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Biomedical subjects

S C Rastogi

Publications and source records attributed to S C Rastogi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A survey of formaldehyde in shampoos and skin creams on the Danish market.

To evaluate the exposure of the general population to formaldehyde from the use of cosmetic products, as well as to monitor whether cosmetic products comply with national regulations, 285 shampoos, creams, etc., were analysed for formaldehyde. Identification and determination of formaldehyde was performed by the EEC method for the analysis of formaldehyde in cosmetic products. It was shown that 29.5% of the products investigated contained 0.001%-0.147% total formaldehyde. In 10 of the products (3.5%), total formaldehyde content was > 0.05%. 8 of these products contained > 0.05% free formaldehyde. None of these products was labelled 'contains formaldehyde'. 17 of the products investigated were declared to contain specific formaldehyde-releasers. Formaldehyde could not be detected (detection limit 0.001%) in cosmetic products that were declared to contain Bronidox/Bronopol.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

Standardization of factor IX: standards for "purified" factor IX concentrates.

An international collaborative study was carried out to determine the suitability of the current WHO II-IX-X concentrate standard, 84/681, for assigning potency to the more highly purified factor IX concentrates. Three Coagulation Factor IX (Human) preparations and one Factor IX Complex preparation were assayed by the one stage method against WHO 84/681 following predilution to 1.0 u/ml in buffer, 1% albumin, or factor IX deficient plasma. There were no cases of non-parallelism between any of the preparations and the current WHO standard. Predilution of the Coagulation Factor IX (Human) preparations in 1% albumin or factor IX deficient plasma gave similar potency values. Predilution in buffer gave significantly lower (p less than 0.01) potency values. For the Factor IX Complex preparation, potency estimates were significantly different (p less than 0.01) with each prediluent. The overall precision was similar within each predilution for all preparations with predilution in buffer being less precise than predilution in albumin or in deficient plasma. WHO standard 84/681 appears to be a suitable standard for the potency determination of the more highly purified factor IX preparations. Predilution in 1% albumin or factor IX deficient plasma is recommended as they give equivalent results with the least variability.

Factor IX

High prevalence of antibodies to the gp120 V3 region principal neutralizing determinant of HIV-1MN in sera from Africa and the Americas.

Neutralizing antibodies (NA) against HIV-1MN and HIV-1IIIB, and antibodies binding to synthetic peptides (BA) derived from the gp120 envelope V3 region principal neutralizing determinants (PND) of the HIV-1MN, HIV-1IIIB, and HIV-1Z3 virus strains were assayed in HIV-1 antibody-positive sera from the United States, Haiti, Brazil, Zaire, and Zimbabwe. The ability of soluble PND peptide to block neutralization of the corresponding virus by representative sera was also tested. In each country, NA and BA titers were highest against the HIV-1MN strain, and compared with other countries, NA and BA titers against HIV-1MN were higher in sera from the United States and Haiti. When NA titers were compared with BA titers against either HIV-1MN or HIV-1IIIB, no correlation was found for the HIV-1IIIB strain, but there was a significant correlation for HIV-1MN. Addition of the HIV-1MN strain peptide to a neutralization assay for HIV-1MN resulted in a four- to tenfold reduction in NA titers in sera from the United States, Zaire, and Brazil. The results suggest that HIV-1MN and closely related variants are prevalent in many parts of the world, and that antibodies directed against the PND account for most of the neutralizing activity in sera of infected individuals.

Africa

Remoxipride and haloperidol in the acute phase of schizophrenia: a double-blind comparison.

The efficacy and safety of remoxipride in the treatment of schizophrenia were compared with those of haloperidol in a multicentre double-blind 6-week study which was randomized with a parallel group design and was preceded by a washout period. Eighty-nine consecutively admitted men and women meeting the Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizophrenia in an acute phase of the illness were treated with remoxipride 75-300 mg twice daily or haloperidol 5-20 mg twice daily. The efficacy assessments were the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Krawiecka Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impression. Both antipsychotic drugs produced clinical improvement with no significant differences between the efficacy of the two drugs. There were relatively few side effects. There were significantly fewer extrapyramidal symptoms and instances of blurred vision with remoxipride and less constipation with haloperidol. The results indicate that remoxipride is as effective an antipsychotic as haloperidol. Remoxipride has an advantage over haloperidol in respect to extrapyramidal side effects.

Acute Disease

Kathon CG and cosmetic products.

Kathon CG was determined in 156 of the most commonly used cosmetic products in Denmark. 42% of the cosmetic products were found to contain Kathon CG. Kathon CG was present in 48% of "rinse off" and 31% of "leave on" cosmetic products. The 3:1 ratio of chloromethyl isothiazolinone (CMI): methyl isothiazolinone (MI) in Kathon CG was found to be disturbed in 41% of Kathon CG preserved cosmetic products. The disturbed CMI/MI ratio was shown in 29% "rinse off" and 73% "leave on" cosmetic products. It is suggested that the chemical reaction of the ketone group of the isothizaolinones with other ingredients in cosmetic products may disturb the CMI/MI ratio of Kathon CG. The results of the study have been discussed in relation to the use of Kathon CG in cosmetic products as well as test material for allergic reaction.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

Human immunodeficiency virus neutralizing antibodies in sera from North Americans and Africans.

Neutralizing antibodies (NAs) against four isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were assayed in HIV-1 antibody positive sera from the United States, Haiti, Zimbabwe, and Zaire. Overall, there were NAs detected in 95, 81, 60, and 73% of sera with reciprocal geometric mean titers (GMTs) of 626, 23, 10, and 20, respectively, against HIV-1MN, HIV-1IIIB, HIV-1RF, and HIV-1Z3. Sera from North America had significantly higher NA titers against HIV-1MN. In each country, the highest antibody titers observed were against the MN strain. Otherwise, sera from the U.S. neutralized most strongly HIV-1IIIB, sera from Zaire neutralized most strongly HIV-1Z3, and sera from Zimbabwe had equal titers against all three viruses. The differences between countries were reflected in analyses of NA titers of subgroups classified on the basis of clinical status, indicating that the differences were not likely to be related to differences in clinical status of the patients being tested. Some of this antigenic variation is reflective of known genetic diversity, while some is not. The results suggest that undefined preserved and variable regions containing neutralization epitope(s) exist. These data do not indicate a need to define antigenic subtypes of HIV-1 at present. The existence of conserved neutralization epitope(s) may indicate the potential for broad immunogenicity of appropriately selected vaccine antigens.

AIDS-Related Complex

Effect of multiple sclerosis alpha 2-macroglobulin on mitogen induction of lymphocyte proliferation.

Electrophoretic studies on microheterogeneity of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) have revealed the presence of an abnormal acidic form of alpha 2M in multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study we have characterized alpha 2M chemically and compared the inhibitory effect of MS and normal alpha 2M on the mitogen induction of lymphocyte proliferation. The antitrypsin activity and total reducing sugar content of MS alpha 2M were comparable with those of normal alpha 2M. However, the sialic acid content of MS alpha 2M was found to be significantly higher than that of normal alpha 2M. In agreement with previous studies, normal alpha 2M was found to inhibit the mitogen induction of lymphocyte proliferation in more than 90% cell cultures. However, MS alpha 2M was found to inhibit the mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in less than 35 percent cell cultures. The effects of MS or normal alpha 2M on the lymphocyte cultures of either groups were found to be apparently the same. The possible explanations for the loss of the above-mentioned inhibitory effect of MS alpha 2M have been discussed.

Cells, Cultured

Kinetics of inhibition of mitogen-induced proliferation of human lymphocytes by alpha 2-macroglobulin in serum-free medium.

The effect of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) on the ability of human lymphocytes to proliferate in response to stimuli by 3 mitogens, concanavalin A, phytohaemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen was investigated in in vitro lymphocyte cultures in serum-free medium. The following experiments were performed: 1. lymphocytes were treated with alpha 2M prior to stimulation with the mitogens; 2. alpha 2M and mitogens were added simultaneously to the lymphocyte cultures; and 3. alpha 2M was added to the lymphocyte cultures after they were stimulated with the mitogens. In all cases, alpha 2M was found to inhibit mitogen induced proliferation of the lymphocytes as evaluated by (6-3H)-thymidine uptake of the cells. The mechanisms involved in the inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation by alpha 2M are discussed.

Adult

Membrane-bound 2',3',-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase activity of lymphocytes, granulocytes and erythrocytes in multiple sclerosis.

A sensitive fluorimetric method was used for the assay of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP) activity of lymphocyte, granulocyte and erythrocyte membranes from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The data obtained were compared with the corresponding data from normal individuals. CNP activities of granulocyte and erythrocyte membranes of the 2 groups did not differ significantly. However, a 40% decreased membrane CNP activity of MS lymphocytes was found when the data were compared with the normal lymphocytes' activity (P less than 0.0005) by both the non-parametric median test and Student's t-test. A role of CNP in immunoregulation is suggested.

2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase

Quantitation of multiple sclerosis specific central nervous system antigens in various regions of MS brains.

We have estimated the levels of partially purified multiple sclerosis (MS) specific glycoproteins (MSG2) in gray matter, white matter, spinal cord and brain stem of MS autopsy brains by an enzyme immunoassay in which antisera to a pooled MSG2 was employed. Similarly, the levels of KG2 (non-MS brain isolate corresponding to MSG2) were assayed in various topographic areas of non-MS autopsy brains. Comparison of data on MS and non-MS groups revealed that the MS specific antigens may be preferentially located in the normal appearing white matter of MS brains. The concentration of MS antigens was found to be highest in the normal appearing white matter of MS brains, followed by periplaque and finally plaque. These results indicate that the MS specific antigens are not the degraded products of MS brains. They further support the view that normal appearing white matter of MS brains should be the target tissue for the isolation of MS specific antigens.

Antigens

Stimulation of active E-rosette forming lymphocytes by myelin basic protein and specific antigens from multiple sclerosis brains.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 30 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) responded to low doses (i.e. 0.1--5 pg total protein) of crude MS myelin basic protein (BP) as assayed by the active E-rosette test (AER). Of the MS patients studied 20 (65%) responded to control BP. The optimum response of MS lymphocytes to MS BP was obtained at a lower concentration than their response to control BP. Thirty percent of other neurological patients (OND) were stimulated by both MS and control BP. Lymphocytes of all MS patients but none of the OND responded to partially purified protein fraction of MS brain ("peak 2"). Crossed immunoelectrophoresis revealed the presence of one common specific antigen in crude MS BP and MS "peak 2" antigens. The nature of these antigens is discussed.

Adult

The enhancing effect of multiple sclerosis brain homogenates on the active E-rosette forming lymphocytes in neurological disorders.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 23 out of 27 (85%) patients with multiple sclerosis responded to MS brain homogenates by increased formation of active E-rosettes. Lymphocytes from only six out of 78 (8%) patients with other neurological diseases responded to MS brain homogenates. The possible value of the test in the diagnosis of MS is discussed.

Adolescent