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Biomedical subjects

N Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to N Kumar.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

Role of dexamethasone in the outcome from acute stroke.

Forty patients of acute stroke of less than 48 hours duration above the age of 40 years were studied. All patients were evaluated as per the evaluation scoring system at the time of admission within 24 hours and 7 days after admission to hospital. 25 patients were given dexamethasone and 15 patients who were not given dexamethasone were matched for age, sex, underlying diseases and clinical condition as per the evaluation scoring. The mean evaluation score in study group showed significant improvement at 7 days (p less than 0.05) as compared to control group. There was no significant difference in mortality between the study and control group, being 36% and 33% respectively. Functional status also remained identical in the two groups at the time of discharge. There was also no significant difference in the outcome of patients of intracerebral haemorrhage vs. cerebral infarction whether treated with dexamethasone or not.

Acute Disease↗

Antitumor effects of recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha in RIF-1 and Panc02 solid tumors.

The antitumor effects of recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1) were determined in RIF-1 and Panc02 murine solid tumors. Acute tumor hemorrhage was observed in both models as early as 3 h after a single 25 micrograms/kg IL-1 treatment and was quantitated by the intratumor accumulation of 59Fe-labeled erythrocytes (RBC). The IL-1-mediated hemorrhagic response was maximal 6-12 h after treatment and greater in Panc02 tumors than in RIF-1 tumors. Hemorrhagic responses to RIF-1 tumors growing in athymic nude mice were similar to those seen for RIF-1 tumors in C3H/HeJ mice. This acute vascular injury was accompanied by progressive edema in tumors but not in skin or muscle. In RIF-1 tumors, the extracell water volume at 12 h after IL-1 (395 microI/g) was nearly twice that in untreated controls (215 microI/g). IL-1 also produced marked reductions in tumor blood flow as early as 1 h after treatment. Maximal blood flow restriction was seen at 6 h after IL-1. Although restricted blood flow was observed in tumors for up to 48 h, IL-1 effects on muscle, liver, and skin blood flow were transient with recovery by 12 h after treatment. IL-1 (up to 0.4 ng/ml for 72 h) was not toxic to RIF-1 tissue culture cells in vitro, but 0.2 ng/ml IL-1, for 20 h, reduced the clonogenicity of RIF-1 cells in primary explant cultures by approximately 50%. In vivo, the clonogenic cellularity of RIF-1 tumors was reduced by 70%, 24 h after a single 25 micrograms/kg treatment. Increased clonogenic cell proliferation was observed at 24 h, and rapid repopulation of the clonogenic cell population was seen by 48 h. Although IL-1 transiently slowed the growth of RIF-1 tumors, no significant regrowth delay was observed. In Panc02 tumors, cell proliferation was also inhibited after IL-1. Recovery, however, was delayed and occurred more slowly than in RIF-1 tumors. Significant growth inhibition and regrowth delay (5 days) was observed in Panc02 tumors after a single IL-1 treatment. The results of these studies show that IL-1 has significant effects on the pathophysiology of both RIF-1 and Panc02 tumors in vivo. Further, our results indicate that these effects may be mediated through the activation of a non T-cell, adherent cell population residing in the tumor at the time of IL-1 treatment.

Animals↗

Hexavalent chromium: toxicity and its impact on certain aspects of carbohydrate metabolism of the freshwater teleost, Colisa fasciatus.

The effect of hexavalent chromium on the static bioassay was examined. The LC0, LC50 and LC100 values at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h were determined. At 96 h, the LC50 value was found to be 60 mg l-1 or 6.000 x 10(-4) mol l-1. The impact of a sublethal concentration of 48 ppm on the liver glycogen and blood glucose levels was investigated during 3-96 h. Liver glycogen exhibited significant depletion with all exposure periods except 3 h. Blood glucose level increased significantly from 6 h onwards, attaining its peak value at 72 h.

Animals↗

Plasmodium falciparum gene encoding a protein similar to the 78-kDa rat glucose-regulated stress protein.

Genes homologous to heat shock protein 70 have been described in parasitic protozoa. It has been proposed that they may be important to the parasite as it moves from the vertebrate host at 37 degrees C to the insect. We now describe a genomic DNA clone isolated from Plasmodium falciparum that encodes a protein similar in sequence to a mammalian heat shock-related protein, the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein of rat and hamster. The gene is expressed during the erythrocytic stage in both asexual and sexual parasites (RNA blot analysis) and a 72-kDa protein is immunoprecipitated from erythrocytic stage parasites. Importantly, the sequence of the clone is similar to the canonical sequence at the carboxyl termini of glucose-regulated proteins of mammals that determines their localization within endoplasmic reticulum. Since the parasite sequence has only three (Asp-Glu-Leu) of the four carboxyl-terminal amino acids, its location and its function within the parasite remain to be determined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum gamete surface antigens in Papua New Guinea sera.

Sera from individuals living in malaria endemic areas of Papua New Guinea were tested for their effect on infectivity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes grown in culture to Anopheles freeborni mosquitoes. Consistent reduction of infectivity to less than 5% of control was observed with nine out of the 41 sera from the endemic area tested and also with three out of seven sera tested from individuals rarely exposed to malaria infection. Gamete surface antigens recognized by the sera were investigated by immunoprecipitation from 125I surface-labelled gametes extracted in SDS and Triton X-100. The main antigens recognized were of the same mol. wt (230, 48 and 45 kD) as those known to be targets of transmission-blocking monoclonal antibodies. A significant negative correlation was observed between the total ct/min immunoprecipitated from surface-labelled gametes by the sera and the average number of oocysts per gut observed in membrane feeding experiments with these sera. Spearmann's rank correlation coefficient indicated that suppression of infectivity correlated strongly with the presence of antibodies against the 230 kD protein; there was no significant correlation between suppression and antibodies to the 48/45 kD proteins. The antibody response to the different gamete surface antigens varied greatly in sera from the endemic areas suggesting that individuals respond differently to each gamete antigen.

Animals↗

Suicidal behavior in hospitalized schizophrenics.

A group of 131 hospitalized schizophrenics who had attempted suicide within the past year was compared with another group of 70 hospitalized schizophrenics who had not attempted suicide, using the Present State Examination (PSE) depressive symptoms. The former had a significantly higher number of symptoms indicative of a depressive disorder.

Adult↗

Pharmacokinetic study of a new sustained release preparation of propranolol in normal healthy volunteers.

The pharmacokinetics of a sustained release (SR) propranolol (Betalong) were compared with conventional propranolol (Inderal) after single and multiple dosing in 8 normal healthy volunteers. The study was designed in a crossover fashion. SR propranolol 80 mg in a single dose maintained the plasma concentration of propranolol above the minimum therapeutic concentration up to 25 h. The steady-state propranolol concentration after 80 mg conventional propranolol twice daily and SR propranolol 80 mg daily was almost similar. The results indicate that Betalong (SR propranolol) satisfies the pharmacokinetic criteria expected of a sustained release preparation of propranolol and may be useful in single daily dose.

Adult↗

Estimation of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in the diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy.

A high incidence of increased plasma level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has been reported in cases of lepromatous leprosy. HDL-C levels were estimated in 96 (50 under treatment and 46 untreated) lepromatous leprosy patients and 84 randomly selected matched control patients suffering from other skin diseases attending skin out-patients department. HDL-C estimations were performed for the diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy in patients aged below 60 years, taking plasma HDL-C levels as 28-71 mg./dl. in men and 34-91 mg./dl. in women, as range of normal values. The study revealed that HDL-C levels in lepromatous leprosy group were raised and significantly different when compared with control group (t = 35.1668 and P less than 0.001). The sensitivity of the test was very high, 97.9 per cent (94/96), but specificity was low 80.95 per cent (68/84). False positive and false negative results were 19.04 per cent (16/84) and 2.08 per cent (2/96) respectively. It is opined that a negative test will be mainly useful in excluding diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy.

Adult↗

The 230-kDa gamete surface protein of Plasmodium falciparum is also a target for transmission-blocking antibodies.

Immunization with extracellular sexual stages of the malaria parasites can induce the production of antibodies which block the development of the parasites in the midgut of a mosquito after a blood meal. We have generated a number of monoclonal antibodies against gametes and zygotes of the human malaria Plasmodium falciparum. Two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reacting with a 230-kDa gamete surface protein (mAb 1B3 and 2B4 both isotype IgG2a) were found to block transmission of P. falciparum to mosquitoes. Blocking was complement dependent and this was verified in vitro by the rapid lysis of newly formed gametes and zygotes in the presence of the mAb and active complement. Both mAb reacted by immunofluorescence with the surface of gametes and zygotes from isolates of P. falciparum from various geographical areas. Each mAb immunoprecipitated a 230-kDa protein from 125I-labeled surface proteins of newly formed gametes and zygotes and immunoblotted a protein doublet of about molecular mass 260 and 230 kDa from gametocytes and gametes of P. falciparum. Only the 230-kDa protein is expressed on the surface of newly formed macrogametes and zygotes. The 230-kDa gamete surface protein forms a molecular complex with two proteins of 48 and 45 kDa. The 48- and 45-kDa gamete surface proteins have previously been shown to be targets of mAb which block infectivity of P. falciparum to mosquitoes. The present study now demonstrates that antibodies against the 230-kDa gamete surface protein block transmission of P. falciparum to mosquitoes. The 230-kDa gamete protein is thus a potential candidate for a gamete vaccine.

Animals↗