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Biomedical subjects

S Nagaraj

Publications and source records attributed to S Nagaraj.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Dendritic cells pulsed with alpha-galactosylceramide induce anti-tumor immunity against pancreatic cancer in vivo.

Ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the Western world. Unfortunately, recent advances in diagnostics, staging and therapy have not resulted in significant improvements. Thus, new approaches are necessary to improve the outcome of patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer. We tested triggering of specific T lymphocytes in vivo by using the immunocompetent mouse strain C57BL/6. In the present study, we tried to enhance the anti-tumor effect against pancreatic carcinoma by supplementary triggering of NKT cells in vivo. We challenged Panc02 tumor-bearing mice by intratumoral vaccination with alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer)-loaded dendritic cells (DCs). A significant expansion of IFNgamma-producing NKT cells was observed which also correlated with decrease in tumor growth in vivo. Hence, DCs loaded with alpha-GalCer could lead to a novel treatment option for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Dendritic cell, the immunotherapeutic cell for cancer.

Dendritic cells play an important role in the development of effective cancer vaccines. These cells have the potential to present tumour-specific antigens and thereby induce an immune response. Various studies involving clinical trials have investigated the efficacy of administering antigen-loaded dendritic cells for cancer therapy. In order to design such experiments it is important to consider specific antigens, which initiate either a CD4+ or CD8+ response or both. The present review discusses the unique properties of dendritic cells as an immunotherapeutic cell for cancer.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed2000

Visible diode laser induced fluorescence detection of doxorubicin in plasma using pressurized capillary electrochromatography.

Pressurized capillary electrochromatography is a variant of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) in which the driving force is both electroosmotic and hydraulic. The inlet of the CEC capillary is pressurized using an HPLC pump, and an electric field is simultaneously applied. This work describes a method for the analysis of doxorubicin. Doxorubicin was reacted with Cy5.29.OSu in acetonitrile. The derivative was confirmed by RP-TLC. A CEC system equipped with a VDLIF detector was constructed and used to analyze the derivative. The reaction mixture was injected onto a capillary packed in-house with 3 microm C-18 Luna particles and separation was carried out at 25 kV using 70% acetonitrile/ 30% phosphate (10 mM, pH = 4.8) as the mobile phase. The derivatization reaction was optimized by the investigation of parameters such as reaction time, temperature and concentration of label in order to increase the yield of the derivative. The optimal conditions were determined to be 30 min, 80 degrees C and 50 nmol/mL, respectively. Doxorubicin was extracted from plasma using solid-phase extraction under alkaline conditions, derivatized and injected onto the CEC-VDLIF system. The selectivity of the assay was demonstrated by a lack of interfering peaks due to plasma constituents across the elution window of the derivative peak in blank plasma extracts (n = 6 sources). The limit of detection (LOD) of the assay in plasma calculated as 3 s(b)/m was determined to be 1.7 ng/mL. The precision of the assay determined at a concentration of 167.7 ng/mL (n = 5) was found to be within 7.04 %RSD.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1998

Visible diode laser induced fluorescence detection for capillary electrophoretic analysis of amantadine in human plasma following precolumn derivatization with Cy5.29.OSu.

Visible diode laser induced fluorescence (VDLIF) detection (620-700 nm) has become important in bioanalysis due to the increased sensitivity and selectivity that can be achieved in biological matrices. A selective and sensitive capillary electrophoretic method employing VDLIF detection has been developed for the analysis of amantadine in plasma. Amantadine was extracted from plasma into toluene under alkaline conditions and the residue was derivatized with the far-red label Cy5.29.OSu. The reaction mixture was dried under nitrogen, reconstituted and then injected onto a laboratory constructed capillary electrophoresis system equipped with a laboratory constructed visible diode laser detector temperature tuned to oscillate at 647.8 nm. The selectivity of the technique was evaluated by demonstrating a lack of interfering peaks in extracts of blank plasma. A calibration curve ranging from 1.8 to 461.1 ng ml(-1) was shown to be linear. The precision and accuracy of the assay (n = 6) were determined to be within 17% R.S.D. and 15% difference from the nominal concentration respectively. The limits of detection for unextracted amantadine and for amantadine from the extracted concentrate from plasma were determined to be 9.5 fmol and 115 amol respectively.

Amantadine↗
PubMed1997

Water intoxication in a patient with the Prader-Willi syndrome treated with desmopressin for nocturnal enuresis.

PURPOSE: We report on a girl with the Prader-Willi syndrome who received desmopressin for nocturnal enuresis, and water intoxication developed after she ingested a large amount of fluid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient received 10 mg. desmopressin at bedtime for enuresis. She was hospitalized when a major motor seizure and coma (Glasgow coma scale 8) occurred after ingesting 48 ounces of fluid. Treatment included 3% saline, followed by 5% dextrose in water and sodium chloride given intravenously. RESULTS: Serum sodium increased to 128 mEq./l. and serum glucose remained normal. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head were normal and revealed no evidence of cerebral pontine myelinosis. Patient consciousness returned to normal by day 5 after the seizure. CONCLUSIONS: In patients treated with desmopressin the risk of a seizure or altered level of consciousness can be minimized by not ingesting large quantities of fluid. We recommend that patients drink no more than 8 ounces of fluid on any evening that desmopressin is administered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Growth patterns of the humeral and femur length in a multiethnic population.

OBJECTIVES: To study whether there are any differences in growth of the femoral and humeral length between the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia viz Malays, Chinese and Indians. The effect on fetal growth by gender of the baby and parity of the mother was also studied. METHODS: The setting was the University of Kuala Lumpur. Thirty-four Malay, 35 Chinese and 34 Indian normal pregnant middle-class women were studied longitudinally by monthly ultrasound scans for 18 to 38 weeks of gestation. The data were subjected to regression analysis; the quadratic curve was found to be the most adequate. Dummy variables were used to determine any effects by gender, parity as well as ethnicity on the length of limb growth. There was no difference in birth weights of the three ethnic groups studied, nor in gender or parity. RESULTS: There were found to be significant differences in limb lengths of the Indians (longer) when compared with the Malays and Chinese. Parity seems to affect only Indians in whom the multiparous fetuses have shorter limb lengths than the primaparous. There appears to be no effect by gender. CONCLUSION: There appear to be definite differences in growth of limb length between the different Malaysian ethnic groups and this should be taken into account when growth charts are used and when fetal weight formulas are calculated using limb lengths. The limitation of this study was that the numbers of subjects studied were small. Larger studies will be able to confirm or refute the findings.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1995

An epidemiological study of rabies in Bangalore city.

This multicentric study was conducted with the aim of knowing the nature and magnitude of the problem of rabies in Bangalore city. The disease was enzootic and endemic and the principal reservoir of infection was dog. There was stray dog menace due to ineffective dog control measures. Nearly 30% of animal bite victims did not wash their wounds and about 60% of patients started antirabic vaccine late after 24 hours of bite. The antirabies serum (equine) was not available at all. The victims of hydrophobia were both children (37.5%) and adults (62.5%) and the average incubation period ranged from 35-111 days. Pre-exposure antirabic vaccination was not given to dog catching and dog pound staff. Lastly, there was lack of proper laboratory diagnostic facilities for rabies in Bangalore.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Comparison of effects of prostaglandin E1 and nitroprusside on pulmonary vascular resistance in children after open-heart surgery.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is a vasodilator. Because the drug is metabolized by lung, we postulated a selective effect on pulmonary vasculature. Twenty-six patients aged 3 months to 16 year (mean, 6.5 years) were studied after repair of atrial septal defect (5), ventricular septal defect (10), tetralogy of Fallot (3), and other lesions (8). Fourteen patients also received nitroprusside. PGE1 (0.1 to 1.0 micrograms/kg/min) or nitroprusside (0.59 to 8.7 micrograms/kg/min) was infused through a central venous catheter until mean pulmonary or mean systemic arteria pressure decreases at least 10%. Prostaglandin E1 and nitroprusside both decreased mean systemic arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance (P less than 0.05). Although both drugs caused an average decrease in pulmonary arterial pressure and resistance, nitroprusside produced a more consistent response. Side-effects limited the use of PGE1 in 5 patients. PGE1 is an effective vasodilator and has advantages for some patients, but it does not produce selective vasodilation of pulmonary vessels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Astigmatism in Zuni and Navajo indians.

Data provided by a practicing optometrist in Gallup, New Mexico indicate a greater than expected frequency of astigmatism among first- and second-grade Zuni and Navajo Indian children. Zuni children displayed a greater frequency of high astigmatism (3.00 D) than Navajo children. In an effort to understand the etiology of this prevalence of high astigmatism, a study of corneal astigmatism in 22 Zuni families was undertaken. The results suggest both genetic and environmental causes. A very high frequency of albinism was also observed among the Zuni.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perception among upper middle class adolescent in Bombay regarding sex and sexuality.

The study was carried out among the adolescents in respect to their beliefs about sexual behavior and their intended decision with regard to engaging in sexual activity. Both male and female respondents indicated that they believe that individuals of their age should wait until they are older before engaging in sexual activity. However, there were significant differences between the responses of male and female adolescents.

Adolescent↗