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Biomedical subjects

K Roy

Publications and source records attributed to K Roy.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Role of beta-carotene on the changes in activity patterns and levels of biotransforming enzymes in transplantable murine lymphoma.

The differential levels of induction of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 (cyt. P-450), UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) and cytosolic glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were evaluated over various periods of time, following tumor transplantation in male Swiss albino mice in the presence and absence of beta-carotene supplementation in their basal diet (100 mg/kg). An increase in the total hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 and UDP-glucuronyl transferase and cytosolic GSH-transferase activities (1.5 to 2 fold) occurred during the later stage of tumor progression (22 +/- 2 days onwards). However, beta-carotene supplementation throughout the study increased or decreased the random activity trends of the above markers significantly (P < 0.05- < 0.01). Finally, beta-carotene supplementation could enhance the survival of the host bearing lymphoma by almost 2-fold (50-60 days) over and above the lymphoma controls (30-35 days).

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effect of thyroxine on experimental bronchospasm in guinea pigs.

Effect of Thyroxine was studied in histamine induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs. Chronic treatment with the drug significantly protected against experimental bronchospasm. Thyroxine also potentiated salbutamol evoked bronchodilation in this experimental model. Up-regulation of beta-2 adrenoceptors in bronchial smooth muscle may be the probable mechanism of action of thyroxine.

Albuterol↗
PubMed1994

Eastern Pacific molluscan provinces and latitudinal diversity gradient: no evidence for "Rapoport's rule".

"Rapoport's rule," which has gained wide acceptance as a potential explanation for latitudinal and other diversity gradients, holds that mean latitudinal range of species decreases toward the equator. We analyzed latitudinal ranges of 2838 eastern Pacific marine molluscan species, a subset of which figured in the original formulation of Rapoport's rule, and failed to find the predicted trends. Instead, species diversity gradients and range magnitudes appear to vary independently, with the spatial distribution of major oceanographic barriers exerting a strong influence on latitudinal ranges. Biogeographic structure should, therefore, be an important element in the assessment of diversity patterns.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Patient satisfaction with a mood disorders unit: elements and components.

Patient satisfaction is an indicator of effective service provision and may influence compliance with treatment. Of 265 patients attending a specialised mood disorders unit and surveyed at least two years after their initial contact, 221 (83%) replied. Characteristics of responders and non-responders were compared on demographic and clinical information from index assessment and follow-up. Sixty-four percent of responders were very satisfied and 21% partly satisfied with their management. Components of satisfaction included perceived competence of clinical management; the unit's administrative and after-treatment accessibility; and the support of staff and other patients. Those with a more adequate personality and melancholic depression at baseline assessment were more satisfied. A low current mood state at time of survey was associated with lower satisfaction in non-melancholics only. There were interactions between improvement in condition, diagnosis, personality and satisfaction. The survey provided a framework for formulating treatment programmes and was a useful quality assurance tool.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

What the doctor ordered? Referrer satisfaction with a mood disorders unit.

Assessment of referrers' needs, patterns and satisfaction ratings with a psychiatric service provides both a clinical and service performance indicator. This study explored referrer satisfaction with a tertiary referral mood disorders unit (MDU). The 147 responders comprised 75 psychiatrists, 59 general practitioners and 13 others. Thirty-two percent of referrers were "very satisfied" and 42% "quite satisfied" with their contact with the unit. Components of satisfaction were defined by principal components analysis as "technical competence"; "adequate information and follow-up support"; and "access" to the facility, dimensions confirmed by responses to open-ended questions. Differences were established between the referral needs of psychiatrists and general practitioners, suggesting different treatment emphases. Such surveys provide a framework which can facilitate review and restructuring of important service components of any psychiatric facility.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1994

Occupational infection with hepatitis C virus in the healthcare setting.

Our understanding of the types of hepatitis described previously as non-A, non-B hepatitis has been revolutionized by the discovery of two new viruses, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis E virus. HCV is transmitted parenterally, and poses a potential occupational hazard to health care workers, including dental staff. No vaccine is currently available, and it is important that an assessment of infection risk is made available to clinicians.

Blood-Borne Pathogens↗
PubMed1992

Psychotic (delusional) depression: a meta-analysis of physical treatments.

Literature reviews have suggested that combination antidepressant/antipsychotic drug therapy and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are of comparable efficacy in treating psychotic depression, and distinctly superior to antidepressant alone or antipsychotic alone. We undertook a meta-analysis of 44 studies, and focussed on those three principal treatment options. There was a trend for ECT to be superior to combination drug therapy, with bilateral ECT being suggested as distinctly more effective than unilateral, and ECT was demonstrated to be significantly superior to tricyclic drug alone. Combination drug therapy ranked as more effective than antipsychotic alone and than antidepressant alone, but that greater efficacy was not significant.

Affective Disorders, Psychotic↗
PubMed1992

Are there any differences between bipolar and unipolar melancholia?

Although it is now more than 30 years since Leohard originally proposed the distinction between bipolar and monopolar (unipolar) forms of affective disorder, there have been relatively few studies which have investigated clinical features which may differentiate the depressed phase of bipolar disorder from unipolar depression. In this study we examined the value of a new scale for rating depressive mental state signs (the 'core' score system), and a large series of symptoms and risk factors, in distinguishing between 27 age and sex-matched pairs of bipolar and unipolar patients diagnosed as melancholic on several diagnostic criteria. In general, we found a marked similarity between the groups on clinical features of the depressive episode when allowance was made for multiple tests. Bipolar patients, however, had shorter episodes of depression and were less likely to demonstrate 'slowed movements' than unipolar subjects. There were also consistent trends on other items for psychomotor retardation to be less common and agitation to be more likely in the bipolar patients. At the least, these findings suggest that the widely-held belief that bipolar depressed patients typically have psychomotor retardation is not as clear-cut as has been previously described.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1992

Aranorosinol A and aranorosinol B, two new metabolites from Pseudoarachniotus roseus: production, isolation, structure elucidation and biological properties.

Two new secondary metabolites, aranorosinol A (1) and aranorosinol B (2), were isolated from a strain of Pseudoarachniotus roseus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their spectral properties and chemical transformations and were found to be similar to aranorosin (3) isolated from the same strain.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1992

Deoxymulundocandin--a new echinocandin type antifungal antibiotic.

A new echinocandin type antifungal antibiotic, deoxymulundocandin, C48H77N7O15, was isolated from the culture filtrate and mycelia of a fungal culture, Aspergillus sydowii (Bainier and Sartory) Thom and Church var. nov. mulundensis Roy (Culture No. Y-30462). The structure was established by comparative GC-MS analyses of the derivatized acid hydrolysates of deoxymulundocandin and mulundocandin as well as by the high field NMR experiments (COSY, NOESY and DEPT).

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1991

Psychosocial risk factors distinguishing melancholic and nonmelancholic depression: a comparison of six systems.

We examined six systems or scales designed to distinguish melancholia from residual nonmelancholic depressive disorders in a sample of 305 patients. A count of the number of significant psychosocial risk factors showed that a clinical diagnosis was the most differentiating (19 significant risk factors), followed by the Newcastle index (13), DSM-III (10), and the CORE system (10)--the last essentially assessing psychomotor change; Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) (7) and an endogeneity symptom scale (2) were the least differentiating. A subsample of "composite melancholics" was derived, comprising 138 who met "melancholia" criteria for DSM-III, RDC, and CORE, and they were contrasted with residual depressives. The composite melancholics were older, had had a briefer depressive episode, and differed significantly on 12 risk factors, essentially being less likely to report deprivational experiences such as deficient parenting and dysfunctional marital relationships. We suggest that such a risk factor strategy is of potential use in refining the clinical definition of melancholia.

Adaptation, Psychological↗