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Biomedical subjects

A Mittal

Publications and source records attributed to A Mittal.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen in spontaneous abortions. Is this organism a primary or secondary indicator of risk?

In order to investigate whether or not Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a risk factor for pregnancy loss, 77 spontaneous abortion patients (6-24 weeks gestation), admitted to gynaecology emergency of Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India. Twenty-five pregnant women (6-16 weeks gestation) attending the same hospital for induced abortion, were included in the study. C. trachomatis antigen was detected in endometrial curretage tissue by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The detection rate was 15.6% (12/77) among spontaneous abortion patients and 4% (1/25) among women undergoing induced abortion. There was no statistically significant association between the mean age/mean gestational age of those experiencing spontaneous abortion, with and without C. trachomatis infection (26.9 years versus 25.06 years and 11.1 weeks versus 9.6 weeks, respectively). High prevalence of C. trachomatis was found in multigravidae and parous spontaneous abortion patients, compared with that in primigravidae and nulliparous Chlamydia-negative spontaneous aborters (75.0% versus 25.0%; 66.7% versus 33.3%, respectively). The prevalence of chlamydial antigen in patients with no prior history of spontaneous abortion was 16.1% (10/62) compared with 18.1% (2/11) in women with one prior abortion. Further study is required to determine whether C. trachomatis infection is a primary or secondary indicator of risk.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1999

Modulatory potential of Spirulina fusiformis on carcinogen metabolizing enzymes in Swiss albino mice.

The modulatory potential of Spirulina fusiformis was observed on the hepatic and extrahepatic carcinogen metabolizing enzymes in Swiss albino mice at a dose of 800 mg/kg b.w. given orally. A significant reduction in the hepatic cytochrome P-450 content was observed in the group treated with Spirulina in comparison with the control group. The hepatic glutathione S-transferase activity was induced significantly by Spirulina treatment. There was no change in the extrahepatic glutathione S-transferase activity after the animals were fed with Spirulina.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The effect of immunization with porins on gut pathophysiological response in rats infected with Salmonella typhimurium.

Attachment of Salmonella typhimurium to epithelial surfaces elicit significant alterations in different cell signalling events which lead to the development of disease. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of immunization of rats with porins, on gut physiologic markers following challenge with S. typhimurium. Male albino Wistar rats were immunized with purified porins and challenged by intragastric infection with S. typhimurium. Electrolyte transport, levels of different second messengers and inflammatory mediators were studied. A net absorption of transepithelial fluxes of Na+ and Cl- in immunized-challenged group and secretion in infected group was found. Ca2+ and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose fluxes did not show any change. Significant increase in the levels of [Ca2+]i, cAMP, membrane form of protein kinase C, prostaglandins, NADPH oxidase, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, total oxygen free radicals, reactive nitrogen intermediates, citrulline and lipid peroxidation was found in the infected group. However, in the immunized-challenged group, the values of all the parameters were found to be almost the same as that of control as well as immunized groups. Na+, K+-ATPase and calmodulin levels were unaltered in all the groups of animals. The results of this study thus suggest that immunization of rats with purified Salmonella porins followed by subsequent challenge with the organism might be helpful for the prevention of multiple physiologic derangements in isolated ileal cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Antigenic definition of plasma membrane proteins of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin: predominant activation of human T cells by low-molecular-mass integral proteins.

Mycobacterial plasma membrane proteins, in particular the detergent-soluble or 'integral' ones, comprise a class of mostly unexplored antigens capable of inducing potent activation of human T cells. Plasma membrane isolated from culture-grown Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG; Indian vaccine; Danish strain) was subjected to a Triton X-114-based biphasic extraction procedure for isolation of peripheral (water-soluble) and integral proteins (PMP and IMP). A distinction between the two protein pools was evident from results of SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting using antisera raised in rabbits. An enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay with a panel of WHO-IMMYC monoclonal antibodies against various mycobacterial antigens revealed that three well-known antigens, 19 kDa, 33/36 kDa (proline rich) and 38 kDa (PstS homologue), were part of the IMP pool; and another such antigen, 14/16 kDa alpha-crystallin homologue, partly constituted the PMP pool. Apparently, antigenically distinct species of the immunomodulatory moiety lipoarabinomannan partitioned in aqueous and detergent phases. Human T-cell proliferation assays in donors comprising tuberculoid leprosy and pulmonary tuberculosis patients and healthy BCG vaccinees showed significantly greater potency of IMP over PMP and this immunodominance appeared to be directed towards CD4+ cells. IMP of < 56 kDa were resolved by 'continuous elution SDS-PAGE' into 15 fractions which, after extraction of SDS, were used in T-cell proliferation assays for the identification of immunodominant constituents. Proteins falling within three low-molecular-mass zones (all < 35 kDa) performed better than the rest, particularly a approximately 22 kDa fraction, which strongly stimulated T cells from all five donors. Partial overlap between IMP and secreted proteins, as noticed in this study, could provide clues to immunodominance of the latter. The apparent uniqueness and a high T-cell activating potency make mycobacterial IMP attractive candidates for designing future vaccines or immunotherapeutic agents.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1999

Is protein-deficient diabetes mellitus a pancreatitis?

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus is a distinct clinical entity subdivided into protein-deficient diabetes mellitus (PDDM) and fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes (FCPD). Whereas FCPD has obvious pancreatitis manifested by pancreatic duct calculi, the evidence for involvement of the pancreas in PDDM is limited to the presence of ketosis-resistant hyperglycaemia. METHODS: We studied 10 patients with PDDM biochemically and radiologically. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed to determine if they had any evidence of chronic pancreatitis. RESULTS: Their mean faecal chymotrypsin level was low (13.2+/-5.72 microg/g), as was their basal c-peptide value (0.35+/-0.15 mmol/L). Islet cell antibodies were not detected in any of these patients. Ultrasound examination revealed pancreatic atrophy. In two patients, however, the pancreas was bulky. The ERCP showed generalized thinning of the pancreatic duct, measuring 2.4+/-0.06mm in the head, 2.01+/-0.08 mm in the body and 1.02 +/- 0.03 mm in tail region; side branches were seen but they were too sparse and thin. CONCLUSIONS: The significance of these changes is not clear, but they may represent an ongoing pancreatic disease and may, indeed, be the earliest changes of chronic pancreatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy: risk factor for an adverse outcome.

A cohort of 122 pregnant women attending the hospital antenatal clinic in northern India were studied to determine the prevalence of genital chlamydial infection, and any adverse effect on the pregnancy. Endocervical swabs were taken at > 12 weeks of pregnancy and cultured for Chlamydia trachomatis. Twenty-six (21.3%) pregnant women were found to be infected with C. trachomatis. The mean age, gravidity and parity were significantly higher (25.03 vs 23.6 years, 1.88 vs 1.72 and 0.92 vs 0.68 respectively [P < 0.005]) in women from whom C. trachomatis was isolated. Follow-up was possible in 87 women who delivered in the hospital. There was increased incidence of still-birth, prematurity and low birth-weight in the C. trachomatis-positive women (16.6% vs 5.7%, 26.6% vs 18.4% and 26.6% vs 23.0%), and these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.5, P < 0.5 and P < 0.05 respectively). The results suggest a definite need for C. trachomatis screening on a wider scale, both in different risk groups of asymptomatic antenatal women and in neonates, to confirm these findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of coenzyme Q10 in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The effects of oral treatment with coenzyme Q10 (120 mg/d) were compared for 28 days in 73 (intervention group A) and 71 (placebo group B) patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). After treatment, angina pectoris (9.5 vs. 28.1), total arrhythmias (9.5% vs. 25.3%), and poor left ventricular function (8.2% vs. 22.5%) were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in the coenzyme Q group than placebo group. Total cardiac events, including cardiac deaths and nonfatal infarction, were also significantly reduced in the coenzyme Q10 group compared with the placebo group (15.0% vs. 30.9%, P < 0.02). The extent of cardiac disease, elevation in cardiac enzymes, and oxidative stress at entry to the study were comparable between the two groups. Lipid peroxides, diene conjugates, and malondialdehyde, which are indicators of oxidative stress, showed a greater reduction in the treatment group than in the placebo group. The antioxidants vitamin A, E, and C and beta-carotene, which were lower initially after AMI, increased more in the coenzyme Q10 group than in the placebo group. These findings suggest that coenzyme Q10 can provide rapid protective effects in patients with AMI if administered within 3 days of the onset of symptoms. More studies in a larger number of patients and long-term follow-up are needed to confirm our results.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1998

Serovar distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis isolates collected from the cervix: use of the polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease digestion.

In order to study the distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis serovars isolated from the cervix of patients attending the gynaecology out-patients clinic of Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India, gene typing was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified portion of the major outer membrane protein (MOMP). A set of primers were used to amplify a 540 bp gene fragment which encompasses the four hypervariable regions of the MOMP. EcoR1 and Xbal double digestion of the product gave distinctive patterns for the genital serovars (D-K) as demonstrated on 12% polyacrylamide gel stained with ethidium bromide. PCR and RFLP were used to genotype 50 clinical isolates and their respective control serovars. Clinical isolates demonstrated the same banding pattern as the control strain of C. trachomatis. The serovars isolated were D (39.13%), E (28.26%), G (15.25%), I (10.86%) and F (6.5%), representing 92% of those investigated.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Predictors of outcome in fulminant hepatic failure in children.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the predictors of outcome in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) in children. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: 41 children with FHF were studied. Patient characteristics and findings on examination at the time of hospitalization were noted. Serum biochemistry and screening for hepatotropic viruses (A, B and C) were done in each patient. Patients were treated using a predefined protocol and followed up till death or discharge. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done to find the predictors of outcome. RESULTS: Hepatitis B was the commonest cause of FHF (11 children; 26.9%). Markers for hepatitis A and C viruses were present in one and two patients, respectively. Serology was negative in 27 children (65.9%), of whom two had history of ingestion of hepatotoxins (antitubercular drugs). The overall mortality was 61%. Irrespective of etiology, the following factors were associated with poor outcome on univariate analysis: presence of gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage, serum bilirubin more than 10 mg/dL, age 6 years or less, coma of grade 3 or more, presence of infection, prolongation of prothrombin time > 8 s over control, prothrombin concentration < 50%, hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 45 mg/dL), hyponatremia (serum sodium < 125 mEq/L) and hyperkalemia (serum potassium > 5.5 mEq/L). On multiple logistic regression analysis, presence of GI hemorrhage (p = 0.005), degree of coma (p = 0.02) and serum bilirubin level (p = 0.025) were identified as independent predictors of mortality.

Child↗
PubMed1998

Incidence of HIV infection & its predictors in blood donors in Delhi.

The concurrence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and syphilis and the trend that these infections have followed in blood donors during the last eight years from 1989 to 1997 were studied at a Zonal Blood Testing Centre in New Delhi. Overall, HIV was positive in 0.068 per cent blood donors in this period. A significant rise was found in HIV infection (particularly in a small subgroup of voluntary donors) after 1995 and in VDRL reactivity after 1993. However, no significant increase was found in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity. HIV seroprevalence in replacement donors, which represents the low risk general population, increased gradually from 0 in 1991 to an average of 0.060 per cent in 1997. HbsAg and VDRL reactivity was present in 12.2 and 11.8 per cent of HIV positive cases while it was present in 1.2 and 2.3 per cent of HIV negative cases respectively. HBsAg was found 10.4 times and VDRL reactivity 5.9 times more often in HIV positive donors as compared to HIV negative donors. Thus, HIV infection is likely to be more prevalent in communities with a high HBsAg positivity and VDRL reactivity.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1997

Fractionation of mycobacterial integral membrane proteins by continuous elution SDS-PAGE reveals the immunodominance of low molecular weight subunits for human T cells.

Integral membrane proteins (IMP) represent a serologically distinct class of mycobacterial antigens which are potent stimulators of human T cells (Mehrotra et al., Clin Exp Immunol 1995; 102:626). The range of IMP from Mycobacterium fortuitum was resolved by continuous elution SDS-PAGE to recover 31 discrete fractions covering bands up to approximately 58 kD. The fractions, after removal of SDS, were subjected to human T cell proliferation assays for the identification of immunodominant molecule(s). A low molecular weight (<20kD) fraction was able to stimulate T cells from 11 out of 12 donors comprising mainly tuberculoid leprosy patients. The described protocol is well suited to situations where large quantities of antigenic protein mixtures must be processed in order to get the purified molecules/fractions in amounts required for immunoepidemiological studies.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1996

Interaction of a rat intestinal brush border membrane glycoprotein with type-1 fimbriae of Salmonella typhimurium.

Type-1 fimbriated Salmonella typhimurium was found to adhere to rat intestinal brush border membrane in a mannose sensitive manner. The maximum binding of the purified fimbriae observed with the rat illeal enterocytes was inhibited by 69.2% in presence of D-mannose. Brush border membrane from rat illeum was isolated, delipidified, solubilised and fractionated by affinity chromatography on type-1 fimbriae coupled Sepharose CL 4B column. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the material eluted from the column with D-mannose revealed a single band of molecular weight 60 kDa. The direct binding of this affinity eluted glycoprotein to the purified type-1 fimbriae was demonstrated by a modified Western blot experiment. Our findings suggest that the 60 kDa glycoprotein may serve as a receptor for the type-1 fimbriae in the rat intestinal brush border membrane and thereby may help in mediating bacterial adherence to the host epithelium.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Host immune response in chlamydial cervicitis.

In order to study host immune responses to Chlamydia trachomatis infection in patients with chlamydial cervicitis, lymphoproliferative responses to purified protein derivative (PPD) and Chlamydia trachomatis antigen (elementary bodies) were studied in 15 patients and 10 normal control subjects. A significant lymphoproliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was obtained with PPD and C. trachomatis antigen (P < 0.001) as compared to unstimulated PBMC showing that antigen-reactive T-cells are present in patients. There was no significant difference in the lymphoproliferation response to C. trachomatis in patients as compared to control subjects suggesting that the cell-mediated immune (CMI) response in peripheral blood is not altered in chlamydial cervicitis. Inhibition of IL-2 production in cervical secretions ranged from 44 to 84% in patients with chlamydial cervicitis while supernatants derived from PBMC stimulated with PPD failed to show inhibition. However, there was no inhibition of IL-2 production in secretion or supernatants stimulated with PPD in control subjects, thereby showing that local cell-mediated immunity is impaired in patients. Significant C. trachomatis specific IgA antibodies, in cervical secretions, were present in only three of 15 patients. C. trachomatis specific IgG, IgM and IgA were detected in the serum of most patients, suggesting that serum antibodies do not confer immunity at the local site. We conclude that although circulating antigen-reactive T-cells are present in chlamydial cervicitis patients, absence of protective antibody as well as impairment of local cell-mediated immunity may be responsible for alteration of the mucosal defence mechanism against chlamydial infection.

Adult↗