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Biomedical subjects

J Rao

Publications and source records attributed to J Rao.

87 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Interferon-induced alterations in metastatic capacity, class-1 antigen expression and natural killer cell sensitivity of melanoma cells.

Pre-treatment of B16 melanoma cells with recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) markedly increased their lung-colonising capacity following i.v. injection into syngeneic mice as compared with control cells. A similar enhancement was observed following the injection of treated cells into athymic nude mice but not in athymic mice carrying the beige mutation. Pre-treatment of syngeneic mice with anti-asialo GM1 antibody effectively abrogated any interferon-induced increase in experimental metastatic activity. The same IFN-gamma treatment significantly increased resistance of B16 cells to splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity as determined by in vitro assays. IFN-alpha/beta pre-treatment of B16 cells decreased sensitivity to NK-cell-mediated lysis to a lesser extent than IFN-gamma and had no detectable effect upon the subsequent metastatic activity of the tumor cells. Class-I antigen expression was altered by these IFN treatments, with IFN-gamma causing dramatic increases in expression of H-2Db antigen, in a pattern consistent with the possibility that increased H-2 antigen expression on B16 cells led to decreased NK-cell sensitivity which was reflected by an increase in experimental metastatic capacity.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Toxicities of some heavy metals to the tadpoles of frog, Microhyla ornata (Dumeril & Bibron).

Static bioassays were conducted to determine the relative acute toxicities of five heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, copper, manganese and zinc) to 1-week-old and 4-week-old tadpoles of the frog, Microhyla ornata. Toxic effects were calculated on the basis of LC50 for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h exposures at 25.5-26.0 degrees C. Mercury was the most toxic and zinc was the least toxic of the heavy metals tested. The sensitivity of the tadpoles to the heavy metals increased with increased age.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Membranous type of esophageal atresia at the cardiac end of the esophagus: a case report.

An 8-day-old female neonate was referred to pediatric surgical services for regurgitation of feeds since birth. Plain x-ray of the chest and abdomen with Ryle's tube in situ and contrast study confirmed the diagnosis of esophageal atresia at the cardiac end of the esophagus. The membrane at the cardiac end of the esophagus was excised employing a thoracoabdominal approach. This is the first case report of membranous type of esophageal atresia at the cardiac end of the esophagus to be reported in the English literature.

Esophageal Atresia↗
PubMed1986

Enhancement of experimental metastasis by pretreatment of tumour cells with hydroxyurea.

The effect of treatment with hydroxyurea (HU), on subsequent experimental metastasis formation by cells of 3 murine melanoma lines has been examined. In vitro treatment of B16-F1, B16-F10 and K-1735-clone 19 cells with 0.1 mM or 0.3 mM HU, followed by a period of recovery in drug-free medium, resulted in a significant increase in the number of lung nodules formed in syngeneic mice following i.v. injection of the cells. The maximum effect obtained was observed when cells were injected 6 hr after removal of HU and it occurred in spite of the cytotoxicity of the doses used. Six hours after release from treatment with 0.3 mM HU cells were synchronized in the G2 phase of the cell cycle but the consequent increase in cell volume was not responsible for increased metastasis through enhancement of tumour-cell arrest, since lodgement of 51Cr-labelled, HU-treated cells was no greater than that of control cells. The results obtained suggest that the chemotherapeutic agent HU may facilitate tumour progression via a direct action on neoplastic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Birth centre confinement at the Queen Victoria Medical Centre: four years' experience.

A review of the first four years of the functioning of the birth centre at the Queen Victoria Medical Centre is presented. In that time, 1040 pregnant women were accepted for confinement there. Of these, 52 withdrew for non-obstetric reasons, while 470 were transferred to alternative obstetrical care--274 because of antepartum complications and 196 because of intrapartum problems. Therefore, 518 women were delivered in the birth centre. The care of the women is entrusted almost entirely to a team of midwives and this review demonstrates an enviable safety record.

Australia↗
PubMed1981

Birth centre confinement at the Queen Victoria Medical Centre. I. Obstetric and neonatal outcome.

A review of hte first 175 confinements at the Queen Victoria Medical Centre Birth Centre is presented. The design, structure and function of hte Birth Centre is described and the safety of the programme demonstrated. Seventy-four pregnancies (42%) accepted for Birth Centre confinement required transfer because of antepartum or intrapartum complications. There were satisfactory obstetric and neonatal outcomes in all pregnancies. The first year's experience has allowed a reassessment of the risk factors, which will permit greater use of the Birth Centre without any increases risk to mothers or babies.

Australia↗
PubMed1978

Metabolism of the enantiomers of 2-hydroxy-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan in dog and man.

The major metabolic pathway of the (-) enantiomer and the (+) enantiomer of 2-hydroxy-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan in dogs was shown to be conjugation with glucuronic acid and/or sulfate. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography were used to identify additional metabolites of the two enantiomers in dog urine after hydrolysis with Glusulase. Metabolites of the (-) enantiomer were identified as 2-hydroxymorphinan and 2,7beta-dihydroxy-N-cyclopropropylmethylmorphinan. The major metabolites of the (+) enantiomer in hydrolyzed dog urine were identified as 2-hydroxymorphinan,2,3-dihydroxy-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan and 2-methoxy-3-hydroxy-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan. In addition, tentative or partial structures were postulated for three minor metabolites of the (+) enantiomer: 2-methoxy-3-hydroxymorphinan, a metabolite containing a hydroxyl group on either carbon 4, 5, 6 or 7 and a methylated catechol metabolite containing a hydroxyl group on carbon 4, 5, 6 or 7. Thus, the major oxidative pathways of the (-) enantiomer were N-dealkylation and aliphatic hydroxylation, while the (+) enantiomer mainly underwent N-dealkylation and aromatic hydroxylation, followed by phenolic methylation. Analysis of urine from a human subject administered the (-) enantiomer suggested that the metabolism of this isomer by man was similar to its metabolism by dog.

Analgesics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes: the importance of race.

Diabetes is a common cause of kidney failure and blindness among young adults, particularly of African-American descent. Since glycemic control is a predictor of diabetes complications, we evaluated the impact of multiple factors including a special multidisciplinary management program on glycosylated hemoglobin in children with Type 1 diabetes. Data was collected from pediatric diabetes clinics in New Orleans, LA and Baltimore, MD. In New Orleans, hemoglobin A(1c) was higher in African-American patients 12. 5+/-3.3% (n=71) vs. 10.7+/-2.1% (n=80) in Caucasian children, p<0. 0001. Longer duration of diabetes was also associated with higher hemoglobin A(1c) in both races. The effect of race on hemoglobin A(1c) was independent of the influence of sex, insurance status, body mass index (BMI) z-score, and number of clinic visits. Covariate analysis with mean blood glucose levels indicated that higher hemoglobin A(1c) was attributable to higher mean blood glucose levels in African-American children. From the Baltimore data, a multidisciplinary intervention program led to improved total glycosylated hemoglobin for Caucasian patients but not for African-American children. Poorer glycemic control of African-American children is likely to predispose them to a higher likelihood of developing microvascular complications as they mature. Standard hospital-based multidisciplinary programming for diabetes management may have limited effectiveness in improving glycemic control of African-American children with diabetes. Innovative intervention programs are needed for these high-risk patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospects of riboflavin carrier protein (RCP) as an antifertility vaccine in male and female mammals.

Riboflavin carrier protein (RCP) is obligatorily involved in yolk deposition of the vitamin, riboflavin, in the developing oocyte of the hen. The production of this protein is inducible by oestrogen. It is evolutionarily conserved in terms of its physicochemical, immunological and functional characteristics. It is the prime mediator of vitamin supply to the developing fetus in mammals, including primates. Passive immunoneutralization of the protein terminates pregnancy in rats. Active immunization of rats and bonnet monkeys with avian RCP prevents pregnancy without causing any adverse physiological effects of the mother in terms of her vitamin status, reproductive cycles or reproductive-endocrine profile. Denatured, linearized RCP is more effective in eliciting neutralizing antibodies capable of interfering with embryonic viability either before or during peri-implantation stages. Two defined stretches of sequential epitopes, one located at the N-terminus and the other at the C-terminus of the protein have been identified. Active immunization with either of these epitopes conjugated with diphtheria toxoid curtails pregnancy in rats and monkeys. Immunohistochemical localization of RCP on ovulated oocytes and early embryos shows that the antibodies cause degeneration only of early embryos. RCP is produced intra-testicularly and becomes localized on acrosomal surface of mammalian spermatozoa. Active immunization of male rats and monkeys with denatured RCP markedly reduces fertility by impairing the fertilizing potential of spermatozoa. These findings suggest that RCP, or its defined fragments, could be a novel, first generation vaccine for regulating fertility in both the sexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ectopic expression of truncated Sp1 transcription factor prolongs the S phase and reduces the growth rate.

The role of the transcription factor Sp1 in cell growth and survival was investigated by induced expression of its DNA-binding C-terminal fragment. Transfection of a constitutively expressed Sp1-170C plasmid construct into HeLa cells failed to produce viable clones, suggesting that this peptide interferes with cell growth. However, transfection with the muristerone A-inducible vector system produced four clones with low levels of expression of Sp1-170C. Muristerone A transiently induced higher levels of Sp1-170C, and this was accompanied by a reduced growth rate and prolongation of the S phase of the cell cycle. This is the first report that a dominant negative Sp1 can affect the cell cycle.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arthritis and women's health: prevalence, impact, and prevention.

INTRODUCTION: Our objectives were to review the prevalence and impact of arthritis in women and to present information regarding strategies for prevention of arthritis in women. DISCUSSION: Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in the United States and the most prevalent chronic condition in women. In addition, arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability and limitations in activities of daily living, and its economic, psychological, and social impact is enormous. Some of the effects of arthritis, such as medical care costs and lost wages, are easily translated into economic terms, but others, such as the inability to play sports, a reduction in housekeeping activities, or pain, are not. CONCLUSIONS: Although arthritis is the most frequent and disabling chronic condition among women, its public health importance has not been previously emphasized. Public health agencies and health care providers should consider the following strategies to reduce the impact of arthritis among women: (1) promote primary prevention of arthritis through weight reduction and the reduction of sports- or occupational-related joint injury and (2) encourage the early detection and appropriate management of arthritis in women through use of medical and physical therapy, exercise, and established educational programs.

Activities of Daily Living↗