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Biomedical subjects

A Mukherjee

Publications and source records attributed to A Mukherjee.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Sister chromatid exchange induced by secondary and tertiary amine containing dyes and in combination with nitrite in vivo in mice.

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induced by Indigo carmine (secondary amine containing dye), Fast green FCF (tertiary amine containing dye) and nitrite singly and in combination with nitrite were carried out in vivo in mice following acute exposure. A significant trend in the frequency of SCE in bone marrow cells was observed for all the dyes and nitrite tested when compared to the negative control. Fast green FCF was found to be more toxic than Indigo carmine. In addition, when a combination of half the concentrations of the dyes and nitrite was given, the values of SCEs were consistently lower than the sum of the expected values of the agents given individually. This indicates antagonistic response between the dyes and nitrite on SCEs.

Analysis of Variance↗

Inbreeding effects on bilateral asymmetry of dermatoglyphic patterns.

Bilateral correlations are higher and bilateral variances within individuals smaller in the samples of inbred individuals than in matched control groups of the same sex for pattern intensities on fingers in four series of data and also for pattern intensities on palms, toes, and soles and the palmer main line indices in the data collected from a Muslin population of West Bengal. This trend is not apparent in two series of data from the Yanadi tribe, in which the inbred and noninbred samples are not controlled for random variation of genes and environment. Increased variances between individuals and changes in means and distributions of the traits in the inbred samples of the matched data indicate some influence of homozygosity of genes for the traits on their asymmetry. The reduced variability of asymmetry of the traits in the inbred cannot be explained by homozygosity of genes for either directional or absolute asymmetry. One possible explanation is that heterozygotes for these dermatoglyphic triats are more responsive to environmental stress than homozygotes and/or increased selection in the homozygotes against genetic disorders associated with dermatoglyphic asymmetry may reduce the variability of such asymmetry.

Analysis of Variance↗

Immunotherapeutic effects of a vaccine based on a saprophytic cultivable mycobacterium, Mycobacterium w in multibacillary leprosy patients.

Immunotherapy with a vaccine consisting of autoclaved Mycobacterium w was given in addition to chemotherapy in 54 multibacillary, lepromin negative patients belonging to BB, BL and LL types of leprosy. Thirty-seven patients with similar types of diseases received chemotherapy and placebo injections. The 'vaccine' was repeated every 3 months. Bacterial clearance was more rapid in the vaccinated patients. Two lepromatous leprosy patients with initial bacterial index (BI) of 1.8 and 2.8 became bacteriologically negative in 1 year. One LL patient with BI of 6.0 had a BI fall to 0.16 after four doses of the vaccine. None of the LL patients belonging to placebo group during the same time period became bacteriologically negative. Rapid bacterial clearance was accompanied by distinct signs of clinical improvement. One hundred percent of BB, 85.7% of BL patients and 61.5% of LL patients converted to lepromin positivity after four doses of the vaccine. A significant number of vaccinated patients demonstrated an upgrading in skin lesions histopathologically.

Bacterial Vaccines↗

Giant nerve abscesses in leprosy.

Two leprosy patients with neuritis caused by giant abscesses involving almost the entire ulnar nerve are described. One patient, who also had skin lesions, was diagnosed histopathologically as having borderline tuberculoid leprosy both on skin and nerve biopsy, and the other, with only nerve involvement, belonged to the pure neuritic group. The lepromin test was strongly positive (with a vesicular reaction in one patient) and lymphocyte transformation to Mycobacterium leprae antigen was raised. These lesions can be easily mistaken for a peripheral nerve tumour in places where leprosy is uncommon. A brief account of the management of nerve abscess in leprosy is given.

Abscess↗

Nodularity of nerves in treated leprosy.

Ten patients with fully treated paucibacillary leprosy, mainly tuberculoid, had asymptomatic nodules present along the peripheral nerves that persisted even after the skin lesions had completely subsided and treatment was stopped. Histopathology of the nodules revealed no signs of activity of the disease. The evolution, follow-up care, and significance of these nodules are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Differential translation of cell division proteins.

Cloned division genes (ftsQ and ftsA) and the gene for beta-lactamase (bla) were transcribed in vivo from a bacteriophage T7 promoter under conditions which blocked the use of other promoters. The different coding regions of single mRNAs were translated with widely different efficiencies, such that the ratio of beta-lactamase production to FtsQ production was about 75:1. The relative rates of translation of the division proteins reflected their relative rates of production from normal chromosomal promoters (FtsA greater than FtsQ). We show that the low rates of production of FtsQ and FtsA proteins are due to their ribosome-binding sequences and that there is no obligatory translational coupling between them, despite the close proximity of the genes. Levels of translation of FtsA are shown to be proportional to levels of transcription, and therefore there is no evidence of variable regulation of translation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Multiple cutaneous nerve abscesses on a healed tuberculoid patch.

A case of healed tuberculoid leprosy (TT) with multiple superficial nerve abscesses involving the whole cutaneous network on the patch is reported. To the best of our knowledge multiple cutaneous nerve abscesses involving the entire subcutaneous plexus on a TT patch is a very uncommon observation.

Abscess↗

Clinical, histopathologic & immunologic features of cutaneous lesions in acute meningococcaemia.

Fifty children with culture proven acute meningococcaemia were studied during the winter outbreak of the disease in 1986-87. Purpuric lesions were seen in 60 per cent, erythematous papules in 32 per cent, faint pink macules in 28 per cent, conjunctival petechiae in 10 per cent and herpes labialis in 20 per cent. Histopathology of skin lesions showed that the primary damage was to the dermal vessels, the extent of damage depending on the type of skin involvement. Diplococci in Gram's stained sections were seen frequently in purpuric as compared to the other skin lesions. They were located in degenerating neutrophils, endothelial cells, fibrin clots or freely in the vascular lumen. Electron microscopic study showed vascular changes accompanied by a perivascular phagocytic response. Both light and electronmicroscopy indicated the involvement of the coagulative mechanism in the pathogenesis of meningococcaemia. However, clinical parameters of clotting were often within normal limits. In the case of a child (who died eventually), a low platelet count and prolonged coagulation indices were observed. Sera from some of the children were tested for the presence of antibodies against meningococci by indirect immunofluorescence. Antibodies were detected in the sera and they may have a role in regulating the severity and course of the illness. The significance of immunoglobulin deposits in the skin lesions is not clear.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Sister chromatid exchanges induced by tertiary butyl hydroquinone in bone marrow cells of mice.

Tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)--a phenolic antioxidant, was evaluated by assessing the induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in bone marrow metaphase cells of mice. Six concentrations, 0.5, 2, 20, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, of TBHQ were injected intraperitoneally. A positive dose-response effect in the SCE frequency was observed using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Two mg/kg of TBHQ was found to be the minimum effective dose. Study of the cell-cycle kinetics showed a delay in cell cycle induced by the higher concentrations of TBHQ. Thus, TBHQ was found to be a DNA damage-inducing agent and also a cytotoxic chemical in vivo in mice.

Animals↗

Syntheses and bioevaluation of substituted dihydropyridines for pregnancy-interceptive activity in hamsters.

A number of 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-4-substituted-1,4- dihydropyridines were synthesized and evaluated for pregnancy-interceptive activity in mated hamsters. Out of 24 compounds, 12, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 34 caused a marked reduction in the number of implantations when administered on days 3-8 postcoitum. In an in vitro competition assay, none of the compounds exhibited noticeable binding affinity for uterine progesterone receptors. The results reported here have helped to identify new leads for developing pregnancy-interceptive agents and the active compounds do not seem to elicit their interceptive effect through receptor-mediated inhibition of progesterone action in hamster uterus.

Abortifacient Agents↗

The purpose of prelaparoscopy transvaginal retrieval and evaluation of oocytes in a modified GIFT procedure.

To minimize the risk of submitting the patient to an 'unnecessary' laparoscopy in cases of unsuccessful oocyte retrieval and to reduce gamete exposure to the probable adverse effects of the CO2 pneumoperitoneum and anaesthetic agents, we have performed transvaginal oocyte recovery prior to performing the laparoscopy for gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT). When the recovered oocytes had a low potential for fertilization, the GIFT laparoscopy was cancelled and fertilization in vitro and zygote intra-Fallopian transfer (ZIFT) were attempted instead. By introducing this modified, two-stage GIFT procedure, the laparoscopy time was reduced to a quarter of that required for the more time-consuming, conventional GIFT method (18 +/- 4 min and 76 +/- 13 min respectively in the same unit). Of the 35 cases selected for this modified GIFT treatment, only 26 were considered suitable to proceed to laparoscopy, resulting in eight clinical pregnancies (30.7%). The remaining nine (25.7%) GIFT cases were cancelled, due either to the absence of oocytes in four or to their poor quality in five (oopenia). The latter were diverted to IVF and out of five cases, only two oocytes were fertilized and proceeded to ZIFT. No clinical pregnancy resulted. In conclusion, we propose that securing the retrieval of oocytes of appropriate quality seems to be a logical and necessary preliminary step before embarking upon laparoscopy for GIFT or ZIFT, depending upon the biological status of the gametes. By employing this procedure, unnecessary and costly laparoscopy can be avoided in certain cases.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Mycosis fungoides with fatal brain involvement.

The clinical course, therapy and investigations in a man with lichenoid mycosis fungoides which resulted in fatal spread to the brain is described. Immunological studies revealed a significant reduction in T cell numbers. Brain lesions were confirmed by CT Scan and drill biopsy. The literature on the subject is discussed.

Brain Neoplasms↗