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Biomedical subjects

V Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to V Gupta.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Spontaneous induction of malignancy in mouse cells by a human small cell lung cancer implanted in nude mice.

This report provides evidence for spontaneous transfer of human tumor DNA in vivo to mouse cells by a human small cell lung cancer implanted in nude mice. The transformation of the mouse cells was characterized by the presence of neurosecretory granules, which are hallmarks of small cell lung cancer. The carcinogenicity of the human xenografted tumor DNA was confirmed by transfecting NIH3T3 cells in vitro, suggesting that the human tumor DNA may have been the cause of the transformation of the mouse cells in vivo. The spontaneous induction of malignancy in mouse cells in vivo by human tumor DNA may be a factor of potential importance in tumor cell heterogeneity and propagation of the malignant state for some tumors. The observations support the thesis that some human cancer cells can transform normal cells to become malignant in vivo.

Animals↗

Value of serum prolactin in differentiating epilepsy from pseudoseizure.

We studied the serum prolactin levels in 35 cases with various types of seizures viz. generalized tonicolonic seizures (GTC), complex partial seizures (CPS), and simple partial seizures (SPS). We also studied 20 cases with pseudoseizure (hysteria) presenting in an epileptiform manner. Twenty two normal healthy subjects were also studied. All the cases were studied both in the postictal and interictal periods. Serum prolactin rose significantly in the postictal periods in patients with GTC and CPS, but patients with SPS or pseudoseizure did not demonstrate this rise. Thus serum prolactin estimation can be of help in differentiating true generalized seizures from pseudoseizure presenting in an epileptiform manner.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Physical growth characteristics in rural adolescent girls of Varanasi.

Four hundred and twenty one rural girls of Varanasi in the age group 8.5-14 years were followed up for assessment of their physical growth characteristics. The observed gain in height was 15.93 cm; in weight 9.80 kg and in sitting height 7.92 cm during the age interval of 10-14 years. In the same period the biacromial and the bicristal diameters showed a gain of 5.26 and 4.20 cm, respectively. The maximum increase in these parameters was observed after 13 years of age indicating the onset of the growth spurt. The chest and the mid-arm circumference increased by 14.70 and 3.02 cm, respectively during this period. There was no rapid increase in these parameters upto 14 years of age. The head circumference showed only a modest increase of 2.22 cm. It is concluded that the rural girls have a delayed and slower gain in physical growth characteristics than urban well-to-do girls.

Adolescent↗

Glutathione and glutathione S-transferases in a human plasma cell line resistant to melphalan.

We report the development of a melphalan-resistant HS-Sultan human plasma cell line. The melphalan-resistant [MEL(R)] cell line was 16.7-fold more resistant to melphalan in vitro than the parent cell line [MEL(S)]. The wild type and MEL(R) HS-Sultan cell lines formed localized plasmacytomas when injected into nude mice. A dose-response effect of melphalan against the drug-sensitive plasmacytomas was present in vivo. A dose of 10 mg/kg of melphalan, which caused a 90% regression of MEL(S) plasmacytomas, had no effect on the MEL(R) plasmacytomas in vivo. In contrast to previous reports, there was no increase in the levels of glutathione (GSH) in the MEL(S) and MEL(R) plasmacytomas, suggesting that the association of elevated glutathione levels and melphalan resistance may not be common to all drug-resistant lines. In the MEL(R) plasmacytomas, there was a 1.5-fold induction of a pi type glutathione S-transferase (GST) as evidenced by isoelectric focusing (IEF) and Western blotting. This GST isoenzyme was purified and, although immunochemically similar to the pi type isoenzymes induced in other drug-resistant cell lines, was noted to have different functional characteristics. These data suggest that, depending on cell type and the drug studied, functionally different GST isoenzymes may be induced and they could be of importance in the development of drug resistance.

Animals↗

Effect of aspartame on plasma amino acid profiles of diabetic patients with chronic renal failure.

A randomized, double-blind study was conducted to determine the possible effects of aspartame on the plasma amino acid profiles of 23 diabetic patients with renal failure who were undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Subjects were given a single dose of 10 mg aspartame/kg (approximately equivalent to 25 packets of Equal [NutraSweet Consumer Products, Inc, Chicago, IL] or the amount of phenylalanine in a 300-mL glass of milk) or a placebo in a crossover study design. Three postdialysis blood samples were drawn just before and 1 and 2 h after aspartame or placebo consumption. After aspartame consumption statistically significant increases in only two amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine, were noted at 1 and 2 h when compared with placebo values. The increases in phenylalanine were within the normal postprandial range for healthy subjects; no other increases in essential or nonessential amino acids, except for tyrosine, were detected. This study supports the view that aspartame is safe for diabetic subjects with chronic renal failure.

Amino Acids↗

Differential secretion of stimulatory-inhibitory CFU-GM activity by stromal cells from different compartments of mouse bone femur.

We have recently reported the beneficial effect of low oxygen concentration on the growth of fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-F) isolated from the shaft of the femur (fraction 1), the endosteum (fraction 2), and the compact bone (fraction 3). We now report that the conditioned medium obtained from the CFU-F in the same experiments exhibited stimulatory activity from the compact bone while expressing inhibitory activity from the femoral shaft and endosteum for granulocyte-macrophage CFU (CFU-GM). These data support the presence of a spatial regulatory role for fibroblast-like cells within compartments of mouse bone for CFU-GM.

Animals↗

Leprosy survey in industries in Bombay.

Population surveys for leprosy in industrial cities like Bombay revealed that about 60% of adult subjects especially males could be examined. The fact that the prevalence rate of leprosy particularly multibacillary type is much higher in this segment of population as compared to other groups indicates the importance of examining this population at their workspot like industries. 22287 industrial workers were examined for leprosy by paramedical auxiliaries in their establishments and 270 leprosy cases were detected (P.R. 12/1000). However, only 13 multibacillary cases (P.R. 0.5/1000) could be unearthed. 12 patients were with grade II and above. 184 (83%) were untreated. 161 (60%) patients reported for treatment. With available resources, case holding of patients who are not within the control area of the project becomes a challenging job for paramedical workers though large number of leprosy cases are detected amongst industrial workers. If industrial management arranges treatment for leprosy patients without dislocating them from their service, the pool of infection in the urban community will be reduced and can contribute tremendously towards urban leprosy control programme.

Humans↗

Effects of bombesin on growth of human small cell lung carcinoma in vivo.

Bombesin-like peptides are found in many different human tumors and are thought to function as an autocrine growth factor for small cell lung cancer in humans. In this study, a human small cell lung carcinoma (NCI-H69) was s.c. implanted bilaterally into the flanks of 12 nude mice. The mice were randomized and divided into two groups and given either bombesin (20 micrograms/kg) or saline i.p. 3 times a day. Tumor areas were measured twice weekly for 6 wk. At sacrifice, the tumors and normal pancreas were excised, weighed, and assayed for DNA, RNA, and protein content. Significant stimulation of tumor growth was observed at weeks 4, 5, and 6. Tumor weight at sacrifice was significantly elevated (77%) above the control, as was DNA content (78%). Bombesin significantly increased the weight (42%), DNA (48%), and protein (61%) contents of the normal mouse pancreas. We conclude that bombesin may act as an autocrine growth factor, or indirectly through the release of other growth factors, on human small cell lung carcinoma.

Animals↗

Expression of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in human small cell lung cancer cell lines.

A glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzyme having common antigenicity to rat placental form (GST-P) and human placental form (GST-pi) has recently been suggested may be a marker of carcinogenesis. In the present study we have investigated the expression of this isoenzyme in three small cell lung cancer cell lines in order to determine whether or not this isoenzyme can be used as a general marker of carcinogenesis. GST activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in two of the cell lines (NES and NOC-361) was moderately higher than that in normal human lung, but this activity was markedly suppressed in one of the cell lines (NCI-H69). Quantitation of the GST isoenzymes in the tumors grown in nude mice by injecting these cell lines also revealed a moderate increase of GST-pi-type isoenzyme in NES and NOC-361 and its suppression in NCI-H69. Immunocytochemical localization studies with these tumors using antibodies raised against GST-pi also indicated a drastic decrease of GST-pi-type isoenzyme in NCI-H69 and this finding was confirmed by Western blot studies. These results suggest that GST-pi, or the isoenzyme(s) having similar immunological nature to GST-pi, cannot be used as the general markers of neoplastic states.

Animals↗

Enhancement of radiation sensitivity by postirradiation hypoxia: time course and oxygen concentration dependency.

We have recently demonstrated that postirradiation hypoxia during colony formation in vitro enhanced the radiation sensitivity of murine tumor cells irradiated and maintained at 0.1% O2. The effect of postirradiation hypoxia was expressed by a significant reduction in the oxygen enhancement ratio. We now demonstrate that this enhancement of radiation sensitivity by postirradiation hypoxia is also observed in a human tumor cell line. The effect was observed at [O2] less than or equal to 0.1%, but was not present at [O2] greater than or equal to 0.5%. Time-course experiments suggested that this enhancement of cell killing by X rays required prolonged exposure to hypoxic conditions.

Animals↗