Injection artifact on FDG PET imaging.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
A Ali
Publications and source records attributed to A Ali.
Estimation of environmental gamma background radiation levels in Pakistan.
For the purpose of preparing an environmental gamma radiation map of Pakistan, the geological materials exposed in the country were divided into eight different classes. Using average 238U, 232Th, and 40K content of these materials, total absorbed dose rate in these rocks was calculated. The dose rate in the environment ranged from 1 nGy h(-1) to 97 nGy h(-1) with a mean value of 59 nGy h(-1). These data are presented as a dose rate map of Pakistan. This map provides a usable regional picture of environmental gamma background radiation levels excluding cosmic radiation in Pakistan.
Background Radiation↗
Bladder incarceration in a traumatic symphysis pubis diastasis treated with external fixation: a case report and review of the literature.
Fractures of the pelvis constitute a small but significant proportion of skeletal injuries. However, they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, including damage to the urogenital system, especially the urethra and urinary bladder. We report the rare finding of bladder herniation and entrapment after reduction of a traumatic symphyseal diastasis by external fixation and the diagnosis of these injuries with computed tomography. A comprehensive review of the literature is also performed, to improve understanding and provide guidelines for evaluation and treatment of pelvic injuries with suspected bladder involvement.
Adult↗
Antigenicity of deoxyadenosine 5'-monophosphate cross-linked with polyamine.
Deoxyadenosine 5'-monophosphate was cross-linked to spermine using glutaraldehyde as cross-linking reagent. The complex thus obtained was characterized by UV absorption spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography and CD. The complex had a molecular mass of around 10,200 Da. Antibodies were raised against this complex in rabbits and the titre obtained was found to be > 1:3200. The fine specificity of the raised antibodies was checked by competition ELISA. The complex also bound to naturally occurring anti-DNA autoantibodies, suggesting a possible role of the complex in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Animals↗
HSP90 interacts with and regulates the activity of heat shock factor 1 in Xenopus oocytes.
Transcriptional activation of heat shock genes is a reversible and multistep process involving conversion of inactive heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) monomers into heat shock element (HSE)-binding homotrimers, hyperphosphorylation, and further modifications that induce full transcriptional competence. HSF1 is controlled by multiple regulatory mechanisms, including suppression by additional cellular factors, physical interactions with HSP70, and integration into different cellular signaling cascades. However, the signaling mechanisms by which cells respond to stress and control the HSF1 activation-deactivation pathway are not known. Here we demonstrate that HSP90, a cellular chaperone known to regulate several signal transduction molecules and transcription factors, functions in the regulation of HSF1. The existence of HSF1-HSP90 heterocomplexes was shown by coimmunoprecipitation of HSP90 with HSF1 from unshocked and heat-shocked nuclear extracts, recognition of HSF1-HSE complexes in vitro by using HSP90 antibodies (Abs), and recognition of HSF1 in vivo by HSP90 Abs microinjected directly into oocyte nuclei. The functional impact of HSP90-HSF1 interactions was analyzed by using two strategies: direct nuclear injection of HSP90 Abs and treatment of cells with geldanamycin (GA), an agent that specifically blocks the chaperoning activity of HSP90. Both HSP90 Abs and GA delayed the disassembly of HSF1 trimers during recovery from heat shock and specifically inhibited heat-induced transcription from a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter construct under control of the hsp70 promoter. HSP90 Abs activated HSE binding in the absence of heat shock, an effect that could be reversed by subsequent injection of purified HSP90. GA did not activate HSE binding under nonshock conditions but increased the quantity of HSE binding induced by heat shock. On the basis of these findings and the known properties of HSP90, we propose a new regulatory model in which HSP90 participates in modulating HSF1 at different points along the activation-deactivation pathway, influencing the interconversion between monomeric and trimeric conformations as well as transcriptional activation. We also put forth the hypothesis that HSP90 links HSF1 to cellular signaling molecules coordinating the stress response.
Animals↗
Blood tests in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection. Italian Helicobacter pylori Study Group.
There are three main types of blood test available for the management of Helicobacter pylori infection: those that detect an antibody response; tests of the pathophysiological state of the stomach; and those that indicate an active infection. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based kits are the most numerous of the commercially available tests. Originally the kits used crude antigen preparations but many of the newer kits use a more purified antigen preparation giving increased specificity but a lower sensitivity. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the tests can also be affected by the population under test and coexistent disease in the patients. Near patient test kits are based on either latex agglutination or immunochromatography. Generally, they have low sensitivities compared with laboratory tests. Commercial western blotting kits have also been developed and are used to detect the presence of specific virulence markers. The exact role of serology in the management of Helicobacter infection has still to be defined, although there is evidence that, used as a screening procedure, it can reduce endoscopy cost and workload. Gastrin and pepsinogen blood concentrations may provide valuable information on the pathophysiological state of the stomach--for example, the presence of inflammation or gastric atrophy. A combination of serology and serum concentrations of gastrin and pepsinogen may be used effectively to detect serious gastroduodenal disease in patients.
Antibodies, Bacterial↗
Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome.
Persistent müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a rare form of male pseudohermaphroditism. We present 5 cases with PMDS (2 cases associated with testicular malignancy) and discuss the diagnosis and management. Management strategies of PMDS have changed. Whereas in the past, removal of the müllerian remnants was targeted together with orchidopexy or -ectomy, this is no longer recommended. However, testicles that cannot be descended at an early stage are at a high risk of malignancy and should, therefore, be removed. If this is necessary on both sides, there is the additional problem of lifelong testosterone substitution which requires efficient patient monitoring and good patient compliance. In cases where this cannot be achieved, compromises, such as temporarily delayed orchidectomy, may be considered.
Adult↗
SLE autoantibodies binding to native calf thymus DNA brominated in high salt.
Native calf thymus DNA was brominated in high salt to achieve B-->Z conformational transition. Ultraviolet and circular dichroism spectroscopic studies point towards the conformational modification of the native DNA. Specific binding of the monoclonal anti-Z-DNA antibody (Z-22) to the DNA brominated in high salt further confirmed the B-->Z conformational isomerization of native DNA. The role of Z-DNA in the etiopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus has been investigated in the light of the binding of naturally occurring human anti-DNA autoantibodies to the induced Z-DNA.
Animals↗
Recent approaches in insulin delivery.
Insulin remains indispensable in the management of diabetes mellitus since its discovery in 1921. The foreignness of early available porcine and bovine insulin led to the development of human insulin by transpeptidation and biosynthesis in microorganisms. Needle phobia and stress of multiple daily injections led to the investigation and exploitation of all promising routes, ranging from nasal to rectal, by a wide variety of devices and delivery systems. This article describes the development of human insulin, various routes for delivery of insulin (including oral, nasal, buccal, rectal, and pulmonary), and various devices for regulated, safe, and convenient insulin delivery. The article reviews some recent advances in insulin delivery such as the bioresponsive and self-regulated insulin delivery system.
Administration, Inhalation↗
Oesophageal carcinoma in Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa.
A five year review of oesophageal carcinoma in Tikur Anbessa Hospital (TAH), Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine is presented. One hundred and forty two patients representing 32.5% of all gastrointestinal and 13.8% of all malignant tumours were seen in the Department during the study period. The age range was 22 to 88 years with a mean of 54 years. There were 54 females and 88 males. Dysphagia, weight loss and anaemia were the significant features in the majority and 40% of patients presented between four and seven months. Squamous cell cancer accounted for 93% of all histologic types. The middle third was the commonest site of tumour formation (49%) while the lower third accounted for 44%. An operability rate of 56% is recorded but only 24% were suitable for oesophagectomy. The post operative mortality was 28%. The commonest causes of death were sepsis secondary to anastomotic leak and pneumonia. Follow up was possible only for three months for eleven patients and seven months for seven patients. The rest could not be traced. It is difficult not to implicate the commonly used dietary ingredients in the causation of this tumour.
Adult↗
Leishmaniasis in the middle course of the Ethiopian Rift Valley: I. Clinical and leishmanin skin test surveys.
A clinico-epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was undertaken involving 1,809 residents of ten representative villages from Zeway-Langano, Wajifo-Mirab-Abaya and Blate-Dimtu areas in the middle course of the Ethiopian Rift Valley from November 1994 to June 1996. Community prevalence of positive leishmanin skin test (LST) was very low ranging from 5% in Olge village to 0% in Kello-Langano area. Sera collected from 57 clinical VL suspects originating from the different villages tested negative for anti-leishmanial antibodies. The rate of splenomegaly ranged from 5% in Kello-Langano area to as high as 80% in Korga village. Furthermore, the frequency and size of splenomegaly was related to the reported past and recent history of attack(s) of malaria. The low community prevalence of LST suggests minimal transmission of leishmania infections in spite of the knowledge of the presence of the sandfly vectors of CL and VL in the area. However, with increasing villagization and agricultural development activities, the potential risk for the establishment of VL and/or CL as endemic diseases can not be excluded.
Adolescent↗
Study of efficacy and tolerance of ketoprofen and diclofenac sodium in the treatment of acute rheumatic and traumatic conditions.
A comparative, multi-centre study, was conducted during June to December, 1996 to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of Ketoprofen 100 mg Enteric Coated (EC) tablet and 100 mg intra-muscular injection; with that of Diclofenac Sodium 50 mg tablet and 75 mg intra-muscular injection in acute rheumatic and traumatic disorders. Total of 180 patients (90 per drug), were studied, 82 men and 98 women, between the ages of 18 and 75 years. The symptoms and the number of patients were backache 50, arthritis 64, frozen shoulder 32 and sprains 34. Pain was qualitatively assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), XY pain index, pain at mobilization and the level of pain handicap. For pain (VAS 75-100) the treatment was initiated with an injectable bid, followed by tablets bid or tid. If the pain score on VAS was less than 75, tablets were given in a bid dosage. The duration of treatment was 15 days in each case. The overall complete relief of symptoms occurred in 25% (23/90) patients with Ketoprofen and in 10% (9/90) diclofenac sodium. Moderate to mild relief was found in 75% (67/90) cases with Ketoprofen and 87% (78/90) with diclofenac sodium. No pain relief was seen in 3% (3/90) with diclofenac sodium, as against no failure in pain relief in the ketoprofen group. Tolerance was found as excellent-good for ketoprofen in 72% (65/90) with diclofenac sodium in 50%, moderate to poor for ketoprofen in 28% (35/90) and with diclofenac sodium in 50% (45/90). Our results indicate that ketoprofen compared to diclofenac sodium is efficacious in acute rheumatic and traumatic injuries. Ketoprofen injection, compared to diclofenac sodium was found to be more effective in providing analgesia.
Adolescent↗
Resistance pattern of clinical isolates from cases of chronic ear infection II.
During present study hundred clinical isolates from cases of ear infection were tested from local population for resistance pattern, using eleven different antibiotics. A considerable percentage of isolates causing ear infection was resistant to number of antimicrobial drugs. The percentages of organisms isolated from ear infection are Pseudomonas aeruginosa (50%), Proteus species (16%), Staphylococcus aureus (15%), Klebsiella species (13%) and Escherichia coli (6%).
Journal Article↗
Toxicity of a phenyl pyrazole insecticide, fipronil, to mosquito and chironomid midge larvae in the laboratory.
Toxicity of a phenyl pyrazole insecticide, fipronil, to 4th-instar larvae of 6 species of colonized mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. taeniorhynchus, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Culex nigripalpus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus) and 2 species of field-collected chironomid midges (Chironomus crassicaudatus and Glyptotendipes paripes) was evaluated in the laboratory. All mosquito species were highly susceptible with 48-h median lethal concentration (LC50) values ranging from 0.00043 ppm (Ae. taeniorhynchus and An. quadrimaculatus) to 0.023 ppm (Ae. albopictus). Chironomus crassicaudatus and G. paripes also were extremely susceptible (48-h LC50 of both species: 0.00042 ppm) to fipronil. Larval mortality checks of Ae. taeniorhynchus, Cx. nigripalpus, and G. paripes at 24 h and again at 48 h posttreatment revealed delayed activity of this compound against these species. First-instar larvae of Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus were significantly (P < 0.01) more susceptible to fipronil than the 4th-instar larvae of these mosquito species.
Aedes↗
Using fast sequential asymmetric fanbeam transmission CT for attenuation correction of cardiac SPECT imaging.
UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a fast (short-duration) transmission computed tomogram (TCT), acquired immediately before or after the emission CT, to correct for photon attenuation in cardiac SPECT. METHODS: The asymmetric fanbeam geometry with a 99mTc line source was used to acquire TCTs after conventional cardiac emission CT imaging on a triple-head SPECT system. The TCTs were reconstructed to generate patient-specific attenuation maps, which were used with an iterative maximum likelihood algorithm to reconstruct attenuation-corrected cardiac SPECT studies. The results of attenuation correction based on TCTs as short as 1 min were compared with long-duration transmission imaging for a phantom and several human studies. RESULTS: Attenuation correction based on asymmetric fanbeam TCT significantly improves the uniformity of images of a uniform tracer distribution in a cardiac-thorax phantom configured to simulate a large patient. By using a high-activity line source and a rapid camera rotation, a suitable attenuation map for this phantom can be obtained from a 4-min TCT. A similar result is obtained for patients with thorax widths of <40 cm. CONCLUSION: A sequential imaging protocol for acquiring a fast TCT can be used for attenuation correction of cardiac SPECT imaging. The sequential TCT can be acquired without significantly extending the duration of the imaging study. This method provides a way to perform attenuation correction on existing triple-head SPECT systems without extensively modifying the system.
Adult↗
Cancer of the lower gastrointestinal tract: a five year experience in Ethiopia.
To provide the pattern and outcome, 131 patients admitted to Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Department of Surgery, between 1992 and 1996 with a diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal tract (colo-anorectal and small bowel) cancer were analysed. Lower gastrointestinal tract cancer accounted for 30% of all gastrointestinal tract malignancies, excluding hepatic cancer, seen in the Department during the study period. The female to male ratio was 1.0:1.8. The mean age was 47.1 +/- 15.7 (range 17-85) years. Among the 131 cases, 52.7% and 16% were under 50 and 30 years of age, respectively. The mean duration of symptoms on admission was 11.2 +/- 8.9 (range 0.2-43) months. The most frequent clinical features included weight loss (93%), pain (86%), rectal bleeding (79%), tenesmus (74%) and anorectal lesion (62%). Adenocarcinoma accounted for 92% of the pathology. Among 94 surgically staged cases, 63 had Dukes' C and D lesions. The most common site of primary tumours was the rectum (61.1%). Ninety per cent of the cases were operable and of these, 63 had resections with curative intent. Twenty patients refused surgery. There were fifteen postoperative hospital-stay deaths. The mean follow up was 5.7 +/- 3.1 (range 0.2-48) months. Cancer of the lower gastointestinal tract seemed to occur in rather younger age and diagnosis was late.
Adolescent↗
Informed consent. British institutions collaborating in projects overseas may face dilemma.
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Developing Countries↗
Distinct stress-inducible and developmentally regulated heat shock transcription factors in Xenopus oocytes.
The presence of a maternal pool of heat shock factor (HSF) in Xenopus oocytes has been suggested by two lines of evidence from previous studies. First, heat shock response element (HSE)-binding activity is induced in heat-shocked eggs and embryos prior to expression of zygotic HSF. Second, expression from microinjected heat shock protein promoters in oocytes is induced upon heat shock. To date, however, endogenous oocyte HSF molecules have not been detected, nor has induction of HSE-binding activity been directly demonstrated. Here we report the detection of distinct stress-inducible and developmentally regulated HSE-binding activities of endogenous oocyte factors. Exposure of defolliculated oocytes to heat, cadmium, and arsenite resulted in the formation of an HSE-specific complex detectable by gel mobility shift assay. Induction of HSE-binding activity by each of these stressors corresponded to increased expression from a microinjected hsp70 promoter. The stress-inducible HSE-binding complex was recognized by antiserum against mammalian HSF1, but not by HSF2 antiserum, suggesting that a Xenopus homologue of HSF1 is the major component of this activity. The HSE-binding activity of HSF1 was induced by stress treatments of stage I through VI oocytes, an indication that it is responsive to stress throughout oogenesis. During recovery from heat shock, the HSF1-HSE complex rapidly declined to control levels, but was induced for prolonged periods in oocytes exposed to continuous stress, a pattern unlike the transient activation previously observed in fertilized eggs or embryos. The kinetics of HSF1 activation in oocytes suggests that a key protein(s) regulating attenuation of the stress response is present at exceedingly low levels or is somehow modified during preembryonic development. We also detected an unusual constitutive HSE-binding complex in unstressed stage I and II oocytes, but not in later stage oocytes, eggs, developing embryos, or A6 cells. This constitutive complex was unaffected by heat or chemical treatments and was not recognized by either HSF1 or HSF2 antiserum. Appearance of the constitutive HSE-binding activity during oogenesis corresponded closely with peak levels of hsp70 mRNA detected by Northern blot analysis of RNA from staged oocytes. We suggest that the constitutive HSE-binding activity in early oocytes is formed by a unique developmentally regulated heat shock factor that may play a role in the expression of heat shock proteins during early stages of oogenesis.
Animals↗