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Biomedical subjects

J Mohan

Publications and source records attributed to J Mohan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effect of dietary Vitamin E on the cloacal gland, foam and semen characteristics of male Japanese quail.

This experiment was to investigate the effects of increasing the level of dietary Vitamin E (Vit. E) on cloacal gland size, foam production and semen characteristics of male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica). One hundred and eighty male Japanese quail chicks (day old) were randomly distributed to three dietary treatments for a period of 25 weeks. Each treatment comprised of three replicates each containing 20 chicks. The basal diet contained 15 IU Vit. E/kg and the two experimental diets were supplemented with 150 and 300 IU Vit. E/kg (diets T2 and T3, respectively). DL alpha-tocopherol acetate was used as the source of Vit. E. All chicks were provided feed and water ad libitum. Foam characteristics, in terms of frequency of foam discharge (24h), cloacal gland index and foam weight were significantly higher (P<0.05) in T2 group. Body weight, testes weight (left and right) and plasma testosterone concentrations did not differ significantly. Semen characteristics (semen volume, sperm motility, % live sperm, % hatchability and sperm concentrations) did not differ significantly (P>0.05). Percentages of abnormal and dead spermatozoa were significantly (P<0.05) lower and fertility was higher (P<0.05) in the T2 group. From this study, it can be concluded that moderate supplementation of dietary Vit. E may be beneficial for foam production, cloacal gland and improve the semen characteristics in male Japanese quail.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Cytokines in reproductive remodeling of molting White Leghorn hens.

The role of cytokines in regression of the ovary and oviduct during induced molting in chickens was investigated by evaluating the expressions of IL-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma, IL-2, TGF-beta2, MIP-1beta and IL-8 in the regressing ovary and oviduct by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, serum hormonal profiles (estrogen, progesterone and corticosterone), along with the gross regression and histological changes of the ovary and oviduct, were investigated. The correlation between expression of cytokines and hormonal changes during the induced molting was also studied. The expression of IL-6, IL-8, MIP-1beta and IFN-gamma mRNAs in the ovary, and IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, MIP-1beta, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta2 mRNAs in the oviduct, were up-regulated significantly during induced molting, suggesting their role in tissue regression. However, histological findings suggested no significant increase in immune cells in the regressing oviduct and ovary. Significant up-regulation of TGF-beta2 in the regressing oviduct might have suppressed leukocyte recruitment thereby preventing the inflammatory response and tissue damage. The down-regulation of estrogen and progesterone and up-regulation of corticosterone is well correlated with increased expression of cytokines. It appears that cytokines released during the process of induced molting may have a role in decreasing ovarian steroids and increasing the corticosterone levels in chicken. From this study, it may be concluded that cytokines play a major role in regression of the ovary and oviduct during induced molting in chickens.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Relationship of cloacal gland with testes, testosterone and fertility in different lines of male Japanese quail.

An attempt has been made to investigate the relationship of cloacal gland with testes, testosterone and fertility in different lines of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). For this study, three lines of healthy adult male Japanese quails (<12 weeks) viz., heavy body weight (HB), white breasted (WB), and white egg shell (WES) were taken. They were housed in individual cages under uniform husbandry conditions and were provided with normal quail breeder ration and water ad libitum, with 14 h light/day. The experimental birds were selected from each of these three lines and categorized into different groups (15 birds/group) based on the increasing order of the area of cloacal gland. At the end of this experiment (24 weeks) the data indicated that size of the cloacal gland was directly proportional to foam discharge, foam weight, testicular weight, fertility and testosterone concentration in plasma. From this study it may be concluded that area of cloacal gland in Japanese quail is positively correlated with testicular weight, level of testosterone in plasma and fertility. Visual examination of cloacal gland and cloacal foam may provide a valuable non-invasive tool for predicting the fertilizing ability of individual male bird.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Residues of fluoroquinolone drugs in the cloacal gland and other tissues of Japanese quail.

1. In this study we investigated the residues of fluoroquinolone drugs (ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin) in the cloacal gland (a site of foam synthesis) and other tissues such as breast muscle, testes, brain, kidney and plasma. 2. Fifty-four healthy male Japanese quail were selected at random from a flock, maintained under uniform husbandry conditions and divided into three groups, each of 18 birds. Group I (control) received 1 ml vehicle (normal saline 0.9% (w/v) NaCl) daily for 12 d through the intraperitoneal route. Birds of groups II and III received ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin by the same route at the rate of 10 and 12 mg/kg body weight, respectively, every day for a similar period. 3. Birds from each group were killed, at 1, 5 and 10 d after the cessation of treatment, to collect the cloacal gland together with other tissues that were analysed for residual drugs. 4. Cloacal gland retained the maximum drug residues of ciprofloxacin (60%) and pefloxacin (80%) on d 10 compared with that on d 1 after drug withdrawal. The drug residues were found 60 and 80% in ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin groups, respectively, in the cloacal gland tissue even on d 10 after withdrawal of the treatment. 5. In the ciprofloxacin-treated group, all tissues except cloacal gland contained very small amounts of the drug residues on d 10 after treatment ended. In the pefloxacin group the cloacal gland, breast muscle and kidney retained a fairly high amount of drug even on d 10 after treatment ceased. No residues of pefloxacin were detectable in testes and brain throughout. 6. In conclusion, the cloacal gland in Japanese quail acted as the largest sink for the fluoroquinolone drugs. Ciprofloxacin was more widely distributed in different tissues and persisted for a shorter period than pefloxacin.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effect of higher levels of dietary selenium on production performance and immune responses in growing Japanese quail.

1. The effect of increasing dietary selenium (Se) on production performance and immune responses in growing (0 to 6 weeks) Japanese quail was investigated. 2. One-day-old chicks (240) were randomly selected and divided into 12 groups with 20 chicks in each group (3 dietary treatments x 4 replicates). The basal diet contained 0.2 mg Se/kg and the two experimental diets were supplemented with 0.5 and 1.0 mg Se/kg. 3. Body weight gain, food intake and food conversion ratio and mortality were not affected by Se supplementation. 4. On d 28, antibody responses to inoculated sheep red blood cells were determined. Antibody titres were significantly higher after feeding the two Se-supplemented diets. 5. During week 4, the response to intradermally injected phytohaemagglutinin, an index of the in vivo cell-mediated immune response, was shown to be increased in the groups fed on the Se-supplemented diets. 6. After 6 weeks, the relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus were greater in the chicks given the Se-supplemented diets but there was no effect on the relative weight of spleen and liver. 7. It is concluded that supplementing the diet with Se has a beneficial effect on immune responses but does not affect production performance in growing Japanese quail.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2005

Hospital contributory schemes and the NHS debates 1937-46: the rejection of social insurance in the British welfare state?

This article considers the discussion and rejection of social insurance model of funding for the British National Health Service. Specifically it asks why the hospital contributory scheme movement had so little impact on policy debates in the 1940s. We argue that at the start of the policy-making process serious consideration was given to the incorporation of this mode of funding, not least because the contributory schemes, with some ten million members, played a major role in financing existing voluntary hospital provision. Early sections describe the growth and nature of the schemes, noting that, despite their large working-class constituency and the presence of labour movement representatives amongst their leadership, they remained peripheral to discussion of reform in the interwar period. We then trace the emergence of the proposal for an insurance-based 'hotel-charge' in civil servants' discussions about hospital funding the Beveridge Report. Officials, however, remained sceptical about the contributory schemes' capacity to deliver a comprehensive and efficient funding mechanism, given their lack of uniformity, the gaps in their coverage, and the limited progress of reciprocal arrangements between them. Finally, we note the ineffectiveness of the British Hospital Contributory Schemes Association as a player in the policy community. Its leadership had no clear strategy for influencing events and was reluctant to deploy pressure group tactics such as lobbying through the press or parliament. Crucially, the movement was divided internally between those members who supported the voluntary system and others who welcomed a publicly funded health service.

Economics, Hospital↗
PubMed2002

Spectrophotometric determination of serum nitrite and nitrate by copper-cadmium alloy.

A macro and micro assay for the spectrophotometric determination of serum nitrite and nitrate was developed. Nitrite/nitrate in biological samples can be estimated in a single step by this method. The principle of the assay is the reduction of nitrate by copper-cadmium alloy, followed by color development with Griess reagent (sulfanilamide and N-naphthylethylenediamine) in acidic medium. This assay is sensitive to 1 microM nitrate and is suitable for different biological fluids, including sera with a high lipid concentration. The copper-cadmium alloy used in the present method is easy to prepare and can completely reduce nitrate to nitrite in an hour. The present method provides a simple, cost-effective assay for the estimation of stable oxidation products of nitric oxide in biological samples.

Alloys↗
PubMed2001

Chronic atrial fibrillation in patients with rheumatic heart disease: mapping and radiofrequency ablation of flutter circuits seen at initiation after cardioversion.

BACKGROUND: There is little information concerning mapping and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of arrhythmias seen during reinduction of atrial fibrillation (AF) after pharmacological and/or electrical cardioversion in patients with chronic AF and rheumatic heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventeen patients with rheumatic heart disease and symptomatic chronic AF underwent multisite atrial mapping during reinduction of AF after cardioversion. An organized atrial arrhythmia of varying duration was seen to precede the AF in all patients. The earliest atrial activity during this organized rhythm was near the coronary sinus ostium (CS OS) in 14 patients and along the left side of the interatrial septum (IAS) in 3 patients. RFA was performed in 16 patients (14 near the CS OS and 2 along the IAS). Postablation AF was inducible in 1 patient in whom RFA was preformed near the CS OS and in both patients when it was performed along the IAS. At a follow-up of 6 to 56 weeks (mean, 32 weeks), 10 of the 13 patients who had successful ablation were in sinus rhythm. All patients in whom AF was reinducible immediately after RFA continue to be in AF. CONCLUSIONS: Induced AF in patients with rheumatic heart disease begins as a rapid organized arrhythmia with earliest atrial activity near the CS OS in most patients. RFA targeting the region of the CS OS is successful in suppressing the arrhythmia immediately in most of the patients and in most on follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A role for phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha in bovine sperm motility regulation.

The long-term goal of our work is to understand biochemical mechanisms underlying sperm motility and fertility. In a recent study we showed that tyrosine phosphorylation of a 55-kDa protein varied in direct proportion to motility. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the protein was low in immotile compared to motile epididymal sperm. Inhibition or stimulation of motility by high calcium levels or cAMP, respectively, results in a corresponding decrease or increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the 55-kDa protein. Here we report purification and identification of this motility-associated protein. Soluble extracts from bovine caudal epididymal sperm were subjected to DEAE-cellulose, Affi-Gel blue, and cellulose phosphate chromatography. Tyrosine phosphate immunoreactive fractions contained glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) activity, suggesting a possible correspondence between these proteins. This suggestion was verified by Western blot analyses following one-dimensional and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the purified protein using monoclonal and affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies against the catalytic amino-terminus and carboxy-terminus regions of GSK-3. Further confirmation of the identity of these proteins came from Western blot analysis using antibodies specific to the tyrosine phosphorylated GSK-3. Using this antibody, we also showed that GSK-3 tyrosine phosphorylation was high in motile compared to immotile sperm. Immunocytochemistry revealed that GSK-3 is present in the flagellum and the anterior portion of the sperm head. These data suggest that GSK-3, regulated by phosphorylation, could be a key element underlying motility initiation in the epididymis and regulation of mature sperm function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Isolation and molecular characterization of AKAP110, a novel, sperm-specific protein kinase A-anchoring protein.

Agents that increase intracellular cAMP are potent stimulators of sperm motility. Anchoring inhibitor peptides, designed to disrupt the interaction of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) with A kinase-anchoring proteins (AKAPs), are potent inhibitors of sperm motility. These data suggest that PKA anchoring is a key biochemical mechanism controlling motility. We now report the isolation, identification, cloning, and characterization of AKAP110, the predominant AKAP detected in sperm lysates. AKAP110 cDNA was isolated and sequenced from mouse, bovine, and human testis libraries. Using truncated mutants, the RII-binding domain was identified. Alignment of the RII-binding domain on AKAP110 to those from other AKAPs reveals that AKAPs contain eight functionally conserved positions within an amphipathic helix structure that are responsible for RII interaction. Northern analysis of eight different tissues detected AKAP110 only in the testis, and in situ hybridization analysis detected AKAP110 only in round spermatids, suggesting that AKAP110 is a protein found only in male germ cells. Sperm cells contain both RI, located primarily in the acrosomal region of the head, and RII, located exclusively in the tail, regulatory subunits of PKA. Immunocytochemical analysis detected AKAP110 in the acrosomal region of the sperm head and along the entire length of the principal piece. These data suggest that AKAP110 shares compartments with both RI and RII isoforms of PKA and may function as a regulator of both motility- and head-associated functions such as capacitation and the acrosome reaction.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗
PubMed1998

Peripheral vascular response to mild indirect cooling in patients with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease and the frequency of painful crisis.

1. In homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease, skin cooling is a common precipitating factor of the painful crisis which is associated with avascular necrosis of active bone marrow. Since skin cooling does not directly induce sickling, we have investigated the nature of the reflex vascular responses to mild cooling in SS patients in a steady state of the disease and compared them with their history of painful crises. 2. Experiments were performed in Jamaica on 60 male SS patients and 30 matched control subjects with normal haemoglobin (AA) genotype. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography and mean arterial pressure (MAP) by a Finapres device: forearm vascular resistance (FVR) was calculated as MAP/FBF. Cutaneous erythrocyte flux in forearm and hand was monitored by a laser Doppler meter. The contralateral hand was immersed in cool water at 16 degrees C for 2 min, 6 times, at random intervals of 0.5-3 min. 3. The first cool immersion evoked an increase in MAP, cutaneous vasoconstriction and a net increase in FVR in both AA and SS subjects. However, the direction of change in FVR varied between individuals such that 18 AA subjects showed an increase in FVR (constrictor group) while 12 showed a decrease in FVR, indicating vasodilatation in forearm muscle (dilator group). In contrast, 50 SS subjects showed an increase in FVR and only 10 showed a decrease in FVR. The proportion of subjects who showed net vasoconstriction was significantly greater in the SS than in the AA group (83% versus 60%, P = 0.03, chi 2 test). 4. By the sixth cool stimulus, the 'dilator' group of AA subjects showed no change in FVR while the 'dilator' group of SS patients showed an increase in FVR. We suggest that forearm muscle vasodilatation was the characteristic component of the alerting/defence response to novel or noxious stimuli which habituates on repetition. 5. In the whole group of SS patients, baseline values of cutaneous vascular resistance and FVR increased between stimuli, indicating persistent vasoconstriction, and the sixth cool stimulus still evoked cutaneous vasoconstriction and a net increase in FVR. In contrast, AA subjects showed an increase in baseline FVR between stimuli, but the sixth cool stimulus had no significant effect on cutaneous vascular resistances, or FVR. 6. In SS patients there were no associations between the direction of change in FVR evoked by the first cool stimulus and forearm circumference or skinfold thickness, concentrations of haemoglobin or fetal haemoglobin. However, the frequency of painful crises was significantly greater in the 'constrictor' group than in the 'dilator' group (0.36 versus 0.12/year, P = 0.04, Mann-Whitney test). 7. These results indicate that the primary reflex vasoconstrictor response evoked by mild cooling is stronger and more persistent in SS patients than in AA subjects and is particularly strong in SS patients who are most prone to painful crises. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that skin cooling may precipitate the painful crisis by causing reflex vasoconstriction in muscle, and possibly in bone marrow, so diverting blood flow away from the active marrow.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Neglected roots of regionalism? The Commissioners for the special areas and grants to hospital services in the 1930s.

The inter-war years in the UK were notable for debates about the extent to which an extension of state intervention in hospital provision was desirable and necessary, and about the limits to and future of the voluntary hospital system which relied largely on various forms of private charity. These themes were intertwined in the UK's 'Special Areas', locations recognized as having suffered adversely from the inter-war depression, with consequent effects on their ability to finance desirable investments in social infrastructures. Grant aid was offered to hospitals in these locations under the terms of the Special Areas legislation of 1934, but there were extensive debates about the principle and practice of such subsidies to hospital development. This paper reviews these debates and considers whether the measures taken by the Commissioners can be seen as neglected antecedents of the regionalism detected in British hospital policy by several commentators.

Economics, Hospital↗
PubMed1996

Diaphyseal aclasis with spinal cord compression. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

In diaphyseal aclasis, the exostoses usually involve long bones, although occasionally the spine is also affected. Very few cases of osteochondroma causing spinal cord compression have been cited. The authors report their experience with two cases of diaphyseal aclasis. In the first case spinal cord compression caused by an exostosis of the lamina of C-2 occurred in a 9-year-old boy; in the second case a large osteochondroma of C-5 occurred in a 45- year-old man. Also included in this report is a review of the literature highlighting the incidence of diaphyseal aclasis, its clinical features and its excellent prognosis in treated cases.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1995

Isolation of a spermatozoa motility inhibiting factor from chicken seminal plasma with antibacterial property.

A 78-kDa spermatozoa motility inhibiting factor (SMIF) was purified from chicken (Gallus domesticus) seminal plasma by anion exchange (DE-53) followed by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose. The factor is thermostable and inhibited the spermatozoa motility in a dose dependent manner. In addition, SMIF inhibited the growth of gram negative bacteria, Pasteurella multocida but not gram positive Streptococcus equi. The factor lost its spermatozoa immobilizing property after treatment with trypsin, chymotrypsin or pepsin. The inhibition of SMIF by beta-mercaptoethanol suggest the involvement of disulfide bonds in its activity. Similarly, this property was lost in presence of chicken seminal plasma or incubating SMIF with anti-SMIF antibodies. Evidence is provided for the presence of a high molecular weight protein (> 100 kDa) in chicken seminal plasma that neutralizes the motility inhibiting property of SMIF. No significant decrease in spermatozoa ATP was observed in presence of SMIF suggesting that the loss of spermatozoa motility was due to factors other than depletion in cell's energy. Using anti-SMIF antibodies, a cross-reactive protein was identified in the blood, liver and reproductive tissues of chicken and the seminal plasma of cattle and buffalo. However, the cross-reactive protein failed to inhibit chicken spermatozoa motility. The significance of SMIF in chicken seminal plasma is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

An outbreak of acute hepatic encephalopathy due to severe aflatoxicosis in Malaysia.

In October 1988, 13 Chinese children died of acute hepatic encephalopathy in the northwestern state of Perak in peninsular Malaysia. The acuteness of the illness differed from previously reported outbreaks described in Kenya, India, and Thailand. Epidemiologic investigations determined that the children had eaten a Chinese noodle, loh see fun, hours before they died. The attack rates among those who had eaten the noodles were significantly higher than those who had not (P < 0.0001). The cases were geographically scattered in six towns in two districts along the route of distribution of the noodle supplied by one factory in Kampar town. Aflatoxins were confirmed in postmortem samples from patients. This outbreak has important public health implications for many developing countries.

Acute Disease↗