Biomedical subjects
H K Sharma
Publications and source records attributed to H K Sharma.
Traditional medicinal plants in Mizoram, India.
In rural societies of Mizoram, India, traditional methods of treatment are followed in the majority of the populace. Information on 135 plant species from 122 genera and 65 families is presented here.
Vaccination routes that fail to elicit protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni induce the production of TGF-beta, which down-regulates macrophage antiparasitic activity.
C57BL/6 mice immunized intradermally (i.d.) with bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) plus killed skin-stage schistosomula are protected against subsequent infection with Schistosoma mansoni, whereas immunization by i.v. or i.m. routes is not protective. Moreover, previous immunization via the nonprotective i.v. route interfered with the ability to subsequently induce protection by i.d. vaccination, suggesting that inhibitory responses are invoked. Given the evidence that activated macrophages (M phi) play a role as effector cells in protection against schistosomiasis, we investigated the ability of spleen cells from protected and nonprotected immunized mice to produce M phi activating and deactivating cytokines. Exposure to supernatant fluids (SNs) from Ag stimulated spleen cells of i.d., but not i.v. or i.m., immunized mice activated inflammatory M phi for in vitro killing of schistosome larvae, through a mechanism dependent on both IFN gamma and TNF-alpha. No evidence was observed for the preferential induction of the M phi activating Th1 cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-2 in i.d. immunized mice, nor did spleen cells from nonprotected animals produce higher levels of the Th2 associated cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, which are known to prevent M phi activation. TGF-beta was, however, detected in SNs from unprotected mice. Moreover, the M phi inhibitory activity detected in these SNs was heat stable and neutralized by anti-TGF-beta Abs, suggesting that production of TGF-beta is at least partially responsible for the failure of i.m. and i.v. immunized mice to develop immunity to S. mansoni. Thus, the induction of down-regulatory cytokines may be an important factor limiting the efficacy of certain vaccination protocols.
An ethnographic account of opium consumers of Rajasthan (India): socio-medical perspective.
This communication gives an ethnographic account of 200 opium users in selected villages of three Western districts in the desert state of Rajasthan. The region is known for its traditional use of raw opium in the form of amal or doda, due to its climate and difficult living conditions. The ethnographic information suggests that opium use is in many ways integrated into the socio-cultural fabric of the local community. Self-medication with opium mitigates various health problems and the drug is also used to relieve mental distress. Besides these uses for relief of distress, the drug is used recreationally and within settings which facilitate social bonding. The traditional roles ascribed to the use of this intoxicant cannot be dismissed when formulating long-term preventive and control measures.
Characterization of circulating lymphocytes by monoclonal antibodies in donovanosis.
In 65 donovanosis patients, 53 ulcerogranulomatous, 10 hypertrophic, and 2 sclerotic, the hematological profile and quantitation of circulating blood lymphocyte subpopulations were studied with monoclonal antibodies and an indirect immunofluorescence technique to assess the immunological under-currents of the disease. The ulcerogranulomatous variant had increases in both total leucocyte and absolute lymphocyte counts. Total T-lymphocytes, CD4, CD8, CD22, and CD4/CD8 ratio were all significantly elevated. The hypertrophic variant, in contrast, showed a significant elevation only in the CD4/CD8 ratio.
Pseudoelephantiasis of the penis following donovanosis.
Pseudoelephantiasis of the penis, an unusual sequel of longstanding donovanosis with otherwise characteristics clinical expression, is reported in a young man. The diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of Donovan bodies in Giemsa stained tissue smears and tissue sections.
Determination of avidin and streptavidin by a modified Bradford method.
Underestimation of avidin and streptavidin by the Bradford method can be alleviated by carrying out the reaction at 100 degrees C for 10-15 min, and the protein values thus obtained match very well with those of biotin-binding assays. "Thermal modification" is applicable to "standard" and "micro" versions of the method and has no effect on the spectral and stability characteristics of the protein-dye complexes.
Interaction of carbamazepine with digoxin. An experimental observation in dogs.
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A study of drug abuse in rural areas of Punjab (India).
In 1976 an epidemiological survey of drug abuse was conducted in 24 rural villages of four Community Development Blocks (CDB) in three districts of Punjab State bordering Pakistan covering 1276 households. The majority of households had one user. Both men and women reported the use of traditional drugs, i.e. alcohol, tobacco, opium and cannabis. In males, the commonest drug used was alcohol (58.3%), followed by tobacco (19.3%), opium (6.3%) and cannabis (1.2%). The majority of the female respondents were non-users, but a very small number reported use of tobacco, alcohol and opium. The observations are compared with other studies and implications discussed.
International review series: alcohol and alcohol problems research. 6. India.
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Altered brain phosphoglycerate kinase from aging rats.
Pure phosphoglycerate kinase from old rat brain differs from the "young" enzyme as judged by its greater stability to heat and storage and its resistance to inactivation by protease. Moreover, inactivation of young compared to old brain phosphoglycerate kinase requires different amounts of monospecific antiserum raised against either the young form of muscle or liver phosphoglycerate kinase. Both young and old brain phosphoglycerate kinase are similar with respect to Vmax in the forward and backward directions, Km for different substrates, electrophoretic mobility and average molecular weight. Thus, the properties of young and old brain phosphoglycerate kinase that are similar and those that differ share a common pattern with their young and old counterparts from rat muscle and liver. Kinetic data and immunological response indicate that brain phosphoglycerate kinase is similar if not identical to the muscle enzyme rather than the liver enzyme.
Alcohol abuse in a rural community in India. Part I: Epidemiological study.
By systematic sampling of households after two stage proportionate random sampling of villages, a total of 4670 persons above 15 years of age were selected from the rural areas of Ajmer district in Rajasthan, India, to estimate the prevalence rate of alcohol abuse and to study its socio-demographic correlates (Part I) and the pattern and characteristics of use (Part II, submitted). The data on these aspects were collected through pre-tested questionnaires. The results showed that prevalence of alcohol abuse in the sample was 24.7% (36.1% for males and 13.4% for females) and the percentage of dependents was 3%. Relative risk of alcohol abuse in males was 3.64 with respect to females. Alcohol abuse was found to be significantly associated with religion (higher in Hindus with a relative risk of 8.65 in males and 5.21 in females), marital status (higher in married with a relative risk of 2.51 in males), age (higher in age group more than 20 years with a relative risk of 2.50 in males and 1.63 in females), family structure (higher in nuclear or joint families with a relative risk of 2.88 in males), educational status (higher in illiterates with a relative risk of 1.53 in males) and occupational status (higher in those engaged in agriculture with a relative risk of 1.43 in males and 1.80 in females). It was not significantly associated with per-capita income. These results have been compared with those in similar studies in the country and the possible reasons for differences, if any, have been discussed.
Alcohol abuse in a rural community in India. Part II: characteristics of alcohol users.
This part of the study dealt with the analysis of the characteristics of alcohol users. About 50% of both male and female users were between 20 and 39 years of age; 8.1% of males and only 1.3% of females used alcohol daily or several times in a week. Desi (country) liquor was the beverage used by more than 85% of the users; 77.5% of males and 96.5% of females consumed less than one quarter of a bottle of alcohol, and 65.3% of males and 93.6% of females were taking alcohol at their houses only. The reasons given for drinking by the majority of users were 'for pleasure', 'for celebration of an event' and 'status symbol'. The quantity/frequency index analysis showed that the percentage of alcoholics was 4.2 and the remaining were social drinkers. Physical, economic and social problems were reported by a significantly higher percentage of alcoholics than social drinkers. The importance of consideration of these factors in formulating a strategy of social policy in the field of alcohol use is emphasised.
The fast-reacting sulfhydryl group of rat muscle phosphoglycerate kinase is necessary for activity and maintenance of tertiary structure.
Phosphoglycerate kinase from rat muscle has no disulfide linkage but possesses four -SH groups--one fast reacting and three slow reacting to 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitro-benzoate). The enzyme is inactivated by reaction of the fast-reacting -SH with iodoacetate. There is a stoichiometric relationship between modification of this group and enzyme inactivation. The reaction follows pseudo-first-order kinetics and is dependent upon the iodoacetate concentration; the value of the second-order rate constant is 2.6 M-1 min-1. Amino acid analysis of the enzyme after treatment with iodo[2-14C]acetate reveals that cysteine is the only amino acid to undergo modification. Moreover, the pK for the fast-reacting -SH has been found to be 9.1, a normal value for a cysteinyl residue. MgADP and ADP protect the enzyme against iodoacetate inactivation, whereas 3-phosphoglycerate, MgATP, ATP, or Mg2+ has no effect on the reaction. The dissociation constant (Kd) for MgADP as determined by iodoacetate inactivation kinetics is the same as the Km value, thus indicating that the fast-reacting -SH is in the MgADP binding domain of the enzyme. On storage, there is a loss of enzyme activity and a concomitant loss of fast-reacting -SH. Three protein peaks with Mr values of 76 000, 43 000 and 36 000 are obtained after Sephadex G-200 chromatography of the stored enzyme. The evidence indicates that the protein with Mr 43 000 is produced by unfolding of the native enzyme (Mr 36 000). The large protein (Mr 76 000) is a dimer resulting from formation of a disulfide linkage between the fast-reacting -SH of two molecules of Mr 43 000. The dimeric protein is catalytically inactive but can be fully reactivated by reducing agents. Physical and immunological properties of the three forms of the enzyme are also described.
Sennosides and carbohydrates in developing pods of Cassia species.
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Infection in burn patients.
In a recently opened burn unit which used a semi-isolation technique to treat burn patients, burn bacteriology has shown the usual pattern of bacterial cultures i.e. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and proteus; with the first two predominating. Comparison with a similar study done in 1974 revealed that Streptococcus faecalis was absent in these cultures, E. coli and S. aureus infection had decreased, the number of sterile wounds had increases, there was slight increase in P. aeruginosa infection. A survey of burn wound, throat and stool cultures of patients and attendants over a 2-week period revealed pathogenic S. aureus in 3 out of 26 throat cultures. Phage typing of these strains did not reveal the same strain in any wound cultures. Similar phage type was grown from wounds in two different cabins on two different dates. thus indicating cross infection. Persistence of similar phage type was also seen in wounds of one patient. Similar aeruginocine typing of P. aeruginosa was seen in wound cultures of two different patients; one of these, type 15, was also grown in stool of the third patient thus indicating transmission of infection from the stool of one patient to the wound of other patient and from the wound of one patient to the wound of other patient.
Effect of aging on enolase from rat muscle, liver and heart.
Muscle enolase (2-phospho-D-glycerate hydrolase, EC 4.2.1.11) and liver enolse from young and old rats have been purified to homogeneity and several properties of the respective young/old pairs, including Km, behavior on polyacrylamide gels, sensitivity to heat and specific activity have been compared. No difference has been detected. On the other hand, the heart isozyme shows an age-related increase in a heat-sensitive form of the enzyme. The results strongly support the idea tht some enzymes become altered in aging animals but others do not.