Biomedical subjects

A Ray

Publications and source records attributed to A Ray.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Detection of visual field defects in patients after anterior temporal lobectomy for mesial temporal sclerosis-establishing eligibility to drive.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to quantify visual field defects after temporal lobectomy for mesial temporal sclerosis and to establish eligibility for driving. METHODS: Automated static perimetry was performed on 14 patients who had undergone anterior temporal lobectomy for mesial temporal sclerosis. Perimetry consisted of monocular Humphrey Field Analyser (HFA) 30-2 test and a binocular Esterman 120 test. RESULTS: Of the 14 patients, three had no loss or non-specific loss, eight had partial homonymous quadrantanopia, one had complete homonymous quadrantanopia and two had concentric loss attributable to vigabatrin, which may have masked any loss occurring due to surgery. Of these, only seven passed the standardised DVLA visual fields. Of the seven who failed DVLA visual field, one had complete quadrantanopia, four had partial quadrantanopia and two had concentric loss (due to vigabatrin). CONCLUSIONS: Visual field defects contribute a great deal in the reduction of the quality of life in patients who have had surgery for mesial temporal sclerosis. Potential surgically induced visual field defects that could preclude driving need to be discussed with each patient preoperatively. In our study 50% of patients did not meet the required DVLA standards.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Epidemiological aspects of mycetoma from a retrospective study of 264 cases in West Bengal.

Between 1981 and 2000, 264 cases of mycetoma were diagnosed clinically and microbiologically at Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine. Retrospective analysis of the records revealed that the ratio of actinomycetomas and eumycetomas was 197 : 67; the male to female ratio was 183 : 81. Ninety-four cases occurred in the 1980s and 170 in 1990s, with significantly more infections of Actinomadura spp. (P < 0.01) and fewer with Nocardia caviae (P < 0.01) during the last decade. Pricking was the most common injury associated with eumycetomas (P < 0.01). A total of 196 infections were in exposed body parts and 68 in covered areas. The localization of mycetomas differed significantly (P < 0.01) according to sex, incidence of actinomycetomas or eumycetomas, and obvious history of trauma. Exposed area cases were more common among agricultural workers (P < 0.01), while covered area mycetomas were almost always actinomycetomas with a remarkably lower incidence of N. caviae, A. madurae and Madurella grisea infections. The peak age of onset was between 16 and 25 years. The delay of diagnosis for the 80th percentile of cases was around 6 years for cases caused by N. brasiliensis and Streptomyces spp.; 8 years for N. caviae and N. asteroides; and 10 years for M. grisea and Actinomadura spp. From the history of trauma in 130 patients, the 80th percentile incubation period (IP) was calculated for N. brasiliensis, N. caviae and N. asteroides as 3 years; for Actinomadura spp. 7 years and for M. grisea 9 years. The minimum IP for all organisms was around 3 months.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Driving after epilepsy surgery: effects of visual field defects and epilepsy control.

The aim of this study was to assess the eligibility to drive in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis who undergo anterior temporal lobectomy. The two major determinants in a patient's ability to drive after such surgery are visual field defects and their seizure frequency. Thirteen patients were selected. The postoperative seizure frequency was assessed using Engel's criteria. Automated static perimetry was performed which consisted of a Humphrey Field Analyser (HFA) 30-2 Test, one for each eye and a Binocular Esterman 120 Test. Seven out of the 13 (54%) selected patients had no seizures post-operatively (Engel's 1); three (23%) patients had less than two seizures per year (Engel's 2) and three (23%) had more than 90% improvement in the frequency of seizures (Engel's 3). The seven patients with no seizures postoperatively were eligible to apply for a driving licence. Automated static perimetry performed on the same patients revealed three (23%) had normal visual field or non-specific loss, seven (54%) had partial homonymous quadrantanopia, one (8%) had complete homonymous quadrantanopia and two (15%) had bilateral concentric loss attributable to vigabatrin, which may have masked any loss occurring due to surgery. Of the 13 patients, only seven (54%) passed the standardised DVLA Esterman visual field test. Of the six (46%) who failed DVLA Esterman visual field test, one had complete homonymous quadrantanopia, three had incomplete homonymous quadrantanopia and two had concentric loss (due to vigabatrin). Although seven (54%) patients passed the visual field test and seven (54%) patients were seizure free only five of the seven seizure-free patients (i.e. 38% of the total number of patients) had visual fields that would make them eligible to drive. As driving is now stated by patients' as a major factor that improves their quality of life, it is important to stress the significance of surgically induced or other iatrogenic visual field defects that may prevent them from driving prior to the operation to avoid disappointments afterwards.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Infra-red spectroscopic analyses of banana waste degraded by oyster mushroom.

Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen analyses of banana leaf and pseudostem biomass revealed their potentiality as substrates for microorganisms. Infra-red (IR) spectra of both biomass show presence of cellulose, xylan and lignin. IR spectra of leaf and pseudostem biomass degraded in solid state fermentation (SSF) by two Pleurotus species (P. sajor-caju and P. ostreatus) for 40 days showed the utilization of cellulose, xylan and lignin by these microbes. Dynamics of various lignocellulolytic enzymes of Pleurotus species and analyses of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen contents of degraded biomass supported the same. Both the Pleurotus species exhibited lignin consumption ability on both the substrates.

Basidiomycota↗

PubMed2002

Spontaneous thrombosis of a giant internal carotid aneurysm in a patient who presented with hypopituitarism.

This case report describes a 66-year-old woman who initially presented with features of hypopituitarism secondary to a giant intra-cavernous internal carotid aneurysm. She represented a year later with features suggestive of a subarachnoid haemorrhage, but repeat CT showed no change from the one performed previously. A repeat angiogram, however, showed complete spontaneous thrombosis of the aneurysm including the parent artery.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Distribution of prognostically unfavourable product of c-erbB-2 oncogene and EGF-R in carcinomas of the breast and uterine cervix.

A comparative study was undertaken between cancer of the uterine cervix (n = 50) and female breast cancer (n = 50) with reference to the expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein (HER-2/neu) and that of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), both being highly homologous structurally. Expressions of EGF-R and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein were viewed in breast and cervical cancer tissues by immunochemical staining. Cervical cancer cases showed much higher expression of EGF-R which also revealed significant association with the expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and tumour grading. Among breast cancer cases, over-expression of EGF-R correlated significantly with metastasis of lymph node; and expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein showed a significant relationship with histological grading of the tumour. Moreover, an association was noticed between the tumour grade and the concomitant immuno positive expression of EGF-R and c-erbB-2. Our study revealed an existence of a conflicting pattern in the expression of EGF-R and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein between carcinomas of the breast and uterine cervix.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Catalytic subunit of protein kinase A is an interacting partner of the inflammation-responsive transcription factor serum amyloid A-activating factor-1.

Serum amyloid A-activating factor-1 (SAF-1) is a zinc finger transcription factor that is activated by many mediators of inflammation including IL-1, IL-6, and bacterial LPS. However, the mechanism of activation is not fully understood. To identify possible activation partners for SAF-1, we used a yeast two-hybrid system that detected interaction between the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA-Calpha) and SAF-1. Immunofluorescence and combined immunoprecipitation-Western blot analyses revealed colocalization and interaction between SAF-1 and PKA-Calpha. In vivo evidence of SAF-1 and PKA-Calpha interaction was further revealed by coimmunoprecipitation of these two proteins in cAMP-activated liver cells. We further show that SAF-1 is phosphorylated in vitro by PKA-Calpha and that addition of cAMP markedly induces in vivo phosphorylation of SAF-1 and transcription of SAF-regulated reporter genes. These results showed that SAF1-PKA-Calpha interaction is involved in functional activation of SAF-1.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Yeast telomerase appears to frequently copy the entire template in vivo.

Telomeres derived from the same formation event in wild type strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae possess the same, precise TG(1-3) sequence for the most internal approximately 100 bp of the 250-350 bp TG(1-3) repeats. The conservation of this internal domain is thought to reflect the fact that telomere lengthening and shortening, and thus alteration of the precise TG(1-3) sequence, is confined to the terminal region of the telomere. The internal domains of telomeres from yku70 and tel1 mutants, whose entire telomeres are only approximately 100 bp, were examined by analyzing 5.1 kb of cloned TG(1-3) sequences from telomeres formed during transformation of wild type, yku70 and tel1 cells. The internal domains were 97-137 bp in wild type cells, 27-36 bp in yku70 cells and 7-9 bp in tel1 cells. These data suggest that the majority of the tel1 cell TG(1-3) repeats may be resynthesized during shortening and lengthening reactions while a portion of the yku70 cell telomeres are protected. TG(1-3) sequences are synthesized by telomerase repeatedly copying an internal RNA template, which introduces a sequence bias into TG(1-3) repeats. Analysis of in vivo-derived telomeres revealed that of the many possible high affinity binding sites for the telomere protein Rap1p in TG(1-3) repeats, only those consistent with telomere hybridization to the ACACAC in the 3'-region of the telomerase RNA template followed by copying of most of the template were present. Copies of the telomerase RNA template made up 40-60% of the TG(1-3) sequences from each strain and could be found in long, tandem repeats. The data suggest that in vivo yeast telomerase frequently allows telomeres to hybridize to the 3'-region of RNA template and copy most of it prior to dissociation, or that in vivo telomere processing events result in the production of TG(1-3) sequences that mimic this process.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Activated Akt protects the lung from oxidant-induced injury and delays death of mice.

Oxidant-induced injury to the lung causes extensive damage to lung epithelial cells. Impaired protection and repair of the lung epithelium can result in death. The serine-threonine kinase Akt has been implicated in inhibiting cell death induced by different stimuli including growth factor withdrawal, cell cycle discordance, DNA damage, and loss of cell adhesion in different cell types. However, the in vivo relevance of this prosurvival pathway has not been explored. Here we show that a constitutively active form of Akt introduced intratracheally into the lungs of mice by adenovirus gene transfer techniques protects mice from hyperoxic pulmonary damage and delays death of mice. This is the first demonstration of the in vivo protective function of Akt in the context of oxidant-induced lung injury.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Purification and characterization of human cell--cell adhesion molecule 1 (C-CAM1) expressed in insect cells.

The cell--cell adhesion molecule 1 (C-CAM1) plays an important role as a tumor suppressor for prostate cancer. Decreased expression of C-CAM1 was detected in prostate, breast, and colon carcinoma. Reexpression of C-CAM1 in prostate and breast cancer cell lines was able to suppress tumorigenicity in vivo. These observations suggest that C-CAM1 may be used as a marker for cancer detection or diagnosis. To generate monoclonal antibodies specific to C-CAM1, we have overexpressed full-length human C-CAM1 in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus expression system. The protein was purified 104-fold using nickel affinity chromatography. About 0.4 mg purified C-CAM1 was obtained from 200 mg of infected cells. When the purified protein was digested with peptidyl-N-glycosidase, the apparent mobility of the protein on SDS--PAGE changed from 90 to 58 kDa, which is close to the molecular weight predicted from the cloned cDNA sequence. This observation suggests that C-CAM1 was glycosylated on asparagine residues when expressed in Sf9 cells. Western blotting and internal protein sequencing analysis confirmed that the purified protein is human C-CAM1. Biochemical and functional assays indicate that this protein expressed in Sf9 cells displays characteristics similar to those of native protein, including adhesion function and glycosylation modification. Using this protocol, sufficient quantity of this protein can be produced with purity suitable for monoclonal antibody generation and biochemical study.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed2001

SH3 ligands in the dopamine D3 receptor.

It has recently been observed that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can interact with SH3 domains through polyproline motifs. These interactions appear to be involved in receptor internalization and MAPK signalling. Here we report that the third cytoplasmic loop of the dopamine D3 receptor can interact in vitro with the adaptor protein Grb2. While the amino- and carboxy-terminal SH3 domains of Grb2 separately did not interact with the D3 receptor loop, the interaction is at least partially maintained with a Grb2 mutant for the amino-terminal SH3 domain, but disrupted for a Grb2 mutant with a nonfunctional carboxy-terminal SH3 domain. The data indicate the need of structural integrity of the entire Grb2 protein for the interaction and dominant role of the carboxy-terminal SH3 domain in the interaction. Disruption of the PXXP motifs in the D3 receptor did not affect the interaction with Grb2. These results indicate that GPCRs may contain SH3 ligands that do not contain the postulated minimal consensus sequence PXXP.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2001

A critical role for NF-kappa B in GATA3 expression and TH2 differentiation in allergic airway inflammation.

The transcription factor GATA-3 is expressed in T helper 2 (TH2) but not TH1 cells and plays a critical role in TH2 differentiation and allergic airway inflammation in vivo. Mice that lack the p50 subunit of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) are unable to mount airway eosinophilic inflammation. We show here that this is not due to defects in TH2 cell recruitment but due to the inability of the p50-/- mice to produce interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13: cytokines that play distinct roles in asthma pathogenesis. CD4+ T cells from p50-/- mice failed to induce Gata3 expression under TH2-differentiating conditions but showed unimpaired T-bet expression and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production under TH1-differentiating conditions. Inhibition of NF-kappa B activity prevented GATA-3 expression and TH2 cytokine production in developing, but not committed, TH2 cells. Our studies provide a molecular basis for the need for both T cell receptor and cytokine signaling for GATA-3 expression and, in turn, TH2 differentiation.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Genes that are uniquely stress regulated in salt overly sensitive (sos) mutants.

Repetitive rounds of differential subtraction screening, followed by nucleotide sequence determination and northern-blot analysis, identified 84 salt-regulated (160 mM NaCl for 4 h) genes in Arabidopsis wild-type (Col-0 gl1) seedlings. Probes corresponding to these 84 genes and ACP1, RD22BP1, MYB2, STZ, and PAL were included in an analysis of salt responsive gene expression profiles in gl1 and the salt-hypersensitive mutant sos3. Six of 89 genes were expressed differentially in wild-type and sos3 seedlings; steady-state mRNA abundance of five genes (AD06C08/unknown, AD05E05/vegetative storage protein 2 [VSP2], AD05B11/S-adenosyl-L-Met:salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase [SAMT], AD03D05/cold regulated 6.6/inducible2 [COR6.6/KIN2], and salt tolerance zinc finger [STZ]) was induced and the abundance of one gene (AD05C10/circadian rhythm-RNA binding1 [CCR1]) was reduced in wild-type plants after salt treatment. The expression of CCR1, SAMT, COR6.6/KIN2, and STZ was higher in sos3 than in wild type, and VSP2 and AD06C08/unknown was lower in the mutant. Salt-induced expression of VSP2 in sos1 was similar to wild type, and AD06C08/unknown, CCR1, SAMT, COR6.6/KIN2, and STZ were similar to sos3. VSP2 is regulated presumably by SOS2/3 independent of SOS1, whereas the expression of the others is SOS1 dependent. AD06C08/unknown and VSP2 are postulated to be effectors of salt tolerance whereas CCR1, SAMT, COR6.6/KIN2, and STZ are determinants that must be negatively regulated during salt adaptation. The pivotal function of the SOS signal pathway to mediate ion homeostasis and salt tolerance implicates AD06C08/unknown, VSP2, SAMT, 6.6/KIN2, STZ, and CCR1 as determinates that are involved in salt adaptation.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2001

[Metaphyseal and diaphyseal modular femoral stems implanted without cement].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: We assessed outcome after total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a dual metaphyseal-diaphyseal modular femoral stem with hydroxyapatite coating on the metaphyseal portion only. Implanted without cement, this stem was adaptable to all the anatomic morphotypes defined by the Noble canal flare index. MATERIAL AND METHODS: THA was performed in 116 patients (124 hips), mainly for degenerative joint disease (80% for dysplasia). Mean age was 61.2 years. Follow-up was 6.9 years (72-108 months). RESULTS: There were no preoperative complications excepting 3 cases of neck fissuration without clinical consequence. There was no trochanteric fracture. We had two early and one late dislocations. The Postel Merle d'Aubigné score improved from 8.09 to 17.27. Clinical outcome was not influenced by patient age, weight or morphotype. Radiologically, signs of bone ingrowth were found in more than 80% of the cases. Lucent lines were seen in only 3 cases. There was a single case of migration. No revision was needed among the cases with ossifications (23%, 22% Brooker I) and no femur revisions were required. There was no mechanical problem involving the metaphyseal-epiphysial junction. DISCUSSION: The dual metaphyseal-diaphyseal modular stem was found to be a safe and effective implant adaptable to all anatomic variations of the femur and providing good primary stability. In our series, 58% of the femurs were "standard" but for one-third of the femurs, the modular stem enabled implantation without cement, particularly in young adults with a dysplasic or funnel-shaped femur. CONCLUSION: The dual metaphyseal-diaphyseal modular stem was found to be most useful for optimizing total hip arthroplasty without cement.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2001

Oncoprotein c-erbB-2 in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and evaluation of its significance in response of disease to treatment.

Tissues from 50 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were analysed for immunohistochemical expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and the patients were followed-up for 2 years. Immunopositivity of c-erbB-2 was studied with reference to clinical stage, histopathological differentiation and response to the cancer therapy. Expression of c-erbB-2 protein was found to be higher (37.5%) in cases with stage II disease, whereas more expressions were noticed in poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (33.3%). Among cases who showed complete response to the treatment, 20.8% were positive for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein. On the contrary, 36.8% of prognostically unfavourable cases revealed positivity for c-erbB-2 immunostaining. However, the difference between c-erbB-2 expressions of these two said groups of patients, which were divided in accordance with the response to treatment, did not attain to statistical significance. Study on c-erbB-2 among larger number of patients with cervical carcinoma may prove to be an important factor in response to cancer therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Effect of cancer treatment modalities on serum lipids and lipoproteins among women with carcinoma of the breast.

Serum lipids and lipoproteins were studied in 61 breast cancer patients before initiation of therapy and subsequently during and after completion of cancer therapy. Different serum lipid fractions were estimated by enzymatic method. It was observed that mean levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol among untreated breast cancer patients decreased significantly after treatment. On the contrary, an increasing trend in the levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was noticed in patients during the course of treatment. This study reflects the effects of cancer therapy in the alteration of levels of different serum lipid fractions in the patients with breast cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Problems of laparoscopic sterilisation camps in rural West Bengal.

Laparoscopic sterilisation camps were performed in all the remote places of the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan areas in the district of Darjeeling and rural areas of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal where 22,500 patients were studied. Follow-up done up-to-date. No mortality or major complications reported so far. Surgical difficulties found were markedly obese patients (0.42%), scar in the lower abdomen (0.99%), early pregnancy (2.2%), early puerperal cases (1.83%) and cases with pelvic inflammatory disease (4.5%). Difficulties also found in cases of postburn contracture of the lower abdomen (0.02%). There were 420 cases where some sorts of complications were encountered. Complications included minor perforation of the uterus (1.8%), transaction of tubes (0.27%), bleeding from cervical tear (0.15%), and omental prolapse (0.04%). Problems faced regarding organisation of some of the camps in the remote areas, which could be preventable are discussed.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗

PubMed2000

Activation of transcription factor SAF involves its phosphorylation by protein kinase C.

The transcription factor serum amyloid A (SAA)-activating factor (SAF), a family of zinc finger proteins, plays a significant role in the induced expression of the SAA gene. Activity of SAF is regulated by a phosphorylation event involving serine/threonine protein kinase (Ray, A., Schatten, H., and Ray, B. K. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 4300-4308; Ray, A., and Ray, B. K. (1998) Mol. Cell. Biol. 18, 7327-7335). However, the identity of the protein kinase has so far remained unknown. Induction of SAA by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a known agonist of protein kinase C (PKC), suggested a potential role of the PKC signaling pathway in the activation process. The DNA binding activity of endogenous SAF was increased by agonists of PKC. In vitro phosphorylation of SAF-1 by PKC-beta markedly increased its DNA binding ability. Consistent with these findings, treatment of cells with activators of PKC or overexpression of PKC-betaII in transfected cells increased expression of an SAF-regulated promoter. Further analysis with a GAL4 reporter system indicated that PKC-mediated phosphorylation mostly increases the DNA binding activity of SAF-1. Together these data indicated that the PKC signaling pathway plays a major role in controlling expression of SAF-regulated genes by increasing the interaction between promoter DNA and phosphorylated SAF.

Animals↗