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Biomedical subjects

V Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to V Kumar.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

A normative study of child development using a culture-appropriate test battery in rural Haryana, India.

A culture-appropriate and simple test battery consisting of 67 test items was developed and field tested in Haryana, India, in 1987-89. Trained field workers administered the tests to 3731 preschool children in 47 randomly selected villages of a district, irrespective of their physical/mental status. Centile age values were constructed for various developmental milestones included in the cultural-appropriate test battery. The locally relevant, simple, and low cost developmental tests and reference values will be used for early detection of developmental disabilities at primary care level.

Child↗
PubMed1995

2B4, a new member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily, is expressed on murine dendritic epidermal T cells and plays a functional role in their killing of skin tumors.

Dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC), which are skin-specific members of the tissue-resident gamma delta T-cell family, are characterized by their potential to kill selected tumor targets by a non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted mechanism. We have recently identified a new receptor molecule, 2B4, that appears to be associated with non-MHC-restricted recognition of tumor targets by natural killer cells. The purpose of this study was to determine whether DETC express 2B4 molecules, and, if so, to assess their functional roles in DETC-mediated killing of tumor targets. Short-term DETC lines as well as DETC freshly procured from skin expressed surface 2B4, as detected with a specific monoclonal antibody. Removal of interleukin (IL)-2 from DETC cultures caused substantial reduction in 2B4 expression levels as well as a reduction in cytotoxic capacity against YAC-1 targets in a standard 51Cr-release assay. Conversely, exposure to IL-2, but not to IL-7, elevated both 2B4 expression and cytotoxicity. To assess the functional roles played by surface 2B4, we pretreated DETC lines with anti-2B4 antibody and then tested for their killing potential. Anti-2B4, but not the control antibody, augmented their capacity to lyse YAC-1 targets (51Cr-release assays) and to disrupt the monolayers of Pam-212-transformed keratinocytes (visual assessment). Thus, we conclude that DETC express, in an IL-2-dependent manner, 2B4 molecules, which may play a unique role in the killing of skin-derived tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Cortisol status in different types of leprosy.

Basal plasma cortisol levels in 12 controls and 60 patients with different types of leprosy were within normal limits. They were significantly lower in multibacillary leprosy patients; this abnormality might be due to long standing stress leading to adrenal exhaustion. The plasma cortisol level significantly increased after the ACTH (Synacthen) stimulation test in all of the varieties of leprosy tested, which suggests that the adrenal reserve is maintained in such cases.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1995

Clinico-epidemiological profile of ichthyosis in south Indian patients.

A high frequency rate of hereditary ichthyosis (141.89 per 1000) was detected in a 1029 member South Indian study population selected at random from the skin outpatients of a teaching hospital. An age and sex matched control population screened from the medical and pediatric outpatients of the same institute recorded the incidence of ichthyosis vulgaris as 150 per 1000 population which is even higher.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of epitopes on excretory-secretory antigens of Taenia saginata metacestodes recognized by monoclonal antibodies with immunodiagnostic potential.

Four monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) produced against the excretory-secretory (ES) antigens of Taenia saginata metacestodes are currently used for the detection of circulating antigen in the sera of cattle with bovine cysticercosis. The epitopes recognised by these MoAb were characterized by periodate oxidation, alkaline borohydride and heat treatment, trichloracetic acid precipitation, enzymatic proteolysis and deglycosylation of the ES-products. These results together with those of the homologous sandwich, inhibition and competition ELISAs showed that three repetitive epitopes are recognized, which are present on the tegument and on the ES-products of T. saginata metacestodes. They are different from phosphorylcholine and seem to be either of carbohydrate or partly carbohydrate/partly protein nature.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of a one-hour light pulse on the timing of the circadian rhythm in melatonin secretion in rams.

The effects of a 1-hr light pulse on the timing of the circadian rhythm in the blood plasma concentration of melatonin were documented in Soay rams. Groups of 5 to 6 animals were transferred from short days (LD 8:16) to constant dim red light (DD) for 6 days, and were exposed to a 1-hr light pulse at one of 16 different times throughout 24 hr on day 3. Blood samples were collected hourly for 30 hr before (day 2-3) and after the light pulse (day 5-6), and the plasma concentrations of melatonin were measured by radioimmunoassay. The animals were allocated to experimental groups based on the circadian time (CT) when the light pulse was given using two hourly blocks through the circadian day; the onset of enhanced melatonin secretion (melatonin peak) was designated as CT 12. Under DD there was a clearly defined plasma melatonin rhythm in all animals. The mean duration of the melatonin peak was 13.24 +/- 0.16 hr (n = 91) and the mean period between the onset of successive melatonin peaks was 23.55 +/- 0.10 hr (n = 21). The effect of the 1-hr light pulse on the time of onset of the melatonin peak varied significantly with the circadian time when the light pulse was given (ANOVA, P = 0.031).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

Does unusual entrainment of the circadian system under T36h photocycles reduce the critical daylength for photoperiodic induction in Japanese quail?

In photoperiodic species, short daylength resonance cycles of modulo t + 1/2 (t = 24 h) behave like long days because they entrain the circadian system so that alternate light pulses coincide with the photoinducible phase (Oi) in castrated quail. However, while a long-day response after exposure to a single long daylength is readily detected by a rise in plasma LH (photoinduction), long-term exposure to LD 6:30 is ineffective in this respect. To discover whether this occurs because of unusual entrainment, circadian rhythms in quail and starlings were investigated. Whereas starlings entrained in the expected way with alternate pulses falling at different circadian phases, activity bouts in quail appeared to follow 24 h after successive light pulses. Because of this, activity was examined in free-running conditions to confirm that the pacemaker in quail was indeed being reset to a constant phase (reset to circadian time [CT] 0) by successive pulses. Examination of the circadian rhythms of plasma melatonin secretion under LD 6:30 also showed a resetting to CT 0. The positioning of all light pulses at the same circadian phase in the early subjective day explains the lack of photoinduction in quail since Oi in the early subjective night phase remains unilluminated. A second feature in quail is that when the length of the photophase is gradually increased within T36h cycles, there is a progressive increase in the degree of photoinduction although the photophase length remains well below the critical daylength for induction in normal T24h cycles. We therefore tested whether Oi is reset to a constant phase by successive pulses in LD 6:30, and that this phase is also advanced relative to light onset so that photophases shorter than the critical daylength can interact with Oi to cause induction. Such a reduction in critical daylength relative to successive LD 6:30 pulses was confirmed by transferring quail to various types of long day and measuring the change in LH secretion. When the long-day test was replaced with continuous light, stimulation of LH secretion occurred 5-7 h earlier in quail pretreated with LD 6:30 and LD 6:54 compared to quail pretreated with LD 6:18 or LD 6:42, implying that Oi had been markedly phase advanced under resonance cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Release of reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates from monocytes of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

M. tuberculosis, the aetiological agent of tuberculosis readily infects and multiplies within the macrophages of the host. Macrophage activation is known to occur through a series of stages, which results in the production of biologically active molecules such as the reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates. The following study was conducted on 20 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, before and after initiation of antituberculous therapy, and on 10 normal healthy controls. The macrophages were isolated from peripheral blood of the patients and controls at a concentration of 1 x 10(6) cells ml-1. The generation of reactive oxygen intermediates was measured by a chemiluminescence technique. Reactive nitrogen intermediates, were measured following stimulation of macrophages with latex, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and purified protein derivative-S (PPD-S). Citrulline levels and electron transport chain activity were also determined in the cell cultures. It was observed that there was a significant depression (p < 0.05) in the respiratory burst response in the patient group (0.46 x 10(3) +/- 0.11 cpm per 10(6) cells) compared with the controls (7.12 x 10(3) +/- 2.31 cpm per 10(6) cells). On the other hand, reactive nitrogen intermediates (671.03 +/- 2.18 nmol) and citrulline levels (193.07 +/- 2.38 nmol) were significantly (p < 0.001) higher before initiation of therapy compared with control values (24.36 +/- 2.81 and 18.91 +/- 2.12 nmol respectively). Their levels declined, during the post-therapy period of 3 months, to 60.81 +/- 2.03 and 38.17 +/- 2.13 nmol respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Public awareness, understanding & attitudes toward epilepsy.

The public awareness, understanding and attitudes towards epilepsy were evaluated in a north Indian population in 1992 by personal interview method. The study revealed that 92 per cent of the respondents had read or heard about epilepsy. More than 55 per cent knew someone and had seen a case of seizure. Eighty five per cent of the respondents were not aware of the cause of epilepsy or had wrong beliefs. Eighteen and 15 per cent thought epilepsy to be a hereditary disorder and a form of insanity respectively. About 40 per cent of the respondents felt that children with epilepsy should not be sent to school and also objected to their children's contact with epileptics at school or at play. Two-thirds of the respondents objected to their children marrying a person who had ever had epilepsy. Twenty per cent were ignorant about the manifestation of epilepsy and an equal number were unable to recommend any therapy in case their relatives or friends had epilepsy. Fifty seven per cent did not know what kind of first aid should be given during the epileptic attack. Although the awareness of epilepsy among Indian people was comparable to that of individuals in Western countries, the attitudes of the Indians were much more negative. Better educated people belonging to higher occupational groups were less prejudiced against social contact and schooling of their children with epileptic children compared to low educational and occupational groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The diagnostic reliability of anti-endomysial antibody in celiac disease: the north Israel experience.

Assessment of anti-endomysial antibody (EMA) for the diagnosis and follow-up of celiac disease (CD) is widely accepted, but its applicability has never been investigated in Israel. We therefore investigated EMA as a diagnostic tool in a pediatric population, residing in the northern part of Israel, with suspected celiac disease. EMA was assessed by an indirect immunofluorescence assay using monkey esophageal sections as a substrate in 22 active CD, 17 non-active CD, and 22 non-CD children. EMA titers were correlated with small bowel mucosal pathology. Sensitivity and specificity of EMA were 100%. EMA levels are diet dependent, increasing on a gluten-containing diet and decreasing with gluten withdrawal after 3-12 months. EMA is a reliable marker for the diagnosis of CD, and reflects gluten intake changes and patients' dietary compliance. In our laboratory, EMA is suitable for the diagnosis and follow-up of CD.

Atrophy↗
PubMed1995

Field trial of an ecological approach for the control of Phlebotomus argentipes using mud & lime plaster.

A pilot study for the control of Ph. argentipes, a known vector of kala-azar in India, was carried out using an ecological approach. Of the 15 houses selected for the study 10, including the cattle sheds and latrines, were plastered with a mixture of mud and lime, up to a height of 1.22 m taking care to seal all cracks and crevices. The remaining five houses were left unplastered and were considered as control areas. The pre-treatment and post-treatment resting densities of the sandfly were monitored both in treated and untreated houses. A sudden drop in the sandfly density was noticed in the treated houses, whereas there was no significant reduction in the check houses, suggesting an effective control.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Purification and characterization of hepatic oligosaccharyltransferase.

Oligosaccharyltransferase transfers a preformed oligosaccharide from a dolichol carrier molecule to specific asparaginyl residues of proteins synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum. We have isolated a protein complex with this activity from chicken liver microsomes with 850 fold purification. The purification procedure involved removal of peripheral and lumenal proteins, solubilization of the membranes by non-ionic detergent and glycerol gradient centrifugation. The complex was purified further by ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. SDS-PAGE analysis of the final preparation revealed 3 major protein bands, two bands with an approximate molecular weight of 65-kDa and one band of approximately 50-kDa. Endoglycosidase H digestion of the purified subunits indicated the presence of carbohydrate on the 65-I subunit. No carbohydrate was detected in the 65-II subunit or the 50-kDa subunit. Amino acid sequence analysis of the intact protein subunits and internal peptides generated by cynogen bromide digestion, identified the 65-kDa subunits as ribophorin I and II. The 50-kDa subunit has 25% homology with a yeast membrane protein (Wbplp) which is essential for oligosaccharyltransferase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Membrane attack complex in thickened cutaneous sensory nerves of leprosy patients.

Membrane attack complex (MAC) is a terminal end product produced as a result of complement activation. The deposition of MAC, in tissues, is known to have a local tissue damaging effect in several clinical conditions. Therefore, an attempt was made to demonstrate MAC in peripheral nerve biopsies, collected from leprosy patients. Interestingly, we could demonstrate deposition of MAC in involved cutaneous sensory nerves from most of the lepromatous leprosy patients. Contrary to this, majority of nerve biopsies from tuberculoid leprosy patients did not stain for MAC. Though MAC positive sections showed reactivity for S-protein, our observations support the possibility that MAC, either acting directly or indirectly, may be implicated in nerve damage, at least, in lepromatous leprosy patients.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1995

Motor neurone disease like picture in hyperthyroidism.

Five patients of hyperthyroidism with Motor Neurone Disease like picture seen over a span of five years are described. The illness was of over 3 years duration and all patients were males. One patient had even the diagnosis of "MND'. It took 1 to 3 months for disappearance of MND picture with antithyroid drugs. In MND like disease every effort should be made to exclude hyperthyroidism.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Identification of a recombinational breakpoint at the BAT5 locus in three intra-H-2 recombinant inbred mouse strains.

We have analyzed the S/D region in 14 inbred mouse strains by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using human BAT2 and BAT5 genes as probes. In all recombinant strains, the recombinational breakpoint mapped centromeric to Bat-2 (D17H6S51E). In recombinant strains B6.R4, B6.AK1 and B10.BYR1, recombination occurred within or close to the Bat-5 (D17H6S82E) locus. The immunogenicity of B10.BYR1 and B6.R4 bone marrow cell (BMC) grafts differs from that of both sets of parents, as if genes at or just centromeric to Bat-5 are involved. The phenotype of B6.AK1 BMCs (Kb Dk) is similar to that of the H2k parent suggesting no changes occurred. However, RNA blot analysis has shown that the Bat-5 gene is expressed well in bone marrow cells of B10.BR mice but not in B6.AK1 marrow cells. Analysis of a limited number of tumor cells of hemopoietic origin identified a single transcript for Bat-5. Our present data identify a recombinational hot spot at the Bat-5 locus. The expression of Bat-5 or a nearby gene may influence the immunogenicity of BMCs.

Animals↗