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Biomedical subjects

B Dasgupta

Publications and source records attributed to B Dasgupta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Serial estimation of interleukin 6 as a measure of systemic disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is frequently associated with a marked acute phase response, thrombocytosis, hypergammaglobulinemia and the presence of rheumatoid factors (RF). Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that stimulates hepatocytes to produce acute phase reactants and B lymphocytes to produce immunoglobulin. We measured serum IL-6 in patients with active RA during induction of intramuscular gold therapy. Levels of IL-6 correlated strongly with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and RF titers and to a lesser degree with platelet counts. It may, therefore, be responsible for many of the systemic manifestations of RA and its measurement in the serum may be a convenient and reproducible variable for the assessment of disease activity in this very common disease.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1991

Treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica with intramuscular injections of depot methylprednisolone.

Although the treatment of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica by corticosteroids given by mouth is effective, it is often accompanied by multiple side effects. Various studies have shown that the steroid related complications are proportional to the cumulative dose of steroids administered. In a prospective study of 16 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica the effects of regular intramuscular injections of methylprednisolone over 12 months were evaluated. Remission of disease was achieved with injections of 120 mg of methylprednisolone every three weeks for 12 weeks. Subsequent disease remission was maintained by monthly injections of methylprednisolone on a reducing schedule of dose. The treatment was efficacious, safe, well tolerated over one year, and showed no suppression of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis at 12 weeks after initiation of treatment. Such a mode of steroid treatment results in a considerably lower cumulative steroid dose than with conventional doses of prednisolone given by mouth. These results will be further evaluated in a controlled trial using intramuscular injections of methylprednisolone and prednisolone given by mouth for the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica.

Delayed-Action Preparations↗
PubMed1991

Anterolateral rupture of popliteal cysts in rheumatoid arthritis.

Popliteal cysts occur commonly in both normal and arthritic knees. Most cysts are formed by distension of the medially situated semimembranosus bursa. Popliteus bursa distension occurs uncommonly as a lateral popliteal cyst. Two cases of rupture of lateral cysts which produced symptoms related to the anterolateral lower leg are reported. The difficulty of diagnosing the condition because of this unusual site of inflammation and subsequent management problems are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Perceptions & practices of diabetics in Pondicherry.

The knowledge, attitude and self care regarding diabetes was assessed in 150 diabetics, residing in Pondicherry, using a pre-tested schedule addressing six areas of diabetic self-care. Observations made included the ability of the patients to test, interpret and record the result of urine examination; diet practices; and insulin use. The knowledge, attitude and practices of diabetics were less than satisfactory in all the areas of self-care. Up to 80 per cent had a complication or associated disease. Most of the patients appreciated the need for dietary care or medication, but only 50 per cent regulated their diet. Of the 97 per cent using anti-diabetic agents, some were using them harmfully. Only 10.6 per cent of the patients tested their urine, though 71 per cent were aware of the need for this. Only 34 per cent saw a physician regularly. None of the patients had any formal education regarding diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Interleukin-6 in serum of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis.

Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis are diseases which are characterized by a brisk acute phase response. Cytokines, principally interleukin-1 and interleukin-6, are thought to mediate the release of acute phase proteins from hepatocytes. Employing a sensitive bioassay based on the hybridoma growth factor properties of interleukin-6, we investigated its levels in sequential sera obtained from 15 initially untreated patients with PMR/GCA. We found that interleukin-6 activity was significantly elevated in all untreated patients. Although there was a significant decline in its levels after successful steroid therapy, seven patients continued to have raised serum levels of interleukin-6 for up to 6 months after initiation of treatment. Activated endothelial cells are a potent source of interleukin-6 and its persistence in the circulation may be taken as evidence of continuing disease activity. What is not explicable is the normalization of the acute phase response soon after the commencement of steroid therapy when circulating levels of interleukin-6 are still high. This suggests that steroids may be having additional effects on hepatocyte function.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Selective depletion and activation of CD8+ lymphocytes from peripheral blood of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis.

A prospective study of 33 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis (PMR/GCA) was undertaken, firstly, to monitor sequentially peripheral blood CD8+ lymphocyte levels and, secondly, to assess the expression of activation markers on T lymphocyte subsets. The results indicated that there was a significant decrease in absolute numbers and relative percentages of CD8+ T lymphocytes, which returned to normal ranges after approximately 24 months' treatment, and that there was an increased percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes in PMR/GCA which express HLA class II antigens.

Fluorescent Antibody Technique↗
PubMed1987

Attribution of responsibility and crime seriousness.

In this study we observed the effects of type of damage, magnitude of damage, and apprehension or escape of the offender upon the perceived seriousness of the offense, perceived freedom and intent exercised by the offender, and perceived duration of the crime. Contrary to previous results, personal crimes were judged to be more serious than property crimes only when the offender escaped arrest. Results confirmed previous findings that an increase in the negative consequences of the crime led to higher ratings of criminal intent. Perceived duration and assessments of crime seriousness were positively related to attribution of responsibility.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Antibodies to intermediate filaments in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: a sequential study.

Serum specimens from 35 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis (PMR/GCA) were obtained sequentially at variable time intervals up to a year from onset of disease. These were tested for antibodies to intermediate filaments by indirect immunofluorescence using HEp2 cells as substrate. Twenty four of 35 (68%) patients' sera at onset of disease were positive at an anti-intermediate filament antibody (AIFA) titre of greater than 1/40 compared with three outs of 19 (15%) control sera. AIFA were predominantly of IgM class, and there was no significant change in AIFA titres on follow up despite clinical remission of disease.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1978

Psychopharmacological studies on (--)-nuciferine and its Hofmann degradation product atherosperminine.

(--)-Nuciferine and its Hofmann degradation product atherosperminine showed divergent psychopharmacological effects. Because nuciferine has been reported to be a neuroleptic and atherosperminine has some chemical resemblance to dopamine, they were investigated for their dopamine-receptor activities. Nuciferine had a pharmacologic profile of action associated with dopamine-receptor blockade; i.e., it induced catalepsy, inhibited spontaneous motor activity, conditioned avoidance response, amphetamine toxicity and stereotypy. On the other hand, atherosperminine produced effects associated with dopamine receptor stimulation, i.e., stereotypy, increase in spontaneous motor activity and amphetamine toxicity, reversal of haloperidol-induced catalepsy and inhibition of conditioned avoidance response, inhibition of morphine analgesia, and potentiation of the anticonvulsant action of diphenylhydantoin. The results are discussed on the basis of the chemical configuration of the two compounds.

Amphetamine↗