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Biomedical subjects

H P Pandey

Publications and source records attributed to H P Pandey.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Sero-epidemiological study of kala-azar in a village of Varanasi district, India.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate five kala-azar serological tests for field use. METHOD: Serological survey in Pandit Ka Purva village in Varanasi district, India, using Sia water test, aldehyde test, direct agglutination test (DAT), micro-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot-ELISA. RESULTS: The total population of the village was 518, 67 of whom showed typical clinical and parasitological features of kala-azar, including seven who died. The age distribution of kala-azar cases showed significant differences, being highest among the 45-54-year age group. The disease was more prevalent among males. Serum samples were collected from 498 persons (96% of total population) including 67 kala-azar cases and 40 disease controls (malaria, TB, leprosy, typhoid). Ten 10 serum samples from healthy controls living in endemic area were also collected. The test sensitivities were: Sia water test, 85.0%; aldehyde test, 62.7%; DAT, 94.0%; micro-ELISA, 91.0% and dot-ELISA, 97.0%. The test specificities were: Sia water test 92.5%, aldehyde test, 93.2%, DAT, 96.7; micro-ELISA, 97.6% and dot-ELISA, 98.4%. CONCLUSION: The dot-ELISA is highly sensitive and specific, cheap, and easy to interpret with the naked eye, making it a powerful screening test for the surveillance and diagnosis of Indian kala-azar at field level.

Adolescent↗

Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar): challenges ahead.

Indian visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease caused by a haemoflagellete Leishmania donovani and transmitted by the bite of sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes. It affects various age groups. In India about 1,00,000 cases of VL are estimated to occur annually; of these, the State of Bihar accounts for over than 90 per cent of the cases. Diagnosis of VL typically relies on microscopic examination of tissue smears but serology and molecular methods are better alternatives currently. Notwithstanding the growing incidence of resistance, pentavalent antimony complex has been the mainstay for the treatment of VL during the last several decades. The second line drugs such as amphotericin B, lipid formulations of amphotericin B, paromomycin and recently developed miltefosine are the other alternatives. In spite of significant development in various areas of Leishmania research, there is a pressing need for the technological advancement in the understanding of immune response, drug resistance and the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis that could be translated into field applicable and affordable methods for diagnosis, treatment, and control of the disease.

Aminoquinolines↗

Immunoblot analysis of the humoral immune response to Leishmania donovani polypeptides in cases of human visceral leishmaniasis: its usefulness in prognosis.

Sera from Indian patients with parasitologically confirmed visceral leishmaniasis were studied by immunoblot analysis in order to identify a specific pattern for Leishmania infection. A soluble extract of Leishmania donovani was used as antigen. At diagnosis the sera from patients with visceral leishmaniasis specifically recognized fractions represented by bands of 201 kDa (50% of serum samples), 193 kDa (60%), 147 kDa (50%), 120 kDa (60%), 100 kDa (50%), 80 kDa (80%), 70 kDa (70%), 65 kDa (100%), 50 kDa (50%), 36 kDa (50%), 20 kDa (70%), and 18 kDa (50%). The 65-kDa band, common to all patients infected with Leishmania parasites, was found at the time of diagnosis. However, the immunoblot pattern changed after patients were treated and cured with sodium antimony gluconate (SAG; n =10) or miltefosine (n =10), as was evident from blots of sera obtained pretreatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months posttreatment. At 6 months posttreatment, immunoblots of sera from patients on the SAG regimen showed the disappearance of all bands except the 70-kDa band. Similarly, sera from those on the miltefosine regimen showed the disappearance of all bands except the 65- and 70-kDa bands. This study shows that Western blot analysis is a sensitive test for detection of anti-Leishmania antibodies. Moreover, the persistence of reactivity with the 65- and 70-kDa bands in the sera of all groups shows its promise as a diagnostic and prognostic tool.

Adult↗

Kala-azar epidemic in Varanasi district, India.

Reports at the Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, of a large number of kala-azar cases from one particular village in Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh, led us to carry out an epidemiological study of the situation using standard techniques. The overall prevalence and case fatality of the disease were 12.9% and 10.5%, respectively. A history of fever and hepatosplenomegaly was noted for all the cases. The case definition was the presence of parasites in bone marrow or splenic aspirate smears. The disease was more prevalent among adults, but occurred also among children. However, there was no clear linear relationship between the prevalence of the disease and age group. Kala-azar occurred among males and females, and its prevalence did not correlate significantly with income. Since the disease vector continues to be present in the study area, the health authorities should take strong steps to control the disease.

Adolescent↗

CSF levels of prostaglandins, especially the level of prostaglandin D2, are correlated with increasing propensity towards sleep in rats.

The concentration of PGD2, PGE2, and of PGF2 alpha was measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected from the cisterna magna of conscious rats (n = 29), which, chronically implanted with a catheter for the CSF sampling, underwent deprivation of daytime sleep. Significant elevation of the CSF level of PGD2 was observed following 2.5-h sleep deprivation (SD), and the elevation became more marked following 5- and 10-h SD, apparently reaching the maximum at 5-h SD (703 +/- 140 pg/ml (mean +/- S.E.M.) for baseline vs. 1734 +/- 363 pg/ml for SD, n = 10). The levels of PGE2, and PGF2 alpha also significantly increased following 5- and 10-h SD, but not following 2.5-h SD. It is unlikely that these changes were simply caused by some responses of the animals to stress stimuli, because stress stimuli derived from restraint of the animal at the supine position to a board for 1 h did not produce any acute responses in the CSF levels of prostaglandins (n = 13). In a different group of animals (n = 11) implanted with electrodes for recording electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) in addition to the catheter, the levels of the prostaglandins in CSF were determined for slow-wave sleep (SWS) and wakefulness in the day and for SWS and wakefulness in the night. The highest PGD2 value was obtained at daytime SWS, whereas the lowest was at night wakefulness; furthermore, a significant difference was observed between SWS and wakefulness rather than between day and night. The CSF level of PGE2 also showed a similar tendency. In an additional group of animals (n = 6), not only PGD2 but also PGE2 and PGF2 alpha significantly increased the sleeping time of the animal when applied into the subarachnoid space underlying the ventral surface area of the rostral basal forebrain, the previously defined site of action for the sleep-promoting effect of PGD2. The promotion of sleep by PGE2 applied to the subarachnoid space was an effect completely opposite to the well-established awaking effect of the same prostaglandin demonstrated in the hypothalamic region in a series of previous studies. Based on these results, we conclude that increases in CSF levels of prostaglandins, especially that of PGD2, are correlated in rats with heightened propensity towards sleep and further with the depth of sleep under normal as well as SD conditions.

Animals↗

A study on physiological changes in certain psychosomatic disorders with reference to cortisol, blood glucose and lipid profile.

Plasma cortisol, blood glucose, serum lipids and lipoproteins were estimated in diseased human subjects and normal control volunteers. Serum triglyceride (Tg) total cholesterol (Tc) and cholesterol content of very low density lipoprotein (VLDLc), low density lipoprotein (LDLc) and high density lipoprotein (HDLc) were assayed under lipid profile. Clinical investigations were carried out on 115 subjects which involved 30 control, 25 irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 30 bronchial asthma and 30 rheumatoid arthritis patients. The results of this preliminary study showed a significant change in the levels of all the biochemical parameters in diseased subjects in comparison with controls. Increased levels of atherogenic lipids, Tg, VLDLc and LDLc were found in rheumatoid arthritis subjects. This suggests that arthritis subjects are relatively at higher risk of developing coronary heart disease. Furthermore hypercholesterolemia may aggravate the risk condition in arthritis patients by artereosclerosis. The significant elevation in the levels of plasma cortisol reveals the fact that rheumatoid arthritis is a stabilized and chronic psychosomatic disorder, since, homeostatic competence is disrupted following decline in the tendency of stress-response to return to normalcy.

Adult↗

Circadian variations of prostaglandins D2, E2, and F2 alpha in the cerebrospinal fluid of anesthetized rats.

Circadian variations in the levels of prostaglandins (PGs) D2, E2, and F2 alpha were studied in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rats. We collected CSF samples from the cisterna magna of anesthetized rats at different clock-hours (1000, 1400, 1800, 2200, 0200, and 0600 hr), and measured the concentrations of the three PGs. PGD2, which appeared to be the most abundant among the three, showed a circadian variation; and the mean of the day-time levels (145 pg/ml) was significantly higher than that of the nighttime ones (111 pg/ml). Day/night variations were also noticed with the levels of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha; however, these levels remained 3-4 times lower than those of PGD2. The general day/night variation seen in the CSF concentration of PGD2 conforms well with the postulated role of PGD2 as an endogenous sleep-promoting factor acting on a certain brain surface area defined as its site of action.

Anesthesia↗

A study on physiological changes in essential hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis with reference to the levels of cortisol, blood glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol.

The levels of plasma cortisol, blood glucose, serum triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were estimated in 175 human subjects (50 normal controls, 65 having essential hypertension and 60 suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The results showed a significant elevation in the levels of plasma cortisol and blood glucose in both the stressed clinical groups with respect to controls. Increased levels of atherogenic lipids (TG and TC) were also observed in diseased group. However, in rheumatoid arthritis the biochemical changes were comparatively more pronounced than in hypertensives. The findings in vitro reveal that rheumatoid arthritis is a relatively more chronic and late onset disorder, since the functional performance of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis declines with chronicity and the efficacy of adrenocortical response to return to normalcy becomes impaired.

Adult↗

Concentration of prostaglandin D2 in cerebrospinal fluid exhibits a circadian alteration in conscious rats.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was withdrawn from the cisterna magna of unanesthetized conscious rats (n = 14) through a chronically implanted catheter, and prostaglandins (PGs) D2, E2, and F2 alpha were measured. From each rat, CSF samples were taken at different clock-hours of the day (1000, 1400, and 1800 hr) and night (2200, 0200, and 0600 hr) in succession at 76-hour intervals. The concentration of PGD2 alone exhibited a significant circadian fluctuation, with its peak value at 1400 hr (mean +/- SEM: 1197 +/- 361 pg/ml) and its lowest level at 0600 hr (438 +/- 106 pg/ml). Thus, the mean level of PGD2 during the daytime (903 +/- 162 pg/ml) was significantly higher than that during the night (503 +/- 78 pg/ml). The results obtained are consistent with the postulated role of PGD2, acting in the surface layer of the rostral basal forebrain, as an endogenous factor to promote sleep.

Analysis of Variance↗

Evaluation of antibody responses in Indian kala-azar by immunoblot.

When infected with Leishmania species, patients develop specific antibodies that constitute the basis of serodiagnosis. using Western blot analysis we studied the specificity of anti-leishmania donovani antibodies in patients with visceral leishmaniasis, healthy subjects living in an endemic and non-endemic areas, and patients of other infectious diseases like malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis and tropical splenomegaly. Sera from patients with kala-azar recognised numerous antigens that had a molecular weight of 150 KD, 145 KD, 120 KD, 92 KD, 87 KD, 72 KD, 65 KD, 56 KD, 50 KD, 40 KD, 26 KD, 21 KD, 14 KD, AND 12 KD. The 150, 145, 120, 92, 87, 81, 65, 25, 21, 14, and 12 KD antigens had the greatest specificity for kala-azar sera while the bands of molecular weights 72, 56, 50, and 40 KD were found to be cross reactive with sera of patients of other diseases.

Animals↗

Influence of different combinations of antibodies and penicillinase-labeled testosterone derivatives on sensitivity and specificity of immunoassays.

Three antisera raised against bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugates of testosterone-3-(O-carboxy-methyl)-oxime (T-3-CMO), 11 beta-hydroxytestosterone-11-carboxymethyl ether (T-11 beta-O-CME) and 19-hydroxytestosterone-19-carboxymethyl-ether (T-19-O-CME) were evaluated in enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) in combinations with penicillinase-labeled T-3-CMO, T-11 beta-O-CME, T-19-O-CME, and testosterone-17 beta-hemisuccinate (T-17 beta-HS) for their influence on the sensitivity and specificity of EIAs. Of the various combinations, anti-T-3-CMO antiserum along with T-11 beta-O-CME-penicillinase showed no cross-reaction with any of the closely related steroids, although the same antibody had 21.6% binding to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5 alpha-DHT) in radioimmunoassay. All the homologous combinations appeared to be less sensitive due to their low affinity for testosterone. It was also apparent that of all the heterologous systems tested, only two combinations, (a) anti-T-19-O-CME antiserum and T-3-CMO-penicillinase and (b) anti-T-3-CMO antiserum and T-11 beta-O-CME-penicillinase, were found to be more sensitive. The former was less specific; it showed 70% cross-reaction with 5 alpha-DHT. The ability of testosterone to displace the hapten-enzyme conjugate and the specificity of the assay appear to depend on the position of the enzyme label on the steroid molecule as well as on the availability of antigenic sites in particular combinations of antibody and hapten-enzyme conjugates.

Antibodies↗

Correlation of serotonin and monoamine oxidase levels with anxiety level in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is generally considered to have a psychogenic component in its physiopathology. AIM: To study the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT), monoamine oxidase (MAO) and anxiety, and to elucidate the relationship between these in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS. METHODS: 5-HT and MAO activity and anxiety levels were studied in 20 healthy volunteers (aged 18-25 years; all men) and 57 patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (30-60 years; all men). RESULTS: The concentrations of 5-HT (0.3 [0.04] microg/ mL) and MAO (15.5 [3.2] U/mL), and the anxiety level score (14.4 [2.9]) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients than in healthy volunteers (0.1 [0.02], 6.4 [1.4] and 3.4 [1.2], respectively). These parameters correlated with each other in both patients and volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated 5-HT and MAO activity and anxiety may play a role in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS.

Adolescent↗