Study of visual evoked potentials in asymptomatic HIV-positive persons

Background: Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) was studied in asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive persons and corresponding controls to detect subclinical visual system involvement in the early stage of HIV. Aim and Objectives: To study VEPs in asymptomatic HIV-positive persons and corresponding controls. Materials and Methods: In this study,100 participants in the age group 25–45 years were recruited, fifty were HIV positive and asymptomatic (CD4 count >350 cells/mm3) and were not on Anti-Retroviral Treatment, and 50 were healthy age-matched individuals who were HIV negative. Results: P 100 latency was significantly prolonged in the study group than in the control group. No significant difference was observed between the control group and study group for the amplitude of VEP. Conclusion: Study of VEPs in asymptomatic HIV positive persons suggests subclinical visual nervous system involvement in early stages of HIV, as evidenced by prolonged P 100 latency. Hence, VEPs is important to detect subclinical nervous system involvement in the early stages of HIV.

Association of Body Composition with Left Ventricular Architecture in Young Healthy Non-obese Adult.

Context: Left ventricular structure and mass is related to body composition. Fat mass as well as fat free mass are known to affect the left ventricular architecture. Aims: Our goal was to evaluate the relationship between body composition and left ventricular morphology in young healthy non-obese males and females. Settings and Design: This was the cross sectional study done on 100 (51 male & 49 female) physical education college students. Methods and Materials: Left ventricular structure was analyzed by 2-D and M-mode echocardiography. Body composition was analyzed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Statistical Analysis Used: Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis between body composition parameters and left ventricular structure was done using SPSS16 software. Results: In males, end systolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWs) showed significant correlation with weight (r=0.348, p<0.05), BMI (r=0.293, p<0.05), BSA (r=0.314, p<0.05) and fat free mass (r=0.284, p<0.05). BMI showed significant correlation with end systolic left ventricular Internal diameter (LVIDs) (r=0.309, p<0.05), end diastolic Inter ventricular septal thickness (IVSd) (r=0.299, p<0.05) and left ventricular mass (r=0.370, p<0.01). End diastolic Inter ventricular septal thickness (IVSd) also showed significant correlation with weight. (r=0.296, p<0.05) No significant correlation was seen in female subjects. Conclusion: This study showed that the body composition influences some cardiac structural parameters in adult male subjects. However no significant influence was seen in female subjects. Body mass index was shown to have prominent influence on left ventricular structure in males.

A study of dyslipidemia and platelet adhesiveness in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

The present study included 50 controls (age 34-64 years) and 50 NIDDM subjects (age 32-72 years) from the diabetic clinic of Government Medical College, Nagpur. It was undertaken with the aim of investigating obesity indices (i.e. body mass index, skin fold thickness, waist hip ratio and % fat in the body); lipid profile (including serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL, LDL and HDL-cholesterol) levels and platelet adhesiveness in both the groups. On comparison, plasma glucose levels were higher in NIDDM (P > 0.05); obesity indices, cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL, LDL and platelet adhesiveness index were higher, and HDL levels low in NIDDM group as compared to controls (P < 0.01). Obesity, dyslipidemia and increased platelet adhesiveness are interconnected and make diabetics more susceptible to arterial disease with increased risk of vascular episodes.

Effect of exercise on acid-base status and ventilatory kinetics.

The normal respiratory responses and changes in acid base status in twenty normal height, weight and age matched subjects were studied; using Auto Spiro AS 300 spirometer for ventilatory parameters and NOVA stat profile 3 analyser for gas analysis. Each subject performed a progressive incremental treadmill exercise by Bruce protocol to their symptom limited maximum. Minute ventilation (VE), tidal volume (VT) and frequency of respiration (f) increased significantly (P<0.001). Acidosis occured following exercise as pH of arterialized venous blood declined significantly (P<0.05). Gas analysis of arterialized venous blood showed a rise in pO2 (P<0.001) and a fall in pCO2 (P<0.001). Recovery of acid base status as well as gaseous pressure in blood did not occur after 10 min. Expired gas pCO2 declined significantly (P<0.05) and pO2 increase significantly (P<0.05). These pressures returned to resting levels 10 min after exercise. Thus in normal young adults heavy exercise caused an increment in ventilatory kinetics producing hyperpnoea which recovers after a rest of 10 min. Acidosis stimulates the respiratory centre to cause hyperventilation which tries to meet the added metabolic demands of strenuous exercise.

Cytotoxicity of the acetylated oil of Semecarpus anacardium Linn. f.

The cytotoxic effects of acetylated oil of Semecarpus anacardium nuts on the cells of P388 lymphocytic leukemia were tested in vitro. The product was tested at the concentrations ranging from 15-75 micrograms/ml. The cell kill was observed as early as three hr after the treatment. The effects of acetylated oil on the biosynthesis of DNA, RNA and protein using labelled thymidine, uridine and leucine respectively showed that the product inhibited the biosynthesis of all the three. This was indicated by the inhibition of the incorporation of their precursors. The uptake of 3H-thymidine was inhibited 15 min after treatment; while that of 3H-uridine and 14C-leucine took 30 and 45 min respectively. Since the S. anacardium oil was unstable due to air-oxidation, the studies were confined to its acetylated product.