Secondary abdominal pregnancy associated with uterine fibroid.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
A H Ahmed
Publications and source records attributed to A H Ahmed.
A longitudinal study of schistosome intermediate host snail populations and their trematode infection in certain areas of Egypt.
Seasonal variation of Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus populations and their infection rates with schistosome and other trematode cercariae were studied longitudinally in four water courses located in Giza and Faiyoum Governorates. Abundance of both species varied from year to year and according to the type of habitat. The mean prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni in Biomphalaria was 0.29%, that of S. haematobium in Bulinus was 1.36%. Seasonal variations of age structure of the 2 vector snails were monitored throughout the survey period. Infection rates with schistosome and other trematodes among Bulinus and Biomphalaria increased with the increase in snail size. Data suggest the occurrence of an antagonistic interaction between schistosome and non-human cercariae, especially echinostome, in infected snails.
Animals↗
Screening for amyloid in subcutaneous fat tissue of Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis: clinical and laboratory characteristics.
OBJECTIVE: To screen for amyloid and to assess associated clinical and laboratory characteristics in Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Abdominal subcutaneous fat aspirates were consecutively collected from 112 patients (103 women, nine men) having RA for five years or more. To detect amyloid, fat smears were stained with Congo red and the concentration of amyloid A protein in fat tissue was measured. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics of the patients were assessed. RESULTS: Amyloid was detected in eight (7%) of the fat smears stained with Congo red. Compared with the Congo red stain, the sensitivity for detecting amyloid by measurement of amyloid A protein in fat tissue was 75% and the specificity was 100%. The amount of amyloid found was small for both methods. The median disease duration of the eight amyloid patients was significantly longer (17 years) than that of the non-amyloid patients (10 years). Bronchopulmonary disease and constipation were more common, whereas proteinuria and chronic renal insufficiency were not. The number of swollen joints and the number of red blood cells were significantly lower in the amyloid group. CONCLUSIONS: Quantification of amyloid A protein and staining with Congo red are strongly concordant methods of screening for amyloid in fat tissue. The prevalence of amyloid in Egyptian patients with RA is 7%. Proteinuria is not a discriminating feature, whereas long disease duration, constipation, bronchopulmonary symptoms, and a moderate to low number of red blood cells may help to identify the arthritic patients with amyloid.
Adipose Tissue↗
Abdominal trauma due to road traffic accidents in Qatar.
OBJECTIVES: To measure the incidence and severity of abdominal trauma due to road traffic accidents (RTA) in Qatar. PATIENT AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients admitted with documented abdominal trauma to the only acute General Hospital in the state of Qatar in the period 1991-1995. RESULTS: In the 5-year period, 3744 patients were admitted following an RTA. Of these, 667 (17.8%) were admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) and 84 patients had abdominal injuries, constituting 0.45% of total number and 12.6% of patients admitted to SICU. Twenty-one (25%) of patients with abdominal trauma died. However, only nine patients died from the abdominal injury. Eight patients died due to hepatic injury and one patient due to splenic injury.
Abdominal Injuries↗
Studies on the molluscicidal and larvicidal properties of Solanum nigrum L. leaves ethanol extract.
Toxicological studies on three ethanol extract preparations of Solanum nigrum L. leaves were made on Biomphalaria alexandrina. Extract (A), made by soaking leaves powder over night in cold 70% ethanol, has the highest activity, (LC50 3.37 mg/L within 24 hr). This extract also showed larvicidal activity against larvae of two mosquito species, Aedes caspius and Culex pipiens, (LC50 51.29 and 125.89 mg/L within 24 hr, and 21.38 and 38.11 mg/L within 48 hr, respectively). Sunlight, pH, and turbidity did not affect the activity of this extract, but the molluscicidal activity seems to be correlated with the increase of temperature. The concentrated extract (1000 mg/L) can be stored at room temperature for six months without any change in its activity, but diluted solutions of this extract lost their activity after four weeks.
Aedes↗
Infection of two lymnaeid snails with Fasciola gigantica in Giza, a field study.
Population density of Lymnaea natalensis and L. columella and their natural infection with Fasciola gigantica were followed in two water bodies in Abu Rawash area, Giza Governorate over two years. L. natalensis snails were more abundant during December-February, while L. columella snails had high density during autumn. According to the snail size, we found that the reproduction of the two vector snails occurred in summer and early autumn. Fasciola was present in 0.6 and 2.0% of the examined L. natalensis and L. columella snails respectively. A high prevalence of F. gigantica in L. columella snails occurred in summer and early autumn, while their presence in L. natalensis was irregular. Naturally infected Lymnaea snails, with Fasciola, are usually of large size (> 10mm) of a given population sample. Other three types of trematode cercariae were found in both snail species; Xiphidiocercariae, Echinostomes and Amphistomes.
Animals↗
Randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial on effect of inactivated influenza vaccine on pulmonary function in asthma.
BACKGROUND: Despite current recommendations, many people with asthma do not receive annual vaccination against influenza, partly because of concern that vaccine may trigger exacerbations. Colds can trigger exacerbations, which may be mistaken for vaccine-related adverse events. We undertook a double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre crossover study to assess the safety of influenza vaccine in patients with asthma, with allowance for the occurrence of colds. METHODS: We studied 262 patients, aged 18-75 years, who recorded daily peak expiratory flow (PEF), respiratory symptoms, medication, medical consultations, and hospital admissions for 2 weeks before the first injection and until 2 weeks after the second injection. Order of injection (vaccine and placebo) was assigned randomly. There was an interval of 2 weeks between injections. The main outcome measure was an exacerbation of asthma within 72 h of injection (defined as a fall in PEF of >20%). FINDINGS: Among 255 participants with paired data, 11 recorded a fall in PEF of more than 20% after vaccine compared with three after placebo (McNemar's test p=0.06); a fall of more than 30% was recorded by eight after vaccine compared with none after placebo (binomial test p=0.008). However, when participants with colds were excluded, there was no significant difference in the numbers with falls of more than 20% between vaccine and placebo (six vs three; binomial test p=0.51), although the difference for PEF decreases of more than 30% approached significance (five vs none; binomial test, p=0.06). This association was confined to first-time vaccinees. INTERPRETATION: Our findings indicate that pulmonary-function abnormalities may occur as a complication of influenza vaccination. However, the risk of pulmonary complications is very small and outweighed by the benefits of vaccination.
Adult↗
Primary repair of whole-shaft epispadias with cleft glans penis in a 30-year-old man.
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Adult↗
Rheumatic manifestations and immunological abnormalities in patients with chronic hepatitis C. A study in the Middle East.
Hepatitis C virus infection and rheumatic disorders are both common in the Middle East and share many clinical and immunological manifestations, raising diagnostic problems. We compared the prevalence of extrahepatic clinical manifestations and immunological disorders in 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C and in 42 carefully matched healthy controls. Polyarthralgia or polyarthritis was the most common rheumatic manifestation (35%) in the cases, followed by cutaneous vasculitis (15%). Glomerulonephritis and xerophthalmia were uncommon, and none of the cases had systemic vasculitis. Immunological abnormalities included serum rheumatoid factor (47.5%), cryoglobulins (30%), and one or more antitissue antibodies (37.5%). The prevalences of polyarthralgia, cutaneous vasculitis, rheumatoid factor, cryoglobulinemia, and anti-tissue antibodies were significantly higher in the hepatitis C group than in the control group. Our data suggest that patients in the Middle East who present with features of rheumatic or autoimmune diseases should be screened for hepatitis C.
Adult↗
Seasonal variation in molluscicidal activity of Solanum nigrum L.
Solanum nigrum L. leaves and fruits were shown to have molluscicidal activities against snails transmitting schistosomiasis and fascioliasis. In the present study, their molluscicidal activity against adult Biomphalaria alexandrina snails was assessed to determine whether plants collected at various seasons would have different degrees of toxicity. Leaves and fruits of three S. nigrum varieties were collected from Faiyoum and/or Giza during the four seasons. Leaves collected in autumn had the highest effect (LC50-35.4) followed by spring (LC50 = 44.36), summer (LC50 = 46.7) and winter (LC50 = 100.4). Toxicity of plant extracts was also affected by other seasonal dependent factors. These are the duration of plant exposure to direct sunlight and the size of the fruits. S. nigrum (black fruits) was more toxic (LC50 = 18.1) than the other two types, S. nigrum v. vellosum (yellow fruits) (LC50 = 38.9) and S. nigrum v. juidaicum (red fruits) (LC50 = 34.7).
Animals↗
Evidence for a role of G protein beta gamma subunits in the enhancement of cAMP accumulation and DNA synthesis by adenosine in human cells.
The expression of both A1- and A2a-adenosine receptors occurs in human foreskin and lung fibroblasts (Ahmed et al., 1995, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 208:871-878). Studies with highly specific A1- and A2a-adenosine receptor agonists provide indirect evidence that binding of adenosine activates Gs and Gi, after which Gs alpha interacts with beta gamma subunits released from Gi. The interaction of Gs alpha with beta gamma augments cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation, more than does Gs alpha alone. In the present study, we have provided direct evidence for a role of the beta gamma complex in the augmentation of cAMP accumulation by using a recombinant His6 fusion protein containing the carboxyl third of beta ARK1. This portion of beta ARK1 contains G beta gamma binding sequences and acts as a specific beta gamma scavenger (Koch et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:12706-12710). In permeabilized fibroblasts, the His6 fusion protein inhibited the augmentation of cAMP accumulation resulting from adenosine binding to both A1 and A2a receptors. In addition, the specific G beta gamma scavenger inhibited the further rise in cellular cAMP levels caused by pretreating cells with pertussis toxin before incubation with adenosine. Finally, we observed that specific A1-adenosine receptor agonists augmented the cAMP accumulation stimulated by A2a-receptor agonists, and this cAMP augmentation was also suppressed by the G beta gamma scavenger. Similar results were obtained when the cells were treated with extracellular ATP and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) to stimulate Gs and release G beta gamma subunits, respectively.
Adenosine↗
Influenza vaccination in patients with asthma: effect on peak expiratory flow, asthma symptoms and use of medication.
This pilot study was undertaken to examine whether killed influenza vaccine causes exacerbations in asthmatic adults. Thirty-three stable asthmatics recorded peak expiratory flow (PEF), asthma symptoms, and use of asthma medication for 2 weeks, and then received killed influenza vaccine. Thereafter they recorded PEF, asthma symptoms and use of medication for a further 2 weeks. Comparison of recordings during the 2 weeks before and after vaccination revealed that influenza vaccine was not associated with reduction in PEF (P = 0.76), increase in asthma symptoms (P = 0.17) or use of asthma medication (P = 0.58). Similar results for PEF (P = 0.49), asthma symptoms (P = 0.17), and asthma medication (P = 0.16) were obtained when the analysis was restricted to the 2 days before and after vaccination.
Adult↗
Effectiveness of influenza vaccine in reducing hospital admissions during the 1989-90 epidemic.
The effectiveness of influenza vaccine in reducing hospital admissions for pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis, or emphysema was assessed by a case-control study of people aged 16 years and older who were admitted to 10 Leicestershire hospitals between 1 December 1989 and 31 January 1990. Hospital and general practitioners' records for 156 admissions (the cases) and 289 controls matched for age and sex were reviewed. Information was collected on demography, the usual place of residence (institutional or non-institutional), the existence of chronic illness, and vaccination during the 5 years before admission. The odds ratio for hospital admission among vaccinees was 0.67 (95% CI 0.39-1.12) giving an estimate of vaccine effectiveness in this setting of 33% (95% CI 0-61). However, multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for the effects of institutional care and chronic illness, revealed that influenza vaccination reduced hospital admissions by 63% (95% CI 17-84%). There was a strong trend towards improved vaccine effectiveness when used in institutional settings. Influenza vaccine is effective in reducing hospital admissions for influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis and emphysema, and effectiveness is comparable to that observed for influenza and pneumonia admissions in North America.
Adolescent↗
Laboratory assessment of the molluscicidal and cercaricidal activities of the Egyptian weed, Solanum nigrum L.
The molluscicidal properties of Solanum nigrum L. were tested against three Egyptian snail species (Biomphalaria alexandrina, Bulinus truncatus and Lymnaea natalensis), each an intermediate host of parasites causing human schistosomiasis or fascioliasis. The plant was collected in two regions within Egypt: Fayium and Giza. Snails were exposed for 24 and 48 h, to the dry powdered fruits and leaves or to crude water extracts of the powders, and mortality was recorded. The water extract of the leaves collected in Fayium (FLWE) had the highest molluscicidal activity, with median lethal concentrations (LC50) of 18.6 mg/litre for Bi. alexandrina, 14.5 mg/litre for Bu. truncatus and 17.7 mg/litre for L. natalensis. When Bi. alexandrina infected with Schistosoma mansoni were exposed to FLWE (20 or 25 mg/litre), they shed significantly fewer cercariae than unexposed snails (P < 0.02). The cercaricidal properties of FLWE were directly tested against S. haematobium, S. mansoni and Fasciola gigantica cercariae and a time-concentration relationship was observed; the concentrations needed to kill all cercariae (LC100) within 30 min of exposure were 30 mg/litre for both S. haematobium and S. mansoni and 40 mg/litre for F. gigantica.
Animals↗
A competitive single-step reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay for quantification of heme oxygenase 1.
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Base Sequence↗
Delays and diversity in the practice of local research ethics committees.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the practices of local research ethics committees and the time they take to obtain ethical approval for a multi-centre study. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of outcome of applications for a multi-centre study to local research ethics committees. SETTING: Thirty-six local research ethics committees covering 38 district health authorities in England. MAIN MEASURES: Response of chairmen and women, the time required to obtain approval, and questions asked in application forms. RESULTS: We received replies from all 36 chairmen contacted: four (11%) granted their approval, and 32 (89%) required our proposal to be considered by their local research ethics committee. Three committees asked us to attend their meetings. The application was approved by all 36 local research ethics committees but the time to obtain ethical approval varied between six to 208 days. One third of the committees did not approve the project within three months, and three took longer than six months. There was considerable variation in the issues raised by local research ethics committees and none conformed exactly to the Royal College of Physicians' guidelines. CONCLUSION: Obtaining ethical approval for a multi-centre study is time-consuming. There is much diversity in the practice of local research ethics committees. Our data support the recommendation for a central or regional review body of multi-centre studies which will be acceptable to all local research ethics committees.
England↗
The contribution of respiratory viruses to severe exacerbations of asthma in adults.
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Adult↗
Presence of both A1 and A2a adenosine receptors in human cells and their interaction.
We have obtained pharmacological evidence for the expression of both A1- (inhibitory) and A2a- (stimulatory) adenosine receptors in cultured human foreskin fibroblasts and lung fibroblasts. The A1 receptors were sufficiently abundant in foreskin fibroblasts so that binding studies with a radioactively labeled specific ligand confirmed their existence. Both receptors were activated during the stimulation of cAMP accumulation and DNA synthesis by adenosine.
Adenosine↗