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Biomedical subjects

A Khan

Publications and source records attributed to A Khan.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Dairy farm investigation on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Kolkata, India with emphasis on molecular characterization.

An investigation was conducted to determine the distribution, virulence gene profile and phenotypes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains within a dairy farm in Kolkata, India by characterizing the STEC strains isolated from healthy dairy cow and calf stool samples, raw milk and farm floor swabs from July 2001 to March 2002. Primary screening by multiplex-PCR detected stx1 and stx2, the common virulence genes of STEC, in 18.9% of cow faeces, 32.4% of calf stool samples, 21.6% of farm floor swabs and 4.5% of raw milk samples and viable STEC were recovered from 4.5, 9.9, 8.1 and 1.8% of the corresponding PCR-positive samples. Strains harbouring stx1 (63.3%) and hlyA (53.3%) were frequently detected compared to eae (13.3%). Most of the strains harboured similar sets of reported virulence genes common among isolates from diarrhoea patients. Most of the strains also exhibited multidrug resistance, sorbitol fermentation and produced enterohaemolysin. The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) profile of the STEC strains isolated from the farm milieu revealed diverse banding patterns and clonal analysis demonstrated that the strains from different sources were not identical but showed some genetic relatedness. The study demonstrates the potential of dairy farm for housing virulent STEC.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Antimicrobial activity of clove oil and its potential in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis.

In the present study, we evaluated antimicrobial activity of clove oil against a range of fungal pathogens including that responsible for urogenital infection. Clove oil was found to possess strong antifungal activity against opportunistic fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus, etc. The oil was found to be extremely successful in the treatment of experimental murine vaginitis in model animals. On evaluating various formulations, topical administration of the liposomized clove oil was found to be most effective against treatment of vaginal candidiasis.

Administration, Intravaginal↗
PubMed2005

Thrombin generation and phenotypic correlation in haemophilia A.

The clinical phenotype of patients with haemophilia A (HA) often differs between individuals with the same factor VIII (FVIII) gene defect (e.g. within the same family) or the same coagulant activity of FVIII (FVIII:C). We proposed that because the thrombin generation assay in platelet-poor plasma of HA patients provides more information [peak thrombin concentration, endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), rate of thrombin generation and lag-time] than a clot-based FVIII assay it might provide insight into these differences. We therefore investigated the relation between the results of the thrombin generation assay and the clinical severity in nine families with HA (23 patients with different phenotypes). We also examined the contribution of prothrombotic risk factors: (FV Leiden G1691A and prothrombin G20210A), the coagulant activity of FVIII and tissue factor (5'UTR) polymorphisms. Our data detect marked differences between individuals but these did not correlate with the reported clinical phenotype. These differences were also reflected in a marked difference in response to the therapeutic amounts of FVIII. This might account for differences in amounts of treatment consumption. Reduced peak and possibly rate of thrombin generation, rather than FVIII:C or ETP appear to represent the critical defects in FVIII-deficient plasma. We suggest that the analysis of parameters in thrombin generation is a useful tool to detect bleeding tendency in HA but not to predict the modulation of the haemorrhagic tendency in patients within families. However the presence of the other factors such as vessel wall components, protein C and platelets might need to be incorporated into this system.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed2005

Factors associated with chronic depressive episodes: a preliminary report from the STAR-D project.

OBJECTIVE: To identify baseline sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with a current chronic major depressive episode (MDE). METHOD: Outpatients with major depressive disorder enrolled in 41 US primary or psychiatric care sites were divided into two groups based on self-report of current episode length (<24 or > or =24 months). Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with chronicity of current depressive episode. RESULTS: About 21.2% of 1380 subjects were in current, chronic MDEs. Older age, less education, lower income, no private insurance, unemployment, greater general medical illness burden, lower physical quality of life, concurrent generalized anxiety disorder, fewer prior episodes, and history of prior suicide attempts were all associated with chronic episodes. Blacks, Hispanics, and patients receiving care in primary as opposed to psychiatric care settings exhibited greater chronicity. CONCLUSION: Chronic depressive episodes are common and are associated with greater illness burden, comorbidity, socioeconomic disadvantage, and racial/ethnic minority status.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii strains from immunocompromised patients reveals high prevalence of type I strains.

Toxoplasma gondii is an important food- and waterborne opportunistic pathogen that causes severe disease in immunocompromised patients. T. gondii has an unusual clonal population structure consisting of three widespread lineages known as I, II, and III. To establish the genotypes of strains of T. gondii associated with human toxoplasmosis, we have developed a set of four highly sensitive and polymorphic nested PCR markers. Multiplex nested PCR analysis was used to genotype parasites in cerebral spinal fluid samples from 8 of 10 human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients. Remarkably, a majority of these patients had infections with type I strains or strains containing type I alleles, despite the fact that this lineage is normally uncommon in humans and animals. Multiplex analysis of these four unlinked makers was able to distinguish all three common genotypes and also detected two strains with mixed genotypes. Further analysis based on sequencing of a polymorphic intron revealed that one of these recombinant strains was an exotic lineage distinct from the archetypal clonal lineages. The multiplex nested PCR analysis described here will be useful for analyzing the contribution of parasite genotype to toxoplasmosis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2005

Gender differences in sexual behaviours in response to genitourinary symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To understand gender differences in sexual behaviours in response to genitourinary symptoms. METHODS: 473 (239 female and 234 male) subjects were enrolled at an STD clinic regardless of symptoms or infection status. Subjects completed a 30 day calendar recall interview of genitourinary symptoms, coital activity, sexual partners, and condom use. RESULTS: Of the total of 473 participants, 261 (55%) reported symptoms (61% women and 39% men). STI prevalence was 73% and 75% for symptomatic women and men, respectively. For black women the probability of coitus was decreased in the presence of vaginal discharge (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.89). No change in coital activity was seen in non-black women in the presence of vaginal discharge. Having vaginal discharge did increase the likelihood of condom use by their partners (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.05 to 5.88), if coitus occurred. Urethral discharge was not associated with coitus or condom use in men. However, in men, dysuria was associated with increased likelihood of condom use (OR 4.25, 95% CI 1.57 to 11.56) if coitus occurred. CONCLUSION: Black women altered both coital activity and condom use behaviours in response to vaginal discharge. In contrast, non-black women did not modify coital activity. Men increased condom use when having dysuria but did not alter coital activity. Changes in sexual behaviours may alter the risk of STI transmission independent of interactions with the healthcare system. STI education and prevention programmes need to better understand these gender and racial differences in developing effective strategies to reduce STI transmission.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Pathological effects of formalin (37% formaldehyde) feeding in female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The aim of this study was to determine the pathological effects of formalin on female quails. Seventy-five 1-day-old female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonina) were divided into five equal groups (A-E) and fed formalin daily at dose levels of 20, 10, 5, 2.5 and 0 mL/ kg feed, respectively. All birds were slaughtered at the end of the experiment -- the eighth week. No clinical signs were observed in quails fed 2.5 mL formalin/kg feed. Depression, dullness and anorexia were prominent in quails fed 20 mL formalin/kg feed. Feed intake, body weight, egg production and egg weight together with absolute and relative weight of organs, erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were decreased at higher doses, i.e., 10 and 20 mL formalin/kg feed. Total serum proteins and globulin significantly increased (P <0.05) in all formalin fed quails compared to control birds. No gross lesions were observed in the 2.5 mL formalin/kg fed group. At higher doses (10 and 20 mL formalin/kg feed) hemorrhages on the thigh muscles, decreased weight and reduction in area and folds of different segments of oviduct were recorded. Reduced size of liver, heart and kidneys was recorded in quails fed 20mL formalin/kg feed compared to controls and other birds. The histopathological changes in oviduct consisted of degeneration of mucosal glands characterized by vacuolation of nuclei of cells. It was concluded from the study that formalin feeding to female quails at 2.5 mL/kg feed is without harmful effects, however, higher doses are not without health risks.

Animals↗