Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D K Das

Publications and source records attributed to D K Das.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

L-arginine reduces endothelial inflammation and myocardial stunning during ischemia/reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated whether the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine could reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury by preventing leukocyte-endothelial interactions. METHODS: Normothermic regional ischemia was induced in the open-chest working pig heart for 30 minutes followed by 90 minutes of reperfusion. A preischemic 10-minute intravenous infusion of 4 mg.kg-1.min-1 of L-arginine (n = 12) was compared with 12 control pigs. Nitric oxide release was measured from the coronary sinus using an amperometric probe. Left ventricular function, malonaldehyde, creatine kinase, myocardial oxygen extraction, and the soluble adhesion molecules (intracellular adhesion molecule-1, endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) were measured. RESULTS: Nitric oxide release was significantly reduced from baseline throughout ischemia/reperfusion only in the control group. Systolic and diastolic function, and myocardial oxygen extraction were also significantly decreased during early reperfusion in the control compared with the L-arginine group. Peak creatine kinase release was not significantly different between groups. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation, malonaldehyde release, and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1, endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were each significantly decreased during reperfusion in the L-arginine group. CONCLUSIONS: L-Arginine reduced lipid peroxidation, plasma levels of soluble adhesion molecules, myocardial stunning, and arrhythmias. These results support an excessive endothelial injury/inflammatory response after regional ischemia/reperfusion that can be ameliorated through augmented nitric oxide.

Animals↗

Fatty acid profiles of plasmalogen choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids in pig and rat hearts.

The presence of relatively high concentrations of plasmalogen choline and ethanolamine in the heart of many animal species suggests a role of these ether-linked phospholipids in the pathophysiology of certain myocardial diseases. However, the fatty acid composition of myocardial plasmalogens in many species is not known. This study examined the fatty acid composition of the choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids in pig heart and compared the results with those in rat heart. Lipids were extracted from the heart biopsies obtained from pig and rat by standard techniques. Phosphoglycerides were separated by thin-layer chromatography followed by their derivatization into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and dimethyl acetals (DMAs). FAME and DMA samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Our results indicate striking differences in the fatty acid composition of both choline and ethanolamine glycerophosphates between rat heart and pig heart. Pig heart ethanolamine glycerophosphates are rich in linoleic acid (18:2) and arachidonic acid (20:4), but low in descosahexenoic (22:6) fatty acids while choline glycerophosphates are poor in both 20:4 and 22:6 fatty acids compared to those in rat hearts.

Animals↗

Transthoracic (percutaneous) fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was carried out to assess the utility of transthoracic (percutaneous) fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. DESIGN: During a period of 6 years (1985-90), 202 ultrasound and computerized tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic FNA of pulmonary lesions were performed. Review of smears available in 190 cases revealed 38 (20%) cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. Age of the patients ranged from 11 months-75 years with a median of 40 years. The common clinical diagnoses were malignancy (14 cases), tuberculosis (8 cases) and pneumonitis (7 cases). The sites of FNA were lungs in 36 cases and pleural based lesions in 2 cases. RESULTS: Epithelioid granuloma without necrosis (type 1 reaction) were observed in 4 (10.5%) cases. Epithelioid granuloma with necrosis (type 2 reaction) and necrosis without epithelioid granuloma (type 3 reaction) were seen in 17 (44.7%) cases each. The overall rate of AFB positivity was 45.8%. The rate of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) positivity in type 1, 2 and 3 reactions were 0%, 38.5% and 60.0% respectively. CONCLUSION: This study shows that transthoracic (percutaneous) FNA is a useful means for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, especially when the clinical and/or radiological features are non-specific or point towards malignancy rather than tuberculosis.

Adolescent↗

Gene expression in acute myocardial stress. Induction by hypoxia, ischemia, reperfusion, hyperthermia and oxidative stress.

It is apparent from the above discussion that acute stress, such as ischemia and reperfusion, hypoxia and reoxygenation, hyperthermia and oxidative stress, can rapidly potentiate the induction of genes for certain members of the HSP families and for antioxidants/antioxidant enzymes. Whether the stress response and induction of these genes have a direct role in myocardial protection is not known, but the induction of the expression of these genes are mostly associated with the preservation of myocardial cells from subsequent injury resulting from ischemia, hypoxia and reperfusion. The ubiquitous presence of some of these stress genes, such as for HSP 70 and catalase, in normal unstressed myocardium further suggests a role of these genes in many basic and essential biochemical and metabolic pathways. It is reasonable to speculate that the cells respond to the stress as a consequence of perturbations of one or more of the metabolic pathways by stimulating the induction of the stress genes of that particular pathway in which they participate. Thus, these genes are likely to be involved both in the protection and recovery/repair mechanisms. The precise mechanism by which myocardial cell recognizes and responds to a particular stress agent such as ischemia, hypoxia, hyperthermia or oxidative stress is not clear. While it is tempting to speculate that a generalized mechanism exists, applying to all different modes of stress response and gene induction, whether these agents induce the response via independent pathways or converge within a single point is entirely unclear. However, from the striking resemblance between the pattern of gene expression, especially with regard to HSP and antioxidant genes, it is reasonable to hypothesize the existence of a common and essential pathway of molecular signaling that leads to the expression of these stress genes (Fig. 2). The identification and characterization of the transcription factors that regulate the expression of the genes induced by these forms of stress should greatly facilitate our future understanding of the mechanism of stress response.

Animals↗

Detection of oxidative stress in heart by estimating the dinitrophenylhydrazine derivative of malonaldehyde.

Accurate estimation of the oxidative stress in heart is necessary because the pathogenesis of many heart diseases are believed to be mediated at least in part from the development of oxidative stress resulting from the generation of oxygen free radicals and reduced antioxidant defense system. The most widely used method for this purpose has been the estimation of malonaldehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation product, by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reaction method. However, because of the nonspecificity of this method, the results are often erroneous. The present report describes a method using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to estimate MDA. To develop the oxidative stress, two different models were used: ischaemic-reperfused heart and perfusing the heart with a hydroxyl radical (OH+) generating system. The coronary effluents obtained from the isolated rat heart before ischaemia and during the reperfusion of ischaemic heart, as well as during the perfusion of the heart with the OH+ generating system were collected, derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and extracted with pentane. Aliquots of 25 microliters in acetonitrile were injected onto a Beckman Ultrasphere C18 (3 microns) column. The products were eluted isocratically with a mobile phase containing acetonitrile-water-acetic acid (40:60:0.1, v/v/v), measured at 307 nm using a Waters M-490 multichannel UV detector and collected for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The peaks were identified by co-chromatography with DNPH derivatives of authentic standards, peak addition, and by GC-MS. The retention time for MDA-DNPH was 5.3 min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗

Constitutive nitric oxide release is impaired after ischemia and reperfusion.

Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion may result in endothelial dysfunction and reduced release of nitric oxide. With the use of an amperometric sensor, the first direct measurements of constitutive nitric oxide release from a beating heart were measured from the coronary effluent of isolated working rat hearts subjected to ischemia and reperfusion. Rats, six to eight per group, were randomly studied as follows: control (no pretreatment) and pretreatment with the nitric oxide donor L-arginine (3 mmol/L), its enantiomer D-arginine (3 mmol/L), nitric oxide inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 mumol/L), and combined N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester/L-arginine. Isolated hearts were pretreated for 10 minutes before 30 minutes of global ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion. A nonischemic control group (n = 4) was continuously perfused with oxygenated unsupplemented buffer. After ischemia/reperfusion, hearts supplemented with L-arginine recovered significantly (p < 0.05) increased developed pressure, first derivative of the aortic pressure (dP/dtmax), and aortic flow compared with all other hearts that underwent ischemia/reperfusion. In addition, nitric oxide release was significantly (p < 0.05) increased during reperfusion in the L-arginine group. During reperfusion, the recovery of aortic flow correlated with nitric oxide release (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001). We conclude that after ischemia/reperfusion, endothelial dysfunction results in decreased nitric oxide release, which can be ameliorated with L-arginine pretreatment. The direct cytoprotective properties of nitric oxide may contribute to improved functional recovery in hearts pretreated with L-arginine. Augmentation of the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway may provide a new approach for improved recovery after cardiovascular operations.

Animals↗

Ki-1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma initially diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.

A 45-year-old male presented with a large mass in the left axilla. FNA cytology was interpreted as Hodgkin's disease (HD), lymphocyte depletion (LD) type, but histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination showed features of Ki-1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Unrepresentative sampling by the FNA from the tumour periphery resulted in a false impression of dual reactive and neoplastic cell populations, which together with the frequent Reed-Sternberg-like cells led to the initial erroneous impression of HD. Therefore, the cytologic diagnosis of HD, LD should be approached with caution.

Antigens, CD↗

Myocardial adaptation to ischemia by oxidative stress induced by endotoxin.

In this study, we examined the effects of oxidative stress adaptation on myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury. Oxidative stress was induced by injecting endotoxin (0.5 mg/kg) into the rat. After 24 h, rats were killed, hearts were isolated, and the effects of ischemia-reperfusion were studied using an isolated working heart preparation. The development of oxidative stress was examined by assessing malonaldehyde production in the heart. The antioxidant defense system was studied by estimating antioxidant enzyme activities and ascorbate- as well as thiol-dependent antioxidant reserve. The results of our study indicated that endotoxin induced oxidative stress within 1 h of treatment; the stress was reduced progressively and steadily up to 24 h. The antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione (GSH) peroxidase, and GSH reductase were lowered up to 2 h and then increased. Both thiol- and ascorbate-dependent antioxidant reserve were enhanced, but the enhancement of the former was only transitory. After 24 h, endotoxin provided adequate protection to the heart from the ischemic-reperfusion injury, as evidenced by improved left ventricular function and aortic flow. Our results suggest that the induction of oxidative stress by endotoxin-induced adaptive modification of the antioxidant defense in the heart, thereby reducing ischemic-reperfusion injury.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Evaluation of a hospital based cytology screening programme for reduction in life time risk of cervical cancer.

Hospital based cytology screening is one of the suggested alternative strategies for the developing countries. The present communication attempts to estimate the reduction in lifetime risk of cervical cancer initiated through a hospital based single lifetime screening programme. The percent reduction in cumulative incidence of cervical cancer during lifetime in different age groups of women was calculated after estimating the number of incident cases in the absence as well as presence of screening. Our analysis revealed that by introducing the single life time cytology screening in the group of hospital attending population, an overall reduction in the cumulative incidence of cervical cancer during lifetime was found to be 10.2%. It was further estimated that the reduction was much less in the early age groups (2.4-10.2% in 20-34 years) as compared to later age groups (11.2-55.6% in 35+ years).

Adult↗

Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist-induced preconditioning in isolated working rat hearts.

The aim of this study was to determine whether pharmacologic preconditioning, without a short episode of myocardial hypoxia or ischemia, could improve myocardial function after a prolonged period of ischemia. Isolated rat hearts were perfused with .01, .1 or 1 mg/L of phenylephrine for 5 min followed by a 10-min washout period (preconditioning) before the induction of 30 min of normothermic global ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. Hearts preconditioned with increasing concentrations of phenylephrine (an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist) produced a reduction in the incidence of reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Preconditioning of the hearts with the highest dose of phenylephrine (1.0 mg/L), after 30 min of ischemia, reduced the incidence of reperfusion-induced VF and VT from their nonpreconditioned control values of 87% and 100% to 33% (P < .05) and 50% (P < .05), respectively. After 30 min of ischemia, the recovery of myocardial function was significantly improved in phenylephrine-preconditioned groups. Thus, .1 and 1.0 mg/L of phenylephrine increased aortic flow from its nonpreconditioned control value of 10.8 +/- .9 ml/min to 22.4 +/- 2.4 ml/min (P < .05) and 26.5 +/- 1.5 ml/min (P < .05), respectively. Phenylephrine (1.0 mg/L) preconditioning significantly reduced ischemia/reperfusion-induced tissue Na+ and Ca2+ gains and prevented K+ and Mg2+ loss measured by an atomic absorption spectro-photometer. Our results show that alpha-1 adrenergic stimulation (preconditioning) can prevent postischemic abnormalities in intracellular ions, reperfusion arrhythmias, and contractile function without the inhibition of O2 delivery.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists↗

Hypoxic preconditioning preserves antioxidant reserve in the working rat heart.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine whether intracellular antioxidants play a role in myocardial preservation following hypoxic preconditioning. METHODS: Isolated working rat hearts were subjected to 30 min ischaemia and 30 min reperfusion. Control hearts were compared to hearts preconditioned with 10 min hypoxia. Left ventricular function and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were measured in each group. Ascorbate dependent (ADAR) and thiol dependent (TDAR) components of the endogenous myocardial antioxidant reserve were assessed using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: a Hypoxic preconditioning had no effect on left ventricular function after 10 min reoxygenation. During reperfusion, the hypoxically preconditioned hearts had a significantly increased survival rate, aortic flow, developed pressure, and dP/dtmax, and a reduced lactate dehydrogenase release, compared to non-preconditioned controls (P < 0.05). Preconditioned hearts also had significantly higher preservation of baseline ADAR (79%) and TDAR (96%) compared with control hearts, (70%) and (77%), respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hypoxic preconditioning enhances functional recovery and reduces cell necrosis following global ischaemia in the working rat heart. This phenomenon may, in part, be mediated through enhanced ascorbate and thiol components of the antioxidant reserve.

Animals↗

Diabetes and ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers and blockers in isolated ischemic/reperfused hearts.

The incidence of reperfusion ventricular fibrillation (VF) and tachycardia (VT), heart function and the maldistribution of cardiac cations were studied in isolated ischemic/reperfused hearts obtained from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Effects of an ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel opener, cromakalim, and a KATP channel blocker, glibenclamide, also were studied. After 2 and 8 weeks of diabetes, hearts were isolated and subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by reperfusion. After 2 weeks of diabetes, the incidence of VF and VT was reduced from their nondiabetic control values of 100 and 100 to 42% (P < .05) and 50% (P < .05), respectively. The reduction in VF and VT was not observed with progressive diabetes and after 8 weeks cardiac failure developed. In the 8-week diabetics, the development of cardiac failure was reflected in the aggravation of heart function (26, 16 and 17% reductions in aortic flow, left ventricular developed pressure and first derivative of developed pressure, respectively), and ion shifts (56 and 71% accumulation in cellular Na+ and Ca++, respectively, and 15% loss in cell K+) before the induction of ischemia. After ischemia/reperfusion, these changes were pronounced in diabetic groups. Cromakalim aggravated and glibenclamide attenuated the incidence of arrhythmias, contractile function and ion shifts induced by ischemia/reperfusion in diabetic hearts. The data show that the use of KATP channel openers as anti-ischemic agents may be of particular concern in the population of postinfarction diabetic patients who are known to be at high risk of sudden coronary death.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Nitric oxide signaling in ischemic heart.

OBJECTIVE: Several recent studies have implicated a role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in the pathophysiology of myocardial ischemic/reperfusion injury. However, the mechanism by which NO exerts its beneficial/detrimental effects remains unknown. This study examined the intracellular signaling of NO by studying the role of the NO-cGMP signaling pathway on the phospho-diesteratic breakdown and turnover of phosphoinositides during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: Isolated working rat hearts were made ischemic for 30 min followed by 30 min of reperfusion. A separate group of hearts were pre-perfused with 3 mM L-arginine for 10 min prior to ischemia. The release of NO was monitored using an on-line amperometric sensor. The aortic flow and developed pressure were examined to determine the effects of L-arginine on ischemic/reperfusion injury. For signal transduction experiments, sarcolemmal membranes were radiolabeled by perfusing the isolated hearts with [3H]myoinositol and [14C]arachidonic acid. Hearts were then perfused for 10 min in the presence or absence of L-arginine via the Langendorff mode. Ischemia was induced for 30 min followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Experiments were terminated before L-arginine and after L-arginine treatment, after ischemia, and during reperfusion. Biopsies were processed to determine the isotopic incorporation into various phosphoinositols as well as phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol. cGMP was assayed by radioimmunoassay and SOD content was determined by enzymatic analysis. RESULTS: The release of NO was diminished following ischemia and reperfusion and was augmented by L-arginine. L-Arginine reduced ischemic/reperfusion injury as evidenced by the enhanced myocardial functional recovery. cGMP, which remained unaffected by ischemia and reperfusion, was stimulated significantly after L-arginine treatment. The cGMP level persisted up to 10 min of reperfusion and then dropped slightly. Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium resulted in significant accumulation of radiolabeled inositol phosphate, inositol bisphosphate, and inositol triphosphate. Isotopic incorporation of [3H]inositol into phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate, and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate was increased significantly during reperfusion. Reperfusion of the ischemic heart prelabeled with [14C]-arachidonic acid resulted in modest increases in [14C]diacylglycerol and [14C]phosphatidic acid. Pretreatment of the heart with L-arginine significantly reversed this enhanced phosphodiesteratic breakdown during ischemia and early reperfusion. However, at the end of the reperfusion the inhibitory effect of L-arginine on the phosphodiesterases seems to be reduced. In L-arginine-treated hearts, SOD activity was progressively decreased with the duration of reperfusion time. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest for the first time that NO plays a significant role in transmembrane signaling in the ischemic myocardium. The signaling seems to be transmitted via cGMP and opposes the effects of phosphodiesterases by inhibiting the ischemia/reperfusion-induced phosphodiesteratic breakdown. This signaling effect appears to be reduced as reperfusion progresses. These results, when viewed in the light of free radical chemistry of NO, suggest that such on- and off-signaling of NO may be linked to its interaction with the superoxide radical generated during the reperfusion of ischemic myocardium.

Animals↗

Interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of cervical smears.

The present study was carried out to reveal the magnitude of individual variation in the diagnosis of Pap smears between two cytoscreeners and their compatability with cytopathologists and subsequent final diagnostic comparison with biopsy in 1,17411 cervical smears collected from different hospitals of Delhi during ten-year period. Smears diagnosed as dysplasia at initial level by any one of the cytoscreeners were screened by cytopathologists for confirmation of diagnosis. An overall agreement of 94.9 percent was observed between two screens. 79.5 percent was agreement between screeners and cytopathologists. An agreement between cytology and histology in the diagnosis of dysplasia and malignancy were found to be 61.9 percent and dysplasia and malignancy were found to be 61.9 percent and 40.1 percent respectively. From the above study, it was observed that consistency among the two screeners was fairly acceptable. Keeping this observation in view, we can possibly practice two tier screening in place of three.

Female↗

Improved postischemic ventricular functional recovery by amphetamine is linked with its ability to induce heat shock.

Heat shock has been shown to increase the cellular tolerances to ischemic injury. In this study, we examined the effects of heat shock induced by amphetamine on postischemic myocardial functional recovery in a setting of coronary revascularization for acute myocardial infarction. Intramuscular injection of amphetamine (3 mg/kg, i.m.) to pigs increased the body temperature to 42.5 degrees C within 1 h, and maintained this temperature for an additional 2 h. Fourty h after the amphetamine injection, the pigs were placed on by cardiopulmonary bypass and then isolated, in situ heart preparations were subjected to 1 h of global hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and 1 h of normothermic reperfusion. Postischemic myocardial performance was monitored by measuring left ventricular (LV) pressure, its dp/dt, myocardial segmental shortening (%SS), and coronary blood flow. Cellular injury was examined by measuring creatine kinase (CK) release. Biochemical measurements included quantification of plasma catecholamines and study of the induction of heat shock gene expression and antioxidative enzymes in the heart tissue. The results of this study indicated significantly greater recovery of LV contractile functions by amphetamine as demonstrated by improved recovery of LVDP (61% vs 52%), dp/dtmax (52% vs 44%), and segmental shortening (46.2% vs 10%). Myocardial CK release was significantly reduced in the amphetamine group. Furthermore, amphetamine pretreatment was associated with the induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 27 mRNA and stimulated Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase and catalase levels, suggesting that amphetamine mediated improved postischemic ventricular recovery might be linked with its ability to induce heat shock and stimulate antioxidant enzymes.

Amphetamine↗