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S Ghosh

Publications and source records attributed to S Ghosh.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Slimline vs. glass pH electrodes: what degree of accuracy should we expect?

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory pH monitoring is considered the gold standard for measuring oesophageal acid exposure, however, data comparing antimony and glass electrodes are limited. AIM: To compare the accuracy of the Slimline antimony pH monitoring system and a conventional glass electrode catheter pH monitoring system during ambulatory conditions. METHODS: Eighteen subjects (13 males, 23-45 years) underwent simultaneous pH monitoring using the Slimline antimony pH electrode and MIC M3 glass pH electrode pH monitoring systems for 12 h. Acid exposure was analysed and compared by manual extraction of the data onto an excel spreadsheet. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the median per cent time the pH was <4 recorded by the two systems (Slimline, 3%, Glass MIC M3, 2%, P = 0.77) and the correlation was excellent (r = 0.84). The difference in recorded reflux events was also not significantly different between the two systems, with the absolute difference being 23 events (s.d., 26). Point-by-point discrepancy was 28% (s.d., 18%), however, the agreement in terms of reflex events was excellent (Kappa value, 0.89, s.d., 0.09). CONCLUSION: Despite substantial point-by-point disagreement, the antimony Slimline pH catheter compares favourably to the Glass MIC M3 pH catheter in terms of measuring standard pH parameters.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on cytokine network and myocardial cytokine production.

BACKGROUND: In addition to the well-investigated proinflammatory cytokine expression, there is an ever increasing interest in the field of anti-inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Evidence suggests that myocardium serves as an important source of cytokines during reperfusion and application of CPB. The effect of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) without CPB on myocardial cytokine production has not as yet been investigated. HYPOTHESIS: Cardiopulmonary bypass can cause long-term disturbance in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance, which may impede a patient's recovery following surgery. Therefore, the effect of CPB on the balance of the pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines network and myocardial cytokine outflow was assessed throughout a longer period after surgery. METHODS: Twenty patients were scheduled for CABG with CPB and 10 had off-pump surgery. Blood samples were taken before, during, and over the first week following surgery. Coronary sinus blood samples were collected during surgery. The ratio of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was calculated and the cytokine concentration of peripheral and coronary sinus blood were compared in both groups. RESULTS: Pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine ratio decreased early after CPB followed by a delayed and marked increase. A more balanced ratio was present following off-pump surgery. Coronary sinus levels of certain cytokines exceeded the concentration of systemic blood in the course of CPB but not during off-pump operation. CONCLUSION: Patients show pro-inflammatory predominant cytokine balance at a later stage after CPB in contrast to those without CPB. The heart produces a remarkable amount of cytokines only in the course of surgery with CPB.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Dietary comparison of conjugated linolenic acid (9 cis, 11 trans, 13 trans) and alpha-tocopherol effects on blood lipids and lipid peroxidation in alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rats.

The present study investigated the dietary effect of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) on lipid profiles and lipid peroxidations in alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Diabetic rats were fed with 20% sunflower oil (diabetic control), sunflower oil supplemented with 0.5% CLnA, sunflower oil supplemented with 0.15% alpha-tocopherol, and sunflower oil containing 0.25% CLnA + 0.15% alpha-tocopherol. The results demonstrated that 0.5% CLnA, 0.15% alpha-tocopherol, and 0.25% CLnA + 0.15% alpha-tocopherol each on supplementation significantly lowered total cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol in comparison with the diabetic control group. The TAG level was significantly lowered in both the 0.15% alpha-tocopherol and 0.25% CLnA + 0.15% alpha-tocopherol groups. LDL-lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation were reduced significantly in each of the experimental groups vs. the control group. The CLnA + alpha-tocopherol diet induced a greater reduction in membrane lipid and liver lipid peroxidation than the alpha-tocopherol diet alone. In conclusion, dietary CLnA exerts antioxidant activity as evidenced by reduced lipid peroxidation in chemically induced diabetes mellitus.

Alloxan↗
PubMed2006

Amelioration of root-knot disease of lady's finger plants by potentized Cina and Santonin.

Lady's finger plants (Hibiscus esculentus), grown in pots, were inoculated with the second-stage larvae (76+/-6) of root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita, starting 7 days later they were treated with Cina 30c, Santonin 30c or Ethanol 30c by foliar spray for 10 consecutive days. The drugs in 90% ethanol were diluted with distilled water 1:1000 before application on plants. Thirty days after the last treatment the plants were uprooted. Cina 30c and Santonin 30c reduced nematode infestation of plants significantly in terms of root-gall number, root-protein content and nematode population in roots. Santonin 30c reduced root water content. Santonin 30c may have influenced the water channel proteins of root tissues thereby altering the water contents of roots. The reduced water content in roots might have adversely affected the root-knot nematodes and thus reduced nematode infestation. Ethanol 30c also has some effect on treated plants.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effect of polymorphisms in the PPARGC1A gene on body fat in Asian Indians.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether polymorphisms in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PPARGC1A) gene were related to body fat in Asian Indians. METHODS: Three polymorphisms of PPARGC1A gene, the Thr394Thr, Gly482Ser and +A2962G, were genotyped on 82 type 2 diabetic and 82 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) subjects randomly chosen from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study using PCR-RFLP, and the nature of the variants were confirmed using direct sequencing. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) was estimated from the estimates of haplotypic frequencies using an expectation-maximization algorithm. Visceral, subcutaneous and total abdominal fat were measured using computed tomography, whereas dual X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure central abdominal and total body fat. RESULTS: None of the three polymorphisms studied were in LD. The genotype (0.59 vs 0.32, P=0.001) and allele (0.30 vs 0.17, P=0.007) frequencies of Thr394Thr polymorphism were significantly higher in type 2 diabetic subjects compared to those in NGT subjects. The odds ratio for diabetes (adjusted for age, sex and body mass index) for the susceptible genotype, XA (GA+AA) of Thr394Thr polymorphism, was 2.53 (95% confidence intervals: 1.30-5.04, P=0.009). Visceral and subcutaneous fat were significantly higher in NGT subjects with XA genotype of the Thr394Thr polymorphism compared to those with GG genotype (visceral fat: XA 148.2+/-46.9 vs GG 106.5+/-51.9 cm(2), P=0.001; subcutaneous fat: XA 271.8+/-167.1 vs GG 181.5+/-78.5 cm(2), P=0.001). Abdominal (XA 4521.9+/-1749.6 vs GG 3445.2+/-1443.4 g, P=0.004), central abdominal (XA 1689.0+/-524.0 vs GG 1228.5+/-438.7 g, P<0.0001) and non-abdominal fat (XA 18763.8+/-8789.4 vs GG 13160.4+/-4255.3 g, P<0.0001) were also significantly higher in the NGT subjects with XA genotype compared to those with GG genotype. The Gly482Ser and +A2962G polymorphisms were not associated with any of the body fat measures. CONCLUSION: Among Asian Indians, the Thr394Thr (G --> A) polymorphism is associated with increased total, visceral and subcutaneous body fat.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2006

Aberrant termination triggers nonsense-mediated mRNA decay.

NMD (nonsense-mediated mRNA decay) is a cellular quality-control mechanism in which an otherwise stable mRNA is destabilized by the presence of a premature termination codon. We have defined the set of endogenous NMD substrates, demonstrated that they are available for NMD at every round of translation, and showed that premature termination and normal termination are not equivalent biochemical events. Premature termination is aberrant, and its NMD-stimulating defects can be reversed by the presence of tethered poly(A)-binding protein (Pab1p) or tethered eRF3 (eukaryotic release factor 3) (Sup35p). Thus NMD appears to be triggered by a ribosome's failure to terminate adjacent to a properly configured 3'-UTR (untranslated region), an event that may promote binding of the UPF/NMD factors to stimulate mRNA decapping.

3' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2006

Review article: mode of action and delivery of 5-aminosalicylic acid - new evidence.

The effectiveness of sulfasalazine depends on the splitting of the diazo bond in the molecule by the action of bacteria in the large bowel, releasing the pharmacologically active moiety, 5-aminosalicylic acid. The development of pH-dependent, delayed-release formulations of 5-aminosalicylic acid abolished the toxicity associated with the sulfapyridine part of sulfasalazine. 5-aminosalicylic acid is now believed to act by activating a class of nuclear receptors involved in the control of inflammation, cell proliferation, apoptosis and metabolic function, the gamma form of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. These receptors are expressed at particularly high levels in colon epithelial cells, where their expression appears to be at least in part stimulated by gut bacteria. Other drugs known to act via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, such as rosiglitazone and the selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ligand GW1929, can be displaced from their binding sites on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma molecule by 5-aminosalicylic acid at concentrations of 5-aminosalicylic acid that correspond with the concentrations found in the lumen of ulcerative colitis patients taking oral mesalazine. Genetically engineered heterozygous knockout mice (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma+/-) are particularly susceptible to colonic inflammation, and inflammation is more severe in these mice, in response to chemicals that induce experimental colonic ulcers. In these experimental models, 5-aminosalicylic acid is ineffective in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma+/- mice. This new insight provides a mechanistic foundation for the possibility that long-term treatment with 5-aminosalicylic acid can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Acetylation↗
PubMed2006

Biotransformation of p-coumaric acid by Paecilomyces variotii.

AIMS: To investigate the biotransformation of p-coumaric acid into p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HBA) by Paecilomyces variotii Bainier MTCC 6581. METHODS AND RESULTS: As a result of p-coumaric acid degradation by P. variotii, three phenolic metabolites, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (p-HBAld), p-HBA and protocatechuic acid were formed. These phenolics were detected using TLC and HPLC. The identity of p-HBA and p-HBAld was further confirmed by mass spectrometry. Various analyses showed that 10.0 mmol l(-1) concentration of p-coumaric acid produced a maximum amount of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 200 mg l(-1), into the medium at 37 degrees C with high-density cultures. CONCLUSIONS: A catabolic pathway of p-coumaric acid by the fungus P. variotii is suggested for the first time. During the process of p-coumaric acid degradation, p-HBA accumulated in the medium as the major degradation product. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Microbial degradation of cinnamic acid and hydroxycinnamic acid has continued to be the focus of intensive study. The main goal was to identify the microbial species capable of converting these substances into commercially value-added products such as benzoic acid derivatives or aromatic aldehydes.

Benzaldehydes↗
PubMed2006

Use of cell permeable NBD peptides for suppression of inflammation.

Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB is a ubiquitous and essential transcription factor whose dysregulation has been linked to numerous diseases including arthritis and cancer. It is therefore not surprising that the NF-kappaB activation pathway has become a major target for development of novel therapies for inflammatory diseases and cancer. However, the indispensable role played by NF-kappaB in many biological processes has raised concern that a complete shutdown of this pathway would have significant detrimental effects on normal cellular function. Instead, drugs that selectively target the inflammation induced NF-kappaB activity, while sparing the protective functions of basal NF-kappaB activity, would be of greater therapeutic value and would likely display fewer undesired side effects. The recent identification and characterisation of the NF-kappaB essential modulator (NEMO)-binding domain (NBD) peptide that can block the activation of the IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex, have provided an opportunity to selectively abrogate the inflammation induced activation of NF-kappaB by targeting the NBD-NEMO interaction. This peptide is synthesised in tandem with a protein transduction domain sequence from Drosophila antennapedia which facilitates uptake of the inhibitory peptide into the cytosol of target cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Fixation failure of the clavicular hook plate: a report of three cases.

Open reduction and internal fixation for unstable fractures of the lateral end of the clavicle (Neer type II) is not complication-free. Most clavicle fractures can be successfully treated by conservative methods. Neer type II fractures have a reportedly high rate of nonunion, therefore internal fixation is recommended. However, the need for surgical treatment remains controversial as nonunion seldom produces a poor functional outcome. We report 3 cases of fixation failure following treatment with a clavicular hook plate. None of the patients required re-fixation surgery and all achieved bony union with a good functional result.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

A study for evaluation of contaminant transport characteristics through fine-grained soil.

Transport of soluble toxic substances through porous media lead to some significant geoenvironmental problems, for example, leachate migration from municipal and industrial solid waste resulting from unregulated disposal. Advection, dispersion, diffusion, and decay are reported to be the principal mechanisms in such phenomena. Geotechnical properties of the soil also play a significant role in this deterioration. In the present study, laboratory tests were conducted to formulate an appropriate method for assessment of migration of metal ions, such as nickel, through the soil. Relevant kinetic and process parameters, such as aquifer data, surface area, dielectric constant, pH of zero point charge (pHzpc), and permeability were also studied. One-dimensional mathematical modeling was used to describe the dynamics of the process. The present investigation was carried out at an ash pond site of a thermal power plant situated in West Bengal, India.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2006

Prepatent detection of Fasciola gigantica infection in bovine calves using metacercarial antigen.

Metacercarial antigen of Fasciola gigantica was evaluated for early immunodiagnosis of experimental bovine fasciolosis using ELISA and Western blot. In ELISA, the experimental F. gigantica infection was detected as early as 2 weeks post-infection (WPI). The gradual increasing trend of antibody level was observed from 2 to 7 WPI, followed by a plateau, which was maintained up to 14 WPI. In Western blot, sera from experimentally infected calves recognized one distinct polypeptide of 21 kDa in fractionated metacercarial antigen as early as 10th day post infection. From 2 WPI, more polypeptide bands were reacting. Recognition of these protein bands persisted till the end of the experiment (14 WPI). Cattle sera collected from the field showed 34.5% seroprevalence of fasciolosis by ELISA using MAg. Comparative immunoblot studies of metacercarial antigen with anti-Gigantocotyle explanatum and anti-Paramphistomum epiclitum sera revealed that 21 and 25 kDa polypeptides of metacercarial antigen did not cross-react with any of these sera and appear to be unique to F. gigantica and having the desirable qualities of early and specific immunodiagnosis.

Animals↗