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Biomedical subjects

A Sood

Publications and source records attributed to A Sood.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Population based study of hypertension among the elderly in northern India.

The study was conducted in the urban and rural areas of Chandigarh during 1998-1999 among 362 elderly subjects above 65 y of age. The sample, selected by stratified random technique, covered a population of 7937 family members in 1882 houses. Methodology comprised of interviews, clinical examination and laboratory investigations such as ECG. The study revealed that 210 (58%) of the elderly were hypertensives. Of the hypertensives, only 39% are on medication. Fewer calories were consumed by the hypertensives. Further, 82.4% of the obese subjects were hypertensives as compared to 52.4% of the non-obese subjects (P<0.001). Only 56 subjects (27.6%) were both diabetic and hypertensive. One third of the elderly had some abnormality in ECG revealing associated coronary heart disease. Forty subjects (11.05%) had complications such as MI and stroke. The prevalence of complications was slightly higher (11.9%) in the hypertensives as compared to the non-hypertensives (9.9%). Thus health education campaigns should be started to increase awareness regarding the risk factors and bring about changes in lifestyle for the control of hypertension and reduction of its complications.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Cytoprotective effect of curcumin in human proximal tubule epithelial cells exposed to shiga toxin.

We conducted the following experiments to determine whether curcumin, an antioxidant compound extracted from the spice tumeric, inhibits cell death induced by Shiga toxin (Stx) 1 and 2 in HK-2 cells, a human proximal tubule cell line. Cells were incubated for 24-48 h with Stx1 or Stx2, 0-100 ng/ml. Test media contained either no further additives or 10-50 microM curcumin. Exposure to Stx1 and Stx2, 100 ng/ml, reduced cell viability to approximately 25% of control values after 24 h and 20 microM curcumin restored viability to nearly 75% of control. Cell staining confirmed that Stx1 and Stx2-induced damage in HK-2 cells involved a combination of apoptosis and necrosis. Thus, Stx1 caused apoptosis and necrosis in 12.2 +/- 2.2 and 12.7 +/- 0.9% of HK-2 cells, respectively. Similarly, Stx2 caused apoptosis and necrosis in 13.4 +/- 2.1 and 9.0 +/- 0.5% of HK-2 cells, respectively. Addition of 20 microM curcumin decreased the extent of apoptosis and necrosis to 2.9 +/- 2.0 and 3.8 +/- 0.2%, respectively in the presence of Stx1 and to 3.0 +/- 2.1 and 3.9 +/- 0.3%, respectively, for Stx2 (P < 0.01). Stx-induced apoptosis and its inhibition by curcumin were confirmed by DNA gel electrophoresis and by an assay for fragmentation. The protective effect of curcumin against Stx1 and Stx2-induced injury to HK-2 was not related to its antioxidant properties. Instead, curcumin enhanced expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in HK-2 cells under control conditions and after exposure to Stx1 or Stx2. No injury was detectable after incubation of LLC-PK(1) or OK cells, non-human proximal tubule cell lines, with Stx1 or Stx2. Thus, curcumin inhibits Stx-induced apoptosis and necrosis in HK-2 cells in vitro. The cytoprotective effect of curcumin against Stx-induced injury in cultured human proximal tubule epithelial cells may be a consequence of increased expression of HSP70.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Pulmonary function tests at work.

Occupational exposures remain an important cause of lung disease. A number of PFTs are used in the occupational setting, including spirometry, PEF recordings, methacholine challenge testing, lung volume, and DL(CO). These tests are used in a number of situations, including the clinical evaluation and management of patients with possible occupational lung disorders, preplacement and fitness-for-duty examinations, medical screening of exposed workers, impairment and disability evaluations, and research. The diagnosis of occupational lung disease has serious consequences for a worker and, in addition to a careful occupational history, usually requires objective assessment using PFTs. Serial PFTs are useful in following such patients and screening exposed populations of workers for respiratory conditions.

Female↗
PubMed2001

ATP induces Ca(2+) signaling in human chondrons cultured in three-dimensional agarose films.

OBJECTIVE: In vivo, chondrocytes are surrounded by an extracellular matrix, preventing direct cell-to-cell contact. Consequently, intercellular communication through gap junctions is unlikely. However, signaling at a distance is possible through extracellular messengers such as nitric oxide (NO) and nucleotides and nucleosides, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), uridine triphosphate (UTP), or adenosine diphosphate (ADP). We hypothesized that chondrons, chondrocytes surrounded by their native pericellular matrix, increase their intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]ic) in response to ATP and other signaling molecules and that the source of Ca(2+) is from intracellular stores. The objectives of this study were to determine if chondrons in a 3-D gel respond to ATP by increasing [Ca(2+)]ic through a purinoceptor mechanism and to test whether chondrons in whole tissue samples would respond to ATP in a similar fashion. DESIGN: Human chondrons, cultured in a three-dimensional agarose gel or in whole cartilage loaded with Fura-2AM, a calcium sensitive dye, were stimulated with 1, 5 and 10 microM ATP. A ratio-imaging fluorescence technique was used to quantitate the [Ca(2+)]ic. RESULTS: ATP-stimulated chondrons increased their [Ca(2+)]ic from a basal level of 60 nM to over 1000 nM. Chondrons incubated in calcium-free medium also increased their [Ca(2+)]ic in response to ATP, indicating the source of Ca(2+) was not extracellular. ATP-induced calcium signaling was inhibited in chondrons pre-treated with suramin, a generic purinoceptor blocker. In addition, UTP and adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammas) induced a calcium response, but 2-methylthio-ATP (2-MeSATP), ADP, and adenosine did not induce a significant increase in [Ca(2+)]ic, substantiating that the P2Y2 purinoceptor was dominant. Chondrons in whole cartilage increased [Ca(2+)]ic in response to ATP. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that chondrons in 3-D culture respond to ATP by increasing [Ca(2+)]ic via P2Y2 receptor activation. Thus, ATP can pass through the agarose gel and the pericellular matrix, bind purinoceptors and increase intracellular Ca(2+) in a signaling response.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed2001

Organization of regions with amphiphilic alpha-helical potential within the three-dimensional structure of beta-sheet proteins.

The observation that strong amphiphilic alpha-helical potential exists in all proteins, including beta-sheet proteins, has given rise to the idea that alpha-helical intermediates may be critical to the folding paths of all proteins. Here we report that regions with amphiphilic alpha-helical potential in beta-sheet proteins are regularly spaced within the native structure of the proteins at an average interval of about 13 A. This regular spacing did not occur when the location of amphiphilic regions was randomly assigned (p = 0.0056), suggesting some degree of organization with respect to the native fold. However, in the native structure of various non-homologous proteins that contain the same fold, the location of the regions with amphiphilic alpha-helical potential was not conserved. Further, there was no apparent association of amphiphilic alpha-helical potential with any particular type of secondary structure, confirming that this potential is not involved in maintenance of native structure and suggesting that it may be associated with a highly adaptable process.

Models, Molecular↗
PubMed2001

Boronated dipeptide borotrimethylglycylphenylalanine as a potential boron carrier in boron neutron capture therapy for malignant brain tumors.

Takagaki, M., Ono, K., Masunaga, S-I., Kinashi, Y., Oda, Y., Miyatake, S-I., Hashimoto, N., Powell, W., Sood, A. and Spielvogel, B. F. Boronated Dipeptide Borotrimethylglycylphenylalanine as a Potential Boron Carrier in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for Malignant Brain Tumors. Radiat. Res. 156, 118-122 (2001).A boronated dipeptide, borotrimethylglycylphenylalanine (BGPA), was synthesized as a possible boron carrier for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for malignant brain tumors. In vitro, at equal concentrations of (10)B in the extracellular medium, BGPA had the same effect in BNCT as p-boronophenylalanine (BPA). Boron analysis was carried out using prompt gamma-ray spectrometry and track-etch autoradiography. The tumor:blood and tumor:normal brain (10)B concentration ratios were 8.9 +/- 2.1 and 3.0 +/- 1.2, respectively, in rats bearing intracranial C6 gliosarcomas using alpha-particle track autoradiography. The IC(50), i.e. the dose capable of inhibiting the growth of C6 gliosarcoma cells by 50% after 3 days of incubation, was 5.9 x 10(-3) M BGPA, which is similar to that of 6.4 x 10(-3) M for BPA. The amide bond of BGPA is free from enzymatic attack, since it is protected from hydrolysis by the presence of a boron atom at the alpha-carbon position of glycine. These results suggest promise for the use of this agent for BNCT of malignant brain tumors. Further preclinical studies of BGPA are warranted, since BGPA has advantages over both BPA and BSH.

Alanine↗
PubMed2001

Reversible neurologic manifestations after glycerol: a short report.

A 46 year old male inadvertently consumed 500 ml of glycerol and presented with altered sensorium, focal neurologic signs and generalised seizures. He was managed conservatively and recovered fully within 48 hours. The case highlights the rare presentations of overdosage and neurologic effects with glycerol, an otherwise safe drug used in neurology.

Basal Ganglia Diseases↗
PubMed2001

Circadian pattern of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in geriatric population.

OBJECTIVES: Over last 13 years various studies have been done to evaluate the circadian pattern in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in adults and the existence of such variation in Indian population also has been demonstrated. The data on this variation in geriatric patients does not exist. METHODS: We undertook this prospective observational study at Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh to evaluate the circadian variation in disorders like acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina (USA), non Q wave MI (non QMI), cerebrovascular accidents (strokes, both ischemic and hemorrhagic) and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). OBSERVATIONS: We studied 158 patients (56.98% males and 43.02% females), mean age was 69 +/- 4 years. 34.17% each had AMI and CVA, 22.78% and USA and 7.59% had NON Q MI, only two patients in our study group had TIAs. We divided 24 hours into four equal quarters each for analysis. RESULTS: We observed that maximum episodes were seen during the period between 6 am till 12 noon 58/158 (36.71%) and a second peak was seen during 6 pm and 12 midnight when 40/158 events were recorded (25.31%). The least number of episodes were seen during the period between 12 midnight till 6 am 22/158 (13.92%). Similar peaking of events was noted for acute myocardial infarction but only one peak was seen for unstable angina. For cerebrovascular accidents two similar peaks were noted between 6 am till 12 noon and 12 noon till 6 pm. CONCLUSIONS: Our study population (geriatric patients) shows the presence of a definitive circadian variation with two comparable peaks. One during the morning hours (6 am-12 noon) and another peak between 6 pm and 12 midnight in patients having acute coronary diseases. In cerebrovascular accidents patients too, similar peaks were noted between 6 am till 12 noon and 12 noon till 6 pm.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2000

Tropomodulin-binding site mapped to residues 7-14 at the N-terminal heptad repeats of tropomyosin isoform 5.

Tropomodulin is a globular protein that caps the pointed end of actin filaments by complexing with the N-terminus of a tropomyosin (TM) molecule. TM consists of coiled coils except for the N-terminus, which may be globular. Here we report that human TM isoform 5 (hTM5) lacking the N-terminal 18 residues lost its binding activity toward tropomodulin. We further characterized the tropomodulin-binding site by creating a series of deletion and missense mutations within this region, followed by a solid-phase binding assay. I7, V10, and I14, hydrophobic residues located at the a and d positions of N-terminal heptad repeats involving intertwine, are essential for tropomodulin binding. R12, a positively charged residue at the f position, is also involved in recognition. In contrast, A2R and G3Y mutations, each creating a bulky N-terminus, did not alter the binding. In addition, rat TM5b, which differs from hTM5 in residues 4-6, exhibits a similar binding affinity. The tropomodulin-binding site, therefore, is mapped to residues 7-14 at the beginning of the long heptad repeats. Column chromatography revealed that hTM5 mutants remained capable of dimerization. Results also suggest tropomodulin has a groove-type, rather than a cavity-type, binding site for hTM5. We also mapped the epitope of monoclonal antibody LC1 to residues 4-10 of hTM5 and showed the competition between mAb LC1 and tropomodulin in hTM5 binding. Since the N-terminal residues need to overlap with the C-terminus of TM in their head-to-tail association, this investigation elucidates the mechanisms by which the tropomodulin-hTM5 complex is formed and functions in regulating the actin filaments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗