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Biomedical subjects

M Roy

Publications and source records attributed to M Roy.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Gene differentiation among ten endogamous groups of West Bengal, India.

Ten endogamous populations of West Bengal, India have been surveyed for genetic variation in 12 systems. These populations encompass all social ranks in the caste hierarchy and cover almost the entire geographic area of the state. Gene diversity analysis suggests that these groups exhibit significant allele frequency variation at all but three loci. The overall genetic difference is not, however, in accord with the classification based on caste. Two low-ranking scheduled caste groups are, in fact, in close proximity with the high-caste ones, suggesting evidence of past generations of gene flow among them. Three different clusters of groups emerge from the present data, providing support for the anthropologic assertion that in Bengal Proto-Australoid, Caucasoid, and Mongoloid racial elements generally coexist. However, these three components are not uniformly present in all groups. Geographic separation of the groups is a strong determinant of the gene differentiation that exists among these populations.

Alleles↗
PubMed1986

Phase II randomized comparative clinical trial of Norplant (six capsules) with Norplant-2 (two covered rods) subdermal implants for long-term contraception: report of a 24-month study. National Programme of Research in Human Reproduction.

In a randomized clinical study, contraceptive efficacy and bleeding patterns were studied in a group of healthy, regularly menstruating, non-lactating women (n = 84) using two 4.4 cm covered silastic rods containing levonorgestrel, Norplant(R)-2, and compared with another group of women (n = 88) using six 3.4 cm capsules also containing levonorgestrel, Norplant(R). The silastic rods or capsules were placed subdermally in the medial aspect of the upper arm. No method failure was reported up to 24 months of use in this study with either of the device. The bleeding pattern was also similar for both devices as indicated by average episode length, number of bleeding runs and number of spotting days. The continuation rates with both devices were over 80 per 100 users at the end of 12 months and over 65 per 100 users at the end of 24 months. Discontinuations due to expulsion of the device, bleeding problems or personal reasons were few and similar for both devices. The results suggest that silastic-covered rods, Norplant(R)-2, which are comparatively easier to insert and remove and have similar clinical effect, could replace capsules, Norplant(R), as a long-term reversible subdermal contraceptive.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Modulation of juvenile rat ovarian adenylate cyclase activity by calcium and calmodulin.

The involvement of calcium and calmodulin in the regulation of juvenile rat ovarian adenylate cyclase activity was investigated. Both basal and LH-stimulated cAMP production were inhibited by adding Ca2+ to the incubation medium at concentrations higher than 10(-5) M. Conversely, up to 10(-3) M concentrations of EGTA increased cAMP production (basal, stimulated by LH, FSH, NaF and Gpp(NH)p); higher concentrations of the chelator led to an inhibition of cAMP formation. However, when the homogenates were previously deprived of Ca2+ by treatment with buffer containing EGTA, a biphasic response to LH and Gpp(NH)p stimulation was obtained in the presence of increasing concentrations of added Ca2+:cAMP production was first enhanced at low concentrations and then inhibited at higher concentrations. These observations suggest that the optimal concentration of Ca2+ needed to obtained maximal stimulation of the enzyme was much lower than the Ca2+ content in the homogenates and that a minimal concentration of Ca2+ was required to activate it. In the presence of micromolar concentrations of trifluoperazine and pimozide, two potent inactivators of calmodulin, LH-stimulated cAMP production was markedly decreased. Reactivation was obtained by adding exogenous calmodulin to the assay medium. The addition of Ca2+-free exogenous calmodulin (10(-6) M) caused a specific and significant enhancement of cAMP accumulation induced by an optimal dose of LH. These results suggest that calcium ions regulated the adenylate cyclase activity in the rat ovaries and had a dual effect that was first stimulatory at low concentration and mediated by calmodulin and then inhibitory at high (non-physiological) concentration.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1986

Genetic markers among Meiteis and Brahmins of Manipur, India.

Genetic polymorphism of 16 red-cell antigens, enzymes, serum proteins and Hb variants was investigated in 214 male and female individuals belonging to the Meiteis and a Brahmin caste group living in Imphal (Manipur, Northeast India). Ethnohistorical records suggest that the Meiteis are of Mongoloid origin, while the original Brahmin settlers represent the easternmost part of the so-called Caucasoids. The markers studied are: A1A2BO, MNSs, Rh-system, Duffy, Diego; Gm, Km, Gc, Hp, Tf, Cp; Hb; aP, AK, EsD and LDH. The comparison between the two groups on the basis of the markers studied showed that the Meiteis and Brahmins are very close to each other with respect to most of the loci except Gm, EsD and Hb, where significant statistical differences were found.

Blood Group Antigens↗
PubMed1986

Establishment of an improved implantation technique for hamster mucous membrane irritation testing.

Biological evaluation procedures for the acceptance of new dental materials include testing for mucous membrane irritation and inflammation, with the hamster cheek pouch used as a model system. Previous reports have indicated both a low 14-day implant retention rate and poor differentiation between positive and negative controls, requiring the establishment of a new standard procedure for hamster cheek pouch implantations. Groups of 10 female golden Syrian hamsters were implanted with uniform discs (6 mm in diameter and 1 mm thick) of white base-plate gutta percha (GP), gray welding-rod polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or test alloys, under Nembutal anesthesia. Each animal's right cheek pouch was everted and cleaned, and the implant was loosely placed at the bottom of the pouch. The pouch was closed by a double-suture technique. Contralateral (left) cheek pouches served as controls for the physical state of each animal. A collar (cable tie) was placed tightly around the animal's neck at a level between the sutures and the implant. Cheek pouches were assessed after 14 days. Implants were kept in contact with oral mucosa longer using the double-suture-plus-collar technique than in hamsters without collars (14-day retention rates of 48.0% and 6.7%, respectively). Average severity indices (ASI) of 5.4 and 1.7 were obtained for PVC and GP, respectively, as compared with 1.6 for contralateral control pouches. LDPE was not a suitable negative control material (ASI = 2.6). Positive and negative controls were clearly delineated when PVC and GP were the control materials.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Action of Mn2+ and vanadium compounds on hormone and forskolin induced stimulation of juvenile rat ovarian adenylate cyclase.

The effect of forskolin on the hormonal (LH, FSH) activation and on the stimulation provided by other effectors (Gpp(NH)p,NaF) of the juvenile rat ovarian adenylate cyclase was investigated. Forskolin exhibited a synergistic action with LH, FSH and Gpp(NH)p but not with NaF. Addition of Ca2+ was inhibitory over a concentration range from 10(-5) to 10(-2) M whereas EGTA enhanced the response at 5.10(-5) M and inhibited it at higher concentration. The cAMP production was increased by addition of Mn2+ at low concentration (up to 5 mM) but markedly decreased at higher concentration (30 mM). FSH induced cAMP production was completely abolished at 30 mM Mn2+. The effect of vanadyl ion was very similar to that of Mn2+ Vanadate anion on the contrary was without effect on FSH stimulation.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1985

Ecogenetics of Parkinson's disease: 4-hydroxylation of debrisoquine.

It is postulated that Parkinson's disease is the result of environmental factors acting on genetically susceptible individuals against a background of normal ageing. Many potentially neurotoxic xenobiotics are detoxified by hepatic cytochrome P450. The function of one such system was studied in forty patients with Parkinson's disease and forty normal control subjects. Significantly more parkinsonian than control subjects had partially or totally defective 4-hydroxylation of debrisoquine. Poor metabolisers of debrisoquine tended to have had earlier onset of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

An evaluation of factors associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Many individual factors have been related to development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. To evaluate possible interactions among these, a constellation of variables were studied in 22 patients with long duration of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus for greater than 25 years, with minimal background diabetic retinopathy, and compared to 27 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus for a variable duration, but with bilateral proliferative retinopathy. The patients were compatible in age at onset of diabetes (12 +/- 2 in proliferative retinopathy group vs 12 +/- 1 yr in the background retinopathy group). Following initial standard statistical analyses, data were further analysed using Logistic Regression Analysis. In the proliferative retinopathy group males were more prevalent (2.9:1), and patients were treated with larger insulin doses (0.86 +/- 0.07 vs 0.59 +/- 0.04 U/Kg B.W., p less than 0.001). Systemic hypertension and neuropathy were more prevalent (p less than 0.02 and less than 0.004 respectively), and diastolic blood pressure was higher (87 +/- 3 vs 75 +/- 2, p less than 0.01). In the same group diet was higher in carbohydrate and the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fats was lower (p less than 0.03, less than 0.05 respectively). HbA1 was higher (0.127 +/- 0.004 vs 0.110 +/- 0.004%, p less than 0.004), but the mean of all available plasma glucose values was not different. Impaired renal function expressed by higher BUN, serum creatinine, and urinary protein and lower creatinine clearance was observed. Nerve conduction parameters were more significantly impaired and plasma triglycerides were higher (1.74 +/- 0.2 vs 0.85 +/- 0.1 mmol/l, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A clinical classification of hereditary ataxias.

We present a working and flexible classification of inherited ataxic syndromes based on the use of simple tools available to every clinician: a good history (particularly pinpointing the age of onset, the rate of progression and the mode of inheritance) and a neurological examination (identifying the presence of ataxia, deep tendon reflexes in the knee, optic nerve, retinal and/or 8th nerve signs). This classification is easily coded for computer translation on any personal computer. The place occupied by a given disorder may, by contiguity, give a clue to its pathophysiology.

Ataxia↗
PubMed1984

Origin of Friedreich's disease in Quebec.

We have been able to trace 40 cases of classical Friedreich's disease from 14 previously unrelated French Canadian kindreds to one common ancestral couple arriving in New France in 1634: Jean Guyon and Mathurine Robin. One member of this couple presumably introduced one gene for Friedreich's disease into the French Canadian population. This gene has now been traced over 12 generations to both parents of the present cases. We plan to use this knowledge to study the spectrum of clinical manifestations of this gene and to carry out gene chromosomal localization studies, using the techniques of linkage and of molecular biology. Such studies in rare autosomal recessive disorders have previously been judged to be almost impossible.

Female↗
PubMed1984

The natural history of Machado-Joseph disease. An analysis of 138 personally examined cases.

We have examined 138 cases of a disorder previously described in people of Portuguese origin and which has received many names. By computer analysis of 46 different items of a standardized neurological examination carried out in each patient, we have been able to delineate the main components of the clinical presentation, to conclude that the marked variability in clinical expressions does not negate the homogeneity of the disorder, and to describe the natural history of this entity which should be called, for historical reasons, "Machado-Joseph Disease". This hereditary disease has an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, presenting as a progressive ataxia with external ophthalmoplegia, and should be classified within the group of "Ataxic multisystem degenerations". When the disease starts before the age of 20, it may present with marked spasticity, of a non progressive nature but often so severe that it can be accompanied by "Gegenhalten" countermovements and dystonic postures but little frank dystonia. There are few true extrapyramidal symptoms except akinesia. When the disease starts after the age of 50, the clinical spectrum is mostly that of an amyotrophic polyneuropathy with fasciculations accompanying the ataxia. For all the other cases the clinical picture is a continuum between these two extremes, the main determinant of the clinical phenotype being the age of onset and a secondary factor, the place of origin of the given kindred. The ataxic and amyotrophic components are clearly progressive with time in contrast to the spasticity component. Although the majority of known cases are of Portuguese origin, this is not obligatory. The next research endeavour should be a search for the chromosomal site of the gene, using molecular biology technology such as those for recombinant DNA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Recessive ataxia in Acadians and "Cajuns".

The physician exposed to a large number of patients with a recessive form of ataxia, will occasionally observe slower progression forms which lack many of the severe features or cardinal symptoms of Friedreich's disease. We have studied 31 such cases in Acadians of the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and in their separated "cousins" from Louisiana, now called "Cajuns". These patients are compared to a consecutive series of 22 Friedreich's disease cases in French Canada. It is shown that the age of onset is slightly later, but the progression much slower and the age at death older in the Acadian patients. These cases develop signs of pyramidal and posterior column involvement gradually and later than the classical Friedreich. As a result, pes cavus and scoliosis are less marked, as well as muscle weakness and cardiomyopathy. On the other hand, the rate of progression of areflexic ataxia, the "core disease", is identical in both groups. The main difference in progression rates of the disorders occurs after 10-12 years of evolution, thus after the period of hormono-ponderal growth. These differences, coupled to the diverging genetic and genealogical backgrounds, are sufficiently large for the presumption of distinct disorders. Whether they are due to allelic mutations, linked but different genes, genes affecting the same metabolic pathway, but elsewhere or to completely distinct entities, will have to be left to further studies, but their existence in completely different populations and milieux is worthy of report.

Canada↗
PubMed1984

Lysosomal enzymes in ataxia: discovery of two new cases of late onset hexosaminidase A and B deficiency (adult Sandhoff disease) in French Canadians.

We have measured in leukocytes the following lysosomal enzymes in 11 Friedreich disease cases, 11 "atypical" recessive ataxias, 13 neurological controls and 16 normal controls: hexosaminidase A and B; beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase (labile and cold stable, or A and B). The lysosomal enzyme deficiencies known to produce certain forms of spinocerebellar degeneration were not present in Friedreich's disease or the Charlevoix-Saguenay syndrome. The very small scale survey of "atypical" recessive ataxias revealed 3 cases of severe deficiencies in hexosaminidase activity. Two adult brothers presenting with the clinical phenotype of Kugelberg-Welander disease (one also with ataxia), were shown to have a severe deficiency of both HEX A and HEX B activity (Sandhoff biochemical pattern). This is the first such report. A further adult female patient, unrelated to the others, had a severe isolated deficiency of HEX B and presented with a very slowly progressive and mild ataxia with severe internal strabismus. These patients and their families are being studied clinically and biochemically in greater detail and will be reported elsewhere. However these preliminary findings justify screening for such lysosomal defects in all cases of "atypical" recessive ataxia.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Hair trace elements in Friedreich's disease.

Concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, cobalt and selenium were measured in the hair obtained from subjects with Friedreich's disease, other inherited ataxias and neurological control patients. Although zinc and copper concentrations were significantly higher in Friedreich than in the two control groups, the mean values for all groups were well within the normal range. No major deficiency in zinc or selenium was demonstrated in Friedreich's disease using the approach. This does not, however, indicate that there is no defect in zinc and selenium metabolism, availability or transport in this disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Familial subsets in idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

In the present paper we explore in some detail the hypothesis that the presence of familial aggregations in 10-15% of Parkinson's disease cases is due in great part to the existence of well-defined familial subsets, rather than to chance occurrences. We describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of the two main subsets: "Essential tremor-related Parkinsonism" and the "Familial akineto-rigid Syndrome" previously identified. The former type of Parkinsonism is associated at random, but with increased frequency, to an autosomal dominant disorder, usually essential tremor but occasionally OPCA. Two possible susceptibility factors were uncovered in this entity: an increased incidence of familial hyperthyroidism (augmentor factor) and a decreased incidence of the generally frequent HLA Haplotypes A1B8 or A2B5 (Protective factors). The other presentation, the "familial akineto-rigid syndrome", appears to be a definite disease entity with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance (normal parents, increased incidence of identical parkinsonism in sibs, increased consanguinity rate in parents). This newly defined disorder deserves much further genetic and biochemical analysis.

Consanguinity↗