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Biomedical subjects

A Hussain

Publications and source records attributed to A Hussain.

247 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

The effectiveness of a primary-care-based diabetes education service.

The efficacy of structured education for 158 Type 2 diabetic patients in primary care (80 male, mean age 63 yr, median diabetes duration 3 yr) was assessed with respect to change in knowledge of diabetes, weight, and haemoglobin A1 over a 6-month period. The programme supplemented a primary care initiative in our semi-rural population. Teaching was carried out by a Diabetes Nurse Educator within primary care health centres (141 patients) and a hospital diabetes clinic (17 patients). For all patients mean baseline questionnaire score (maximum possible 12) was 6.2 rising after the programme to 10.5 (p < 0.01). At 6 months mean score fell to 9.5 (p < 0.01 compared to end of the programme), but still significantly better than baseline (p < 0.01). For patients on the primary-care-based programme mean haemoglobin A1 at baseline was 10.7% (normal range 6%-9%) decreasing after 6 months to 9.6% (p < 0.01). No significant changes were found in mean weight. Unlike many previous studies, these results demonstrate a highly beneficial effect not only on knowledge but also on metabolic control in patients who received their education in the primary-care setting. These results have obvious implications for patients residing in rural or semi-rural populations.

Aged↗

A low molecular weight peptide from snow mold with epitopic homology to the winter flounder antifreeze protein.

Evidence for a small size protein (ca. 3500 kDa) exhibiting epitopic homology to the Atlantic winter flounder antifreeze protein (AFP) is found in the snow molds Coprinus psychromorbidus, Myriosclerotinia borealis, and Typhula incarnata. The protein shows strong cross-reactivity with antisera specific for the flounder AFP. Preliminary studies suggest that the protein is synthesized in response to lowering the culture temperature, and that it is membrane associated and, therefore, may function in an analogous capacity to the fish AFP. Also, the protein is shown to have antifreeze properties as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance microimaging experiments.

Agaricales↗

An unusual cause of falls in an elderly patient.

Falls are common in the elderly, often causing considerable morbidity and mortality. Prevention is therefore important and is based on determining the cause. We present an elderly patient who had multiple falls during the day due to recurrent daytime sleep episodes, an entity we believe has not previously been reported.

Accidental Falls↗

An epidemological study of smoking at Abbottabad.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a type of environmental pollution and is injurious to health. We conducted an epidemiological study of different forms of smoking like cigarette, Hookah (Hubble-Bubble) and cigar in Abbottabad. METHODS: 600 randomly selected subjects residing in different localities of Abbottabad were included. A specifically designed questionnaire was filled. RESULTS: Out of the study population 200 (33%) were found to be smoking. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of Abbottabad population smokes. This city is supposed to be a relatively less polluted hill station where a lot of people come for vacations.

Humans↗

Bacterial vaginosis and intravaginal practices: association with HIV.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and to identify risk factors associated with this condition among urban women in Harare, Zimbabwe. DESIGN: A cross sectional study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalent bacteria vaginosis (BV), HIV and intravaginal practices. SETTING: Urban primary health care clinics in Harare. SUBJECTS: 177 pregnant and 212 non pregnant women attending mother and child health care clinics. INTERVENTIONS: The women were recruited, counselled, interviewed, examined and tested for reproductive tract infections including HIV. Those with reproductive tract infections were given free treatment. RESULTS: The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 36% among HIV seropositive women and 26% among those seronegative. Fifty one per cent of the women practiced intravaginal cleansing, while another 28% reported use of intravaginal herbs. Women reporting intravaginal cleansing and/or use of intravaginal herbs were more likely to have bacterial vaginosis (OR 6.2 CI 3.6 to 10.7) and (OR 1.5 CI 1.1 to 2.5) and to be HIV seropositive (OR 1.8 CI 1.2 to 2.8) and (OR 1.8 CI 1.1 to 2.9) respectively. Other factors associated with bacterial vaginosis were malodorous vaginal discharge (OR 5.8 CI 2.9 to 10.7), genital warts (OR CI 3 CI 1.1 to 10.1) and Trichomonas vaginalis (OR 25.5 CI 11.6 to 56.7). CONCLUSIONS: BV was shown to be a common condition among the women the majority of whom indulged in intravaginal practices. HIV infection among women with BV and those that practiced intravaginal cleansing and/or use of herbs was significantly higher. Although causal relationship could not be established in this cross sectional study the results suggest that BV may facilitate HIV infection and we suggest the inclusion of information regarding risks associated with intravaginal practices into health education information disseminated to women.

Adolescent↗

The team approach to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding.

The importance of early recognition and treatment of patients who are at risk of developing malnutrition is becoming increasingly recognised. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy has become increasingly popular as a method of feeding, since its description in 1980, because of its ease of insertion and low morbidity and mortality. Its success, however, depends upon the use of a multidisciplinary approach.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Anaesthesia for heart transplantation.

As the number of heart transplantation recipients continues to grow, more cardiac centres are performing heart transplantation and more anaesthetists need to be trained for this exciting and challenging field of anaesthesia. This articles looks at the anaesthetic management of both the heart donor and the heart recipient.

Anesthesia, General↗

An audit of the use of sphygmomanometers.

This survey assessed the measurement of blood pressure and use of sphygmomanometers by general practitioners in Humberside and Yorkshire in 1988. All registered practitioners were sent a questionnaire--1223 (58%) returned it completed. Their responses showed that 269 (22%) had an aneroid sphygmomanometer only, and that 120 (10%) had a random zero sphygmomanometer; 700 (57%) had special cuffs for obese patients, and 558 (46%) had special cuffs for children; 228 (23.5%) had never had their sphygmomanometers serviced ('never' corresponding to a mean time of 5.75 years), while 23% had patients who measured their own blood pressure. These findings suggest that the British Hypertension Society's recommendations on servicing and cuff use are not always applied. A formal audit of the use of different types of sphygmomanometer in general practice may encourage and improve accuracy and uniformity in blood pressure recording.

Blood Pressure Determination↗

Deficiencies in current childhood immunization indicators.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate "up-to-date" and "age-appropriate" indicators of preschool vaccination status and their implications for vaccination policy. METHODS: The authors analyzed medical records data from the Baltimore Immunization Study for 525 2-year-olds born from August 1988 through March 1989 to mothers living in low-income Census tracts of the city of Baltimore. RESULTS: While only 54% of 24-month-old children were up-to-date for the primary series, indicators of up-to-date coverage were consistently higher, by 37 or more percentage points, than corresponding age-appropriate indicators. Almost 80% of children who failed to receive the first dose of DTP or OPV age-appropriately failed to be up-to-date by 24 months of age for the primary series. CONCLUSIONS: Age-appropriate immunization indicators more accurately reflect adequacy of protection for preschoolers than up-to-date indicators at both the individual and population levels. Age-appropriate receipt of the first dose of DTP should be monitored to identify children likely to be underimmunized. Age-appropriate indicators should also be incorporated as vaccination coverage estimators in population-based surveys and as quality of care indicators for managed care organizations. These changes would require accurate dates for each vaccination and support the need to develop population-based registries.

Baltimore↗