PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Akshay Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to Akshay Gupta.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinical and economic outcomes of embolic complications and strategies for distal embolic protection during percutaneous coronary intervention in saphenous vein grafts.

BACKGROUND: Although distal embolic protection (DEP) is increasingly utilized in saphenous vein graft percutaneous coronary intervention (SVG PCI), the clinical and economic outcomes of different DEP strategies are unknown. METHODS: We compared 3 DEP strategies (no DEP, routine DEP, selective DEP in high-risk cases) in 126 consecutive cases of SVG PCI performed without DEP in a single catheterization laboratory over a 4-year period. No SVG PCI was excluded. High risk was defined using 2 multivariate predictors of embolic complication previously validated by NCDR (graft age greater than or equal to 8 years and or friable appearance with thrombus). Costs were determined by a ratio of cost-to-charges methodology and average cost of the two FDA-approved DEP devices ($1,350) with similar efficacy. RESULTS: Without DEP, the incidence of embolic complications was 17% (22/126), resulting in major adverse coronary events (MACE) in 3.2% (4/126) of all cases: 2 deaths, 1 myocardial infarction, and 1 emergency coronary artery bypass. Embolic complications significantly increased both procedure costs by $2,725 (p < .001) and total hospital costs approximately $2,800 (p < 0.05). Risk adjustment for selective DEP use correctly predicted 86% (19/22) of embolic complications, including all MACE, at an incremental cost of $684 per patient for selective DEP versus $1,150 per patient for routine DEP. Selective DEP would cost $43,127 per death prevented versus $72,461 using routine DEP during the index hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Embolic complications increase cost in excess of the cost of a DEP device. This risk adjustment model correctly predicted the majority of cases of embolic complication and all MACE, suggesting that selective DEP use may help reduce utilization of DEP by an almost 50% cost reduction compared to routine use.

Aged↗

Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor-mediated RET signaling regulates spermatogonial stem cell fate.

Normal spermatogenesis is essential for reproduction and depends on proper spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) function. Genes and signaling pathways that regulate SSC function have not been well defined. We report that glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) signaling through the RET tyrosine kinase/GFRA1 receptor complex is required for spermatogonial self-renewal in mice. GFRA1 and RET expression was identified in a subset of gonocytes at birth, was restricted to SSCs during normal spermatogenesis, and RET expressing cells were abundant in a cryptorchid model of SSC self-renewal. We used the whole-testis transplantation technique to overcome the limitation of neonatal lethality of Gdnf-, Gfra1-, and Ret-deficient mice and found that each of these genes is required for postnatal spermatogenesis and not for embryological testes development. Each mutant testis shows severe SSC depletion by Postnatal Day 7 during the first wave of spermatogenesis. These defects were due to lack of SSC proliferation and an inability of SSCs to maintain an undifferentiated state. Our results demonstrate that GDNF-mediated RET signaling is critical for the fate of undifferentiated spermatogonia and that abnormalities in this pathway may contribute to male infertility and testicular germ cell tumors.

Animals↗

Mice expressing a dominant-negative Ret mutation phenocopy human Hirschsprung disease and delineate a direct role of Ret in spermatogenesis.

The Ret receptor tyrosine kinase mediates physiological signals of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family ligands (GFLs) and is essential for postnatal survival in mice. It is implicated in a number of human diseases and developmental abnormalities. Here, we describe our analyses of mice expressing a Ret mutant (RetDN) with diminished kinase activity that inhibits wild-type Ret activity, including its activation of AKT. All RetDN/+ mice died by 1 month of age and had distal intestinal aganglionosis reminiscent of Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) in humans. The RetDN/+ proximal small intestine also had severe hypoganglionosis and reduction in nerve fiber density, suggesting a potential mechanism for the continued gastric dysmotility in postsurgical HSCR patients. Unlike Ret-null mice, which have abnormalities in the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, the RetDN/+ mice only had defects in the parasympathetic nervous system. A small proportion of RetDN/+ mice had renal agenesis, and the remainder had hypoplastic kidneys and developed tubulocystic abnormalities postnatally. Postnatal analyses of the testes revealed a decreased number of germ cells, degenerating seminiferous tubules, maturation arrest and apoptosis, indicating a crucial role for Ret in early spermatogenesis.

Alleles↗

Alterations in mitochondria membrane potential and oxidative stress in infertile men: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of spermatozoa and its correlation with semen parameters and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in infertile men and healthy donors. DESIGN: Controlled prospective study. SETTING: Male infertility clinic, Glickman Urological Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio. PATIENT(S): Nineteen infertile men and 7 healthy volunteers. INTERVENTION(S): Standard semen analysis, assessment of MMP and ROS production in spermatozoa. The MMP was assessed by flow cytometry using the probe carbocyanine DiOC(6)(3) and ROS was measured with chemiluminescence assay using luminol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The results of MMP are reported as the median interquartile range (IQR) number of cells counted in different areas of fluorescence. Results of ROS measurement are expressed as x10(6) counted photons per minute per 20 million sperm (cpm). RESULT(S): The patients with abnormal semen parameters had a significantly lower MMP [1337.7 (1066.38, 1879.2)], and higher ROS [1.12 (0.26, 3.86)] than the donors [MMP: 2482.9 (2162.5, 3520.6)] and [ROS: 0.10 (0.01, 0.14)]. The MMP was positively correlated with sperm concentration (r = 0.62) and negatively correlated with the ROS produced (r = -0.45). CONCLUSION(S): Measuring MMP in spermatozoa provides useful information about a man's fertility potential. Increased ROS production by spermatozoa is associated with a decreased MMP.

Carbocyanines↗

Tyrosine phosphorylation and dissociation of occludin-ZO-1 and E-cadherin-beta-catenin complexes from the cytoskeleton by oxidative stress.

The oxidative-stress-induced alteration in paracellular junctional complexes was analysed in Caco-2 cell monolayer. Oxidative stress induced a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of occludin, zonula occludens (ZO)-1, E-cadherin and beta-catenin. An oxidative-stress-induced decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance was associated with a redistribution of occludin-ZO-1 and E-cadherin-beta-catenin complexes from the intercellular junctions. Genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, prevented the oxidative-stress-induced decrease in resistance and redistribution of protein complexes. Occludin, ZO-1, E-cadherin and beta-catenin in the Triton-insoluble cytoskeletal fraction were reduced by oxidative stress, which was prevented by genistein. Oxidative stress also reduced the co-immunoprecipitation of ZO-1 with occludin, which was prevented by genistein. Co-immunoprecipitation of beta-catenin with E-cadherin was unaffected by oxidative stress or genistein. ZO-1, E-cadherin and beta-catenin in the plasma membrane or membrane-cytoskeleton were either slightly reduced or unaffected by oxidative stress or genistein. These results show that oxidative stress induces tyrosine phosphorylation and cellular redistribution of occludin-ZO-1 and E-cadherin-beta-catenin complexes by a tyrosine-kinase-dependent mechanism.

Caco-2 Cells↗