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Biomedical subjects

A Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to A Gupta.

At least 847 records · Page 47Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Ocular manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis in north India.

Evidence of ocular involvement was found in seven of eleven patients with histologically confirmed Wegener's granulomatosis. Pain (7/7), redness (6/7), scleritis (5/7), reduced visual acuity (5/7), episcleritis (5/7), uveitis (3/7), proptosis, sclerokeratitis and conjunctivitis (2/7) each were the major ophthalmological features. One patient each had bilateral corneoscleral ulcers, eyelid infiltration, scleromalacia perforans and epiphora. Corneal, scleral and uveal tract involvement was observed more frequently than has been described in the literature. These complications responded favourably to treatment with cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids. Treatment was delayed as most of these patients were diagnosed, initially, to be suffering from tuberculosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Regulation of sterol biosynthesis and of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity in cultured cells by progesterone.

Treatment of rat intestinal epithelial cells in culture (IEC-6) with progesterone (10 micrograms/ml) caused a strong inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis as indicated by a decreased incorporation of radiolabel from [3H]acetate. This inhibition was accompanied by an accumulation of radioactivity in an intermediate which coeluted with authentic desmosterol upon high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition, treatment of cells with progesterone caused lesser accumulation of radiolabel in products with retention times (RT) of 7.9 and 13.5 min on reverse-phase HPLC. The RT-13.5 compound was tentatively identified as cholesta-5,7,24-trien-3 beta-ol based on its relative retention and on its conversion to cholesterol upon incubation with untreated cells. The RT-7.9 compound was identified as 24 (S),25-epoxycholesterol (S-EC) based on its coelution with authentic S-EC and by its conversion to 25-hydroxycholesterol upon reduction with LiAlH4. Incubation of IEC-6 cells with chemically prepared S-EC resulted in dose-dependent suppression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity within 6 h (I50 = 0.3 microM). Pretreatment of cells with progesterone prevented this suppressive effect. No suppression of reductase activity was observed in progesterone-treated cells in spite of obvious accumulation of S-EC in amounts sufficient to effect regulation; instead, a 2-3-fold increase in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity occurred within a 24-h period. Following the removal of progesterone from the culture medium, reductase activity declined rapidly over the next 6 h. However, IEC-6 cells could not metabolize S-EC, derived either endogenously or exogenously, during a similar time frame; nor did progesterone affect the uptake of exogenous S-EC by IEC-6 cells. These results show that although progesterone treatment of cultured cells promotes the synthesis of a natural oxysterol suppressor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, the continued presence of progesterone prevents the regulatory action of S-EC. The unique nature of this interference is high-lighted by the observation that progesterone could not prevent the suppression of reductase activity by either 25-hydroxycholesterol or mevalonolactone.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Studies on the cardiovascular effects produced by the spinal action of two substance P analogues in the rat: evidence for a central catecholaminergic mechanism.

The effects of two substance P (SP) analogues, [D-Trp7,9,10]SP (ana1) and [D-Pro4,Lys6,D-Trp7,9,10,Phe11]SP-(4-11) (ana2) on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured following intrathecal administration at one of three spinal cord levels in rats anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. Following an initial increase, a profound and long-lasting fall in MAP and HR occurred when 6.5 nmol of either ana1 or ana2 was injected at T1-T3 or T8-T10. Only transient changes in MAP and a slight increase in HR was observed after injection of either peptide at L2-L4. The profound and long-lasting hypotension and bradycardia induced by ana1 were not significantly altered after intravenous injection of hexamethonium, phentolamine, propranolol, atropine, diphenhydramine, cimetidine, methysergide, naloxone or morphine. However, the biphasic effect of ana1 on MAP was prevented by the intrathecal administration of prazosin and yohimbine, suggesting that a central catecholaminergic mechanism including alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors is involved. The latter treatment did not prevent the tachycardia which occurred when the bradycardia was blocked, indicating that different mechanisms mediate the spinal action of ana1 on MAP and HR. Finally, cervical transection of the spinal cord eliminated the profound and long-lasting depressor effect of ana2, suggesting that a supraspinal mechanism is involved in this cardiovascular response.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Adult onset Still's disease in North India. A report on six patients.

Six patients suffering from adult onset of Still's disease were seen over a 10-year period. Contrary to expectations, complications of deformative arthritis (two patients), amyloidosis (one patient), uveitis (one patient) and chronic granulomatous liver disease (one patient) were observed during follow-up. One patient succumbed due to iatrogenic causes; autopsy showed that the pathological changes, like the clinical features, were non-specific. Four patients responded to aspirin and indomethacin; two required corticosteroids.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Wegener's granulomatosis in north India. An analysis of eleven patients.

Eleven patients with Wegener's granulomatosis were seen at this Institute over a period of 20 years. There were six men and five women. The average age of presentation was 38.3 years, and the mean duration of symptoms was 10.5 months. Constitutional symptoms (82%), cough (82%), ocular symptoms (64%), arthralgias (55%), rhinorrhoea (55%), haemoptysis (45%), nasal granuloma (45%), otorrhoea (36%), sinusitis (36%), skin lesions (27%), and renal failure (27%) were the clinical manifestations encountered. All patients had an elevated ESR, and 55% had leucocytosis. Proteinuria and haematuria were observed in 64% and 55% respectively. Chest radiographs were abnormal in 82%. In four patients the disease had a fulminant course and the patients died before adequate treatment was given. Two patients received corticosteroids alone and have since been lost to follow up. Five (45%) received adequate cytotoxic therapy and have done well for 8-46 months (mean, 24.8 months) after diagnosis. Wegener's granulomatosis in India is apparently similar to that seen elsewhere, but the high incidence of tuberculosis interferes with early diagnosis and treatment.

Adolescent↗