Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Joshi

Publications and source records attributed to N Joshi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

The reaction of N-(1-pyrene)maleimide with sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The excimer fluorescence of the adduct of N-(1-pyrene)maleimide (PMI) with the Ca2+-ATPase was proposed as a probe of ATPase-ATPase interactions in sarcoplasmic reticulum (Lüdi and Hasselbach, Eur. J. Biochem., 1983, 130:5-8). We tested this proposition by analyzing the spectral properties and stoichiometry of the adducts of pyrenemaleimide with sarcoplasmic reticulum and with dithiothreitol and by comparing the effects of various detergents on the excimer fluorescence of the two adducts, with their influence on the sedimentation characteristics, ATPase activity, and light scattering of the pyrenemaleimide-labeled sarcoplasmic reticulum. These studies indicate that pyrenemaleimide reacts nearly randomly with several SH groups on the Ca2+-ATPase, and suggest that the observed excimer fluorescence of pyrenemaleimide-labeled sarcoplasmic reticulum may reflect intramolecular phenomena rather than ATPase-ATPase interactions. Further work is required to establish the relative contribution of intra- and intermolecular mechanisms to the excimer fluorescence.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Adolescent suicidal and self-destructive behavior. Results of an intervention study.

This study evaluates an intervention program designed to reduce suicidal, self-destructive behavior among high-risk adolescents aged 13- to 17 years. The intervention combined a program of community education and direct service to youth who had required emergency care for self-inflicted injuries. The intervention program was effective in increasing subjects' compliance with medical regimen. To a lesser degree, the intervention also facilitated early help seeking among adolescents with suicidal thoughts and appeared to diminish slightly the overall occurrence of emergency room admissions for suicidal behaviors. However, the intervention program had no demonstrable effect on the occurrence of repeat suicidal episodes.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Endophthalmitis caused by non-albicans species of Candida.

While endophthalmitis due to Candida albicans is commonly seen in clinical practice, non-albicans species of Candida (NAC) are rarely reported to cause this condition. The English-language literature from 1965 through 1989 was reviewed for cases of endophthalmitis due to NAC. Clinical details of six well-documented cases and one unpublished case are presented here. Large studies of nosocomial fungemia are also summarized to emphasize the growing contribution of NAC to the total number of infections in humans, especially immunocompromised patients. The infrequency of ocular involvement in NAC infection is supported by studies in experimental animals that demonstrate a lower incidence of NAC endophthalmitis than of C. albicans endophthalmitis in the presence of disseminated infection. Since endophthalmitis in the absence of exogenous infection suggests disseminated candidal infection and since most NAC strains are relatively resistant to amphotericin B, it is important to recognize and appropriately treat endophthalmitis due to NAC.

Candida↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pleuropulmonary infections caused by Eikenella corrodens.

A case of pleuropulmonary infection caused by Eikenella corrodens is reported, followed by a review of clinical cases reported in the English-language literature since 1970. On the basis of this review, the predisposing factors, clinical features, and principles of diagnosis and treatment of this infection are outlined. Although infection may occur at any age, it seems to occur most often in patients less than or equal to 14 or greater than or equal to 44 years of age. Adult patients commonly have some underlying medical illness, pleuropulmonary malignancy being the most common. Patients present with a variable combination of fever, cough, and pleuritic chest pain. Four radiographic patterns may be seen: pleural effusion, pneumonia, cavitation, or a combination of these. Ampicillin and penicillin G are effective therapeutic agents; although the susceptibility of E. corrodens to penicillin G has been accepted as the rule, it may not always prevail. The need for increased awareness of this organism as a cause of pleuropulmonary disease is stressed because it is resistant to clindamycin, an agent that is increasingly used to treat anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Safety and immunogenicity of indigenous recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Shanvac-B) in comparison with commercially available vaccine.

AIM: To assess the clinical safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of an indigenously developed recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Shanvac-B; Shantha Biotechnics) and to compare it with another commercially available vaccine (Engerix-B, SmithKline Beecham) in healthy adults. METHODS: 120 healthy adults randomLy received 20 micrograms of either Engerix-B (Group A; n = 61) or Shanvac-B (Group B; n = 59) in 0, 1, 2 months schedule. Anti HBs was assessed using commercially available AUSAB kits (Abbott Laboratories) one month after each dose. RESULTS: Protective seroconversion rates after first, second and third dose were 10%, 62.7% and 91.4%, respectively in Group A and 22.4%, 68.9% and 96.4% in Group B, respectively. The geometric mean titer (GMT) after the third dose was significantly high in Group B (419 mIU/mL) than in Group A (140 mIU/mL; p < 0.001). The GMT was significantly higher in women in both the groups. The indigenous vaccine was found to be clinically safe and well tolerated without significant side effects. CONCLUSION: The recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Shanvac-B) developed in India is safe, well tolerated, and highly immunogenic, with high seroconversion and GMT response.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Age related seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus in Hyderabad, India.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an enterically transmitted viral disease endemic in many developing countries including India. Infection is often subclinical or asymptomatic in children while with increasing age symptomatic acute infections are more common. In some developing countries improvements in living conditions have led to change in epidemiology of HAV infection. In our country there are very few reports on prevalence of HAV. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus antibodies in relation to age in Hyderabad. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 90 subjects in the age group 2-64 years in a mass vaccination camp for Hepatitis B. All the subjects were investigated with a uniform social and medical history questionnaire. Sera were tested for antibody to HAV (total anti-HAV) using enzyme immunoassay (General Biologicals, Taiwan). RESULTS: The subjects included 48 males and 42 females. There were 54 children (< 12 yrs) and 36 adults. Of the 90 serum samples tested 51 (56%) were positive for anti HAV antibodies. The seropositivity in males and females was similar. The seroprevalence was 31.8% (17/54) in children (< 12 years) and 94.4% (34/36) in adults (p < 0.001). Age related seroprevalence revealed that a majority of children below 10 years (33/48, 69%) remain anti HAV negative, while only 25% of children below 15 years were anti HAV negative. The anti HAV antibody positivity was similar in different income groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HAV is high in Hyderabad. A majority of children below 10 years and 25% of children < 15 years remain susceptible to HAV infection. Child immunization against HAV therefore should be considered in our population too.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung.

An extremely rare case of sclerosing hemangioma lung is described in a patient who presented as right sided pleural effusion with recurrence.

Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Examining cationic polysaccharide deposition onto keratin surfaces through biopolymer fluorescent labeling.

Fluorescein-labeled polyquaternium-10 and guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride were employed to study the deposition behavior of these cationic polymers onto hair from a surfactant system. The influence of the covalently attached fluorescein dye on labeled polyquaternium-10 was examined through rheological studies and comparative studies against data previously obtained from radiolabeled polyquaternium-10. A quantitative method for analyzing the amount of cationic polymer that deposits onto hair during a standard shampooing process has been developed using the labeled cationic polymers. The technique requires digestion of the hair and analysis of the resulting solutions against known standardization curves. It has been found that the molecular weight of the cationic polymers plays the most significant role in influencing the deposition of the polymers from surfactant, a far greater role than either cationic charge or washing cycles. The technique also allows for determination of polymer deposition at various tress locations, allowing for the study of the influence of tress age (i.e., damage) on polymer deposition. The use of fluorescein-labeled polyquaternium-10 also provides a unique opportunity to visualize the deposited polymers on individual hair fibers via fluorescent or confocal microscopy.

Biopolymers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The use of x-ray fluorescent spectroscopy to study the influence of cationic polymers on silicone oil deposition from shampoo.

In this study, x-ray fluorescent spectroscopy was employed, in a non-destructive way, to analyze the influence that water-soluble, cationic hydroxyethylcellulose (i.e., polyquaternium-10) has on the deposition of silicone oil (dimethicone) onto hair. Virgin brown hair tresses were washed with various model shampoos that contained emulsified dimethicone. The shampoos were modified only by the addition or absence of polyquaternium-10. The results indicate that the cationic polymers do influence silicone oil deposition onto hair during the shampooing process. In the absence of cationic polymer, the silicone oils deposit readily, but appear to show "build-up" phenomena upon repeated washings. When a cationic polymer is present in the continuous phase of the shampoo, the build-up phenomena is significantly diminished, and silicone oil deposition remains relatively constant in repeated washings. In addition, we have noted that the molecular weight of the cationic polymer can have a strong effect on silicone oil deposition. It appears that the higher the molecular weight of the polyquaternium-10, the greater the amount of silicone deposition onto the surface of the hair. To demonstrate that the analysis technique has potential applications in commercial shampoos, we examined a commercial "2-in-1" shampoo that contains dimethicone and polyquaternium-10 and found that the data for our simple model shampoos and the commercial shampoo correlated closely.

Cations↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The importance of computer-assisted semen analysis and sperm function testing in an IVF program.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship of sperm motion characteristics, sperm morphology, and hypo-osmotic swelling test with fertilization rates in vitro. DESIGN: Computer-assisted measures of fresh seminal and processed sperm preparations, sperm morphology, and hypo-osmotic swelling test results were assessed for predicting fertilization by step-wise regression analysis. SETTINGS: In vitro fertilization laboratory, department of infertility management, university affiliated-hospital. INTERVENTIONS: None. PATIENTS: One hundred and two couples who underwent IVF were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Computer-assisted sperm motion variables in semen and following semen processing in capacitating media; hypo-osmotic swelling of sperm tails before and after semen processing; morphology of sperm before and after processing; fertilization of oocytes as evidenced by presence of two pronuclei as the end point. RESULTS: Various sperm motion parameters, hypo-osmotic swelling test results, and normal morphology of sperm were directly correlated to fertilization as judged by the Karl-Pearsons test. However, in step-wise regression analysis, normal morphology of sperm from seminal fraction exhibited 61% correlation with fertilization rates (P < .001). In step 2, normal morphology along with percent motility exhibited a 64% correlation with fertilization rates (P < .001). In step 3, normal morphology, percent motility, and linearity showed a 67% correlation with fertilization rates (P < .001). The hypo-osmotic swelling test did not predict fertilization rates (regression coefficient = 0.066, P = 0.474). In the processed sample preparations, normal sperm morphology showed a 72% correlation with fertilization rate (P < .001). In step 2, normal morphology along with curvilinear velocity exhibited a 77% correlation with fertilization rates (P < .001). In step 3, normal morphology, curvilinear velocity, and average path velocity showed a 79% correlation with fertilization rates (P < .001). The hypo-osmotic swelling test did not predict fertilization rates (regression coefficient = 0.076, P = 0.512). CONCLUSIONS: Morphology of sperm and computer-assisted sperm motion variables, such as motility, linearity, curvilinear velocity, and average path velocity, may serve as prognostic indicators for fertilization potential of sperm. The hypo-osmotic swelling test may describe only physiological intactness, rather than the fertilization potential of sperm. The results suggest that objective analysis of sperm motion characteristics and precise sperm morphology may form a first, and obligatory, step for critical evaluation of patients before they start IVF treatment.

Fertilization in Vitro↗