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Biomedical subjects

A Jain

Publications and source records attributed to A Jain.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Is hysteria still prevailing? A retrospective study of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

A retrospective study was conducted in a psychiatric setup of S.P. Medical College, Bikaner (Raj.) to assess the social demographic and clinical characteristics of hysterical patients. The illness was more common in female patients. Most of the patients were young, married and illiterate. Nearly half of them had faced some stress prior to onset of their illness. Fits of unconsciousness and aphonia were the commonest presentation in female and male patients respectively. Duration of stay was 2-3 days and most of the patient responded well to different treatment modalities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Immune complex mediated lesions in experimental Kala azar: an ultrastructural study.

Immune complexes play an important role in causation of renal lesions in various diseases. Circulating immune comlexes (CIC) are described in Kala azar. Role of CIC in pathogenesis of Kalaazar is discussed in present study. BALB/C mice were experimentally infected with L. donovani promastigotes. After visceralisation of infection, sera and kidneys of infected mice were preserved. Leishmanial antigen specific CIC could be demonstrated in 100% of infected mice by PEG ELISA, while they were absent in control mice. Ultrastructural pattern of renal lesions in infected mice showed presence of focal small electron dense deposits in glomerular basement membrane and subepithelial space, resembling immune complexes (humps). Rarely subendothelial and mesangial hypercellularity was present. These findings point towards a definite role of CIC in pathogenesis of renal lesions in Kalaazar.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders in adult and pediatric renal transplant patients receiving tacrolimus-based immunosuppression.

Between March 27, 1989 and December 31, 1997, 1316 kidney transplantations alone were performed under tacrolimus-based immunosuppression at our center. Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) developed in 25 (1.9%) cases; the incidence in adults was 1.2% (15/1217), whereas in pediatric patients it was 10.1% (10/99; P<.0001). PTLD was diagnosed 21.0+/-22.5 months after transplantation, 25.0+/-24.7 months in adults and 14.4+/-18.2 months in pediatric patients. Of the 4 adult cases in whom both the donor and recipient Epstein Barr virus (EBV) serologies were known, 2 (50%) were seropositive donor --> seronegative recipient. Of 7 pediatric cases in whom both the donor and recipient EBV serologies were known, 6 (86%) were EBV seropositive donor --> seronegative recipient. Acute rejection was observed before the diagnosis of PTLD in 8 (53%) of 15 adults and 3 (30%) of 10 pediatric patients. Initial treatment of PTLD included a marked decrease or cessation of immunosuppression with concomitant ganciclovir therapy; two adults and two pediatric patients required chemotherapy. With a mean follow-up of 24.9+/-30.1 months after transplantation, the 1- and 5-year actuarial patient and graft survival rates in adults were 93% and 86%, and 80% and 60%, respectively. Two adults died, 3.7 and 46.2 months after transplantation, of complications related to PTLD, and 10 (including the 2 deaths) lost their allograft 3.7-84.7 months after transplantation. In children, the 1- and 5-year actuarial patient and graft survival rates were 100% and 100%, and 100% and 89%, respectively. No child died; one child lost his allograft 41.3 months after transplantation. One child had presumed recurrent PTLD that responded to discontinuation of tacrolimus and reinitiation of antiviral therapy. The mean serum creatinine level in adults was 2.5+/-1.2 mg/dl, and in children, it was 1.3+/-0.6 mg/ dl. Under tacrolimus-based immunosuppression, PTLD is less common after renal transplantation in adults than in children, but PTLD in children is associated with more favorable outcomes than in adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Serine 48 in initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2 alpha) is required for high-affinity interaction between eIF2 alpha(P) and eIF2B.

Phosphorylation of the serine 51 residue in the alpha-subunit of translational initiation factor 2 in eukaryotes (eIF2 alpha) impairs protein synthesis presumably by sequestering eIF2B, a rate-limiting pentameric guanine nucleotide exchange protein which catalyzes the exchange of GTP for GDP in the eIF2-GDP binary complex. To further understand the importance of eIF2 alpha phosphorylation in the interaction between eIF2 alpha(P) and eIF2B proteins and thereby the regulation of eIF2B activity, we expressed the wild type (wt) and a mutant eIF2 alpha in which the serine 48 residue was replaced with alanine (48A mutant) in the baculovirus system. The findings reveal that the expression of both of these recombinant subunits was very efficient (15-20% of the total protein) and both proteins were recognized by an eIF2 alpha monoclonal antibody and were phosphorylated to the same extent by reticulocyte eIF2 alpha kinases. However, partially purified recombinant subunits (wt or 48A mutant) were not phosphorylated as efficiently as the eIF2 alpha subunit present in the purified reticulocyte trimeric eIF2 complex and were also found to inhibit the phosphorylation of eIF2 alpha of the trimeric complex. Furthermore, the extents of inhibition of eIF2B activity and formation of the eIF2 alpha(P)-eIF2B complex that occurs due to eIF2 alpha phosphorylation in poly(IC)-treated rabbit reticulocyte lysates were decreased significantly in the presence of insect cell extracts expressing the 48A mutant eIF2 alpha compared to those for wt. These findings support the hypothesis that the serine 48 residue is required for high-affinity interaction between eIF2 alpha(P) and eIF2B.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed1999

Models of F.H contacts relevant to the binding of fluoroaromatic inhibitors to carbonic anhydrase II.

[formula: see text] Complexes formed between fluorobenzene and N-methylformamide or benzene have been used as models of the interaction of fluoroaromatic drugs with carbonic anhydrase II. These structures have been investigated via ab initio and density functional methods, including HF, B3LYP, and MP2 procedures. The results of the calculations are consistent with the hypothesis, suggested originally by experimental X-ray crystal structures of the drug-receptor complexes, that favorable fluorine-hydrogen interactions affect binding affinity.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1999

Generality and specificity of emotion-recognition deficit in schizophrenic patients with positive and negative symptoms.

Schizophrenic patients with positive and negative symptoms, as well as non-patient control subjects, were asked to recognize emotional stimuli of happy, sad, and neutral facial expressions. Dependent measures were the percentage of correct responses, and the incorrect use of an emotion category owing to false recognition. Schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms exhibited a generalized emotion-recognition deficit, and their use of emotion categories during false recognition was random. Schizophrenic patients with positive symptoms showed a deficit in their recognition of 'sad' emotion and were 'positively biased' to the category 'happy' as reflected by its most frequent usage during false recognition.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The pattern of fluorine substitution affects binding affinity in a small library of fluoroaromatic inhibitors for carbonic anhydrase.

[formula: see text] A library of fluoroaromatic inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase has been found to bind in a manner dependent on both hydrophobicity and the pattern of substitution of the fluoroaromatic ring. All of the compounds in the library bind to the protein with Kd < 3 nM. We have inferred two distinct binding modes from our data, which suggest two types of interactions that should be considered when designing fluorinated drugs.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1999

A caged hydrophobic inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase II.

[formula: see text] A tight-binding, hydrophobic inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase II has been masked with a water-solubilizing, photolabile group derived from o-nitrophenylglycine. This caged inhibitor represents our first effort at the site-specific delivery of prodrugs that can be activated by light. Via this approach, we have begun to address the problems of water insolubility and systemic side effects on administration of tight-binding inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1999

General practitioners' experiences of patients' complaints: qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine how general practitioners experience patients' complaints. SETTING: General practices in Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham health authority. PARTICIPANTS: Representative sample of 30 general practitioners who had had complaints made against them under either the old or new complaints system. DESIGN: Qualitative study with detailed interviews. RESULTS: Participants described their experiences of patients' complaints in three stages: initial impact, conflict, and resolution. The first stage described being out of control, feelings of shock and panic, and a sense of indignation towards patients generally. The second stage described the many conflicts generated by the complaint: emotional conflicts such as feelings of anger, depression, and even suicide, conflicts around aspects of professional identity including doubts about clinical competence, conflicts with family and colleagues, and conflicts arising from the management of the complaint. The third stage described a sense of resolution. For many this meant practising defensively, for others it meant planning to leave general practice, and for a minority no resolution was achieved. Not all participants, however, reported such a negative experience. Some described how they had become immune to complaints, and a small minority described the complaint as a learning experience. CONCLUSION: The initial impact stage and conflict stage may be necessary aspects of the experience that general practitioners endure when they have a complaint made against them. Support structures should, however, be in place to help general practitioners through these stages.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1999

Reactivities of flavonoids with different hydroxyl substituents for the cleavage of DNA in the presence of Cu(II).

DNA strand scission reactions of flavonoids in the presence of Cu(II) have been extended by using flavonoids with a variety of patterns of hydroxyl substitution. In particular we have examined for the first time a flavonoid (7,8-dihydroxyflavone) that lacks the possibility of forming a complex involving the oxygen at position 4. By comparing the reactivities of several flavonoids, including data from the literature, we draw generalizations for the correlation of structure and activity and present evidence for at least three different modes of action of flavonoids as genotoxic agents.

Copper↗
PubMed1999

Anti-interleukin 12 treatment regulates apoptosis of Th1 T cells in experimental colitis in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis is a T-helper 1 (Th1) T cell-mediated inflammation that is rapidly reversed by administration of anti-interleukin (IL) 12. This study sought to define the mechanism of this curative effect. METHODS: Cells and tissue from mice with TNBS colitis receiving treatment with anticytokines were analyzed for phenotype, cytokine production, and apoptosis. RESULTS: In initial studies, we found that treatment of mice with TNBS-induced colitis with anti-IL-12 was more effective than with anti-interferon (IFN)-gamma, and that anti-IL-12 led to complete normalization of IFN-gamma production by lamina propria T cells ex vivo, whereas anti-IFN-gamma did not. These data suggesting that anti-IL-12 leads to reversal of colitis by elimination of the Th1 T cells were substantiated by studies showing that anti-IL-12 treatment led to increased numbers of apoptotic cells in the lamina propria and spleen by both TUNEL staining of tissues and dispersed spleen cell populations. Finally, we found that the observed apoptosis was mediated by the Fas pathway because (1) MRL/MpJ-lpr(fas) mice lacking Fas function develop colitis that responds poorly to treatment with anti-IL-12; and (2) SJL/J mice with TNBS colitis that received Fas-Fc to block the Fas pathway were resistant to anti-IL-12 treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These studies show that a main mechanism of action of anti-IL-12 in TNBS-induced colitis is the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis of the Th1 T cells, causing inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

An immunologically active arabinogalactan from Tinospora cordifolia.

An arabinogalactan of mean M(r) 2.2 x 10(6) has been isolated from the dried stems of Tinospora cordifolia and examined by methylation analysis, partial hydrolysis and carboxyl reduction. Purified polysaccharide showed polyclonal mitogenic activity against B-cells, their proliferation did not require macrophages.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1999

Immunosuppressive therapy.

Although several new immunosuppressive medications have been developed in the past decade, many possible avenues are yet to be explored. Although the newer agents have not reflected any clear benefit in patient or graft survival over CsA or tacrolimus, they have been useful in reducing the incidence and severity of rejection, reducing the concomitant use of steroids, and decreasing the doses of CsA or tacrolimus to minimize their toxicity profile. The appearance of these new agents has given more options to clinicians, who can select the one with the least toxicity and most efficacy for individual patients. In the future, combinations of these agents, in conjunction with a strategy to induce tolerance of the donor organ without drug toxicity, will be the goal.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1999

Liver transplantation for metabolic liver diseases.

Liver transplantation has revolutionized the outcome of metabolic liver diseases that are caused by defects in hepatocytes (e.g., Wilson's disease) or by excessive deposition of substrates secondary to their increased absorption (e.g., hemochromatosis). Early diagnosis and referral are the keys to successful outcome. The timing of liver transplantation for patients on medical therapy depends on a lack of biochemical and clinical evidence of improvement. Overall outcome following liver transplantation depends on the severity of multisystem involvement and preoperative decompensation.

Hemochromatosis↗
PubMed1999

Global change: state of the science.

Only recently, within a few decades, have we realized that humanity significantly influences the global environment. In the early 1980s, atmospheric measurements confirmed basic concepts developed a decade earlier. These basic concepts showed that human activities were affecting the ozone layer. Later measurements and theoretical analyses have clearly connected observed changes in ozone to human-related increases of chlorine and bromine in the stratosphere. As a result of prompt international policy agreements, the combined abundances of ozone-depleting compounds peaked in 1994 and ozone is already beginning a slow path to recovery. A much more difficult problem confronting humanity is the impact of increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases on global climate. The processes that connect greenhouse gas emissions to climate are very complex. This complexity has limited our ability to make a definitive projection of future climate change. Nevertheless, the range of projected climate change shows that global warming has the potential to severely impact human welfare and our planet as a whole. This paper evaluates the state of the scientific understanding of the global change issues, their potential impacts, and the relationships of scientific understanding to policy considerations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

A prospective study on conversion from sandimmune to neoral in stable adult liver transplant recipients.

Neoral is a microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin (CyA), which has more consistent and better pharmacokinetics parameters with improved bioavailability compared to conversional formulation of Sandimmune. Sixty-four stable adults (age >18 years), who had received liver transplants (LTx) and were on Sandimmune-based immunosuppression, were converted to Neoral on milligram for milligram basis. Mean age was 52.5 +/- 13.5 years and male/female distribution was 22/42. Mean interval from LTx to conversion was 109.2 +/- 136 months. In 13 patients (20%) the dose of Neoral was reduced because of an increase in serum creatinine (N = 9), hyperkalemia (N = 1), headache (N = 1), peripheral parasthesia (N = 1), and a general sense of discomfort (N = 1). Interestingly, in two patients a decrease in the trough concentration was observed with the increase in liver enzymes. Both patients responded to an increase in Neoral dose. The present study suggests while the majority of the stable liver transplant patients (77%) can be safely converted to Neoral from Sandimmune on a milligram to milligram basis, they need to be carefully monitored for renal function, liver function, and trough concentration of CyA.

Adult↗