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Biomedical subjects

J Rao

Publications and source records attributed to J Rao.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Epididymal fat depot lipoprotein lipase activity is lower in animals with high endogenous fat preferences.

Adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a key enzyme responsible for the clearance of circulating triglycerides and has been linked to certain pathologic states such as obesity. In order to investigate whether an animal's endogenous fat-preference is associated with differences in adipose tissue LPL, we measured enzyme activity in epididymal fat from high- and low-fat preferring rats. Utilizing a 24h ad libitum feeding paradigm, four groups of outbred adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were screened separately for their macronutrient preferences. Animals exhibiting high- or low-fat preferences were identified and placed back on standard chow. LPL activity was measured in epididymal fat under chow fed or fasted conditions. Epididymal fat LPL activity was significantly less in the high-fat-preferring animals relative to the low-fat-preferring, in both the standard chow-fed state (p = 0.014) and fasted (p = 0.0007) state. LPL activity in heart ventricle and brown adipose tissue was also measured from the same animals. Activity in heart ventricle and brown adipose tissue was significantly lower in the high-fat-preferring group as compared with the low-fat-preferring only following a 24h fast (p = 0.0012 for heart and p = 0.0085 for brown adipose, high- versus low-fat preferring). The data indicate that differences in tissue LPL activity exist between animals with inherent differences in fat preference. Future comparative studies between the two groups of fat-preferring animals could lead to important clues to the regulation of the LPL.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Relationship of growth hormone deficiency and leukemia.

The use of growth hormone (GH) has been implicated as a possible risk factor for leukemia. We present data from six patients that support a working hypothesis that an increased risk of leukemia may exist in patients with GH deficiency not related to exogenous use of GH.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

GM1 ganglioside treatment of Parkinson's disease: an open pilot study of safety and efficacy.

We performed an open-label study testing the effects of GM1 ganglioside on 10 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Patients received 1,000 mg of GM1 by IV infusion after the last of three baseline functional assessments. Patients then self-administered GM1 at a dose of 200 mg/d, by subcutaneous injection, for 18 weeks. Under these conditions, GM1 ganglioside proved to be safe and well tolerated. There were no serious adverse events and none of the patients developed elevated anti-GM1 antibody titers. Improvements on at least some functional measures were present in most patients, beginning after 4 to 8 weeks of GM1 treatment. When functional improvements occurred, they lasted for the duration of the study. These results suggest that GM1 ganglioside is well tolerated and may be a useful adjunct to the treatment of PD, and that a double-blind, placebo-controlled study is now warranted.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1995

Development of a rat model for iron deficiency and toxicological studies: comparison among Fischer 344, Wistar, and Sprague Dawley strains.

We carried out a comparative study to develop iron deficiency in three strains of rats: Fischer 344, Wistar, and Sprague Dawley. Considering that certain ingredients in the diet, such as sucrose, may inhibit enzymes of drug metabolism, which we planned to study during an iron deficiency state, the diet was modified to contain 35% each of sucrose and starch. Results of hematologic studies at the end of 6 weeks of iron deprivation clearly indicated that all clinical signs of iron deficiency anemia--hemoglobin concentration, protoporphyrin-to-heme ratio, and serum and liver iron concentrations--were affected in the three strains. However, the deficiency was less pronounced in Sprague Dawley than in Wistar and Fischer 344 strains. Results of this study suggest that rat strains respond differently to dietary iron inadequacy; this variability could be exploited to suit specific experimental needs.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
PubMed1994

Recovery from paraplegia following aortic saddle embolism. Case report.

An aortic saddle embolus causing paraplegia is rare and even rarer is a documentation of neurological recovery from this event. A 47 year old male presented with absent pulsations in the lower limbs and paraplegia, both of sudden onset. He underwent immediate bilateral transfemoral embolectomy. The postoperative period was stormy. The paraplegia recovered over a period of 2 months and he could walk to his place of work after 6 months. The rare combination of saddle embolus and paraplegia is discussed. An attempt has been made to verify the hypothesis of Dickson et al which states that a low origin of the great radicular artery (GRA) below T12 level may be responsible for paraplegia when obstructed by a saddle embolus. We found the GRA arising at L2 vertebral level in this patient. Postoperative selective spinal arteriogram and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord showed a patent GRA and normal spinal cord structure respectively. Early surgical intervention in restoring the blood flow into the GRA may prevent severe histological changes hitherto responsible for nonrecovery from paraplegia in the earlier reports.

Aortic Diseases↗
PubMed1994

Pulmonary oedema due to inhalation of detergent aerosol.

Healthy adult male albino rats were subjected to inhalation of increasing doses of detergent (dioctyl sodium sulfo-succinate) aerosol ranging from 100 mg to 500 mg. Administration of 500 mg of detergent aerosol resulted in peribronchial and focal alveolar oedema in 3 out of 5 animals. The lungs of control animals which were subjected to inhalation of vehicle aerosol (ethanol and saline) did not show any abnormality. It is possible that pulmonary oedema observed in detergent aerosol inhalation may be due to the action of detergents on the surfactant system of the lung.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of assessments made by a consultant in public health and housing staff on applications for rehousing on medical grounds.

This paper describes a review of a new system introduced in October 1989 for rehousing on medical grounds, in which housing staff were primarily responsible for making both the assessment and the decision. Part of this review included a study to compare points awarded by housing staff with those awarded by a consultant in public health. Major discrepancies were found in 11.6 per cent of decisions, of which only half were considered potentially to disadvantage applicants. On the basis of this review, it was felt that there was justification in using non-medical personnel to make decisions on medical priority, with medical officers acting in an advisory capacity only. The mechanism for processing applications, however, needs careful consideration, as does the overall role of medical priority in the allocation of housing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

The periodontal status and treatment needs of dentists.

The periodontal status and treatment needs were assessed in 575 dentists between 20-64 years in some places of India. The Community periodontal Index of Treatment Needs was used. The influence of age, sex, educational qualifications and diet on periodontal treatment needs were analysed. The time that would be required to cater to the treatment requirement of the dentists examined was also calculated. Periodontal diseases was found to be highly prevalent (99.6%) but mostly of low to moderate periodontitis. The prevalence and severity and treatment needs increased with age. Among those who needed treatment 99.6% required Oral hygiene instructions and motivation, 70.6% required scaling and 1.7% required complex periodontal treatment. Periodontal treatment needs was less in females than males. Higher educational qualifications showed increased periodontal treatment needs. Diet did not have any significant influence on the periodontal treatment needs. The treatment time calculated was 821 hours of dental hygienists work and only 10 hours of specialists work. On the basis of this study, it can be said that if dentists do not believe in prevention themselves, they will lack the conviction and the enthusiasm necessary to support the development of a preventive programme so necessary in India where the magnitude of the periodontal problem is enormous and hence they will not be able to achieve the targets laid down by the IDA Workshop on "Oral Health for all by the year 2000 AD."

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Fluorimetric DNA assay for cell growth estimation.

A growth assay using the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258 has been developed which allows sensitive and rapid analysis of the DNA content of a variety of cell types including keratinocytes and mucus-secreting cells, and which requires a minimum of liquid handling. The assay can detect as few as 500 diploid human cells, and is compatible with the simultaneous detection of [3H]thymidine incorporation in the same cultures.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A report of three multiclinic trials evaluating arbaprostil in arthritic patients with ASA/NSAID gastric mucosal damage. The Upjohn Company Arbaprostil ASA/NSAID Gastric Mucosal Damage Treatment Study Groups.

Three randomized, placebo-controlled multiclinic trials involving arbaprostil dosages of (a) 10 micrograms; (b) 25 micrograms; and (c) 10, 25, or 50 micrograms orally for 4 wk in patients older than 18 yr with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis who had endoscopically documented nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-associated gastric mucosal damage were conducted in the United States. All patients continued taking the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and were reendoscoped after 4 wk of therapy. Success at that time was defined as complete resolution of all gastric mucosal damage. Six hundred fifty-eight patients were enrolled in the three trials. Significantly more patients experienced healing in the arbaprostil treatment groups in all trials compared with those who received placebo. The healing rates in the various trials were 68% and 32% (10 micrograms vs. placebo; p = 0.007); 77% and 23% (25 micrograms vs. placebo; p less than 0.001); and 52%, 46%, 35%, and 16% (50, 25, and 10 micrograms vs. placebo; p less than 0.001, less than 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). Diarrhea, mostly of a mild nature, was the only arbaprostil-associated side effect and was found with the 25- and 50-microgram dosages (33% and 59%, respectively). No exacerbation of arthritis signs or symptoms was found. Arbaprostil at doses with varying effects on gastric acid secretion (25 and 50 micrograms) was documented in these trials to be an effective and safe agent for healing gastric mucosal damage associated with aspirin or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in patients with either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis without adversely affecting joint symptomatology.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

c-AMP-induced c-fos expression in cells of melanocyte origin.

The expression of the c-fos gene in murine cells of melanocyte origin in response to cAMP-elevating agents has been examined. Accumulation of c-fos mRNA at a high level as a consequence of these treatments precedes both proliferative and cytodifferentiative changes in non-tumorigenic or tumorigenic cell lines.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Calcineurin immunoprecipitated from bovine brain extract contains no detectable Ni2+ or Mn2+.

Purified calcineurin phosphatase is converted upon incubation in millimolar Ni2+ or Mn2+ to an active form by association with these metal activators. The bound metal ion is not dissociable from calcineurin by dialysis or gel filtration, but can be released upon prolonged incubation of the enzyme with Ca2+/calmodulin or chelating agents (Pallen, C.J., and Wang, J.H. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 16115-16120). The present study has been undertaken to test the possibility that calcineurin in brain may contain tightly bound Ni2+ or Mn2+. A monoclonal antibody (VA1) immunoaffinity matrix was prepared and shown to affect specific precipitation of calcineurin from crude bovine brain extract. Using [3H]-, [63Ni2+]-, and [54Mn2+]calcineurin added to the extract as radioactive tracer, it was found that up to 80% of the calcineurin could be immunoprecipitated, and that more than 50% of the originally bound metal ions could be detected in the immunoprecipitate. When samples of calcineurin immunoprecipitated from brain extracts were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy, Ni2+ and Mn2+ were not detected, whereas, Zn2+, a constitutive metal of calcineurin (King, M. M., and Huang, C. Y. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 8847-8856) was found in the expected amount. The result suggests that calcineurin in brain does not contain tightly associated Ni2+ or Mn2+.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Computed tomographic features of puerperal ovarian vein thrombosis.

Puerperal ovarian vein thrombosis is a dangerous complication of childbirth and often leads to inferior vena cava thrombosis and multiple pulmonary emboli. Computed tomography of the abdomen is useful in early diagnosis. Two patients with typical computed tomographic features are presented.

Adult↗