Browsing by Author "Thomas, T"

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    Acute phase reactants predict mitral regurgitation following mitral valvuloplasty
    (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY, 2006) Harikrishnan, S; Rajeev, E; Tharakan, JA; Thomas, T; Ajith, K; Sivasankaran, S; Krishnamoorthy, KM; Santhosh, D; Krishnakumar, N; Namboodiri, KKN
    This report evaluated whether acute phase reactants can predict the development of mitral regurgitation following percutaneous mitral valvotomy. 58 patients who developed significant mitral regurgitation following valvotomy were retrospectively compared with 58 age, sex and procedure technique matched control patients, who had valvotomy without mitral regurgitation. ESR and total leucocyte count were significantly higher in the group who developed mitral regurgitation, than in the control group. Higher ESR and total leucocyte count may be indicative of ongoing low grade sub-clinical inflammatory process, which makes the valve tissue friable which can give way during balloon stretch and lead onto mitral regurgitation. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
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    Liquid crystalline phase behavior of high molecular weight DNA: A comparative study of the influence of metal ions of different size, charge and binding mode
    (BIOMACROMOLECULES, 2008) Sundaresan, N; Suresh, CH; Thomas, T; Thomas, TJ; Pillai, CKS
    The ability of Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, CS+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Al3+, V4+, Hg2+, Pd2+, Au3+, and Pt4+ to provoke liquid crystalline (LC) phases in high molecular weight DNA was investigated. The alkali and alkaline earth metal ions provoked typical cholesteric/columnar structures, whereas transition metal ions precipitated DNA into solid/translucent gel-like aggregates. Heavy metal ions reduced viscosity of DNA solution, disrupting rigid, rod-like DNA structure necessary for LC textures. Three-layer quantum mechanical-molecular mechanical (QM/MM) studies of Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ binding DNA fragment suggested several possible binding modes of these ions to the phosphate groups. The dianion mode of metal binding, involving the phosphate groups of both strands of DNA, allowed for higher DNA binding affinity of the alkaline earth metal ions. These results have implications in understanding the biological role of metal ions and developing DNA-based sensors and nanoelectronic devices.