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence location and patency of accessory canals in primary molars using dye penetration under vacuum suction technique--an in vitro study.

A study conducted on 120 primary molars (30 each of maxillary and mandibular 1st and 2nd molars) to find out the prevalence, location and patency of accessory canals and furcation formina using safranin red dye revealed the presence of accessory canals in 46 teeth (38.33 percent) with the major site being the furcation and furcation region.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1992

Passive maternal smoking and birthweight in a south Indian population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of passive maternal smoking on birthweight. DESIGN: Cohort of consecutive singleton live births. SETTING: Teaching hospital in South India. SUBJECTS: 994 infants and their mothers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Birthweight. RESULTS: All the women were themselves non-smokers; 520 (52%) were passive smokers while the remainder were not exposed to tobacco smoke. Infants born to passive smokers were on the average 55 g lighter than those born to non-smokers. Passive smoking was associated with a decrease in birthweight of 63 g (95% CI 12-114 g) even after adjusting for other variables known to affect birthweight.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Comparative study of omeprazole and famotidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.

In a double blind, multicenter, parallel group clinical trial in patients with symptomatic duodenal ulcers, 129 patients were randomized to receive either omeprazole 20 mg once daily (n = 65) or famotidine 40 mg once daily (n = 64) for 2 weeks, and if the ulcers were not healed, for a total of 4 weeks. Seventy four percent of these receiving omeprazole had healed ulcers after 2 weeks compared with 34.3% of those receiving famotidine (p < 0.001). At 4 weeks, the respective figures were 97.3% and 77.6% (p < 0.001). After 2 weeks of treatment, only 11.1% and 29.8% of omeprazole and famotidine treated patients respectively had day time pain (p < 0.02). Diary cards (successfully completed by 2/3rd of patients) showed that omeprazole treated patients required smaller amounts of antacids (p = ns). Over the first two weeks, ulcer healing rate was similar in smokers and non- smokers. No significant side effects were reported in either group. Omeprazole 20 mg/day provides more rapid relief of symptoms and heals a greater proportion of duodenal ulcers at 2 and 4 weeks than famotidine 40 mg/day.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Characterisation of cell-wall-derived polypeptide antigens from different species of Mycobacterium.

Cell walls from different species of Mycobacterium were purified on a sucrose step gradient. The components derived from these preparations were characterised by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by staining or by Western blotting. Surface-exposed polypeptide molecules were also identified by biotinylation. Many protein and glycoprotein molecules were identified in the cell walls. Some of these molecules were immunogenic in man and experimental animals and showed wide variability from species to species. The data suggest that these molecules could be of significance in the diagnosis and pathophysiology of mycobacterial diseases.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1989

Compartment syndrome in combined arterial and venous injuries of the lower extremity.

In 9 of 45 patients treated for dual vascular injuries of the lower extremity, concomitant fasciotomies were performed at the time of initial surgery for associated soft tissue injury, fracture, or prolonged ischemia. Eight other patients developed compartment syndrome requiring delayed fasciotomy. In seven of them, vein was either ligated or the repaired vein became occluded. In the eighth patient, peripheral venous hypertension was caused by massive swelling of the thigh. In the laboratory, compartment pressure was monitored by wick catheter in 24 hind limbs of 12 dogs subjected to experimental conditions simulating vascular injuries and their management. There was a significant increase in compartment pressure in a group that simulated arterial and venous injuries managed by arterial repair and venous outflow obstruction. Based on our study, we suggest that obstruction to venous drainage and venous hypertension are major factors in the development of compartment syndrome in dual vascular injuries of the lower extremity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The effect of inhaled steroids on the upper respiratory tract.

The incidence of upper respiratory tract Candidiasis secondary to steroid aerosol treatment is disputed, and varies from series to series. We found a very low incidence of thrush, but a significant number of abnormalities of the upper respiratory tract in a random selection of asthmatics on steroid inhaler. A minority had positive Candida cultures, but 37 per cent had symptoms which were minor and self-limiting, but a complaint of hoarseness in asthmatics on steroid inhalers should be referred to a laryngologist, even if there is no evidence of fungal infection in order to ascertain the nature of the laryngeal abnormality, such as adductor cord paralysis, or even carcinoma. This study also implies that the history from a patient with laryngeal or pharyngeal symptoms is incomplete unless the patient's aerosol medication is also taken into account, as signs and symptoms in this group of patients are usually reversible when alternative treatment for asthma is instituted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Amine production by Streptococcus lactis under different growth conditions.

The highest amount of histamine, tyramine and tryptamine were produced by S. lactis at 30 degrees C in 24 h at pH = 5.0. Maximum amount of different amines was noted in a growth medium lacking NaCl. After addition of NaCl even at 0.5% concentration, slight inhibitory effect on the synthesis of these amines was obtained.

Biogenic Monoamines↗
PubMed1986

Acute hepatic failure due to Plasmodium falciparum liver injury.

Nine patients with acute liver failure due to Plasmodium falciparum liver injury admitted to the Rajgarhia Liver Unit of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences during 1982-84 are presented. The liver was palpable in all the patients, and eight had splenomegaly. Investigations revealed mild to moderate abnormality in liver function tests. All were negative for the markers of acute infection due to hepatitis A and B viruses. Blood film examination showed P. falciparum alone in seven and along with P. vivax in the remaining two patients. Liver histology, which was identical in all eight patients where liver biopsy was done, showed centrizonal necrosis and hyperplastic Kupffer cells loaded with malarial pigment. All the patients recovered with specific anti-malarial and supportive treatment. Our observations suggest that malaria due to P. falciparum may present as jaundice and encephalopathy which stimulates acute hepatic failure due to fulminant hepatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

The use of C-reactive protein from cerebrospinal fluid for differentiating meningitis from other central nervous system diseases.

C-reactive protein (C-RP) determinations were performed by using the latex slide agglutination test on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 235 patients. The patients were categorized into the following groups: bacterial meningitis (n = 74); viral meningitis (n = 10); fever without bacterial meningitis (n = 80); neurological symptoms without infection (n = 25); intracranial hemorrhage (n = 10); increased intracranial pressure that was secondary to pseudotumor cerebri or hydrocephalus (n = 16); and malignancies (n = 20). On the initial lumbar puncture, the C-RP was positive in 97% (72 of 74) of the patients in group 1, as compared with 0% (0 of 10), 6% (5 of 80), 20% (5 of 25), 50% (5 of 10), 6% (1 of 16), and 30% (6 of 20) in groups 2-7, respectively (P less than .0001). The C-RP test was able to detect bacterial meningitis with a sensitivity of 97% (72 of 74), a specificity of 86% (139 of 161), a positive predictive value of 77% (72 of 94), and a negative predictive value of 99% (139 of 141). These data indicate that C-RP determinations performed on CSF are useful and rapid clinical tests for the exclusion of the presence of bacterial meningitis in a patient.

Adolescent↗