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Biomedical subjects

S Banerjee

Publications and source records attributed to S Banerjee.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Prominence of symptoms and level of stigma among depressed patients in Calcutta.

A pilot study of 29 patients for research on clinical depression employed the framework of cultural epidemiology to examine illness-related experience, meaning, behaviour with a Bengali version of the explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC). This report examined patterns of distress and stigma with reference to the most troubling patient-specified symptom. All subjects were psychiatric outpatients in the Institute of Psychiatry, Calcutta, and met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV criteria for a major depressive episode. Only 5 patients (17.2%) identified sadness as the most troubling problem, and 48.3% specified pains and other somatic symptoms instead. An internally consistent stigma scale with Cronbach's alpha of .67, comprised 13 items, was used to assess stigma. In addition to the scale score for each subject, the contribution of each item was reported and compared. A suggestive, though not significantly lower value of the stigma score for patients reporting somatic symptoms as most troubling, compared with sadness, was consistent with findings from prior studies showing a positive relationship between the magnitude of depression and stigma. These findings are discussed with reference to their impact on recognition and help seeking among patients, and recognition and management of depression by general practitioner. Culturally distinctive presentations and social contexts of depression and other mental illnesses should be addressed in professional training and public health communications.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Severe hyperkalaemia with normal electrocardiogram.

Elevated serum potassium without associated electrocardiograph and biochemical changes makes the diagnosis of pseudohyperkalaemia likely. One of the common causes of this is thrombocytosis with in vitro leak of cellular potassium due to increased fragility of the platelets. We report a case where the diagnosis of essential thrombocytosis was made during investigation of persistent hyperkalaemia in an apparently healthy female.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Sero-reactivity of two different antigenic protein fractions of M.tb H37Ra excretory-secretory antigen in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.

Excretory-secretory proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra, have been of diagnostic interest in pulmonary (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Two different excretory-secretory antigenic proteins of M.tbH37Ra viz., EST-DE1 (a 6% TCA soluble and DEAE anion exchange purified antigen) and ESAS-7 (50% ammonium sulphate solubilized and SDS-PAGE fractionated antigen) were studied in stick-indirect penicillinase ELISA for detecting tuberculous IgG antibodies in serum samples of pulmonary as well as extrapulmonary tuberculosis (tuberculous lymphadenopathy (TBLN), tuberculous meningitis (TBM), bone & joint tuberculosis (B&J TB), abdominal tuberculosis (Abd. TB) patients. The ESAS-7 antigen has shown comparatively better seroreactivity (90%) than that of EST-DE1 antigen in pulmonary tuberculosis cases. The overall specificity of 93.2% using ESAS-7 antigen was also found better compared to 86.4% obtained using EST-DE1 antigen. Further, in extra pulmonary tuberculosis group, using ESAS-7 antigen 84% (21/25) of histopathologically confirmed TBLN cases and 90% (9/10) clinically diagnosed and ATT responded TBM cases showed positive reaction for tuberculous IgG antibody. The per cent positivity using EST-DE1 antigen was however comparatively low in TBLN and TBM cases, (76% and 80% respectively). In histopathologically proven bone and joint tuberculosis and abdominal tuberculosis cases EST-DE1 antigen showed better sensitivity of 75% and 83.3% respectively in IgG antibody detection compared to that of ESAS-7 antigen (50% and 66% respectively). From the present study, it can be envisaged that ESAS-7 antigenic fraction has a good potential in the diagnosis of pulmonary and certain extra-pulmonary tuberculosis infection (TBLN & TBM) whereas EST-DE1 was found to be better in detecting specific antibodies in bone & joint and abdominal tuberculosis.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed2000

Can cosmic strangelets reach the earth?

The mechanism for the propagation of strangelets with low baryon number through the atmosphere of the Earth has been explored. It has been shown that, under suitable initial conditions, such strangelets may indeed reach depths near mountain altitudes with mass numbers and charges close to the observed values in cosmic ray experiments.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Reverse transcriptase activity in bovine bone marrow: purification of a 66-kDa enzyme.

The presence of reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in a DNA-binding protein complex of the goat bone marrow has been reported earlier from our laboratory. Here we report a procedure for the purification of the enzyme with RT activity from bovine bone marrow and show that the basic function is associated with a approximately 66-kDa protein. This enzyme can use RT specific homopolymers as template and short oligonucleotides as primers, while displaying a Mg(2+)-ion requirement. Eukaryotic RTs have been shown to have endogenous RNAs associated with the enzymes. Evidence is presented here to show that some endogenous RNAs are associated with the RT activity in bovine bone marrow. Even though the enzyme activity appears to be associated with a approximately 66-kDa protein, the results indicate that for a full expression of its activity, the enzyme needs to interact with a 55-kDa protein that co-purifies with the enzyme during ion-exchange chromatography.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

An efficient in vitro procedure for micropropagation and generation of somaclones of rose scented Pelargonium.

Efficient protocols have been established for both direct and indirect regeneration of plants in Pelargonium graveolens Indian cultivar Hemanti (Algerian type). Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium [T. Murashige, F. Skoog, A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant. 15 (1962) 473-497] supplemented with 5.0 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l NAA was optimal for direct regeneration of plants from leaf explants while 8.0 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l NAA proved optimum for nodal explants for maximum number of shoots per explant. Callus induction was observed from nodal explants on MS medium supplemented with 10 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l NAA. Callus on further transfer to MS medium with 0.5 mg/l BAP and 0.1 mg/l NAA exhibited regeneration of maximum number of shoots. In vitro grown shoots of both direct and indirect origin rooted within 7-10 days following transfer to half strength MS medium with 1.0 mg/l IBA. Plantlets were acclimatized under glass house conditions with 90% survival. Randomly selected 85 individual Calliclones were subjected to field trial with 85-95% survival for two successive years along with control in randomized block design with three replicates. Screening of these calliclones revealed two distinct morphotypes, one with parental type highly dentated leaves (HDL) and the other with less dentated, round leaves (LDL). Only HDL calliclones flowered under field conditions. The LDL clones differed in several herb related agronomic characteristics such as plant height, herb yield, canopy size and number of branches per plant from the parental type as well as from the parent, which seems advantageous for commercial exploitation of such clones. The HDL clones closely resemble the parent in having higher content of citronellol than geraniol while the LDL clones contain almost equal contents of citronellol and geraniol in their essential oils as revealed by gas chromatography analysis. It is noticeable that the variability both in terms of agronomic characters and essential oil profiles among the clones were stable over 2 years of field trials.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Measurement of the W-->taunu production cross section in pp collisions at square root s=1.8 TeV.

We report on a measurement of sigma(pp-->W+X)B(W-->taunu) in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron. The measurement is based on an integrated luminosity (lum) of 18 pb-1 of data collected with the D0 detector during 1994-1995. We find that sigma(pp-->W+X)B(W-->taunu)=2.22+/-0.09 (stat)+/-0. 10 (syst)+/-0.10 (lum) nb. Lepton universality predicts that the ratio of the tau and electron electroweak charged current couplings to the W boson, gWtau/gWe, be unity. We find gWtau/gWe=0.980+/-0.031, in agreement with lepton universality.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Probing Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov dynamics in the dijet cross section at large rapidity intervals in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1800 and 630 GeV.

Inclusive dijet production at large pseudorapidity intervals (Deltaeta) between the two jets has been suggested as a regime for observing Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov (BFKL) dynamics. We have measured the dijet cross section for large Deltaeta in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1800 and 630 GeV using the D0 detector. The partonic cross section increases strongly with the size of Deltaeta. The observed growth is even stronger than expected on the basis of BFKL resummation in the leading logarithmic approximation. The growth of the partonic cross section can be accommodated with an effective BFKL intercept of alphaBFKL(20 GeV)=1.65+/-0.07.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Community study of people who live in squalor.

BACKGROUND: The reasons why people live in squalor have been the subject of much debate but little systematic research other than reports of case series from secondary health-care services. We did a study in the community using standardised instruments to investigate the relation between squalor and mental and physical disorders. METHODS: We did a cross-sectional study of the clients of a local-authority special cleaning service. Levels of domestic squalor and self neglect were measured with the living conditions rating scale, and diagnoses of mental disorder were made by use of WHO's schedules for clinical assessment in neuropsychiatry (SCAN). FINDINGS: 91 individuals were eligible for inclusion; 81 from 76 households consented and were interviewed (a response rate of 89%). 41 (51%) were younger than 65 years of age. 57 individuals (70%) were diagnosed as having a mental disorder at interview, as defined by the SCAN, and 21 participants (26%) had a physical health problem which contributed significantly to the unclean state of their living environment. Those with a contributory physical disorder had a lower severity of domestic squalor. People older than 65 years were less likely to have a mental disorder than those younger than 65 years, but a contributory physical disorder was not associated with the presence of active mental disorder. Only 30 (53%) of the 57 individuals with active mental disorder had had any contact with mental-health services in the previous year. INTERPRETATION: People who live in squalor and who receive special cleaning services have high rates of mental disorder, and squalor affects younger as well as older people. Living in squalid conditions in the group was generally associated with a mental or physical disorder, and there were possible deficits in the health care received. The extent to which these disorders might respond to more assertive treatment from health services requires further study, but questions are raised about the adequacy of their current health care.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

NBD-isocolcemid-tubulin interaction: a novel one-step reaction involving no conformational adjustment of reactants.

Isocolcemid, a colcemid analogue in which the positions of the C-ring methoxy and carbonyl are exchanged, is virtually inactive in binding to tubulin and inhibiting the formation of microtubule assembly. We have found that the substitution of a NBD group in the side chain of the B-ring of isocolcemid can reverse the effect of these structural alterations (at the C-ring) and the newly synthesized NBD-isocolcemid restores the lost biological activity. It inhibits microtubule assembly with an IC(50) of 12 microM and competes efficiently with [(3)H]colchicine, for binding to tubulin. NBD-isocolcemid has two binding sites on tubulin; one is characterized by fast binding, whereas the binding to the other site is slow. These two sites are independent and unrelated to each other. Colchicine and its analogues compete with NBD-isocolcemid for the slow site. Association and dissociation rate constants for the fast site, obtained from the stopped-flow measurements, are (7.37 +/- 0. 70) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and 7.82 +/- 2.74 s(-1), respectively. While the interaction of colchicine and its analogues with tubulin involves two steps, NBD-isocolcemid binding to tubulin at the slow site has been found to be a one-step reaction. This is evident from the linear dependence of the observed rate constant (k(obs)) with both NBD-isocolcemid and tubulin concentrations. The interaction of NBD-isocolcemid with tubulin does not involve the conformational change of NBD-isocolcemid, as is evident from the unchanged CD spectra of the drug. The absence of enhanced GTPase activity of tubulin and the native-like protease cleavage pattern of the NBD-isocolcemid-tubulin complex suggest an unaltered conformation of tubulin upon NBD-isocolcemid binding to it as well. Implications of this on the mechanism of polymerization inhibition have been discussed.

4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan↗
PubMed2000

Magnitude and consequences of error in coronary angiography interpretation (the ACRE study).

In the routine reporting of coronary angiograms, there are no contemporary estimates of the magnitude and consequences of interobserver variability. We therefore measured the agreement beyond chance between (1) the number of narrowed arteries on an angiographic report extracted from case notes and independent assessments by 2 cardiologists, and (2) actual patient management over an 18-month follow-up period and each cardiologist's hypothetical management proposal based on abstracted clinical details. Two hundred nine angiograms were randomly selected from 4,121 patients in a prospective study (Appropriateness of Coronary Revascularisation [ACRE study]). The number of narrowed arteries was defined using Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) criteria. For the number of narrowed arteries, cardiologists A and B agreed with the angiographic report in 126 patients (60%, weighted kappa = 0.64) and 124 patients (59%, weighted kappa = 0.63), respectively. In a subset of 92 patients (44%) there was unanimous agreement on the number of narrowed arteries (both cardiologists agreed with the angiographic report). Comparing actual management (34 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and 39 coronary artery bypass grafting procedures on follow-up) with each of the cardiologist's management recommendations showed agreement in 150 patients (72%, kappa = 0.46) and 154 patients (74%, kappa = 0.48) for cardiologists A and B, respectively. These agreements on management improved (p = 0.05) for cardiologist B (but not A) when analysis was confined to the subset of 92 patients, showing agreement in 73 patients (79%, kappa = 0.60). Thus, in routine clinical practice, the agreement beyond chance in interpretation of the number of narrowed arteries was good. Disagreements on subsequent patient management arose as a result of, and independent of, errors in angiographic interpretation.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Chemistry of the rhenium-azopyridine family: an oxo parent and derivatives thereof including a novel oxo-imido dimer.

The concerned azo ligands are 2-(phenylazo)pyridine (HL) and 2-((p-chlorophenyl)azo)pyridine (ClL). The reaction of KReO4 with HL in hot concentrated HCl is attended with metal reduction and ligand chlorination affording the oxo complex ReVOCl3(ClL), 2, which furnishes ReIII(OPPh3)Cl3(ClL), 3, upon treatment with PPh3. Aromatic amines, ArNH2, convert 2 to the imido complex ReV(NAr)Cl3(ClL), 5, and the unusual oxo-imido dimer (ClL)-Cl2(O)ReVOReV(NAr)Cl2(ClL), 7. The complex ReIII(OPPh3)Cl3(HL), 4, has been generated from ReVOCl3(PPh3)2 and HL. Reaction of 4 with HL has yielded ReV(NPh)Cl3(HL), 6, via azo splitting. The complexes have been characterized with the help spectral, magnetic, and X-ray structural data (2, 3, 5c (Ar = pClC6H4) and 7.CH2Cl2 (Ar = pMeC6H4)). In 2, 3, and 5c the ReCl3 fragment is meridionally disposed, and in 7 the ReCl2 fragments have a trans configuration. The Re-O(oxo) bond, 1.663(6) A, in 2 and Re-N(imido) bond, 1.719(5) A, in 5c are triple bonds. The corresponding bonds are slightly longer in 7 wherein the (O)Re(1)-O(2)-Re(2)(NAr) bridge is angular (151.0(5) degrees) and unsymmetrical, the Re(1)-O(2) bond, 1.849(7) A, having a large double-bond character (Re(2)-O(2), 1.954(7) A). In effect, cis-ReVO2 acts as a monodentate oxygen ligand toward ReVNAr in 7. In all cases the pyridine nitrogen binds trans to the oxo, OPPh3, or NAr donor. Bond length data are consistent with the presence of substantial d(Re)-pi*(azo) back-bonding. In acetonitrile solution the complexes display electrochemical one-electron metal (ReVI/ReV or ReIV/ReIII) and azo redox. The imido ligand in 5 stabilizes the ReVI state (E1/2 approximately 1.4 V) better than the oxo ligand in 2 (approximately 1.9 V). Parallely it is more difficult to reduce the azo group in 5 (approximately -0.4 V) than in 2 (approximately 0.0 V). In 7 the metal (approximately 1.0 V) and azo (approximately -0.4 V) couples correspond to the imido and oxo halves, respectively. The significantly higher (by 0.2-0.6 V) metal reduction potentials of the azopyridine compared to pyridine-2-aldimine complexes is ascribed to the superior pi-acidity and electron-withdrawing character of the azo function relative to the aldimine function. This also makes the transfer of the ReVO oxygen function much more facile under azopyridine chelation as in 2. For the same reason, ReOCl3(PPh3)2 reacts with HL affording only 4 while it reacts with pyridine-2-aldimines furnishing oxo species. Crystal data for the complexes are as follows: 2, empirical formula C11H8Cl4N3ORe, crystal system triclinic, space group P1, a = 7.118(4) A, b = 8.537(4) A, c = 13.231(9) A, alpha = 79.16(5) degrees, beta = 78.03(5) degrees, gamma = 70.96(4) degrees, V = 737.2(7) A3, Z = 2; 3, empirical formula C29H23Cl4N3OPRe, crystal system monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 11.264(2) A, b = 15.221(3) A, c = 17.628(4) A, beta = 94.21(3) degrees, V = 3014(1) A3, Z = 4; 5c, empirical formula C17H12Cl5N4Re, crystal system triclinic, space group P1, a = 9.683(3) A, b = 10.898(3) A, c = 11.522(3) A, alpha = 63.67(2) degrees, beta = 71.24(2) degrees, gamma = 86.79(2) degrees, V = 1026(1) A3, Z = 2; 7.CH2Cl2, empirical formula C30H25Cl8N7O2Re2, crystal system triclinic, space group P1, a = 12.522(6) A, b = 12.857(8) A, c = 13.182(7) A, alpha = 67.75(4) degrees, beta = 88.30(4) degrees, gamma = 82.09(4) degrees, V = 1945(2) A3, Z = 2.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Defective DNA repair genes in a primary culture of human renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Genomic stability is maintained by error-free DNA replication, repair, and recombination. To determine if repair genes contribute to genomic instability, we used a newly established cell line RCC-AJR (from clear-cell renal cell carcinoma) to examine hMSH2 (a mismatch-repair gene) and the gene encoding DNA beta polymerase (polbeta; a known contributor to base-excision repair). METHODS: Coding sequences of hMSH2 and polbeta were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using RNA from RCC-AJR cells and matched normal kidney (NK) cells from the same patient. Nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were determined by the dideoxy-DNA method and direct sequencing. Expressions of repair genes were assayed by Western blotting. Microsatellite stability in RCC-AJR cells was assayed by alteration in (CA)n repeats. RESULTS: In the RCC-AJR cells, we detected (a) a deletion of 1476 bp encoding 492 amino acids of hMSH2 cDNA, (b) an 87-bp deletion in the polbeta coding sequence, (c) truncated forms of hMSH2 and polbeta proteins, and (d) microsatellite instability. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of alterations in hMSH2 and polbeta in the homogeneous cell population of an RCC-AJR tumor culture. The data indicate that repair genes may help preserve genomic stability in this cell line. We believe that this new primary RCC-AJR cell line will prove a useful model for investigating the cascade of genetic events in renal cells that leads to renal carcinogenesis.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed2000

Prospective evaluation of logistic regression models for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To test the accuracy of three logistic regression models in diagnosing malignancy in women with adnexal masses. METHODS: This was a prospective collaborative study. Women were recruited from three hospitals and all assessments were performed at the Gynaecology Ultrasound Unit, King's College Hospital. One hundred women with known adnexal masses were examined preoperatively. The demographic, biochemical, and sonographic data recorded for each patient included age, menopausal status, CA 125 levels, ultrasound morphology, and Doppler blood flow analysis. The diagnosis of malignancy was made for each woman using three logistic regression models previously described by Alcazar et al, Tailor et al, and Timmerman et al. Variables used in these models were then combined to form a new model. The results were compared with the final histopathologic diagnosis. RESULTS: Sixty-seven women had benign tumors and 33 had ovarian cancer. Women with malignant tumors were older than those with benign masses. There were significant differences in CA 125 levels, presence of papillary proliferations, and ascites between the two groups. The sensitivities and specificities achieved respectively by the models were as follows: 45% and 93% with Tailor et al's model, 9% and 99% with Alcazar et al's model, and 73% and 91% with Timmerman et al's model. There was no significant improvement over the performance of Timmerman et al's model and the new combined model. CONCLUSION: All models performed less well than originally reported. Combining the models did not lead to a significant improvement in performance. Larger sample sizes that incorporate all types of ovarian tumors are necessary to design more accurate diagnostic models.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Studies into abstract properties of individuals. IV. Emergence In different aged needle primordia of Douglas fir.

Young, middle aged and older Douglas fir needle primordia, as determined by distance from the apical meristem, were measured and analyzed to compare levels and patterns of emergence related to development time. Emergence was seen in the differently aged needle primordia, generally most noticeable in the oldest and the least apparent in the youngest. There was also a negative relationship between variation in size and degree of emergence, and a positive one with variation in organization. The increasing level of emergence that appears with age can be related to the continual expression of information and the concomitant increase in complexity that marks ontogeny and is the result of diverging developmental trajectories. The histogenetic events seen in ontogeny can be interpreted as 'clocks' generating local time through the interactions among cells and tissues that make up the needle primordia. Emergent properties are manifested through the local events that mark ontogeny, and also through the expression of phylogenetic information, or the local expression of global (historical) levels of organization.

Trees↗