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Biomedical subjects

A Desai

Publications and source records attributed to A Desai.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Reversal of the antiinflammatory effects of methotrexate by the nonselective adenosine receptor antagonists theophylline and caffeine: evidence that the antiinflammatory effects of methotrexate are mediated via multiple adenosine receptors in rat adjuvant arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Weekly low-dose methotrexate (MTX) remains the mainstay of second-line therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We have previously reported that adenosine, acting at specific receptors on inflammatory cells, mediates the antiinflammatory effects of MTX in both in vitro and in vivo models of acute inflammation, but the mechanism by which MTX suppresses the chronic inflammation of arthritis remains controversial. The present study was undertaken to further investigate the means by which adenosine mediates the antiinflammatory effects of MTX. METHODS: The effects of 2 nonselective adenosine receptor antagonists, theophylline and caffeine, were examined, using the rat adjuvant arthritis model of RA. These agents were given alone and in conjunction with MTX, and arthritis severity was assessed clinically, radiologically, and histologically. Since rodent adenosine A3 receptors are not blocked by theophylline, selective A1, A2A, and A2B receptor antagonists were tested as well. RESULTS: Control animals developed severe arthritis, which was markedly attenuated by weekly treatment with MTX (0.75 mg/kg/week). Neither theophylline alone nor caffeine alone (each at 10 mg/kg/day) significantly affected the severity of the arthritis, but both agents markedly reversed the effect of MTX as measured by a severity index, hindpaw swelling, and hindpaw ankylosis. Radiographic and histologic analyses confirmed these observations. Neither A1, A2A, nor A2B receptor antagonists affected the capacity of MTX to ameliorate inflammation in adjuvant arthritis. CONCLUSION: These results provide strong evidence that adenosine mediates the antiinflammatory effects of MTX in this model of RA. Moreover, the findings suggest that abstinence from caffeine, a ubiquitous food additive and medication, may enhance the therapeutic effects of MTX in RA.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Loxosceles deserta spider venom induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in keratinocytes.

Evenomation by arachnids of the genus Loxosceles frequently results in disfiguring necrotic skin lesions. The cellular and molecular mechanisms which contribute to lesion development are incompletely defined but appear to involve participation of several pro-inflammatory mediators. We have recently observed that Loxosceles deserta venom induces the production of chemokines in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human pulmonary epithelial cells. In the present study we observed that Loxosceles deserta venom induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human keratinocytes but little in smooth muscle cells and none in pulmonary epithelial cells. A potent endothelial cell-specific mitogen, VEGF induces angiogenesis and vascular permeability in vivo. RNase protection assay data indicate that VEGF mRNA concentrations in keratinocytes are significantly increased at 2 h following venom exposure. These data suggest that keratinocyte-derived VEGF may contribute to the vasodilation, edema and erythema which occur following Loxosceles evenomation.

Aorta↗
PubMed2000

HIV antibody profiles in serum and CSF of patients with neurological disease can serve as predictors of outcome.

The serum and CSF antibody profiles were investigated in 100 patients with HIV in relation to the type and severity of neurological disease. Among them, 87 were positive for anti-HIV antibodies in the CSF. In 30 of 87 patients detailed analysis by western blot could be performed. In 20 of 30 the profiles were dissimilar, with more of bands being found in the serum than in the CSF. The correlation of western blot profiles to the clinical outcome indicated that the number of anti-HIV antibody bands as well as the index in the CSF of fatal cases were significantly less compared with non-fatal cases (p=0.019 and p=0.039 respectively).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Hürthle cell adenoma diagnosed by core needle biopsy in a male patient.

Hürthle cell adenomas (HCAs) are a rare and potentially lethal variant of follicular tumors of the thyroid. Considerable controversy exists regarding potential risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of HCAs. The authors report the case of a 38-year-old male patient with an 8.3 cm x 3.5 cm HCA. Diagnosis was made preoperatively from a core needle biopsy and confirmed postoperatively on frozen section. Treatment consisted of a right lobectomy.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic↗
PubMed2000

Profile of neurologic disorders associated with HIV/AIDS from Bangalore, south India (1989-96).

One hundred patients (95 males, 5 females, mean age at presentation 31.6 +/- 9.4 yr) with various neurological disorders associated with HIV infection during 1989-1996 were evaluated at NIMHANS, Bangalore. Eighty patients belonged to group I associated with opportunistic neuroinfections and 20 to group II--non infectious neurological disorders. Cryptococcal meningitis either alone (n = 31) or associated with tuberculous meningitis (n = 6) was the most common (46.3%) followed by neurotuberculosis either alone (n = 24) or with cerebral toxoplasmosis (n = 4) accounting for 35 per cent. Other opportunistic neuroinfections included cerebral toxoplasmosis, herpes zoster, fulminant pyogenic meningitis and neurosyphilis. Clinical characteristics, diagnostic clues, their laboratory and radiological profiles and problems encountered in diagnosis and management of these opportunistic infections are highlighted. In group II (19 males and one female; mean age of 32.6 +/- 9.4 yr), two patients had cortical dementia, three acute brain stem involvement, two epilepsy and one had features suggestive of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Two patients of group I during follow up developed cortical dementia. Six had peripheral nervous system involvement similar to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Sixty six patients (63 of group I and 3 of group II) progressed to AIDS, 33 patients from group I and one patient from group II succumbed to the disease. With the rapid increase in the incidence of HIV/AIDS and an increase in the neurological manifestations of HIV/AIDS it is important to recognise the magnitude of the problem for health planning in India.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2000

Efficacy and safety of Ascoril expectorant and other cough formula in the treatment of cough management in paediatric and adult patients--a randomised double-blind comparative trial.

The present study was undertaken to study the comparative safety and efficacy of two cough formulas viz, Ascoril expectorant and other cough formula in the management of cough associated with respiratory disorders. Fifty patients having cough associated with various respiratory disorders like bronchitis and upper or lower respiratory tract infections were randomly divided into 2 equal groups and were treated with one of the two cough formulas viz, Ascoril cough formula and other cough formula in double-blind manner over a period of 15 days. The evaluation of improvement was carried out by a rating scale using three clinical parameters--cough, sputum and breathlessness. The physicians were asked to rate the effectiveness of the therapy and patients were asked to rate the acceptability of therapy using pre-defined operational criteria. It was observed that the improvement and symptom relief was almost immediate, quicker and better in the group receiving Ascoril as compared to other group. On effectiveness parameter, 96% of the physicians rated Ascoril as having either 'very high effectiveness or high effectiveness' as opposed to only 34% of the physicians who rated other cough formula as having 'high' or 'very high effectiveness'. While on parameter of acceptability, 96% of the patients rated acceptability of Ascoril as 'high' or 'good' as opposed to only 24% of the patients who rated other cough formula 'high' or 'good'. The findings of this study suggests that Ascoril cough formula has better efficacy as well as better patient acceptability. Thus, Ascoril cough formula is superior to other cough formula in management of cough associated with respiratory disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of supirocin-B (mupirocin 2% + betamethasone dipropionate 0.05%) in infected dermatoses--a post marketing study.

The aim of the present post marketing study was to study the safety and efficacy of supirocin-B ointment (mupirocin 2% + betamethasone dipropionate 0.05%) in the treatment of infected dermatoses. For this purpose physicians from different parts of India were requested to keep the clinical records prospectively as per a specially designed proforma over a follow-up period of 7 days, whenever they prescribed supirocin-B ointment (mupirocin 2% + betamethasone dipropionate 0.05%) for local application, three times a day, to their patients having either primary infection complicated by dermatoses or dermatoses infected secondarily. From the analysis of 251 clinical records contributed by 27 physicians, it was evident that in clinical practice, supirocin-B ointment (mupirocin 2% + betamethasone dipropionate 0.05%) was found to be safe and very effective by physicians in the treatment of infected dermatoses in 94.8% of the patients. Similarly 92.4% of the patients reported more than 70% improvement in their symptoms after 7 days of treatment. No adverse effects were reported during the treatment period by any of the patients except worsening of skin lesions by one patient. Thus from this study, supirocin-B ointment (mupirocin 2% + betamethasone dipropionate 0.05%) seems to be safe and effective in the treatment of infected dermatoses.

Betamethasone↗
PubMed2000

Candid-B cream in the treatment of candidiasis with inflammatory dermatoses--National Study Group.

Physicians (n = 84) across the country prescribed candid-B cream (clotrimazole 1% + beclomethasone dipropionate 0.025%) on 822 patients suffering from candidiasis with inflammatory diseases to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination. The results showed reduction in severity was more than 80% for all symptoms/signs except scaling and lichenification where the reduction was 76.05% and 66.03% respectively. Only one patient complained of adverse reaction. So in the treatment of coexisting candidiasis and inflammatory dermatoses the combination of clotrimazole 1% + beclomethasone 0.025% (candid-B cream) was found to be highly effective.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of ketoconazole 2% and zinc pyrithione 1% shampoo in patients with moderate to severe dandruff--a postmarketing study.

A postmarketing study was conducted on 236 patients from 23 centres suffering from moderate to severe dandruff with a combination of ketoconazole and zinc pyrithione (1%) for a duration of 4 weeks with 2 weeks further follow-up. Scoring of dandruff was done on a 0-10 scale for each of the 6 regions of scalp at each week up to 6 weeks. The results indicate that there was a consistent improvement in dandruff scores over the treatment period and a reduction of > 90% was seen for all areas of scalp individually as well as collectively as compared to baseline. The treatment also showed significant improvement in other signs and symptoms such as erythema and itching, with a highly favourable adverse event profile. The overall assessment for global improvement by investigators showed good-excellent results with high acceptability amongst the patient population for the treatment. A combination shampoo of ketoconazole (2%) and zinc pyrithione (1%) offers a safe and effective option in the treatment of dandruff.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Microtubule cytoskeleton: No longer an also Ran.

The Ran GTPase cycle has been extensively studied in the context of nuclear transport. Recent work indicates that this GTPase cycle also plays an important role in regulating the microtubule cytoskeleton.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Oral immunisation of mice with live Japanese encephalitis virus induces a protective immune response.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of oral immunisation of mice with live Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Swiss albino mice were immunised with JEV by the peroral (p.o.), intraperitoneal (i.p.) and the subcutaneous (s.c.) routes on days 0, 7 and 14 using either mouse brain derived immunogen (MBDI) or cell culture derived immunogen (CCDI). Oral immunisation of mice evoked high anti-JEV antibody titres by ELISA (Geometric mean titres of 5065 with CCDI and 8854 with MBDI). Moreover, the orally immunised mice showed 76.7% protection with MBDI and 70% with CCDI against intracerebral challenge with a lethal dose of JEV. This study demonstrates for the first time that oral immunisation of mice with live JEV generates a brisk, protective immune response. The results of this study suggest that oral immunisation with JEV holds promise for the future.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

Kin I kinesins are microtubule-destabilizing enzymes.

Using in vitro assays with purified proteins, we show that XKCM1 and XKIF2, two distinct members of the internal catalytic domain (Kin I) kinesin subfamily, catalytically destabilize microtubules using a novel mechanism. Both XKCM1 and XKIF2 influence microtubule stability by targeting directly to microtubule ends where they induce a destabilizing conformational change. ATP hydrolysis recycles XKCM1/XKIF2 for multiple rounds of action by dissociating a XKCM1/ XKIF2-tubulin dimer complex released upon microtubule depolymerization. These results establish Kin I kinesins as microtubule-destabilizing enzymes, distinguish them mechanistically from kinesin superfamily members that use ATP hydrolysis to translocate along microtubules, and have important implications for the regulation of microtubule dynamics and for the intracellular functions and evolution of the kinesin superfamily.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Chemotaxis of Rhizobium sp.S2 towards Cajanus cajan root exudate and its major components.

The chemotactic response of Rhizobium sp. S2, a slow-growing Cajanus cajan isolate, towards its host root exudate was examined. Two classes of mutants, one nonchemotactic towards nutrients (amino acids and sugars) and signal compounds like flavonoids and the other, nonchemotactic towards amino acids and sugars but positive towards naringenin, the flavonoid present in Cajanus cajan root exudate, were obtained. The plasmid-cured derivative of the parent showed positive response towards amino acids and sugars but was nonchemotactic towards naringenin. A possible presence of dual chemotaxis pathways, one towards nutrients and the other for sensing signal compounds, was thus demonstrated. The possible involvement of naringenin as a chemoattractant in the preliminary stages of this Rhizobium-legume interaction was also established.

Amino Acids↗