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Biomedical subjects

J Bhattacharyya

Publications and source records attributed to J Bhattacharyya.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Skeletal muscle Ca2+ flux and catabolic response during sepsis.

Membrane Ca2+ flux and net protein catabolism were studied in the skeletal muscle during experimental sepsis. Sterilized rat fecal pellets with (septic) or without (sterile) gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli [10(2) colony-forming units (cfu)] and Bacteroides fragilis (2 x 10(3) cfu), were implanted into the abdomens of male Sprague-Dawley rats (110-120 g). Septic and sterile rats were febrile and hyperlactacidemic on day 1 postimplantation. These responses subsided by day 2 in sterile but not septic rats. Initial Ca2+ flux, estimated from measurements of 45Ca uptake by soleus muscles in vitro, was elevated on day 1 in both sterile and septic rats and on day 2 and 3 in septic rats only. The septic rat soleus muscle showed a significantly increased net protein catabolic response (measured as tyrosine release by soleus muscle, in vitro) over that found in muscles of sterile rats on day 1-3 postimplantation. The increase in Ca2+ flux in septic (day 1-3 postimplantation) and sterile (day 1 only) rats was abolished when the rats were treated with the calcium channel blocker diltiazem. In unoperated control rat soleus muscles the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, concomitantly caused an increase in Ca2+ flux and net protein catabolism. Overall, the present study suggested that altered cellular Ca2+ regulation plays a role in the net protein catabolic response in the skeletal muscle during sepsis.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Chemical and pharmacological investigation of Solanum species of Brazil--a search for solasodine and other potentially useful therapeutic agents.

A systematic search for solasodine, an important starting material for the partial synthesis of steroidal hormones as well as other potentially bioactive constituents of various Solanum species of Brazil has been undertaken. Thus, the fruits of S. paludosum, S. asperum, S. sessiliflorum and Solanum sp. were found to contain significant amounts of solasodine. The root bark of S. paludosum which showed curare like activity yielded tomatidenol and another yet unidentified alkaloid responsible for the biological activity. The fruits of S. asperum yielded a new spirosolane alkaloid, solaparnaine. The stem bark of S. pseudo-quina showed convulsive and excitatory activity from which (25S)-isosolafloridine was identified as the active principle. In addition, the latter alkaloid was also found to show antimicrobial activity.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1991

A clinico-pathological study of cervical carcinoma through histopathology, SEM and tumour marker expression.

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the commonest tumour in India. Our study on the biological behaviour of cervical carcinoma was made with respect to oncofetoprotein expression, histopathology and scanning electron microscopy. A clinical picture was compared with the above three parameters to note the embryonic degeneration of the tumour. The objective of this study was to establish a new grading system of tumour pathology which might be an adjunct to clinical staging. This should be helpful for the formulation of different treatment protocols.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Calcium-dependent and calcium-independent protease activities in skeletal muscle during sepsis.

Sepsis was produced in rats by implanting into their abdominal cavities fecal pellets containing Escherichia coli (10(2) colony-forming units [CFU]) and Bacteroides fragilis (10(4) CFU). Control rats were implanted with sterile pellets. A febrile response and hyperlactacidemia marked the onset of the septic injury. Control and septic rats were killed 24 and 48 hr after implantations, and posterior leg muscles were removed. Muscles were homogenized to prepare soluble fractions containing calcium-independent lysosomal (cathepsins B and L) and calcium-dependent cytosolic (calpain) proteases. Cathepsin and calpain activities were then assayed using standard procedures. There were no alterations in cathepsins B or L activities during sepsis. Calpain activity in septic muscle was significantly higher than that in control muscles. In vitro calpain sensitivity to Ca2+ was also higher in septic muscle than in controls. The cysteine protease inhibitor leupeptin caused a quantitatively greater inhibition of calpain activity in septic than in control muscles. These data indicate that whereas sepsis has no effect on Ca(2+)-insensitive lysosomal proteases, it is associated with an elevation of the Ca(2+)-dependent cytosolic protease activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Longitudinal study on distribution of Phlebotomus argentipes sandflies at different heights in cattleshed.

Distribution of Ph. argentipes at three levels (level I, 0-0.91 m; level II, 0.91-1.82 m; and level III 1.82-2.74 m) above the ground in 6 cattlesheds was studied during July 1989 to June 1990. Of the 8044 Ph. argentipes caught, 3151 (39.2%), 3936 (48.9%) and 957 (11.9%) were from levels I, II, and III respectively. Both male and fed, half-fed, gravid and unfed female sandflies were found at all the three levels and in all the three seasons viz., rainy, winter and summer, of the year. The maximum height of occurrence of sandflies was 2.51 m (8.3 ft) above the ground level.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Alpha 1-antitrypsin: a possible tool for diagnosis of cervical cancer.

The serum protease inhibitor alpha 1-AT was measured in patients with different types of cancer and compared with that of normal human serum. alpha 1-AT levels, as measured by its trypsin inhibitory capacity and the immunodiffusion technique, showed significant increase (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.001, respectively) in cervical cancer patients. The results indicates that levels of alpha 1-AT may have a direct relationship with cervical cancer condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Convulsive action of (25S)-isosolafloridine isolated from Solanum pseudo-quina bark.

The crude ethanolic extract prepared from the stem bark of Solanum pseudo-quina produced excitatory effects dominated by convulsions in rats and mice. Solvent extraction followed by alumina column chromatography resulted in the isolation of a pharmacologically active material (AP) which was identified to be (25S)-isosolafloridine. The convulsions produced by AP were predominantly clonic and invariably preceded by generalized fine and coarse tremors. This convulsive behaviour did not entirely resemble the convulsions produced by strychnine, pentylenetetrazol, bicuculline, picrotoxin or 3-mercaptopropionic acid. The tremor and convulsions were only slightly affected by drugs interfering with cholinergic, catecholaminergic, serotoninergic or encephalinergic neurotransmission. Only diazepam and particularly gamma-vinyl-GABA blocked AP-induced effects. After section of the spinal cord at a mid-theoretic level, AP produced convulsions only in the anterior part of the body. After intracerebroventricular administration, AP produced only sedation. A depressive effect was also observed on the blood pressure of conscious rats before and after the convulsions. In subconvulsive doses AP enhanced spontaneous motor activity in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The effect of submaxillariectomy on the uterine peroxidase activity and [14C]phenylalanine incorporation into uterine protein in rats.

Surgical removal of submaxillary glands in immature female rats caused an increase in size and about 3-fold increase in dry and wet weight of the uterus compared to that of the sham operated animals of the same age group. Histological examination reveal a significant increase in the diameter of the uterus with considerable elongation of the luminal epithelium from cubical to columnar in the experimental group. Biochemical studies showed that the uterine peroxidase, a marker enzyme for oestrogen action, increased (P less than 0.01) on submaxillariectomy. Incorporation of [14C]phenylalanine into the nuclear fraction of uterus was also enhanced significantly on removal of submaxillary glands. The elevation of peroxidase activity as well as of [14C]phenylalanine incorporation into the nuclear fraction due to removal of submaxillary glands were abolished in ovariectomized rats suggesting the involvement of ovarian hormones. The results show that oestrogen was responsible for all the above mentioned changes, whereas progesterone had little effect. Results further suggest the existence of a factor in the submaxillary glands through which they exert an effect on the uterus and ovary.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effect of cold exposure on the amylase activity of submaxillary gland of rats.

Cold exposure of rats for 3 h (6 +/- 2 degrees C) caused an increase in amylase activity of the submaxillary gland. This effect was not observed in other salivary glands i.e. parotid and sublingual or in the pancreas. The increase of amylase activity during cold exposure was completely abolished by the beta-receptor antagonist, propranolol, and the alpha-receptor antagonist, phenoxybenzamine, reduced the effect. Administration of actinomycin D to the cold-exposed rats produced a tremendous increase of enzyme activity instead of abolition of the increase as had been expected.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1985

Uterine changes on removal of submaxillary glands in rats (histological changes/uterine peroxidase/blood estradiol level).

Surgical removal of submaxillary gland in immature rats causes a large increase in size and about three to four fold increase in dry and wet weight of uterus compared to that of the sham operated animals of the same age group. Histological examination reveals a significant increase in the diameter of the uterus with considerable elongation of the luminal epithelium from cubical to columnar in the experimental group. Biochemical studies show that the uterine peroxidase (donor: hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7), a marker enzyme for uterine growth, increases by ten to fifteen fold on submaxillariectomy and returns almost to the normal level on administration of submaxillary gland extract (105,000 X g supernatant) to the submaxillariectomized animals. Estrogen estimation by radioimmunoassay shows a similar increase of three to four fold on removal of submaxillary glands and decrease almost to the normal value on administration of the submaxillary extract.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Effect of cold exposure on peroxidase and iodinase activities of rat submandibulary gland.

Exposure of rats to 6 +/- 2 degrees C for 3 h caused an increase in peroxidase activity (55%) and tyrosine iodinase activity (40%) of the submandibulary glands. Thiocyanate, hydrogen peroxide and formation of triiodide from iodide were also elevated under the same conditions. Administration of alpha-receptor blockers and indomethacin prevented the rise of peroxidase activity during cold stress whereas beta-receptor blockers were less effective.

Animals↗