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Biomedical subjects

N Mohanty

Publications and source records attributed to N Mohanty.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Severe falciparum malaria.

Falciparum malaria affect all ages with multiple-systemic complications which varies in different age group. We studied 242 children with complicated Falciparum malaria with a median age of 6.5 years to look for occurrence of different complications in younger and older age groups and overall mortality picture. Unarousable coma (40.5%), severe anemia (26.03%), repeated seizures (46.2%) and hepatopathy (32.2%) were commonest complications. Under five children had higher risk of development of cerebral malaria (P<0.01), severe anemia (P<0.05) and seizures (P<0.001); whereas above five children had higher risk of acute renal failure (P<0.05) and malarial hepatopathy (P<0.02). Over all mortality was 9.9%, cerebral malaria being the commonest cause (6.6%). Multi-system involvement was seen in 58.4% cases of death. Children having pulmonary edema, shock and cerebral malaria had high case fatality rate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Hepatopathy in complicated falciparum malaria: report from eastern India.

A prospective study done in 216 children with complicated falciparum malaria showed hepatopathy in 33.3% of cases with a higher incidence in children aged above five years. Bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase were moderately raised in most cases. No significant association with other common complications and no higher risk of mortality was observed.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2000

Double-stranded RNA injection produces null phenotypes in zebrafish.

Zebrafish is a simple vertebrate that has many attributes that make it ideal for the study of developmental genetics. One feature that has been lacking in this model system is the ability to disable specifically targeted genes. Recently, double-stranded RNA has been used to silence gene expression in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We have found that expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a microinjected plasmid vector can be suppressed in zebrafish embryos by the coinjection of a double-stranded RNA that is specifically targeted to GFP. To determine that double-stranded RNA can attenuate endogenous gene expression, single-cell zebrafish embryos were injected with double-stranded RNA specifically targeted to Zf-T and Pax6.1. We found that microinjection of double-stranded Zf-T RNA resulted in a high incidence of a phenotype similar to that of ntl. Furthermore, Zf-T gene expression could not be detected by in situ hybridization and the message was decreased by 75% by semiquantitative RT-PCR in 12-h embryos that had been injected with the double-stranded RNA. Expression of the zebrafish genes sonic hedgehog and floating head was altered in the embryos microinjected with the Zf-T double-stranded RNA in a manner that is remarkably similar to the zebrafish no-tail mutant. Microinjection of double-stranded RNA targeted to Pax6.1 was associated with depressed expression of Pax6. 1 and resulted in absent or greatly reduced eye and forebrain development, similar to the phenotype seen in mouse mutants. Simultaneous injection of Pax6.1 and Zf-T resulted in embryos lacking notochords, eyes, and brain structures.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Risk of serious adverse events in hypertensive patients receiving isradipine: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was performed to compare the risk of serious adverse events associated with the use of all formulations of isradipine, when used as monotherapy in hypertension, to active drug or placebo controls. Eligible studies totalled 65 published and unpublished randomised controlled trials involving 9903 subjects and 10,675 treatment exposures: 4492 to isradipine, 1473 to isradipine sustained release, 2768 to other active drugs, and 1942 to placebo. Mortality, cardiovascular outcomes, other serious incident illnesses, such as cancer, and withdrawals were sought. Seventy-five per cent of the isradipine exposures were to standard-release formulations and 25% were to sustained-release formulations. Overall, isradipine therapy shows no difference in risk of major adverse events or withdrawals compared to other active controls or placebo (odds ratios [OR] 0.9; 95% CI 0.7-1.46 and 0.5; 95% CI 0.2-1.3). These major adverse events included angina, fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke and overall mortality. Isradipine sustained release could be compared only to placebo, based on available data, and shows a lower risk of withdrawals (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.9), and a similar trend was observed for major adverse events, (OR 0.8; 95% CI 0.3-2.5). Published and unpublished randomised controlled trials were analysed in separate meta-analyses and later combined when this sensitivity analysis of risk showed no differences between the groups. In conclusion, we find no evidence for increased risk of serious adverse events in patients receiving isradipine as monotherapy for hypertension.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed1995

Prolonged incubation with low concentrations of mercury alters energy transfer and chlorophyll (Chl) a protein complexes in Synechococcus 6301: changes in Chl a absorption and emission characteristics and loss of the F695 emission band.

Synechococcus PCC 6301 cells grown in the presence of low sublethal levels of (about 2 microM) mercury induced alterations in chlorophyll (Chl) a absorption without significant alterations in phycocyanin. Chl a fluorescence emission in Hg(2+)-raised cells showed a large (about 18 nm) blue shift in the peak emission. No major spectral changes in phycobilisome (PBsome) emission characteristic were noticed, indicating major structural alterations in Chl-protein complexes by incubation with Hg2+ ions. Low temperature (77K) emission spectra of cells grown in the presence of Hg2+ showed a loss of the characteristic Chl a emission band at 695 nm (F695), which is known to be linked to photosystem II photochemistry and to originate from the Chl a of core antenna polypeptide CP 47 of photosystem II. The SDS-PAGE polypeptide profile of thylakoids indicates a loss of a polypeptide(s) with a molecular mass between 40 and 60 kDa by Hg2+ incubation of cells. Our results suggest that prolonged incubation of Synechococcus 6301 cells with low concentrations of Hg2+ affects the Chl a spectral properties and the structure of Chl-protein complexes.

Chlorophyll↗
PubMed1995

Prevention of nitroglycerin tolerance with diuretics.

Tolerance to prolonged nitroglycerin (NTG) may be due to drug-induced intravascular expansion. To test the hypothesis that concomitant diuretics may reduce volume expansions and thus prevent NTG tolerance, we studied 23 healthy volunteers randomized to hydrochlorthiazide or placebo before and during 74-hour continuous NTG exposure. Venodilator response to NTG was tested serially with venous forearm plethysmography. In the preNTG patch phase venodilator response was similar in both the placebo and diuretic groups. Venodilator capacity was compared after "acute" (2-hour) and "chronic" (74-hour) NTG exposure with NTG patches. Attenuation to NTG was seen in the placebo group, but NTG venodilator activity was fully maintained in the diuretic group. These data suggest that diuretics may be helpful in the prevention of NTG tolerance.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Epoxidation of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin reverses non-photochemical quenching of photosystem II chlorophyll a fluorescence in the presence of trans-thylakoid delta pH.

The xanthophyll cycle apparently aids the photoprotection of photosystem II by regulating the nonradiative dissipation of excess absorbed light energy as heat. However, it is a controversial question whether the resulting nonphotochemical quenching is soley dependent on xanthophyll cycle activity or not. The xanthophyll cycle consists of two enzymic reactions, namely deepoxidation of the diepoxide violaxanthin to the epoxide-free zeaxanthin and the much slower, reverse process of epoxidation. While deepoxidation requires a transthylakoid pH gradient (delta pH), epoxidation can proceed irrespective of a delta pH. Herein, we compared the extent and kinetics of deepoxidation and epoxidation to the changes in fluorescence in the presence of a light-induced thylakoid delta pH. We show that epoxidation reverses fluorescence quenching without affecting thylakoid delta pH. These results suggest that epoxidase activity reverses quenching by removing deepoxidized xanthophyll cycle pigments from quenching complexes and converting them to a nonquenching form. The transmembrane organization of the xanthophyll cycle influences the localization and the availability of deepoxidized xanthophylls is to support nonphotochemical quenching capacity. The results confirm the view that rapidly reversible nonphotochemical quenching is dependent on deepoxidized xanthophyll.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed1993

Follicular growth rate and lack of influence of oestradiol valerate, testosterone propionate and aminoglutethimide phosphate on ovarian follicular development in the musk shrew, Suncus murinus L.

Growth rate of follicles and effects of administration of oestradiol valerate (EV), testosterone propionate (TP) and aminoglutethemide phosphate (AGP) on the development of ovarian follicles of the adult musk shrew were investigated. The follicular growth rate was estimated by mitotic index before and 2 hr after colchicine treatment to the shrews. Mitotic index of granulosa cells increased linearly with the increase in the follicular diameter. The calculated mean duration of mitosis was 0.48 hr. The mean time taken for follicle to pass from primary follicle stage to preovulatory stage was estimated to be 12 days. Treatment of both the steroids EV and TP, failed to produce any noticeable effect on the atretic follicle of the musk shrew. The results indicate that neither EV or TP, nor the potent steroid inhibitor AGP had any influence on the growth of large follicles in this primitive eutherian mammal.

Aminoglutethimide↗
PubMed1992

Morphometric analysis of small follicles in the ovary of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus L.) at different ages.

On the basis of morphological characteristics of granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte, the small follicles (Class 1) in the ovary of the musk shrew were classified into four groups: Type B (flattened cells), Type B/C (mixture of flattened and cuboidal cells), Type C (single layer of cuboidal cells), and Type D (more than one to two layers of cuboidal cells without epitheloid cells in the theca). The pattern of small follicular development was characterized by a short early dormant followed by a rapid growth phase. Initiation of follicular growth commenced at intermediate stage between large Type B and Type B/C follicles. Types B, B/C, and C were present in the ovary on Day 0 after birth, whereas Type D first appeared on Day 3 after birth. The total population of small follicles and the number of each type of follicle decreased with increasing age. In all age groups investigated, the total number of small follicles and the number of follicles of Types B, B/C, and C in the left ovary were significantly higher compared with those in the right ovary. The percentage of Type B follicles decreased with increasing age, while the percentages of Types B/C, C, and D increased. A positive correlation between the percentage of Type B and a negative correlation between the percentages of Types B/C, C, and D and the total small ovarian follicular population indicate the operation of an intraovarian regulation of some early steps of follicular growth.

Aging↗
PubMed1992

Effects of estradiol valerate on the uterus of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus L.).

The effects of exogenous estradiol valerate on some uterine characteristics of the musk shrew were investigated. Treatment with the steroid for either 1 day or 7 days did not noticeably alter luminal epithelial cell height, endometrial gland epithelial cell height or diameter, or number of endometrial glands. The reciprocal values of cell density of circular muscle and deep endometrial layers and endometrium-to-myometrium ratio of the uterus increased significantly in response to 7 days of steroid administration. After 1 day of steroid treatment the numbers of mast cells in different layers of the uterus (i.e., meso-, myo-, and endometrium) were unchanged, but after 7 days there were significant increases in the number of mast cells in meso- and myometria. The number of eosinophils in all three layers of the uterus increased significantly in response to the treatment of estradiol for 1 day or for 7 days. The increase was greater in the 7-day group. Neither uterine DNA nor RNA contents changed following administration of the steroid for either group, although protein content was elevated significantly in the 7-day group. Estradiol administration thus evokes small but subtle changes in the uterus of the musk shrew.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Dark Ammonium Assimilation Reduces the Plastoquinone Pool of Photosystem II in the Green Alga Selenastrum minutum.

The impact of dark NH(4) (+) and NO(3) (-) assimilation on photosynthetic light harvesting capability of the green alga Selenastrum minutum was monitored by chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis. When cells assimilated NH(4) (+), they exhibited a large decline in the variable fluorescence/maximum fluorescence ratio, the fluorescence yield of photosystem II relative to that of photosystem I at 77 kelvin, and O(2) evolution rate. NH(4) (+) assimilation therefore poised the cells in a less efficient state for photosystem II. The analysis of complementary area of fluorescence induction curve and the pattern of fluorescence decay upon microsecond saturating flash, indicators of redox state of plastoquinone (PQ) pool and dark reoxidation of primary quinone electron acceptor (Q(A)), respectively, revealed that the PQ pool became reduced during dark NH(4) (+) assimilation. NH(4) (+) assimilation also caused an increase in the NADPH/NADP(+) ratio due to the NH(4) (+) induced increase in respiratory carbon oxidation. The change in cellular reductant is suggested to be responsible for the reduction of the PQ pool and provide a mechanism by which the metabolic demands of NH(4) (+) assimilation may alter the efficiency of photosynthetic light harvesting. NO(3) (-) assimilation did not cause a reduction in PQ and did not affect the efficiency of light harvesting. These results illustrate the role of cellular metabolism in the modulating photosynthetic processes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Copper Toxicity Affects Photosystem II Electron Transport at the Secondary Quinone Acceptor, Q(B).

The nature of Cu(2+) inhibition of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry in pea (Pisum sativum L.) thylakoids was investigated monitoring Hill activity and light emission properties of photosystem II. In Cu(2+)-inhibited thylakoids, diphenyl carbazide addition does not relieve the loss of Hill activity. The maximum yield of fluorescence induction restored by hydroxylamine in Tris-inactivated thylakoids is markedly reduced by Cu(2+). This suggests that Cu(2+) does not act on the donor side of PSII but on the reaction center of PSII or on components beyond. Thermoluminescence and delayed luminescence studies show that charge recombination between the positively charged intermediate in water oxidation cycle (S(2)) and negatively charged primary quinone acceptor of pSII (Q(A) (-)) is largely unaffected by Cu(2+). The S(2)Q(B) (-) charge recombination, however, is drastically inhibited which parallels the loss of Hill activity. This indicates that Cu(2+) inhibits photosystem II photochemistry primarily affecting the function of the secondary quinone electron acceptor, Q(B). We suggest that Cu(2+) does not block electron flow between the primary and secondary quinone acceptor but modifies the Q(B) site in such a way that it becomes unsuitable for further photosystem II photochemistry.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of prolactin and bromocriptine on physiological status of testis of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus L.).

This investigation was undertaken to study the effects of prolactin and bromocriptine on the testis of the musk shrew. None of these treatments had any effect on the weight of testis or on the accessory sex organs. Treatment of prolactin or bromocriptine failed to induce any change in esterified and free cholesterol content of the testis. No significant alterations were also recorded in the levels of macromolecules and in the levels of enzymes of the testis and the prostate gland. On the other hand, bromocriptine treatment resulted in an increase in the activity of Mg2+-ATPase and phospholipid:DNA ratio of the testis with a concomitant decrease in its DNA content. The absence of any change in the content of fructose in the ampullary gland, in the activity of beta-glucuronidase of the kidney, in cholesterol content of the testis, in diameters of seminiferous tubule and Leydig cell nucleus, in activities of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase of the testis and in the weight of accessory sex organs of prolactin and bromocriptine treated musk shrews suggests that prolactin does not play a significant role in regulating the testicular function of the musk shrew.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Testosterone propionate induced changes in testicular phosphatases of musk shrew (Suncus murinus L.).

In order to investigate the role of testosterone (TP) on the physiology of the testis of the musk shrew, activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase, and DNA, protein and phospholipid contents ot the testis were compared under high and suppressed testosterone conditions. The result indicates that testosterone propionate administration to intact shrews resulted in a significant increase in the activities of testicular enzymes. Following TP the testis phospholipid: DNA ratio increased, whilst no change was observed in the enzyme activities in response to aminoglutethimide phosphate. The role of testosterone in regulating testis function of this non-scrotal primitive eutherian mammal is discussed.

Acid Phosphatase↗