Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Mukherjee.
Schwann cells that contain M. leprae fail to incorporate DNA precursor, indicating blockage of DNA synthesis. Such a block could lead to no proliferation of Schwann cells, an essential requirement for successful association with axons and consequent myelination.
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Suppression of delta5-3beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (delta5-3beta-OHD) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-P-D) activities along with concomitant stimulation of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity were observed in the rat testicular tissues following treatment with oxythiamine HC1, an inhibitor of pentose phosphate pathway. The same treatment also resulted in an accumulation of cholesterol and ascorbic acid in the gland associated with a decrease in the weights of seminal vesicle and prostate. The results suggest a diminution in testicular steroid biogenesis following an alteration of pentose phosphate pathway.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Recent studies have shown that chronic pacing induced tachycardia in large animals such as dogs and pigs causes congestive heart failure accompanied by myocyte contractile abnormalities, neurohormonal activation, alterations in sarcolemmal receptor systems, and changes in myocardial structure. However, fundamental studies directed at identifying basic contributory mechanisms responsible for the development of this form of heart failure are problematic in these large animals. Accordingly, the present study examined the direct effects of pacing induced tachycardia upon LV and myocyte structure and function in the adult rabbit. Twelve adult rabbits (New Zealand White; 3.5-4.5 Kg) underwent 30 days of pacing induced ventricular tachycardia (VT; right ventricular paced, 400 bpm) and 12 additional age and weight matched rabbits served as controls. Echocardiography revealed increased LV end-diastolic dimension (1.92 +/- 0.04 vs 1.10 +/- 0.20 cm; p < 0.05) and decreased fractional shortening (41.5 +/- 3 vs 22.3 +/- 4%; p < 0.05) in the VT group compared to controls with no change in LV mass. Steady-state isolated myocyte contractile function was significantly reduced in the VT group compared to control. For example, isolated myocyte velocity of shortening was 41 +/- 2 microns/s in the VT group compared to 84 +/- 5 microns/s for controls (p < 0.05). In the presence of 8 mM extracellular Ca2+, myocyte velocity of shortening was 40% lower in the VT group compared to controls. Finally, myocyte contractile responsiveness with beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation was reduced by 52% in the VT group compared to controls. Isolated myocyte length significantly increased in the VT group compared to control (157 +/- 3 vs 128 +/- 2 microns; p < 0.05) with a concomitant decrease in cross-sectional area (274 +/- 6 vs 400 +/- 31 microns 2; p < 0.05). Myocyte myofibril volume fell by 27% in the VT group compared to control with no change in mitochondrial percent volume. In summary, this study demonstrated that chronic pacing induced tachycardia in rabbits caused: 1) LV dilation and dysfunction, 2) depressed isolated myocyte contractile function and inotropic responsiveness, and 3) alterations in myocyte structure and composition. The changes in LV and myocyte function and structure following chronic tachycardia in rabbits are similar to that reported previously with tachycardia induced heart failure in larger animals. These findings suggest that this rabbit model of chronic tachycardia may provide a useful and practical means by which to examine basic mechanisms responsible for the development of congestive heart failure.
Testicular steroidogenesis was determined by radioimmuno assay of serum testosterone and histochemical demonstration of the key steroidogenic enzyme (delta 5 3 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) activity in the Leydig cells after treatment with mitomycin C (mc), (500 microgram/kg, Bwt). In vivo experiments showed mc treatment causes a remarkable fall of serum testosterone level along with significant reduction in the weights of testis and sex accessories. In vitro studies resulted in a diminution in the delta 5 3 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the section of the testis after addition of mc (100, 200 microgram/ml) in the incubation medium. The consideration of the above findings coroborated to the suggestion that mc reduced testicular steroidogenesis.
In 2000, the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) published incompletely evaluated guidelines for curative chemoradiation and high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for cervical cancer: our aim was to assess guideline tolerability in an Asian population. From 2000, all stage I-IVA cervical carcinoma patients were treated following ABS guidelines. Early disease (FIGO stage I/II <4 cm) received 45 Gy whole-pelvis external-beam radiation (EBRT) at 1.8 Gy/fraction, while advanced-stage disease received 50.4 Gy: no central shielding was used. All patients were planned to receive chemotherapy during EBRT, cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) weekly. All patients received 31.8-Gy HDR brachytherapy (six fractions of 5.3 Gy/fraction) to point A via three-channel applicators. Radiotherapy was completed within 8 weeks. Toxicity scoring used Common Toxicity Criteria. Nineteen of 21 (90.4%) patients (8 early, 13 advanced stage) received planned radiation, and 85.7% received planned chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 24 months (range 9-50 months). Three-year overall survival (S) was 79.1% and disease-free survival (DFS) was 64.8%. S/DFS for early and advanced stage was 85.7%/85.7% and 73.3%/47.1%, respectively. Complete response (CR) was achieved by 85.7% of patients, partial response 14.3%. For those in CR, there were no local failures. Acute cystitis occurred in 23.8%, proctitis 4.8%, and gastroenteritis 47.6%. Late cystitis occurred in 9.5%, gastroenteritis 4.8%, and genitourinary fistula (in the presence of progressive disease) 4.8%. No grade 3/4 treatment-related toxicity occurred. The ABS guidelines were well tolerated and efficacious in our study, although longer follow-up is required. Further studies are warranted to validate safety and efficacy of the recommendations.
In a hospital based study, 362 household contacts of multibacillary leprosy patients were screened for evidence of leprosy and 54 (14.9%) were found to be having leprosy. The remaining 308 apparently healthy contacts were lepromin tested and 109 (35.4%) were observed to be negative to Mitsuda lepromin. M.w vaccine was administered intradermally to 95 of these 109 lepromin negative contacts. Sixty eight of them could be retested for lepromin A reactivity. Fifty six (82.35%) manifested lepromin conversion. The twelve subjects who did not show lepromin conversion, received a second dose of the vaccine, and eleven subsequently became lepromin positive. The overall lepromin conversion rate was thus 98.5% (67 out of 68). Follow-up of these contacts upto a period of 30 months did not demonstrate reversion of lepromin positivity back to negativity status. No untoward effects of vaccination were observed except for local ulceration at the site of vaccine administration.
Ultrastructural changes in the mouse dorsal root ganglion cultures infected long-term with viable M.leprae were studied. Subtle cytomorphological changes and loss of neurites noted in the long-term infected cultures were correlated to early events in the nerve damage.
Fat and fatty acid intakes of 25 healthy adult urban males from Ghaziabad, U.P.; Goa and Kolkata, W.Bengal, respectively were studied. Fat intakes were estimated using dietary records, food frequency questionnaires and chemical analysis of the diets consumed. Fatty acid intakes were estimated by gas chromatography. Total fat intakes ranged from 26.9 g/day to 163.2g/ day. Percent subjects having intakes above the desirable level were 72% in Kolkata, 36% in Ghaziabad, U.P. and only 10% in Goa. Visible fat constituted more than 60 percent of total fat. In all 3 areas, SFA intakes were higher and MUFA lower than desirable levels. Palmitic acid constituted at least 50% of SFA intakes. In Goa, lauric acid, in Ghaziabad and Kolkata, stearic acid and myristic acid were major dietary SFAs, In Kolkata, erucic acid was 17.3+/-8.3%. Overall 60% of subjects had n-6:n-3 intakes close to the desirable ratio. Linoleic acid constituted almost the entire n-6 intake. Alpha linolenic acid constituted most of the n-3 intakes in Ghaziabad, U.P. and Kolkata. The ratios of SFA:MUFA--PUFA vaned widely and percent subjects with intakes close to the desirable ratios were 12% in Goa, 23% in Ghaziabad and 40% in Kolkata. The data highlights the need for limiting fat intakes and modifying diets to provide fatty acids in desirable ratios.