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Biomedical subjects

S K Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to S K Gupta.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Acridine orange stain--a rapid method for diagnosis of neonatal septicemia.

The present study included 150 newborns; 100 clinically septic and 50 clinically aseptic who served as control. Out of 100 clinically septic newborns, blood culture was positive in 33 (33%), serum CRP was positive in 64 (64%) and acridine orange stained buffy coat smear was positive in 76 (76%). Serum CRP was found to be the most specific (specificity 96%) and acridine orange stained buffy coat smear examination the most sensitive (sensitivity 94.3%) test for diagnosis of neonatal septicemia.

Acridine Orange↗

Significance of serum leucine aminopeptidase in tumours of female genital tract.

Serum leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) was estimated in 57 female patients with tumours of the genital tract and compared with 50 age-matched controls. Serum LAP was increased in leiomyomas (p less than 0.01) but significant rise was seen in leiomyosarcomas and endometrial carcinoma of the uterus (p less than 0.001). No increase in serum LAP level, above mean control value was observed in carcinoma of cervix. LAP levels were also increased in cystadenomas of the ovary (p less than 0.01) and highly significant increase, noted in cystadenocarcinomas and dysgerminoma stage III (p less than 0.001). However, no increase of enzyme activity was observed in poorly differentiated papillary carcinoma of the ovary. The serum enzyme level was higher in cystadenocarcinomas as compared to solid ovarian carcinomas in the same clinical stage.

Adult↗

Production of large amounts of mouse polyclonal antisera.

A simple and inexpensive method for producing larger volumes of mouse polyclonal antisera is described. Groups of BALB/c mice were immunized with different human sperm antigens classified according to molecular weight. Mice were immunized twice with the antigen, twice pristane pretreated, and then injected with a non-antibody-secreting myeloma cell line to induce ascites formation. Antibody activity of the ascites fluid approximated that of the serum. Thus, one mouse can provide about six times the amount of antibody-containing fluid usually obtained after conventional immunization. This method also may be applicable for ascites fluid production in nude mice.

Animals↗

Botulinum toxin D ADP-ribosylates a 22-24 KDa membrane protein in platelets and HL-60 cells that is distinct from p21N-ras.

Botulinum toxin D ADP-ribosylates a 22-24 KDa protein in platelets, GH3 and HL-60 cells, and a mouse T-cell line CTLL. In platelet homogenates the protein is localized to the membrane fraction, and ADP-ribosylation can also be produced in saponin-permeabilized and intact cells. In the latter, the toxin also potentiates secretion caused by a variety of agonists. In platelets and HL-60 cells the toxin substrate is shown, by use of anti-ras monoclonal antibody, to be distinct from the ras family of proteins. This toxin substrate may represent an additional class of proteins involved in stimulus-response coupling.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

Ligand-induced association of surface immunoglobulin with the detergent insoluble cytoskeleton may involve alpha-actinin.

B cell surface immunoglobulin (SIg) plays an important role in antigen recognition and cellular activation. Cross-linking of SIg by bivalent antibody converts it into a detergent insoluble state. The resultant SIg may be partially solubilized by incubating the detergent insoluble cytoskeleton in buffers that convert F actin to G actin. Immunoprecipitation of SIg from the detergent soluble fraction of [35S]methionine-labeled B cells results in the co-isolation of 112 kDa, 42 kDa, (actin), and three additional proteins in the 70- to 73-kDa molecular mass range, isoelectric point 4.8 to 5.6. Analysis of anti-Ig immunoprecipitates made after preclearing with anti-alpha-actinin showed complete depletion of the 112-kDa protein, suggesting that the 112-kDa protein is immunologically related to alpha-actinin. These immunoprecipitates also showed partial depletion of 70- to 73-kDa proteins and mu and delta heavy chains. After treatment of a rat B cells with anti-Ig, much of the Ig-associated 112-kDa protein and 70- to 73-kDa proteins became detergent insoluble, concomitant with most of the SIg. The migration of the SIg-associated 112-kDa and 70- to 73-kDa proteins from the detergent soluble fraction to the detergent insoluble fraction after ligand treatment, suggests that these proteins might be involved in linking SIg to the underlying cytoskeleton and could be involved in the transmission of mitogenic signals.

Actinin↗

Pathogenesis of epidemic dropsy glaucoma.

Thirty-one cases of epidemic dropsy with raised intraocular pressure were studied. Glaucoma was bilateral in all, with open angles and no signs of anterior segment inflammation. The outflow facility was unimpaired (C value, 0.24 +/- 0.09 microL/min/mm Hg). Aqueous bioassays revealed significantly elevated prostaglandin E2 level (23.33 +/- 4.32 ng/mL) and histamine activity (13.0 +/- 2.76 ng/mL) in all samples from patients with epidemic dropsy glaucoma as compared with negligible levels in control samples from patients with open angle glaucoma. Aqueous biochemical analysis revealed increased total protein level (1.03 +/- 0.10 g/L) with a normal globulin pattern as compared with controls (0.26 +/- 0.08 g/L). On histopathologic and histochemical testing, a normal trabecular meshwork was found in 11 of the 12 trabeculectomy specimens. It is concluded that dropsy glaucoma is hypersecretory in nature; prostaglandin and histamine release may have significant roles in its pathogenesis.

Alkaloids↗

Levels of organochlorine pesticides in human milk in Ahmedabad, India.

Concentrations of organochlorine compounds, i.e., alpha HCH, gamma HCH, beta HCH, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and PCBs were determined in 50 human milk samples collected in Ahmedabad, India during 1981-1982. The mothers' ages ranged from 18 to 30 years (mean 24 years), and they were nursing their first or second child. All 50 samples contained alpha-HCH, gamma HCH, beta HCH, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT in a concentration of 17.51, 1.62, 205.48, 244.71, and 53.43, respectively (median micrograms/kg: whole-milk basis). o,p'-DDT was found in 48 samples whereas p,p'-DDD was detected in 44 samples. The concentration of o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDD was 53.43 and 5.13 micrograms/kg (median), expressed on a whole-milk basis. PCBs were absent in all samples.

Female↗

Cyclosporin: pharmacokinetics and detailed studies of plasma and erythrocyte binding during intravenous and oral administration.

On the basis that unbound concentration better correlates with response than total plasma or blood concentration, the inter- and intra-subject variability in the distribution of cyclosporin within blood and to plasma components was studied in renal transplant patients. Pharmacokinetic aspects were also studied. Blood samples were analysed from patients who received the drug both by a 72-h i.v. infusion and orally (7 mg.kg-1 twice daily). Steady-state was reached within 18 h of starting the i.v. infusion; the plasma data were best fitted by a biexponential equation with half-times of 0.13-1.02 h and 4.3-13.9 h, associated with the two phases. The mean plasma clearance was 700 ml/min. Concentrations during the infusions measured by RIA and HPLC were comparable. Oral profiles showed rapid and extensive absorption. The peak plasma concentrations were 1460-1880 micrograms.l-1 and occurred 2-4 h after dosing, with bioavailability estimates of 41-113%. Concentrations measured by RIA were higher than by HPLC. Blood-to-plasma concentration ratio measurements of cyclosporin at 37 degrees C decreased with increasing plasma concentration and increased with haematocrit. Fraction unbound, measured by ultra-centrifugation, was in the range 0.042-0.122 with an average of 0.068, and varied little in some patients but showed systematic changes with time in others. Cyclosporin binding was found to be related not only to the triglyceride but, more particularly, to the cholesterol-related lipoproteins in plasma. Monitoring cholesterol may be helpful in identifying patients with extremes in binding or with widely varying binding.

Administration, Oral↗

Nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment that contains the abi gene of the ColIb plasmid.

A 1989-bp PstI DNA fragment from the ColIb plasmid, which contains the abi gene that is necessary for the abortive response to infections by bacteriophage BF23 or T5, was sequenced. A candidate open reading frame for the abi gene has been suggested on the basis of a Shine-Dalgarno sequence appropriately placed ahead of its ATG initiation codon, a promoter upstream from the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, and a location compatible with deletion mapping. The polypeptide that would be coded by this open reading frame is 89 amino acids long and strongly hydrophobic. A promoter that could serve this open reading frame was detected by exonuclease III "footprinting" using RNA polymerase from uninfected Escherichia coli as the DNA-binding protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Seminal plasma antigens detected by immunoblotting with human sera from vasectomized males.

Eighty-seven serum samples from vasectomized men and 10 samples from normal men were analyzed by immunoblotting for auto-antibodies against seminal plasma proteins. Auto-antibodies against seminal plasma were present in 53 out of 87 vasectomy serum samples. Seminal plasma electrophoresed under non-reduced conditions revealed major antigens at 35 and 68 kDa recognized by auto-antibodies. Whereas under reduced conditions auto-antibodies recognized to a variable degree many more antigens having apparent molecular weights of 20, 22, 35, 40, 45, 65, 68, 70 and 75 kDa. None of the sera reacted only with reduced or non-reduced samples. The results of sperm agglutination and sperm immobilization tests correlated with no specific molecular weight antigen. Many of the recognized antigens were glycoprotein. The reactivity of the auto-antibody to the seminal plasma antigens is specific and could not be blocked by prior adsorption of the serum samples with liver powder or human sperm.

Autoantibodies↗

Temporal changes in PO and MBP gene expression after crush-injury of the adult peripheral nerve.

The crush-injured sciatic nerve provides a model to study Schwann cell regulation of myelin gene expression during the process of demyelination and remyelination. In order to investigate the possible transcriptional regulation of myelin gene expression, the quantity, quality and translational efficiency of PO (the major myelin glycoprotein) and MBP (the myelin basic proteins) coding messages were investigated as a function of time following crush-injury of the adult rat sciatic nerve. Northern blot analysis indicated that the size of the PO and MBP transcripts remain unchanged in the distal segments of crushed sciatic nerves at 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days after crush-injury. Dot-blot analysis showed a sharp drop in levels of PO and MBP coding transcripts 1 day after crush-injury with the lowest steady-state levels at 4-7 days. Message levels were found to increase after 7 days, the highest increase in levels of message was found to be between 10 and 14 days. The highest steady-state level of both transcripts was observed at 21 days. In vitro translation and immunoprecipitation of PO-translated products from various stages of crush-injury also indicated this trend. The pattern of gene expression of PO- and MBP-coding transcripts parallel each other and follow the pattern of demyelination and remyelination. The results are also consistent with our previous interpretation which suggests that PO and MBP gene expression is regulated at the level of transcription and that these two genes might be coordinately expressed. Western blot analysis of PO protein from these stages revealed a similar decrease and then increase in the levels of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Duodenal tuberculosis.

The clinical and radiological features in 30 cases of duodenal tuberculosis are presented. The patients are divisible into two groups on the basis of their presenting features. Twenty-two had symptoms and signs of gastric or duodenal obstruction, and eight patients had dyspepsia suggesting peptic ulceration. In the first group, laporotomy showed that the duodenal obstruction was due to extrinsic compression by matted tuberculous lymph nodes in the majority; there was only five intrinsic strictures. In patients with dyspepsia there were bulbar and post-bulbar ulcers accompanied by more widespread mucosal changes, induration, and periduodenal lymphadenopathy. Bypass procedures were performed to relieve obstruction; no resection was possible because of the adherence of the lymph node masses.

Adolescent↗

Cost factors in limb-threatening ischaemia due to infrainguinal arteriosclerosis.

Cost factors are an increasingly important aspect of medical care. In the United States, more than 150,000 patients per year have limb-threatening ischaemia due to infrainguinal atherosclerosis. We studied the economic impact of this disease process and its treatment in 313 consecutive patients seen at our hospital between 1979 and 1981. Minimum follow-up was 3 years. Seventy-nine percent of our patients undergoing revascularisation attempts had limb salvage with full function at 1 year and 60% had full function at 3 years. Of the patients who died, 85% died with their limbs intact. The mean patient cost for all 289 arterial reconstructions was $26,194 +/- $876 S.E. ($23,026 +/- $1117 for 166 femoropopliteal bypasses; $30,380 +/- $1349 for 123 distal bypasses). The mean length of stay (LOS) for the reconstruction group was 50 days. In this patient population, the following adverse risk factors were present: Gangrene or necrosis in the foot (72%), age more than 70 (56%), and previous vascular surgery (21%). A significantly higher cost was associated with each of these factors (gangrene, $32,653 +/- $1534; age greater than 70, $28,089 +/- $1235; previous bypass, $29,666 +/- $1962). During the same time period, initial patient costs for 24 patients undergoing primary below-knee amputation and rehabilitation were $27,225 +/- $2896 S.E. Twenty-nine percent of the patients with below-knee amputations never walked again. The nonambulatory patients had a significant continuing expenditure for institutionalisation ($100/day) or home care ($270/week). These facts document the high cost of limb-threatening arteriosclerosis and its treatment by vascular reconstruction or primary below-knee amputation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

Liquid chromatographic assay and pharmacokinetics of quazepam and its metabolites following sublingual administration of quazepam.

A reverse-phase liquid chromatographic method is described for simultaneous quantification of quazepam, and two of its metabolites, 2-oxoquazepam and N-desaklyl-2-oxoquazepam. The method uses a solid-phase extraction procedure to prepare plasma samples. After extraction, the methanolic extract is evaporated; the residue is then reconstituted in a small volume of mobile phase and chromatographed. The total chromatography time for a single sample is about 20 min. A sensitivity of 1 ng/ml for quazepam and its metabolites is attained when 1 ml of plasma is extracted. Analytical recovery of quazepam and its metabolites added to plasma ranged from 87 to 96%. The maximum within-day and day-to-day coefficients of variation for each compound at concentrations of 20 and 60 ng/ml were 7.6 and 11.2%, respectively. The method was applied to sublingual pharmacokinetic studies of quazepam in healthy volunteers.

Administration, Sublingual↗

Short vein grafts: a superior option for arterial reconstructions to poor or compromised outflow tracts?

To determine whether vein graft length is a factor that influences infrapopliteal bypass patency, we reviewed 237 consecutive reversed saphenous vein bypasses performed because of critical ischemia during a 5-year period. One hundred seventeen long vein grafts (LVGs) were longer than 40 cm (42 to 92 cm, mean 60.9 +/- 9 cm) and 120 short vein grafts (SVGs) were 40 cm or shorter (6 to 40 cm, mean 24.7 +/- 8 cm). Ninety-three percent of the LVGs originated from or were proximal to the superficial femoral artery (SFA) whereas all of the SVGs originated at or distal to the SFA. The cumulative patency rate for LVGs at 3 years was 45% and for SVGs was 63% (p less than 0.025). In the absence of an intact pedal arch, 3-year patency rates for LVGs (51 cases) and SVGs (78 cases) were 22% and 53%, respectively (p less than 0.01). High intraoperative outflow resistance measurements (greater than 0.7 mm Hg/ml/min) were encountered in 25 cases. Of these, occlusion within 6 months occurred in six of seven cases with LVGs and in only 8 of 18 cases with SVGs (p less than 0.05). Wound complications at vein harvest sites occurred in 17% of LVGs and in only 6% of SVGs (p less than 0.01). Of 16 additional cases in which a proximal patch angioplasty or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed tandem with a short distal vein graft, four occluded (less than 6 months) and 12 remained patent from 3 to 43 months (mean 12.6 months).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Direct approaches to the distal portions of the deep femoral artery for limb salvage bypasses.

This study describes a technique that facilitates lower extremity "redo" revascularizations and that may increase the number of patients who can be revascularized. By using the distal deep femoral artery for bypass outflow or inflow, we were able to revascularize patients with no other accessible patent major thigh artery, to increase the use of autologous vein for infrapopliteal bypasses, and to avoid difficult groin reoperations. Thirty-seven patients (23 men) had various distal deep femoral revascularizations for limb salvage indications only (rest pain, ischemic ulcers, and/or gangrene). Techniques to expose the distal deep femoral artery directly are described and their uses discussed. We found that the type of bypass performed (e.g., axillofemoral or aortofemoral) determined the patency rate of the reconstruction. Placement of the origin or termination of the graft in the deep femoral artery did not appear to affect the results adversely.

Adult↗

Mast cells in the ovary of Gallus gallus domesticus.

1. Histamine or mast cells are involved in mammalian ovary function. Their role in the avian ovary is not known. In the present study mast cell distribution in the ovary of the domestic fowl was studied. 2. Mast cells were distributed throughout the ovary, both in the stroma of medullary and cortical regions as well as in the thecae of normal and atretic follicles. In the stroma, mast cells were especially abundant in the area just below the germinal epithelium (GE) and followed the contours of the GE. 3. In the follicles, mast cells were more obvious in the thecae of small non-yolky follicles, whereas they were compressed and scattered in the larger yolky follicles. They were more frequently seen in the theca externa than in the theca interna and in their ultrastructure showed characteristic mast cell granules. 4. Some of the atretic follicles showed increased mast cells in their thecae. Postovulatory follicles had very few mast cells. 5. The possible role of the mast cells in the ovarian activity of domestic fowl is discussed.

Animals↗