Biomedical subjects

G Rajagopal

Publications and source records attributed to G Rajagopal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Prevention of clozapine-induced granulocytopenia/agranulocytosis with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in an intellectually disabled patient with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: While clozapine is an effective treatment for refractory schizophrenia, its use is limited by haematological side effects. Treatment options that allow continued prescription of clozapine by tackling these side effects will greatly aid patients for whom this medication is all too often their only hope of recovery. METHOD: In this case report, we describe what we believe are two 'firsts' in the clozapine literature: the use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor on a prophylactic basis in an intellectually disabled patient receiving clozapine for refractory schizophrenia. RESULT: Treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor prevented discontinuation of clozapine, enabling our intellectually disabled patient's recovery from a schizophrenic illness.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The p53 knowledgebase: an integrated information resource for p53 research.

The p53 tumor suppressor protein plays a central role in maintaining genomic integrity by occupying a nodal point in the DNA damage control pathway. Here it integrates a wide variety of signals, responding in one of several ways, that is, cell cycle arrest, senescence or programmed cell death (apoptosis). Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene tp53, which affects the key transcriptional regulatory processes in cell growth and death, occur frequently in cancer and helps explain why p53 has been called the guardian of the genome. There is a vast body of published knowledge on all aspects of p53's role in cancer. To facilitate research, it would be helpful if this information could be collected, curated and updated in a format that is easily accessible to the user community. To this end, we initiated the p53 knowledgebase project (http://p53.bii.a-star.edu.sg). The p53 knowledgebase is a user-friendly web portal incorporating visualization and analysis tools that integrates information from the published literature with other manually curated information to facilitate knowledge discovery. This includes curated information on sequence, structural, mutation, polymorphisms, protein-protein interactions, transcription factors, transcriptional targets, antibodies and post-translational modifications that involve p53. The goal is to collect and maintain all relevant data on p53 and present it in an easily accessible format that will be useful to researchers in the field.

Genes, p53↗

PubMed2006

Biocidal effects of photocatalytic semiconductor TiO2.

Photocatalytic action of the commercial TiO(2) was the subject of study on the destruction of the microbes within the biofilms. The TiO(2) powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) for identifying its type and the particle size was determined. The biofilm was allowed to form over TiO(2) coatings over glass slides irradiated with polychromatic light for different time durations and distances. It indicates that a five-fold decrease in bacterial count due to the formation of H(2)O(2) at TiO(2)/biofilm interface. The formation of H(2)O(2) at the TiO(2)/biofilm interface is estimated and it does not destroy the entire bacterial population within the biofilm. Bacterial killing effect is supported by FT-IR analysis.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2005

Biophysical approaches for studying the integrity and function of tight junctions.

Cell-cell adhesion is an extremely important phenomenon as it influences several biologically important processes such as inflammation, cell migration, proliferation, differentiation and even cancer metastasis. Furthermore, proteins involved in cell-cell adhesion are also important from the perspective of facilitating better drug delivery across epithelia. The adhesion forces imparted by proteins involved in cell-cell adhesion have been the focus of research for sometime. However, with the advent of nanotechnological techniques such as the atomic force microscopy (AFM), we can now quantitatively probe these adhesion forces not only at the cellular but also molecular level. Here, we review the structure and function of tight junction proteins, highlighting some mechanistic studies performed to quantify the adhesion occurring between these proteins and where possible their association with human diseases. In particular, we will highlight two important experimental techniques, namely the micropipette step pressure technique and the AFM that allow us to quantify these adhesion forces at both the cellular and molecular levels, respectively.

Biophysics↗

PubMed2002

Measurement of creatinine by Jaffe's reaction--determination of concentration of sodium hydroxide required for maximum color development in standard, urine and protein free filtrate of serum.

Creatinine in serum or urine is determined by Jaffe's reaction where creatinine produces quantitatively an orange color with picric acid in alkaline medium. After allowing an incubation time of 15 min at room temperature for color development the color is measured at 520 nm. Without taking into consideration the acidic nature of standard, protein free filtrate (PFF) of serum and urine, 1% picric acid and 0.75N NaOH are used in this reaction for color development in standard, PFF of serum and urine. An investigation was thought to be necessary to determine the optimum alkali concentration required in standard, PFF of serum and urine. The results show that 0.25, 0.75 and 1N NaOH give maximum color in urine, standard and PFF of serum respectively. A standard solution of creatinine is prepared in 0.1N HCl and the PFF of serum is obtained by addition of fresh tungstic acid. Alkali is consumed to neutralise the acids in both these cases. For urine creatinine measurement, a direct diluted urine sample is used. The difference in the requirement of NaOH is conceivable. The routine use of 0.75N NaOH irrespective of the nature of specimen as is done in all biochemical laboratories, for creatinine measurement needs modification in the light of this investigation.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗

PubMed2002

Effect of dietary protein on vitamin A levels in plasma and liver of hypervitaminotic-A rats.

Level of vitamin A increased in plasma and liver in hypervitaminotic A albino rats fed normal quantity of protein in diet. In low protein fed state vitamin A level in liver increased due to accumulation of vitamin A and lack of carrier protein with an associated decrease of plasma vitamin A. In high protein fed rats the level of vitamin A in plasma increased due to enhanced transport while in liver it decreased. The results indicate that for normal transport of vitamin A adequate plasma protein level is essential.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Antiatherogenic effect of taurine in high fat diet fed rats.

The role of taurine on atherogenesis induced by high fat diet in rats, a species which depends entirely on taurine for conjugation of bile acids has been investigated. Wistar male rats were fed on (p.o.) taurine in addition to high fat diet (11% coconut oil w/w) for 6 months. High fat diet caused significant increase of serum total cholesterol (2 fold), serum triglycerides (92.6%), LDL cholesterol (92.3%) and body weight gain (2.8 fold). Taurine administration significantly reduced serum cholesterol (37%), triglycerides (94.5%), LDL cholesterol (34%), body weight (46%). It also significantly reduced aortic cholesterol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and there was a significant increase of reduced glutathione. Taurine significantly increased fecal bile acids which may have resulted in significant decrease of serum cholesterol. Aortic lesion index was significantly decreased in the taurine administered group suggesting the antiatherogenic effect of taurine. It is concluded that taurine attenuated the atherogenesis possibly by its hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant property.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Erythrocyte, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in hypervitaminotic A rats and their modification by dietary protein.

Rats fed excess vitamin A showed decreased body weight gain and protein efficiency ratio. In rats fed low protein vitamin A level increased in liver but with an associated decrease in plasma. These changes were reversed in high protein fed state. The amount of protein in diet had little effect on haemoglobin level in erythrocyte, but excess vitamin A in diet significantly decreased haemoglobin level in erythrocyte. Lipid peroxidation (LP) increased in rats fed low protein and decreased in high protein fed rats. Rats fed high protein and excess vitamin A showed minimum level of LP. Result showed that high protein in diet increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and that excess vitamin A supplementation functions synergistically with high protein in diet to increase antioxidant enzymes level.

Animals↗

PubMed1996