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Biomedical subjects

A Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to A Gupta.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds on glycaemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a double blind placebo controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds on glycemic control and insulin resistance, determined by HOMA model, in mild to moderate type 2 diabetes mellitus we performed a double blind placebo controlled study. METHODS: Twenty five newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes (fasting glucose < 200 mg/dl) were randomly divided into two groups. Group I (n=12) received 1 gm/day hydroalcoholic extract of fenugreek seeds and Group II (n=13) received usual care (dietary control, exercise) and placebo capsules for two months. RESULTS: At baseline both the groups were similar in anthropometric and clinical variables. Oral glucose tolerance test, lipid levels, fasting C-peptide, glycosylated haemoglobin, and HOMA-model insulin resistance were also similar at baseline. In group 1 as compared to group 2 at the end of two months, fasting blood glucose (148.3 +/- 44.1 to 119.9 +/- 25 vs. 137.5 +/- 41.1 to 113.0 +/- 36.0) and two hour postglucose blood glucose (210.6 +/- 79.0 to 181.1 +/- 69 vs. 219.9 +/- 41.0 to 241.6 +/- 43) were not different. But area under curve (AUC) of blood glucose (2375 +/- 574 vs 27597 +/- 274) as well as insulin (2492 +/- 2536 vs. 5631 +/- 2428) was significantly lower (p < 0.001). HOMA model derived insulin resistance showed a decrease in percent beta-cell secretion in group 1 as compared to group 2 (86.3 +/- 32 vs. 70.1 +/- 52) and increase in percent insulin sensitivity (112.9 +/- 67 vs 92.2 +/- 57) (p < 0.05). Serum triglycerides decreased and HDL cholesterol increased significantly in group 1 as compared to group 2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adjunct use of fenugreek seeds improves glycemic control and decreases insulin resistance in mild type-2 diabetic patients. There is also a favourable effect on hypertriglyceridemia.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Importance of patient/parents education in childhood asthma.

Asthma is fairly common in pediatric age group and the suffering due to asthma continues to increase despite excellent treatments available. One of the four major components of asthma management is patient education and is critical to the success of asthma management. Reasons for continued suffering include that our management strategies are not easily understood by the patient/parents without a simple and careful approach towards this step. Eliciting common concerns and fears is the single and foremost strategy to develop a relationship of trust with the patients/parents. Making them understand about the chronic nature of asthma, need for a long-term care approach, what happens during acute attacks and where medications act are some of the important areas you should be educating about in the beginning. Then comes the skill transfer, i.e. giving them skills to monitor asthma including use of peakflowmeter and use of inhalation devices effectively. Joint development of written plans for medications is essential. Development of plans to control of asthma; jointly with them; including learning about warning signs and a plan to manage acute attack at home is also very important and patient/parents should be having an active participation. Finally, educating them how to identify asthma triggers helps as a long-term strategy to keep control over asthma with or without medications. Reminding patient/parents when to come for follow-up and what would be discussed next time are some important tricks of the trade.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence of coronary risk factors among Indian physicians.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prevalence of coronary risk factors has not been well studied in Indian physicians, therefore, to determine prevalence of selected lifestyle and biochemical coronary risk factors we performed this study. METHODS: Physicians attending a national conference were invited to participate. Of the 1000 questionnaires circulated 256 physicians (221 males, 35 females) responded and were examined for presence of smoking, obesity, truncal obesity, hypertension and ECG abnormalities. Two hundred and thirty four physicians (91.4%, 203 males, 31 females) underwent a fasting blood examination for determination of glucose and lipid profile. Subjects were divided into three age groups: Group I aged < 40 years; Group II 40-49 years; and Group III > or = 50 years. RESULTS: Mean age of the study population was 41.7 +/- 9.3 years (range 26-70). There was no significant difference in the distribution of height, weight, body-mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference and waist-hip ratio (WHR) in different age-groups. Systolic blood pressure (BP) and fasting glucose and triglyceride levels increased with age in both males and females, while diastolic BP, total - LDL and HDL cholesterol levels did not change. Smoking or tobacco use was seen in five males (2.3%). Prevalence of obesity (BMI > or = 25.0 kg/m2) was in 104 (48.6%) males and 18 (51.4%) females. Truncal obesity diagnosed by WHR > 0.9 in males and > 0.8 in females was in 160 (72.4%) males and 23 (65.7%) females and a large waist circumference, > or = 100 cm in males and > or = 90 cm in females, was in 58 (26.2%) males and 7 (20.0%) females. Hypertension (> or = 140/90) was in 74 (33.5%) males and 7 (20%) females. A high prevalence of diabetes diagnosed using fasting blood glucose > or = 126 mg/dl or previous history was noted in males 19 (9.4%), females 4 (12.9%). Prevalence of high total cholesterol levels > or = 200 mg/dl was in 91 (44.8%) males and 10 (32.3%) females. High LDL cholesterol level (> or = 100 mg/dl) was in 144 (70.9%) males and 22 (70.9%) females and LDL levels > or = 130 mg/dl in 70 (34.5%) males and 9 (29.0%) female physicians. High triglyceride levels (> or = 200 mg/dl) were in 38 (18.7%) males and 4 (12.9%) females. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were present in seven subjects: Q-waves in two males and one female and ST-T changes in three males and one female. BMI correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with systolic BP, fasting glucose, and triglycerides and WHR with systolic BP, diastolic BP, fasting glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of obesity, truncal obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia in Indian physicians while smoking, low HDL cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia is low. The overall coronary risk is lower among Indian physicians as compared to previous Indian population studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Frequency doubled Nd:YAG (532 nm) laser photocoagulation in corneal vascularisation: efficacy and time sequenced changes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of frequency-doubled Nd:YAG (532 nm) laser treatment in quiescent corneal vascularisation, and to record the sequential changes in lasered vessels and complications in eyes with one and two quadrant vascularisation. METHODS: Thirty eyes (30 patients)--15 eyes (15 patients) with one-quadrant and 15 eyes (15 patients) with two-quadrant corneal vascularisation were treated. Frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser (532 nm) was used at laser setting of 120-480 mw power, 50-150 mm spot size and 0.05 sec pulse duration. The area of corneal vascularisation, status of treated corneal vessels, area of corneal opacity and visual acuity were recorded before treatment, at one week after treatment and thereafter at monthly intervals up to three months. RESULTS: The mean area of corneal vascularisation decreased from 20.09% to 8.31% of the total corneal area in group I (p<0.01) and from 44.34% to 20.67% of the total corneal area in group II (p<0.01) at 3 months' follow-up. The mean reduction in the area of corneal vascularisation was 58.64% in group I and 53.38% in group II (p>0.05). Of 148 corneal vessels treated, 60 (44.6%) were totally occluded, 44 (30%) partially occluded, 37 (28%) recanalized and there was one shunt vessel at one week following laser treatment. At three months' follow-up, 80 (54.15%) vessels were totally occluded, 14 (9%) partially occluded, 52 (35.14%) recanalised and two shunt vessels appeared. Thus, at three months' follow-up, the number of totally occluded vessels increased and partially occluded vessels decreased. Superficial corneal haemorrhage was observed in 4 (14%) patients. CONCLUSION: Frequency-doubled Nd:YAG (532 nm) laser photocoagulation appears a safe and effective means of reducing the area of corneal vascularisation in quiescent eyes with vascularised corneal opacities.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Threshold retinopathy of prematurity: ocular changes and sequelae following cryotherapy.

PURPOSE: To determine ocular changes and sequelae following cryotherapy for threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 49 eyes of 26 premature babies with threshold ROP treated with cryotherapy between 1995 and 1998. All eyes included in the study had favourable structural outcome after cryotherapy. Follow-up examination of all babies was done 12 - 62 months (average 28 months) after cryotherapy. Visual axis, fixation pattern, anterior segment examination, cycloplegic refraction and dilated fundus examination with indirect ophthalmoscopy were undertaken in all eyes during follow-up. RESULTS: Posterior pole retinal residuae observed following cryotherapy were tortousity of blood vessels in 32 (65.3%), narrow temporal arcade in 22 (44.89%), temporal crescent in 17 (34.69%), disc drag in 13 (26.53%) and macular heterotopia in 7 (14.28%) eyes. Myopia was observed in 20 (40.82%) eyes and strabismus in 5 (19.23%) babies. The significant risk factor for ocular changes was ROP with more clock hours of involvement (p < 0.05). Higher period of gestation was associated with posterior pole changes (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: All premature babies with threshold ROP treated with cryotherapy require frequent and long-term follow up to look for retinal residuae, refractive status, and ocular motility disorders.

Cryotherapy↗
PubMed2001

Bacterial adherence to polymethylmethacrylate posterior chamber intra ocular lenses.

PURPOSE: Bacterial adherence to intraocular lenses (IOLs) has been incriminated in the pathogenesis of postoperative endophthalmitis. Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common organism isolated. We studied the in-vitro adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis to Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) IOLs and the effect of duration of exposure to adherence. METHODS: Two groups of 10 IOLs each were incubated in Staphylococcus epidermidis suspension for 2 minutes and 20 minutes respectively. Adhesion of bacterial cells was determined by counting the number of viable bacteria attached to IOLs. RESULTS: The mean bacterial adherence with 2 minutes incubation was 12,889 +/- 7,150 bacteria/ IOL and with 20 minutes incubation was 84,226 +/- 35,024 bacteria/IOL (P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results show that Staphylococcus epidermidis adheres to PMMA IOLs in vitro and the degree of adherence is less for shorter duration of exposure. We conclude that viable bacteria irreversibly adherent to IOLs may play a role in the pathogenesis of postoperative endophthalmitis. Shorter duration of operative manipulation and exposure to contaminating sources may decrease the chances of postoperative endophthalmitis.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed2001

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome following injury-induced progressive vitiligo.

We report a case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH), Syndrome wherein the patient developed ocular symptoms following injury-induced progressive vitiligo with immunologic evidence from the skin biopsy specimen of the vitiligo. This case supports the hypothesis that the cell-mediated immune process against a common melanocyte antigen plays an important role in the development and progression of the disease.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2001

Prevention of postoperative infections in ophthalmic surgery.

Postoperative endophthalmitis is a serious, vision-threatening complication of intraocular surgery. Better instrumentation, surgical techniques, prophylactic antibiotics and better understanding of asepsis have significantly reduced the incidence of this complication. Postoperative endophthalmitis may occur as an isolated event or as a cluster infection. Topical antibiotics, preoperative periocular preparation with povidone-iodine combined with a sterile operating room protocol significantly reduce the incidence of isolated postoperative endophthalmitis. The role of antibiotics in the irrigating fluid and subconjunctival antibiotics remains controversial. Cluster infections on the other hand are more likely to occur due to the use of contaminated fluids/viscoelastics or a breach in operating room asepsis. Prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis requires strict adherence to operating room norms, with all involved personnel discharging their assigned roles faithfully.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2000

The pyrroloquinoline quinone synthesis genes of Gluconobacter oxydans.

A Tn5-induced glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) deficient mutant of Gluconobacter oxydans IFO 3293 was characterised. DNA sequencing showed that the insertion site occurred in an open reading frame with homology to the pqqE gene. It was shown that acid production could be restored by addition of the coenzyme pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) to the medium. The pqq cluster of G. oxydans ATCC 9937 was cloned and sequenced. It has five genes pqqA-E. The cluster could complement the Tn5-induced mutation in IFO 3293. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis suggested that the pqq genes are not closely linked to the ribF gene that produces the riboflavin cofactor for the gluconic acid dehydrogenase.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2000

Heterodimerization of mu and delta opioid receptors: A role in opiate synergy.

Opiate analgesics are widely used in the treatment of severe pain. Because of their importance in therapy, different strategies have been considered for making opiates more effective while curbing their liability to be abused. Although most opiates exert their analgesic effects primarily via mu opioid receptors, a number of studies have shown that delta receptor-selective drugs can enhance their potency. The molecular basis for these findings has not been elucidated previously. In the present study, we examined whether heterodimerization of mu and delta receptors could account for the cross-modulation previously observed between these two receptors. We find that co-expression of mu and delta receptors in heterologous cells followed by selective immunoprecipitation results in the isolation of mu-delta heterodimers. Treatment of these cells with extremely low doses of certain delta-selective ligands results in a significant increase in the binding of a mu receptor agonist. Similarly, treatment with mu-selective ligands results in a significant increase in the binding of a delta receptor agonist. This robust increase is also seen in SKNSH cells that endogenously express both mu and delta receptors. Furthermore, we find that a delta receptor antagonist enhances both the potency and efficacy of the mu receptor signaling; likewise a mu antagonist enhances the potency and efficacy of the delta receptor signaling. A combination of agonists (mu and delta receptor selective) also synergistically binds and potentiates signaling by activating the mu-delta heterodimer. Taken together, these studies show that heterodimers exhibit distinct ligand binding and signaling characteristics. These findings have important clinical ramifications and may provide new foundations for more effective therapies.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed2000

Sparing of neuronal function postseizure with gene therapy.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that gene therapy interventions can protect neurons from death after neurological insults. In nearly all such studies, however, "protection" consists of reduced neurotoxicity, with no demonstrated preservation of neuronal function. We used a herpes simplex virus-1 system to overexpress either the Glut-1 glucose transporter (GT) (to buffer energetics), or the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2. Both decreased hippocampal neuron loss to similar extents during excitotoxic insults in vitro and in vivo. However, the mediating mechanisms and consequences of the two interventions differed. GT overexpression attenuated early, energy-dependent facets of cell death, blocking oxygen radical accumulation. Bcl-2 expression, in contrast, blocked components of death downstream from the energetic and oxidative facets. Most importantly, GT- but not Bcl-2-mediated protection preserved hippocampal function as assessed spatial maze performance. Thus, gene therapeutic sparing of neurons from insult-induced death does not necessarily translate into sparing of function.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Plasticity in the primary binding site of galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectins. Implication of the C-H...O hydrogen bond at the specificity-determining C-4 locus of the saccharide in 4-methoxygalactose recognition by jacalin and winged bean (basic) agglutinin I.

It is currently believed that an unsubstituted axial hydroxyl at the specificity-determining C-4 locus of galactose is indispensable for recognition by galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectins. Titration calorimetry demonstrates that 4-methoxygalactose retains binding allegiance to the Moraceae lectin jacalin and the Leguminosae lectin, winged bean (basic) agglutinin (WBA I). The binding reactions were driven by dominant favorable enthalpic contributions and exhibited significant enthalpy-entropy compensation. Proton NMR titration of 4-methoxygalactose with jacalin and WBA I resulted in broadening of the sugar resonances without any change in chemical shift. The alpha- and beta-anomers of 4-methoxygalactose were found to be in slow exchange with free and lectin-bound states. Both the anomers experience magnetically equivalent environments at the respective binding sites. The binding constants derived from the dependence of NMR line widths on 4-methoxygalactose concentration agreed well with those obtained from titration calorimetry. The results unequivocally demonstrate that the loci corresponding to the axially oriented C-4 hydroxyl group of galactose within the primary binding site of these lectins exhibit plasticity. These analyses suggest, for the first time, the existence of C-H.O-type hydrogen-bond(s) in protein-carbohydrate interactions in general and between the C-4 locus of galactose derivative and the lectins jacalin and WBA I in particular.

Acetylgalactosamine↗
PubMed2000

Substrate Morphology and Particle Adhesion in Reacting Systems.

This paper describes an effort to measure and model changes in the adhesion of micron-scale particles to substrates in systems in which chemical reactions are occurring. Contact interactions between polystyrene latex spheres and silicon substrates (with surface oxide) immersed in aqueous KNO(3) solutions were studied. Two important results were obtained. First, it was shown that the AFM can be employed to monitor, in situ, changes in adhesive interactions induced by surface chemical reactions in this system. Second, the morphology of the interacting surfaces plays a controlling role in particle adhesion. In particular, for this system, changes in roughness of the substrate changed the interaction force by nearly 90%. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Psychological functioning in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Forty patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) were studied to explore the relationship between aspects of psychological functioning (depression, problems in motoric, cognitive and psychological areas) and physical illness (stage and duration of illness, functional disability, global cognitive status). Depression, motoric, psychological and cognitive problems were found to be significantly greater in patients suffering from severe as compared to moderate disease. Functional disability correlated more strongly with variables assessing psychological functioning. It was concluded that problems of patients with PD were not restricted to the motoric domain but are multi-dimensional in nature, and other factors should be taken into account in the clinical management of the illness. These findings have implications for development of interventions for patients with PD.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Influenza vaccination coverage in old people's home in Carmarthenshire, UK, during the winter of 1998/99.

A mailed questionnaire survey was undertaken in old people's (nursing and residential) homes in Carmarthenshire, UK to determine the influenza vaccine uptake during the 1998/99 season. Out of the total 60 questionnaires circulated, response was received from 47 homes giving an overall response rate of 78%. Amongst the 1399 residents, 1132 (81%) received influenza vaccine in the winter of 1998/99. Uptake was higher in nursing homes (89%) than in residential homes (79%) or dual registered homes (81%). The most common reason for not receiving influenza vaccination was refusal by the residents themselves, although the vaccine was offered to 99% of residents. This study suggests that strategies to improve communication and provision of educational materials outlining the benefits of influenza vaccine to elderly residents and health professionals may help increase the likelihood of vaccine uptake.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Methioninase gene therapy of human cancer cells is synergistic with recombinant methioninase treatment.

Results obtained over the past 40 years have demonstrated that tumor cells of all types tested have an elevated growth requirement for methioninase compared with normal cells. Recombinant methioninase (rMETase) cloned from Pseudomonas putida has been found previously to be an effective antitumor agent attributable to deprivation of the extracellular methionine source of the tumor. To degrade intracellular methioninase, we have now developed an adenoviral vector inserted with the P. putida methioninase (MET) gene (rAd-MET). The in vitro efficacy of rAd-MET was tested on the OVCAR-8 human ovarian cancer cell line, the HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cell line, and human normal fibroblasts. rAd-MET transduction of OVACAR-8 and HT1080 resulted in high levels of methioninase expression up to 10% or more of the total protein of the cells, depending on the multiplicity of infection. The IC50 of rAd-MET for OVCAR-8 cells in 96-well plates was approximately 2 x 106 plaque-forming units (pfu)/well. The IC50 of control adenovirus (control-rAd) was 4 x 10(7) pfu/well, 20 times higher than rAd-MET. In the presence of the IC50 of 2 x 10(6) pfu/well of rAd-MET, the addition of 0.025 units/ml of rMETase, which is 25% of the IC50, resulted in a 90% inhibition of tumor cell number. This indicated that rAd-MET enhanced the efficacy of rMETase. In contrast, 2 x 10(6) pfu/well of control-rAd in combination with 0.025 units/ml of rMETase had an efficacy of only 10% inhibition of cell number. The synergistic effect of the combination of rMETase and rAd-MET was quantitated by calculating the combination index (CI). The CIs for all combinations of rAd-MET and rMETase tested on OVCAR-8 were <0.7 with a mean of 0.5, indicating synergy. Similar synergy of rAd-MET and rMETase was seen on HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells with a mean of 0.74. In contrast, the CIs of all combinations of rMETase and control adenovirus concentrations tested on both cell lines had a mean CI of approximately 1, which indicated that this combination had only an additive effect. The normal fibroblasts, on the other hand, appeared relatively resistant to the MET gene because in the presence of rMETase, 2.5 x 10(7) pfu/well of rAd-MET or control rAd had almost an identical effect on cell survival. The selectively strong synergy of rAd-MET and rMETase on cancer cells allows reduced levels of each agent to be used, thus decreasing potential side effects.

Carbon-Sulfur Lyases↗