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Biomedical subjects

S K Chatterjee

Publications and source records attributed to S K Chatterjee.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Pulmonary function status of shopkeepers of Ahmedabad exposed to autoexhaust pollutants.

The study deals with evaluation of pulmonary function status (VC, FEV1% and FEF25-75%) in Ahmedabad shopkeepers stationed near different traffic junctions and relating them with the levels of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) near these junctions categorised as Heavy, Medium and Low polluted area junctions. The pulmonary function test (PFT) values of heavy polluted and medium polluted area shopkeepers is compared with low polluted area shopkeepers. The influence of smoking habits and duration of exposure over PFT values was seen. The prevalence of airway obstruction in shopkeepers was compared with USA population. The results indicated significant impairment in FEV1% and FEF25-75% value in high polluted area shopkeepers where NOx level is much higher than TLV value. In medium polluted area, where NOx level is slightly higher than TLV value, shopkeepers demonstrated significant impairment in FEF25-75%. Smoking is found to have an additive effect. A linear increase in the prevalence of pulmonary impairment with increasing duration of exposure was evidenced. Shopkeepers exhibited higher prevalence of impairment in both smokers and non-smokers than USA population attributing it to the effect of autoexhaust pollutants. This study also denoted that FEF25-75% is an early indicator of obstruction in smaller airways which is the primary site of deposition of inhaled pollutants.

Air Pollutants

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: experience at Calcutta.

Eight patients (7 females, 1 male) with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), were seen over a 24-month period beginning from March 1988. Seven patients had 21 hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency while one had 11 beta hydroxylase deficiency. Of the 7 patients with 21-OH deficiency, 3 were of the salt losing (SL-CAH), and 4 were of the non-salt losing (NSL-CAH) type. The patients with NSL-CAH were diagnosed by their elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels. The 3 cases with SL-CAH were diagnosed on the basis of ambiguous external genitalia, typical electrolyte picture, normal female internal genitalia, sex chromatin and response to steroids. In one patient post-ACTH 17 OHP was alter measured. All 3 patients with SL-CAH were assigned the male sex. Sex reassignment was advised for two children; one accepted the advice and the child is doing well; one family did not accept sex reassignment and the child died. One patient died due to non-availability of fludrocortisone. Six patients are under follow-up. All are doing well except one patient with NSL-CAH who started treatment late. We conclude that a high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and meticulous patient education are the key features of successful management of CAH in India.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital

Molecular cloning of human beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase and expression of catalytic activity of the fusion protein in Escherichia coli.

1. Three groups of cDNA clones (total of six) for human UDP-galactose: beta N-acetylglucosamine galactosyltransferase (4 beta GT) were obtained by screening of a fetal liver library in lambda gt11 with an affinity purified anti4 beta GT antibody. 2. One group of clones (three clones) reacted with two distinct anti4 beta GT murine monoclonal antibodies. 3. Nucleotide sequence of this group of clones were similar to published sequence for human 4 beta GTcDNA, except the 74 nucleotides at the 5'-end. 4. Partially purified fusion protein encoded by this group of clones showed all the catalytic properties of 4 beta GT, although the cDNA was partial and the protein was probably unglycosylated.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Hypoglycemic effect of swerchirin from the hexane fraction of Swertia chirayita.

A xanthone was isolated from the hexane fraction of the Swertia chirayita plant and identified as 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone (swerchirin). It has a very significant blood sugar lowering effect in fasted, fed, glucose loaded, and tolbutamide pretreated albino rat models. The ED50 for 40% blood sugar lowering in CF male albino rats (body weight 140-165 g) is 23.1 mg/kg/oral. The possibility of its application in clinical therapy for diabetes mellitus needs exploration.

Animals

Role of a large plasmid of Salmonella typhi encoding multiple drug resistance.

Twenty isolates of Salmonella typhi from cases of typhoid during the 1989-1990 epidemic in Calcutta were examined. Most isolates (84% of all isolates in the epidemic) were resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, tetracycline and streptomycin but were sensitive to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin. Plasmids of 120 kb and 14 kb were identified amongst the multi-drug resistant isolates of S. typhi. However, there was no plasmid in the antibiotic-sensitive isolates. The 120-kb plasmid was transferable and transconjugants were resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, tetracycline and streptomycin. Restriction endonuclease analysis patterns after EcoRI digestion of the 120-kb antibiotic-resistance plasmids from the S. typhi isolates and transconjugants were similar.

Chloramphenicol Resistance

Genetics of epidermal ridges: a study in subjects with refractive errors.

The dermatoglyphic characteristics of subjects with refractive errors when compared with control group revealed significant differences in both qualitative and quantitative parameters. The loops were increased in male myopics; the whorls were increased in male hypermetropics and astigmatics and the arches were decreased in all types of refractive errors in males. However, the whorls were decreased in female hypermetropics only. The mean total ridge count was significantly higher in male astigmatics only. As regards pattern intensity (fingers) no significant difference in the mean value was observed in either sex with any type of refractive errors when compared with those of controls.

Adolescent

Studies on saprozoonosis. I. A survey on Aspergillus species with special reference to occupational habits.

A comprehensive survey of Aspergillus species has been carried out among different cattle and donkey handlers. A total of 300 pharyngeal swabs of different subjects including 100 control and 100 each from cattle and donkey handlers was investigated. All the subjects were found healthy. Among the species of Aspergillus, the number of A. flavus appeared higher followed by A. fumigatus, still lower number was encountered with other species like A. nidulans and A. glaucus. In order to establish the saprozoonotic relationship, soil and air samples of various animal sheds were also analyzed. It was found that the total number of isolates of Aspergillus species from animal sheds were always higher compared to the control samples. None of the A. flavus strains obtained from air samples produced aflatoxin. Histopathological changes in Swiss mice caused by intratail vein administration of spores of Aspergillus species have been investigated.

Air Microbiology

Carcinogenicity of hexachlorocyclohexane (BHC) in pure inbred swiss mice.

Inbred Swiss mice were treated with technical BHC (1) orally with the diet or by intubation and (2) by skin painting. The total duration of the experiment was 80 weeks. There was no difference in body growth and mortality between the experimental and control groups. Symptoms of intoxication in the form of convulsions and tendency of circling in one direction with drooping ears were observed alongwith corneal opacity 40 weeks after the experiment. Oral BHC treatment resulted in a significant increase in the incidence of liver tumours and tumours of lymphoreticular tissue. Males and females were equally susceptible. Skin painting of mice did not significantly increase the incidence of tumour.

Animals

Glycosyltransferase and glycosidase activities in ovarian cancer patients.

In order to elucidate the mechanism of appearance of abnormal glycoproteins in cancer, activities of glycoprotein glycosyltransferases and glycosidases were determined in the homogenates prepared from normal ovaries and ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma. Significantly high activities (more than normal mean + 2 S.D.) of these enzymes were found as follows: galactosyltransferase and sialytransferase in 100%; fucosyltransferase 1 (exogenous acceptor, fetuin minus sialic acid and galactose) in 86%; fucosyltransferase 2 (fetuin minus sialic acid, acceptor) in 45%; N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 1 (ovalbumin acceptor) in 53%; N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 2 (ribonuclease A as acceptor) in 10% of the samples analyzed. Among the glycosidases, substantially elevated activities above normal controls were found as follows: N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in 85%; N-acetyl-beta-D-galactosaminidase in 63%; N-acetyl-beta-D-galactosidase in 50%, and those of alpha-L-fucosidase in 35% of the tumors. In serum of these cancer patients, only levels of galactosyltransferase were consistently elevated compared to controls. Increases in serum levels for other transferases were as follows: fucosyl-1, 10%; fucosyl-2, 60%; sialyl-, 20%; N-acetylglucosaminyl-1, 90%; N-acetylglycosaminyl-2, in 80% of the serum samples from ovarian carcinoma patients. Galactosyltransferase thus appears to be an excellent marker for ovarian carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma