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Biomedical subjects

U Verma

Publications and source records attributed to U Verma.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Immunomodulation following chemotherapy.

In the last decade, immunomodulation has emerged as a mode of therapy capable of mediating the regression of cancer in some patients. This article reviews our experience with immunomodulation following transplant and non-transplant chemotherapy. We used interferon and cyclosporine A following conventional chemotherapy in a non-transplant setting for a B16 melanoma in a murine model. This combination generated cells with MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity. We have also used immunotherapy in the transplant setting with IL-2 activated PBSC in patients with breast cancer. Of the 28 patients treated, 20 developed GVHD and the average time to reconstitution was 12 days (comparable to a control group). This article also raises the possibility of extending immunomodulation to breast cancer patients in the nontransplant setting to induce an antitumor immune response following cytoreductive chemotherapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Relationship between neonatal nucleated red blood cell counts and hypoxic-ischemic injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if nucleated red blood cell counts(RBC) are different in infants who develop intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia in the first week of life and in those who do not. METHODS: Nucleated RBCs were obtained from 441 infants weighing more than 499 g and less than 1751 g. Neonatal cranial fontanel sonography was performed on days 3 and 7 of life, and neonates were divided into those with normal and abnormal sonographic findings. The nucleated RBCs were compared between these groups and between normal and abnormal groups matched for birth weight and gestational age. RESULTS: Mean gestational age, birth weight, birth weight percentile, Apgar score, respiratory distress syndrome and mortality were different between the infants with normal and abnormal ultrasound findings. The nucleated RBCs (per 100 white blood cells) were not different (40.5 +/- 126.8 versus 41.8 +/- 71.7, t = 0.09, P = .9). When we controlled for gestational age and birth weight, there was no significant difference between nucleated RBCs in those with normal and abnormal sonography (54.3 +/- 206.5 versus 41.4 +/- 72.0,t = 0.56, P = .6). In growth-restricted neonates, there was a significant increase in nucleated RBCs regardless of whether growth restriction was defined as tenth percentile or less, 25th percentile or less, or 50th percentile or less, even when we controlled for gestational age. CONCLUSION: Nucleated RBCs are not different in preterm infants with or without intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia, even when one controls for gestational age and birth weight. There are significant elevations in nucleated RBCs in growth-restricted fetuses. Birth weight percentile must be considered when using nucleated RBCs as a marker of intrauterine hypoxia.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1995

Acute appendicitis in pregnancy and the occurrence of major intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia.

BACKGROUND: Infection and endotoxemia have been associated with neurologic injury in the newborn. In addition, recent reports have noted an increased incidence of fetal neurologic injury in the presence of intrauterine infection. CASES: Three pregnancies complicated by acute appendicitis and refractory preterm labor resulting in the delivery of neonates who developed early major intraventricular hemorrhage and/or periventricular leukomalacia are described. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that extrauterine infections like acute appendicitis may play a role in the occurrence of neonatal neurologic injury.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Primary clear cell carcinoma of the peritoneum.

A case of primary clear cell carcinoma of the pelvic and abdominal peritoneum which occurred in a 67-year-old woman and with histological characteristics of Mullerian derivation is presented. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a case. Although clear cell carcinomas have been previously described in peritoneal or retroperitoneal locations, these have been mass lesions thought to arise from endometriosis. All other cases of diffuse primary peritoneal adenocarcinomas have been of the serous type.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Perinatal outcome after recent cocaine usage.

Eighty-eight neonates born to mothers with a history of cocaine use during pregnancy were divided into two groups based upon the detection of cocaine metabolites in the first neonatal urine. Forty neonatal urine samples were positive for cocaine and 46 were negative. Preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid were significantly more frequent in those mothers whose neonates tested positive for cocaine metabolites than in those whose infants were negative (P less than .05). Neonates testing positive were more likely to exhibit signs and symptoms of acute cocaine intoxication. Low birth weight, growth retardation, and abruptio placentae were also more frequent than would be expected in the general population, but were not statistically different between the groups. These findings suggest that the differences noted in the cocaine-positive group may represent acute and chronic exposure, whereas the negative group reflects the problems associated with chronic usage alone.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1989

Clinical evaluation of a new herpes simplex virus ELISA: a rapid diagnostic test for herpes simplex virus.

A new sensitive and rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test (Du Pont HERPCHEK) for the detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigen was evaluated. A total of 563 clinical samples collected from patients attending obstetrics and gynecology and sexually transmitted disease clinics in two geographic locations were tested by ELISA, and the results were compared with virus isolation in cell culture. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA were 97.5 and 98.6%, respectively. When a confirmatory blocking ELISA was used to demonstrate the presence of HSV antigen in culture-negative but ELISA-positive samples, the specificity of the assay increased to 100%. The assay is easy to perform and may be used to diagnose HSV infection rapidly without the need for culture confirmation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Effect of dietary protein on glomerular filtration rate in pregnancy.

High dietary protein intake is known to increase glomerular filtration rate in the nonpregnant state. The effects of dietary protein on renal function in human pregnancy are not well known. We studied 392 patients with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies at gestational ages of 7-40 weeks. Creatinine clearance was correlated with protein intake estimated from 24-hour dietary recall during the same period. Creatinine clearances were significantly higher when dietary protein was more than 50 g than when it was less than 50 g (P less than .005). The short- or long-term significance of this finding is unclear.

Dietary Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Glucocorticoid receptors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in sarcoidosis. A preliminary report.

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) content was measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells of 20 untreated patients with sarcoidosis. A significantly higher (p less than 0.001) lymphocyte count and GR content of BALF cells was noted in patients with sarcoidosis as compared to normal volunteers. The GR content correlated positively with lymphocytes (%) (r = 0.6; p less than 0.01) and was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in patients who showed roentgenographic improvement, physiologic improvement, and improvement in both parameters compared to those who did not show improvement. Above findings suggest that the GR content of BALF cells is increased in sarcoidosis and a major contribution to this may be made by the lymphocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Correlation of cerebral function monitoring with non-reactive non-stress test.

The cerebral function monitor, a system which records integrated electroencephalograms, was used to assess neurological status of newborns who had a non-reactive non-stress test prior to delivery. Babies born within 24 h of a non-reactive tracing had a significant lack of sleep cycling and persistence of immature patterns when compared with controls matched for gestational age.

Brain↗
PubMed1987

Clinical evaluation of steroid receptors in ovarian neoplasms.

Estrogen and progesterone receptors were estimated in a total of 25 ovarian neoplasms. None of the benign tumors showed steroid receptors. In malignant tumors serous tumors were more often receptor positive than the mucinous. Receptor levels were correlated with the staging of the disease, menstrual status and the resectability of the tumor. The response to chemotherapeutic drugs was better in patients with low estrogen and progesterone receptors as compared to those with high levels. The latter group showed a definite response to progesterone treatment in vitro. These are the group of patients who may benefit by combination of hormones and chemotherapeutic drugs.

Cystadenoma↗
PubMed1987

Synthetic antiprogestins stimulate human granulosa cell estradiol production in vitro.

The effect of synthetic antiprogestins, RMI 14156 and STS 557, on gonadotrophin stimulated estradiol (E2) production in human ovarian granulosa cells (GC) has been tested in vitro, to see if by virtue of their antiprogestational activity these compounds would promote the production of E2, and thereby follicular growth. Granulosa cells from human ovaries were cultured in modified minimum essential medium with or without luteinising hormone (LH, 10 ng/ml), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH, 100 ng/ml), androstenedione (A, 10(-7) M), RMI 14156 (10(-9) M-10(-5) M) and STS 557 (10(-9) M-10(-5) M), in a humidified 95% air 5% CO2 atmosphere at 37 degrees C for 48 hours. RMI 14156 and STS 557 were found to stimulate the production of E2 by cultured human GC in a dose dependent manner, the stimulation being significant (P less than 0.001-P less than 0.05) at higher doses (10(-6) M, 10(-5) M). The two antiprogestins used also stimulated the gonadotrophin induced E2 production significantly. Results demonstrated that these synthetic antiprogestins, having an 'estra' type of basic structure RMI 14156 17 beta hydroxy-7 alpha-methyl-5-estra-en-3-one); STS 557 (17 alpha-cyanomethyl-17 beta-hydroxy-estra-4,9(10)diene-3-one) can directly promote E2 production from human ovarian GC in vitro.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effect of route of delivery on periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage in the low-birth-weight fetus with a breech presentation.

Ninety-two consecutive cases of breech presentation with birth weights less than or equal to 2,000 g were examined for early periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage (PV/IVH) and neonatal demise. The total group and subgroups, based on birth weight and gestational age, showed significantly less early PV/IVH and perinatal mortality if delivered by cesarean section. There is a need for a prospective, randomized, multicentric study of this subject.

Breech Presentation↗
PubMed1987

Method and route of delivery in the low birth weight vertex presentation correlated with early periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage.

Two hundred eighty patients with vertex presentation who were in spontaneous labor and delivered neonates weighing 2 kg or less were examined for early ultrasound evidence of periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage. This was correlated retrospectively with delivery route (cesarean section versus vaginal delivery) and delivery method (low forceps delivery versus normal spontaneous delivery) in the group born vaginally. No correlation was evident between early periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage and delivery route or method.

Apgar Score↗
PubMed1986

Correlation of fetal heart rate monitoring and acid-base status with periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage in the low birthweight neonate.

We investigated the correlation of fetal heart rate patterns and fetal acid-base findings with the occurrence of early periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage and variants. Ninety-five consecutive singleton neonates with birthweights less than or equal to 2000 gm were investigated. One-third of them showed early periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage or variants. Fetal heart rate scores and umbilical arterial/venous acid-base status showed no correlation with results of scanning. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1986

Induction of labor with an electric breast pump.

Nipple stimulation with an electric breast pump was compared with oxytocin infusion as a means of labor induction. The time from stimulation to the onset of regular uterine activity and to 200 Montevideo units of uterine activity and the time until entrance into the active phase of labor were significantly shorter in the nipple stimulation group. Once the women were in active labor, there was no difference between the groups in the length of labor or mode of delivery.

Breast↗
PubMed1984

Obstetric factors in the causation of early periventricular--intraventricular hemorrhage.

On routine fontanelle scanning of neonates weighing less than or equal to 2000 g within the first 24 hours of life, 21% had abnormal findings related to peri/intraventricular hemorrhage. These findings occurred almost exclusively in patients who were in labor, with one exception, and were not observed without labor. Once labor ensued, the performance of cesarean section did not prevent periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage. Other obstetric factors including fetal heart rate monitoring and umbilical artery pH values were not related to early periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage. The practical significance of these findings is discussed.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1984

Screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria with Microstix.

The Microstix-3 test was evaluated for its reliability in screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria. When correlated with quantitative cultures this test was found to have high specificity but low sensitivity. Since several positive cases were missed, we conclude that this test is not reliable for use in screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy.

Bacteriuria↗