Successful treatment of CMV ventriculitis immune reconstitution syndrome.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Biomedical subjects
S K Gupta
Publications and source records attributed to S K Gupta.
Wound healing research: a perspective from India.
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Chronic Disease↗
Iatrogenic calcinosis cutis--a rare differential diagnosis of soft-tissue infection in a neonate: a case report.
This case report describes a rare differential diagnosis of soft-tissue infection in a neonate. Fever, pain, inflammation, and acute tenderness in the limb of a neonate signify acute infection or osteomyelitis unless proved otherwise. Iatrogenic calcinosis cutis presents with similar symptoms and signs; its diagnosis may be easily confused with an infective condition by an unwary orthopaedic surgeon. This report aimed to raise doctors' awareness on the presentation, aetiopathogenesis, and course of the relatively rare iatrogenic calcinosis cutis.
Calcinosis↗
Simultaneous exposure of excess fluoride and calcium deficiency alters VDR, CaR, and calbindin D 9 k mRNA levels in rat duodenal mucosa.
Fluoride ingestion reduces intestinal calcium absorption; its molecular basis has not been studied. We studied the mRNA expression of calcium-sensing receptor (CaR), vitamin D receptor (VDR) and calbindin D 9 k (D 9 k) by northern blot analysis in the duodenal mucosa of rats. Weanling pups fed with chow diet containing adequate calcium (0.5% w/w) and drinking water (NaF < 1 ppm) served as controls (Group I) and were studied at 9 and 15 weeks. The pups, born to rats fed with a calcium-deficient diet (0.03%) and excess fluoride water (NaF 50 ppm), were continued on the same diet and water (Group II) until 9 weeks of age. Subsequently, Group II rats were divided into 4 subgroups; 3 subgroups with fluoride free water [II-A adequate calcium, II-B excess calcium (Ca 2%) and II-D calcium deficient], whereas II-C received fluorinated water and adequate calcium diet until 15 weeks. At 9 weeks, as compared to group-I, group-II had decreased VDR (P < 0.001) and D 9 k mRNA (P < 0.001), whereas CaR mRNA levels increased (P < 0.05). At 15 weeks, as compared to group-I, VDR mRNA further reduced in group II-D (P < 0.001) and II-C (P < 0.001), whereas it increased in group II-A. Removal of fluoride ingestion and calcium replenishment increased D 9 k mRNA expression, maximally in adequate calcium group (P < 0.001), while it was further reduced in group II-C (P < 0.001). CaR expression decreased significantly in all the groups. We conclude that excess fluoride reduces the mRNA levels of VDR and D 9 k in the duodenal mucosa of rats, thereby possibly reducing calcium absorption. Calcium supplementation with simultaneous fluoride removal improves their expression.
Animals↗
A phase II study of gemcitabine and cisplatin in chemotherapy-naive, unresectable gall bladder cancer.
The primary objective of this study was to determine the response rates of the gemcitabine and cisplatin combination in unresectable gall bladder cancer patients. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the toxicity, time to progressive disease, and overall survival. Chemonaïve patients with histologically proven, unresectable bidimensionally measurable gall bladder cancer were enrolled into this study. All patients were required to have a Zubrod's performance status <or=2, no prior radiotherapy, and adequate major organ function. Patients received gemcitabine (1000 mg x m(-2) intravenously over 30-60 min) on days 1 and 8, and cisplatin (70 mg x m(-2) intravenously over 2 h) on day 1, every 21 days. Response assessment was done by a CT scan after every other cycle of chemotherapy. In all, 30 patients were eligible for efficacy and toxicity analysis. There were four (13.3%) complete responders, seven (23.3%) partial responders, and seven (23.3%) with stable disease, with four (13.2%) patients showing disease progression. The median time to progression was 18 weeks (95% confidence interval (CI) 14-24 weeks), and the median duration of response was 13.5 weeks (range 5.5-104 weeks). The median overall survival was 20 weeks (95% CI 14-31 weeks), with 1-year survival rate of 18.6%. WHO grade 3 or 4 anaemia was seen in seven (23.3%) and four (13.3%) patients, respectively. Five (16.6%) patients each experienced grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, and grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was seen in three (10%) and two (6.6%) patients, respectively. The present study shows that gemcitabine/cisplatin combination is well tolerated and active in advanced unresectable gall bladder cancer.
Adult↗
Emblica officinalis causes myocardial adaptation and protects against oxidative stress in ischemic-reperfusion injury in rats.
The fruits of Emblica officinalis (Amla) are widely used in the Indian System of Medicine and are believed to increase defense against disease. In the present study, the effects of chronic oral administration of fresh fruit homogenate of Amla on: (i). myocardial antioxidant system and (ii). oxidative stress induced by ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rat heart were investigated. Fresh amla fruit homogenate, in three different doses (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg) and normal saline (C) were administered orally to Wistar albino rats (120-150 gms) of either sex daily for 30 days. There was reduction in basal myocardial lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, and augmentation of myocardial endogenous antioxidants, like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the treated rats. Hearts were also subjected to in vitro IRI (9 min of global ischemia, followed by 12 min of reperfusion, Langendorff's mode). Significant myocyte injury and rise in myocardial TBARS along with depletion of SOD, catalase, GSH (reduced glutathione) and GPx occurred in the control group. No significant increase in myocardial TBARS and depletion of antioxidant enzymes were observed in the treated groups. Myocyte injury was evident only in 250 mg/kg group. The results indicate that chronic Emblica officinalis administration causes myocardial adaptation by augmenting endogenous antioxidants and protects rat hearts from oxidative stress associated with ischemic-reperfusion injury.
Administration, Oral↗
Cytogenetic effects of leachates from tannery solid waste on the somatic cells of Vicia faba.
The contamination of surface- and groundwater by the leaching of solid wastes generated by industrial activities as a result of water runoff and rainfall is a matter of great concern. The leachates from tannery solid waste (TSW), a major environmental pollutant, were examined for their possible genotoxic effects on the somatic cells of Vicia faba. Leachates were prepared from solid wastes procured from leather-tanning industrial sites, and V. faba seedlings were exposed to three test concentrations, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%, through soil and aqueous media for 5 days. The root tips examined for cytogenetic damage revealed that leachate of TSW significantly inhibited the mitotic index and induced significantly frequent chromosomal and mitotic aberrations (CA/MA) in a dose-dependent manner. The chemical analysis of TSW samples revealed that the chief constituents were chromium and nickel, which may cause genetic abnormalities. The frequency of aberrations was found to be higher in the root meristematic cells of Vicia faba exposed through the aqueous medium than those exposed through the soil medium. The results of the present study indicated that contamination of potable water bodies by leachates of TSW may cause genotoxicity. For the biomonitoring of complex mixtures of toxicants with the V. faba bioassay, the use of the aqueous medium seems to be a more promising method than the use of the soil medium.
Chromosome Aberrations↗
Modulation of flyash-induced genotoxicity in Vicia faba by vermicomposting.
Cytogenetic effects of pre- and postvermicomposted flyash samples were evaluated on the root meristem cells of Vicia faba. Seedlings of V. faba were directly sown in flyash and cow dung-soil mixtures (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) and the lateral roots grown in these test mixtures were sampled at 5 days. Negative control was run parallel in cow dung-soil (CS) mixture alone. One set of flyash-cow dung-soil (FCS) mixture was subjected to vermicomposting by introducing Eisenia foetida species of earthworms for 30 days and the cytogenetic effects were reinvestigated through V. faba root meristems. Chemical analysis carried out prior to vermicomposting revealed high concentrations of heavy metals such as Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Ni in FCS samples. CS samples also showed the presence of these metals. Cytogenetic examinations of root meristems exposed to the FCS mixtures showed significant inhibition of mitotic index (MI), induction of chromosome aberrations (CA), and a significantly increased frequency of mitotic aberrations (MA). The increase of the aberrations was dependent on the flyash concentrations. Roots grown in CS samples also showed chromosomal and MAs; however, the percentage was lower than that observed with FCS and also statistically nonsignificant. Cytogenetic analysis of vermicomposted samples of FCS revealed a 15-45% decline in the aberration frequencies whereas chemical analysis showed a 10-50% decline in the metal concentrations, viz. Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Ni, which indicates E. foetida a potential accumulator of heavy metals and the decline in metal concentrations may be the cause of the decrease in aberration frequencies. The present study indicates the genotoxicity potential of flyash and also the feasibility of vermicomposting for cleanup of metal-contaminated soil to mitigate the toxicity/genotoxicity.
Animals↗
Update on zona pellucida glycoproteins based contraceptive vaccine.
Zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins, due to their critical role in mammalian fertilization, have been proposed as candidate immunogens for development of a contraceptive vaccine. Active immunization studies in a variety of animal species, employing either native or recombinant zona proteins, has established their contraceptive potential. Hence, ZP glycoprotein-based contraceptive vaccines have a very good potential for controlling wild life population. To make it a realistic proposition, additional research inputs are required to develop new potent adjuvants and novel practical strategies for vaccine delivery. The observed ovarian dysfunction, often associated with immunization by ZP glycoproteins, is one of the major obstacles for their application in the control of human population. Ongoing studies to delineate epitopes of ZP glycoproteins that will generate an immune response capable of inhibiting fertility without any untoward effects on ovarian functions will help in determining their feasibility for human use.
Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
Effect of TiO2 on electron paramagnetic resonance, optical transmission and dc conductivity of vanadyl doped sodium borate glasses.
Glass systems with composition xTiO2.(30 - x)Na2O.70B2O3 (series I) and xTiO2.(70 - x)B2O3.30Na2O (series II) containing 2 mol% V2O5 have been prepared (0 < or = x < or = 7, mol%) by normal melt-quenching. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of VO2+ ions have been recorded in the X-band (approximately 9.13 GHz) at room temperature. Spin Hamiltonian parameters, gparallel, gperpendicular, Aparallel, Aperpendicular, the dipolar hyperfine coupling parameter (P) and the Fermi contact interaction parameter (K) have been calculated. The increase in Deltagparallel/Deltagperpendicular with increase in TiO2 content in series I shows that the octahedral symmetry of V4+O6 complex is reduced, whereas in series II the octahedral symmetry is improved with increase in x. The decrease in P, in both the series, indicates that the 3dxy orbit expands with increase in mol% of TiO2. The molecular orbital coefficients, alpha2 and gamma2 have been calculated by recording the optical transmission spectra in the range 500-850 nm. alpha2 and gamma2 increase with increase in x in both the series, which indicates that, the covalency of the vanadium oxygen bonds decreases. The dc conductivity sigma, decreases and activation energy, W increases with increase in TiO2:Na2O ratio whereas with increase in TiO2:B2O3 ratio the variation in sigma and W is within experimental error.
Borates↗
Model for oxygen transfer in rotating biological contactor.
Rotating biological contactor is being widely used for wastewater treatment but there is an apparent lack of knowledge about the rate at which oxygen transfer occurs, in physical and biological system. In this study the transfer of oxygen from air to water by a rotating disc air-liquid contactor in physical system is investigated. The oxygen transfer model suggested by Kim and Molof, Water Sci. Technol. 14 (1982) 569, was modified and the developed model is termed as modified Kim and Molof model. The model was calibrated by using available data in literature and validated by experiments conducted in this study. The effect of significant physical parameters was integrated into a single term and is termed as volume renewal number. The modified Kim and Molof model was compared with the other available models. The coefficient of determination (R(2)) for the modified Kim and Molof model obtained is 0.95 which is much higher than in the other available models. Thereby the model is expected to estimate oxygen transfer more accurately. Further, a simplified linear model between K(L)a and the volume renewal number is proposed. Both modified Kim and Molof and linear model estimate the overall oxygen transfer coefficient (K(L)a) accurately.
Biomass↗
A statistical analysis of particulate data sets for Jawaharlal Nehru Port and surrounding harbour region in India.
The concentrations of total suspended particulate matter (TSP) and particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) were measured at various locations in a Jawaharlal Nehru port and surrounding harbour region. Meteorological data was also collected to establish the correlation with air pollutant concentration. The results are analysed from the standpoint of monthly and seasonal variations, annual trends as well as meteorological effects. The monthly mean concentration of TSP was in the range of 88.2 to 199.3 microg m(-3). The maximum and minimum-recorded value of PM10 was 135.8 and 20.3 microg m(-3), respectively. The annual average concentration of PM10 was 66.1 microg m(-3). There are clear associations between TSP and PM10 data set at all the measured three sites with a correlation coefficient of 0.89, 0.69 and 0.81, respectively. PM10 data appears to be a constant fraction of the TSP data throughout the year, indicating common influences of meteorology and sources. Particle size analysis showed PM10 to be 47% of the total TSP concentration, which is lower than reported for industrial area and traffic junctions in Mumbai. Anthropogenic sources contribute significantly to the PM10 fraction in an industrial region, while contributions from natural sources are more in a port and harbour area. Statistical analysis of air quality data shows that TSP is strongly correlated with wind speed but weakly correlated with temperature. There appears to be a simple inverse relationship between TSP and wind speed data, indicating the dilution and transport by winds.
Air Pollutants↗
Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumours and tumour-like lesions.
In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumours. We have also assessed the various pitfalls of FNAC of soft tissue tumours. This was a retrospective study and here we analysed only 82 histopathology proven cases of FNAC of soft tissue tumours diagnosed in a five and half year period. On histopathological examination, 55 of these cases were malignant and 27 were benign. There was a total of 15 recurrences and histopathology was available prior to FNAC in only eight of these cases. Therefore, excluding these eight cases, malignant tumours were primarily diagnosed by FNAC in 47 cases. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of FNAC in diagnosis of soft tissue tumours were 91.5%, 92.5% and 95.5%, respectively. Only 22 of 47 cases (46.8%) were correctly categorized. There were two false-positive and four false-negative cases. One case each of fibromatosis and schwannoma were reported as sarcoma. False-negative cases were fibrosarcoma (1), malignant nerve sheath tumour (2) and haemangiopericytoma (1). FNAC was very useful in distinguishing benign from malignant soft tissue tumours. However, it was not so effective in exact categorization of tumours.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle↗
Posterior-fossa intra-tumoural abscess: a report of three patients and literature review.
Intraparenchymal posterior fossa neoplasms containing intratumoural abscesses are rare. Intrasellar or parasellar tumours are among the common neoplasms developing such a complication, as the result of direct extension of the microbial flora from the contiguous infected sinuses. All meningiomas reported with such a complication have been located parasagittally. A short series of three posterior fossa tumours, containing intra-tumoural abscesses, are described, of which only one was diagnosed pre-operatively. A haematogenous pathway was considered as the mode of spread in all three patients. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all patients and the features are discussed.
Adult↗
Posterior midline approach for large anterior/anterolateral foramen magnum tumours.
The standard surgical approaches described for excision of anterior or anterolaterally placed foramen magnum (FM) tumours are the far lateral approach, the extreme lateral approach and the transoral approach. In general the posterior midline approach is considered not suitable for these lesions. We have operated on 27 patients with benign anterior/anterolaterally placed FM tumours in the last 8 years. Thirteen of these were operated via the posterior midline approach. All these 13 patients had large or giant tumours displacing the cervicomedullary region posteriorly and laterally. This allowed adequate access through this approach with minimal handling of neural tissue. For small lesions, the far lateral approach was used. Most of the patients improved significantly neurologically. We recommend the standard midline posterior approach for large/giant FM tumours as the tumour size itself provides enough working space for the surgeon. For small lesions, the far lateral approach is preferred.
Adolescent↗
Synonymous codon usage in Lactococcus lactis: mutational bias versus translational selection.
In this study codon usage bias of all experimentally known genes of Lactococcus lactis has been analyzed. Since Lactococcus lactis is an AT rich organism, it is expected to occur A and/or T at the third position of codons and detailed analysis of overall codon usage data indicates that A and/or T ending codons are predominant in this organism. However, multivariate statistical analyses based both on codon count and on relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) detect a large number of genes, which are supposed to be highly expressed are clustered at one end of the first major axis, while majority of the putatively lowly expressed genes are clustered at the other end of the first major axis. It was observed that in the highly expressed genes C and T ending codons are significantly higher than the lowly expressed genes and also it was observed that C ending codons are predominant in the duets of highly expressed genes, whereas the T endings codons are abundant in the quartets. Abundance of C and T ending codons in the highly expressed genes suggest that, besides, compositional biases, translational selection are also operating in shaping the codon usage variation among the genes in this organism as observed in other compositionally skewed organisms. The second major axis generated by correspondence analysis on simple codon counts differentiates the genes into two distinct groups according to their hydrophobicity values, but the same analysis computed with relative synonymous codon usage values could not discriminate the genes according to the hydropathy values. This suggests that amino acid composition exerts constraints on codon usage in this organism. On the other hand the second major axis produced by correspondence analysis on RSCU values differentiates the genes into two groups according to the synonymous codon usage for cysteine residues (rarest amino acids in this organism), which is nothing but a artifactual effect induced by the RSCU values. Other factors such as length of the genes and the positions of the genes in the leading and lagging strand of replication have practically no influence in the codon usage variation among the genes in this organism.
Codon↗
Evolutionary forces in shaping the codon and amino acid usages in Blochmannia floridanus.
Endosymbiotic relationship has great effect on ecological system. Codon and amino acid usages bias of endosymbiotic bacteria Blochmannia floridanus (whose host is an ant Camponotus floridanus) was investigated using experimentally known genes of this organism. Correspondence Analysis on RSCU values show that there exists only one single explanatory major axis that is linked to the strand specific mutational biases. Majority of the genes have a tendency to concentrate on the leading strand, which may be related to the adaptive property related to the replication mechanisms. Amino acid usages were markedly different between the highly and lowly expressed genes in this organism and in particular, GC rich amino acids were found to occur significantly higher in highly expressed genes than the lowly expressed genes. Comparative analyses of the orthologous genes of Escherichia coli and Blochmannia floridanus show that highly expressed genes are significantly more conserved than lowly expressed genes. Based on our results we concluded that strand specific mutational bias is strongly operational in selecting the codon usage in this organism. Replicational-transcriptional selection can be invoked from the presence of majority of highly expressed genes in the leading strand. Conservation of GC rich amino acids in the highly expressed genes to its ancestor is the major source of variation in amino acid usages in the organism. Hydrophobicity of the genes is the second major source in differentiating the genes according to their amino acid usages in this organism.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Investigation on the causes of codon and amino acid usages variation between thermophilic Aquifex aeolicus and mesophilic Bacillus subtilis.
Base composition, codon usages and amino acid usages have been analyzed by taking 529 orthologous sequences of Aquifex aeolicus and Bacillus subtilis, having different optimal growth temperatures. These two bacteria do not have significant difference in overall GC composition, but GC(1+2) and GC3 levels were found to vary significantly. Significant increments in purine content and GC3 composition have been observed in the coding sequences of Aquifex aeolicus than its Bacillus subtilis counterparts. Correspondence analyses on codon and amino acid usages reveal that variation in base composition actually influences their codon and amino acid usages. Two selection pressures acting on the nucleotide level (GC3 and purine enrichment), causes variation in the amino acid usage differently in different protein secondary structures. Our results suggest that adaptation of amino acid usages in coil structure of Aquifex aeolicus proteins is under the control of both purine increment and GC3 composition, whereas the adaptation of the amino acids in the helical region of thermophilic bacteria is strongly influenced by the purine content. Evolutionary perspectives concerning the temperature adaptation of DNA and protein molecules of these two bacteria have been discussed on the basis of these results.
Amino Acids↗