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Biomedical subjects

V K Vijayan

Publications and source records attributed to V K Vijayan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes exhibit decreased adhesion to fibronectin.

Extracellular matrix components are known to regulate the process of egress of granulocytes from the bone marrow and their emigration to inflammatory sites. In this study we have compared the adhesion of normal and chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes to fibronectin. Adhesion of granulocytes from leukemic patients to all the different concentrations of fibronectin assessed was significantly lower than that of normal individuals. This observation suggests that the decreased adhesion of leukemic cells to fibronectin may be responsible for their early egress from the bone marrow and their delayed emigration to the sites of inflammation.

Cell Adhesion↗

Altered bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus in tuberculous bronchoalveolar lavage fluids.

We wished to evaluate the pulmonary defence capacity against common bacterial infections in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (cell-free supernatants) of patients with active (n = 13) and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 8), and normal individuals (n = 6), were studied. The 2 and 4 h bactericidal activities were higher than the 0 h activity in lavage fluids of healthy subjects and patients with inactive pulmonary tuberculosis. Active tuberculous lavage fluids were equally competent in their bactericidal activity against S. aureus at 0 and 2 h, but a reduced S. aureus killing was seen at 4 h of incubation. Estimation of total phospholipid levels revealed no significant difference between the various lavage fluids. This reduced killing of S. aureus showed a relationship with the cellular components (lymphocytes and macrophages) of active tuberculous lavage fluids. A reduced killing was associated with no lymphocytic alveolitis, and an increased killing with lymphocytic alveolitis. This study suggests that alveolar lining material of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis has less bactericidal activity against bacterial infections, such as S. aureus.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗

Procoagulant activity of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids taken from the site of tuberculous lesions.

We wanted to determine the procoagulant activity (PCA) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, in order to understand the macrophage-mediated lung injury at the site of tuberculous lesion. Alveolar lavage fluids taken from the site of a lesion (radiologically abnormal site (RAS)) and an unaffected site (radiologically normal site (RNS)) of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients (n = 7) and inactive (cured) patients (n = 9) were studied for their PCA producing potential. The observed results were not significant using Mann-Whitney test, and thus all increases/decreases reported below are trends/tendencies only. An increased PCA was seen in 4 out of 7 cell-free lavage supernatants of active-TB taken from the site of lesion (RAS), compared to only 1 out of 9 in inactive-TB. The PCA producing potential of the alveolar macrophages of RAS and RNS of active-TB patients was enhanced when the alveolar macrophages were co-cultured with autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes under in vitro condition. Stimulation with purified protein derivative (PPD) of M. tuberculosis showed a variable (increased or decreased) PCA production. Peripheral blood monocytes and total mononuclear cells (monocytes+lymphocytes) of active-TB patients stimulated with or without PPD showed increased PCA production, compared with normal individuals and inactive-TB patients. The present study suggests that increased production of PCA by the alveolar macrophages, in collaboration with lymphocytes and other cells at the site of tuberculous lesions will result in fibrin formation. The deposition of fibrin in the alveoli may lead to further lung injury.

Blood Coagulation↗

Perineuronal satellitosis in the human hippocampal formation.

A previously unreported example of perineuronal satellitosis in the medial CA1 and adjacent subiculum in the human hippocampal formation is described. This phenomenon is characterized by a clustering of glial cells in relation to the perikarya of a subpopulation of neurons in the deep pyramidal layer and around most neurons scattered in the stratum oriens and subcortical white matter. Most of the perineuronal satellite glia were identified as oligodendrocytes based on their nuclear chromatin patterns and antigenic properties. Satellite oligodendrocytes were mostly of the medium dense variety. A type of satellite glia with nuclear features of the dark oligodendrocyte could not be identified unequivocally using the antigenic criteria employed in this study.

Adult↗

Immunohistochemical localization of basic fibroblast growth factor in cultured rat astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

The distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor in cultured astrocytes and oligodendrocytes was examined using immunocytochemistry. The results demonstrate a localization of basic fibroblast growth factor immunoreactivity predominantly in astrocyte nuclei at all stages of differentiation. Cytoplasmic and process staining was best detected during early stages of differentiation, under normal growth conditions or as a result of treatment with dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Astrocytes at all stages of differentiation bound antibody-complexed bFGF, suggesting the presence of cell-associated low affinity binding sites for the growth factor. Our studies also show the presence of immunoreactivity for basic fibroblast growth factor in process-bearing oligodendrocytes. These results suggest a role for endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor in astrocyte and oligodendrocyte growth and function.

Animals↗

Reference values and prediction equations for maximal expiratory flow rates in non-smoking normal subjects in Madras.

Maximal Expiratory Flow Rates such as Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), rates at 25%, 50% and 75% of forced vital capacity (V max 25%, V max 50% and V max 75%) and forced expiratory flow during the middle half of forced vital capacity (FEF 25-75%) were measured in 273 healthy non-smoking adults (144 males, 129 females) aged 15-63 years living in Madras. Regression equations were derived for men and women for predicting maximal expiratory flow rates for adults in South India. Expiratory Flow Rates at lower lung volumes in men were similar to those reported for caucasians, but higher than those reported for western Indian Subjects. However, in women the flow rates were similar to those of western Indians and lower than those of caucasians, probably due to indoor air pollution since childhood. These data may suggest that expiratory flow rates at lower lung volumes may not show ethnic variability.

Adolescent↗

Prediction equations for maximal voluntary ventilation in non-smoking normal subjects in Madras.

Maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) was measured in 256 healthy non-smoking adults (132 males, 124 females) aged 15-63 years living in Madras. The mean MVV (+/- SD) in males was 126.7 +/- 31.9 and in females 77.7 +/- 16.4. Regression equations were derived for men and women for predicting maximal voluntary ventilation for adults in South India. MVV in South Indians were similar to those reported for other Indian subjects, but lower than those reported for caucasians.

Adolescent↗

Effect of treatment on maximal expiratory flow rates in tropical eosinophilia.

Maximal expiratory flow rates such as peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), rates at 25%, 50% and 75% of vital capacity (VE max 25%, VE max 50%, VE max 75%) and forced expiratory flow during the middle half of forced vital capacity (FEF 25-75%) were recorded in 23 patients with tropical eosinophilia (TE) before and after treatment. The mean values of all flow rates were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in untreated TE patients compared to predicted values. After three weeks' treatment with diethylcarbamazine, although there was a significant rise in the mean values of all expiratory flow rates (P < 0.05) except VE max 75% (P > 0.2), all flow rates continued to be significantly lower (P < 0.01) at one month than predicted values.

Diethylcarbamazine↗

Exercise-induced cholesterol depletion and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activities in human red cell membrane.

Red cell membranes were isolated from blood samples obtained from athletes during exhaustive exercise on a bicycle ergometer and during the subsequent recovery period of 60 min. Plasma lactate levels were also determined. During exercise, cell membranes were progressively depleted of cholesterol and, at exhaustion, membrane cholesterol was less than 80% of the initial level. A parallel decline in Na+,K(+)-ATPase was also noted, while phospholipid reduction was around 5%. During recovery, the erythrocyte membrane cholesterol and Na+,K(+)-ATPase increased, but at a slow rate and were inversely proportional to plasma lactate content.

Adult↗

Pulmonary eosinophilia in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Three radiologically and bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients had eosinophilic pneumonia, as demonstrated by BAL. In two patients, pulmonary eosinophilia was present only at the site of the lesion and the third had eosinophilia in both peripheral blood and lung. There was complete elimination of the eosinophilic inflammatory process in two patients who had successfully completed antituberculosis treatment.

Adult↗

Fibronectin immunoreactivity in neural trauma.

The presence of extracellular matrix protein fibronectin (FN) at the site of neural trauma was examined using immunohistochemical methods. At 2, 4 and 7 days following a penetrating wound through the rat cerebral cortex, FN staining was detected in the neuropil and in non-neuronal cells adjacent to the wound. FN-stained cells were GFAP-negative and were identified as brain macrophages based on cell surface staining for CR3 complement receptor. Our findings suggest a role for FN in the repair of neural trauma.

Animals↗

Astrocyte hypertrophy in the Alzheimer's disease hippocampal formation.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), neuritic plaques are often found in the hippocampal dentate gyrus along the boundary between inner and outer molecular layers. The dentate outer molecular layer in AD also exhibits axon sprouting in response to an early loss of entorhinal neurons. The relationship between the laminar arrangement of plaques and the sprouting remains unclear. In experimental entorhinal lesions in the rat, the denervated dentate outer molecular layer demonstrates hypertrophic astrocytes which may provide trophic support for the sprouting response. It is not known whether an equivalent astrocyte response occurs in AD or whether this response is related to the distribution of plaques. We used immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) to demonstrate reactive astrocytes in the hippocampus in AD patients and age-matched controls. These results were compared to the astrocyte response to an experimental entorhinal lesion in the rat. Quantitative and qualitative analyses demonstrated a significant increase in GFAP-positive hypertrophic astrocytes in the dentate outer molecular layer in AD compared to controls. These astrocytes were randomly distributed within the outer layer and did not parallel the distribution of neuritic plaques. In the entorhinal-lesioned rat, reactive hypertrophied astrocytes also showed a selective distribution within the denervated outer molecular layer. Our results further support the similarity of the hippocampal response in AD and experimental entorhinal lesion but do not explain the laminar distribution of neuritic plaques along the denervated zone.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Tropical eosinophilia: clinical and physiological response to diethylcarbamazine.

Fifty patients with tropical eosinophilia were studied clinically and physiologically, before and after a standard 3-week course of diethylcarbamazine. Before treatment the main physiological abnormality was a reduction in the carbon monoxide transfer factor. One month after the start of treatment most patients had shown a marked symptomatic improvement, but peripheral blood eosinophilia persisted in 52%, radiographic abnormalities in 44%, cough in 22% and chest signs in 8%. Significant improvement was noted in almost all aspects of lung function including blood gases, but the mean values for forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity, transfer factor and transfer coefficient continued to be significantly lower than predicted values. This study demonstrates the incomplete reversal of clinical, haematological, radiological and physiological changes in tropical eosinophilia one month after starting a 3-week course of diethylcarbamazine.

Adolescent↗

Immunocytochemical double labeling of glial fibrillary acidic protein and transferrin permits the identification of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the rat brain.

Sequential immunocytochemical double labeling of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and transferrin (Tf) was used for the simultaneous identification of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in paraffin-embedded sections of the rat brain. Paraformaldehyde or formalin-alcohol-acetic acid fixation followed by protease treatment of paraffin-embedded sections provided the most satisfactory double-labeling. The results demonstrated GFAP-positive astrocytes and Tf-positive oligodendrocytes as two subpopulations of glia with no overlap. Our results suggest that, with some exceptions, immunocytochemical double labeling of GFAP and Tf has a potential application for the simultaneous identification of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the rat brain.

Animals↗