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Biomedical subjects

V Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to V Gupta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A program of friendly visitors as network builders.

The Sunshine Visitors program is an experimental, friendly visitor-type program that trains volunteers to function as network builders with their isolated, elderly visitees, working to strengthen their social support networks. A unique training program was developed and some success with this type of visiting was achieved, particularly with regard to meeting relational needs. The volunteers, though, tended to encourage network building rather than getting directly involved with the client's social network.

Aged

Poliomyelitis with special reference to immunization status.

One hundred ninety one children below 5 years of age suffering from poliomyelitis were analyzed to find out the immunization status and its correlation with the incidence of poliomyelitis. Effects of age, sex, immunization status and seasonal variation on the morbidity and mortality status were studied. The maximum number of cases were admitted during the months of July (23.6%) and August (23.1%). Of 191 cases, 143 (74.9%) had no immunization and 48 (25.1%) were partially immunized. A total of 155 (81.2%) cases had spinal polio, 23 (12.01%) bulbo-spinal polio, and 13 had (6.8%) bulbar polio. Serious illness (bulbospinal and bulbar type) was more in partially immunized children (25%) as compared to unimmunized children (16.8%). The mortality rate was more than two times higher in the partially immunized (29.6%) as compared to unimmunized children (11.2%). The possible explanation for high mortality in partially immunized children could be due to the adverse effect of OPV which has not been studied so far.

Age Factors

Hepatitis B virus infection and its transmission in preschool children.

In the present study, 2.5% of 367 preschool children has HBsAg positivity. Of 11 mothers who were HBsAg positive during the third trimester of pregnancy, 4 had babies (36.4%) who developed HBsAg positivity by 2.5-3 months of age (vertical transmission). Two babies born of HBsAg negative mothers, with history of jaundice during first trimester, were HBsAg negative. All the relatives of HBsAg positive cases screened were negative for HBsAg.

Child, Preschool

Glutathione S-transferase and P-glycoprotein in multidrug resistant Chinese hamster cells.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have been reported to be elevated in some forms of hepatic carcinogenesis, in multidrug resistant (MDR) cells exhibiting elevated P-glycoprotein, and in cells resistant to alkylating agents independent of the MDR phenotype. The reported elevation of GST in association with the MDR phenotype and the overexpression of P-glycoprotein along with induction of GST in hepatic carcinogenesis suggest a correlation in the two mechanisms of cellular detoxification. To evaluate this hypothesis we examined the expression of GSTs in an MDR Chinese hamster fibroblast cell line overexpressing P-glycoprotein. We were unable to demonstrate concordant elevation of GST in these MDR cells. We conclude that GST expression is independent of P-glycoprotein expression in MDR Chinese hamster fibroblasts. The overexpression of GSTs in certain cells may provide an alternative mechanism for the development of drug resistance, either in association with or independent of P-glycoprotein overexpression, but is not essential for the MDR phenotype.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem

Postoperative infection in cardiac surgery: the influence of a change in prophylactic antibiotic regimen.

A total of 448 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery were followed for the development of postoperative infection. Non-extracorporeal procedures were assigned to group 1 and open-heart procedures to group 2. The incidence of infection was compared in two groups who received prophylactic antibiotics. Patients (n = 253) received ampicillin alone (group 1) or in combination with gentamicin (group 2) for 7 days starting 1 day before the operation (period A). One hundred and ninety-five patients (period B) received cefazolin starting preoperatively 30 min before induction, alone (group 1) or in combination with gentamicin (Group 2) for 3 days. The percentage of patients developing infection in periods A and B for group 1 patients was 4.2% and 3.5% and for group 2 it was 25.8% and 18.7% respectively. The overall infection rate was 13%. The number of infection sites involved were 1.5 per infected patient. Urinary tract infections were the most frequent followed by endocarditis and other deep infections, wound infections and respiratory infection. Gram-negative rods were the predominant pathogens (Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) during both periods (47 out of 70 isolates). Wound infections due to Gram-positive cocci were higher in period A (4/8) as compared to period B (1/5). During period B there were three cases of fungal endocarditis whereas no case occurred during period A. Although the incidence of infection was reduced during the period of cefazolin prophylaxis, the difference was not statistically significant.

Adolescent

Spontaneous induction of malignancy in mouse cells by a human small cell lung cancer implanted in nude mice.

This report provides evidence for spontaneous transfer of human tumor DNA in vivo to mouse cells by a human small cell lung cancer implanted in nude mice. The transformation of the mouse cells was characterized by the presence of neurosecretory granules, which are hallmarks of small cell lung cancer. The carcinogenicity of the human xenografted tumor DNA was confirmed by transfecting NIH3T3 cells in vitro, suggesting that the human tumor DNA may have been the cause of the transformation of the mouse cells in vivo. The spontaneous induction of malignancy in mouse cells in vivo by human tumor DNA may be a factor of potential importance in tumor cell heterogeneity and propagation of the malignant state for some tumors. The observations support the thesis that some human cancer cells can transform normal cells to become malignant in vivo.

Animals

Value of serum prolactin in differentiating epilepsy from pseudoseizure.

We studied the serum prolactin levels in 35 cases with various types of seizures viz. generalized tonicolonic seizures (GTC), complex partial seizures (CPS), and simple partial seizures (SPS). We also studied 20 cases with pseudoseizure (hysteria) presenting in an epileptiform manner. Twenty two normal healthy subjects were also studied. All the cases were studied both in the postictal and interictal periods. Serum prolactin rose significantly in the postictal periods in patients with GTC and CPS, but patients with SPS or pseudoseizure did not demonstrate this rise. Thus serum prolactin estimation can be of help in differentiating true generalized seizures from pseudoseizure presenting in an epileptiform manner.

Diagnosis, Differential

Physical growth characteristics in rural adolescent girls of Varanasi.

Four hundred and twenty one rural girls of Varanasi in the age group 8.5-14 years were followed up for assessment of their physical growth characteristics. The observed gain in height was 15.93 cm; in weight 9.80 kg and in sitting height 7.92 cm during the age interval of 10-14 years. In the same period the biacromial and the bicristal diameters showed a gain of 5.26 and 4.20 cm, respectively. The maximum increase in these parameters was observed after 13 years of age indicating the onset of the growth spurt. The chest and the mid-arm circumference increased by 14.70 and 3.02 cm, respectively during this period. There was no rapid increase in these parameters upto 14 years of age. The head circumference showed only a modest increase of 2.22 cm. It is concluded that the rural girls have a delayed and slower gain in physical growth characteristics than urban well-to-do girls.

Adolescent