Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Raj

Publications and source records attributed to J Raj.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Bioconversion of butyronitrile to butyramide using whole cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34.

Butyramide is an important chemical commodity, which is used for the synthesis of hydroxamic acids and electrorheological fluids and for the preparation of beta-amodoorganotin compounds. The nitrile hydratase (Nhase) of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34 catalyzed the conversion of butyronitrile to butyramide. The maximum Nhase activity [18 U/mg dry cell weight (dcw)] of whole cells of R. rhodochrous PA-34 was observed at pH 7.0 with 10% (v/v) butyronitrile and 1 mg cells (dcw)/ml reaction mixture at 10 degrees C. The cells of R. rhodochrous PA-34 retained almost 50% activity when incubated for 1 h in the presence of 85% (v/v) butyronitrile. A yield of 597 g of butyramide (6.8 M) was obtained using 60% (v/v) butyronitrile, 1 g cells (dry weight) in a 1-l batch reaction at 10 degrees C for 6 h.

Amides↗
PubMed2006

Constitutive acetonitrile hydrolysing activity of Nocardia globerula NHB-2: Optimization of production and reaction conditions.

Nocardia globerula NHB-2 exhibited an intracellular acetonitrile hydrolysing activity (AHA) when cultivated in nutrient broth supplemented with glucose (10.0 g/l) and yeast extract (1.0 g/l), at pH 8.0, 30 degrees C for 21 hr. Maximum AHA was recorded in the culture containing 0.1 M of sodium phosphate buffer, (pH 8.8) at 45 degrees C for 15 min with 600 micromol of acetonitrile and resting cells of N. globerula NHB-2 equivalent to 1.0 ml culture broth. This activity was stable up to 40 degrees C and was completely inactivated at or above 60 degrees C. About five-fold increase in AHA was observed after optimization of culture and reaction conditions. Under the optimized conditions, this organism hydrolyzed various nitriles and amides such as propionitrile, benzonitrile. acetamide, and acrylamide to corresponding acids. This nitrile/amide hydrolysing activity of N. globerula NHB-2 has potential applications in enzymatic synthesis of organic acids and bioremediation of nitriles and amides contaminated soil and water system.

Acetonitriles↗
PubMed1999

Laparoscopic management of pseudomyxoma peritonei secondary to adenocarcinoma of the appendix.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare disease in which the abdominal cavity fills with thick mucoid material secondary to either benign or malignant conditions. We discuss a case where pseudomyxoma peritonei secondary to adenocarcinoma of the appendix was diagnosed and managed laparoscopically. The laparoscopic approach allows thorough exploration of the abdomen, as well as irrigation and aspiration of the thick mucinous material using a 10-mm suction cannula and the instillation of mucolytic agents such as 5% dextrose solution. Appendectomy or right hemicolectomy can be performed with minimal disturbance of the anterior abdominal wall, thus minimizing future adhesions as well as possible tumor-cell implantation. Intraperitoneal catheters for chemotherapy can be placed easily through the port sites. These measures offer an alternative to radical peritoneal dissection and can be accomplished during the initial laparoscopic exploration.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Tests of human olfactory function: principal components analysis suggests that most measure a common source of variance.

It is not known whether nominally different olfactory tests actually measure dissimilar perceptual attributes. In this study, we administered nine olfactory tests, including tests of odor identification, discrimination, detection, memory, and suprathreshold intensity and pleasantness perception, to 97 healthy subjects. A principal components analysis performed on the intercorrelation matrix revealed four meaningful components. The first was comprised of strong primary loadings from most of the olfactory test measures, whereas the second was comprised of primary loadings from intensity ratings given to a set of suprathreshold odorant concentrations. The third and fourth components had primary loadings that reflected, respectively, mean suprathreshold pleasantness ratings and a response bias measure derived from a yes/no odor identification signal detection task. In an effort to adjust for potential confounding influences of age, gender, smoking, and years of schooling on the component structure, a matrix of residuals from a multiple regression analysis, which included these variables, was also analyzed. A similar component pattern emerged. Overall, these findings suggest, in healthy subjects spanning a wide range, that (1) a number of nominally distinct tests of olfactory function are measuring a common source of variance, and (2) some suprathreshold odor intensity and pleasantness rating tests may be measuring sources of variance different from this common source.

Adult↗