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Biomedical subjects

N Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to N Kumar.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

Target antigens of malaria transmission blocking immunity exist as a stable membrane bound complex.

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) blocking transmission of malaria by blocking fertilization of female gametes by male gametes in the mosquito midgut immunoprecipitate three polypeptides (apparent non-reduced mol. wt of 230,000, 48,000, 45,000) from the surface of gametes and zygotes of Plasmodium gallinaceum and P. falciparum. Earlier studies have shown that the epitopes with which the MoAbs react are present only on the mol. wt 230,000 polypeptide in P. gallinaceum and the 48,000/45,000 mol. wt antigens in P. falciparum (Kumar 1985, Vermeulen et al. 1985). In gel permeation chromatography all three polypeptides were found to be co-eluted. Cross-linking reagents were used to cross-link proteins on the intact cells and in the soluble extracts. The cross-linked product immunoprecipitated by the MoAbs showed an approximate mol. wt of 290,000 to 300,000, suggesting a stoichiometry of 1:1 between the high and low mol. wt polypeptides. Evidence was also obtained for the existence of a subpopulation of the 48,000/45,000 mol. wt polypeptides which is not complexed with the 230,000 mol. wt polypeptide. These data indicate that the 230,000 polypeptide is physically associated with the 48,000 and 45,000 polypeptides; the high and low molecular weight polypeptides appear to exist in a stable membrane bound complex.

Animals↗

Optimum dosage of ispaghula husk in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: correlation of symptom relief with whole gut transit time and stool weight.

To determine the optimum dose of ispaghula husk in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to assess the correlation, if any between the relief in patients' symptoms and the whole gut transit time, and the increase in stool weight, a two part study was carried out. In part 1, 14 male patients were given ispaghula husk in increasing doses of 10 g, 20 g, and 30 g a day for a duration of 17 days each (14 days of study period + three days of stool collection). Ten patients completed the trial. The symptom score improved significantly with all the three doses of ispaghula. Both 20 g and 30 g doses of ispaghula were superior to the 10 g dose but there was no significant difference between the 20 g and 30 g doses. There was a significant (p less than 0.001) increase in the daily stool weight with 10 g dose of fibre with further significant increases with the 20 g and 30 g doses. A positive correlation was seen between the improvement in the symptom score and the increase in stool weight with the 10 g dose of ispaghula but not with the 20 g and 30 g doses. Whole gut transit time remained fairly constant throughout the study period and there was no relationship with either the dose of ispaghula, the alteration in stool weight, or the improvement in the patients symptoms. Ten patients completed part 2 of the study in which ispaghula husk was given in the same dose (10 g, 20 g, and 30 g) but in a random order and with a "washout" period of one week between individual doses. Again all the three doses of ispaghula produced a significant improvement in the symptoms; 20 g and 30 g doses were equally effective and both were significantly superior to the 10 g dose. Assessed individually, all the three symptoms improved significantly; improvement in constipation and pain abdomen was more pronounced than diarrhoea. It is concluded that the optimum dose of ispaghula husk in irritable bowel syndrome is 20 g per day. There is some correlation between the increase in stool weight and the improvement in symptom score but the whole gut transit time remains unchanged despite alterations in stool weight and patients' symptoms.

Adult↗