Biomedical subjects

P R Karmakar

Publications and source records attributed to P R Karmakar.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

Evaluation of IgG4 response in ascariasis by ELISA for serodiagnosis.

The excretory/secretory (ES) antigen(s) of Ascaris lumbricoides was fractionated into 10 fractions by gel chromatography on a Suparose 12 column in FPLC. Of these, the third fraction (Al III), showing binding activity with both IgE and IgG antibodies of A. lumbricoides infected patients' sera, was further resolved into 2 fractions (Al IIIa and Al IIIb) on passage through a Mono Q column. Al IIIb was found to be the most potent antigen due to its high binding affinity with IgE and IgG antibodies of Ascaris infected patients as evidenced by ELISA inhibition. Although a two to five-fold increase of serum IgE level was observed in all helminthic parasite infected patients studied compared to control subjects, Al IIIb specific IgE was detected in sera of all Ascaris infected and only 40% of hookworm infected patients. When Al IIIb was tested by ELISA with sera of control subjects, Ascaris, hookworm, Strongyloides and Trichuris infected patients, strong binding was observed with the IgE and also IgG of all the Ascaris infected patients; however, it cross-reacted with IgG in 50% of hookworm, 28.6% of Trichuris trichura and 22.2% of Strongyloides infected patients' sera; but with IgE only in 40% of hookworm infected patients' sera. Further study showed specific detection of IgG4 in all the serum samples of 65 Ascaris infected patients when Al IIIb antigen was allowed to react with different subclasses of IgG by ELISA, giving a sensitivity of 100%. Reactivities of Al IIIb with IgG1 and IgG3 were only 47.6 and 11.8% respectively and there was no reactivity with IgG2 subclass. No IgG4 reactivity against Al IIIb was observed in the sera of hookworm, Trichuris or Strongyloides infected patients and was similar to that observed with control subjects showing the 100% specificity of the test system. This study may therefore be regarded as a novel technique for serodiagnosis of ascariasis by measuring Ascaris specific IgG4.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Cocos nucifera pollen inducing allergy: sensitivity test and immunological study.

Among the heterogeneous population (n = 975) in greater Calutta, sensitization to Cocos nucifera pollen accounts to be 2.65% and for atopic patients (n = 204) 47.06%. Out of 24 patients who had C. nucifera pollen sensitivity and suffered from asthma and allergic rhinitis, 16 showed sensitivity also to other allergens. All were skin test positive and 19 of them were phadezym RAST positive to C. nucifera pollen extract. Bronchial provocation test appeared to be positive in 7 out of 8 patients included in the test and no late response or non-specific reactions were observed. C. nucifera pollen extract on fractionation by ion-exchange chromatography following gel filtration yielded two major allergenic protein fractions, CnII (M(r) 158,000) and CnVII (M(r) 2900) as evidenced by skin prick test, ELISA-inhibition and immunoblot analysis. Hence, C. nucifera pollen should be considered to be a relevant allergen and thus included in the panel of allergens for routine clinical use.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Isolation and characterization of two IgE-reactive proteins from Azadirachta indica pollen.

Two allergenically active components present in the Azadirachta indica whole pollen extract have been isolated by sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation (0-90%), DEAE-Sephadex A-50 ion-exchange chromatography followed by gel filtration through Sephadex G-200. The allergenicity of fractionated materials has been tested by skin prick test and ELISA inhibition which reveal that AIaI and AIaIVb are the major allergens. Immunoblot confirms the IgE-binding activity of the proteins. Although both fractions are found to be homogeneous by SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing produces more than one isoelectric point in AIaI (pI = 3.15, 3.3 and 3.5) and AIaIVb (pI = 6.0 and 6.2). Amino acid analyses of the two allergens, the effect of pH on them and cross-reactivity between them have been discussed.

Allergens↗

PubMed1994

Placebo-controlled immunotherapy with Cocos nucifera pollen extract.

The effectiveness of Cocos nucifera pollen extract immunotherapy (CPE-IT) was studied in 96 patients allergic to C. nucifera pollen. A placebo-controlled study was performed at random for a period of 6-12 months. The clinical status of the patients measured by the symptom-medication scores demonstrated that C. nucifera pollen-allergic patients had significant (p < 0.005) clinical improvement after CPE-IT in comparison to placebo treatment. Serological study resulted a significant reduction (p < 0.001) of specific IgE and significant elevation (p < 0.01) of specific IgG in post-therapeutic patients' sera which were correlated significantly (r = 0.45, p < 0.001); the changes of the above immunoglobulin levels in the placebo-treated patients were nonsignificant. However, there was no correlation between symptom-medication scores and changes in specific serum IgE or IgG levels.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Myositis ossificans progressiva.

Myositis ossificans progressiva is a rare, incurable disease causing progressive ossification of skeletal muscles leading to total immobility. We report one such case.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Declining trend in routine UIP coverage.

Routine UIP coverage status in the state of West Bengal and three selected Municipal Corporation areas (Calcutta, Howrah and Siliguri) were studied during 1997-98 and 1998-99. Also, UIP coverage status in the 'high risk' areas of the State (areas which reported Polio cases during 1998) was studied during 1998-99. UIP coverage in the state of West Bengal was only 54.3% in 1997-98, which further declined to 48.1% in 1998-99. In the three urban areas, UIP coverage ranged between 57.3%-70.9% in 1997-98, which further declined to 29.6%-47.1% in 1998-99. Antigenwise coverage revealed very poor performance with DPT3, OPV3, and Measles in 1997-98 and further decline in 1998-99. Dropout rate was also very high. In 1998-99 drop-out rate ranged between 30.1% to 54.2% in different studied areas. Some other studies suggested that PPI activities, which are very visible and targetted programme, may adversely affect routine UIP services. There is urgent need for further probing to identify the reasons for such poor state of affairs, keeping PPI angle in mind and to initiate remedial measure urgently.

Antigens, Viral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Coverage of Maternal Care Services in the state of West Bengal.

Evaluation of the Coverage of Maternal Care Services was conducted during the year 1999 in the entire State of West Bengal, Urban poor localities of randomly selected three Municipal Corporation areas and 'high-risk' urban wards or villages of West Bengal that had reported AFP cases in 1998. It was observed that mothers who had three or more antenatal check-ups varied between 54% to 82% in different study areas. Tetanus Toxoid coverage varied between 83.5% to 93.4% being lowest in high-risk areas. Only a very small section of mothers (12.7% to 23.7%) consumed 100 or more Iron and Folic acid tablets during pregnancy. 'Danger Signs' of pregnancy were informed to only 21.1% to 38.2% of the pregnant mothers. Proportion of home deliveries varied between 16.7% (Calcutta) to as high as 72.7% (high-risk areas). Deliveries conducted by untrained personnel were 60.8% in high risk areas, 38.1% in State clusters and between 14.2% to 29.4% in the three urban areas. Vast majority of mothers (78.8% to 88.4%) received no post-natal check-up.

Blood Pressure↗