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Biomedical subjects

S Patnaik

Publications and source records attributed to S Patnaik.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The ubiquitin-proteasome system regulates p53-mediated transcription at p21waf1 promoter.

The ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system (UPS) promotes the proteasomal degradation of target proteins by decorating them with Ub labels. Emerging evidence indicates a role of UPS in regulating gene transcription. In this study, we provided evidence for the involvement of UPS in the transcriptional activation function of tumor suppressor p53. We showed that both ubiquitylation and proteasomal functions are required for efficient transcription mediated by p53. Disruption of transcription by actinomycin D, 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-benzimadazole or alpha-amanitin leads to accumulation of cellular p53 protein. Proteasome inhibition by MG132 increases the occupancy of p53 protein at p53-responsive p21(waf1) promoter. In addition, the Sug-1 component of 19S proteasome physically interacts with p53 in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, in response to ultraviolet-induced DNA damage, both the 19S proteasomal components, Sug1 and S1, are recruited to p21(waf1) promoter region in a kinetic pattern similar to that of p53. These results suggested that UPS positively regulates p53-mediated transcription at p21(waf1) promoter.

Animals↗

A new synthetic protocol for labeled oligonucleotides, using a chemically cleavable universal linker.

A two-step general method for labeling of synthetic oligonucleotides is described. The protocol employs a cleavable universal linker, 5'-O-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl)-3'-O-benzoyl-2'-O-(2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl)-uridine phosphoramidite, to effect coupling to polymer-bound oligonucleotide chains. Sequentially, coupling with commercially available phosphoramidite reagent of an appropriate label (Biotin, HEX etc.) in an automated DNA synthesizer is carried out. The labeled oligomers, obtained after cleavage and deprotection reactions, are analyzed on RP-HPLC. A distinctive feature of this protocol is the recovery of free oligomers from their labeled analogs under mild conditions. The oligomers obtained are comparable to the corresponding standard oligonucleotides (HPLC).

Biotin↗

Zinc protoporphyrin IX attenuates closed head injury-induced edema formation, blood-brain barrier disruption, and serotonin levels in the rat.

The role of heme oxygenase (HO) in closed head injury (CHI) was examined using a potent HO and guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin (Zn-PP) in the rat. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to Evans blue and radioiodine, edema formation, and plasma and brain levels of serotonin were measured in control, CHI, and Zn-PP-treated CHI rats. CHI was produced by an impact of 0.224 N on the right parietal bone by dropping 114.6 g weight from a height of 20 cm in anesthetized rats. This concussive injury resulted in edema formation and brain swelling 5 hours after insult that was most pronounced in the contralateral hemisphere. The whole brain was edematous and remained in a semi-fluid state. Microvascular permeability disturbances to protein tracers were prominent in both cerebral hemispheres and the underlying cerebral structures. Plasma and brain serotonin showed pronounced increases and correlated with edema formation. Pretreatment with Zn-PP (10 mg/ kg, i.p) 30 minutes before or after CHI attenuated edema formation, brain swelling, plasma and brain serotonin levels, and microvascular permeability at 5 hours. Brain edema, BBB permeability, and serotonin levels were not attenuated when the compound was administered 60 minutes post-CHI suggesting that HO is involved in cellular and molecular mechanisms of edema formation and BBB breakdown early after CHI.

Animals↗

Histamine receptors influence blood-spinal cord barrier permeability, edema formation, and spinal cord blood flow following trauma to the rat spinal cord.

The role of histamine in edema formation, blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) permeability, and spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) following spinal cord injury (SCI) was examined using modulation of histamine H1, H2, and H3 receptors in the rat. Focal trauma to the spinal cord at the T10-11 level significantly increased spinal cord edema formation, BSCB permeability to protein tracers and SCBF reduction in the T9 and T12 segments. Pretreatment with histamine H1 receptor antagonist mepyramine (1 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not attenuate spinal pathophysiology following SCI. Blockade of histamine H2 receptors with cimetidine or ranitidine (1 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg/kg 30 minutes before injury) significantly reduced early pathophysiological events in a dose dependent manner. The effects of ranitidine were far superior to cimetidine in identical doses. Pretreatment with a histamine H3 receptor agonist alpha-methylhistamine (1 mg and 2 mg/kg/i.p.), that inhibits histamine synthesis and release in the CNS, thwarted edema formation, BSCB breakdown, and SCBF disturbances after SCI. The lowest dose of histamine H3 agonist was most effective. Blockade of histamine H3 receptors with thioperamide (1 mg, 5 mg/kg, i.p.) exacerbated spinal cord pathology. These observations suggest that stimulation of histamine H3 receptors and blockade of histamine H2 receptors is neuroprotective in SCI.

Animals↗

Flux flow of Abrikosov-Josephson vortices along grain boundaries in high-temperature superconductors.

Low-angle grain boundaries (GBs) in superconductors exhibit intermediate Abrikosov vortices with Josephson cores, whose length l along GB is smaller than the London penetration depth, but larger than the coherence length. We found an exact solution for a periodic vortex structure moving along GBs in a magnetic field H and calculated the flux flow resistivity R(F)(H), and the nonlinear voltage-current characteristics. The predicted R(F)(H) dependence describes well our experimental data on 7 unirradiated and irradiated YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7) bicrystals, from which the core size l(T), and the intrinsic depairing density J(b)(T) on nanoscales of a few GB dislocations were measured for the first time. The observed J(b)(T) = J(b0)(1-T/T(c))(2) indicates a significant order parameter suppression on GB.

Journal Article↗

Total synthesis of cystothiazoles A and C.

An efficient pathway culminating in the enantiocontrolled preparation of cystothiazoles A and C has been described. The cystothiazoles demonstrate potent antifungal activity and function as novel inhibitors of mitochondrial oxidation at a specific site on the cytochrome bc(1) complex. These studies outline a general and flexible plan that can be readily adapted for the synthesis of a variety of related five-membered heterocyclic systems and for biological investigations of structure-activity relationships. The core [2,4']bisthiazole component 8 was prepared in six steps, and the use of the Horner-Emmons olefination to yield the alpha,beta-unsaturated ester 10 set the stage for an asymmetric Evans aldol process, which established the required C(4)/C(5) stereochemistry. Finally the cystothiazoles A and C were prepared via a stereocontrolled O-alkylation of the precursor beta-keto esters 22a and 22b.

Deltaproteobacteria↗

High critical current density and enhanced irreversibility field in superconducting MgB2 thin films.

The discovery of superconductivity at 39 K in magnesium diboride offers the possibility of a new class of low-cost, high-performance superconducting materials for magnets and electronic applications. This compound has twice the transition temperature of Nb3Sn and four times that of Nb-Ti alloy, and the vital prerequisite of strongly linked current flow has already been demonstrated. One possible drawback, however, is that the magnetic field at which superconductivity is destroyed is modest. Furthermore, the field which limits the range of practical applications-the irreversibility field H*(T)-is approximately 7 T at liquid helium temperature (4.2 K), significantly lower than about 10 T for Nb-Ti (ref. 6) and approximately 20 T for Nb3Sn (ref. 7). Here we show that MgB2 thin films that are alloyed with oxygen can exhibit a much steeper temperature dependence of H*(T) than is observed in bulk materials, yielding an H* value at 4.2 K greater than 14 T. In addition, very high critical current densities at 4.2 K are achieved: 1 MA cm-2 at 1 T and 105 A cm-2 at 10 T. These results demonstrate that MgB2 has potential for high-field superconducting applications.

Journal Article↗

Strongly linked current flow in polycrystalline forms of the superconductor MgB2.

The discovery of superconductivity at 39 K in magnesium diboride, MgB2, raises many issues, a critical one being whether this material resembles a high-temperature copper oxide superconductor or a low-temperature metallic superconductor in terms of its behaviour in strong magnetic fields. Although the copper oxides exhibit very high transition temperatures, their in-field performance is compromized by their large anisotropy, the result of which is to restrict high bulk current densities to a region much less than the full magnetic-field-temperature (H-T) space over which superconductivity is found. Moreover, the weak coupling across grain boundaries makes transport current densities in untextured polycrystalline samples low and strongly sensitive to magnetic field. Here we report that, despite the multiphase, untextured, microscale, subdivided nature of our MgB2 samples, supercurrents flow throughout the material without exhibiting strong sensitivity to weak magnetic fields. Our combined magnetization, magneto-optical, microscopy and X-ray investigations show that the supercurrent density is mostly determined by flux pinning, rather than by the grain boundary connectivity. Our results therefore suggest that this new superconductor class is not compromized by weak-link problems, a conclusion of significance for practical applications if higher temperature analogues of this compound can be discovered.

Journal Article↗

Alginate immobilization of Spirulina platensis for wastewater treatment.

Immobilization of cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis in sodium alginate (1.5 %) gave the best quality of bead and 15-16 beads were formed per mL of aqueous solution of alginate. The immobilized cells were used in a batch process for treatment of diluted sewage. After 8 days, 95 % of BOD5, 77 % of COD, 90 % of ammonia, and 94 % of TSS were removed.

Alginates↗

Primary multi-drug resistant tuberculous gumma.

A 28-year old lady presented with three discrete gummatous lesions on the anterior abdominal wall, one at the site of a previous laparoscopic scar. Skin biopsy showed epitheloid cell granulomas and a pus culture and sensitivity (for AFB) performed, showed growth of M. tuberculosis. The culture-isolate was resistant to all the essential anti-TB drugs. The patient was put on second line anti-TB chemotherapy and the gummas resolved.

Adult↗

Rearrangement in the coding and 5' region of p53 gene in human oral tumors.

Different postreplicative, transcriptional, and translational mechanisms responsible for p53 gene inactivation are slowly unfolding. Rearrangement of the p53 gene is a very rare event in human solid tumors and has been reported only in osteosarcomas. From our laboratory we have recently reported rearrangement only in the coding region of the p53 gene in breast tumors. In this report we have undertaken a systemic investigation of p53 in oral tumors. Results have shown rearrangement in the coding region of p53 in 20% of cases and in the 5' region of p53 gene in approximately 8% of cases. No allelic loss and amplification of p53 gene was observed in these tumor samples. In our earlier studies on breast tumors, we found no abnormality in the 5' region of p53. However, in the present study we report for the first time rearrangement in the 5' region of p53 in oral tumors. Correlation of p53 gene rearrangement with p53 expression of RNA and protein indicates that rearrangement in the 5' region of p53 might not have a role in p53 expression. However, rearrangement in the coding region of p53 might play a critical role in controlling p53 gene activity in the process of tumorigenesis.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Rearrangement of the p53 gene in human breast tumours.

Rearrangement of the p53 gene is frequent in virus transformed cell lines and in chronic myelogenous leukemia. It is a rare event in solid tumours and has been reported only in osteosarcomas. In this study we have examined rearrangement of the p53 gene in human breast tumours. We found rearrangement in 35% of the patients (7 of 20 tumours examined). Normal tissue from these patients had an unrearranged gene, indicating that the genetic abnormality in the tumour is acquired during the natural process of tumorigenesis. No intronic rearrangement or allelic loss of the p53 gene was found in the breast tumour samples studied. Further, rearrangement of the p53 gene has been correlated with the p53 transcriptional status. Only two patients with rearranged p53 showed a high level of p53 RNA as well as protein expression. Thus, for the first time we report the rearrangement of the p53 gene in breast tumours, which may play a role in the process of tumorigenesis.

Blotting, Southern↗

Co-overexpression of p53 and c-myc proteins linked with advanced stages of betel- and tobacco-related oral squamous cell carcinomas from eastern India.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that heavy consumption of betel quid and tobacco with areca nuts is the cause of high incidence of oral cancer in eastern part of Indian population, which is distinctly different from the etiology of oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in western countries. Here, expression of p53 and c-myc protein was studied in oral SCCs from this etiologically distinct population by immunohistochemistry. Out of 48 specimens of oral SCCs, 22 (45.8%) exhibited p53 positivity and 27 (56.3%) showed immunoreactivity with c-myc antibody. Considering the p53/c-myc expression pattern, either alone or in combination, the population was divided into four groups, i.e., both p53 and c-myc positive; p53 positive-c-myc negative; c-myc positive - p53 negative; and both p53 and c-myc negative. Tumours with both p53 and c-myc positivity were in advanced stages of the disease (poorly differentiated, tumour stage 3, nuclear grade III), whereas earliest stage of oral SCCs was detected in tumours with neither p53 nor c-myc immunoreactivity. Tumours of remaining two groups were generally restricted to early to moderate stages. These observations suggest that rapid progression of the betel- and tobacco-related oral SCCs may be associated with a simultaneous involvement of these two oncoproteins. The study also attempted to find out the relationship of p53/c-myc expression with spontaneous apoptosis. More apoptotic cells were found in c-myc positive but p53 negative tumours. This preliminary observation requires further molecular investigation of the role of p53 and c-myc genes for the progression of this epidemiologically distinct oral carcinogenesis.

Adult↗

Side reactions following ivermectin therapy in high density bancroftian microfilaraemics.

Side reactions following ivermectin treatment were evaluated in sixty males with high density bancroftian microfilaremia (GM 1388/ml). Following a single oral dose of ivermectin of different strengths (20, 50, 100 or 200 micrograms/kg), microfilariae clearance and side reactions were monitored in a double blind fashion. Microfilaria levels fell rapidly after ivermectin administration in all dosage groups and 98% of pretreatment microfilariae was cleared after 12 h of treatment. The rate of microfilaria (mf) clearance was slower with 20 micrograms/kg than with the highest dose (200 micrograms/kg) administered. Forty-six patients (77%) became amicrofilaraemic within 2 weeks of treatment. Side reactions were noted in 97% of cases. The most common reactions were fever, headache, weakness, myalgia and cough which appeared by 12 h and subsided by 72 h following treatment. The frequency and intensity of side reactions were related to pretreatment mf densities and were independent of the dose administered. Unusual side reactions were noted in a few patients with high density microfilaraemia. These included intense cough, shortness of breath, blood tinged mucoid expectoration associated with patchy pneumonitis of the lung. Itchy rashes, lymphatic nodules and raised alkaline phosphatase level were also observed in some patients. These side reactions were transient, self limiting and were not serious enough to warrant any treatment. These exaggerated unusual reactions were possibly due to allergic response of the susceptible host to rapid killing of large number of microfilariae.

Adolescent↗

Ivermectin in the treatment of bancroftian filarial infection in Orissa, India.

Ivermectin treatment was evaluated for its efficacy and side reactions in sixty patients of Orissa with Bancroftian filarial infection and microfilaremia. Ivermectin was administered as a single oral dose at four dosage levels (20, 50, 100 and 200 micrograms/kg), and both microfilarial clearance and associated side reactions were monitored in a double blind fashion. Blood microfilariae were cleared in all patients at all dosages within 1 to 14 days. In most patients microfilariae reappeared by third month. The microfilaria appearance by third and sixth month averaged 12.2 to 44 percent of pretreatment values in the four study groups. Side reactions were encountered in almost all patients, the commonest being fever, headache, weakness, myalgia and cough which occurred most prominently 12 to 72 hours after treatment. Side reactions were more frequent and severe in patients with high microfilaria counts. Clinical reaction scores for each group were independent of the dose administered. The 200 micrograms dose group showed significantly more rapid microfilariae clearance and its delayed reappearance as compared with the other dosage groups and without inducing significantly greater clinical reaction scores.

Adult↗

Association of hepatitis B virus with chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The idea of hepatitis-cirrhosis-hepatocellular carcinoma sequence in liver was proposed by the workers in tropical Africa, the homeland of hepatocellular carcinoma. The discovery of Australia antigen by Blumberg et al provided the missing link and it was observed by several workers as well as the present group that Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) and that to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is someway related with the incidence of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗