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Biomedical subjects

G Singh

Publications and source records attributed to G Singh.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Reduced anesthetic requirements, diminished brain plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase pumping, and enhanced brain synaptic plasma membrane phospholipid methylation in diabetic rats: effects of insulin.

We have recently reported that streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats was associated with i) reduced Ca2+ pumping by rat brain synaptic plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) and ii) a substantial reduction in the partial pressures of halothane and xenon required to prevent movement in response to stimulation (minimum effective dose or MED). MED for both agents correlated well with the degree of hemoglobin glycation and with PMCA activity. We now report that MEDs for isoflurane, enflurane, and desflurane were also substantially reduced in STZ-diabetic rats, compared with placebo-injected controls. In addition, we examined the effect of insulin treatment, begun 2 weeks after induction of diabetes and continued for 3 more weeks, on isoflurane MED and on brain synaptic PMCA and phospholipid-N-methyltransferase I (PLMT I), another enzyme altered by inhalation anesthetics (IA). Partial treatment of diabetes, as indicated by decreased glycated hemoglobin (GHb) compared to untreated diabetic rats, was associated with an isoflurane MED of 1.05 vol%, intermediate between a control mean of 1.57 vol% and an untreated diabetic mean of 0.82 vol% (p < 0.01), with a trend toward normalization of both PMCA and PLMT I activity. We also examined isoflurane MED and PMCA activity in the cerebrum and diencephalon-mesencephalon (D-M) of control and diabetic rats 2 and 12 weeks after induction of diabetes. Isoflurane MED was substantially reduced in diabetic rats from both treatment periods. Cerebral and D-M PMCA activities were each reduced to about 90% of control values 2 weeks after STZ induction. At 12 weeks, cerebral PMCA pumping in SPM from diabetic rats did not differ from control values, but PMCA pumping in SPM from the D-M was reduced to about 85% of control levels. Good correlation (r = 0.89, p < 0.01) was found between isoflurane MED and GHb in all treatment groups. These findings provide further evidence for an important role for PMCA in IA action. They also suggest that anesthetic effects on the calcium pump at specific anatomic sites may be of major importance in producing anesthesia.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗
PubMed1995

Follicular dynamics in water buffalo superovulated in presence or absence of a dominant follicle.

The ovaries of 12 buffalo were examined daily by ultrasound beginning at Day 3 of the estrous cycle, followed by superovulation between Days 10 and 13 of the cycle. The buffalo were divided into 2 groups on the basis of the presence (dominant, n = 7) or absence (nondominant, n = 5) of a dominant follicle at the start of superovulation. Daily ultrasonographic observations of the ovaries were recorded on a videotape and were used to assess the progression of both the large (dominant) follicle and the next-to-the-large (subdominant) follicle as well as the numbers of follicles in the small (4 to 6 mm), medium (7 to 10 mm), and large (>10 mm) size categories, before and during the superovulation treatment. A greater number of small size (P < 0.05) follicles was available before the start of the superovulatory treatment in the buffalo superovulated in the absence of a dominant follicle. The turnover of follicles from medium to large size classes also occurred sooner (P < 0.01), and was of higher magnitude (P < 0.01) during treatment in buffalo of the nondominant follicle group. The number of corpora lutea at palpation per rectum was higher (P < 0.05) in buffalo of the nondominant than the dominant group (4.6 +/- 0.6 vs 2.7 +/- 0.5). However, there was no significant difference among the groups in the means of serum progesterone concentration (3.6 +/- 1.3 vs 2.2 +/- 0.6 ng/ml), total number of embryos (2.0 +/- 0.6 vs 1.1 +/- 0.7), transferable embryos (1.6 +/- 0.5 vs 1.0 +/- 0.6) and unfertilized ova recovered (0.4 +/- 0.2 vs 0) on Day 6. It is concluded that in buffalo, the superovulatory response could possibly be improved by ultrasongraphic observation of the status of follicular dominance prior to treatment.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of the nature of rat retinal acetylcholinesterase using a specific substrate and a specific inhibitor.

The occurrence of cholinesterases (ChE) has been demonstrated in retinas of several mammalian species. Using BW284C51 and iso-OMPA as selective inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), respectively, it has been demonstrated that the rat retinal ChE is predominantly AChE. Therefore the kinetic nature of inhibition of the rat retinal AChE by BW284C51 was studied using acetyl-6-methylthiocholine (AMTCh) as a selective substrate of AChE. AChE activity of the rat retinal sonicates was assayed using AMTCh as the substrate in the presence of 5,5-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoate and yellow 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic anion was measured by the absorption at 412 millimicrons using a spectrophotometer. The substrate (AMTCh) was varied between 0.1 and 0.5 mM. The inhibitor concentrations used were 2.1 and 4.2 nM. Double-reciprocal plots between substrate concentrations and the velocities for the enzymatic hydrolysis of AMTCh in the presence and absence of inhibitor were constructed. This study gave the following results: BW284C51 was a potent inhibitor of the hydrolysis of AMTCh by rat retinal AChE (IC50, 5.2 nM). The nature of the inhibition was found to be competitive as the double reciprocal plots with and without the inhibitor crossed on the ordinate.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1995

Profile of HLA-B27-related 'unclassifiable' seronegative spondyloarthropathy in females and its comparison with the profile in males.

Unclassifiable seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SSA) syndrome is primarily considered to be an affliction of males. In this report from northern India, 25 HLA-B27 antigen positive females with this condition are described and compared with 39 HLA-B27-positive males with the same disease. All these patients presented with typical features of spondyloarthropathy such as predominantly lower limb synovitis, enthesopathy and inflammatory spinal pain. The onset was insidious in 56% of the females and in 64% of the males. The mean age of onset as also the mean duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis were significantly higher in females (26.2 vs 19.4 yr and 8 vs 2 yr, respectively). A mono- or oligo-arthritis was seen in 52% of the females and in 53% of the males, but the average number of joints involved was less in females (4.8 vs 7.7). Lower limb joints alone were involved in 56% of the females and 49% of the males, with the knees, ankles and hips being most commonly involved, often asymmetrically. The mean degree of symmetry was significantly lower in females (62 vs 76). Ninety-two per cent of females and 74% of males had inflammatory spinal pain. Radiographic sacroiliitis was demonstrable in 56% females and 74% males. It is concluded that 'unclassifiable' SSA syndrome is not infrequent in females but is diagnosed late. Fewer joints tend to be involved and there is greater tendency towards asymmetry in females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Halothane, isoflurane, xenon, and nitrous oxide inhibit calcium ATPase pump activity in rat brain synaptic plasma membranes.

BACKGROUND: Perturbation of neuronal calcium homeostasis may alter neurotransmission in the brain, a phenomenon postulated to characterize the anesthetic state. Because of the central role of plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis, the authors examined the effect of several inhalational anesthetics on PMCA function in synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) prepared from rat brain. METHODS: Ca(2+)-ATPase pumping activity was assessed by measurement of ATP-dependent uptake of Ca2+ by SPM vesicles. ATPase hydrolytic activity was assessed by spectrophotometric measurement of inorganic phosphate (Pi) released from ATP. For studies of anesthetic effects on PMCA activity, Ca2+ uptake or Pi release was measured in SPM exposed to halothane, isoflurane, xenon, and nitrous oxide at partial pressures ranging from 0 to 1.6 MAC equivalents. Halothane and isoflurane exposures were carried out under a gassing hood. For xenon and nitrous oxide exposures, samples were incubated in a pressure chamber at total pressures sufficient to provide anesthetizing partial pressures for each agent. RESULTS: Dose-related inhibition of Ca(2+)-ATPase pumping activity was observed in SPM exposed to increasing concentrations of halothane and isoflurane, confirmed by ANOVA and multiple comparison testing (P < 0.05). Concentrations of halothane and isoflurane equivalent to one minimum effective dose (MED) depressed PMCA pumping approximately 30%. Xenon and nitrous oxide also inhibited Ca2+ uptake by SPM vesicles. At partial pressures of these two gases equivalent to 1.3 MAC, PMCA was inhibited approximately 20%. Hydrolysis of ATP by SPM fractions was also inhibited in a dose-related fashion. An additive effect occurred when 1 vol% of halothane was added to xenon or nitrous oxide at partial pressures equivalent to 0-1.6 MAC for the latter two agents. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma membranes Ca(2+)-ATPase is significantly inhibited, in a dose-related manner, by clinically relevant partial pressures of halothane, isoflurane, xenon, and nitrous oxide. Furthermore, these anesthetics inhibit PMCA activity in accordance with their known potencies, and an additive effect was observed. How inhalational anesthetics inhibit the PMCA pump is not known at this time. It is noteworthy that the only shared characteristic of this group of agents of widely different structure is anesthetic action. The relevance of this dual commonality, anesthetic action and PMCA inhibition, to actual production of the anesthetic state remains to be determined.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Stable inhibition of brain synaptic plasma membrane calcium ATPase in rats anesthetized with halothane.

BACKGROUND: The authors recently showed that plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) activity in cerebral synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) is diminished in a dose-related fashion during exposure in vitro to halothane, isoflurane, xenon, and nitrous oxide at clinically relevant partial pressures. They have now extended their work to in vivo studies, examining PMCA pumping in SPM obtained from control rats decapitated without anesthetic exposure, from rats decapitated during halothane anesthesia, and from rats decapitated after recovery from halothane anesthesia. METHODS: Three treatment groups were studied: 1) C, control rats that were decapitated without anesthetic exposure, 2) A, anesthetized rats exposed to 1 minimum effective dose (MED) for 20 min and then decapitated, and 3) R, rats exposed to 1 MED for 20 min and then decapitated after recovery from anesthesia, defined as beginning to groom. Plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase pumping and Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase hydrolytic activity, as well as sodium-calcium exchanger activity and Na+-K+-ATPase hydrolytic activity, were assessed in cerebral SPM. In addition, halothane effect on smooth endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) was examined. RESULTS: Plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase transport of Ca2+ into SPM vesicles from anesthetized rats was reduced to 71% of control (P < 0.01) compared with 113% of control for the recovered group (NS). No depression by halothane of SERCA activity, sodium-calcium exchanger, or Na+-K+-ATPase activity was noted among the CAR treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase is selectively and stably inhibited in cerebral SPM from rats killed while anesthetized with halothane, compared with rats killed without anesthesia or after recovery from anesthesia. The studies described in this report, in conjunction with previously reported inhibition of PMCA activity in vitro by a wide range of anesthetic agents, indicate a relationship between inhibition of PMCA and action of inhalational anesthetics.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

End-to-end anastomosis at the duodenojejunal flexure: is it safe?

Resection of the proximal jejunum in the duodenojejunal junction area is described in four patients, in diverse clinical settings. The conventional approach would have been to perform a gastrojejunostomy because of the possibility of ischaemia at and around the duodenojejunal flexure. A uniform surgical approach was followed for mobilization, resection and end-to-end duodenojejunal anastomosis and the outcome was successful in all cases.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1995

Intermittent catheterization following enterocystoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the segment of bowel used in enterocystoplasty and the need to perform intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) after enterocystoplasty for the treatment of incontinence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 123 patients undergoing enterocystoplasty, 77 (mean age 29.5 years, range 13-61) had neurogenic disease (NB group) and 46 (mean age 45.7 years, range 16-74) had non-neuropathic bladders (NNB group). The success of enterocystoplasty, with respect to the segment of bowel used and the need for ISC, was assessed during a follow-up of 6-125 months. RESULTS: Ileum was used in 84 (63.8%), ileum and caecum in 19 (15.4%) and sigmoid in 20 (16.3%) patients. In the NB group, more patients had a sigmoid cystoplasty (24.7 vs 2.2%) and less (67 vs 80%) had an ileo-cystoplasty than in the NNB group. A total of 87 (71%) patients required ISC; 63 (82%) of the NB group and 24 (52%) of the NNB group. The influence of the intestinal segment was conspicuous in the NB group, with 82% and 95% of patients with ileocaecal and sigmoid cystoplasty needing ISC against 77% of those patients with ileal cystoplasty. The difference was not so evident in the NNB group. CONCLUSIONS: A social continence rate of 93.6% in the NB and 84.8% in the NNB patients was achieved, partly due to the patients' success with ISC, a necessary skill to be mastered by all patients before undergoing enterocystoplasty.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Tuberculous uteroenterocutaneous fistula--a rare post-caesarean complication.

A case of uteroenterocutaneous fistula which developed after lower segment Caesarean section is described. A total abdominal hysterectomy with removal of a tuboovarian mass with excision of the fistulous tract and repair of a small gut fistula were performed. The tuberculous aetiology of this fistula was established after surgery by a positive endometrial culture of acid fast bacilli and the demonstration of epithelioid granulomas in the surgical specimen. Antituberculosis therapy was started and the postoperative recovery was uneventful. The description of the nature of the fistula, its rarity and its presence in a woman with unimpaired fertility are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Actions of Rab3 effector domain peptides in chief cells from guinea pig stomach.

Rab3 proteins are low molecular weight guanine nucleotide-binding proteins that belong to the Ras superfamily and are believed to play a role in the final steps of exocytosis. To examine potential interactions of these proteins with signaling pathways that mediate pepsinogen secretion from gastric chief cells, we synthesized peptides corresponding to the effector domain of Rab3. In the absence of added calcium [calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) < 1 nM], a maximal concentration (15 microM) of the Rab3 effector domain peptide or Rab3AL peptide, containing alanine and leucine substitutions, stimulated the release of 62 and 66%, respectively, of total pepsinogen from streptolysin O-permeabilized chief cells. A Rab2AL peptide, corresponding to the Rab2 effector domain, and modified (scrambled and truncated) Rab3AL peptides did not alter secretion from permeabilized cells. An additive secretory response was observed when 5 microM Rab3AL peptide was combined with increasing calcium ([Ca2+] < 1 nM to 3 microM). In contrast, adding up to 3 mM adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) had no effect on Rab3AL peptide-induced secretion, and Rab3AL peptide did not alter endogenous cAMP production. The addition of a nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue [0.01 to 100 microM guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)] potentiated the secretory response to Rab3AL peptide. This potentiated response indicates that other GTP-binding proteins are involved in calcium-independent secretion. Preincubation of cells with streptolysin O (10-30 min), to allow egress of cytosolic constituents, enhanced the response to Rab3AL peptide, suggesting that the target(s) for this peptide is (are) anchored to chief cell membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Role of NO mechanism in cardiovascular effects of diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin in anesthetized rats.

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the cardiovascular actions of diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin (DCLHb) was studied in anesthetized rats. The regional circulatory and systemic hemodynamic effects of DCLHb (400 mg/kg iv) were studied using a radioactive microsphere technique in control (untreated) and L-arginine (a NO precursor) pretreated rats. DCLHb produced a significant increase in blood pressure (75%), cardiac output (42%), stroke volume (36%), and total peripheral resistance (45%), without affecting heart rate, when administered to control rats. L-Arginine pretreatment significantly attenuated DCLHb-induced systemic hemodynamic effects. DCLHb-induced increase in blood flow to the skin and spleen was completely blocked, and that to the heart was partially blocked, by L-arginine pretreatment, suggesting that cardiovascular actions induced by DCLHb could be antagonized by the NO precursor L-arginine. The NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) produced significant increases in regional vascular resistance, leading to a decrease in blood flow to all the organs except the heart, where an increase in blood flow and a decrease in vascular resistance was observed. DCLHb, when administered in L-NAME-pretreated rats, accentuated the decrease in blood flow to the gastrointestinal system, spleen, mesentery and pancreas, skin, and musculoskeletal system. These studies provide evidence that the NO precursor L-arginine can attenuate the effects of DCLHb and that DCLHb can potentiate the effect of the NOS inhibitor L-NAME. The role of NO in the mechanism of action of DCLHb was further studied by estimating plasma guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) in control, DCLHb-treated, L-NAME-treated, and L-NAME followed by DCLHb-treated rats. DCLHb and L-NAME significantly decreased the concentration of circulating cGMP in blood plasma. L-NAME pretreatment potentiated DCLHb-induced decrease in cGMP levels. Because the formation of cGMP is stimulated by NO, these studies provide additional evidence for the involvement of NO in the mechanism of action of DCLHb. It is concluded that NO plays an important role in the cardiovascular effects of DCLHb.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Plasticity of airway cell proliferation and gene expression after acute naphthalene injury.

The goal of this study was to determine the temporal and spatial sequence of events that accompany lung injury and repair after parenteral administration of the Clara cell-specific cytotoxicant, naphthalene. Changes in airway epithelial cells were evaluated by measuring alterations in the expression of markers for differentiated Clara cells (CYPIIF and Clara cell 10-kDa secretory protein, CC10), distal airway/alveolar type II cells (surfactant protein B; SP-B) and for cycling/proliferating cells (cyclin dependent kinase 1;CDK1). Naphthalene-induced Clara cell cytotoxicity resulted in the exfoliation of epithelial cells containing CC10 protein. This was accompanied by a dramatic reduction in the abundance of mRNA for CC10 and CYPIIF. Large numbers of CDK1 mRNA-positive cells were identified in and around bronchioles and terminal bronchioles 48 h after treatment. This cellular proliferation resulted in the population of airways by immature epithelial cells lacking normal levels of CC10 mRNA but overexpressing SP-B mRNA. Seventy-two hours after naphthalene treatment a reduction in CDK1 mRNA-positive cells was noted within bronchioles and terminal bronchioles at all locations, with the exception of airway bifurcations. At airway bifurcations CDK1 mRNA appeared to be more abundant at the 72-h time point than at 48 h. Comparison of these sections with serial sections probed for CC10 mRNA demonstrated a correlation between the expression of CDK1 and CC10 mRNA at bifurcations. Temporal increases in the abundance of CC10 mRNA observed at later time points were largely accounted for by the processive maturation of newly repopulated cells neighboring bifurcations in bronchioles. These studies identify spatially distinct populations of cells that act in concert to repopulate naphthalene-injured airways and support the notion that branch point cells play an important role in the maturation of newly regenerated airway epithelial cells after acute injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Distribution and retention of nicotine and its metabolite, cotinine, in the rat as a function of time.

Nicotine is oxidized to its major metabolite, cotinine, which has a long biological half-life (19-24 h). The plasma concentration of cotinine has been used as an index of tobacco smoke exposure. Cotinine possibly increases the turnover rate of platelet-activating factor (PAF) because it is a potent activator of PAF hydrolase, and it may play a significant role in tobacco-induced arterial thrombosis. Therefore, we studied the distribution and retention of nicotine as it was metabolized to cotinine in the rat. Nicotine (1 mg/kg, 5 microCi/kg) was administered into the femoral vein of male Sprague-Dawley rats under nembutal anesthesia. At different times (5-60 min) after nicotine administration, nicotine and its metabolite, cotinine, were determined by HPLC in plasma, liver, kidney, heart and brain. Within 5-10 min after administration, nicotine concentrations reached peak values in plasma (2,160 pmol/ml) and the organs analyzed. The plasma level of nicotine decreased by 50% within 20 min (half-time) after its intravenous administration. The half-time of nicotine in the brain was about 50 min. The half-times of nicotine for the other organs were about 20-25 min. The major metabolite, cotinine, accumulated in plasma, and by about 30 min the concentrations of nicotine and cotinine in plasma were about equal (890-1,000 pmol/ml). While cotinine accumulated in plasma, nicotine was eliminated by the kidney. While the nicotine concentrations decreased with time in all organs, cotinine concentrations remained constant. These observations indicate that nicotine is renally eliminated or metabolized to cotinine while cotinine exhibits a long retention time and accumulates in plasma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗