PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Sen

Publications and source records attributed to M Sen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Nutritional quality of sunflower seed protein fraction extracted with isopropanol.

This study investigated the nutritional effect of sunflower seed protein fraction (SSPF) extracted with isopropanol on growth, plasma and tissue lipid profile, protein content and erythrocyte membrane lipid profile of rats. Dehulled sunflower seeds were extracted with isopropanol at 50 +/- 1 degree C resulting in a protein fraction (71.5%) with low residual chlorogenic acid (0.07%) and fiber (3.3%) contents. Rats fed the sunflower seed protein fraction had a similar body weight gain and food efficiency ratios in comparison to those fed casein. Rats fed SSPF in contrast had a significantly higher growth and food efficiency ratio than the rats fed sunflower meal (SM), extracted with hexane. However, dietary proteins exerted a separate effect on plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein to high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C) ratio and triglyceride content. Sunflower seed protein fraction resulted in a significant decrease in plasma cholesterol (p < 0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.02) levels compared to the casein fed rats. Membrane phospholipid profile also showed a marked variation with the type of dietary protein. Rats fed SSPF and SM did not show much variation in plasma lipids, plasma proteins, liver and brain lipids and membrane phospholipid concentrations. Protein content, liver and brain lipid profile of the groups fed SSPF and casein were comparable, suggesting that the nutritional value of SSPF is better than SM and equivalent to that of casein.

2-Propanol↗

Definitive radiotherapy for 114 cases of T3N0 glottic carcinoma: influence of dose-volume parameters on outcome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Assuming that the dose-response curve for T3N0M0 glottic carcinoma is steep and that the rate of occult lymph node metastases is low, it should be possible to employ high biological tumour doses to modest target volumes and thereby maximise laryngeal control without compromising final neck control. Within the constraints of a retrospective study we aim to examine this policy with respect to local control, incidence of nodal relapse and late complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and fourteen patients with T3N0M0 glottic carcinoma who received a 3-week schedule of radical radiotherapy between 1986 and 1994 were analysed. The median age was 67 years (range, 34-85 years) and the median follow-up for living patients was 4.8 years (1.9-8.9 years). There were no strict selection criteria for those patients treated with radiotherapy. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival was 54%. The 5-year local control with radiotherapy and the ultimate loco-regional control following salvage laryngectomy were 68 and 80%, respectively. Nine patients (8%) suffered a regional nodal relapse but only three of these (3% overall) occurred in the absence of local failure. Four patients (3.5%) developed serious late complications requiring surgical intervention (three received 55 Gy and one 52.5 Gy). CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to employ maximum tolerable doses to specific target volumes and thereby exploit the dose response demonstrated and minimise major late effects. The use of modest target volumes resulted in only 3% of patients requiring surgery that might have been avoided had prophylactic neck irradiation been employed.

Adult↗

Indium-111 octreotide uptake in the surgical scar.

Indium-111 octreotide uptake has been reported in various somatostatin receptor positive tumors, granulomas and autoimmune diseases in which activated leucocytes may play a role, subcutaneous cavernous hemangioma and angiofibroma. We present Indium-111 octreotide uptake in a surgical abdominal scar tissue 1.5 and 6 months after surgery in a patient who had been treated for recurrent carcinoid tumor in the rectosigmoid junction. Indium-111 octreotide uptake in a surgical scar may be related to the binding to somatostatin receptors in the activated lymphocytes and fibroblasts that is previously reported.

Carcinoid Tumor↗

Prognostic factors in lung cancer with brain metastasis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Metastasis to the brain develops in 25% of all patients with lung cancer. Although the outcome is usually poor, there seems to be a subset of patients with favorable prognostic factors who may live longer. Prognostic factors were analyzed retrospectively in 103 patients with brain metastases from lung carcinoma to identify patients who would benefit from more intensive treatment strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1991 and December 1994, 103 patients with brain metastasis from lung cancer were irradiated with palliative intent. Palliation was defined as 50% or more regression of neurological signs and symptoms 2 weeks after the completion of cranial radiotherapy. Local (related to the lung tumor) symptom status at the time of brain metastasis, the presence of metastases other than brain, multiplicity of brain metastases on CT scan and time of occurrence of brain metastasis were the factors which were evaluated with multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Palliation was accomplished in 85% of cases. Palliation duration ranged from 0.5 to 54 months (median 3 months). The overall median survival was 5 months. Only one patient is under follow-up without any symptoms related to the brain metastasis. According to the multivariate analysis survival was significantly decreased in the presence of symptoms related to the primary tumor (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The presence of symptoms related to the primary tumor at the time of brain metastasis is one of the factors that can be used to distinguish patients with a favorable outcome. In patients with favorable prognostic factors and thus longer survival probability, the role of boost dose after whole brain radiotherapy or surgical resection in suitable cases needs to be investigated.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Two types of alpha-factor receptor determinants for pheromone specificity in the mating-incompatible yeasts S. cerevisiae and S. kluyveri.

The specificity of mating-pheromone systems helps prevent mating between different species of yeast. The mechanism of specificity of G protein-coupled receptors in other organisms may be similar. To determine the structural basis of species discrimination between alpha-factor variants, small extracellular segments of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor receptor were substituted with residues from the Saccharomyces kluyveri alpha-factor receptor. Three substitutions altered specificity towards S. cerevisiae and S. kluyveri alpha-factor pheromone peptides. A substitution at residues 47-49 affected specificity for pheromone binding but not for pheromone activation of response. Substitution of residues 267-269 affected pheromone specificity for activation of cellular responses, but not for pheromone binding (under the assay conditions used). Substitution of residues 104-123 modestly affected both types of specificity. These results suggest two distinct types of receptor/ligand specificity (perhaps corresponding to ligand binding to G protein-coupled or uncoupled conformational states of the receptor) that evolved independently as S. cerevisiae and S. kluyveri diverged as species.

Binding Sites↗

Interaction of myoinositoltrisphosphate-phytase complex with the receptor for intercellular Ca2+ mobilization in plants.

One of the myoinositol trisphosphates produced by the phytase-myoinositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) reaction is Ins(2,4,5)P3. That Ins(2,4,5)P3 can elicit Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores in plants [Samanta, S., Dalal, B., Biswas, S., & Biswas, B.B.(1993) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 191,427] prompted us to elucidate the mechanism. The InsP3 [Ins(1,4,5)P3/Ins(2,4,5)P3]-phytase complex has been found to interact with the receptor for InsP3 in vitro forming a ternary complex, and a nanomolar concentration of InsP3 is required. For enzymatic cleavage of InsP3 by phytase, micromolar concentrations are needed, and the affinities of the phytase for different myoinositol phosphates have been found to depend upon the number of phosphate groups present in the substrate. Fraction accessibility of tryptophan residues to a neutral fluorescence quencher, acrylamide in free and myoinositol phosphates bound phytase, as determined by Stern-Volmer plot, records a progressive decrease starting from InsP6 to InsP with the notable exceptions of both Ins (1,4,5)P3 and Ins(2,4,5)P3. This deviation from the trend of change in the accessibility of tryptophan residues in myoinositol phosphate bound phytase is recorded from the fact that there is a high affinity (dissociation constant of the nanomolar order) and noncatalytic binding site in phytase for the two isomers of InsP3. In the nanomolar range of concentrations, both isomers of InsP3 bind to a second site of phytase having about 40-fold higher affinity than the normal substrate binding site. InsP3, when bound to noncatalytic site in phytase is not hydrolyzed but induces a significant change in the conformation of phytase as assayed from the relative accessibility of tryptophan residues. This conformational change in phytase is recognized by the receptor for InsP3, because in absence of InsP3 no interaction between the receptor and phytase is detected. However, InsP3-phytase complex is a better elicitor of Ca2+ efflux from microsomal/vacuolar fractions than free InsP3. This is further confirmed by the fact that when Ins(1,3,4)P3-phytase complex can elicit Ca2+ efflux from intracellular stores, Ins(1,3,4)P3 per se is minimally effective.

6-Phytase↗

Receptor for myo-inositol trisphosphate from the microsomal fraction of Vigna radiata.

The microsomal fraction from mung-bean (Vigna radiata) hypocotyl was found to contain Ins (1,4,5)P3- and Ins(2,4,5)P3-binding activity. Preincubation of the microsomal fraction with thiol-containing reagents reduced specific InsP3 binding. A single class of binding site with a Kd value of 1.5 nM and Bmax. of 1.1 pmol/mg of protein was detected. Other myo-inositol phosphates exhibited little affinity for this protein. The binding protein was purified to homogeneity and the molecular mass of the native form recorded as 400 kDa. However, under denaturing conditions the molecular mass was 110 kDa, suggesting that the protein is a homotetramer. That this protein is associated with Ca2+ release was confirmed by including it in proteoliposomes and adding Ins(1,4,5)P3 or Ins(2,4,5)P3. The affinity of Ins(1,4,5)P3 is 3-fold higher than that of Ins(2,4,5)P3. The binding affinity of InsP3 is also reflected in the extent of Ca2+ released from the microsomal fraction. Heparin inhibits binding of InsP3 to the protein, the K1/2 being 0.26 microM. It is also shown that the protein acts as a receptor for InsP3 with characteristics of high affinity and low density.

Calcium↗

Novel antagonist to agonist switch in chimeric G protein-coupled alpha-factor peptide receptors.

The alpha-factor analog desTrp1,Ala3 alpha-factor (dTA-alpha-factor) acts as an antagonist for both the S. cerevisiae alpha-factor receptor (c-alpha-FR) and the S. kluyveri alpha-factor receptor (k-alpha FR). Chimeric alpha-factor receptors in which a portion (residues 250-303) of the seven hydrophobic segments were derived from the k-alpha FR and the rest from c-alpha FR conferred potent activation of cellular responses by dTA-alpha-factor including induction of FUS1 expression without significantly affecting binding. Chimeric receptors with all hydrophobic segments derived from one receptor did not express sensitivity. We propose that dTA-alpha-factor represents an antagonist that that has an activation energy barrier to activating c-alpha FR and k-alpha FR but which retains a latent potential to act as an agonist.

Binding, Competitive↗

Noncontiguous domains of the alpha-factor receptor of yeasts confer ligand specificity.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor receptor has a 3400-fold higher affinity for the S. cerevisiae alpha-factor peptide (c-alpha-f) than for the Saccharomyces kluyveri alpha-factor peptide (k-alpha-f) as determined by competition for [3H] c-alpha-f binding. The S. kluyveri alpha-factor receptor has an approximately 2-fold higher affinity for k-alpha-f than for c-alpha-f. The S. kluyveri receptor gene (k-STE2) is incompletely regulated by S. cerevisiae mating type and poorly expressed on the surface of an S. cerevisiae mating type a strain. A chimeric receptor (c/k1) with amino acid residues 1-45 derived from S. cerevisiae and amino acid residues 46-427 from S. kluyveri exhibits the binding specificity of the S. kluyveri receptor. However, chimeric receptors containing residues 1-168 (c/k2) or 1-250 (c/k3) from S. cerevisiae and the remainder from the S. kluyveri receptor exhibit specificities similar to one another, but intermediate between the parent S. cerevisiae and S. kluyveri receptors. The relative ability of c-alpha-f and k-alpha-f to induce growth arrest in strains expressing chimeric receptors parallels relative affinity. Thus, two noncontiguous domains that include putative extracellular loops 1 and 3 and associated transmembrane segments, but exclude the extracellular NH2 terminus and loop 2, appear to contribute to alpha-factor receptor ligand specificity. COOH-terminal regions of the S. kluyveri receptor appear to confer a desensitization defect when expressed in S. cerevisiae. The S. cerevisiae receptor truncated at residue 296 retains ligand specificity for growth arrest.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential effects of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane analogs, chlordecone, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on establishment of pregnancy in the hypophysectomized rat.

Many of the organochlorine pesticides have been shown to elicit estrogenic responses in laboratory animals. Two estrogenic actions, initiation of implantation and maintenance of pregnancy, were examined in progesterone-primed, delayed-implanting, hypophysectomized rats exposed to several polychlorinated hydrocarbons. The insecticide P,P'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was nearly devoid of estrogenic activity for initiating implantation, as was a dichloro analog, 1,1-dichloro-2-[p-chlorophenyl],2-[o-chlorophenyl]ethane (O,P'-DDD), but another such analog, 1,1-dichloro-2-(p-chlorophenyl),2-(o-chlorophenyl)ethylene (O,P'-DDE), was nearly as estrogenic as the O,P'-DDT isomer of DDT and the methoxylated analog methoxychlor. The latter three compounds not only initiated implantation, but maintained pregnancy when given in large (200 mg/kg) and repeated doses. Another insecticide, chlordecone (Kepone) was more estrogenic than any of the DDT analogs and maintained pregnancy with a single dose of 50 mg/kg. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a toxic contaminant of herbicide production, did not induce implantation at a dose of 125 micrograms/kg, but inhibited the implantation initiated by estrone in 35% of the animals. The mechanism of this antiestrogenicity is unknown but most probably does not involve direct action via the classical estrogen receptor. The possible interference with the normal blastocyst-uterine interactions of these polychlorinated xenobiotics may be an important factor in their being considered reproductive toxins.

Animals↗

Aetiological studies on hospital inpatients with secretory diarrhoea in Calcutta.

Twenty-five cases of all age groups with secretory diarrhoea admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Calcutta were studied. Bacterial enteropathogens were detected by bacteriological examination of the faeces, in each and every case. The main pathogens detected were Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae. V cholerae was more commonly associated with severe illness except in the very young, while Esch coli was equally associated with moderate and severe illness. Multiple isolates were more commonly associated with severe illness and single isolates were more common in illness of moderate severity.

Adolescent↗