PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Bajaj

Publications and source records attributed to M Bajaj.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Short-term effect of complementary feeding frequency on total ad libitum consumption in 6- to 10-month-old breast fed Indian infants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term effect of frequency of complementary feeding on total ad libitum consumption in breast fed infants. METHODS: Twenty infants between 6 to 10 months of age were studied in a tertiary hospital in New Delhi for 48 hours. A traditional gruel made of rice and pulses (mean (SD) caloric density 54.22 (7.08) kcal/100 g) was offered in a randomized manner three (n = 10) or four (n = 10) times per day to the subjects over the first 24 hours with the subjects crossing over in the next 24 hours. They were allowed ad libitum breast feeding with no other food or fluid during the study period. Total caloric intake from breast milk and semisolids was computed for each day. RESULTS: There was no difference in the total caloric consumption with a semisolid feeding frequency of three or four times per day. The frequency of breast feeding and the breast feeding duration were also comparable (P > 0.05). However, breast milk intake was lower with a semisolid feeding frequency of 4 times/day (mean difference -61.2 g/d [95% confidence interval (CI) -122.2-0.32]; P = 0.051). The time required for feeding was higher (mean difference 14.75 min; P < 0.001), whereas the per meal intake of semisolids was lower with four semisolid feeds per day (mean difference -5.5 kcal/meal; [95% CI -10.19 to -0.81]; P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: In the short term, a change in semisolid feeding frequency from three to four times per day does not result in enhanced energy consumption because of lower breast milk intake.

Breast Feeding↗

Short-term effect of oil supplementation of complementary food on total ad libitum consumption in 6- to 10-month-old breastfed Indian infants.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the short term effect of oil supplementation of complementary food on total ad libitum consumption in breastfed infants. METHODS: Twenty infants between 6 to 10 months of age were studied in a tertiary hospital in New Delhi for 48 hours. They were given three semi-solid complementary feeds per day and ad libitum breastfeeding. No other food or fluid was allowed during the study period. A traditional gruel made of rice and pulses with high energy density (oil added; caloric density = 35 kcal/100 g) or low energy density (without oil; caloric density = 20 kcal/100 g) was offered in a randomized manner on consecutive days to all infants. Total caloric intake from breast milk and semi-solids was computed for each day. RESULTS: Infants consumed an equivalent amount of semi-solid (mean difference, 10.75 g/day; 95% confidence interval, 10.56 to 32.06; P = 0.304) and a lower amount of breast milk (mean difference, 121.1 g/day; 95% confidence interval, 35.13 to 207.16; P = 0.008) when high energy density feeds were offered. Although the caloric intake from semi-solids increased significantly (18.9 kcal/day; 95% confidence interval, 12.9 to 24.8; P < 0.001) with the high density diet, the total caloric intake (breast milk and study feeds) decreased (mean difference = 59.6 kcal/day; 95% confidence interval, 5.95 to 113.34; P = 0.031). An inverse relationship was found between caloric density of semi-solids and breast milk intake (r = 0.34, r = 0.12, P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: In the short term, oil supplementation of complementary food in breastfed infants does not translate into enhanced total caloric intake, primarily as a result of breast milk displacement.

Breast Feeding↗

Adiponectin receptors gene expression and insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic Mexican Americans with or without a family history of Type 2 diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The recent discovery of two adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the insulin-sensitising effect of adiponectin. The aim of this study was to determine for the first time whether skeletal muscle AdipoR1 and/or AdipoR2 gene expression levels are associated with insulin resistance. METHODS: Using RT-PCR and northern analysis we measured AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 gene expression in skeletal muscle from healthy Mexican Americans with normal glucose tolerance who had (n=8) or did not have (n=10) a family history of Type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Gene expression profiling indicated that the AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 isoforms are highly expressed in human skeletal muscle, unlike in mice where AdipoR2 expression was highest in the liver, and AdipoR1 was highest in skeletal muscle. In the study subjects, the expression levels of AdipoR1 (p=0.004) and AdipoR2 (p=0.04), as well as plasma adiponectin concentration (p=0.03) were lower in people with a family history of Type 2 diabetes than in those with no family history of the disease. Importantly, the expression levels of both receptors correlated positively with insulin sensitivity (r=0.64, p=0.004 and r=0.47, p=0.048 respectively). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Collectively, these data indicate that both isoforms of the adiponectin receptor play a role in the insulin-sensitising effect of adiponectin.

Adiponectin↗

Plasma resistin concentration, hepatic fat content, and hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance in pioglitazone-treated type II diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of pioglitazone (PIO) on plasma resistin concentration, endogenous glucose production (EGP), and hepatic fat content (HFC) in patients with type II diabetes (T2DM). SUBJECTS: A total of 13 T2DM patients (age=51+/-2 y, BMI=29.7+/-1.1 kg/m(2), HbA(1c)=8.0+/-0.5%). METHODS: HFC (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and basal plasma resistin concentration were quantitated before and after PIO treatment (45 mg/day) for 16 weeks. Subjects received a 3 h euglycemic insulin (100 mU/m(2)/min) clamp with 3-[(3)H] glucose to determine rates of EGP and tissue glucose disappearance (Rd) before and after PIO. RESULTS: PIO reduced fasting plasma glucose (10.3+/-0.7 to 7.6+/-0.6 mmol/l, P<0.001) and HbA(1c) (8.0+/-0.4 to 6.8+/-0.3%, P<0.001) despite increased body weight (83.2+/-3.4 to 86.3+/-3.4 kg, P<0.001). PIO improved Rd (4.9+/-0.4 to 6.6+/-0.5 mg/kg/min, P<0.005) and reduced EGP (0.22+/-0.04 to 0.06+/-0.02 mg/kg/min, P<0.01) during the insulin clamp. Following PIO, HFC decreased from 21.1+/-3.5 to 11.2+/-2.1% (P<0.005), and plasma resistin decreased from 5.3+/-0.6 to 3.5+/-0.3 ng/ml (P<0.01). Plasma resistin concentration correlated positively with HFC before (r=0.58, P<0.05) and after (r=0.55, P<0.05) PIO treatment. Taken collectively, plasma resistin concentration, before and after PIO treatment, correlated positively with hepatic fat content (r=0.66, P<0.001) and EGP during the insulin clamp (r=0.41, P<0.05). However, the plasma resistin concentration did not correlate with whole body glucose disposal (Rd) during the insulin clamp either before (r=-0.18, P=NS) or after (r=-0.13, P=NS) PIO treatment. CONCLUSIONS: PIO treatment in T2DM causes a significant decrease in plasma resistin concentration. The decrease in plasma resistin is positively correlated with the decrease in hepatic fat content and improvement in hepatic insulin sensitivity.

Blood Glucose↗

Adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous and electroplating wastewater.

The aim of this work was to investigate the use of activated rice husk carbon prepared by thermal activation and activated alumina in the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution and electroplating wastewater through column studies. The optimum solution pH was found to be 2 for activated rice husk carbon and 4 for activated alumina in the batch process. This was further applied to the aqueous solution to optimise the column bed height, diameter and flow rate of solute. These optimised conditions were applied to the electroplating wastewater. It was observed that activated rice husk is an efficient adsorbent and comparable to commercially available activated alumina. The percent Cr(VI) removal from wastewater was 73.3% with activated rice husk and 75.3% with activated alumina after 1 h continuous flow at the rate of 5 ml min(-1) from 7.5 cm bed height of adsorbent in a column having diameter 2.5 cm. A long contact time of the samples with adsorbents resulted in desorption of Cr(VI) from the adsorbent surfaces. However, the adsorption rate increased with the more available adsorbent surface sites when column bed height and diameter were greater. There was a decrease in Cr(VI) removal compared to aqueous sample due to the presence of other metal ions in the wastewater sample.

Adsorption↗

Behavior of uptake of moisture by drugs and excipients under accelerated conditions of temperature and humidity in the absence and the presence of light. 1. Pure anti-tuberculosis drugs and their combinations.

An investigation was carried out to determine the behavior of moisture gain by four anti-tuberculosis drugs, viz. rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol, when exposed in pure form and in combinations to accelerated conditions of 40 degrees C and 75% RH, in the absence and the presence of light. Weight gain was seen only in those samples that contained ethambutol, and this behavior was observed both in dark and lighted chambers. There was a decrease in moisture uptake with an increase in the number of drugs in the mixture. Another observation was a higher weight gain by the mixture of ethambutol and isoniazid in a dark chamber, than either pure ethambutol or drug combinations containing ethambutol. The most interesting finding was an overall acceleration of weight gain in the presence of light as compared with dark conditions, which is a hitherto unknown phenomenon.

Adsorption↗

Survey of transcripts in the adult Drosophila brain.

BACKGROUND: Classic methods of identifying genes involved in neural function include the laborious process of behavioral screening of mutagenized flies and then rescreening candidate lines for pleiotropic effects due to developmental defects. To accelerate the molecular analysis of brain function in Drosophila we constructed a cDNA library exclusively from adult brains. Our goal was to begin to develop a catalog of transcripts expressed in the brain. These transcripts are expected to contain a higher proportion of clones that are involved in neuronal function. RESULTS: The library contains approximately 6.75 million independent clones. From our initial characterization of 271 randomly chosen clones, we expect that approximately 11% of the clones in this library will identify transcribed sequences not found in expressed sequence tag databases. Furthermore, 15% of these 271 clones are not among the 13,601 predicted Drosophila genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of this unique Drosophila brain library suggests that the number of genes may be underestimated in this organism. This work complements the Drosophila genome project by providing information that facilitates more complete annotation of the genomic sequence. This library should be a useful resource that will help in determining how basic brain functions operate at the molecular level.

Aging↗

Interaction of pea (Pisum sativum L.) lectins with rhizobial strains.

Lectins from two varieties (PG-3 and LFP-48) of pea have been purified by affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-50. The specific activity increased by 23 and 25 folds, respectively. These lectins from both the varieties were found to be specific for mannose. The purified fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins showed binding reaction with homologous as well as heterologous strains of Rhizobium spp. The results revealed that pea lectins are not highly specific to their respective rhizobia. Moreover, these lectins showed a greater stimulatory effect on homologous Rhizobium leguminosarum strains.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

The perception of safe driving ability during hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: Insulin-induced hypoglycemia and its sequelae of cognitive impairment may place patients with type 1 diabetes at risk when driving and when making decisions about driving. Little is known about the factors that influence judgments of safe driving ability during hypoglycemia in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty men and 30 women with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes (age [mean +/- SD] 33 +/- 9 years, duration 9 +/- 3 years, hemoglobin A1c level 8.7% +/- 1.0%) underwent a stepped hypoglycemic insulin clamp. Serum glucose levels were reduced from 120 mg/dL to 80, 70, 60, 50, and then 40 mg/dL during 190 minutes. At each glucose plateau, patients completed a symptom questionnaire and neuropsychological test, estimated their glucose level, and reported whether they could drive safely. RESULTS: The proportion of patients judging that they could drive safely decreased as serum glucose levels decreased from 70% at 120 mg/dL to 22% at 40 mg/dL. Men and middle-aged patients were more likely to consider it safe to drive during hypoglycemia than women and those under 25 years of age. Those who were symptomatic and those who recognized hypoglycemia were less likely to report safe driving ability during hypoglycemia. Most patients who were cognitively impaired appeared to recognize this and reported that they could not drive safely at a serum glucose level of 40 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with type 1 diabetes need educational reinforcement of safe driving habits, particularly to check glucose levels before driving. Glucose levels less than 70 mg/dL should be treated before driving. This information is as important for middle-aged, experienced drivers as it is for younger, inexperienced drivers.

Adult↗

Blood glucose awareness training and epinephrine responses to hypoglycemia during intensive treatment in type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of blood glucose awareness training (BGAT) on epinephrine and symptom responses to hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes enrolled in an intensive diabetes treatment (IDT) program. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 47 subjects with uncomplicated diabetes (duration 9 +/- 3 years: HbA1c 9.0 +/- 1.2%; reference range 4-6%) enrolled in a 4-month outpatient IDT program were randomized to classes in BGAT (n = 25) (BGAT group) or cholesterol awareness (n = 22) (control group). Subjects underwent stepped hypoglycemic clamp studies before and at completion of IDT. Plasma glucose was lowered from 6.7 mmol/l (baseline) to 4.4, 3.9, 3.3, 2.8, and 2.2 mmol/l over 190 min. Symptoms, counterregulatory hormones, and ability of the subject to estimate their glucose level were assessed at each plateau. At home, subjects used a handheld computer to first estimate and then measure and record blood glucose levels for 70 trials over a 4-week period immediately before IDT and again immediately following the educational intervention. RESULTS: HbA1c decreased in both BGAT group (9.1 +/- 1.4 to 7.9 +/- 1.1%; P < 0.001) and control group (9.0 +/- 1.1 to 7.8 +/- 0.8%; P < 0.001) (NS between groups). Frequency of hypoglycemia (< 3.9 mmol/l) increased in both groups, from 0.45 +/- 0.06 to 0.69 +/- 0.07 episodes per day (P < 0.001) in the BGAT group and from 0.50 +/- 0.08 to 0.68 +/- 0.06 episodes per day (P < 0.05) in the control group NS between groups). Epinephrine responses after IDT were greater in the BGAT group (repeated measure analysis of variance [ANOVA], F = 3.5, P < 0.05). A separate analysis of subjects n = 26) most at risk for hypoglycemia (HbA1c after IDT < 7.8% or an HbA1c improvement of > 2 percentage points) showed that frequency of hypoglycemia increased in both the groups: from 0.50 +/- 0.09 to 0.80 +/- 0.11 episodes per day (P < 0.01) in the BGAT group (n = 14) and from 0.43 +/- 0.11 to 0.75 +/- 0.07 episodes per day (P < 0.05) in the control group (n = 12) (NS between groups). However, the epinephrine response in control subjects decreased with IDT while the response in the BGAT subjects was preserved (repeated measure ANOVA, F = 4.4, P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: BGAT is a useful intervention to decrease blunting of counterregulatory responses associated with improved glycemic control and may modify the severity of hypoglycemia associated with improved glycemic control in type 1 diabetes.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Effect of glycemic control on glucose counterregulation during hypoglycemia in NIDDM.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of glycemic control of NIDDM on counterregulatory hormone responses to hypoglycemia and compared the effect with that seen in patients with IDDM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Eleven subjects with NIDDM and eight age- and weight-matched control subjects and ten subjects with IDDM and ten age- and weight-matched control subjects were studied. All subjects underwent a stepped hypoglycemic-hyper-insulinemic clamp study during which plasma glucose levels were lowered in a stepwise manner from 5.0 to 2.2 mmol/l in steps of 0.6 mmol/l every 30 min. Counterregulatory hormones (epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucagon, ACTH, cortisol, and growth hormone [GH]) were measured, and a symptom survey was administered during the last 10 min of each 30-min interval. RESULTS: The threshold for release of epinephrine, norepinephrine, ACTH, and cortisol occurred at higher plasma glucose levels in NIDDM than in IDDM patients (P < 0.05-0.01). The glucose threshold for release of epinephrine and norepinephrine correlated with glycemic control as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin (P < 0.05-0.01). However, for a given level of glycemic control, the threshold for release of epinephrine and norepinephrine occurred at a higher glucose level in NIDDM versus IDDM patients (P < 0.05-0.01). At the nadir level of hypoglycemia, glucagon, ACTH, and cortisol levels were all higher in NIDDM compared with IDDM subjects, whereas GH levels were lower. CONCLUSIONS: Glycemic control alters counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia in NIDDM as has been previously reported in IDDM. However, at similar levels of glycemic control, NIDDM patients release counterregulatory hormones at a higher plasma glucose level than patients with IDDM. In addition, subjects with NIDDM maintain their glucagon response to hypoglycemia. These data suggest that patients with NIDDM may be at reduced risk of severe hypoglycemia when compared with a group of IDDM patients in similar glycemic control, thus providing a more favorable risk-benefit ratio for intensive diabetes therapy in NIDDM.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Role of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida) as hypocholesterolemic/antiatherogenic agent.

Feeding of Pleurotus to hypercholesterolemic rabbits resulted in lowering of total lipids, total cholesterol and glyceride levels of plasma and liver whereas heart lipids were not affected. HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol/LDL cholesterol ratios increased in experimental animals proving antiatherogenic potential of this mushroom. The effect was further supported by the severity of tissue damage as evidenced by histopathological studies. An increase in bile acid excretion could be taken as one of the possible attributes to hypocholesterolemic action of P. florida.

Animals↗

Perihepatic abscess formation in diabetes: a complication of silent gallstones.

Perforation of the gallbladder is a serious complication of acute cholecystitis, with significant morbidity and mortality rates. We present the case of a diabetic adult in whom the usual signs and symptoms of acute cholecystitis were obscured. A high index of suspicion at the time of admission prompted emergent evaluation. Computerized axial tomography revealed a large perihepatic abscess extending from a perforated gallbladder. Fourteen hundred milliliters of malodorous brown fluid were drained by ultrasound-guided percutaneous aspiration from the collection. Early clinical suspicion combined with conservative surgical management may prevent serious morbidity and/or mortality in diabetic patients with complicated cholecystitis.

Cholecystitis↗

The mechanism of iron uptake by transferrins: the structure of an 18 kDa NII-domain fragment from duck ovotransferrin at 2.3 A resolution.

The molecular structure of an iron-containing 18 kDa fragment of duck ovotransferrin, obtained by proteolysis of the intact protein, has been elucidated by protein crystallographic techniques at 2.3 A resolution. This structure supports a mechanism of iron uptake in the intact protein whereby the binding of the synergistic (bi)carbonate anion is followed by binding of the metal with the lobe in the open configuration. These stages are then followed by domain closure in which the aspartic acid residue plays a further key role, by forming an interdomain hydrogen-bond interaction in addition to serving as a ligand to the iron. This essential dual role is highlighted by model building studies on the C-terminal lobe of a known human variant. In this variant a mutation of a glycine by an arginine residue enables the aspartic acid to form an ion pair and reduce its effectiveness for both metal binding and domain closure. The X-ray structure of the 18 kDa fragment strongly suggests that the histidine residue present at the iron binding site of the intact protein and arising from the second interdomain connecting strand has been removed during the preparative proteolysis.

Journal Article↗