Evaluation of plasma hormone concentrations using Enzyme-Immunoassay/Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay in healthy Indian men: Effect of ethnicity.

The study involved three ethnic groups of India; Rajputs, Gorkhas and South-Indians. Each group consisted of ∼40 healthy, male soldiers between 20-50 years. The reference ranges for cortisol, testosterone, prolactin, arginine vasopressin and proAtrial natriuretic peptide(1-98) were determined using Enzyme-Immunoassay (EIA) while plasma levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, free-triiodothyronine, thyroxine and freethyroxine were measured using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results indicated that plasma hormone concentrations were within physiological range and inter-ethnic differences were most prominent between north- (Rajputs and Gorkhas) and south- Indians. In comparison to Radioimmunoassay, the EIA method for prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free-thyroxine gave higher values while the ELISA method for triiodothyronine, free-triiodothyronine, and thyroxine gave lower values. These differences are due to differences in assay standards and design.

Blood gases, hematology, and renal blood flow during prolonged mountain sojourns at 3500 and 5800 m.

BACKGROUND: This study mainly focused on renal blood flow, hematological parameters, blood gases, and blood pH, which are affected on exposure to moderate (3500 m) and extreme altitudes (5800 m) in sea level residents. HYPOTHESIS: Acute and prolonged exposure to high or extreme altitude may cause pathophysiological changes in kidney and renal plasma/blood flow, leading to retention of fluids in the tissues. Combined with the decreased availability of oxygen to the tissues, these may be responsible for high altitude maladies. METHOD: Fifteen male sea level (SL) volunteers, 22-25 yr old, were studied for blood gases, blood viscosity, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and effective renal blood/plasma flow at Delhi (260 m), 3500 m (60 d stay), 5800 m (70 d stay), and 7 d after return to SL. RESULTS: Compared with SL, a significant increase from 7.34 to 7.43 (p < 0.01) in blood pH was observed at 3500 m that remained significantly increased at 5800 m. PO2 was about 39% less at 5800 m than at SL. PCO2 reduced significantly from 42.07 to 28.05 mm Hg on return from 5800 m to SL. The blood viscosity increased significantly (38%) at 5800 m and decreased significantly by 38% (p < 0.01) after return to SL. The effective renal plasma flow reduced significantly (p < 0.01) from 615.6 at SL to 381.5 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2) at 5800 m. CONCLUSION: The study suggests a crucial role of renal function in the acclimatization process; renal function also appears to be one factor by which the body protects itself against severe hypoxia.

Immunomodulatory effect of laser on whole body exposure.

All biomedical laser applications are based on the interaction of laser light with biological system. During the past decade considerable evidence has accumulated demonstrating that non-thermal exposure to laser can elicit cellular changes in the immune system. In the present study, we have analyzed the effect of laser on immune response in rats. A group of rats were exposed to 0.225 mu j/cm2 for 90 min for 3 days in specially designed fiberglass chambers. The whole body exposure of rats of He-Ne laser modulated both the humoral and cellular responses to tetanus toxoid stimulation. Plain red light used as a control for red laser light showed an appreciable degree of response as compared to the control groups, but not to the extent of the response to laser. Non-responders turned responders after exposure to laser. There was no response in unimmunized groups when exposed to laser and red light alone. The early and heightened immune response and proliferation of lymphocytes after exposure to laser is suggestive of a complex interaction at the cellular immune response level.

An oncogenic role of eIF3e/INT6 in human breast cancer.

Altered expression of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) subunit eIF3e/INT6 has been described in various types of human cancer, but the nature of its involvement in tumorigenesis is not yet clear. Using immunohistochemical analysis of 81 primary breast cancers, we found that high tumor grade correlated significantly with elevated cytoplasmic eIF3e level in epithelial tumor cells. Analysis of protein synthesis after siRNA-mediated knockdown in breast cancer cell lines indicated that eIF3e is not required for bulk translation. Microarray analysis of total and polysomal RNAs nonetheless identified distinct sets of mRNAs regulated either positively or negatively by eIF3e; functional classification of these revealed a marked enrichment of genes involved in cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis. Validated mRNA targets regulated positively at the translational level by eIF3e included urokinase-type plasminogen activator and apoptotic regulator BCL-XL, whereas synthesis of proteins including the mitotic checkpoint component MAD2L1 was negatively regulated. Finally, eIF3e-depleted breast carcinoma cells showed reduced in vitro invasion and proliferation. Taken together, our study data suggest that eIF3e has a positive role in breast cancer progression. It regulates the translation, and in some cases abundance, of mRNAs involved in key aspects of cancer cell biology.

Influence of vanadium on acclimatization of humans to high altitude.

The study was conducted on human volunteers as controls as well as after administration of vanadyl sulphate on induction to high altitude (HA) at 3500 m. The plasma vanadium contents were significantly reduced in the control group on abrupt induction to HA on days 3 and 10, indicating redistribution to other organs/tissues under the stressful situation. In the vanadium salt-treated group, plasma vanadium contents were similar to those obtained at sea-level. Administration of vanadyl sulphate did not act as a diuretic. Moreover the vanadium supplemented group drank more water and also excrete less urine than the control group.