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Biomedical subjects

S Mukherjee

Publications and source records attributed to S Mukherjee.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Development of pancellular toxicity in guinea pig lung by ingestion of oleylanilide.

Toxic oil syndrome (TOS), characterized by widespread thromboembolism, vasculotoxicity, and ARDS, develops in humans ingesting denatured edible oils. The mechanism(s) involved in targeted vasculocentric damage in this multi-system disorder is not known. Oleylanilide (OA) was synthesized and fed to male, young adult guinea pigs by gavage for 30 days at doses of 35, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day in groups of six animals each respective to weight. Controls were fed olive oil. Oleylanilide fed animals gained less weight than controls. At the end of experiment, right lungs were inflation fixed in appropriate fixative for histology and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and left lungs were frozen at -70 degrees C for biochemical analyses. The activity of glycerophosphate acyltransferase (GAT) and cholinephosphotransferase (CPT), two key enzymes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis, were decreased in lung due to OA ingestion. All doses of OA induced marked perivascular and peribronchoiolar monocytic infiltrates that often formed prominent nodules; segmental vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and derangement of myocytic polarity, subendothelial foamy infiltrates, and edema; nuclear pyknosis and dropout in vascular and bronchial targetoid myocytes; and denudation of bronchiolar epithelial cells. Alveoli contained large numbers of monocytes, macrophages, red cells, edema, and debris. Transmission electron microscopy showed type I cell cytoplasmic ballooning and disintegration of type I cell; contracted and blebbed endothelial cells, fibrin thrombi in capillaries, intracellular megalamellar bodies in type II cells, and surfactant lamellae; and liposomes and fine granular precipitates within alveoli, and contraction and lift off of bronchiolar epithelial cells. Monocytes, mast cells, and eosinophils infiltrated bronchial walls. Furthermore, there was deposition of electron dense particles on the surface of the alveolar wall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Anilides↗

Decreased adhesiveness and altered cellular distribution of fibronectin in fibroblasts from schizophrenic patients.

Relative to those from normal subjects, cultured skin fibroblasts from schizophrenic patients have been found to show abnormal growth characteristics and morphology. This study compared skin fibroblasts from 10 drug-free schizophrenic patients and 10 normal control subjects on cell adhesiveness to the substratum. Relative to fibroblasts from normal controls, those from patients showed significantly decreased cell adhesiveness, with no overlap in distribution between the groups. Since fibronectin, a major cell surface molecule, is known to be involved in the fibroblast adhesion to substratum, its extracellular and intracellular distribution was determined by immunocytochemical analysis. Both extracellular and intracellular levels of fibronectin were significantly lower, and the distribution was altered in fibroblasts from the patients.

Adult↗

Abnormal growth of cultured skin fibroblasts associated with poor premorbid history in schizophrenic patients.

The relations of abnormal growth of cultured skin fibroblasts, as manifest in prolonged doubling time, and a history of impaired childhood premorbid functioning, separately for social and school (instrumental) functioning were examined in 22 schizophrenic patients. Prolonged doubling time (> 2 weeks) was significantly associated with poorer childhood social functioning, even after controlling for variance due to age, sex, race, and age at onset of illness. Doubling time was not associated with school performance scores. The findings indicate that the cellular or molecular process(es) underlying abnormal growth of skin fibroblasts may be involved in, or associated with, aberrant biological processes that contribute to early dyssocial behavior in schizophrenic patients.

Adult↗

Plasma membrane phospholipid and cholesterol distribution of skin fibroblasts from drug-naive patients at the onset of psychosis.

Contents of plasma membrane major phospholipids, cholesterol, and cholesteryl esters of fibroblasts from drug-naive psychotic patients were compared with those from normal controls. Total membrane lipids were extracted and individual lipids were separated on high-performance thin-layer chromatography. The contents of lipid bands were quantitated by densitometric scanning and comparing with standards. Contents of total phospholipids as well as phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine were significantly lower in fibroblasts from patients than in those from normal controls (P < 0.001, < 0.005, < 0.05 respectively). Total cholesterol fraction and cholesteryl esters were also significantly lower in fibroblasts from patient (P < 0.005, < 0.001 respectively). These changes were not related to differences in age or sex. These data support the hypothesis that schizophrenia is associated with disordered membrane lipid metabolism, and that this predates the onset of psychosis.

Adolescent↗

Serum antibodies to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in schizophrenic patients.

Although elevated serum levels of antibodies to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) have been reported in neuroleptic treated patients with tardive dyskinesia, such antibodies have not been determined in comparable nondyskinetic patients. Using a toxin-binding inhibition assay, we examined serum anti-nAChR antibody levels in 17 DSM-III-R chronic schizophrenic patients, seven of whom had persistent tardive dyskinesia, and 10 normal controls. On the average, anti-nAChR antibody levels were significantly higher in schizophrenic patients than in normal controls, but but not differ between patients with and without tardive dyskinesia and was not related to age, sex, or duration of illness in patients.

Adult↗

Dichotic-listening measures of brain laterality in mania.

Dichotic syllable and complex tone tests were used to compare performance asymmetries in manic patients (n = 35) with normal controls (n = 26) and to determine whether there were changes in laterality with remission of the manic state. Relationships of performance asymmetries to treatment outcome and symptom features were also examined. Compared with normal controls, manic patients showed overall poorer accuracy, particularly for complex tones presented to the left ear, and they failed to show the normal left-ear (right-hemisphere) advantage for complex tones. Abnormal laterality for complex tones was present in patients who later responded to treatment but not in nonresponders. In the euthymic state, patients showed improved left-ear accuracy for complex tones and more normal perceptual asymmetry. These findings suggest that mania is associated with a decrement in right-hemisphere processing of complex tonal information.

Adult↗

The influence of a diagnosed mental impairment on family caregiver strain.

This study examines whether a diagnosis of mental impairment of a care recipient influences the strain of family caregiving. Two competing hypotheses, derived from labeling theory, provide alternative views. One posits that a diagnosis reduces strain by linking problematic characteristics of care recipients' impairment to an illness. The competing hypothesis suggests that a diagnosis increases strain by reifying the existence of a progressive chronic condition. LISREL analysis with data from a sample of 576 primary caregivers shows that the diagnosis has an important effect, but this influence varies for different types of strain. Relationship strain and restrictions in social activities are increased for caregivers of diagnosed care recipients. Functional impairment also causes a greater restriction of social activities when a diagnosis has been made. A different pattern emerges for depression, with caregivers in the diagnosed group being less depressed and less negatively affected by care recipients' impaired ability for social interaction, but more depressed by disruptive behavior and functional impairment.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Minor physical anomalies in schizophrenia.

Using the Waldrop scale, minor physical anomalies were studied in 82 Caucasian subjects, including 41 schizophrenic and 8 bipolar adults, as well as 14 normal and 19 mentally retarded adults. An increased incidence of minor physical anomalies was found in the mentally retarded adults relative to the other groups. Consistent with previous studies, there was a trend for the total mean Waldrop score of the schizophrenic group to be higher than the mean score of the normal group. Minor physical anomalies (assessed by the Waldrop scale), however, appear to be of questionable utility in identifying "congenital" schizophrenia, at least as this putative subgroup of schizophrenia is currently conceptualized.

Adolescent↗

A statistical study on in vivo sorption and desorption of water in ichthyosis vulgaris.

Experiments on the variation of electrical conductance on sorption and desorption of water were performed on the skin of 34 subjects: 17 ichthyosis vulgaris patients and 17 normal subjects, matched for age and gender, under different ambient conditions. An exponential model of the form ft = theta oe theta t, where ft denotes fractional conductance at time t, describes the process of desorption with high accuracy. The parameter theta, identifiable as the rate of desorption, is significantly different between the ichthyotic and normal populations. The study discusses the impaired barrier function of the ichthyotic skin.

Adolescent↗

Mouse-human immunoglobulin G1 chimeric antibodies with activities against Cryptococcus neoformans.

Passive antibody administration is a potentially useful approach for the therapy of human Cryptococcus neoformans infections. To evaluate the efficacy of the human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) constant region against C. neoformans and to construct murine antibody derivatives with reduced immunogenicities and longer half-lives in humans, two mouse-human IgG1 chimeric antibodies were generated from the protective murine monoclonal antibodies 2D10 (IgM) and 18B7 (IgG1). The 2D10 mouse-human IgG1 chimeric antibody (ch2D10) had significantly lower binding affinity than its parent murine antibody (m2D10), presumably because of a loss of avidity contribution on switching from IgM to IgG. The 18B7 mouse-human IgG1 chimeric antibody (ch18B7) had higher affinity for cryptococcal polysaccharide antigen than its parent murine antibody (m18B7). ch18B7 and ch2D10 promoted phagocytosis of C. neoformans by primary human microglial cells and the murine J774.16 macrophage-like cell line. ch18B7 and m18B7 enhanced fungistatic or fungicidal activity of J774.16 cells and prolonged the survival of lethally infected mice. We conclude that the human IgG1 constant chain can be effective in mediating antifungal activity against C. neoformans. ch18B7 or similar antibodies are potential candidates for passive antibody therapy of human cryptococcosis.

Animals↗

Prevalence in Cryptococcus neoformans strains of a polysaccharide epitope which can elicit protective antibodies.

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2H1 binds to an epitope in the capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans that can elicit protective antibodies. The binding of MAb 2H1 to C. neoformans strains was studied by agglutination, immunofluorescence, and phagocytosis assays. The MAb 2H1 epitope was present in all 21 isolates studied, including those recovered from patients with recurrent infections.

Agglutination↗

Monoclonal antibodies to Cryptococcus neoformans capsular polysaccharide modify the course of intravenous infection in mice.

Immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the capsular glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) were studied for their ability to modify the course of intravenous Cryptococcus neoformans infection in mice. A/J mice were given intraperitoneal injection of 1.0 mg of either a GXM-binding IgG1 MAb (2H1 or 2D10 gamma 1) or the irrelevant isotype-matched control MAb 36-65 prior to intravenous infection. Parameters used to study antibody efficacy were lung and brain tissue fungal burden, lung and brain weights, serum GXM levels, and histopathological examination of lung, brain, heart, kidney, and spleen tissues. Mice given GXM-binding MAb had significantly reduced lung tissue fungal burden as measured by CFU. In contrast to the reduction in lung tissue burden, the reduction in brain tissue burden was small and did not achieve statistical significance. Serum GXM levels were reduced in mice receiving GXM-binding MAb. Histopathological examination revealed reduced numbers of granulomas and C. neoformans organisms in the lungs, brains, and kidneys of MAb 2H1-treated mice relative to control mice. The lungs and brains of mice receiving GXM-binding MAb weighed significantly less than those of control animals, consistent with the reduced inflammation noted histologically. Subendocardial inflammation and kidney cortical infarctions were present in control infected mice but not in MAb 2H1-treated mice. Immunocytochemical staining for polysaccharide antigen revealed a marked reduction in the amount of tissue polysaccharide in mice treated with MAb 2H1 relative to control mice. The results support an useful role for passive antibody administration in C. neoformans infections.

Animals↗

Electroconvulsive therapy of acute manic episodes: a review of 50 years' experience.

OBJECTIVE: The most common indication for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is major depression. It is less recognized that ECT is effective also in the treatment of acute mania. This article aims to provide a comprehensive and critical review of the literature on the use of ECT for manic patients. METHOD: All published papers in the English language on the use of ECT in acute mania that could be found were reviewed with regard to efficacy, frequency and number of treatments, bilateral versus unilateral electrode placement, predictors of antimanic response, stability of therapeutic response, cognitive consequences, and other relevant issues. RESULTS: The evidence indicates that ECT is associated with remission or marked clinical improvement in 80% of manic patients and that it is an effective treatment for patients whose manic episodes have responded poorly to pharmacotherapy. Manic patients do not require a high frequency or prolonged course of treatments to respond to ECT. The seizure threshold appears to be lower in manic patients than in depressed patients. The issues of relapse following response to ECT, cognitive consequences of ECT, and the relative merits of unilateral versus bilateral ECT in manic patients require further study. CONCLUSIONS: ECT is an effective and safe treatment for acute mania. Remission of mania following ECT reflects a primary therapeutic effect rather than a secondary consequence of an ECT-induced organic brain syndrome.

Acute Disease↗

Adjunctive trazodone in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined whether adjunctive treatment with trazodone would reduce negative symptomatology in patients with chronic, residual schizophrenia. METHODS: Patients selected for the study had an established clinical diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia with stable symptomatology, an absence of florid psychotic symptons, a stable regimen of neuroleptic medication, and an absence of depressive disorder. Active psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score on the thinking disturbance factor. Negative symptoms were assessed using the BPRS withdrawal retardation factor as well as the affective flattening and alogia subscales from the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms. Forty-nine patients were randomly assigned to either trazodone or placebo in a six-week double-blind trial. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients, 23 men and 24 women with an average age of 60 years, completed the six-week trial. Twenty-six of the patients received trazodone. Adjunctive treatment with trazodone significantly reduced the severity ratings on two of three measures of negative symptoms and did not significantly increase the severity of positive symptoms; however, the magnitude of the therapeutic effect was modest. The scores for negative symptoms were reduced by approximately 10 to 15 percent, and only three of the 26 actively treated patients showed moderate clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Trazodone, used in conjunction with neuroleptics, mildly reduces the severity of negative symptoms in residual schizophrenia and does not exacerbate florid psychosis. The potential benefits of adjunctive trazodone therapy may outweigh the risk of worsening psychosis.

Analysis of Variance↗

Epidemiological studies of blood groups in the district of Bankura with special reference to tribals.

Distribution of ABO blood groups was studied in 4301 subjects, both tribals and non-tribals of the district of Bankura in West Bengal. It was observed that group 'O' blood was found in most cases and group 'AB' was seen in least number of cases. It was also found that there was no significant difference in distribution of blood groups between the tribals and non-tribals.

ABO Blood-Group System↗