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Biomedical subjects

A K Banerjee

Publications and source records attributed to A K Banerjee.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

Synthesis in vitro of the full-length complement of defective-interfering particle RNA of vesicular stomatitis virus.

Under appropriate reaction conditions in vitro, four different defective-interfering particles of vesicular stomatitis virus have been shown to synthesize the full-length complement of their RNAs. The reaction involved preinitiation of the core particles with ATP and CTP, followed by RNA chain elongation in the presence of the beta, gamma-imido analogue of ATP, AdoPP[NH]P, and the three normal ribonucleoside triphosphates. By hybridization of the in vitro synthesized plus strand with the standard genome RNA followed by RNase treatment of the heteroduplexes, we have shown that the RNA of a defective-interfering particle derived from the 3' end of the genome RNA has evolved by an internal deletion of the standard genome.

Cell-Free System↗

Paralytic rabies: a clinico-pathological study.

Clinical and pathological features of 11 cases of paralytic rabies have been described, with a detailed study of the peripheral nerves. The mean incubation period was forty-nine days (range 7-90 days). The mean interval between the onset of symptoms and death was 8.4 days (range 7-11 days). A history of animal bite was available in 9 cases. Pain and paraesthesiae at the site of the bite, followed by paralysis, were the main presenting symptoms. Motor weakness and involvement of the respiratory muscles was present in all cases. Histopathological features in the spinal cord and brain were (i) an inflammatory cellular reaction, (ii) vascular changes and (iii) inclusion bodies. Pathological changes were more severe in the spinal cord and brain-stem than in the cerebral cortex. Peripheral nerves showed segmental demyelination and remyelination. Wallerian degeneration, myelinated fibre loss and axonal loss. The changes were of variable degree. In 9 nerves segmental demyelination was the primary lesion. Wallerian degeneration and segmental demyelination were seen in 6 peripheral nerves. All the spinal nerves showed evidence of Wallerian degeneration as well as segmental demyelination. It is suggested that some protein component of rabies virus may produce primary demyelination in peripheral nerves by a cross-antigenic action on myelin protein, but that the pathological features in the spinal cord and brain are due to virus infection per se.

Adolescent↗

Multiple sclerosis in North-West India.

Fifty-four patients, with multiple sclerosis from North-West India are described. This included two pathologically proven cases of multiple sclerosis. Five patients conformed to the definition of neuromyelitis optica (Devic's syndrome). This study is in agreement with the other series reported from Asia regarding the special clinical features of multiple sclerosis described from this part of the world. There is more common occurrence of visual impairment at onset, predominant involvement of optic nerves and spinal cord and higher incidence of classical neuromyelitis optica. There is no relationship of any or all cerebro spinal fluid abnormalities with the type of multiple sclerosis, duration of an attack and disability, except for the possible relation between the type of colloidal gold reaction pattern and the type of multiple sclerosis.

Adolescent↗

Spinal cord compression in homozygous beta thalassaemia.

Spinal cord compression due to extramedullary haemopoietic tissue in a case of beta thalassaemia and G6 PD deficiency is described. Surgical decompression alone had no beneficial effect. However, the addition of radiotherapy proved very useful.

Adult↗

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity in purified cores of vesicular stomatitis virus.

Purified cores of vesicular stomatitis virus contain an enzymatic activity that converts GDP, UDP, and CDP into their corresponding triphosphates using ATP as the phosphate donor. Thus, the virion-associated RNA polymerase can synthesize mRNA normally in vitro even when one of the ribonucleoside triphosphates is replaced by its corresponding diphosphate. RNA synthesis does not proceed if ATP is replaced by ADP. Similarly RNA synthesis is impaired if CDP and UDP are present in the same reaction. The role of the nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase, EC 2.7.4.6) in vesicular stomatitis virus mRNA synthesis in vitro is discussed.

Kinetics↗

Purification and properties of heat-resistant exotoxin produced by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid in culture.

A partially purified preparation of a water-soluble, heat-resistant, nonspecific exotoxin produced by a strain of Macrophomina phaseolina, isolated from Phaseolus mungo L. could reduce Cu++ ions and produced a red colour with 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine reagent. It caused inhibition of seed germination, wilting of cult seedlings, stunted growth of young seedlings and loss of permeability of the cell membrane. Seedlings of P. mungo, grown in presence of the toxin showed a slight increase in the contents of protein and total RNA over control, but a significant increase in the specific activities of F-1, 6-BP aldolase and G-6-P isomerase.

Copper↗

Initiation of RNA synthesis in vitro by vesicular stomatitis virus. Role of ATP.

The ATP requirement during RNA transcription by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase associated with purified vesicular stomatitis virus was studied during chain initiation and chain elongation steps. Initiation of transcription in vitro has an apparent Km for ATP of approximately 500 micron, whereas the apparent Km for ATP during chain elongation is almost identical with those for the other three ribonucleoside triphosphates, i.e. 20 to 30 micron. Further analysis of the transcription process demonstrated that the beta-gamma imido analogue of ATP cannot be used for the initiation step. However, it can be incorporated into RNA during chain elongation. These results indicate that a hydrolyzable form of the beta-gamma phosphodiester bond in ATP is required for the initiation process and also support the hypothesis for a single promoter site for the initiation of transcription on the genome of vesicular stomatitis virus.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Aldolase and dehydrogenase activities in Spirillum bengal.

Spirillum bengal is unable to grow on sugars, but can utilize different organic acids as carbon sources. Dehydrogenase activities were tested with different substrates and were found highest with lactate, glutamate, acetate, succinate and malate. A low aldolase activity was also detectable.

Cell-Free System↗

Uncommon neurological presentations of tuberculoma.

The neurological manifestations and autopsy findings of 3 cases of tuberculoma have been described. A cerebello-pontine angle tuberculoma presented with a long history of trigeminal neuralgia. Intramedallary tuberculoma of the spinal cord presented with transverse myelitis, history of one complete remission and a normal myelogram. A tuberculoma of the medulla led to, apart from other features, severe orthostatic hypotension. Tuberculous meningitis, as a terminal process, developed in the first two cases and the third patient died from a vasomotor collapse on suddenly standing up from bed.

Adult↗

Inactivation of influenza and vesicular stomatitis virion RNA polymerase activities by photoreaction with 4'-substituted psoralens.

Irradiation of purified influenza virus and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) with long-wavelength UV light in the presence of 4'-substituted psoralens inactivated the virion-associated RNA polymerase activity. Inactivation was apparently due to psoralen modification of the viral genome RNAs, since cations that decrease psoralen binding to nucleic acids had a protective effect, and reconstitution of VSV RNA polymerase activity was inhibited by photoreaction of nucleoprotein cores but not by pretreatment of soluble fraction from dissociated virions. Partially inactivated viral particles synthesized reduced amounts of full-length RNA products in vitro without an increase in prematurely terminated transcripts. VSV leader RNA formation was relatively resistant to psoralen photoinactivation, and sequential transcription was maintained by photoreacted VSV. The all-or-none psoralen effect on virion-associated RNA polymerase activities may be due to a differential photosensitivity of promoter sites or to structural changes in modified viral genome RNAs that prevent formation of new mRNA chains.

DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases↗

A comparative study of the effects of prostaglandins and H2-receptor antagonists on gastric acid secretion, mucosal blood flow and ulcer formation.

The prostaglandins E2 and 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 methyl ester were compared with the H2-receptor antagonists burimamide and metiamide for their effects on gastric acid secretion (GAS) and gastric mucosal blood flow (MBF) in rats and dogs, and on ulcer formation in rats. Orally, both 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 methyl ester (20 microgram/kg) and metiamide (6 mg/kg) were markedly effective inhibitors of GAS stimulated by histamine acid phosphate or pentagastrin in Heidenhain pouch dogs, producing a reduction both in volume of gastric juice and in the concentration of titratable acid. In anaesthetised rats, however, the H2-receptor antagonists, when perfused into the gastric lumen, did not consistently inhibit the increased GAS caused by various secretagogues. In contrast, the prostaglandins, under the same conditions, caused marked inhibition of GAS provoked by all secretagogues. Intravenously, both burimamide and metiamide were effective in inhibiting GAS in rats but were less potent than the prostaglandins. The order of potency was: 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 methyl ester greater than PGE2 greater than metiamide greater than burimamide. By the oral route, the H2-receptor antagonists were found to be very weak inhibitors of indometacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats, as compared to the prostaglandins. MBF studies in rats and in Heidenhain dogs showed that i.v. or p.o. administration inhibited both GAS and MBF in most cases. The ratio r = [MBF (ml/min)/GAS (mumol H+/min)] was generally increased by both types of compounds, suggesting a preferential effect on GAS.

16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2↗