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Biomedical subjects

A M Khalifa

Publications and source records attributed to A M Khalifa.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Detection of Cryptosporidia in different water sources in Alexandria by monoclonal antibody test and modified Ziehl Neelsen stain.

Cryptosporidium paruum has become one of the most important contaminant found in drinking water and is associated with high risk of waterborne diseases particularly for the immunocompromised. In the present study, Cryptosporidium was found in uncovered water tanks, nearby the shore in El Noubareya and El Mahmoudeya canals and in one swimming pool. Direct flourescence monoclonal antibody was more sensitive in detecting the organism. Ziehl-Neelsen although less sensitive, yet it has the advantage that it could recognize other protozoa causing diarrhoea as G. lamblia, B hominis and Cyclospora sp.

Animals↗

Electroencephalographic changes in rats received antigens of different parasites.

The prevalence of epilepsy in developing countries is much higher than in developed ones. Some of the highest prevalence rates in developing countries have been reported from tropical Africa where parasitic infections are endemic. This work was carried out to assess the effect of different parasitic antigens on the activity of cerebral cortex in rats. Nine crude antigens were used: Adult Fasciola, adult S. mansoni, hydatid cyst, T. spiralis, E. histolytica, Acanthamoeba spp. G. lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp. and crude antigen of T. gondii. All the parasitic antigens induced electroencephalographic changes compared with baseline tracings.

Animals↗

Aminosidine sulphate in experimental giardiasis.

Giardia lamblia infection may be asymptomatic or may produce diarrhea with or without malabsorption. Many drugs were used for treatment of giardiasis, but none proved to be ideal since all have potential troublesome side effects as they are absorbed from the intestine. In this study, a locally acting drug aminosidine-sulphate (gabbroral) has been tried in treatment of experimental giardiasis in a rat model under different conditions of gastric acidity which is one of the main local factors affecting the pathogenicity of the organism. The best results were obtained in the group with hyperacidity which was induced by indomethacin (indocid) with significant improvement in the pathological picture and parasitic count. While in experimental animals with normal acidity there was only partial eradication of the parasite. However, in the group with hypoacidity induced by cimetidine (cimetex), the drug showed no beneficial effects since most organisms invaded the deeper layers of the intestine escaping the local action of the drug.

Animals↗

Aminosidine sulphate in experimental cryptosporidiosis.

The present study aimed at investigating the efficiency of a recent antibiotic Aminosidine sulphate (Gabbroral) in experimental cryptosporidiosis. The course of infection was studied when the drug was given early before the infection, and late during the infection both parasitologically and histopathologically. When the drug was given early, the results were satisfactory, with a significant reduction of size, number and pathological changes of the parasites in the stool and in ileal sections of infected mice. However, the drug had no effect when given late during the infection.

Animals↗

A study on experimental cryptosporidiosis.

Cryptosporidium oocysts were isolated from stools of infected patients diagnosed as cryptosporidiosis. Suckling Swiss albino mice were infected orally by these oocysts in a dose of 10(6) oocysts/mouse. Mice were divided into 9 groups according to the duration of infection 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 10, 15, 21 days postinfection, corresponding non infected control groups were included. Stools of infected mice were examined twice daily to determine; infection rate, prepatent period and intensity of infection. Mice were sacrificed according to the schedule and the whole intestine was isolated and processed for histopathological examination by H & E and modified Ziehl Nielsen stain, and histochemical examination for acid and alkaline phosphatase activity. The results revealed that the infection rate was 90% and prepatent period 3-5 days and the course of infection was 21 days. The maximum pathological changes were in the ileum. These changes were reversible.

Animals↗

Properties of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in circulating blood cells of patients with essential hypertension.

The properties of platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors and of lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptors were determined in 40 male patients with established essential hypertension and compared with those in 40 male normotensives. The densities of platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors (assessed by 3H-yohimbine binding) and of lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptors [determined by (+/-)-125iodocyanopindolol binding] were in patients with essential hypertension significantly higher than in controls; there were significant positive correlations between the mean arterial blood pressure of the subjects and alpha 2- and beta 2-adrenoceptor density, respectively. Concomitantly with receptor densities, functional responses to adrenergic stimulation were exaggerated in essential hypertension: in platelets, the aggregatory response to (-)-adrenaline (via alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation) was enhanced; in lymphocytes, the cyclic AMP response to (-)-isoprenaline (via beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation) was elevated. It is concluded that the increased adrenoceptor density and responsiveness in circulating blood cells of patients with essential hypertension may reflect increased sympathetic activity, which might contribute to the elevation of blood pressure.

Adult↗

Impaired regulation of beta-adrenoceptors in patients on maintenance haemodialysis.

In patients on maintenance haemodialysis the number of lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptors (determined by (+/-)-125 iodocyanopindolol binding) was not different from that in healthy controls; lymphocyte cyclic AMP responses to (-)-isoprenaline (10(-8)-10(-4) M) or NaF (10 and 50 mM), however, were significantly reduced. Dynamic exercise on a bicycle (80% of maximum heart rate) for 15 minutes caused in 10 healthy volunteers a fourfold increase in plasma catecholamines; concomitantly lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor number increased by about 55 per cent. In contrast, in patients on maintenance haemodialysis exercise induced only a twofold increase in plasma catecholamines and did not affect beta 2-adrenoceptor number. It is concluded that in chronic uraemia regulation and responsiveness of beta-adrenoceptors is impaired.

Adult↗

Turbulence measurements with pulsed Doppler ultrasound employing a frequency tracking method.

A phase lock loop method of tracking doppler ultrasound frequencies is applied to the measurement of turbulent velocities. A pulsed Doppler ultrasound system capable of detecting two velocity components was employed to resolve axial and radial velocity components at the centerline of turbulent pipe flows and distal to stenoses in pulsatile flow. Measurements with the ultrasound system are compared with laser Doppler and hot film anemometer data. The results demonstrate that the phase lock loop method of tracking accurately follows turbulent velocity fluctuations for turbulence intensities up to approx. 20%, after which signal dropout becomes a significant factor. An important application of the method is that of detecting flow disturbances created by mild to moderate degrees of stenosis in arterial disease.

Animals↗

Contraception and community in Egypt: a preliminary evaluation of the population/development mix.

Egypt's Population and Development Program (PDP) is an effort to combine family planning and development approaches at the grass roots level. Introduced as a pilot project in the late 1970s, it is now active in nearly three quarters of Egypt's villages. A 1980 Contraceptive Prevalence Survey of over 5,000 rural women stratified 124 villages according to their exposure to the program (from zero to two or more years). Comparison of women living in villages of varying exposure revealed no differences in fertility; but modest differences in knowledge, attitudes, and contraceptive practice were apparent, especially in Upper Egypt. A multivariate analysis with socioeconomic and demographic controls did not weaken these relationships. Moreover, program effects were most marked among those most in need of services--noncontracepting fecund women who were illiterate.

Adolescent↗