Anticataract effects of S. cumini and A. marmelos on goat lenses in an experimental diabetic cataract model.

Background: Cataractogenesis in diabetes mellitus is mainly due to generation of free radicals causing oxidative stress. Antioxidants are known to delay cataractogenesis. Indigenous plants are potential promising sources of antioxidants.

Clinically significant anemia in HIV-infected pregnant women in India is not a major barrier to zidovudine use for prevention of maternal-to-child transmission.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of anemia (serum hemoglobin <10 g/dL) and assess zidovudine use and toxicity in HIV-positive pregnant women in India.

Methods: From 2002 through 2006, 24,105 pregnant women in Pune were screened for HIV and anemia. As part of an infant prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) trial, enrolled HIV-positive women (n = 467) were assessed for anemia and associated outcomes, comparing women receiving zidovudine for >or=2 weeks versus no zidovudine.

Women's acceptability and husband's support of rapid HIV testing of pregnant women in India.

This study examined acceptability among pregnant women and their husbands for HIV testing within the antenatal clinic (ANC) and delivery room (DR) of a government hospital in Pune, India from September 2000 to November 2001. Acceptance of HIV counselling and testing was high with 83% of eligible women in the antenatal clinic (851 of 1025) and 68% of eligible women in the delivery room (417 of 613) getting tested on the same day. Structured interviews were conducted on 94 pregnant women in the ANC 50 women in the DR, and 100 husbands who accompanied their wives in the ANC.

Replacement-fed infants born to HIV-infected mothers in India have a high early postpartum rate of hospitalization.

Access to safe breast-feeding alternatives for HIV-infected mothers and their infants in many settings is limited. We compared the rates of early postpartum hospitalization of infants born to HIV-infected mothers using different infant-feeding practices in a large government hospital in Pune, India. From March 1, 2000 to November 30, 2001, infants born to HIV-infected mothers were followed in a postpartum clinic.

Infant feeding practices of HIV-positive mothers in India.

Exclusive breast-feeding is widely accepted and advocated in India; however, clinicians are now faced with advising women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) about the risks and benefits of other infant feeding options. This study assessed factors that influence the infant feeding decisions of HIV-infected mothers in Pune, India. From December 2000 to April 2002, HIV-positive (HIV(+)) pregnant women (n = 101) from a government hospital antenatal clinic were interviewed prepartum about infant feeding intention, feeding practice immediately postpartum and feeding after a minimum of 2 wk postpartum.

Sensitivity and specificity of rapid HIV testing of pregnant women in India.

Objective: Efforts to prevent HIV transmission from mother to infants in settings like India may benefit from the availability of reliable methods for rapid and simple HIV screening. Data from India on the reliability of rapid HIV test kits are limited and there are no data on the use of rapid HIV tests for screening of pregnant women.

Methods: Pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic and delivery room in Pune agreed to participate in an evaluation of five rapid HIV tests, including (a) a saliva brush test (Oraquick HIV-1/2, Orasure Technologies Inc.

Effect of ketoacids on H(2)O(2) induced cataract.

Cataract is one of the leading causes of visual disability often leading to blindness in the elderly population. One of the causes is oxidation of proteins present in lens, by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). In the present study 100 goat lenses were analyzed to determine the protective efficacy of ketoacids, against the oxidative insult by H(2)O(2).

Elimination of superoxide dismutase interference in fructosamine assay.

Objective: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) (EC 1.15.1.

Efficacy of stimuliv, an indigenous compound formulation, against hepatotoxicity of antitubercular drugs--a double blind study.

Anti-tubercular drugs are known to cause hepatotoxicity, which may lead to noncompliance to drug therapy. Stimuliv, an indigenous compound formulation, is reported to be useful in liver disorders. Efficacy of prophylactic administration of stimuliv against anti-tubercular drugs-induced hepatotoxicity was studied in this double blind randomized clinical trial.

Efficacy of potassium and magnesium in essential hypertension: a double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study.

Objective: To evaluate the antihypertensive activity of potassium given alone or in combination with magnesium in patients with mild hypertension.

Design: A double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, crossover trial of 32 weeks' duration.

Settings: Cardiology outpatient department, Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, India.

Effect of inhibition of lens membrane Na+-K+ ATPase by ouabain pre-treatment--an in vitro study.

The precise factors responsible for the cataract formation are not known. The role of Na+-K+-ATPase in maintaining ionic concentration of lens and lens membrane permeability and its involvement in the formation of cataracts has been of recent interest. Thus the present study was undertaken to study the effect of pre-treatment with Ouabain, a known Na-K-ATPase inhibitor, on the intra-lenticular ionic concentration and the rule of lens membrane permeability in cataractogenesis.

Correlation between serum choline esterase and serum albumin in leprosy.

The clinical material included 255 cases of leprosy consisting of Tuberculoid leprosy (74), Lepromatous leprosy (116), Lepromatous leprosy with lepra reaction. Liver biopsy could be performed on 50 cases of Lepromatous leprosy. Specific granulomatous changes and parenchymal cell damage were the significant findings.

L.D.H. isoenzymes sub-unit ratio in leprosy and the effect of clofazimine treatment on L.D.H. isoenzymes sub-unit.

The clinical material for our studies of serum total LDH activity and LDH isoenzymes in leprosy included 255 patients consisting of Tuberculoid (74), Lepromatous leprosy (116), and Lepromatous leprosy with lepra reaction (65). 20 patients with suspected DDS resistance and repeated attacks of lepra reactions were selected for Clofazimine studies. All leprosy patients exhibited higher total LDH activity as compared to normals.

Thalidomide in lepra reaction (ENL) in lepromatous leprosy patients.

Six male bacteriologically highly positive patients of lepromatous leprosy with ENL reaction not adequately controlled by conventional antireaction drugs were put on thalidomide 400 mg per day in four divided doses. Reaction was controlled between 13th to 18th day of therapy. There was no change in the bacteriological status.

Once monthly rifampicin (1200 mg) plus daily dapsone (100 mg) and clofazimine (100 mg) in the initial treatment of lepromatous leprosy.

The therapeutic effect of rifampicin 1200 mg once monthly and 100 mg clofazimine daily for the first six months of treatment was evaluated in 30 patients of bacteriologically positive lepromatous leprosy patients. Moderate to marked clinical improvement was seen in all the patients and a very rapid bacteriological regression as indicated by the decrease in bacteriological and morphological indices of the skin within one week. Seven patients become MI negative at one month and three months and 13 at the end of nine months.

The effect of clofazimine on liver function tests in lepra reaction (ENL).

Twenty patients with suspected DDS resistance and repeated attacks of lepra reactions were selected for the study. Clofazimine was administered in different doses over a period of 12 months. Elevated levels of transaminases and Alkaline phosphatase prior therapy attained values to near normalcy.

Effect of one year clofazimine therapy on autonomic functions in lepromatous leprosy with lepra (ENL) reaction.

Twenty patients of either sex of Lepromatous leprosy with frequent type II (ENL) reactions were selected for the study after exclusion of autonomic disorders. ANS functions were evaluated before and after Clofazimine therapy at an interval of two months for one year. Sweat function test, valsalva manoeuvre, Histamine triple response, cold pressor test and Homatropine instillation were carried out in twenty normal healthy volunteers (controls) and the (ENL) patients.

Clofazimine in lepra (ENL) reaction, one year clinical trial.

Twenty patients of lepromatous leprosy with lepra reaction and suspected dapsone resistance were treated with tapering doses of clofazimine. Clinical assessment was carried out every week. Bacteriological examination was carried out every six month.

Serum lipoproteins in lepromatous leprosy.

Serum total cholesterol and the lipoprotein fractions were studied in forty subjects of lepromatous leprosy and age matched controls. The study revealed a significant decrease in serum cholesterol in the disease group as compared to control group. The decrease in cholesterol was 28.

Study of renal changes in leprosy.

Renal lesions observed in 50 cases of chronic leprosy are reported. They include membranous and membranoproliferative glomerular lesions and amyloidosis forming one type possibly resulting from immune complexes. They also include lesions like chronic interstitial nephritis resulting from opportunistic secondary infections and/or drug toxicity.