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Biomedical subjects

K Basu

Publications and source records attributed to K Basu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cord blood-derived plasma factor (CBPF) potentiates the low cytokinetic and immunokinetic profile of bone marrow cells in pesticide victims suffering from Acquired Aplastic Anaemia (AAA): an in vitro correlate.

Cases of Acquired Aplastic Anaemia (AAA) in patients with a long history of pesticide exposure from agricultural fields have been investigated in our laboratory using an immunological approach. These patients showed moderate to severe degrees of bone marrow aplasia as a result of 9-12 years protracted exposure to pesticides which were mainly comprised of organophosphorous and organochloride compounds. The bone marrow aspirate culture was found to be severely deficient both in terms of differentiation and proliferation, and cell mediated immune function (CMI). We attempted ex vivo manipulation of the bone marrow population of patients in two different protocols: in one, stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) were administered and, in the second set, cord blood-derived plasma factors (CBPF) were supplemented to evaluate the effects, if any. Simultaneously, two control groups including one for healthy normal control (N) and the second, for non-pesticide induced aplastic anaemia group of patients (NPAA) was also investigated for all the above parameters. Active colony formation and improved cellular immune activity (CMI) was observed more frequently in the CBPF treated group rather than that in the cytokine treated group. Surprisingly, administration of cytokines in the first set and CBPF in the second set triggered CD34 (+) cell generation as revealed through flow cytometric analysis (FACS). The effect was more pronounced in the second set. Investigations carried out with NPAA showed relatively insignificant effects with both cytokine and CBPF set up. The investigations indicated that AAA as induced by pesticides could be therapeutically manipulated by exogenous cytokines and growth factors and, more efficiently, by CBPF by way of immunopotentiation through microenvironmental supplementation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Molecular pathogenesis of Wilson disease: haplotype analysis, detection of prevalent mutations and genotype-phenotype correlation in Indian patients.

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by defects in the copper-transporting P-type ATPase gene (ATP7B) resulting in the accumulation of copper in the liver and the brain. We identified prevalent mutations in the ATP7B of Indian WD patients and attempted to correlate those with the disease phenotype. Patients from 62 unrelated families and their first-degree relatives comprising 200 individuals were enrolled in this study. Three dinucleotide repeat markers flanking WD locus and a few intragenic SNPs were used to determine the genotypes and construct haplotypes of the patients. Seven recurring haplotypes accounting for 58% of the total mutant chromosomes were identified, and four underlying defects in the ATP7B representing 37% of WD chromosomes were detected. In addition, five other rare mutations were characterized. Thus a total of nine mutations including five novel changes were identified in the ATP7B of WD patients. Interestingly, homozygotes for different mutations that would be expected to produce similar defective proteins showed significant disparity in terms of organ involvement and severity of the disease. We also observed WD patients with neurological symptoms with little or no manifestation of hepatic pathogenesis. In one WD family, the proband and a sib had remarkably different phenotypes despite sharing the same pair of mutant chromosomes. These findings suggest a potential role for yet unidentified modifying loci for the observed phenotypic heterogeneity among the WD patients.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed2002

Alopecia universalis in a case of systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report a case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who presented with alopecia universalis. MR, a 23 years female patient was admitted with alopecia universalis and other features of SLE like peripheral arthritis, fever, nephritis, butterfly rash over the malar regions, positive ANA and anti-ds DNA antibodies. There was a gap of four years between the onset of alopecia universalis and other clinical features of SLE. The alopecia was of non-scarry variety and responded to systemic and topical steroids.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Facilitation of functional compartmentalization of bone marrow cells in leukemic mice by biological response modifiers: an immunotherapeutic approach.

Biological Response Modifiers (BRMs) including interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) protected N,N'-ethylnitrosourea (ENU) induced leukaemic mice. Two cell types from the bone marrow were isolated in density specific gradient representing two distinct compartments, the low density cells being more CD34 positive than the high density group. Investigations with the functional efficacy of such compartments revealed significant improvement of cytotoxic efficacy and phagocytic burst at the high density compartment (HDC) level. The high density compartment was found to be more responsive towards the BRMs compared to the cells of the low density compartment (LDC). It was suggested that use of BRMs in vivo can stimulate a potent functional progenitor compartmentalization in normal as well as leukaemic mice. These observations are expected to help a logistic approach towards combined BRM therapy at the clinical level.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Network structure and hospital financial performance in New York State: 1991-1995.

As networks have proliferated, questions have arisen regarding which structure is optimal. To obtain an answer from the hospital perspective, the authors conducted a survey of New York State hospitals to determine how network integration, complexity, and financial risk sharing relate to measures of financial performance during the period of 1991-1995. Of the 64 hospitals indicating a network affiliation by 1995, 67.2 percent listed some network risk-sharing activity. The least integrated networks were associated with the smallest improvements in throughput, and the most complex were associated with the largest negative changes in operating margins. During the first 2 years of network membership, hospitals joining risk-sharing networks experienced operating margin gains averaging 12 percentage points higher than hospitals joining networks without risk sharing; however, this difference dissipated in later years. Networks with higher levels of integration, lower levels of complexity, and which involve some risk-sharing between affiliates are most likely to experience improved hospital financial performance during the network's initial years.

Delivery of Health Care, Integrated↗
PubMed1999

Clinical and bacteriological profile of neonatal infections in metropolitan city based medical college nursery.

Out of 6319 live born babies, 310 (4.9%) with high risk factors and with clinical suspicion of sepsis were studied for incidence pattern of neonatal infections. Incidence of neonatal infection was 2.56% in normal weight babies and 8.42% in low birth weight babies. Total culture positivity was 48.38%. Klebsiella was the most frequent offender, followed by Staph aureus and Staph epidermidis. Majority of klebsiella species were sensitive to ceftriaxone (86%), amikacin (84%) and ceftazidime (80%). Ceftriaxone was effective against Staph aureus (95%) and Staph epidermidis (95%). Overall fatality was 17.1%, distinctly higher in low birth weight group (22.06%) than normal weight group (6.18%).

Bacteria↗
PubMed1998

Distribution of IgG subclasses in antimonial unresponsive Indian kala-azar patients.

Sodium antimony gluconate (SAG) is the mainstay of treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar. In view of the increasing incidence of refractoriness to SAG in India, we compared the levels of parasite-specific IgG and IgG subclasses in 20 longitudinally followed up kala-azar patients. In both SAG-responsive (n = 10) and unresponsive patients (n = 10), the levels of total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 were increased, the rank order being IgG1 > IgG2 > IgG3 = IgG4. Following treatment, a significant decrease in total IgG and the four subclasses occurred in the SAG-responsive group, whereas in the SAG-unresponsive group these levels were unchanged or slightly increased. Therefore, monitoring of IgG1 and IgG2 levels in Indian kala-azar patients is a good serologic alternative to monitoring the disease status.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Hepatoprotective effect of a protein isolated from Cajanus indicus (Spreng) on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

Treatment with hepatotoxin namely carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (0.1 ml/100 g of body weight; twice a week) induced acute hepatic necrosis in Swiss albino mice (male; body weight 30 g +/- 2), with significant alteration in the activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT); glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT); alkaline phosphatase (AP) and serum bilirubin. Administration of a protein fraction isolated from the leaves of C. indicus counteracted the action of CCl4 on transaminase, phosphatase showing hepatoprotection. Daily treatment with a purified protein fraction 'X' from the above plant (0.5 mouse ml i.p; 50-60 micrograms/ml) for a period of 7, 14, 21 days respectively showed decreased activities of serum transaminases alkaline phosphatase and decreased levels of serum bilirubin. These findings were further confirmed by histopathological study of liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Humoral immunity status in neonates born to pre-eclamptic toxaemia mothers.

A prospective study on 90 neonates born to age matched normal mothers (set I) and mothers (set II) with pre-eclamptic toxaemia (PET) was undertaken to assess and compare the humoral immunity status of the neonates. All of them had normal vaginal delivery. IgG, IgA and IgM were estimated by radial immunodiffusion technique from cord blood of neonates. It was observed that IgA and IgM levels were insignificant in the cord blood. IgG level was low in normal birth weight (NBW) neonates born to PET mothers, when compared to that of NBW neonates born to normal mothers. Again low birth weight (LBW) babies of both the sets showed lower values of IgG than that of NBW babies. Apgar scoring showed direct relationship with IgG levels e.g., higher the Apgar score higher the level of IgG. Thus the IgG level was directly related to the birth weight of the neonates of the respective sets as well as with the Apgar scoring of the neonates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Cell mediated immune status in malignancy--pretherapy and post-therapy assessment.

Twenty-eight cases of malignancies of different kinds were studied to assess T-cell activity and population before and after institution of therapy. Fifteen cases were diagnosed as non-metastasising squamous cell carcinoma of larynx, pharynx, laryngopharynx, hypopharynx and tonsils. Seven cases were non-metastasising infiltrating duct carcinoma of breast and 6 cases were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). It was observed that 3 out of 15 cases (20%) of squamous cell carcinoma cases were Mantoux test (MT) negative with a T-cell population of less than 40%, 2 out of 7 cases (28.6%) of infiltrating duct carcinoma of breast were MT negative with a T-cell population of less than 40% and 3 out of 6 cases (50%) of NHL were MT negative with a T-cell population of less than 40%. The normal controls, consisting of apparently normal healthy adults, had a T-cell population of more than 40% and were all MT positive. The patients who showed a negative skin test and a T-cell population less than 40% were further subjected to assessment of T-cell population and activity after appropriate therapy, and clinical cure of the disease. It was observed that 2 out of 3 cases (66.66%) of squamous cell carcinomas, 2 out of 2 cases (100%) of adenocarcinomas and one out of 3 cases (33.33%) of NHL showed positive conversion with a T-cell population of more than 40%.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Myocardial changes in neonates dying of asphyxia neonatorum.

Ten neonates, asphyxiated at birth, were studied by Apgar score, ECG ischaemic score grading (ECGisg), Cardiothoracic (CT) ratio, biochemical parameters like CPK, CPK-MB fraction during life; and they were subjected to postmortem study with particular attention to the changes in the heart. The study revealed that 7 out of 10 asphyxiated neonates showed variable evidences of myocardial damage; but the extent of damage though well correlated with biochemical parameters, did not correspond well with the extent of asphyxia and the survival period. In rest 3 cases, myocardial damage was not overt though there was evidence of asphyxia and evidence of myocardial damage in the form of elevated CPK-MB level. These patients probably had died of "Biochemical Lesion" as described by Rudolf Peter.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗