Staging of breast cancer.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Sagar.
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Membrane abnormalities in essential hypertensives (EH) are well known. The respiratory burst enzyme, NADPH oxidase is located in the cell membrane of the neutrophil (PMNLs) and its activity is important in generation of oxygen derived free radical (OFR). Recently OFR have been implicated in vascular changes in variety of conditions. An attempt was made to delineate the status of OFR and antioxidants in EH. Ten, age and sex-matched, healthy controls (GpI) and 26 untreated EH (Gp IIA mild-8, Gp IIB Moderate-8, Gp IIC Severe-10) were studied. After clinical examination and basic laboratory evaluation of subjects, neutrophils isolated from their blood were studied. Chemiluminescence (CL) emitted by PMNLs after stimulation was measured (counts/min) in a luminometer and was taken as measure of OFR production and thereby of NADPH oxidase activity. The levels of antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH), were also estimated. Chemiluminescence was increased significantly (p less than 0.01) in Gp IIC (243.04 +/- 24.9 x 10(3) counts per minute) as compared to Gp IIA (2.80 +/- 1.87), Gp IIB (34.54 +/- 30.24) and Gp I (0.52 +/- 0.15) and SOD was reduced significantly (p less than 0.05) in all EH (Gp IIA 3.9 +/- 0.3 units per mg protein, Gp IIB 3.5 +/- 0.3 and Gp IIC 3.12 +/- 0.3) as compared to controls (4.1 +/- 0.2). Similarly GSH was reduced (p less than 0.05) in EH (Gp IIA 11.2 +/- 1.7 mg per gm protein, Gp IIB 8.5 +/- 1.1 and Gp IIC 6.6 +/- 0.3) as compared to Gp I (13.5 +/- 2.5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Takayasu arteritis is the commonest cause of renovascular hypertension in India. The clinical and radiological features, complications and course of 83 patients (51 females, 32 males) seen during the period from 1972-1990 are described in this study. The age of the patients ranged from 5 to 53 years with the mean +/- SD of 26.9 +/- 9.7. Hypertension (n = 50) and the related symptom of headache (n = 40), dyspnea (n = 24), and giddiness (n = 20) were common at presentation. Twelve patients were in congestive cardiac failure. The symptoms of activity with fever and arthralgia were present in only 16% contrary to reports from Japan and Mexico. Abnormal arterial pulses and bruit over abdominal (37%) or extra abdominal great arteries (25%) were useful clinical clues to suspect Takayasu arteritis. Rapid sequence intravenous urography was a sensitive screening procedure and predicted correctly the presence of renovascular disease in 80% of the patients. The diagnosis was confirmed on aortography in 72. In the rest, the clinical features and autopsy findings confirmed the same. The four patterns of the disease based on the anatomical extent of involvement were recognised. These were: type I (n = 8) with involvement of aortic arch and its branches, type II (n = 25) descending thoracic and abdominal aorta type III (n = 46) combination of I and II and type IV (n = 4) pulmonary artery in addition to any of the above.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Takayasu arteritis is a common cause of renovascular hypertension in India. Sensitization to infective agents, particularly mycobacterium tuberculosis or autoimmune disturbances have been incriminated in its pathogenesis. Twenty patients of Takayasu arteritis along with groups of normal individuals, patients of essential hypertension, autoimmune disorders, tuberculosis, and healthy tuberculin reactors were studied. Besides detailed immunological profiles including LE cell phenomenon, serum complement C3 levels, antibodies to single (SS) and double stranded (DS) DNA, rheumatoid factor, lymphocyte subsets, blast transformation to antigens including, phytohemagglutinin, PPD, pokeweed, and purified human aortal antigen (PHAA) were examined. Soluble protein from human aorta was fractionated into 9 peaks by DEASE-52 and Sephadex G-75 chromatography, and 25 micrograms of major protein fraction-II was used for blast transformation study. Blast transformation by PHAA was higher in Takayasu arteritis as compared to all other groups (P < 0.05). Blast transformation to PPD showed wide variation in all the groups, and was significantly higher only in tuberculin reactors as compared to controls. These observations support aortal sensitization to PHAA playing a role in pathogenesis of Takayasu arteritis and do not relate tuberculosis to Takayasu arteritis, at least immunologically. In addition, the ratio of CD-4 positive to CD-8 positive lymphocytes changing in favor of the former and the concomitant increase in B lymphocytes favor the presence of autoimmune disturbances in Takayasu arteritis.
OBJECTIVE: Intracellular free Ca2+ concentration has been shown to be elevated in platelets from essential hypertensive patients. This study was designed to characterize Ca2+ homeostasis in platelets of essential hypertensives. DESIGN: A double-blind study was carried out. Untreated and treated (propranolol therapy) essential hypertensives were studied in comparison with normotensive control subjects. First-degree blood relatives of essential hypertensives were also studied. The various procedures used in the study were already standardized and well-established methods. METHOD: For Ca2+ uptake and efflux studies, 45Ca was used. For intracellular free Ca2+ concentration studies the fluorescent Ca2+ chelator dye fura-2/acetoxymethyl ester (fura-2/AM) was used. RESULTS: The uptake of 45Ca by unstimulated platelets of untreated essential hypertensives and their relatives was significantly higher than for controls. However, essential hypertensives treated with a beta-blocker drug showed no significant difference in Ca2+ uptake compared with controls. A significantly decreased Ca2+ efflux was observed in essential hypertensives (both untreated and treated) compared with controls. Relatives also showed a depressed Ca2+ efflux compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that the elevated intracellular free Ca2+ concentration levels in platelets (also observed by us) may be due to both an enhanced uptake into, and decreased efflux of Ca2+ from, the cell. Beta-blocker therapy may help to normalize the elevated intracellular free Ca2+ concentration levels observed in essential hypertensives. Relatives exhibit a state predisposed towards the development of hypertension.
A prospective study for five years along with a retrospective analysis of all patients admitted over 10 years with the diagnosis of prolonged undiagnosed fever was carried out in a referral hospital of North India to determine the specific disorders responsible for it. One hundred and fifty patients (80 prospective and 70 retrospective) were included in the study. Infections, especially tuberculosis, was the most dominant cause (50%), followed by lymphoreticular and haematological disorders (21.32%), collagen vascular disorders and neoplasms (8.67%) each. Miscellaneous causes were responsible in 6.67% and in 4.67% the cause of fever remained undiagnosed.
Blood pressure was determined among 2,453 schoolchildren aged between 7 and 16 years in the northwest Indian town of Chandigarh to establish the norms. The percentiles were calculated for each age group in both sexes. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure had a positive correlation with age, weight, height, and body surface area (r = 0.112-0.178, p less than 0.01). There was no difference in the systolic and diastolic pressures of boys compared with girls of corresponding age. The upper limits of normal (90th percentile) systolic/diastolic pressure were 113/74, 119/76, and 126/79 in children aged 7-9 years, children aged 10-12 years, and adolescents aged 13-16 years, respectively. The lower limits of hypertension (95th percentile) for systolic/diastolic pressure were 119/80, 124/81, and 132/82 in each of these groups, respectively. The 99th percentile values indicative of severe hypertension for systolic/diastolic pressure in these groups were 128/88, 135/88, and 149/89, respectively. The 90th percentile of height and weight shown in the percentile table should be taken into consideration whenever blood pressure exceeds the 90th percentile for age and sex while planning the management of an individual.
Proteinuria was estimated using modified biuret method in 100 consecutive essential hypertensives of both sexes with mean age of 40 +/- 0.9 (18-50 yr) attending hypertension clinic. Proteinuria (mg/1.73 M2/24 h) in 60 mild hypertensives ranged from 45.4 to 493.0 with 9 (15%) patients having abnormal proteinuria (greater than 250 mg). In 26 moderate hypertensives proteinuria ranged from 96-1010; 7 (27%) had abnormal proteinuria. The proteinuria in 14 severe accelerated, malignant hypertensives ranged from 146.5-6132.6 with 10 (71%) having abnormal proteinuria. Duration of hypertension had no correlation with the amount of proteinuria. The amount of proteinuria was much higher (P less than 0.001) in patients with renal insufficiency (1322.5 +/- 586.4) and in patients with grades III and IV hypertensive retinopathy. LVH on ECG also correlated positively with proteinuria. The group with abnormal proteinuria had more patients with LVH (42.3% vs 12.2%), severe hypertensive retinopathy (30.8% vs 4.1%) and renal insufficiency (34.6% vs 0%) as compared to patients without elevated proteinuria.
The value of early postoperative feeding with an elemental diet was assessed in 30 patients after major gastrointestinal operations. The patients were allocated at random to conventional treatment (control group) or feeding with the elemental diet (ED group). The clinical and metabolic course of the 15 patients in the ED group was significantly better than that of the controls. Patients in the ED group lost less weight and had a shorter stay in hospital. Negative nitrogen balance was more pronounced in the control group throughout the seven postoperative days. Energy intake was higher in the ED group. Provided elemental feeding is used with caution, it may be given from the first postoperative day. Patients do better metabolically and require shorter stays in hospital.
For the initial control of haemorrhage from oesophageal varices, two methods of vasopressin administration have been compared--the conventional bolus of 20 units and a low dose infusion of 0.4 units per minute. Twenty patients bleeding from oesophageal varices, confirmed by endoscopy, were allocated into either treatment group (10 in each). Vasopressin infusion stopped bleeding in 86 per cent of the episodes in contrast to 12.5 per cent (P less than 0.01) with bolus doses. Balloon tamponade with a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube was used to control bleeding in only 2 episodes in patients on infusion and in 10 episodes in patients on bolus doses of vasopressin (P less than 0.05). Our study confirms that low dose vasopressin infusion in more effective in controlling bleeding from oesophageal varices than conventional bolus doses.
Direct magnificaiton of the hands of 44 patients on maintenance hemodialysis showed that the earliest unequivocal changes of renal osteodystrophy occur in the tufts. Some workers made a similar observation, but no previous objective study confirmed or refuted the sensitivity of the tufts in the diagnosis of renal osteodystrophy. The macroradiograph is consistently reproducible and serves as an excellent visual record of subtle changes.
Of 160 patients who underwent total hip replacement, 81 developed venographic evidence of thrombi in the operated leg. In 46 cases (57%) the thrombus originated from the femoral vein, and in 43 of these the exact site of origin was defined by venography. In 34 cases (74%) the thrombus arose from the wall of the femoral vein at the level of the lesser trochanter. This region was studied by intraoperative venography in eight patients undergoing total hip replacement, and in every case severe distortion of the common femoral vein was observed, producing almost total occlusion. We suggest that intraoperative damage to the femoral vein results from manipulation of the leg, and that this is one reason why the operation is followed by a high incidence of deep vein thrombosis in the upper femoral region.
The fibrinolytic response of 12 patients receiving single daily infusions of 600,000 units of streptokinase (SK) and 90 mg of plasminogen for the treatment of DVT has been studied. The mean plasminogen concentration was maintained throughout the treatment period (4-6 days) at between 20-40% the initial value, while mean circulating plasmin concentration rose to only about twice initial plasma levels. The degradation of fibrinogen as indicated by a fall in clottable fibrinogen did not fall below 1 mg/ml and serum FDP rose to greater than 1 mg/ml. Limited fibrinogenolysis occurred in 2 patients, while in another patient who bled there was immediate and extensive depletion to below 0.5 mg/ml. The beneficial clinical results obtained with this regimen (Kakkar et al. 1975), which produces only limited systemic plasminaemia, suggest that thrombolysis may be facilitated by higher levels of plasminogen than those maintained during conventional SK treatment.
In a prospective trial, the prophylactic efficacy of low-dose heparin was investigated in 84 consecutive patients undergoing total-hip replacement. 52 of these were randomly allocated to receive heparin or a combination of heparin and dihydroergotamine (D.H.E.); the remaining 32 patients, who were operated on by one orthopaedic team and did not receive prophylaxis, acted as a control group. The frequency of deep-vein thrombosis (D.V.T.), determined by the 125I-fibrinogen test and venography, was 69% in the control group, 32% in the patients receiving heparin alone, and 16% in those receiving heparin and D.H.E. The difference between the control group and each group receiving prophylaxis was statistically significant. The frequency of femoral-vein thrombi, demonstrated by venography, was analysed separately because of its frequent association with major pulmonary embolism. Femoral-vein thrombi developed in 17 (53%) in the control group, while they developed in only 4 patients (8%) in the prophylaxis group (P less than 0.01). 1 patient in the control group died due to massive pulmonary embolism; in another patient, again in the control group, clinical features suggestive of major non-fatal pulmonary embolism developed. This complication was not observed in patients receiving prophylaxis. There was no difference in the amount of operative or postoperative blood-loss in the three groups. In 3 patients in the entire series wound haematomata developed; all 3 were controls and haematomata developed after the administration of streptokinase or large doses of heparin for the treatment of extensive femoral-vein thrombi. By use of a sensitive assay, heparin could be detected in the plasma in 67% of samples in patients in whom D.V.T. did not develop. In contrast, in those patients in whom D.V.T. developed, heparin could be detected in only 21% of blood-samples (P less than 0.01). It is concluded that in patients undergoing total-hip replacement, low-dose heparin prophylaxis is effective in reducing the frequency of life-threatening extensive thrombi in the femoral vein. Prophylaxis using a combination of heparin and D.H.E. requires further evaluation.
Deep-vein thrombosis (D.V.T.) was detected by the fibrinogen-uptake test in six out of a total of thirty-one young women undergoing emergency abdominal surgery who gave a history of recent oral contraceptive intake. In contrast, no D.V.T. developed in nineteen similar patients who were not on oral contraceptives (P less than 0-01). Plasma-antithrombin-III activity was significantly lower preoperatively in patients taking oral contraceptives; postoperative D.V.T. subsequently developed in three out of five patients with preoperative antithrombin-III activity below 50%. In seventy-eight dental patients undergoing molar extraction, antithrombin-III activity was measured before, during, and after operation. Activity fell in all patients during operation, but the fall was significantly greater in women taking oral contraceptives (P less than 0-01). The intra-operative fall in antithrombin-III activity was prevented by a small preoperative dose of subcutaneous heparin.
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