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Biomedical subjects

G R Rao

Publications and source records attributed to G R Rao.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Fatal rupture of the intracranial carotid artery during transluminal angioplasty for vasospasm induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage. Case report.

The authors report the clinical course, radiographic findings, and gross and microscopic pathology of a patient with fatal rupture of the supraclinoid segment of the left internal carotid artery during transluminal angioplasty for subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced vasospasm. The rupture most likely resulted from a small portion of aneurysm neck which remained unclipped, thereby leaving an area of structural weakness in the arterial wall at the site of clipping. The area of structural weakness predisposed the artery to rupture upon the addition of transmural pressure induced by balloon inflation during transluminal angioplasty. Caution is advised when performing transluminal angioplasty in the region of aneurysm clipping since the vessel lumen "recreated" during the clipping procedure may contain some residual and structurally incomplete aneurysm neck in the vessel wall.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Characterization of the effects of propranolol on the physical state of platelet membrane.

The direct membrane effect of propranolol was studied in vitro on washed platelet preparations. Propranolol has been reported to inhibit platelet aggregation by mechanisms unrelated to its beta-blocking activity. In the present study, the drug was found to enhance 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate binding to platelet membrane by increasing the number of binding sites. Steady-state anisotropy was studied by labeling the platelets with the hydrophobic fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Propranolol was observed to decrease the equivalent microviscosity of the membrane. When the infinitely slow decaying component of fluorescence anisotropy (r infinity), which is proportional to the square of lipid order parameter, was calculated from the anisotropy data, a decrease in these parameters was also indicated. A higher fusion activation energy for viscosity in the propranolol-treated platelets reflected a lesser degree of order of the hydrocarbon chains in the lipid bilayer.

Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates↗

Brain regional analysis of NADH-cytochrome C reductase activity in Alzheimer's disease.

The specific activity of antimycin A-insensitive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-dependent cytochrome C reductase, an enzyme associated with endoplasmic reticulum, was determined in the superior temporal, entorhinal, and cerebellar cortex of 16 patients who died with Alzheimer's disease and eight nondemented controls. The specific activity of choline acetyltransferase was also measured to provide an index of presynaptic cholinergic dysfunction. Our results revealed reciprocal changes in these activities that were of similar magnitude across the three regions examined. Furthermore, cytochrome C reductase activity was positively correlated with the density of neurofibrillary tangles, especially in the superior temporal cortex. These results support the hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease may be associated with an alteration of endoplasmic reticulum and the functions related to this intracellular membrane system, including the post-translational modification and localization of essential proteins.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Proton magnetic resonance study of cycloheximide-ribosome interactions.

Cycloheximide-ribosome interactions from sensitive and resistant organisms were studied by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. The two methyl resonances of cycloheximide upon interaction with ribosomes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed preferential broadening. Comparison of cycloheximide line broadening as effected by ribosomes from S. cerevisiae (sensitive) and Microsporum canis (resistant) revealed that less cycloheximide is bound to the M. canis ribosomes. From the decrease in line broadening observed with increasing temperature it may be concluded that cycloheximide-ribosome interaction is a fast exchange reaction. Tetracycline did not compete with cycloheximide for binding site(s) on the ribosomes of S. cerevisiae.

Binding Sites↗

Physical microenvironment of platelet membrane in acute myocardial infarction.

Patients with acute myocardial infarction have more reactive platelets than those from normal population. These pathological platelets had more viscous plasma membrane, as inferred from fluorescence polarisation studies, and a lower fusion activation energy (delta E) of the membrane, reflecting a higher degree of order within lipid-lipid interactions.

Blood Platelets↗

A brain regional analysis of morphologic and cholinergic abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease.

In the brains of 21 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 10 nondemented controls, senile plaques (SPs), neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and three indexes of cholinergic function were quantified in the middle frontal (MF) and superior temporal (ST) cortex, the entorhinal cortex (HEN), and the prosubiculum (HPR) of the hippocampus. Control brains contained few SPs without preferential distribution in any of the brain regions examined, while NFTs were found almost exclusively in the HPR. In brains from patients with AD, an inverse relationship of SPs and NFTs was found in the brain regions examined; SPs were preferentially in the neocortex and NFTs preferentially in the hippocampus. The specific activities of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase were reduced in all regions examined, while no significant change in the density of muscarinic binding sites was observed in any region. Numerous NFTs were associated with an earlier age at onset, while the presence of SPs was related to the cholinergic deficit in AD. Earlier-onset (less than 67 years) AD was also associated with a qualitative difference in the regional distribution of NFTs compared with cases with a later onset. In the latter group, most NFTs were observed in the hippocampus, a distribution pattern similar to that observed with normal aging. In AD cases with an earlier onset, NFTs were more globally distributed in the neocortex and allocortex.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Lateralization of brain morphologic and cholinergic abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease.

The extent of left-right asymmetry in the densities of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles and the levels of the cholinergic enzymes choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase were quantified in the middle frontal and superior temporal cerebral cortex, entorhinal cortex, and prosubiculum of the hippocampus from 21 patients who died with Alzheimer's disease. Morphologic lesions were more asymmetrically distributed than deficits in the cholinergic enzymes. Neither cerebral hemisphere showed consistently higher densities of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, or lower levels of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase. Deficits in the cholinergic enzymes tended to colateralize, while asymmetries of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles did not. Finally, left-right asymmetry in the density of senile plaques diminished with increasing neuropathologic severity, while similar evidence for diminishing left-right asymmetry of neurofibrillary tangle density or cholinergic enzyme activity with increasing severity was not found.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Bilateral symmetry of morphologic lesions in Alzheimer's disease.

We studied 16 brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease for left-right differences, or similarities, in the density of senile plaques (SPs) or neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Counts were made of SPs and NFTs on the left and right side of five different brain areas, which included middle frontal, superior temporal, the prosubiculum of the hippocampus (HPR), the entorhinal cortex of the hippocampus (HEN), and the basal nucleus of Meynert. The density of SPs was bilaterally symmetrical in all regions except the basal nucleus of Meynert in which technical problems may have occurred in sampling. In contrast to SPs, the density of NFTs was bilaterally symmetrical in both neocortical regions (middle frontal, superior temporal), but not in either hippocampal region (HPR, HEN). The absence of bilateral symmetry for the density of NFTs in the hippocampus, where the density of SPs was highly symmetrical, suggests that there may be a different pathogenesis for these lesions in Alzheimer's disease. The lack of a significant correlation between SP and NFT density within four of five regions, including HPR and HEN, also supports this suggestion.

Aged↗

Bilateral symmetry of cholinergic deficits in Alzheimer's disease.

The specific activities of the cholinergic enzymes, choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase, as well as the density of muscarinic binding sites, were determined in five corresponding left and right regions of 16 brains obtained at autopsy from patients with histologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease. While a significant proportion of the individual specimens exhibited left-right asymmetries in cholinergic deficits, bilateral symmetry was the rule for frontal and temporal cortex, basal nucleus, and the prosubiculum of the hippocampus. In contrast to these four regions, left-right asymmetries in choline acetyltransferase activity and muscarinic receptor density appeared to be typical in the entorhinal cortex of the hippocampus.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Separation of cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins of Microsporum canis.

The cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins of Microsporum canis were characterised in basic-acidic and basic-SDS two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis systems. The small subunit contained 28 proteins and the large subunit 38 proteins. The molecular weights of these proteins were in the range of 32,500 to 7600 and 48,000 to 11,000 in the small and large subunits, respectively. The 80S ribosomes showed 65 and 66 protein spots in basic-acidic and basic-SDS gel systems, respectively.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

Effects of in vivo ultrasound hyperthermia on natural killer cell cytotoxicity in the hamster.

The effects of in vivo ultrasound irradiation of the spleen on immunological functions were assessed with an in vitro natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic assay. Anesthetized hamsters were exposed to 1 MHz ultrasound at intensity levels currently being used clinically for therapeutic diathermy and hyperthermia (1-5 W/cm2, for 500 sec with constant beam scanning). Hyperthermic levels in the spleen ranged from 38-43 degrees C. Significant depression of natural killer (NK) cell activity was seen 4 h after spleen irradiation as compared to sham irradiated and normal animals. A return towards normal levels was observed in experimental groups at 24 h after exposure. Sham and normal animals were not significantly different in NK activity, indicating no significant stress-related immunosuppressive effects due to handling. Differential leukocyte counts taken for each exposure condition showed significant lymphopenia at 4, 8, and 16 h after exposure, near normal levels at 24 h, and complete recovery by 48 h. The number of circulating mononuclear cells at 4 h showed a dose-related suppression as the exposure intensities were increased.

Animals↗

Partial purification and properties of the assimilatory nitrate reductase of the food yeast Candida utilis.

The addition of nitrate, EDTA and dithiothreitol to the enzyme extraction buffer resulted in improved stability of the assimilatory nitrate reductase activity from the food yeast Candida utilis at both 4 degrees C and -10 degrees C. By incorporating this critical step in the following sequence the yeast NAD(P)H: nitrate oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.6.2) was purified approximately 68-fold by protamine sulphate precipitation, calcium gel adsorption, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Both NADPH-nitrate reductase and NADH-nitrate reductase activities remained in constant association and ratio (2:3) during the entire course of purification. The enzyme showed an absolute requirement of NADPH or NADH for its activity. Maximal enzyme activity was obtained with 10-120 micrograms protein in a 10 min assay at 30 degrees C at pH 6.5, with an apparent Michaelis constant of 0.69 mM for nitrate as substrate. The enzyme is a molybdoflavo-protein involving sulphydryl groups, and is highly sensitive to free reducing agents, heavy metal ions and electron-transfer inhibitors. The results also suggested possible involvement of a second metal ion, perhaps iron, which was hypothesized to participate in the electron transfer scheme catalysed by this enzyme.

Candida↗

Effects of microwave exposure on the hamster immune system. III. Macrophage resistance to vesicular stomatitis virus infection.

Exposure of hamsters to microwave (MW) energy (2.45 GHz, 25 mW/cm2, 1 h) resulted in activation of peritoneal macrophages (PM) to a viricidal state restricting the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The PM from MW-exposed hamsters were viricidal as early as 1 day after exposure and remained active for 5 days. Immunization of hamsters with vaccinia virus induced viricidal PM by 3 to 4 days and they remained active for 7 days. To test the hypothesis that thermogenic MW exposure results in the release of endotoxin across the intestinal epithelium which subsequently activates PM, hamsters were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and their viricidal activity was studied. Lipopolysaccharide in vitro (0.2 microgram) and in vivo (0.5 microgram) activated macrophages to a viricidal state. When administered in vivo, LPS (0.5 microgram) activated macrophages as early as 1 day and the activity remained for 3 days. While MW exposure of PM in vitro failed to induce viricidal activity, exposure of PM to LPS in vitro induced strong viricidal activity. This suggests that the in vivo response of PM to MW is an indirect one, which is consistent with the hypothesis that MW-induced PM viricidal activity may be mediated via LPS. In preliminary experiments, MW exposure resulted in extended survival time for hamsters challenged with a lethal dose of vesicular stomatitis virus, supporting the concept that MW-activated PM may be a useful therapeutic modality.

Animals↗

Asphyxia, cardiac arrest and resuscitation in rats. I. Short term recovery.

This study was conducted to investigate the degree of insult from asphyxia leading to total body circulatory arrest, as a model for brain resuscitation studies in rats. Of 78 male rats, 68 were anesthetized with halothane in O2/N2O, controlled ventilated, paralyzed with pancuronium and asphyxiated, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 min, respectively. Asphyxiation led to circulatory arrest in 244 +/- 22 s (mean +/- S.E.M.). Resuscitation was successful in 65% within 60 s using controlled ventilation with 100% O2, extrathoracic compressions and epinephrine intravenously. Subsequent intensive care to 6, 12 or 24 h was successful in 50% of resuscitated rats. At 6, 12 and 24 h of recovery, neurologic deficit scores and light microscopic neuropathology scores of the brain after in vivo fixation of the total body with intraventricular paraformaldehyde 3%, revealed a large scatter variability without a clear pattern. Lesions were located mostly in the frontal cortex and hippocampus (footplate) with ischemic neuronal change as the most frequent structural change. Brain cell necrosis was not seen after successful resuscitation. It seems that both scores were influenced by post-insult stress, as indicated by paroxysmal hypertension and motor activity, by complications, such as obstruction of the tracheotomy cannula by abundant sputum production, and by partial sedation with N2O and paralysis with pancuronium. This study indicates the feasibility of an asphyxial insult in rats for use in resuscitation studies of short duration. Although 24 h post-insult recovery is possible, up to 6 h seems most practical, with asphyxia of 7.5-10 min most successful and controllable. Questions are raised about the effects of irritation during the post-insult intensive care on both neurological deficit and neuropathology scores.

Animals↗

Delayed CT myelography in spinal intramedullary metastasis.

Solitary intramedullary metastasis to the spinal cord is rare and difficult to diagnose clinically. We report a case of lung carcinoma metastasizing to cervical spinal cord with an unusual feature of delayed metrizamide enhancement of the widened portion of the spinal cord. The role of CT in the diagnosis is well demonstrated in this case.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

A method for isolation of protoplasts from dermatophytes.

A method has been developed to isolate protoplasts from dermatophytes using Novozym 234. A simple technique of flotation in MgSO4 has been adapted to separate protoplasts from incubation mixture. Electron microscopic studies confirmed the absence of cell wall material on these protoplasts. The recovery of DNA from protoplasts was higher than from mycelia.

Cell Fractionation↗