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Biomedical subjects

D Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to D Kumar.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Pattern of recovery of thyroid hormone indices associated with treatment of diabetes mellitus.

The effects of diabetes mellitus on serum thyroid hormone parameters were studied in 54 patients divided into 4 groups. Treated asymptomatic patients (group I) had normal thyroid values which did not correlate with serum or urinary glucose. Untreated nonketoacidotic patients (group II) showed a mild persistent depression in T3 and an elevation in rT3. Patients with ketoacidosis with a brief history of symptoms (group III) had a moderate T3 decrease and a mild rT3 elevation which quickly resolved with treatment. Ketoacidotic patients with a long history of symptoms (group IV) had marked depression of T3 and elevation of rT3 which was only partially rectified by treatment. Serum T4 was generally normal, except for a minimal decrease on the day after admission, probably resulting from rehydration and a subsequent increase associated with an increase in TSH. We concluded that thyroid hormone parameters were not influenced by variations in serum glucose, but seemed to reflect the effects of a preexisting catabolic state, ketoacidosis, or both.

Adult

Histocompatability antigens and immunoglobulin G insulin antibodies in Mexican-American insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

To determine the association of histocompatability antigens (HLA) with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) in Mexican-Americans, we determined HLA-A, -B, and -C specificities in 112 unrelated patients and 332 controls, and HLA-DR specificities in 85 patients and 209 controls. We also studied immunoglobulin G (IgG) insulin antibody formation in 56 Mexican-Americans with IDD, and the relationship between antibody formation and HLA-DR antigens. IDD patients have a significant increase in HLA-DR4 compared to the control population (chi 2 = 14.75; corrected P less than 0.0001). HLA-DR2 was not detected in any patient with IDD. A significant association between HLA-Aw30 and HLA-B18 was found in IDD patients (chi 2 = 9.39; P less than 0.05) as compared to controls. IgG insulin antibody formation was significantly increased in HLA-DR3- and -DR4-negative patients compared to that in patients positive for both antigens (P less than 0.05). These findings support previous observations in caucasians and black Americans indicating that HLA-DR specificities are associated with IDD and may play a role in determining its mode of inheritance, and perhaps its pathogenesis, independent of ethnic differences. HLA-DR immune-associated antigens are also of importance in determining IgG insulin antibody formation.

Adolescent

Spontaneous hyperglycemia and impaired glucose tolerance in athymic nude BALB/c mice.

Basal plasma glucose, glucose tolerance, and insulin secretion were investigated in young and mature athymic nude BALB/c mice and in age-matched controls. Basal plasma glucose levels in male athymic nude mice were similar to those of controls at 1, 3, and 4 wk of age. At 6, 8, and 12 wk of age, male athymic nudes had significantly higher basal plasma glucose levels when compared with controls (P less than 0.01). Plasma immunoreactive insulin concentrations were similar in athymic nudes and controls at 1 wk of age, but at 3 wk of age and subsequently at 6, 8, and 12 wk athymic nude mice had significantly decreased insulin levels when compared with their age-matched controls (P less than 0.05). We found impaired glucose tolerance in male athymic nude mice at all age groups when compared with both female athymic nudes and control BALB/c mice. The discovery of a spontaneous diabetic syndrome (hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and decreased insulin secretion) in a colony of athymic nude mice may provide an excellent model for studying the genetics and interactions between the immune and endocrine systems.

Animals

Monocyte insulin binding studies in normal and diabetic pregnancies.

Monocyte insulin receptor binding was studied in six nonpregnant control patients and in 40 pregnant patients with varying degrees of carbohydrate tolerance. Competitive binding assays were performed to determine insulin binding to monocytes. Fasting insulin levels were determined. We obtained the following results: (1) When compared to values not associated with pregnancy, the number of insulin receptor sites per cell increases twofold (31,000 versus 16,300); (2) Class A diabetic patients have higher numbers of receptor sites than normal pregnant patients (80,800 versus 31,000; (3) untreated Class B diabetic patients have markedly reduced receptor sites (4,575) and bind less insulin at physiologic concentrations (p less than 0.01); (4) insulin therapy of previously untreated Class B diabetic patients restored the number of receptor sites to normal pregnant levels (29,700); and (5) Classes C and D diabetic patients had similar numbers of receptor sites (30,140) and showed a greater receptor affinity for insulin than pregnant control subjects (p less than 0.01).

Adult

Autoradiographic studies on RNA synthesis and transport in the salivary gland of Lygaeus sp. (Hemiptera-Lygaeidae).

Autoradiographic studies using 3H-uridine in the salivary gland of adult Lygaeus sp. were carried out. The gland cell nuclei, particularly the multiple nucleoli, are the sites of incorporation of the label exhibiting RNA synthesis. The labelled molecules (RNA) are transported to the cell cytoplasm and then into the gland lumen in which no turnover of the radioactivity is observed.

Animals

Fluid-filled silastic capsules : a new approach to a more constant steroidal drug delivery system.

A new approach to a more constant steroid delivery system was made in which 7,9 mg of norethisterone acetate was shaped into a cylindrical pellet (diameter 1.47 mm, length 4 mm) and placed inside a silastic capsule (i.d. 1.57 mm, o.d. 3.18 mm) of 5 mm effective length. The extra space available around the pellet was filled with physiological saline. For the sake of comparison, the same amount of crystalline norethisterone acetate was packed up to 5 mm length inside a silastic capsule of the same dimensions. The incorporation of fluid (saline) in the system not only caused a marked decrease in the initial high release but also a more constant release. Varying the pellet diameter showed that release of the steroid increases with the increase in surface area of the pellet.

Capsules

Correlation between the serum norethindrone (NET) levels attained after insertion of a silastic implant releasing norethindrone acetate and the endogenous hormones particularly progesterone.

Six normally menstruating women were inserted each with a single silastic implant-D releasing norethindrone acetate (NETA). The levels of endogenous hormones, FSH, LH, E2 and progesterone, were estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedures in the control and treatment cycles. In addition, the levels of drug in the serum as norethindrone (NET) which is a major metabolite of NETA were also estimated by RIA procedures in the treatment cycles. In all, 12 treatment cycles were studied. In the initial treatment cycles (1st/2nd or 3rd), the serum NET levels were either 1 ng/ml or above. The LH and FSH showed either normal or suppressed mid-cycle peaks, but the progesterone levels were completely suppressed. In the sixth treatment cycles, the serum NET levels were either 0.5 ng/ml or below. The FSH and LH mid-cycle peaks were lower but distinct while the luteal progesterone levels were of normal ovulatory type. These studies lead us to the conclusion that a serum level of NET of the order of 1 ng/ml is required to bring about suppression of luteal progesterone, either as a result of direct action on the ovary or through suppression of pituitary gonadotropins. When the serum level falls to 0.5 ng/ml or below, the suppressive effect is removed and ovulatory pattern of progesterone returns.

Drug Implants

Case report. Circumaortic left renal vein.

Although computed tomographic (CT) characteristics of the inferior vena cava may mimic lymphadenopathy, careful appraisal of the vascular anatomy can diagnose major vascular anomalies by noninvasive techniques, eliminating the need for angiography as well as alerting our surgical colleagues of the benign nature of this entity. We document the first case of circumaortic renal vein by CT, discuss the CT appearance, and review its clinical significance.

Adult

HLA-DRw antigens in Mexican-American and Black-American diabetic patients.

HLA-A, - B, and -C antigens were studied in 67 Mexican-American and 38 black-American diabetic patients who had the onset of their disease before age 31 yr. Control populations consisted of 322 Mexican-American and 367 black-American subjects for HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens. In addition, HLA-DRw antigens were studied in 60 Mexican-American and 34 black-American diabetic patients. Control populations for HLA-DRw antigens consisted of 189 Mexican-American and 145 black-American subjects. We found that juvenile-onset--diabetic patients of Mexican-American origin who had the onset of their disease before age 19 demonstrated a significant increase in HLA-DRw4. HLA-DRw4 was also significantly increased in black-American patients with juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus. HLA-DRw2 was not detected in any patient with juvenile-onset diabetes in either ethnic group. A significant association was found between HLA-B18 and HLA-DRw3 in Mexican-American juvenile-diabetic patients. These findings, which are comparable to those in similar Caucasian patients, provide additional information to support the hypothesis that HLA-DRw antigens play a major role in determining the susceptibility to juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus.

Adult

Histological study on the retrocerebral-endocrine complex with special reference to neurohaemal involvement of aorta and pericardial cells in Coccinella septempunctata (L.) (Coccinellidae-Coleoptera).

About nine median neurosecretory cells (NSC) are situated in the antero-dorsal position on either side of the pars intercerebralis of the brain. No lateral NSC could be detected. The axonic bundles, after their decussation, emerge out of the brain in the form of a single nervi corporis cardiaci (NCC) on either side. These soon undergo a dichotomy--one set of nerve fibers enter the lobulated corpus cardiacum (CC) and the other set ramify over the surface of the aorta and sends out distinct branches to the individual large, oval-shaped, pericardial cells all along the length of the aorta. Presence of neurosecretory material (NSM) could be demonstrated both in aortal wall as well as along the nerve branches that innervate the pericardial cells. Traces of NSM could be detected within the cytoplasm of the pericardial cells. While the involvement of aorta and pericardial cells, as an additional neurohaemal organs was well documented for several species of Hemiptera, the present report for Coleoptera seems to be new and of considerable interest. Thus it would seem that the role of the aorta and pericardial cells as accessory neurohaemal organ is perhaps of wider occurrence than was hitherto believed. The irregularly lobulated CC contains copious amounts of thick clumps of NSM which, by and large, tends to show a peripheral distribution. Few intrinsic secretory cells are noticeable. The CC, at its postero-lateral border forms a cap- or hood-like projection that partially overlaps the corpus allatum (CA) below. At the mesial border, the CC sends out a lobe which seems to fuse with the aortal wall. The shape of CA shows individual variation. In some, it is oval while in others it is spherical, but always with a well defined outline. No allatal nerve is demonstrable. Instead, the CA is broadly connected with the hood region of the CC. AF-positive material is also detectable in the CA, which also tends to be peripherilly distributed.

Animals

Histological studies on the neuroendocrine organs and retrocerebal complex of Crynodes peregrinus Fuessly (Chrysomelidae-Coleopt.).

The neuroendocrine system of Crynodes peregrinus has been described by using Alkehyde-Fuchsin technique (AF) on whole amounts and sections. Four groups of neurosecretory cells are present in the brain--including the two median groups with 18-20 cells each and two lateral groups with four cells each. The neurosecretory material (NSM) reaches the corpora cardiaca (CC) by nervi corporis cardiaci I. The CC is divisible into two distinct parts--central nervous part surrounded by the cellular cortical zone. The NSM of cerebral origin is stored and released from the CC. Intrinsic cells are found to be absent in the CC. AF positive material is found also in the corpora allata.

Animals