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Biomedical subjects

A Mahmood

Publications and source records attributed to A Mahmood.

212 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Effect of zinc on hepatic lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzymes in ethanol-fed rats.

A 3-ml aliquot of 30% ethanol was fed daily to normal as well as zinc-treated (227 mg l(-1)) rats for periods of 2, 4 and 8 weeks. A highly significant increase in the levels of hepatic lipid peroxidation was observed in ethanol-fed rats after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. On the other hand, the levels of lipid peroxidation came down significantly following ethanol feeding to zinc-treated rats. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver were elevated significantly after ethanol administration to rats for durations of 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Interestingly, zinc treatment to rats given ethanol was able to bring down the elevated levels of SOD, catalase and GPx to within normal limits, However, zinc administration alone did not cause any significant alteration in the activities of these antioxidative enzymes.

Administration, Oral↗

Scanning electron microscopic observations on micro-organisms in the root nodules of Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae).

Scanning electron microscopic observations were made on the micro-organisms of root nodules of Tribulus terrestris L. The results showed that nodules of T. terrestris contained dual infection consisting of Rhizobium sp. and Newmania karachiensis. Based on these observations, T. terrestris should be grouped with nonlegume Parasponia-type bacterial nodules.

Bacteria↗

Tissue culture studies on Amaranthus viridis.

Amaranthus viridis is a plant that is very widely distributed in our country, grows easily, and is eaten by low-income groups. It has been found that the proteins of this plant, like most other plants, are deficient in some essential amino acids. We were able to develop cultures from the cut-end parts of this plant tissue. The commonly used media were modified to achieve good and fast growth. Results have been obtained on the techniques, histology, chromosomal, and biochemical studies which indicate that the plant could be useful as a research tool to study problems in crop improvement at the cellular level.

Chromosomes↗

Effect of chronic ethanol administration on the absorptive functions of the rat small intestine.

Ethanol feeding to rats for 40 days significantly (p < 0.01) depressed sodium-stimulated glucose and glycine uptakes at pH 5.5 and 7.2 without affecting sodium-independent solute transport in the rat intestine. Leucine uptake was essentially unaltered under these conditions. Absorption of bovine serum albumin and gamma-globulin as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent blocking assay (ELISA) was markedly augmented (p < 0.001) in ethanol-fed rats compared to the controls. These observations suggest that chronic ethanol intake differentially affects the uptake of organic solutes and macromolecules in the rat intestine.

Animals↗

Dietary protein regimens and chronic ethanol administration effects on sodium- and proton-dependent solute uptake in rat intestine.

The effect of feeding ethanol daily for 40 days has been studied on intestinal uptake of glucose, glycine, and leucine in rats fed control, 8% protein (LP), and 30% protein (HP) diets. Na(+)-dependent uptake of glucose and glycine both at pH 7.2 and pH 5.5 was significantly depressed (p < 0.001) in ethanol or LP diet-fed animals and remained unaffected in HP-fed rats compared to the controls. But ethanol administration to protein-malnourished rats enhanced the Na(+)-linked glucose and glycine uptakes. Leucine uptake remained unaffected under these conditions. Glucose uptake remained unaltered whereas glycine uptake was reduced when ethanol was administered to rats given HP diet. In the absence of Na+, uptake of glucose, glycine, and leucine was more at acidic pH compared to that at pH 7.2 under all the experimental conditions investigated. Proton-linked uptake of solutes was unaffected by feeding ethanol, LP, or HP diet in rats. Thus, chronic ethanol feeding specifically depresses the Na(2+)-dependent uptake of glucose and glycine. Dietary protein content modifies ethanol effects on intestinal solute uptake in rats.

Animals↗

The [(99m)Tc(N)(PNP)](2+) metal fragment: a technetium-nitrido synthon for use with biologically active molecules. The N-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazyl-cysteine analogues as examples.

The incorporation of a bioactive molecule into a nitrido-containing (99m)Tc-complex has been successfully achieved by using the [TcN(PNP)](2+) metal fragment. In this strategy, the strong electrophilic [TcN(PNP)](2+) metal fragment efficiently reacts with bifunctional chelating ligands having a pi-donor atom set, such as N-functionalized O,S-cysteine. The 2-methoxyphenylpiperazine (2-MPP) pharmacophore, which displays preferential affinity for 5HT(1A) receptors, was conjugated to the amino group of cysteine to obtain 2-MPPP-cys-OS, where 2-MPPP is 3-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]propionate. The asymmetric Tc(V)-nitrido complexes, [(99g/99m)Tc(N)(PNP)(2-MPPP-cys-OS)] (PNP = PNP3, PNP4), were obtained in high yield (95%), by simultaneous addition of PNP and 2-MPPP-cys-OS ligand to a solution containing a starting (99g)/(99m)Tc-nitrido precursor. A mixture of syn and anti isomers was observed, the latter being the thermodynamically favored species. In vitro challenge experiments using the anti isomers with glutathione and cysteine indicated that no transchelation reaction occurs. Assessment of the in vitro 5HT(1A) receptor-affinity of the technetium complexes revealed that only the anti-PNP4 complex possesses some affinity for the receptor, but displayed negligible brain uptake in biodistribution studies in rats in vivo.

Animals↗

Significance of atypical pathogens among community-acquired pneumonia adult patients admitted to hospital in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the microbial etiology and severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Kuwait. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The severity of consecutive adult CAP cases admitted to 3 hospitals over a 1-year period was classified according to the Pneumonia Outcome Research Team (PORT) severity index. The microbial etiology was determined using standard methods for bacteria and serological tests for atypical and viral pathogens. RESULTS: The study population was 124 of the 135 admissions; 63 female, 61 male; mean age 41.3+/-18 years. The severity class distribution was: class I 31%, class II 37%, class III 17%, class IV 13%, and class V 2%. Etiological agents were identified from 44 patients (35%), with one pathogen in 31 (25%), two in 9 (7%), and three or more in 4 (3%). The most common pathogens identified were: Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 14 patients (11%), Legionella pneumophila in 10 (8%), Chlamydia pneumoniae in 8 (6%), influenza B virus in 8 (6%), influenza A virus in 5 (4%), Haemophilus influenzae in 4 (3%), Streptococcus pneumoniae in 3 (2%), Staphylococcus aureus in 3 (2%), gram-negative enterobacteria in 5 (4%), Moraxellacatarrhalis in 2 (2%), and viruses in 4 (3%). The yields from laboratory tests were 48% for paired serology, 20% from adequate sputum sample, and 3% from blood culture. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that a large percentage of mild CAP cases are admitted to hospitals in Kuwait. Atypical pathogens have a significant role in the etiology of CAP. There is overtreatment of CAP with a combination treatment consisting mainly of third-generation chephalosporins and macrolides.

Adolescent↗

Chronic ethanol feeding and microvillus membrane glycosylation in normal and protein-malnourished rat intestine.

Ethanol feeding to rats for 40 days enhanced (p < 0.001) the activities of alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GTP), and p-nitrophenyl (PNP)-beta-D-galactosidase (p < 0.05) with no change in leucine amino peptidase (LAP) and PNP-beta-D-glucosidase activities in intestine compared with control rats. The activities of alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, and GTP were diminished (p < 0.01) in ethanol-fed malnourished rats. There was no change in LAP activity, but the levels of glucosidase and galactosidase were elevated under these conditions. Brush-border sialic acid, fucose, hexose, and hexosamine contents were elevated in ethanol-fed protein-deficient animals. Ethanol administration to normally fed rats elevated the membrane sialic acid and hexose contents, reduced fucose content, and had no effect on brush-border hexosamine content compared with the control group. These results are in agreement with data on lectin binding to brush borders under these conditions. Alcohol ingestion reduced the incorporation of [14C]-glucosamine into brush borders in rats maintained on an 18% protein diet but augmented the incorporation of [14C]-glucosamine and [14C]-mannose in protein-malnourished membranes. These observations suggest that nutrition status influences the sensitivity of microvillus membrane glycosylation to ethanol feeding in rat intestine.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗