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Biomedical subjects

D Bandyopadhyay

Publications and source records attributed to D Bandyopadhyay.

85 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Separation of rat testis cells by a manually operated countercurrent distribution apparatus. I. Partition behaviour of cells in aqueous two-phase system.

The partition behaviour of rat testis cells in an aqueous two-phase polymer system has been studied using a simplified version of the countercurrent distribution apparatus. The influence of the phase system on testis cells has been presented. The manually operated apparatus designed has shown a fair enrichment of cell types, depending on their surface properties. In respect to their developmental stages, different cell types have shown their specific rate of migration through the CCD tubes. Non-germinal cells, mainly the Sertoli cells, have been seen to have a higher migration rate than the spermatids and spermatocytes. The pachytene spermatocytes have the lowest migration rate.

Animals↗

Potentiation of surfactant release in fetal lung by thyroid hormone action.

Thyroid hormone has been shown to accelerate fetal lung development, but the mechanisms by which this hormone acts are yet unknown. Since this hormone may act indirectly by potentiating the action of endogenous catecholamines, we studied this mechanism by measuring beta-adrenergic receptors in fetal lung. Fetal rabbits at 27 days of gestation were treated with triiodothyronine (T3), 100 micrograms/100 g, in the presence and absence of propranolol, 200 micrograms/100 g, or actinomycin D, 20 micrograms/100 g. Fetuses were killed by decapitation either after 4 or 24 h of T3 treatment. The beta-adrenergic antagonist l-[3H]dihydroalprenolol was used to directly estimate the number and affinity of beta-adrenergic receptor in lung membranes. T3 increased the number of beta-adrenergic receptors in fetal lung, but the affinity of binding did not change. The enhancement of binding capacity after 4 h of T3 treatment was not inhibited by actinomycin D. However, 24-h T3-mediated stimulation was partially blocked by actinomycin D. In addition, T3 stimulated the catecholamine content, adenylate cyclase activity, and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate content of lung. T3 increased the lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratio, phosphatidylglycerol, and disaturated phosphatidylcholine content of the pulmonary lavage fluid. These parameters were completely inhibited by propranolol after 4 h and partially inhibited by actinomycin D after 24 h. Thus thyroid hormone enhances lung maturation by increasing the number of beta-adrenergic receptors in fetal lung.

Animals↗

Thyroid hormone regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and catecholamine sensitive adenylate cyclase in foetal heart.

The effect of thyroid hormone on the beta-adrenergic receptor in foetal cardiac membranes was analysed by measuring the binding of (-)[3H]DHA. The specific activities (per mg protein) of beta-adrenergic receptors decreased with advancing gestational age, whereas the total activities (per heart) increased under the similar conditions. The change in the binding affinities was not statistically significant. 1; 3,5,3'-L-triiodothyronine (T3) stimulated the (-)[3H]DHA binding capacities of the cardiac membranes of foetuses of all age groups. The enhancement in the receptor activity was completely inhibited actinomycin D or cycloheximide. The contents of epinephrine, norepinephrine and cAMP increased with advancing gestational age; but T3 had no significant effect on the catecholamines or cAMP. Similarly, the activities of the basal, NaF stimulated and Gpp(NH)p stimulated adenylate cyclase remained unaltered by T3, but the activities increased progressively with foetal maturity. The absolute values of catecholamine stimulated adenylate cyclase activities in the hearts of T3 treated foetuses were, however, higher compared to those in the untreated foetuses. The enhancement of the activities were totally blocked by the action of actinomycin D, cycloheximide or propranolol. Our results indicate that thyroid hormone enhances the number of beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites by synthesizing new receptor proteins resulting in increased catecholamine sensitivity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Fractionation of chromosomes. II. Use of hydrophobic affinity partition in aqueous two-phase system.

A simple method for separation of large quantities of isolated metaphase chromosomes in Single-Tube Partition (STP), using hydrophobic ligand in an aqueous two-phase system is presented. The two-phase system is composed of an aqueous solution of Dextran 500 and poly(ethylene) glycol 6000 (PEG). The concentration of chromosomes to be separated has no influence on the distribution behaviour in the partition system and up to 10(7) chromosomes can be used in a phase system as small as 3-5 g (5 ml tube). Different groups of chromosomes differ in their distribution in the two phases and the introduction of PEG with covalently attached hydrophobic ligand provides a means of controlling the distribution of chromosomes. A combination of positively charged trimethylaminomethane PEG (TMA-PEG) together with palmitat PEG (P-PEG) gives a fairly good condition for separating chromosomes on the basis of their net surface charge differences.

Cell Fractionation↗

A computerized system for control and management of radionuclide inventory: application in nuclear medicine.

An interactive computerized system for radioisotope management and instantaneous inventory is reported. The system is capable of handling operations such as filing, nuclear imaging and disposing of various radionuclides. All radiopharmaceutical transactions are achieved with the aid of a Prime 300 mini-computer of 192K words of high speed semi-conductor memory and over 120 mega bytes of disk storage. The system automatically corrects for the appropriate decay, monitors and updates the storage file after every subsequent study. The performed study is recorded in a special file, together with the time and data retrieved from the computer's real time clock at the time of the entry. The system provides an organized and complete bookkeeping of all records concerning radionuclide transactions. It is found to be simple, efficient, highly versatile, and drastically reduces the time of operation and errors in handling the radioisotope inventory.

Computers↗

Sequence-based structural signatures of genome evolution.

Among the multitude of methods available for the study of origin and evolution of various life forms on Earth, the phylogenetic approach, i.e. the delineation of natural genetic relatedness amongst different groups of organisms, has been of particular interest to evolutionary biologists. An approach towards analysing phylogeny is the comparison of genome sequences of extant organisms by a variety of computational techniques. These studies rely mostly on the similarity or dissimilarity in global character of the genome in terms of sequence, without any consideration to its structure. In this work, we report a potentially new methodology towards elucidation of molecular phylogeny. The approach considers a structural parameter of the genome, namely its flexibility, and uses it to compare the small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU rRNA) gene from a cross-section of species. We find that the flexibility pattern of the genome is strikingly similar in organisms that are closer in evolutionary distance than the ones that are separated. This method of comparison thus might be utilised in constructing phylogenetic trees from flexibility patterns derived from nucleotide sequence.

Algorithms↗

Identification of human proteins using the linguist's tools.

The symbolic sequences of the exons that make human proteins are subjected to methods of statistical linguistics. The ideas developed for the natural languages by G. K. Zipf, when applied to these sequences, show significant promise. In particular, we argue, the Zipf's exponent differentiates, and hence, identifies disparate human sequences.

DNA↗

Mycetoma caused by a new red grain mycetoma agent in two members of a family.

An 18-year-old woman from rural West Bengal was affected with mycetoma involving her neck, back, and chest. After an interval of eight years, her younger brother developed mycetoma on his left arm. No history of trauma or immune deficiency was present in either case. By microscopic examination of sinus-discharged materials from both the cases, identical rusty red, hard grains were demonstrated. Soluble red pigment-producing colonies grew in Sabouraud dextrose-agar medium. Isolates were positive for casein hydrolysis and negative for hydrolysis test of xanthine, hypoxanthine, tyrosine, and nitrate reduction. Thus it differed from the only known red grain mycetoma agent, Actinomadura pelletieri and was provisionally identified as Actinomadura vinacea. Familial affection in mycetoma, that too caused by a new agent, is reported here for its uniqueness.

Adolescent↗

Pancreatic carcinoma: report of two cases presenting with unusual metastases.

We report two patients with adenocarcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas who presented with features localized to the metastatic sites. A 67-year-old gentleman presented with right groin mass due to spermatic cord metastasis and later developed duodenal obstruction; the other gentleman was 69 years old and presented with change of bowel habit as a result of pelvic/pararectal metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗