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Biomedical subjects

S Chatterjee

Publications and source records attributed to S Chatterjee.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Physical growth pattern for girls (9-17 yr) from rural West Bengal.

With a view to assessing the growth pattern, a cross-sectional study was made on 656 Indian Bengalee girls (aged 9-17 yr) of the lower and middle class families of rural West Bengal. The mean height and weight of the Bengalee girls were found to gradually increase up to the age of 17. The average age at menarche was 13 yr and the girls aged 13 yr (currently) reached 98 per cent of height and 83 per cent of weight, as compared to 17 yr old girls. The subjects were found to have heights and weights comparable with the American population while they were shorter and lighter than their British counterparts. On comparison with reported figures for girls of other Indian states, all the physical parameters were found to be almost identical at the age of 17 except for girls of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Bengalee girls studied by us were taller than their peers (in an earlier longitudinal study) up to 14 yr of age, but were similar at later ages. Bengalee girls in the present study were shorter and lighter as compared to the Indian norms for girls from higher socio-economic group, but were taller and heavier than those from the low socio-economic groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of grip strength and isomeric endurance between the right and left hands of men and their relationship with age and other physical parameters.

Maximum handgrip strength and endurance of fatiguing isometric handgrip muscle contraction at 40% of maximum voluntary contraction of the dominant hand were assessed separately for both right and left hands of 99 right-handed men aged 7-73 years. Subjects below 10 years (n = 6) could not follow up the endurance test methods and were excluded. The relationship of handgrip strength and endurance with age and other physical parameters was also assessed. Maximum grip strength and endurance of fatiguing submaximal contraction of the right hand were significantly greater than that of the left hand for most age groups. Grip strength was positively correlated with age from 7-19 years (r = 0.94 for right and r = 0.89 for left) and was negatively correlated with age from 20-73 years (r = -0.74 right and r = -0.69 left). Grip strength was positively correlated with the weight (r = 0.86 right and r = 0.87 left), height (r = 0.88 right and r = 0.87 left) and body surface area (r = 0.9 for both) of the subjects. Endurance of contraction of both hands did not show any relationship with age, different physical parameters or grip strength of the subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Effect of vibrating steering on grip strength in heavy vehicle drivers.

The grip strength in both hands of thirty-two heavy vehicle drivers and twenty-two nondrivers ranging from 30 to 60 years of age was investigated. Blood pressure, heart rate and other physical parameters were also investigated. The subjects were drawn at random from the employees of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation and Civil Aviation. Heavy vehicle drivers perform their duties 8 hr per day with an average speed of 60-70 km hour for 4-5 hr of continuous driving at a time. The only significant difference in the physical characteristics of heavy vehicle drivers and nondrivers was their body weight (p less than 0.05). The right and left wrist power of heavy vehicle drivers was respectively 6% and 3% higher than that of nondrivers. The mean blood pressure, heart rate and wrist width were found to be almost same in heavy vehicle drivers and nondrivers. From our studies we concluded that vibrating steering probably has no influence on the grip strength and that performing 8 hr of driving daily does not affect the blood pressure and heart rate in heavy vehicle drivers. However, further studies are needed to determine the influence of vibrating steering on grip strength.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Opinion survey of physicians on ethical issues in medical research.

A total of 3622 physicians registered in the Association of Physicians of India were contacted through mail and requested to respond to a semistructured questionnaire pertaining to different aspects of medical ethics, with particular focus on informed consent. Six hundred twenty-nine physicians (17.4%) responded to the questionnaire; 86% of the respondents reported having had no formal training in medical ethics; 49% of the subjects who undertook research obtained oral consent only. Majority of the respondents noted the relevance of ethics in different medical situations, though in certain areas like community health and research using animals ethical issues were felt to be less important. Patients' inability to come for regular follow-up and illiteracy were opined to be the main constraints in obtaining consent. Opinion on the amount of information to be imported to research participants as part of informed consent was at variance with standard guidelines. Physicians who reported having had an orientation course in medical ethics and those with prior research experience were more aware of ethical issues. Majority of the professionals desired for inclusion of ethics in medical curriculum.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1991

Further insights into the pathophysiology of hyperapobetalipoproteinemia: role of basic proteins I, II, III.

Hyperapobetalipoproteinemia (hyperapoB), a familial lipoprotein disorder characterized by an increase in small, dense, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, is strongly associated with coronary artery disease. There are two metabolic defects in hyperapoB: an increased synthesis of a very-low-density lipoprotein in liver, resulting in an overproduction of LDL, and a delayed clearance of post-prandial triglyceride and free fatty acids. To date, defects in the apolipoprotein B gene do not appear to explain the hyperapoB phenotype. Defect(s) in the uptake or intracellular metabolism of free fatty acids have been found in cells from hyperapoB patients. Three basic proteins (BPs)--BP I (Mr 14,000, pI 9.10), BP II (Mr 27,500, pI 8.48), and BP III (Mr 55,000, pI 8.73)--were isolated from normal human serum. Compared with normal fibroblasts, cultured hyperapoB fibroblasts incubated with BP I, which appears to be the same protein as acylation-stimulating protein (ASP), showed 50% less stimulation of triglyceride acylation and cholesterol esterification, whereas BP II markedly stimulated cholesteryl ester formation, and BP III caused no difference in response vs normal fibroblasts. However, in cultured normal human monocyte macrophages, BP III, but not BP I or BP II, stimulated cholesteryl esterification two- to threefold. BP I, BP II, and BP III may provide new insights into normal metabolism of lipids, lipoproteins, and free fatty acids and the pathophysiology of hyperapoB.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Mechanism of epipodophyllotoxin-induced cell death in poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) synthesis-deficient V79 Chinese hamster cell lines.

Mutant Chinese hamster V79 cells selected for alterations in poly(ADP-ribose) metabolism were shown to be resistant to epipodophyllotoxin (VP-16)-induced cytotoxicity. Cell lines ADPRT 54 and ADPRT 351 have reduced activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. N2, N3, and N4 cell lines grow in the absence of nicotinamide, with total NAD levels 1.5-3% of those found in parental V79 cells grown in complete medium. When grown in complete medium, the mutant cell lines are 2.3- to 9.6-fold resistant to VP-16-induced cytotoxicity. All of the cell lines respond to VP-16 treatment by formation of protein-cross-linked DNA strand breaks. Upon drug removal, all the cell lines reverse the DNA strand breaks at similar rates. Our studies show a clear dissociation between induction of DNA strand breaks and cytotoxicity. However, there is a good correlation between drug-induced sister chromatid exchanges and cytotoxicity. Thus, N3 cells, with low levels of VP-16-induced sister chromatid exchanges, show reduced levels of cytotoxicity relative to parental V79 cells, despite the fact that both cell lines show similar levels of VP-16-induced protein-cross-linked DNA strand breaks. Additional studies show that the time course of VP-16-induced cytotoxicity correlated better with the time course of sister chromatid exchange formation than with protein-cross-linked DNA strand break formation. These studies provide strong support for the proposal that VP-16-induced cytotoxicity involves the induction of sister chromatid exchanges. Thus, we suggest that drug-induced stabilization of topoisomerase II-DNA complexes stimulates induction of sister chromatid exchanges, which consequently lead to cell death.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Expression of HSV-1 glycoproteins in tunicamycin-treated monkey kidney cells.

The role of glycosylation in transport and expression of HSV-1 glycoproteins on the surface of HSV-1-infected African green monkey kidney cells was investigated by using tunicamycin (TM). A concentration of 0.05 microgram/ml of TM inhibited the replication of HSV-1 by greater than 99%. Immunoblot analysis of TM-treated and virus-infected cells indicated that 0.05 microgram/ml of TM blocked the addition of N-linked oligosaccharides into glycoproteins B, C and D. An immunofluorescence assay of TM-treated (0.05 and 0.1 microgram/ml) and virus-infected cells demonstrated the presence of nonglycosylated gC, gD and a reduced amount of gB on the surface of infected cells. The results suggest that the addition of N-linked oligosaccharides on the studied HSV-1 glycoproteins was not necessary for their transport and expression on the virus-infected cell surface.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Glycosphingolipids in patients with the Rett syndrome.

We have pursued two blind studies on the plasma glycosphingolipids in patients with the Rett syndrome (RS), other disorders and normal individuals from Baltimore, USA, Vienna, Austria, and Rostock, East Germany. We found the presence of an unusual glycosphingolipid in 70% of patients with RS. Approximately 10% of the plasma from patients with other developmental disorders also contained this glycosphingolipid. However, this glycosphingolipid was absent from the plasma of normal individuals and lipid storage disorders. Further work in this area will be necessary to associate the relevance of this finding to RS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Individual NK cell clones lyse both tumor cell targets and herpes simplex virus-infected fibroblasts in the absence of interferon.

The target specificity of natural killer (NK) cells for either tumor cells or virus-infected cells has been investigated. Lymphocyte clones with the surface phenotype of NK cells (CD3-, CD16+) were obtained by limiting dilution of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with PHA, Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), or Varicella-Zoster antigens. Clones were maintained in media with recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2). Both NK-sensitive (K562 cells) and NK-resistant (Raji cells) targets were lysed by three cloned lines of NK cells. The ability to lyse NK-resistant target cells was largely lost when the cloned lymphocytes were cultured overnight in the absence of IL-2. Effector cells from all three clones were also capable of specifically lysing HSV-1 infected human fibroblasts in comparison with uninfected fibroblasts. We also showed that lysis of HSV-1 infected targets by NK cloned cells was independent of interferons in the culture system.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Expression of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoproteins in interferon-treated human neuroblastoma cells.

Human alpha interferon (IFN) significantly inhibits the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 in human neuroblastoma cells. This inhibitory effect can be blocked by pretreatment with antiserum to IFN. We observed no significant differences in the expression of major nucleocapsid proteins, including VP5, between IFN-treated and untreated neuroblastoma cells. Electron micrographs demonstrated that there were distinct viral nucleocapsids within IFN-treated neuroblastoma cells. The expression of glycoproteins B and E was significantly reduced in these IFN-treated cells. On the other hand, glycoprotein D, although reduced in quantity, was expressed after IFN treatment. An immunofluorescence assay of the IFN-treated and virus-infected cells detected glycoprotein D in the Golgi complexes and in the nuclear membranes. Our results indicate that human alpha IFN may be useful in the study of gene expression in IFN-treated cells of neuronal origin.

Capsid↗
PubMed1990

Administration of high-dose octreotide (Sandostatin) by continuous subcutaneous infusion for the treatment of acromegaly.

Patients with active acromegaly were treated with octreotide (SMS 201-995, Sandostatin; Sandoz Pharmaceuticals) given in high dosage by continuous subcutaneous administration (CSI). Serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations were rapidly and consistently reduced to the normal range and maintained for up to 14 weeks of study. Maximal inhibition of GH and IGF-1 secretion was obtained at a dose of 600 micrograms/24 h; all except 1 of the 7 patients were able to tolerate a higher dose of 1,600 micrograms/24 h. A single patient failed to show GH suppression at any dosage of octreotide. Computed tomographic evidence of tumour shrinkage was not demonstrated in these 7 patients, although in 2 patients subsequently studied by us definite tumour shrinkage was observed. These data show that the administration of octreotide by CSI is a highly satisfactory method for persistently lowering GH and IGF-1 concentrations in acromegalic patients sensitive to this drug.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1990

Hypersensitivity to clinically useful alkylating agents and radiation in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-deficient cell lines.

Mutant V79 Chinese hamster cell lines, deficient in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity, were previously shown to be significantly resistant to etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, and hypersensitive to camptothecin, a topoisomerase I inhibitor (Chatterjee, S.; Trivedi, D.; Petzold, S.J.; Berler, N.A. Mechanism of epipophyllotoxin-induced cell death in poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) synthesis-deficient V79 Chinese hamster cell lines. Cancer Res. 50:2713-2718, 1990 and Chatterjee, S.; Cheng, M.F.; Trivedi, D.; Petzold, S.J.; Berger, N.A. Camptothecin hypersensitivity in poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase-deficient cell lines. Cancer Commun. 1:389-394; 1990). We have now demonstrated hypersensitivity of these mutant cell lines, designated ADPRT 54 and ADPRT 351, to a variety of antitumor agents including melphalan, BCNU, mitomycin, and bleomycin. They are also hypersensitive to UV- and x-irradiation. These mutants, however, are significantly resistant to the topoisomerase II-targeted DNA intercalators, Adriamycin and m-AMSA. Our results strongly suggest that inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase could be useful to potentiate the cytotoxicity of a variety of currently available antitumor drugs.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed1990

Retino-cephalic vascular malformation.

Unilateral vascular malformation of the retina, brain and parts of the face constitute a rare syndrome named after Wyburn-Mason or as Bonnet-Dechaume-Blanc syndrome. We report this case because of its rarity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Phosphatidylcholine stimulates the activity of UDP-Gal beta 1-4 galactosyltransferase in normal human kidney proximal tumour cells.

Effects of various lipid components of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and serine on the regulation of UDP-Gal-beta 1-4-galactosyltransferase (GalT-2) activity have been investigated in normal proximal tubular (PT) cells. Addition of exogenous serine (0.1-0.75 mM), cholesterol (0-200 micrograms/ml medium), linoleic acid and oleic acid (0.1-0.75 mM) for 4 hr at 37 degrees C did not suppress the activity of GalT-2 in PT cells. Similarly, incubation of cells with glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide (25-50 micrograms/ml medium) did not alter GalT-2 activity in cells as compared to control. In contrast, palmitic acid (0-0.75 mM), phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin (0-200 micrograms/ml) stimulated GalT-2 activity by 20-36% as compared to control. Incubation of PT cells with D-alpha-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (0-200 micrograms/ml medium) also stimulated the activity of GalT-2, maximum stimulation (200%) occurring with 25 micrograms phosphatidylcholine/ml medium. However, at a higher concentration (200 micrograms/ml), the stimulation of the activity of GalT-2 was in the order of 27% compared to control. Dioleylphosphatidylcholine did not alter GalT-2 activity in PT cells. Thus, it is concluded that (i) various lipid components, sphingosine and serine present in LDL are not involved in the LDL-mediated suppression of GalT-2 activity in normal PT cells, and (ii) stringent structural requirements in the phosphatidylcholine molecule are necessary to exert a time and concentration dependent stimulation of GalT-2 activity.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1990

Morphological changes in some endocrine organs in rats following chronic lithium treatment.

Chronic prophylactic administration of lithium, a well-known anti-manic drug, has been reported to have a wide number of potential side effects involving metabolic, reproductive and endocrine systems. Since most of the existing literature reports on biochemical changes, the present investigations were undertaken to examine whether chronic lithium treatment could lead to morphological alterations in various endocrine organs. Sexually adult male Fischer rats, acclimatized to standardized laboratory conditions of light (LD 14:10) and temperature (21-23 degrees C) for 2 weeks, were treated with lithium by feeding a specially prepared chow containing 0.4% lithium chloride. The diet was administered for 15 d to one group and for 30 d to the other after which the animals were decapitated and the thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, testis and seminal vesicles were quickly dissected out and fixed in 10% neutral formalin. After routine histological procedures, 5 microns thick paraffin sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin or Gomori's trichrome stain and examined under light microscope. Definitive morphological alterations were noted in the thyroid gland in that chronic lithium led to significant reduction in the epithelial height of the follicular cells and in an increase in colloidal content, suggesting a hypothyroid condition. Chronic lithium also resulted in decreased epithelial height in the seminal vesicle; the mucosal pseudostratified columnar epithelium regressed to an almost squamous epithelium. No discernible morphological changes were evident in the other endocrine glands studied. These results provide important morphological correlates and support some of the biochemical studies reported earlier on the potential adverse effects of lithium.

Animals↗