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Biomedical subjects

M Agarwal

Publications and source records attributed to M Agarwal.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Urodynamic study of children with voiding problems.

Twenty high risk children aged 5-12 years with various voiding problems were studied prospectively by urodynamics to evaluate the function of their urinary bladder and its continence mechanism. None of them had neuropathic bladder or any obstruction distal to bladder neck. Fourteen out of twenty (70%) had abnormal findings on urodynamics evaluation; 8 (40%) had non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder (NNNB); 3 (15%) had small capacity hypertonic bladder (SCHB); 2 (10%) had atonic bladder (AB) and 1 (5%) had hyperreflexic bladder (HB). We conclude that urodynamic abnormalities are as frequent in high risk Indian children as they are in developed countries. The high risk children should be subjected to urodynamic studies more frequently than being done hitherto and be directed to proper therapeutic modality.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of antibody responses in Indian kala-azar by immunoblot.

When infected with Leishmania species, patients develop specific antibodies that constitute the basis of serodiagnosis. using Western blot analysis we studied the specificity of anti-leishmania donovani antibodies in patients with visceral leishmaniasis, healthy subjects living in an endemic and non-endemic areas, and patients of other infectious diseases like malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis and tropical splenomegaly. Sera from patients with kala-azar recognised numerous antigens that had a molecular weight of 150 KD, 145 KD, 120 KD, 92 KD, 87 KD, 72 KD, 65 KD, 56 KD, 50 KD, 40 KD, 26 KD, 21 KD, 14 KD, AND 12 KD. The 150, 145, 120, 92, 87, 81, 65, 25, 21, 14, and 12 KD antigens had the greatest specificity for kala-azar sera while the bands of molecular weights 72, 56, 50, and 40 KD were found to be cross reactive with sera of patients of other diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Characterization and genetic organization of full-length copies of a LINE retroposon family dispersed in the genome of Culex pipiens mosquitoes.

Many full-length copies of a long interspersed repetitive element family, designated Juan-C, are reiterated in the genome of Culex pipiens mosquitoes. The complete Juan-C elements have a length of 4.48 kb. They are terminated at one end with an adenosine-rich sequence preceded with an AATAAA polyadenylation signal, lack terminal repeats and cause duplication of the host DNA at the site of their integration. Full-length Juan-C copies display two long open reading frames potentially encoding two proteins. The first one includes a domain typical of nucleic-acid-binding proteins, while the second resembles reverse transcriptases. Therefore, Juan-C elements are similar to LINE retroposons in their overall genetic organization and can probably be transposed by reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate. Juan-C elements are most similar in their sequence and coding potential to the Juan-A elements which are reiterated in mosquito species belonging to the genus Aedes. They also display homologies with some Drosophila LINEs such as Jockey, suggesting that all these elements have arisen from a common precursor. Nearly identical full-length Juan-C copies are amplified in C. pipiens strains from different continents. This finding that Juan-C retroposons reiterated in different strains form an homogeneous family is interpreted to indicate that these elements have spread recently in the C. pipiens species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Plasma from normal pregnant women alters the reactivity of rabbit aortic smooth muscle with functional endothelium.

1. The effects of normal human pregnant plasma on the reactivity of rabbit aortic rings with documented endothelium have been studied. The rings were incubated in plasma from either normal pregnant or non-pregnant women and the effects of incubation on their responses to noradrenaline (NA), calcium chloride stimulation and potassium chloride-induced relaxation were examined. 2. There was no significant difference in the responses to NA in rings incubated in plasma from either pregnant or non-pregnant women. 3. The responses of the rings, incubated in both types of plasma, to calcium chloride stimulation through receptor-operated channels were similar, but rings incubated in plasma from pregnant women demonstrated decreased sensitivity and contractility to calcium chloride stimulation through voltage operated channels. 4. Potassium chloride-induced relaxation was significantly enhanced in rings incubated in plasma from normal pregnant women. The pattern of the responses was unaltered by either de-endothelialization or pretreatment of the rings with indomethacin. 5. The effects of plasma from pregnant women are similar to what has been reported as characteristic of vascular smooth muscle in normal pregnancy.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Transurethral resection for a large prostate--is it safe?

A retrospective self-audit exercise was undertaken on 47 men who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate and in whom the resected weight was 80 g or more. The operative mortality and morbidity rates were 6 and 55% respectively, being highest in the "very old and unfit" group (22 and 88%). The complication rate increased if the resected prostatic weight was 100 g or more, or if the resection time exceeded 75 min. It was concluded that careful selection of patients is necessary before undertaking TUR for a large gland.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Psychological screening for non-specific abdominal pain.

Non-specific abdominal pain (NSAP) may have a detectable psychological component that could be used to predict outcome. To test this hypothesis, 131 patients aged 14-40 years admitted with acute abdominal pain were assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale, and a structured interview. Of 61 patients with NSAP, more had a psychosocial problem identified by the admitting registrar (P < 0.01) and marginally more had high questionnaire scores. The risk of having NSAP was high if an abnormality on interview accompanied high questionnaire scores (relative risk 1.93 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 1.35-2.77)) or if prodromal pain had lasted > 7 days (relative risk 2.13 (95 per cent c.i. 1.55-2.92)). After 2 years, patients with continuing pain had higher HAD and Spielberger Anxiety Trait scores (both P < 0.02); NSAP was associated with persisting pain (relative risk 2.22 (95 per cent c.i. 1.10-4.48)). Psychosocial factors are implicated in NSAP and in chronic pain, but the sensitivity and specificity of questionnaire assessment are too low to be useful in diagnosis.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1992

Giant pre-sacral neurofibroma.

We report a case of pre-sacral neurofibroma diagnosed on a routine medical examination. The pathological features and management criteria of these rare tumours are discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Effect of a new mineralocorticoid antagonist mespirenone on aldosterone-induced hypertension.

The effects of the mineralocorticoid antagonist mespirenone on the development and maintenance of aldosterone-induced hypertension in Sprague-Dawley rats has been studied. Uninephrectomized saline-drinking male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with either 0.2 ml olive oil, 50 g aldosterone, 1 mg mespirenone, 50 g aldosterone plus 500 g mespirenone, or 50 g aldosterone plus 1 mg mespirenone, each dissolved in 0.2 ml olive oil. Administration of aldosterone alone significantly increased the systolic blood pressure (SBP) from a control value of 114 +/- 3.6 to 162 +/- 4 mmHg by the end of the 3-wk experimental period. Mespirenone given alone had no effect on SBP. However, mespirenone given in combination with aldosterone reversed the hypertension caused by aldosterone in a dose-dependent manner. Saline consumption and urinary output were slightly increased in aldosterone-treated rats compared with the other groups, but the body and organ weights were comparable in all groups. Microscopic examination of kidney and heart showed no abnormalities due to mespirenone. These results suggest that in vivo administration of mespirenone to Sprague-Dawley rats effectively prevents the aldosterone-induced hypertension.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1991

Epidemiology of streptococcal infection with reference to rheumatic fever.

Antistreptolysin antibodies were estimated in 787 normal children and young adults by latex test. This test detects titres of 200 IU/ml and above, which is the western cut off point, for diagnosis. Children below one year showed no antibodies. Unlike western studies where no antibodies are detected below the age of 3 years, our study revealed that 7.9% children between 1-3 years had significantly elevated antibodies. This epidemiological pattern is well reflected in the different clinical profile of younger children developing rheumatic heart disease in our country. Antibodies progressively increased with age--11.8% in 4-8 years group to 15.8% in 9-12 years age group. All these were from the lower socio-economic group. ASO was positive in 16.7% of young adults from lower socio-economic status while it was positive only in 9.2% in the upper socio-economic status. A total of 522 patients of rheumatic carditis were studied. Only 23.4% had no antibodies or less than 200 IU/ml, and 77% were positive (26.9% had greater than 400 IU/ml and 49.7% had 200 IU/ml). Throat swab culture and ASO antibodies were done simultaneously in 76 outdoor patients, clinically diagnosed as acute bacterial pharyngitis. Group A beta hemolytic streptococci were isolated in 64% and significant antistreptolysin antibodies were seen in 62%. School health records were scanned in more than 50,000 school children. Point prevalence of rheumatic heart disease was estimated to be 0.17% in lower and 0.05% in upper socio-economic groups. Age and socio-economic factors are important variables in epidemiology of streptococcal infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1990

A phasmid shuttle vector for the cloning of complex operons in Salmonella.

Phasmid (phage plasmid hybrid) P4 vir1 can be propagated in Escherichia coli as a helper-dependent lytic phage, as a plasmid, or as a prophage. On the basis of an understanding of these modes of propagation, derivatives of P4 have been constructed for use as cloning vectors. In this report we demonstrate that phasmid P4 (i) will propagate as a helper-dependent lytic phage and as a plasmid in Salmonella spp. and (ii) can be used as a high efficiency phage shuttle vector for the reversible transfer of cloned genes between Salmonella spp. and E. coli. For both E. coli and Salmonella spp., P4 phage-mediated gene transfer proved to be only 10-fold lower than plaquing efficiency. For the case of Salmonella spp., this frequency is ca. 10(4)-fold more efficient than is typically found for the transformation of DNA molecules. The usefulness of this cloning vector system for analyses of pathogenic virulence factors is demonstrated by the cloning and expression of both the P pilus adhesin operon and the hemolysin operon of uropathogenic E. coli.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of icosahedral virion capsid size by the in vivo activity of a cloned gene product.

Determination of icosahedral virion capsid size can be directly studied during helper-dependent lytic development of satellite P4 because the assembly pathway specified by the P2 helper virus is altered to yield smaller-sized capsids. Size determination (sid) mutations identify a P4-encoded function regulating this process. To determine whether the sid gene product is necessary and sufficient to redirect the assembly pathway, we (i) cloned the sid structural gene in a plasmid vector (pMA30) under the control of an inducible promoter and (ii) constructed a packaging substrate (pMA1), a P4 genome-sized plasmid containing only that region of P4, the cos site, necessary for encapsidation. Superinfection by P2 of a host carrying pMA30 under induced conditions resulted in a shift from large to small capsid production. P2 superinfection of a host carrying the cos plasmid pMA1 plus pMA30 under induced conditions yielded pMA1-transducing particles of P4 capsid size. These cloning-based analyses directly demonstrate that sid protein is the only P4 gene product required for small-capsid size determination. In the absence of the P2 O gene product no capsids of any size are assembled during solo infection by P2. Nevertheless, P2 Oam mutant superinfection of a host carrying pMA1 and pMA30 under induced conditions yielded small P4-sized transducing particles. We therefore propose that (i) the sid gene product competes with the O gene product to determine the assembly of small vs. large capsid sizes and (ii) both gene products probably function as temporary scaffolding proteins.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of amplification core and esterase B1 gene responsible for insecticide resistance in Culex.

Organophosphorus insecticide (OP) resistance in several Culex species is associated with increased esterase activity resulting from amplification of the corresponding structural gene. In Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, high levels of OP resistance (approximately 800 times) are due to the esterase B1 gene, which is amplified at least 250-fold. This gene has now been sequenced, and the structure of the amplification unit (amplicon) encompassing the structural gene has been partially characterized. The inferred amino acid sequence of the enzyme revealed regions of strong homology with other eukaryotic serine-esterases, such as cholinesterases, which are the target of OPs. The amplicon covers at least 30 kilobases and contains a constant and highly conserved "core" of 25 kilobases. This core carries a single copy of the esterase gene (2.8 kilobases) as well as other sequences that are present as single or low number copies in the genomes of mosquitoes lacking overproduction of the esterase B1 protein. In the amplicon, the esterase gene is framed by two DNA sequences that are repeated in other parts of the genome of resistant mosquitoes and found in the genome of susceptible mosquitoes but not near the esterase B1 gene. It is suggested that these repetitive sequences may have a role in the amplification process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Effects of antimineralocorticoid RU 26752 on steroid-induced hypertension in rats.

The effect of mineralocorticoid antagonist RU 26752 on the development and maintenance of hypertension produced by long-term administration of mineralocorticoid agonist aldosterone has been investigated. Uninephrectomized, saline-drinking male Sprague-Dawley rats were subcutaneously implanted with either placebo (control) pellets or pellets containing 100 micrograms aldosterone, 50 mg RU 26752, or 100 micrograms aldosterone plus 50 mg RU 26752. Aldosterone treatment resulted in an increase in blood pressure to 165 +/- 5 mmHg over the control value of 105 +/- 2 mmHg within 3 wk of experimental period. RU 26752 given alone had no observable hypertensinogenic effect. However, RU 26752 administered with aldosterone significantly prevented the hypertension produced by aldosterone alone. RU 26752 when given with aldosterone was able to prevent the aldosterone-induced increase in saline consumption, increase urine output, and reduce urinary Na+ excretion. The results presented suggest that long-term administration of antimineralocorticoid RU 26752 in vivo to Sprague-Dawley rats prevents the aldosterone-induced hypertension.

Aldosterone↗