Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S K Garg.
Addition of tomato juice to skimmed milk stimulated the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus. It resulted in higher viable counts, shorter generation time and improved sugar utilization with more acid produced and lower pH for the strains tested. Varying results were obtained for the five strains examined.
Three hundred and fifty seven subjects (178 males and 179 females) with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus were evaluated for the presence of limited joint mobility of the interphalangeal joints. Sixty six subjects (19%) had stage 1 and 26 subjects (7%) had stage 2 involvement of their interphalangeal joints. The presence of contractures was significantly related to mean longitudinal glycated haemoglobin (HbA1) concentrations, duration of diabetes, age of onset, mean longitudinal cholesterol concentrations and blood pressure. Limited joint mobility was also significantly associated with early diabetic retinopathy and raised albumin excretion rates. Limited joint mobility remained a significant factor in the logistic regression model for albuminuria and grade of retinopathy when controlled for smoking, cholesterol concentrations, duration of diabetes, age, gender, and blood pressure. However, limited joint mobility was only significantly associated with diabetic retinopathy when the effect of HbA1 concentrations was included in the multivariate model.
The glutathione reductase activity was estimated in brain and liver of male mice of different age groups fed on butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), propyl gallate (PG) and alpha-tocopherol (TP). A significant increase in glutathione reductase activity was observed with TP during all the phases (pre-reproductive, reproductive and post-reproductive). Antioxidants enhanced the enzyme activity in both the tissues with the exception of BHA in brain during reproductive and PG in liver during pre-reproductive phases respectively. The enhanced reducing potential of the cell in terms of added bioconversion of GSSG to GSH may account for increase in longevity on antioxidant treatment.
Glutathione content increased during the reproductive period and decreased thereafter up to the 43rd day of age in whole body as well as mitochondrial homogenates of ageing Zaprionus paravittiger. However, females exhibited higher levels of glutathione as compared to males. In whole body homogenates, propyl gallate (PG; 25 micrograms/ml) increased the glutathione content significantly up to the 22nd day of life whereas in mitochondria it increased during all age intervals in the two sexes with the exception of the 36th and 43rd day of survival in males. In conclusion, the higher level of glutathione on PG feeding might be one of the factors leading to the prolonged life span of flies.
Disposition kinetics of gentamicin was determined in buffalo calves following repeated parenteral administration of 5 mg/kg body weight. The absorption (t1/2 Ka) and elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) were found to be 0.40 +/- 0.12 and 4.33 +/- 0.39 h, respectively. Statistical comparison of the values of pharmacokinetic determinants generated in this study with the corresponding values following single intramuscular injection at the same dose level as reported earlier by GARG and GARG, 1990, revealed that the consecutive administration of drug influenced the pharmacokinetics profile of gentamicin. Elimination half-life was significantly longer (P < 0.05). Since elimination rate constant value was significantly reduced, the subsequent dosage will have to be reduced particularly if kidney functions are not normal. Otherwise, dosage regimen need not be changed.
The present study deals with the effect of butylated hydroxy anisole, propyl gallate and alpha-tocopherol on ATPase activity of brain and heart in ageing male mice. The activity of both the tissues significantly increased during pre-reproductive and reproductive phases. However, during the post-reproductive phase, ATPase activity of heart increased while that of the brain remained unaltered. The enhanced activity could be attributed to interference by the antioxidants in cellular metabolism and/or their free radical scavenging effect.
Ethanol significantly increased the steady-state peak concentration of propranolol while propranolol significantly reduced the total body clearance of ethanol in healthy human volunteers. Ethanol per se caused tachycardia and rise in systolic blood pressure while propranolol administration resulted in bradycardia. In combinations, ethanol and propranolol caused significant fall in diastolic blood pressure without any significant changes in the heart rate and systolic blood pressure compared to the control readings of four healthy male volunteers. The kinetic and haemodynamic interactions observed between ethanol and propranolol in the preliminary study are of clinical relevance and need further exploration.
Cephalexin was administered im to cow calves at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg bw. After im administration, the disposition kinetics of cephalexin followed a 1-compartment open model. The values of elimination half-life, volume of distribution and total body clearance were 2.00 +/- 0.13 h, 0.32 +/- 0.02 l/kg and 1.899 +/- 0.199 ml/kg/min, respectively. 58.8% of cephalexin administered was recovered in the urine within 24 h. A satisfactory intramuscular dosage regimen of cephalexin in cow calves would be 15 mg/kg administered at 9-h intervals.
The study was undertaken to evaluate immunotoxic effects of cypermethrin administered orally (in ground nut oil) to male albino rats at dose levels (mg/kg) of 0 (control), 5, 10, 20 and 40 once daily for 90 days. Cypermethrin administration produced a significant leucopenia at 40 mg/kg on day 90. A dose dependent decrease (P greater than 0.05) in delayed type hypersensitivity reaction was noticed on day 61 post treatment. Humoral response as evidenced by serum haemagglutinin and haemolysin titres did not show any definite pattern on day 90. However, a significant decrease in spleen weights and significant increase in adrenal weights was recorded in rats receiving the highest test level. Total body weights and liver weights did not show any significant change with any of the dose level studied. Results of the study reveal that low doses (5 and 10 mg/kg) did not have any adverse effect on the immuno-competence of rats.
Oak poisoning occurred in crossbred cattle due to eating immature tender oak (Quercus incana) leaves. Mortality was 70%. The animals exhibited anorexia, severe constipation and brisket edema. The feces were hard, pelleted and coated with blood and mucous. Significant reductions in blood hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and significant elevations in serum bilirubin were observed. Serum urea nitrogen and creatinine were greatly increased. There was bilirubinuria, proteinuria, hypoproteinemia and hypocalcemia, and greatly increased activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. The levels of tannins and condensed tannins were 97.7 mg tannic acid equivalent and 5.8 mg catechin equivalent/g of dry leaves. There was extensive nephro- and hepatotoxicity in the affected cattle due to hydrolysable tannins and simple phenols in the oak leaves.
This pilot project suggested that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may have an effect on delaying or reversing diabetic retinopathy. One patient who had Grade 5 (preproliferative) retinopathy improved to Grade 2 (microaneurysms only) after two years of treatment. Of the 450 patients followed in our eye and kidney clinic, no other patient showed a similar reversal from Grade 5 retinopathy without treatment. Improvement by one or more grades was seen in three other patients with variable grades of retinopathy after a mean of 3.3 years of treatment. Improvement was not related consistently to a decrease in blood pressure (0 of 4), better glycemic control (2 of 4), or reduction in albumin excretion rate (0 of 4). Proper double-blind controlled studies are needed to prove the effect of ACE inhibitors on diabetic microangiopathy of the eye.
The effect of cigarette smoking on diabetic renal and retinal complications was evaluated in 359 young subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of increased albumin excretion rates was 2.8 times higher in smokers than nonsmokers. Mean glycohemoglobin levels and duration of diabetes were also significant factors in the development of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy in a logistic regression model. Smoking remained a significant factor in the logistic regression model for albuminuria (but not retinopathy) when controlled for glycohemoglobin level, duration of diabetes, age, gender, and blood pressure. The progression of albuminuria and of retinopathy was also greater in smokers. Albuminuria improved significantly when subjects ceased smoking. It is concluded that cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor and is associated with the development and progression of early diabetic renal damage (albuminuria) and with the worsening of retinal disease in young subjects with diabetes.
The pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of gentamicin was studied in buffalo calves after a single intramuscular administration (10 mg kg-1). Kinetic determinants were calculated by using a two compartment open model. The absorption (t1/2Ka) and biological half lives (t1/2 beta) were calculated to be 0.43 +/- 0.08 and 3.79 +/- 0.23 h, respectively. The value of the apparent volume of distribution (VdB) was found to be 0.38 +/- 0.07 litre kg-1. The satisfactory intramuscular dosage regimen of gentamicin for buffalo calves would be 3.23 mg kg-1 as priming dose and 2.88 mg kg-1 as maintenance dose to be repeated at 12 hour intervals to achieve and maintain the therapeutic plasma levels within safe limits. Urinary excretion of gentamicin was very rapid during the first 12 hours as 48.07 +/- 1.39 per cent of the total administered dose was excreted unchanged during this period.
The present report describes our experience with 16 adolescents and young adults with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM; Type I) who switched from two injections of insulin per day to the NovolinPen and four insulin injections a day. Their mean age at the initiation of therapy was 19.2 years with a duration of diabetes of 8.9 years. Sixteen random computer-matched (for age, sex, and duration of diabetes) controls who remained on two insulin injections a day were evaluated for comparison. Most subjects were preparing to leave home for college. After a minimum of 1 year of using the pen, the mean weight gain of the test subjects was significantly greater (P less than .05) than for the computer-matched controls. Glycemic control, as monitored by mean HbA1c values, were similar for the NovolinPen and the control groups (10.8 versus 10.9, respectively) after almost 2 years. The main advantage to the pen expressed by the users was a sense of freedom of lifestyle.
To increase knowledge on the predictability of the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM; type I), we followed 38 subjects less than 18 years of age who had positive results on two or more islet-cell antibody tests and one identical twin who had positive results on one islet-cell antibody test. All 39 patients had longitudinal intravenous glucose tolerance tests to determine the first-phase insulin response (FPIR). Insulin dependence has developed in 10 untreated subjects less than 18 years of age. Of the 10 subjects, insulin dependence developed in eight a mean of 4.6 months after their FPIR fell to less than 30 microU/ml and a mean of 14 months after it fell to less than 46 microU/ml. Nine of the untreated subjects had an FPIR less than 67 microU/ml on at least two occasions and became insulin dependent a mean of 19 months after the value first fell below this level (95% confidence limit = 66.4% to 100%). All but one of the 10 subjects in whom IDDM developed initially had islet-cell antibody levels of greater than 80 JDF units. Insulin autoantibody values at onset were available for 9 of the 10 subjects and were positive (greater than 39 nU/ml) in six. We conclude that the combination of positive results on two islet-cell antibody tests and two diminished FPIRs (less than 67 microU/ml) in subjects less than 18 years of age reliably predicts the onset of IDDM. These data should permit intervention studies to be planned.
The association of retinal changes with exercise microalbuminuria and with changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were evaluated in 162 young subjects with insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus. Higher systolic and diastolic BPs at rest or after 10 or 20 min of exercise were significantly associated with more severe retinal changes in the subjects with diabetes compared to controls (P less than 0.02; global ANOVA). The mean (+/- SEM) exercise albumin excretion rate (AER) was 17.6 +/- 3.1 if there was no evidence of retinopathy compared to 81.5 +/- 23.5 when only microaneurysms were detected and 467.1 +/- 133.3 when more severe retinopathy was present. The percentage of subjects with abnormal AERs for these three retinal groups was 13, 30 and 60, respectively. (P less than 0.0001, chi-square test). It is clear that retinal changes relate to early renal changes, as monitored by exercise AERs and changes in resting and exercise BPs. It is concluded that the renal and retinal microvascular changes occur concurrently in young subjects with type 1 diabetes.
The effect of sucrose consumption on glycemic control in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is unclear. Eight young subjects, 7-16 years of age, with a duration of diabetes of 2-8 years participated in this study. All subjects consumed four different breakfasts--oatmeal (OM) alone, oatmeal-sucrose (OMS), oatmeal-protein (OMP), and oatmeal with protein and sucrose (OMPS)--on four different days. Addition of sucrose resulted in a slightly greater area under the tolerance curve in 50% of the subjects; however, in 38% of subjects, the area decreased. The peak glucose level was lowest for OM, but there was no statistical difference in the peak levels of the four test meals. The most significant effect on glucose response was a delay in the peak time when protein was added to the meals. Peak times for OM and OMS (mean of 38 min) when fed alone were significantly (p less than 0.05, ANOVA) shorter when compared to the peak time for OMP and OMPS (mean of 54 min). The average recovery time for OMP was longest. Other indices (tolerance index and change of rise in blood glucose) measured were not significantly different among the test meals. This study demonstrates that adding limited sucrose to OM cereal has little effect on the blood glucose response in children with diabetes. Addition of protein and fat clearly delays the glycemic response.
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