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P K Gangopadhyay

Publications and source records attributed to P K Gangopadhyay.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Subcortical white matter abnormalities related to drug resistance in Wilson disease.

Wilson disease (WD) produces typical lesions in the brain, which can aid in diagnosis and therapy. The authors present a drug-resistant WD case with atypical cerebral lesions with marked involvement of white matter as visualized on MRI scans. The diagnosis was confirmed by identification of mutations in the ATP7B gene. The case demonstrates an uncommon pathology-related cerebral copper accumulation and emphasizes the importance of genetic screening in the diagnosis of WD.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Height, weight and earnings among coalminers in India.

This paper analyses earning/wage differentials by height among coalmine workers in India. Our findings suggest that workers of above average height earn 9-17% more than their shorter counterparts and 6-13% more than average reference height. The results suggest that long-term investments in health human capital might ensure increase of labour productivity and thereby earnings, particularly in underdeveloped economies.

Adult↗

Molecular pathogenesis of Wilson disease: haplotype analysis, detection of prevalent mutations and genotype-phenotype correlation in Indian patients.

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by defects in the copper-transporting P-type ATPase gene (ATP7B) resulting in the accumulation of copper in the liver and the brain. We identified prevalent mutations in the ATP7B of Indian WD patients and attempted to correlate those with the disease phenotype. Patients from 62 unrelated families and their first-degree relatives comprising 200 individuals were enrolled in this study. Three dinucleotide repeat markers flanking WD locus and a few intragenic SNPs were used to determine the genotypes and construct haplotypes of the patients. Seven recurring haplotypes accounting for 58% of the total mutant chromosomes were identified, and four underlying defects in the ATP7B representing 37% of WD chromosomes were detected. In addition, five other rare mutations were characterized. Thus a total of nine mutations including five novel changes were identified in the ATP7B of WD patients. Interestingly, homozygotes for different mutations that would be expected to produce similar defective proteins showed significant disparity in terms of organ involvement and severity of the disease. We also observed WD patients with neurological symptoms with little or no manifestation of hepatic pathogenesis. In one WD family, the proband and a sib had remarkably different phenotypes despite sharing the same pair of mutant chromosomes. These findings suggest a potential role for yet unidentified modifying loci for the observed phenotypic heterogeneity among the WD patients.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Molecular analysis of GAA repeats and four linked bi-allelic markers in and around the frataxin gene in patients and normal populations from India.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), the most common type of ataxia worldwide, is an autosomal recessive disease. Homozygous expansion of GAA repeats in the first intron of the frataxin gene constitute the major type of mutation that causes the disease. The prevalence of FRDA in diverse ethnic populations of India has not been widely studied. We have studied the distribution of polymorphic GAA repeats in the frataxin gene among 6 clinically diagnosed patients and 160 ethnically matched normal individuals, to gather information on the prevalence of FRDA in the eastern part of India. Homozygous expansion in the range of 250-730 GAA repeats was detected among the patients. Among normal individuals, we observed a unimodal distribution of GAA repeats, consisting of 10 different alleles ranging from 7 to 16 GAA repeats, where the 9 repeat allele had maximal frequency. Only 5.9% of all chromosomes were found to harbour >12 GAA repeats. Haplotype analysis using closely linked four bi-allelic markers in and around the frataxin gene indicated that 66.7% of the expanded alleles harbour the ATCC haplotype that has been reported worldwide. This haplotype was present in 53.3% of the chromosomes with >12 GAA repeats, and accounted for only 3.8% of chromosomes with 7 to 12 GAA repeats. We found one novel haplotype, ACCT, among the expanded alleles as well as among normal individuals, though at low frequency; this haplotype may be characteristic of Indian populations.

Adolescent↗

Multiple brain haemorrhages in falciparum malaria.

A young male with multiple intracerebral haemorrhages with presence of P. falciparum in peripheral smear and normal coagulation profile without features of encephalopathy managed successfully with antimalarial has been reported. The rarity of the clinical presentation has been highlighted and its possible pathogenesis discussed.

Adult↗

Variation of CAG repeats and two intragenic polymorphisms at SCA3 locus among Machado-Joseph disease/SCA3 patients and diverse normal populations from eastern India.

OBJECTIVES: MJD1/SCA3 is the most common type of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) worldwide. To explain the low prevalence of the disease among SCA patients from eastern India, we analysed CAG repeats and two bi-allelic intragenic markers at SCA3 locus among 412 normal individuals and 10 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For CAG repeat analysis, PCR amplified fragments were run on polyacrylamide gel, transferred to a membrane, probed with (CAG)10 and detected on an autoradiograph. Bi-allelic markers were analysed using allele specific PCR amplification. RESULTS: Large normal alleles (>33 CAG repeats) were 0.015 in pooled populations. All the patients had the common haplotype C-A as observed worldwide. Frequency of C-A haplotype among large normal alleles was 0.75. CONCLUSIONS: Observed low prevalence of SCA3 could be because of the low prevalence of large normal alleles that might act as the reservoir for the expanded alleles. SCA3 mutation in Indian populations had the same origin as found worldwide.

Ataxin-3↗

DNA linkage based diagnosis of Wilson disease in asymptomatic siblings.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by defects in ATP7B gene located in chromosome 13q14, and manifested as hepatolenticular degeneration as a result of accumulation of copper. No information on the mutation in the ATP7B gene and haplotypes using linked markers is available for WD patients in India. Hence, the present study was undertaken to identify, by a PCR-based molecular diagnostic test, presymptomatic siblings of WD affected individuals in families with multiple offspring. METHODS: Genomic DNA was prepared from the peripheral blood of the patients, siblings and his/her first degree relatives. The repeat-markers flanking WD locus were amplified by PCR using fluorescent labeled primers. Amplified DNA fragments were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in ABI 377 DNA sequencing system. Genotypes of the samples were determined using Genescan software. Haplotypes were determined based on segregation of the alleles in the families under study. RESULTS: Among 15 WD affected families with multiple children, 4 cases were identified where younger siblings shared same genotype as the patient at all three markers analyzed. Further, eight different haplotypes were detected in the four patients. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The siblings of the WD patients carrying the same genotype at the markers linked to WD locus were presymptomatically diagnosed individuals. Presence of eight different haplotypes in the four patients suggested mutational heterogeneity at the WD locus. The test helps clinicians for therapeutic intervention in suspect WD cases by copper chelating agents prior to manifestation of overt clinical symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Spinocerebellar ataxia--type 6.

Fifty six years lady presented with pure cerebellar ataxia with positive family history from paternal side presented to our clinic. DNA screening found to be SCA6. This is the first case report of SCA6 from India.

Female↗

Clinical profile of multiple sclerosis in Bengal.

Forty five patients of multiple sclerosis diagnosed on the basis of Poser's criteria from West Bengal were studied. The male-female ratio was 1:1.5, mean age of onset 31.83 years in male and 29.11 years in females. The maximum cases were between the 3rd and 4th decade. Definite MS comprised of 60%, while remaining 40% were probable. Visual impairment (53.33%), weakness of limbs (31.11%) and sensory paraesthesia (20%) were the common presenting symptoms whereas pyramidal tract involvement (93.33%) with absent abdominal reflexes (90%) and optic pallor (64.44%) were common signs. Posterior column and spinothalamic sensations were involved in 55% and 51% of cases respectively. Inter-nuclear ophthalmoplegia was present in 6.66% of cases. Pattern of involvement commonly showed three or more sites of lesion. Optico-spinal affection was present in 22.2% of cases. Relapsing and remitting course was found in 48. 91%, relapsing and progressive course in 33.33% and chronic progressive in 17.8%. MRI of brain showed positive results in 16 out of 23 cases. CSF study showed increased positivity in estimation of immunoglobulin level than oligoclonal band. Findings revalidate the disease pattern as being similar to that in other parts of India as well as Asia.

Adult↗

Pattern of motor neurone disease in eastern India.

A clinical study about the pattern of motor neurone disease in eastern India was carried out from July 1993 to June 1995 at Bangur Institute of Neurology, Calcutta and SSKM Hospital, Calcutta. A total of 110 cases were studied and they constituted 0.11% of all neurological cases seen in the general OPD. Of 110 cases, amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) constituted 43.6%, progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) 10.9%, post-polio progressive muscular atrophy (PPMA) 1.8%, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) 20%, atypical form Madras pattern of MND (MMND) 0.9% and monomelic amyotrophy (MMA) 22.7% of cases. Disease is more common in males than females and average duration of symptoms before presentation varied from 1 to 12 months. Most of the patients were either agricultural labourers or manual workers in ALS variety whereas MMA variety was evenly distributed in both hard labourers and sedentary workers. Most of the patients in MMA and SMA groups presented before 30 years of age whereas ALS and PMA group presented after 30 years. Trauma was the commonest antecedent event in ALS and MMA followed by electrocution in the same two groups. Family history was found to be absent in SMA group though the disease is considered as a hereditary one. Weakness of the limbs and wasting of the muscles were common presenting symptoms and signs. Bulbar symptoms and signs were found only in the ALS group. EMG showed neurogenic pattern and mixed pattern in most of the patients in all groups. Only a few patients showed myopathic pattern. Neuroimaging study helped in exclusion of compressive lesion excepting two cases of MMA where facetal hypertrophy was present. Monomelic amyotrophy, a special variety of motor neurone disease, is not rare in this part as compared to other parts of India and Asia.

Female↗