PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

U M Joshi

Publications and source records attributed to U M Joshi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Stability studies of the components of a prototype penicillinase (beta-lactamase)-linked ELISA kit.

Penicillinase (beta-lactamase) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for various reproductive hormones developed in the laboratory were found to have wide applicability in the fertility check clinic of the Institute. A need was thought to transform these assays into ready-to-use kit forms. Therefore, prototype ELISA kits for these hormones were developed and stability of the individual component was ascertained at various temperatures (room temperature, 37 degrees C and 2-8 degrees C). Stability studies were conducted on previously validated assay for pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide (PdG). The studies showed that immunosorbents (antibody coated plates) are stable at room temperature for a period of 2 weeks, at 37 degrees C for 1 week and at 2-8 degrees C for a period of 9 months when preserved after treatment with glycerol solution. The lyophilised conjugate, standard and immunoassay buffer, colour reagent, and its substrate were stable at 37 degrees C up to 1 week and at room temperature up to 2 weeks and at 2-8 degrees C for a period of 6 months, during which the stability was studied.

Enzyme Stability↗

An indirect ELISA for urinary gonadotropins using immobilized human menopausal gonadotropin.

An indirect ELISA for the estimation of urinary gonadotropins is described. Human menopausal gonadotropin is adsorbed on a microtitre plate, where it serves as an immunosorbent. The residual antigonadotropin antibody is captured by the immunosorbent after reaction with the sample or standard and detected with enzyme-labelled antispecies antibody (antirabbit gamma-globulin-horse radish peroxidase). The assay developed here is rapid and satisfies usual validatory criteria expected from an immunoassay. Moreover, it obviates the need for extraction of samples with acetone, as shown by the close agreement between the respective lutropin or follitropin concentrations in extracted and unextracted urine samples.

Animals↗

Screening infertile women for the assessment of corpus luteal function and their response to therapy by ELISA of pregnanediol glucuronide.

Corpus luteal function was assessed by estimating pregnanediol 3-alpha-glucuronide (PdG) in three midluteal-phase urine samples collected from 85 women attending the infertility clinic. The previously established cut off limits based on PdG estimations were useful in detecting anovulation in 23 cases, corpus luteal adequacy in 42 cases and corpus luteum deficiency (CLD) in 20 cases. In 8 women CLD could be corrected with 50 mg of clomiphene citrate (CC) therapy whereas 6 women required 100 mg of CC and 3 pregnancies were achieved. This rapid screening method is thus useful in segregating a large number of women according to their ovulatory status and in the subsequent treatment of CLD.

Clomiphene↗

Importance of selection of separation system in the development of enzyme immunoassay: an experience with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) assay.

An antiserum to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) obtained as a gift from National Institute of Health (NIH), U.S.A. could not be adsorbed on microtitre ELISA plates, although two other FSH antisera raised in authors' laboratory could be adsorbed. A good precision profile for the FSH assay using these three antisera could be achieved with only one separation system viz. solid phase anti rabbit gamma globulin (ARGG), out of the five separation systems tried. The study suggests that a few antisera used for radio-immunoassay (RIA) purposes may not by themselves get adsorbed on plastic plates. However, they could be effectively used for ELISA purposes using solid phase second antibody.

Adsorption↗

Fluorescence studies on binding of amphiphilic drugs to isolated lamellar bodies: relevance to phospholipidosis.

Lysosomal phospholipid storage disorder in lung tissue was observed during chronic treatment with amphiphilic amine drugs. The prevailing and widely accepted mechanism of phospholipidosis is that amphiphilic drugs bind to phospholipids and make the phospholipids unsuitable substrates for the action of phospholipases. We investigated hydrophobic and hydrophilic binding of fifteen drugs to the phospholipid storage organelle, lung lamellar bodies, isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hydrophobic interactions were studied using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene as a fluorescent probe and hydrophilic binding was studied using 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate as a fluorescent probe. The binding parameters were calculated using Scatchard equations. Of the fifteen drugs used, nine drugs bound to the hydrophobic moiety of lamellar bodies. The order of binding capacities was promethazine greater than chloramphenicol greater than amiodarone = desethylamiodarone greater than promazine greater than chlorpromazine greater than trimipramine greater than propranolol greater than imipramine much greater than chlorphentermine, phentermine, chloroquine, chlorimipramine, cyclizine and chlorcyclizine. Two binding affinities were calculated for all the bound drugs. Binding affinities to hydrophilic sites of lamellar bodies were calculated in terms of emission coefficients for 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate in the presence of drugs. Hydrophilic binding was in the order chlorpromazine greater than chlorimipramine greater than promazine greater than trimipramine greater than imipramine greater than chlorcyclizine greater than propranolol greater than promethazine greater than chlorphentermine greater than cyclizine greater than phentermine greater than chloroquine much greater than chloramphenicol, amiodarone and desethylamiodarone. The binding affinities of chlorinated analogs were stronger to hydrophilic sites when compared to the parent compound. Amiodarone, which is known to induce pulmonary phospholipidosis and its major non-polar metabolite, desethylamiodarone, bound strongly to lamellar bodies. These two drugs also inhibit phospholipases in vitro. The drugs with weak phospholipidosis-inducing capacity and extensive in vivo metabolism, namely, imipramine, chlorpromazine and promazine, also bound strongly to lamellar bodies with hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic interactions. On the other hand, chloroquine, which is known to induce phospholipidosis and to inhibit phospholipases, did not bind to lamellar bodies. Two major conclusions could be drawn from this study: one is that the drug interactions with isolated lamellar bodies could be studied using membrane fluorescence probes, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate; second is that the amphiphilic drugs bind to lamellar bodies, as reported for phospholipid vesicles, and the binding of drugs to lamellar bodies could be correlated with their phospholipidosis-inducing capacity only if

Amines↗

Chlordecone (Kepone)-potentiated carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in partially hepatectomized rats--a histomorphometric study.

Our previous studies indicated the involvement of some unidentified mechanisms, apart from the bioactivation phenomenon, in chlordecone (CD)-potentiated CCl4 hepatotoxicity and lethality. Recent studies revealed that hepatocellular regeneration is suppressed in CD + CCl4 toxicity. The present work is a continuation of our earlier work employing a partial hepatectomy model for stimulating hepatocellular division, in normal (N) or CD-treated (10 ppm for 15 days) rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats maintained on an appropriate dietary protocol and undergoing sham (SH) or partial hepatectomies (PH) were employed. Hepatocellular regeneration was assessed by measuring the percentage mitotic figures and by autoradiography of liver sections from rats given 3H-thymidine in vivo. Hepatotoxicity was assessed by examining liver sections for necrotic cells, swollen cells and cells having lipid droplets. CCl4 (100 microliters kg-1)-induced histopathological alterations in CD-pretreated rats were significantly decreased in rats 2 days post-PH (PH2) as compared to SH rats or rats 7 days post-PH (PH7), indicating that amplification of CCl4 toxicity is significantly reduced when there is a greater regenerative activity. The percentage of mitoses as well as the percentage of labelled cells were significantly elevated at 2-6 h after CCl4 administration in N rats but remained suppressed in CD rats. In CD-pretreated PH2 rats where the percentage of mitoses and the percentage of labelled cells were many-fold greater when compared to SH or PH7 rats, a portion of the stimulated hepatocellular division decreased significantly at 2-6 h after CCl4 administration, but remained significantly greater when compared to basal level of regeneration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Role of hepatocellular regeneration in chlordecone potentiated hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride.

Previous histomorphometric studies led us to hypothesize that suppression of hepatocellular regeneration and the repair of the hepatolobular architecture was involved besides bioactivation phenomenon in the progressive and irreversible phase of toxicity resulting from CD + CCl4 interaction. We have recently observed significant protection from CD potentiated CCl4 toxicity in animals which are stimulated for active hepatocellular regeneration. The present work is an extension of our earlier histomorphometric investigation, taking 3H-thymidine (3H-T) incorporation as a biochemical parameter to assess hepatocellular regeneration followed by autoradiographic analysis of liver sections in normal (N) or chlordecone (CD) treated (10 ppm in diet for 15 days) male rats undergoing sham (SH) or partial hepatectomies (PH). Initial experiments established that in normal (N) rats, greatest 3H-T incorporation into hepatocellular nuclear DNA occurs at 2 days post-PH which returns to basal levels by 7 days. CD treatment alone did not change this phenomenon. 3H-T incorporation into nuclear DNA and the percentage of labelled cells as evidenced by autoradiography of liver sections were significantly elevated in N rats at 1-2 h after CCl4 (100 microliters/kg) administration and returned to basal level by 6 h. Serum enzymes (AST and ALT) in N rats undergoing SH and PH were not altered, but were significantly elevated in CD rats following CCl4 (100 microliters/kg) administration. CCl4-induced serum enzyme elevations were significantly lower in 2 days post-PH (PH2) rats when compared to SH rats or 7 days post-PH (PH7) rats maintained on CD diet, indicating that CD potentiated CCl4 hepatotoxicity is significantly reduced in livers stimulated for regenerative activity by PH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

A comparison of polyclonal antisera to pregnanediol 3 alpha glucuronide obtained from three different rabbits and their use in ELISA.

The variation in the estimates of urinary pregnanediol glucuronide obtained by ELISA with 12 polyclonal antisera has been assessed. Of the 12 antisera, eight gave values comparable with each other and could be used interchangeably in the ELISA. Thus a large stock of polyclonal antibody which gave consistent values was generated and can now be used in diagnostic ELISA over a long period of time. This procedure is more economical than the development of monoclonal antibodies for the same purpose.

Animals↗

Effects of drug-induced pulmonary phospholipidosis on lung mechanics in rats.

Chronic administration of amphiphilic drugs to rats induces pulmonary phospholipidosis (P), a disease characterized by accumulation of phospholipids and large foamy macrophages in alveolar spaces. We investigated whether P induced by chlorphentermine (CPH) causes changes in lung volumes and mechanics in this species. Groups of rats were fed CPH (50 mg.kg-1.day-1) for 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, and 14 wk. After each treatment period, lung volumes and mechanics were studied in the anesthetized, paralyzed, supine rat. Partial pressure-volume (PV) curves were developed at 3 and 6 ml above functional residual capacity (FRC; PV3, PV6), followed by maximal [up to total lung capacity (TLC)] PV curves. FRC was determined by saline displacement. Lungs were then fixed for histopathological examination. A subgroup of animals was allowed a recovery period of 6 wk, after the 9 wk of CPH administration. Pair-fed rats served as controls (CTR) at each time point. Lung weight increased in CPH-treated (CPH-T) rats from 1.5 +/- 0.2 (SD) g at week 1 to 5.8 +/- 1.4 g at week 14, reflecting the development of P. TLC, FRC, transpulmonary pressure at FRC, the shape of maximal PV curves, and static expiratory lung compliance computed from maximal PV data points did not change in CPH-T rats. However, partial PV curves of CPH-T lungs (particularly PV3) were shifted downward and to the right of those of CTR at 2, 3, 5, and 9 wk, indicating increased recoil pressure in phospholipidotic lungs at these time points.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Protection of hepatotoxic and lethal effects of CCl4 by partial hepatectomy.

CCl4 is a hepatotoxic haloalkane, capable of producing hepatocellular fatty degeneration and centrilobular necrosis. Previous reports indicate induction of liver regeneration after 36-48 hr of CCl4 treatment, which is considered as a secondary effect. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the primary effects of CCl4 on hepatic DNA synthesis and to correlate liver regeneration with CCl4 toxicity. These studies were conducted in normal and actively regenerating livers using male Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing sham operation (SH), or partial (70%) hepatectomy (PH). Incorporation of 3H-thymidine (3H-T) in hepatocellular nuclear DNA and autoradiographic analyses of liver sections served as indices for hepatocellular regeneration. Initial experiments established that peak regeneration occurs at 2 days post-PH (PH2) and liver regeneration phases out by 7 days post-PH (PH7). SH and PH rats were challenged with a single ip dose of either corn oil vehicle or CCl4 at either 0.1 ml/kg (to represent subtoxic dose) or 2.5 ml/kg (to represent toxic dose). The low dose of CCl4 was not toxic and did not alter 3H-T incorporation and percentage labelled cells at 6 or 24 hours after administration to SH, PH2 or PH7 groups, indicating that there was no interference with PH-stimulated hepatocellular regeneration. The high dose of CCl4 was significantly hepatotoxic and lethal in SH rats, while in PH2 rats both hepatotoxic and lethal effects were significantly decreased. 3H-T incorporation as well as percentage labelled cells, highly stimulated by PH, were significantly decreased by high dose of CCl4. However, hepatocellular regeneration in PH2 rats treated with high dose of CCl4 was still significantly higher than SH or PH7 groups by virtue of the stronger stimulatory effect of PH. In PH7 rats, where hepatocellular regeneration had returned to the SH level, the hepatotoxic and lethal effects of the large dose of CCl4 were also restored. These findings show that the progressive phase of a single high dose of CCl4 injury which normally culminates in hepatotoxic and lethal effects is significantly mitigated by previously stimulated hepatocellular regeneration. High dose of CCl4 suppresses hepatocellular regeneration at early time points after administration in contrast to the smaller subtoxic dose of CCl4. By virtue of the much stronger stimulatory effect, PH results in the protection against the hepatotoxic and lethal effects of CCl4 despite the obtunding effects of the high dose on hepatocellular regeneration.

Alanine Transaminase↗

A simple ELISA for detection of ovulation.

A rapid, simple, two-step test for the detection of ovulation has been developed. The test is based on ELISA of pregnanediol glucuronide, a metabolite of progesterone, in urine collected specifically over a period of 3 h. The test is completed in 20 min and the results are assessed visually by naked eye.

Adolescent↗

Urinary estrone glucuronide, pregnanediol glucuronide and human chorionic gonadotrophin in threatened abortion.

Estimations of urinary estrone glucuronide, pregnanediol glucuronide and human chorionic gonadotrophin were carried out by ELISA to see their potential in predicting an abnormal outcome in cases with vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy. Reference values were set up with samples from women without bleeding in present or past pregnancies and with normal ultrasonic findings. None of the parameters were found to be sensitive enough to predict an abnormal outcome. However, predictability of an abnormal value was found to be 95% for estrone-3-glucuronide (E1G), 93% for pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) and 87% for human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).

Abortion, Missed↗

Glutathione metabolism and utilization of external thiols by cigarette smoke-challenged, isolated rat and rabbit lungs.

The purpose of the present investigation was to understand the acute effects of cigarette smoke on glutathione (GSH) metabolism and on utilization of external thiols by cigarette smoke-exposed, perfused rat and rabbit lungs. Most of the experiments were carried out using freshly drawn cigarette smoke. However, cigarette smoke condensate was used in some perfusions for the comparison of the effects between the types of exposures on utilization of external thiols. Cigarette smoke decreased GSH levels significantly (50%) without any increase in glutathione disulfide (GSSG) in both rabbit and rat lungs. In smoke-exposed rabbit lungs, protein thiol groups (protein-SH) decreased significantly (17%) without a significant change in protein-GSH mixed disulfides. However, in the rat lungs, cigarette smoke did not decrease protein-SH and protein-GSH mixed disulfides, indicating species variation in the effect of cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke inhibited selenium-dependent and -independent GSH peroxidase activities in the rat lung (33%), but not in the rabbit lung. GSH S-transferase and GSSG reductase activities were not altered in cigarette smoke-challenged rabbit and rat lungs. gamma-Glutamylcysteine synthetase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were significantly lower in smoke-exposed rat lungs as against control lungs, indicating that rat lung enzymes were more susceptible to the effects of cigarette smoke when compared to those of rabbits. N-Acetylcysteine, but not GSH, added to the perfusate significantly protected rabbit lung from smoke-induced GSH depletion. Smoke condensate added to the perfusate also caused GSH depletion in rabbit lung, and GSH or N-acetylcysteine added to the perfusion medium protected the lung indicating that GSH in the media directly interacts with condensate in the media before coming in contact with cellular GSH. These results indicate that acute smoke inhalation decreases pulmonary GSH and that the decreased GSH was not related to disulfide formation. Inhibited GSH synthesis in rat lung could account for the loss of GSH in part after exposure to cigarette smoke. The alternative pathway of GSH utilization could be conjugation with electrophilic smoke components. Thiols, like N-acetylcysteine, were protective against cigarette smoke-induced damage to the rabbit lung. The mechanism could be either by the increased GSH synthesis or by the direct delivery of sulfhydryls from N-acetylcysteine.

Acetylcysteine↗

Biochemical changes in the liver of fish, Tilapia mossambica (Peters), during continuous exposure to monocrotophos.

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of continuous exposure to the organophosphate monocrotophos at 2.5 ppm for over a period of 2 through 45 days on protein, RNA, and DNA contents and on 5'-nucleotidase activity in the liver of Tilapia mossambica. Protein content was decreased by 45% after 5 days, returned to control levels at 10-30 days, and again decreased by 45 days. DNA content was decreased by 2 days, returned to control values by 5 days, and remained constant throughout the exposure. In contrast, RNA content was significantly lower starting from 2 through 45 days of exposure. 5'-Nucleotidase activity showed a transient increase at 5 and 30 days of monocrotophos exposure. These results indicate that monocrotophos altered the protein, DNA, and RNA contents and the 5'-nucleotidase activity levels as early as 2 and 5 days. However, these changes were reversed by 10 days and after a short period of recovery, the alterations reappeared. This supports our earlier histological observations of hepatic pathology during monocrotophos exposure.

Animals↗

Types of interaction of amphiphilic drugs with phospholipid vesicles.

Binding characteristics of nine amphiphilic drugs, which induce pulmonary phospholipidosis, to L-alpha-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles were studied using fluorescence probes, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) for hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions, respectively. Drug binding to DPPC was quantitated using Scatchard analysis. The tested drugs bound to DPPC with different capacities. The order of binding capacity to hydrophobic site of DPPC using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene as fluorescence probe was promethazine greater than amiodarone greater than chlorpromazine greater than chloramphenicol greater than imipramine greater than trimipramine greater than propranolol much greater than chloroquine and chlorphentermine. Two binding affinities were evident for amiodarone, chlorpromazine, imipramine, trimipramine and promethazine. The order of binding strength at high affinity site was amiodarone greater than trimipramine greater than chlorpromazine greater than promethazine greater than imipramine. The order of drug binding capacity using ANS as fluorescence probe was chlorphentermine greater than trimipramine greater than propranolol much greater than amiodarone, chloroquine and chloramphenicol. Each of these drugs displayed a single binding affinity. Imipramine and chlorpromazine at 1 mM and higher concentrations showed intense fluorescence with ANS (5-20 microM) in the absence of DPPC indicating an interaction of these drugs with ANS. Chloroquine did not bind to either sites on DPPC. The binding of these drugs and their interactions with hydrophobic or hydrophilic sites of DPPC were correlated with their capacity to induce pulmonary phospholipidosis. These results indicate that not all the drugs which bind to DPPC in vitro induce phospholipidosis in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amiodarone↗

Glutathione status in constituted physiological fluids containing albumin.

1. Glutathione (GSH) and cysteine, added to the constituted incubation medium, rapidly disappeared from the medium in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The major portions of added GSH and cysteine were oxidized. Only a fraction was recovered as cysteine-GSH mixed disulfide in case of GSH. About 15-30% cysteine or GSH were not recovered in the media. 2. The rate of GSH oxidation was linear with time, however, GSH disappearance was not linear with GSH concentrations. 3. Oxidation of GSH to GSSG in the albumin supplemented media was greater under O2 atmosphere, but was significantly decreased under N2 atmosphere. 4. Catalase, a peroxy radical scavenger, but not dimethyl pyroline N-oxide (DMPO), N-tertbutyl-2(-2 sulfophenyl)-nitrone (NTBSPN), mannitol or superoxide dismutase (SOD), decreased BSA mediated GSH oxidation. 5. GSH oxidation was abolished when mono- or divalent metal ions were absent in the BSA supplemented media. 6. Alkaline pH favored and acidic pH inhibited GSH oxidation. GSH oxidation was maximum above pH 7.4. GSH oxidation was minimal in the media containing boiled BSA. 7. A reaction mechanism involving the mixed GSH-BSA disulfide formation, followed by the reduction of these disulfides by GSH and subsequent release of GSSG is proposed.

Animals↗

Application of penicillinase linked ELISA of pregnanediol glucuronide for detection of ovulation and assessment of corpus luteal function.

A penicillinase linked enzyme immunoassay was developed for the estimation of pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide (PdG) in urine. The immunoassay satisfied all the validity criteria and was used in detecting ovulation and in the assessment of corpus luteal function (CLF) during spontaneous or induced cycles. Reference values were established by estimating PdG levels in daily early morning urine samples during 31 menstrual cycles obtained from 17 regularly menstruating women. A PdG value of 1.7 micrograms/mg creatinine (micrograms/mgC) (90th Centile of follicular phase) in any MLP (mid-luteal phase) sample was considered as indicating ovulation. A value of 4.6 micrograms/mgC (20th centile of MLP) was considered to be evidence of sufficient CLF. When this approach was applied to 20 infertile cases, detection of the occurrence of ovulation/anovulation was made correctly in 19 out of 20 cases (95%). Accuracy was poor (55.6%) when the aim of the diagnosis was corpus luteal deficiency. Higher accuracy (88.9%) for corpus luteal deficiency/corpus luteal adequacy was obtained when the sum of PdG concentrations in three MLP samples were taken into consideration. A total of 13.8 micrograms/mgC (thrice the 20th centile for MLP) indicated probable corpus luteal deficiency, and values above this limit were considered to indicate corpus luteal adequacy.

Adolescent↗