Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes in an elderly male.
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Calcinosis↗
Biomedical subjects
A K Das
Publications and source records attributed to A K Das.
An extended SQL for temporal data management in clinical decision-support systems.
We are developing a database implementation to support temporal data management for the T-HELPER physician workstation, an advice system for protocol-based care of patients who have HIV disease. To understand the requirements for the temporal database, we have analyzed the types of temporal predicates found in clinical-trial protocols. We extend the standard relational data model in three ways to support these querying requirements. First, we incorporate timestamps into the two-dimensional relational table to store the temporal dimension of both instant- and interval-based data. Second, we develop a set of operations on timepoints and intervals to manipulate timestamped data. Third, we modify the relational query language SQL so that its underlying algebra supports the specified operations on timestamps in relational tables. We show that our temporal extension to SQL meets the temporal data-management needs of protocol-directed decision support.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Human rabies: modes of transmission.
In contrast to past experience, transmission of rabies by routes other than bite or licking by rabid animals has been identified in recent years. Man to man spread via corneal transplant is a well recognised phenomenon now. Airborne infection in caves as well as in laboratories among workers dealing with rabies virus has been well documented. There is also a potential risk of infection to attendants of rabies patients. Hence, adequate protective measures should be adopted.
Animals↗
Haemorrhagic meningitis due to Bacillus anthrax.
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Adult↗
Peroxisomal localization of acyl-coenzyme A reductase (long chain alcohol forming) in guinea pig intestine mucosal cells.
Upon differential centrifugation of guinea pig intestine mucosal cells homogenate, fatty acyl-CoA:NADPH oxidoreductase (long chain alcohol forming) was found to be enriched in the light mitochondrial (L) fraction (sedimenting between 66,000 x g min and 500,000 x g min) which contained mainly mitochondria, lysosomes, and peroxisomes. Peroxisomes (marker enzymes: catalase and dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase) present in the L fraction were separated from other organelles in a Nycodenz density gradient centrifugation employing a vertical rotor. By comparing the distribution of acyl-CoA reductase with different marker enzymes in the gradient, it was concluded that this reductase is primarily localized in the microperoxisomes (microbodies). The topography of the membrane-bound enzyme in the isolated organelles was studied by checking its lability toward trypsin in the absence and presence of the detergent Triton X-100. The results suggested that acyl-CoA reductase is localized on the outer surface (cytosolic side) of microperoxisomal membrane.
Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase, Long-Chain↗
Indirect determination of free cyanide in industrial waste effluent by atomic absorption spectrometry.
An indirect method is described for the determination of free cyanide in industrial waste effluent samples by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). In an alkaline medium, cyanide forms a stable complex species [Cu(BPTC)(CN)] (BPTC = 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone), which can be extracted into a mixture of isobutyl methyl ketone-isopentyl alcohol (7 + 1) with an efficiency of greater than 98.5%. The extract can be analysed directly for copper (and hence indirectly for cyanide) by flame AAS. The calibration graph is linear up to 5.7 micrograms of cyanide per millilitre of solvent mixture and the limit of detection is 4.8 ng ml-1. A large number of foreign ions were found not to interfere with the proposed method.
Cyanides↗
Lichen planus pemphigoides: a clinicopathological study of nine cases.
Lichen planus pemphigoides is a rare condition characterized by blisters arising on normal or erythematous skin in a patient with concurrent lichen planus. It must be distinguished from bullous lichen planus, in which, as a consequence of severe basal cell hydropic degeneration, blisters arise within lichenoid papules or plaques. We present a clinicopathological study of nine cases of lichen planus pemphigoides, and report histological, immunofluorescent, ultrastructural and immuno-electronmicroscopical observations. We distinguish lichen planus pemphigoides from bullous lichen planus and consider the differential diagnosis. We propose that lichen planus pemphigoides does not represent a homogeneous condition: it may represent a number of bullous dermatoses that develop as a consequence of exposure of different basement membrane antigens following severe damage to the epidermal basement membrane as part of the lichenoid inflammatory process.
Adult↗
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus--the annular variant. A histological and ultrastructural study of five cases.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is an uncommon, non-scarring variant of lupus erythematosus which has received scant attention in the pathology literature. Its recognition as a distinct entity is important, as, although mild systemic features may be associated, there is characteristically a relative absence of life-threatening renal or central nervous systemic involvement. Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus may be clinically sub-divided into the more common annular and the rarer papulosquamous (psoriasiform) variants. A clinicopathological study of five cases of the annular variant is presented with a review of the literature. We highlight the histological and ultrastructural appearances. Discriminatory features from the other variants of lupus erythematosus and additional conditions with which it may be confused, including lichen planus and acute graft-versus-host disease, are discussed.
Adult↗
Lipid bilayer in genetic hypertension.
Membrane microviscosity, phospholipid composition, and turnover were measured in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from mesenteric arteries of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive and age-matched, normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. Membrane microviscosity, measured with fluorescence polarization, revealed greater microviscosity (lower fluidity) of the membranes isolated from smooth muscle cells from hypertensive as compared with those isolated from normotensive rats (p less than 0.01). Preincubation of membranes from hypertensive rats with 5 mM calcium reduced membrane microviscosity in "core" and in "surface" regions of the bilayer toward values observed in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Phospholipid composition did not differ between intact aortas and cultured mesenteric cells or between those tissues obtained from normotensive and from hypertensive rats. The total lipid-associated radioactivity was significantly lower in cells from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats than in those from Wistar-Kyoto controls (p less than 0.01). Phosphatidylcholine incorporated 70% and phosphatidylinositol 16% of total lipid-associated radioactivity, with no difference between cells from hypertensive and normotensive animals. Turnover of phosphatidylethanolamine was greater in cells from Wistar-Kyoto rats (p = 0.02), whereas turnover of phosphatidylserine was greater in cells from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (p = 0.04). The greater microviscosity of the lipid bilayer in hypertension is a generalized defect of the matrix in which the transport proteins function. We hypothesize that this defect is responsible for the multiple abnormalities of membrane transport systems that have been described in genetic hypertension.
Animals↗
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Diabetic neuropathy, a challenging contemporary problem, has a clinical prevalence of 60% problematic peripheral neuropathy occurs in about 20%. Recent concepts in aetiopathogenesis include the role of sorbitol excess and myoinositol depletion in causing deficient Na+/K+ ATPase activity. Sorbitol excess per se may result in intraneuronal oedema. Besides these metabolic hypotheses, theories on endoneurial microcapillary pathology and hypoxia have gained favour. Furthermore, a unifying concept of sorbitol excess with intraneuronal oedema leading to secondary vascular compromise has been suggested. A new research classification linking clinical and laboratory evaluation has been proposed which may serve to unify research results. Quantitative sensory testing, autonomic function testing and electrodiagnosis have been utilised to detect incipient diabetic neuropathy. The benefit of 'tight' glycaemic control has been objectively documented by using laboratory parameters. Oral myoinositol supplementation and gangliosides have produced marginal improvement. The role of intraneuronal oedema in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy and its reversal by aldose reductase inhibitors holds out fresh promise for their use in prevention and treatment.
Diabetic Neuropathies↗
A precipitating factor in tropical diabetic foot ulcer in India.
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Animals↗
Primary carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Effect of primary and secondary therapy on survival.
The pathologic material and medical records of 76 patients with primary upper urinary tract carcinomas were reviewed to identify the role of grade and stage in predicting survival; to determine any differences in survival between ureteral and renal pelvic carcinoma; to understand the role of local therapy in low grade, low stage tumors; and to establish the usefulness of adjuvant therapies in metastatic disease. Kaplan-Meier survival curves with Cox-Mantel analysis for statistical significance revealed both grade and stage to be excellent predictors of survival. No differences in survival were noted between renal pelvic and ureteral carcinomas for equivalent stage tumors. For low grade, low stage tumors, although there was an increased risk of local recurrence with local therapy, there were no differences in survival between patients treated with local therapy or radical surgery. Finally, cisplatin-based chemotherapy seemed to improve survival in patients with metastatic disease.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Dependence of an alkyl glycol-ether monooxygenase activity upon tetrahydropterins.
Glyceryl-ether monooxygenase (1-alkyl-sn-glycerol,tetrahydropteridine: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.16.5) catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of 1-O-alkyl glycerol or glycol derivatives to a long-chain aldehyde and the glycerol or glycol derivative. The specificity for tetrahydropterins of a similar, perhaps identical, enzyme that cleaves O-hexadecyl ethylene glycol in rat liver microsomes was examined with the use of an assay based on [1-3H]ethylene glycol formation from 2-hexadecyloxy [1-3H]ethan-1-ol. Several tetrahydropterin derivatives are effective electron donors for this reaction, and 2,4,5-triamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine is somewhat effective, but NADH, NADPH, ascorbate, reduced dichlorophenolindophenol and glutathione are inactive. Tetrahydropterin derivatives differ from each other in apparent Km and apparent Vmax. The order of increasing apparent Km values is tetrahydropterin approximately 6-methyltetrahydropterin approximately tetrahydrobiopterin less than 6.7-dimethyltetrahydropterin less than tetrahydrofolate. The order of increasing apparent Vmax values is tetrahydrofolate approximately tetrahydropterin less than 6-methyltetrahydropterin approximately tetrahydrobiopterin approximately 6,7-dimethyltetrahydropterin. Results obtained with the use of a spectrophotometric assay, in which tetrahydropterin oxidation is coupled to NADH oxidation by dihydropteridine reductase (NAD(P)H: 6,7-dihydropteridine oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.7), indicated that the ratio of 6,7-dimethyltetrahydropterin or 6-methyltetrahydropterin oxidized to ether lipid degraded is about 1.1 to 1.3. Unlike cytochrome P-450-dependent hydroxylases, this alkyl glycol-ether monooxygenase is not inhibited by carbon monoxide. 1-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol (chimyl alcohol) competitively inhibits the oxidation of the glycol ether indicating that the same enzyme probably catalyzes the oxidation of both O-alkyl glycol and 1-O-alkyl glycerol.
Alcohols↗
Glomerular epithelial-cell endocytosis of horseradish peroxidase-polylysine conjugate in immune-complex glomerulonephritis.
Glomerulonephritis was induced in rats by daily intravenous cationised bovine serum albumin. The conjugate of horseradish peroxidase with poly-L-lysine was injected as a tracer of endocytosis by glomerular epithelial cells. The rats were sacrificed serially from 1 min to 24 h after the injection of the conjugate. The cytochemical localisation of peroxidase was observed by light- and electron-microscopy. Peroxidase was detectable in the GBM and immune deposits from 1 min after the injection but was cleared by 2 h. Cellular membrane staining by the conjugate and the membrane invaginations containing concentrated peroxidase were prominent adjacent to the subepithelial immune deposits. Peroxidase was initially localised intracellularly in membrane-bound vesicles adjacent to the subepithelial deposits. They subsequently moved towards the cell centre and became larger, some having the characteristics of lysosomes. Peroxidase activity significantly diminished within the cells by 16 h. The results show that glomerular epithelial-cell endocytosis in immune-complex glomerulonephritis is similar to that observed in the normal, but cellular membrane binding and invagination are more prominent adjacent to immune deposits. The trapping of the tracer in the deposits did not seem to alter its property of being taken up by the epithelial cells.
Animals↗
Haemorheology in diabetes.
The rheology of blood is disturbed in diabetes due to increased viscosity of blood and decreased deformability of red blood cells. This disturbed haemorheology contributes to diabetic vasculopathy and is reversible with treatment with insulin.
Blood Viscosity↗
Studies on outbreak of viral hepatitis at Calcutta with special reference to serological investigations.
Sixty cases of acute viral hepatitis were studied from clinical, biochemical and in particular serological point of view. Majority of the patients had significant pre-icteric and icteric phase with moderate elevations of bilirubin, SGOT and SGPT and marginal elevations of serum alkaline phosphatase. Cholestatic features were observed only in 6.7% of cases. All subjects improved and there was no death in this series. Serological marker studies revealed hepatitis A in 8 (13.3%) cases and hepatitis B in 3 (5.0%) cases. Rest 49 cases were possibly due to non-A, non-B hepatitis. As there was no evidence of parenteral transmission, it was concluded that this epidemic was water borne from contaminated municipal water supply.
Adolescent↗