Evidence based assessment.
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Dental Audit↗
Biomedical subjects
N Sharma
Publications and source records attributed to N Sharma.
Cell cycle-dependent modulation of telomerase activity in tumor cells.
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex that is thought to add telomeric repeats onto the ends of chromosomes during the replicative phase of the cell cycle. We tested this hypothesis by arresting human tumor cell lines at different stages of the cell cycle. Induction of quiescence by serum deprivation did not affect telomerase activity. Cells arrested at the G1/S phase of the cell cycle showed similar levels of telomerase to asynchronous cultures; progression through the S phase was associated with increased telomerase activity. The highest level of telomerase activity was detected in S-phase cells. In contrast, cells arrested at G2/M phase of the cell cycle were almost devoid of telomerase activity. Diverse cell cycle blockers, including transforming growth factor beta1 and cytotoxic agents, also caused inhibition of telomerase activity. These results establish a direct link between telomerase activity and progression through the cell cycle.
Antineoplastic Agents↗
Mapping of two genetic loci, Ten-1 and Ten-2, associated with thymus enlargement in BUF/Mna rats.
The thymoma-prone BUF/Mna rat is a useful model for human thymoma. Thymoma develops spontaneously in these rats at an incidence of nearly 100%. At pre-thymoma age, BUF/Mna rats have extremely large thymuses when compared with those of rats of the other strains, suggesting the presence of genes that regulate the thymus enlargement. We performed linkage study to identify the genetic loci associated with thymus enlargement in {(WKY/NCrj x BUF/Mna) F1 x BUF/Mna} backcross rats. Linkage study showed the significant associations between thymus size and markers on Chromosomes (Chrs) 1 and 13, suggesting the presence of two genes, Ten-1 and Ten-2, which regulate the thymus enlargement. Ten-1 was located between myosin light chain, muscle 2 (MYL2) and D1Mgh11 loci on Chr 1, and Ten-2 was located between synaptotagmin II (SYT2) and D13N2 loci on Chr 13.
Animals↗
Low level nitrogen laser therapy in pulmonary tuberculosis.
We report a technique for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis that has become resistant to traditional antibiotics. We introduce a needle into the lung that carries the N2 laser to the affected chest cavity. It is irradiated for 10 min and usually only one sitting is required. Clinical improvement occurred in 90% of the patients; 60% of the patients showed improvement on their X-rays. This technique is recommended as an adjuvant to traditional tuberculosis therapy.
Adult↗
Topical fluconazole therapy of Candida keratitis.
A prospective clinical trial of topical fluconazole solution (2 mg/ml) was undertaken in six consecutive eyes of microbiologically proven Candida keratitis with abscess formation. All eyes responded well to the medical therapy. Average duration required for healing was 22.6 +/- 2.3 days. The findings of our study suggest that topical fluconazole is a safe and effective antifungal drug for the management of Candida keratitis with deep abscess.
Abscess↗
Oxygen-dependent and -independent mechanisms of renal injury in experimental ascending pyelonephritis.
Pyelonephritis is the most common urinary tract infection affecting females of all age groups. Despite concerted efforts the mechanism of renal injury in pyelonephritis is not clearly understood. In the present study we have made an attempt to characterise the mediators of inflammatory insult in an experimental model of ascending pyelonephritis. Mice infected with Escherichia coli O6:K13:H1 were sacrificed at 2, 7 and 14 days post-infection. Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence response, NADPH oxidase, acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activities were monitored in circulating as well as renal phagocytic cells in order to determine the role of reactive oxygen species and lysosomal enzymes in genesis of renal injury. We have demonstrated that reactive oxygen species are generated at the initiation of infection and the levels increase progressively during the course of infection. While intracellular release of lysosomal enzymes was seen in all groups, extracellular release was primarily observed at 7 and 14 days post-infection only. The results indicate that while reactive oxygen species play a significant role in tissue injury during all stages of infection, lysosomal enzyme release in extracellular milieu augments tissue destruction at later stages only.
Acetylglucosaminidase↗
Postoperative spindle cell nodule of the bladder: a diagnostic problem.
A case of postoperative spindle cell nodule of the bladder is reported. Initial pathological analysis was interpreted as leiomyosarcoma for which the patient underwent radical cystectomy, but subsequent reviews were consistent with a postoperative spindle cell nodule. Recognition of this benign, yet rare lesion is of significant importance to urologists, pathologists, and to the patient who may undergo extensive surgical procedure unnecessarily.
Cystectomy↗
Alteration of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in essential hypertension.
OBJECTIVE: To assess lymphocytic subpopulation by labelled monoclonal antibody technique in a small group of patients with untreated essential hypertension (EH) and to detect any alteration with control of blood pressure. DESIGN: Prospective study with phenotypic estimation of lymphocytes at presentation and a minimum of two weeks after the control of blood pressure. SETTING: Referral, tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Group 1, normotensive controls (n = 10); group 2, mild to moderate essential hypertension (n = 10); group 3, severe (accelerated/malignant) hypertension (n = 10). All the secondary causes of hypertension were ruled out by a thorough history, physical examination and appropriate radiological and biochemical investigations. TESTS: Venous blood samples, taken at entry and a minimum of two weeks after control of blood pressure, were analyzed by alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) antibody technique for CD4, CD3, CD8 and CD22. Peripheral lymphocytes were separated and cocultured with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) for 72 h and assayed for CD25 by the APAAP technique. MAIN RESULTS: In untreated patients with EH (groups 2 and 3), there was a significant down regulation of CD3, and CD4 lymphocytes whereas the proportion of mature CD22 cells increased. In group 3 there was a significant down regulation of CD25 with PHA stimulation. A negative correlation was observed between CD25 and diastolic pressure upon pooling the results of groups 2 and 3. No significant alteration in these parameters was observed following control of blood pressure with drugs for up to two weeks. CONCLUSION: In this small group of patients with untreated EH, a significant alteration in the lymphocytic repertoire was observed. Whether this will be found in large groups of hypertensives remains to be seen.
Adult↗
Molecular characterization of the Azotobacter vinelandii recF gene.
The recF gene from Azotobacter vinelandii (Av) has been cloned by complementation in an Escherichia coli (Ec) recF mutant. The sequence of 1568 bp has been determined and analyzed. It showed an open reading frame of 1092 nt coding for a 364-amino-acid (aa) polypeptide. The comparison of the deduced aa sequence of the recF of Av with those of other bacteria has elicited the presence of the four conserved domains thought to be essential for RecF function. A transcriptional fusion of a DNA fragment containing the promoter sequence of recF with the lacZ gene of Ec was constructed and 3-4-fold enhancement of promoter activity was observed upon UV induction.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Linkage of the athymic nude locus with the myeloperoxidase locus in the rat.
In rats of the BUF/Mna strain epithelial thymoma development is regulated by a single autosomal susceptible gene, Tsr-1. In pre-thymoma stage, BUF/Mna rats have extremely large thymuses, when compared with those of other strains of rats. The large thymus size of this strain is contributed by a thymus-enlargement gene, Ten-1. On the other hand, reduced thymus size and suppression of thymoma development were found in heterozygous BUF/Mna-rnu/+ rats. Linkage studies between RNU and microsatellite and restriction fragment length polymorphism markers in ([BUF/Mna-rnu/rnu x WKY/NCrj] F1 x WKY/NCrj)- and (WKY/NCrj x [BUF/Mna-rnu/rnu x WKY/NCrj] F1)- backcross rats have led to the localization of RNU on chromosome 10. The rat homolog of mouse Mpo (myeloperoxidase) was also assigned to the chromosome 10. The gene order on the chromosome was MYHSE (myosin heavy chain of embryonic skeletal muscle)--(1.0 centimorgan [cM])--SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin)--(4.0 cM)--RNU (Rowett rat nude)--(10.0 cM)--MPO--(13.0 cM)--AEP (anion exchange protein). Conserved linkage of homologous loci mapped to rat chromosome 10 and mouse chromosome 11 supports the hypothesis that the RNU and MPO loci are rat homologs of the mouse nu and Mpo loci.
Animals↗
BCG vaccine in superficial bladder cancer.
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BCG Vaccine↗
Tetanus in Auckland: a preventable disease.
AIMS: To determine the clinical features, management and outcome for patients admitted to hospital with tetanus in Auckland. METHODS: Medical records of all patients with tetanus admitted to hospitals in Auckland between January 1982 and December 1992 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were admitted to hospital during the study period. All patients were more than 40 years old and no patient had a history of more than one tetanus toxoid immunisation before the injury presumed responsible for tetanus. Failure to consider the diagnosis led to delay in starting appropriate treatment in most patients. Eleven patients required mechanical ventilation. The median duration of hospital stay was 44 days. All patients survived. CONCLUSIONS: Tetanus is rare in Auckland and almost exclusively affects those born before 1960 when universal childhood immunisation against tetanus was started. The disease causes significant morbidity which could be avoided by increased efforts to ensure that all persons have completed a full course of immunisation. Universal vaccination against tetanus with regular boosters to maintain immunity would also circumvent the problems encountered with postexposure tetanus prophylaxis.
Adult↗
Antisense MAP-2 oligonucleotides induce changes in microtubule assembly and neuritic elongation in pre-existing neurites of rat cortical neurons.
Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) is an abundant component of the cytoskeleton present in dendrites and cell bodies of neurons of the CNS. To examine the biological function of MAP-2, two MAP-2 antisense (AS) oligonucleotides complementary to the 5' region of the rat MAP-2 cDNA were added to rat primary embryonic day 17-18 (E17-18) cultured cortical neurons 24 h after plating and neurite outgrowth and morphology studied. The treatment of primary cortical cultures with either of the two MAP-2 AS oligonucleotides resulted in decreased MAP-2 and reduction in the number of neuritic processes relative to the control or MAP-2 sense-treated cultures. By immunostaining and light microscopy the AS-treated neurons appeared smaller, more rounded, and less intensely stained for MAP-2 than the untreated or the MAP-2 sense-treated cultures. By electron microscopy disorganized microtubules and a reduction in the number of microtubules within neurites of the AS-treated cultures were observed. We conclude that MAP-2 continues to be required for microtubule spacing and stability within neurites once they have formed.
Animals↗
Patients' intentions in primary care: relationship to physical and psychological symptoms, and their perception by general practitioners.
A series of three studies of consecutive primary care patients examined their intentions when visiting a general practitioner (GP). In study 1, a principal, components analysis of responses to a specially-devised symptom check-list was used to form component-based scales on which patients' physical symptoms were scored. Apart from a modest association of cold symptoms with seeking simple explanation, physical symptoms were unrelated to intentions. By contrast, the level of psychological symptoms correlated with the desire for support from the GP. In study 2 this result was replicated and shown to be unaffected by the amount of support which patients already experienced from family and friends. In study 3, GPs were found to be able to detect at better than chance level which patients desired support, but they were insensitive to other intentions. The results indicate that a technique for the quantification of patients' intentions permits the formal investigation of important questions concerning primary care consultations.
Female↗
Application of papaya latex-induced rat paw inflammation: model for evaluation of slowly acting antiarthritic drugs.
Papaya latex-induced rat paw inflammation model for evaluating antiinflammatory activity has been developed and reported earlier. A number of drugs viz. aspirin, indomethacin, piroxicam, ibuprofen, prednisolone, levamisole, chloroquine, and boswellic acids showed antiinflammatory activity in this model. As the last three drugs showing the activity belonged to the group of slowly acting antiarthritic drugs, this present study was undertaken to study in detail the sensitivity of this model for slowly acting, clinically effective, antiarthritic drugs viz. chloroquine, levamisole, penicillamine, aurothioglucose, cyclophosphamide, and boswellic acids. These drugs are known to show no appreciable activity in the known models of inflammation and arthritis. All these drugs tested in three graded doses showed dose-related significant antiinflammatory activity in this model, whereas those drugs in the carrageenan model tested in similar doses showed insignificant activity. Aspirin employed as a reference standard showed significant activity in both the models. Thus the slowly acting antiarthritic drugs will be identified as those displaying significant activity in the papaya latex model and insignificant activity in the carrageenan model and to be aspirin-like by their significant activity in both the above models of inflammation.
Animals↗
Masturbation using metal washers for the treatment of impotence: painful consequences.
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Adult↗
Time-resolved immunofluorometric assay and specimen storage conditions for measuring urinary gonadotropins.
We optimized storage conditions and validated a sensitive immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) for urinary gonadotropins. Assay linearity and parallelism for luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was observed to 0.04 IU/L. Urinary LH and FSH were unaffected by changes of osmolarity from 0.5 to 3.0 mOsm/kg, and from pH 4.5 to 10.5. Serum and urine measurements of the hormones correlated well over a wide range of values: for LH, R2 = 0.94, P < 0.01; for FSH, R2 = 0.71, P < 0.01 (n = 304). Preservation of urine with glycerol (70 mL/L) and storage at -20 degrees C yielded > 80% recovery of LH and FSH after 51 weeks; this was comparable with recovery for acetone extracts of urine. Untreated urine showed loss of activity by 4 weeks of storage. Preserving urine specimens with glycerol is a simple method of storage for longitudinal study and compares favorably with acetone extraction. IFMAs can measure urinary gonadotropins reproducibly over a wide range of pH and osmotic conditions.
Adult↗
Differential regulation of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase isozymes by gibberellic acid in dwarf pea epicotyls.
Dwarf pea epicotyls contained a single activity peak of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase (isozyme I). Gibberellic acid (GA3, 1 microM) induced two additional isozymes (II and III). Cycloheximide (20 microgram/ml) blocked the appearance of GA3-induced isozymes, suggesting that it is dependent on de novo protein synthesis. Conclusive proof was obtained by labelling the isozymes II and III with [35S]SO2-(4) in vivo. The purified 35S-labelled AdoMet synthetase isozymes (II, III) showed a single protein band that coincided with the single radioactive peak on SDS-PAGE. Molecular-sieve chromatography of the isozyme I from control dwarf pea epicotyls and three isozymes of GA3-treated epicotyls on Sepharose CL-6B showed a single activity peak with an identical molecular mass of 174 kDa for each isozyme. Analysis of purified AdoMet synthetase isozymes (I, II, III) on SDS-PAGE showed a single silver-stained protein band with a molecular mass of 87 kDa. This proved the dimeric nature of all the isozymes of AdoMet synthetase which could be physically separated by ion-exchange chromatography on DE-52. In vitro molecular hybridization of physically separated isozymes by NaCl-freeze-thaw treatment method revealed that the three isozymes (I, II, III) in GA3-treated dwarf pea epicotyls are formed through the random dimerization of two different species of enzyme subunits that differ in their net charge. Thus, the two flanking activity peaks (isozymes I, III) represent homodimers, while the middle activity peak (isozyme II) is a heterodimer. Apparently, the single isozyme I in control epicotyls is a product of one gene of AdoMet synthetase (SAM 1), while three isozymes in GA3-treated epicotyls are the product of two genes of AdoMet synthetase. We speculate that the differential regulation of AdoMet synthetase in GA3-treated epicotyls is achieved by the expression of an alternate gene of AdoMet synthetase (SAM 2).
Chromatography, Gel↗