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Biomedical subjects

S Rastogi

Publications and source records attributed to S Rastogi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To screen and treat chlamydial infection in pregnant women in order to assess the effects of therapeutic intervention on the outcome of Chlamydia trachomatis-infected pregnancy. METHODS: Enrolled in the study were 350 women in the first to third trimesters of pregnancy. Endocervical swabs were collected for C. trachomatis diagnosis by DFA and PCR. A few STD infections, viz.: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Candida spp., bacterial vaginosis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Treponema pallidum were ruled out. After excluding 22 patients infected with other sexually transmitted infections, a cohort of 328 pregnant women comprised the study population. Anti-chlamydial treatment (viz.: oral therapy with erythromycin stearate, 500 mg 4 times daily for 7 days) was given to 17 women (group I) and their partners. Fifteen patients of group I were retested by DFA and PCR assay for C. trachomatis infection 2 weeks following therapy. Other Chlamydia-positive patients (n=42) who were lost to follow-up were classified as untreated positive cases (group II) while group III included C. trachomatis negative cases (n=269). Data on obstetric outcome were recorded in a total of 164 cases. Statistical comparison of the data were done using the chi(2)-test and means were compared using Student's t-test. RESULTS: Among the 350 pregnant women enrolled initially for the study, C. trachomatis positivity was found to be 18.8% (n=66) in the endocervix by DFA and PCR assay. Co-infection with Candida spp., bacterial vaginosis, T. vaginalis and T. pallidum was 2.0%, 1.7%, 1.7% and 0.5%, respectively. None of the pregnant women was infected with N. gonorrhoeae. Pregnant women at an increased risk of chlamydial infection included those who had multiple births and were in second trimester of pregnancy. Fifteen patients of group I became Chlamydia-negative following treatment. Data on obstetric outcome were recorded in 11, 26 and 127 patients of groups I, II and III, respectively. The mean duration of gestation for premature deliveries was found to be significantly higher in group I in comparison with group II [35.5 vs. 33.1 weeks (P<0.05)], thereby showing an improved effect of treatment on pregnancy outcome. The mean of low birth weight births was higher in group I compared with group II (2200.0 vs. 2113.3 g), however, this was statistically non-significant. Stillbirths were significantly higher among group II in comparison with group III [11.5% vs. 4.7% (chi(2)=1.79; P<0.5)]. No stillbirths were recorded in patients who had taken anti-chlamydial treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that routine screening and treatment of C. trachomatis infection in pregnant women, especially those in high risk groups, should be mandatory to reduce the adverse effects on obstetric outcome.

Adult↗

Deodorants: an experimental provocation study with hydroxycitronellal.

Axillary dermatitis is a common problem, particularly in individuals with contact allergy to fragrances. Many individuals suspect their deodorant to be the causal product of their fragrance allergy. It has been shown that deodorants containing cinnamic aldehyde (cinnamal) can elicit axillary dermatitis in patients sensitized to this substance. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the importance of hydroxycitronellal used in deodorants for the development of axillary dermatitis, when applied by individuals with and without contact allergy to this fragrance chemical. Patch tests with deodorants and ethanolic solutions containing hydroxycitronellal, as well as repeated open application tests (ROAT) with roll-on deodorants with and without hydroxycitronellal at different concentrations, were performed in 14 dermatitis patients, 7 with and 7 without contact allergy to hydroxycitronellal. A positive ROAT was noted only in the patients hypersensitive to hydroxycitronellal (P < 0.001) and only in the axilla to which the deodorants containing hydroxycitronellal had been applied (P < 0.001). Deodorants containing hydroxycitronellal in the concentration range of 0.032-0.32% used twice daily on healthy skin in individuals hypersensitive to hydroxycitronellal can elicit axillary dermatitis in a few weeks.

Adolescent↗

Increased variance in blood pressure distribution and changing hypertension prevalence in an urban Indian population.

The objective of the study was to determine trends in age-specific blood pressure (BP) distribution and hypertension prevalence in an urban Indian population. In successive hypertension epidemiological studies (1995 and 2002), randomly selected 2212 subjects (1412 men, 797 women) in the first and 1123 subjects (550 men, 573 women) in the second study were evaluated. BP was measured using World Health Organization guidelines and hypertension diagnosed using the American Joint National Committee-VI report. Age-specific BP levels in the first and the second study were determined and compared. The mean values of systolic and diastolic BP were not significantly different in various age groups in the first and the second studies. There was an increased variance in the second study as denoted by the significant increase in standard deviations and coefficients of variation in systolic as well as diastolic BP levels at age groups > or =50 years in men and > or =40 years in women (P<0.05). The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension (known or BP > or =140/> or =90 mmHg) in the first study was 29.5% (men) and 33.5% (women), and in the second study was 30.0% (men) and 30.3% (women) (P=NS). In the second as compared to the first study, there was decrease in age-adjusted prevalence of stage I hypertension (men 16.8 vs 24.9%, women 15.4 vs 27.5%), and increase in stage II hypertension (men 11.7 vs 2.8%, women 18.8 vs 3.1%), and combined stage II and III hypertension (men 13.5 vs 4.7%, women 16.7 vs 6.0%) (P<0.01). This change was associated with greater prevalence of obesity in the second study. In conclusion, increased systolic and diastolic BP dispersion over a 7-year period in this urban population is associated with unchanged hypertension prevalence, decline in stage I hypertension and upsurge in more severe grades. Increasing environmental factors, particularly obesity, appear important.

Adult↗

Deodorants: an experimental provocation study with cinnamic aldehyde.

BACKGROUND: Axillary dermatitis is common and overrepresented in individuals with contact allergy to fragrances. Many individuals suspect their deodorants to be the incriminating products. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the significance of cinnamic aldehyde in deodorants for the development of axillary dermatitis when used by individuals with and without contact allergy to cinnamic aldehyde. METHODS: Patch tests with deodorants and ethanol solutions with cinnamic aldehyde, and repeated open application tests with roll-on deodorants without and with cinnamic aldehyde at different concentrations, were performed in 37 patients with dermatitis, 20 without and 17 with contact allergy to cinnamic aldehyde. RESULTS: A repeated open application test with positive findings was noted only in patients hypersensitive to cinnamic aldehyde (P <.001) and only in the axilla to which the deodorants containing cinnamic aldehyde had been applied (P <.001). CONCLUSION: Deodorants containing cinnamic aldehyde in the concentration range 0.01% to 0.32%, used twice daily on healthy skin, can elicit axillary dermatitis within a few weeks.

Acrolein↗

Quantitative determination of aflatoxin B1-oxime by column liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

Liquid chromatography was used for the quantification of aflatoxin B1-oxime (AFB1-oxime). The yield of AFB1-oxime in the reaction mixture was 89%, while after purification on silica gel it was 72%. LC analysis of the reaction mixture after silica gel fractionation revealed a retention time of 0.84 min for AFB1-oxime, 8.42 min for AFB1, 1.21 min for unknown 1 and 1.61 min for unknown 2. UV-visible analysis of the reaction mixture after silica gel fractionation showed a lambda(max) of 269 and 361 nm for AFB1-oxime, 263 and 360 nm for AFB1, 273 nm for unknown 1 and 275 nm for unknown 2. Excitation and emission wavelengths were found to be 269 and 368/438 nm for AFB1-oxime, 359/424 nm for AFB1, 270 and 367/450 nm for unknown 1 and 273 and 416/447 nm for unknown 2. The method may find versatile application in monitoring reactions for the preparation of oximes of various analytes for the synthesis of their immunogens.

Aflatoxin B1↗

The time-dose-response relationship for elicitation of contact dermatitis in isoeugenol allergic individuals.

The elicitation response in allergic contact dermatitis is dose dependent, but the time-concentration relationship for elicitation has not previously been described. In this study 27 isoeugenol-sensitive patients participated in serial dilution patch tests with isoeugenol and a double-blinded Repeated Open Application Test (ROAT) using two concentrations of isoeugenol, 0.2 and 0.05%. Seven controls without isoeugenol allergy were also included. The participants applied 3.72 +/- 1.57 (mean +/- SD) mg/cm(2) of coded isoeugenol solutions twice a day to a 3 x 3 cm(2) area on the volar aspect of the right and left arm, respectively. For each test site the applications continued until a reaction appeared or for a maximum of 28 days. The minimal criteria for a positive reaction regarded as allergic contact dermatitis was persistent erythema at the ROAT test site. All controls were negative and 16/24 (66.7%) of the included isoeugenol-sensitive subjects showed a positive ROAT to the 0.2% solution within the study period (Fisher's test, p = 0.0024). Ten of the positive patients also reacted to the 0.05% solution. The median number of days until a positive reaction to the 0.2% solution was 7 days and was 15 days for the 0.05% solution. There was a highly significant correlation between the patients' patch test threshold and the number of days until a positive ROAT. In conclusion, the time until an isoeugenol allergic individual reacts in a ROAT depends on the individual sensitivity as well as the exposure concentrations; for low concentrations of the allergen or low degree of sensitivity, the allergic contact dermatitis may develop after several weeks of exposure. Therefore, a negative ROAT after 7 days may be a false negative.

Administration, Topical↗

Investigation of solid-state reactions using variable temperature X-ray powder diffractrometry. I. Aspartame hemihydrate.

PURPOSE: The object of this study was to demonstrate the applicability of variable temperature X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) to investigate solid-state reactions using aspartame as a model compound. METHODS: Aspartame exists as a hemihydrate (ASH) under ambient conditions and converts to aspartame anhydrate (ASA) at approximately 130 degrees C. ASA on further heating to approximately 180 degrees C undergoes decomposition (intramolecular cyclization) to form a diketopiperazine derivative (DKP). The dehydration as well as the decomposition kinetics were studied isothermally at several temperatures. The unique feature of this technique is that it permits simultaneous quantification of the reactant as well as the product. RESULTS: While the dehydration of ASH appeared to follow first-order kinetics, the cyclization of ASA was a nucleation controlled process. The rate constants were obtained at various temperatures, which permitted the calculation of the activation energies of dehydration and cyclization from the Arrhenius plots. The activation energy of dehydration was also calculated according to the method described by Ng (Aust. J. Chem., 28:1169-1178, 1975) and the two values were in good agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that XRD is an excellent complement to thermal analysis and provides direct information about the solid-states of various reaction phases.

Algorithms↗

Randomised controlled trial of thiopental for intubation in neonates.

AIMS: To determine the effects of premedication with thiopental on heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation during semi-elective nasotracheal intubation in neonates. METHODS: A randomised, placebo controlled, non-blinded study design was used to study 30 neonates (mean birthweight 3.27 kg) requiring semi-elective nasotracheal intubation. The babies were randomly allocated to receive either 6 mg/kg of thiopental (study group) or an equivalent volume of physiological saline (control group) one minute before the start of the procedure. Six infants were intubated primarily and 24 were changed from orotracheal to a nasotracheal tube. The electrocardiogram, arterial pressure wave, and transcutaneous oxygen saturation were recorded continuously 10 minutes before, during, and 20 minutes after intubation. Minute by minute measurements of heart rate, heart rate variability, mean blood pressure (MBP) and transcutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) were computed. The differences for all of these between the baseline measurements and those made during and after intubation were determined. Differences in the measurements made in the study and the control groups were compared using Student's t test. RESULTS: During intubation, heart rate increased to a greater degree (12.0 vs -0.5 beats per minute, p < 0.03) and MBP increased to a lesser degree (-2.9 vs 4.4 mm Hg; p < 0.002) in the infants who were premedicated with thiopental. After intubation only the changes in MBP differed significantly between the two groups (-3.8 vs 4.6 mm Hg; p < 0.001). There were no significant changes in the oxygen saturation between the two groups during or after intubation. The time taken for intubation was significantly shorter in the study group (p < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The heart rate and blood pressure of infants who are premedicated with thiopental are maintained nearer to baseline values than those of similar infants who receive no premedication. Whether this lessening of the acute drop in the heart rate and increase in blood pressure typically seen during intubation of unmedicated infants is associated with long term advantages to the infants remains to be determined.

Birth Weight↗

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen in spontaneous abortions. Is this organism a primary or secondary indicator of risk?

In order to investigate whether or not Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a risk factor for pregnancy loss, 77 spontaneous abortion patients (6-24 weeks gestation), admitted to gynaecology emergency of Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India. Twenty-five pregnant women (6-16 weeks gestation) attending the same hospital for induced abortion, were included in the study. C. trachomatis antigen was detected in endometrial curretage tissue by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The detection rate was 15.6% (12/77) among spontaneous abortion patients and 4% (1/25) among women undergoing induced abortion. There was no statistically significant association between the mean age/mean gestational age of those experiencing spontaneous abortion, with and without C. trachomatis infection (26.9 years versus 25.06 years and 11.1 weeks versus 9.6 weeks, respectively). High prevalence of C. trachomatis was found in multigravidae and parous spontaneous abortion patients, compared with that in primigravidae and nulliparous Chlamydia-negative spontaneous aborters (75.0% versus 25.0%; 66.7% versus 33.3%, respectively). The prevalence of chlamydial antigen in patients with no prior history of spontaneous abortion was 16.1% (10/62) compared with 18.1% (2/11) in women with one prior abortion. Further study is required to determine whether C. trachomatis infection is a primary or secondary indicator of risk.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Anti-inflammatory activity of sodium pyruvate--a physiological antioxidant.

The anti-inflammatory activity of sodium pyruvate was evaluated in acute and chronic models of inflammation in rats. Oral administration of sodium pyruvate at three different dose levels of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight significantly inhibited the carrageenan induced acute paw edema in a dose dependent manner. The effect of 500 mg/kg sodium pyruvate was comparable to that of 12.5 mg/kg of standard diclofence. In Freund's adjuvant arthritis model, oral administration of sodium pyruvate at the submaximal dose of 250 mg/kg once daily upto one week before Freund's adjuvant injection and immediately by the same route on the 7th day of adjuvant injection significantly reduced the edema at 18 hours after the challenge. The treatment was continued for 14 days thereafter in two divided doses of 125 mg/kg in the morning and 125 mg/kg in the evening. Sodium pyruvate showed significant anti-inflammatory activity at the 14th day (chronic phase) also. To conclude, sodium pyruvate exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in both the models of inflammation which could be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

Animals↗

Dietary and serum iron, body iron stores and coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the role of body-iron stores as measured by serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin, ferritin and ferritin:transferrin ratio (FTR) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A case-control study was performed in 58 newly diagnosed CHD patients and 24 controls who were evaluated using clinical history, dietary history and biochemical examination. Dietary iron was determined by history; serum iron and TIBC were measured biochemically and ferritin by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Case-control comparisons were performed by non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mean age, prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and smoking, and dietary intake of calories and fats in cases and controls. Dietary iron intake was 11.2 +/- 3.4 mg/day in cases and 11.3 +/- 3.8 mg/day in controls (p > 0.05). Serum fasting glucose, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were not significantly different in cases and controls (p > 0.05). LDL/HDL ratio (4.17 +/- 1.4 vs. 4.62 +/- 2.3) and total cholesterol/HDL ratio (6.47 +/- 1.6 vs. 6.91 +/- 2.4) were also similar. In the whole study group serum iron (54.8 +/- 35.7 mcg/dl), transferrin (11.6 +/- 7.4%) and ferritin (52.4 +/- 57.8 ng/ml) levels were low. In cases as compared to controls serum iron (56.9 +/- 31 vs. 49.6 +/- 45 mcg/dl; z = 1.707, p = 0.088) and transferrin saturation (12.5 +/- 7.8 vs. 9.5 +/- 6.2%; z = 1.83, p = 0.066) were slightly more. Ferritin levels (48.8 +/- 55 vs. 60.9 +/- 64 ng/ml; z = 2.048, p = 0.040) as well as FTR (5.51 +/- 8.6 vs 7.47 +/- 6.1, z = 2.054, p = 0.040) was significantly lower in cases. CONCLUSIONS: In Indian CHD patients the body iron stores are lower as compared to controls.

Adult↗

Disuse bone loss in hindquarter suspended rats: partial weightbearing, exercise and ibandronate treatment as countermeasures.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential countermeasures for bone loss during long-term space missions in the hindquarter suspended rat, including partial weight bearing (surrogate for artificial gravity) episodic full weight bearing (2 hour/day full weight bearing) and treatment with the third generation bisphosphonate ibandronate (Roche). Graded mechanical loading was studied by housing the animals on a novel servo controlled force plate system which permitted the titration of mechanical force at varying frequency and amplitude and different levels of weight bearing. The force plate, which forms the cage floor, is a glass platform supported by an 18" diameter speaker cone filled with expanding polyurethane foam. An infrared optical sensor attached to the speaker cone yields a voltage linearly related to vertical displacement of the glass platform. The dynamic force on the paw was computed as a product of the apparent mass of the animal on the platform at rest and the acceleration of the platform determined from the second derivative of the optical sensor output. The mass of the animal on the platform was varied by adjusting tension on the tether suspending the animal. Mechanical impact loading was titrated with the force plate resonating at different frequencies, including 3 Hz and 16 Hz.

Animals↗

Leukemoid reaction in extremely low-birth-weight infants.

The objective of this paper was to determine the incidence of leukemoid reaction and to evaluate its relationship with maternal and neonatal factors in extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants. The design a case-controlled retrospective study of all live-born ELBW infants (<1000 g) over a period of 2 years, from July 1994 to June 1996. A total of 60 preterm infants were born during the study period, and are included in this report. The infants who demonstrated leukemoid reaction formed the study group, while the remainder formed the control group. Leukemoid reaction was defined as a white blood cell (WBC) count > or = 50,000/mm3. The relationship between maternal and neonatal variables and WBC counts was studied. Nine of the 60 infants studied demonstrated counts >50,000/mm3, with an incidence of 15%. There was no significant association demonstrated between maternal or neonatal variables and leukemoid reaction. Patients with leukemoid reaction had a better overall survival. Leukemoid reaction in ELBW infants is a rare and recently documented phenomenon. In our study the incidence was 15%. Although many factors have been postulated as a cause of this phenomenon, we could not demonstrate any relationship between these factors and high WBC counts, including sepsis and the use of antenatal steroids, the two most likely variables. It was interesting to note that the infants who were able to mount a leukemoid response had a better chance of survival than those who did not.

Analysis of Variance↗

Solid-state phase transitions of AG337, an antitumor agent.

The object of this investigation was to perform detailed solid-state characterization studies on the different solid forms of AG337 and to determine the conditions of their interconversions. Solid-state characterization was done using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), hot stage microscopy, Karl Fischer titrimetry, ambient and variable temperature X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) and TGA coupled with FTIR (TGA/FTIR). In addition to five polymorphic forms of the anhydrate (I alpha to I epsilon), a hemihydrate (C14H12N4OS.2HCl.0.5H2O, II), a monohydrate (C14H12N4OS.2HCl.H2O; III), as well as a dihydrate (C14H12N4OS.2HCl.2H2O; IV) were identified. The 'as is' anhydrate, I alpha, resisted water uptake until stored at 98% RH (room temperature), where it transformed directly to IV, II and III transformed to IV at RH values > or = 7.6 and 84% respectively. Heating II and III to 130 degrees C in the variable temperature XRD resulted in the formation of I beta and I gamma respectively. On the other hand, I delta and I epsilon were obtained when II and III were respectively stored at 60 degrees C under vacuum. Variable temperature XRD, by providing information about the solid-state as a function of temperature, assisted in the interpretation of the DSC and TGA results. TGA/FTIR provided direct evidence that the thermal events observed in the temperature ranges of 25-150 degrees C and 200-250 degrees C were due to loss of water and loss of hydrogen chloride respectively. In addition to the conventional analytical techniques such as XRD, DSC, TGA and KFT, two other techniques, (variable temperature XRD and TGA/FTIR), were very useful in these solid-state characterization studies.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗