PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S K Majumdar

Publications and source records attributed to S K Majumdar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Genotoxic effects of gossypol acetic acid on cultured murine erythroleukemia cells.

Gossypol acetic acid, a male anti-fertility drug, was evaluated for its effects on cell multiplication, chromosomes, scheduled and unscheduled DNA synthesis, and the surface ultrastructure in cultured murine erythroleukemia cells (clone 6A11A). Gossypol treatments inhibited cell multiplication at 10 and 20 micrograms/ml concentrations and this inhibitory effect increased with elevated dosage and prolonged treatment. Gossypol significantly depressed the mitotic index but did not alter chromosome numbers or increase the frequency of chromosomal structural abnormalities. Cell fraction techniques revealed that gossypol induced a negative effect on cellular DNA synthesis at concentrations as low as 3.3 micrograms/ml after 24 hr of treatment. The number of cells undergoing DNA synthesis decreased with increasing dosages and durations of drug exposure. An unscheduled DNA synthesis assay (UDS) found gossypol to be an active UDS-inducing agent at certain dose levels and treatment times, as measured by increase in net nuclear gain and percentage of UDS cells (ANOVA, Bonferroni test, P less than 0.05). A scanning electron microscope study revealed that 10 micrograms/ml treatment with gossypol caused changes in mouse erythroleukemia cell surface ultrastructure characterized by general balding and the appearance of holes, often after 48 hr of treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Chlormethiazole: current status in the treatment of the acute ethanol withdrawal syndrome.

Comparative clinical studies of Chlormethiazole with a vast array of pharmacologically unrelated drugs like benzodiazepines, tiapride, bromocriptine, carbamazepine and phenothiazines over the years clearly established it as a useful, dependable and effective drug to treat patients with moderate to severe ethanol withdrawal syndrome, when used early in a flexible reducing regime tailed off over 7-10 days. It has been found to be highly effective in the treatment, and particularly in the prevention of DT's in high-risk patients, if given at an early stage. This paper critically reviews the important international clinical trial literature of various drugs currently used in the treatment of ethanol withdrawal syndrome, including DT's, it highlights the efficacy and superiority of Chlormethiazole over other drugs, and also discusses the probable mechanism of its actions in these conditions.

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium↗
PubMed1991

Relationship between hepatic histology and conventional biochemical liver function test in chronic alcoholic patients.

This paper explores the relationship between hepatic histology and conventional biochemical liver function tests in 125 chronic alcoholic patients. On the basis of the results obtained, it is suggested that abnormal biochemical liver function tests may offer important clues for further invasive investigations to establish the diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A simple haemolytic method for quantitation of the delta endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis from crude samples.

A simple haemolytic assay method for quantitative estimation of the delta endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis from a crude preparation has been developed. The method has several advantages over mosquito-larvicidal methods of assay as it is inexpensive, highly sensitive and easier to run and can be used for performing a reasonably large number of assays rapidly with high precision and with a coefficient of variation that does not exceed 1.96%.

Bacillus thuringiensis↗
PubMed1989

Relationship between plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone and cortisol concentrations in chronic alcoholic patients with depression.

In 20 hospitalized male chronic alcoholic patients, plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) levels were estimated by radioimmunoassay and cortisol levels by the competitive protein binding (CPB) method with radioactive selenium-75 on admission and during abstinence along with rating of the degree of depression immediately after the acute phase of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome was over. Duration of drinking ranged from 5 to 25 years and average daily ethanol intake was between 100 and 150 g. Plasma ACTH levels were found to be raised in drinking chronic alcoholics. There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between depression ratings and plasma ACTH concentrations (r = + 0.379; P less than 0.05). In chronic alcoholism the negative feedback mechanism seems to be disturbed between plasma ACTH and cortisol levels which are not normalised after 1 week of total abstinence. Chronic ethanol ingestion might have a direct stimulatory effect on the adrenal cortex leading to dysregulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1988

The dexamethasone suppression test in chronic alcoholics with and without depression and its relationship to their hepatic status.

Fifty consecutively admitted male alcoholics (mean age = 42.8 +/- 8.5 years) were selected. This study shows objectively that 31/50 chronic alcoholics (62%) were found to be severely depressed (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRS) greater than 22); 12/50 (24%) moderately depressed (HRS = 16-22); and 7/50 (14%) were not depressed (HRS less than 15). According to dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results, 8 out of 50 patients showed escape from suppression with 2 mg dexamethasone while 42/50 showed normal suppression. Depression in alcoholics may be of neurotic type or it may be ethanol-induced reactive depression. Raised cortisol levels and abnormal DST response showed a definite tendency towards normalisation after total abstinence accompanied by clinical improvement of depressive symptomatology. The DST showed improvement on improvement of mood and sleep in these patients during total abstinence. An abnormal DST response in chronic alcoholics seems to be state-related and not trait-dependent; it seems to be a non-specific test for depression in alcoholics. Hepatic status was affected equally in both suppressors and non-suppressors of DST. It is therefore suggested that abnormal DST in alcoholics may be due to the abnormality of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and not due to abnormal hepatic function or histological status.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Tiapride in the long-term management of alcoholics of anxious or depressive temperament.

Thirty-two chemically dependent alcoholics with significant levels of anxiety or depression were admitted to a double-blind randomised study in which the effect of the substituted benzamide tiapride was compared with that of placebo over a 6-month period. Twenty patients completed the study. Assessments included relevant biochemical and haematological tests, drinking levels and associated behaviour, expressed satisfaction with various areas of life, the Crown-Crisp Experimental Index of neurotic symptoms and questionnaires on self-esteem and alcohol dependence. The results indicated that in comparison with the placebo group, patients treated with tiapride drank less and had longer periods of abstinence. This was associated with improvements in laboratory tests, reduction in neurotic symptoms, gains in self-esteem and increased levels of expressed satisfaction with life situation. The drug was well tolerated and no deleterious effects were noted, suggesting its potential usefulness for this patient group.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Response of murine erythroleukemia cells to cis- and trans-diamminedichloroplatinum (II).

Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II (cis-DDP), an antitumor drug and the inactive trans-isomer were studied to evaluate their effects on cell multiplication, DNA synthesis, and surface morphology of the murine erythroleukemia cells (clone 6A11A). Short-term treatment of cells (1 h) with 5 and 10 micrograms/ml of cis-DDP resulted in a significant inhibition of cell multiplication. Continuous treatment with cis-DDP (up to 144 h) significantly arrested cell growth at 1, 5, and 10 micrograms/ml. The cells exposed to 10 micrograms/ml trans-DDP exhibited a slight decrease in cell multiplication; however, the 25-micrograms/ml treatments showed a modest inhibition of cell growth. Continuous treatment with cis-DDP resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in DNA synthesis, although low-dose treatment (0.05 and 0.1 microgram/ml), with a few exceptions, had no relative inhibitory effect. Likewise, trans-DDP treatments decreased tritiated thymidine incorporation; however, this inhibitory effect was not as drastic as with corresponding concentrations of cis-DDP. Scanning electron microscope studies revealed the formation of many giant cells and blebs at all short-term treatment concentrations of cis-DDP past the 48 h interval. Continuous treatment of cis-DDP at 1 micrograms/ml concentration produced giant cells with minute holes, whereas the 5 and 10 micrograms/ml exposure resulted in the formation of blebs and large holes and reduction of microvilli past the 48-h treatment period. At higher concentrations the continuous treatment of cis-DDP completely destroyed the cells. The surface morphology of trans-isomer treated cells, in most instances, resembled the corresponding untreated control cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The influence of chlormethiazole on the neuro-endocrine system in chronic alcoholics.

The neuro-endocrine system is affected by chronic ethanol ingestion. Chlormethiazole is effective in the treatment of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome because of its tolerability, lack of hepatotoxicity, short plasma half-life, lack of any long-acting intermediate metabolites and lack of adverse effects on the neuro-endocrine system in alcoholics.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1985

Mineral nutrition of Aerobacter aerogenes for valine production in a synthetic medium.

The effect of a number of mineral salts, like dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulphate, and sodium chloride, and of some trace elements including iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, and calcium, on the production of valine by Aerobacter aerogenes in a synthetic medium was investigated. It was found that all the mineral salts were necessary for valine formation. Among the trace elements, iron and molybdenum were found to be necessary in minute concentrations for the optimum yield of the amino acid, while all the others had an adverse effect on valine production, even at lower levels.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1985

Biochemical changes during valine production by Aerobacter aerogenes.

The typical chemical changes taking place during valine production by A. aerogenes in a synthetic medium have been investigated. The principal carbon and nitrogen sources, sucrose and urea, respectively, have been found to be almost exhausted during an incubation period lasting 90 h. While the carbon compound was depleted right from the start of formentation, the disappearance of urea was noticeable after 16 h of incubation. The formation of valine in the broth started between 24 and 40 h of incubation connected with the rapid utilization of urea. The pH value of the broth was found to glide down from an initial value of 7.5 to 6.4 within 24 h then rising again to 7.5 during 64 h and further to 8.0 in 90 h of incubation.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1984

Relationship between plasma cortisol concentrations and depression in chronic alcoholic patients.

Plasma cortisol levels were estimated by the competitive protein binding (CPB) method with radioactive selenium-75 in 32 male chronic alcoholics with depression. The degree of depression was rated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Duration of drinking ranged from 5-25 years with an average daily amount of ethanol intake of 100-150 g (equivalent to half a bottle of spirits). Plasma cortisol levels were often raised in drinking chronic alcoholics and there was a strongly positive and statistically highly significant correlation between them and depression ratings (r = +0.56; P = 0.001). It is possible that the diurnal rhythm of cortisol secretion is disturbed or adreno-cortical activity is stimulated in these patients due to chronic ethanol ingestion. It is further suggested that brain serotonin deficiency known to occur in chronic alcoholics might lead to raised plasma cortisol levels in ethanol-induced depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Changes in plasma amino acid patterns in chronic alcoholic patients during ethanol withdrawal syndrome: their clinical implications.

Changes or imbalances in plasma amino acid patterns during withdrawal from ethanol were recorded in six randomly selected male chronic alcoholic patients (age range 23-47 years). Duration of drinking ranged from 4-15 years and their average daily amount of ethanol intake was more than 100G. Plasma amino acids (taurine, threonine, serine, glutamate, glutamine, proline, glycine, alanine, cysteine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine, tryptophan, ornithine, lysine and arginine) were estimated by autoanalyzer in all patients on admission before starting conventional detoxification therapy for ethanol withdrawal syndrome, and during therapy on day 3 and day 6. On admission, there was a statistically significant rise in the plasma levels of almost all aminoacids, particularly glutamate, glutamine, phenylalanine, proline, glycine, methionine, cysteine, lysine, tyrosine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, serine, threonine, alanine and arginine (in comparison to those of normal controls) in five out of six patients. During the following six days of treatment and total abstinence, the pattern of plasma aminoacid levels did not change significantly despite considerable clinical improvement. Plasma tryptophan levels were undetectable in all patients on admission, day 3 and also on day 6 except in one patient with lesser amount and shorter duration of drinking, the levels just returned to within normal range only on day 6. Plasma levels of histidine and taurine were found to be slightly lower than normal.

Adult↗