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Biomedical subjects

F Ali

Publications and source records attributed to F Ali.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Comparison of cough of 2 and 3 weeks to improve detection of smear-positive tuberculosis cases among out-patients in India.

SETTING: Governmental health facilities in six districts of India. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of cough and to compare the detection of smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) among out-patients with cough of > or =2 or > or =3 weeks. DESIGN: Trained health workers questioned each out-patient for presence of cough. Those with cough > or =2 weeks underwent sputum microscopy. RESULTS: Of 55561 out-patients interviewed, 2210 (4%) had cough > or =2 weeks, of whom 267 had sputum-positive TB, compared to 182/1370 with cough > or =3 weeks. The 31% who did not spontaneously complain of cough were less likely to be sputum-positive than those who did (45/680 [7%] vs. 222/1530 [15%], P < 0.001), but they accounted for 45/267 smear-positive cases. Using cough > or =2 weeks as the screening criterion, the estimated number of smears performed per day at each primary and secondary health care facility was respectively 8 and 19, compared to 5 and 12 using cough > or =3 weeks. CONCLUSION: The detection of smear-positive TB cases can be substantially improved by actively eliciting history of cough from all out-patients, and by changing the screening criterion for performing sputum microscopy among out-patients from cough > or =3 weeks to > or =2 weeks. Before implementing this change nationally, its programmatic feasibility should be assessed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Improving the standard of operation notes in orthopaedic and trauma surgery: the value of a proforma.

Comprehensive documentation of surgical procedures is an essential component of good medical practice, but the standard of operation notes in orthopaedic and trauma surgery has been notoriously poor. The value of proformas in the production of high standard operation notes has been demonstrated in various surgical specialities. We have compared the standard of documentation of operation notes before and after the introduction of a proforma and report a significant improvement (P < 0.001) with the proforma. In addition, the results from a neighbouring hospital where a similar proforma was in use show a sustained standard of documentation 5 years after it was first used.

England↗
PubMed2004

Scarf osteotomy for hallux valgus. A prospective clinical and pedobarographic study.

We prospectively reviewed 24 patients (35 feet) who had been treated by a Scarf osteotomy and Akin closing-wedge osteotomy for hallux valgus between June 2000 and June 2002. There were three men and 21 women with a mean age of 46 years at the time of surgery. The mean follow-up time was 20 months. Our results showed that 50% of the patients were very satisfied, 42% were satisfied, and 8% were not satisfied. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score improved significantly from 52 points pre-operatively to 89 at follow-up (p < 0.001). The intermetatarsal and hallux valgus angles improved from the mean pre-operative values of 15 degrees and 33 degrees to 9 degrees and 14 degrees, respectively. These improvements were significant (p < 0.0001). The change in the distal metatarsal articular angle was not significant (p = 0.18). There was no significant change in the mean pedobarographic measurements of the first and second metatarsals after surgery (p = 0.2). The mean pedobarographic measurements of the first and second metatarsals at more than one year after surgery were within the normal range. Two patients had wound infections which settled after the administration of antibiotics. One patient had an intra-operative fracture of the first metatarsal and one required further surgery to remove a long distal screw which was irritating the medial sesamoids. We conclude that the Scarf osteotomy combined with the Akin closing-wedge osteotomy is safe and effective for the treatment of hallux valgus.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Triplane fractures of the distal tibia requiring open reduction and internal fixation. Pre-operative planning using computed tomography.

Computed tomography (CT) of triplane fractures provides useful information not available on conventional radiographs. Knowledge of the size and position of displaced fragments, the location of the intra-articular fracture and any associated articular incongruency is useful when undertaking pre-operative planning.A postal survey of surgeons revealed only 38% always requested CT scans before undertaking open reduction and internal fixation of displaced triplane fractures. Examples of the usefulness of CT scans in pre-operative planning is presented in two cases.

Fracture Fixation, Internal↗
PubMed2001

Alzheimer's disease amyloid-beta binds copper and zinc to generate an allosterically ordered membrane-penetrating structure containing superoxide dismutase-like subunits.

Amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) is the major constituent of extracellular plaques and perivascular amyloid deposits, the pathognomonic neuropathological lesions of Alzheimer's disease. Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) bind Abeta, inducing aggregation and giving rise to reactive oxygen species. These reactions may play a deleterious role in the disease state, because high concentrations of iron, copper, and zinc have been located in amyloid in diseased brains. Here we show that coordination of metal ions to Abeta is the same in both aqueous solution and lipid environments, with His(6), His(13), and His(14) all involved. At Cu(2+)/peptide molar ratios >0.3, Abeta coordinated a second Cu(2+) atom in a highly cooperative manner. This effect was abolished if the histidine residues were methylated at N(epsilon)2, indicating the presence of bridging histidine residues, as found in the active site of superoxide dismutase. Addition of Cu(2+) or Zn(2+) to Abeta in a negatively charged lipid environment caused a conformational change from beta-sheet to alpha-helix, accompanied by peptide oligomerization and membrane penetration. These results suggest that metal binding to Abeta generated an allosterically ordered membrane-penetrating oligomer linked by superoxide dismutase-like bridging histidine residues.

Allosteric Regulation↗
PubMed2001

Vaccination with neutrophil inhibitory factor reduces the fecundity of the hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum.

Neutrophil inhibitory factor (NIF), a protein isolated from hookworms of the genus Ancylostoma, inhibits CD11b/18-dependent leucocyte function, binding to the I domain of CD11b. Historically, NIF was serendipitously isolated from whole worm extracts during a search for novel antihaemostatic agents, and little is known of its source or biological significance to the parasite. NIF has also been identified as a possible hookworm vaccine candidate. Ancylostoma ceylanicum recombinant NIF, expressed in its active form in Pichia pastoris, was purified and its functional activity confirmed using neutrophil adhesion assays and confirmatory immunoassay. Recombinant NIF was subsequently used in vaccination trials in the A. ceylanicum-hamster model system for human hookworm infection. Vaccinated and challenged animals were not protected in terms of worm burden or haematocrit values, despite the presence of high levels of specific antibody against NIF. However, adult worms resident in vaccinated animals showed a significant reduction in fecundity (85.8% by day 21 postinfection), indicating a degree of protection against subsequent transmission by vaccination. These data indicate that targeted vaccination with recombinant subunit material, derived from a known and effective immune suppressant secreted by the parasite, may offer partial protection against the transmission of hookworm infection. Furthermore, we can also report that a biological activity characteristic of NIF is detectable in the secretions of A. ceylanicum using two complementary bioassays. Complete neutralization of this secreted activity by vaccination in combination with other vaccine candidates may result in improved protection against A. ceylanicum infection.

Ancylostoma↗
PubMed2000

Multifocal dural enhancement associated with temporal arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: To report the association of temporal arteritis and enhancement of the dura mater and temporalis muscle. DESIGN AND METHODS: A single patient with a complaint of headache and diplopia was studied. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT: A 69-year-old man presented with lateral rectus weakness, temporal artery tenderness, and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 65 mm/h. INTERVENTION: Biopsy of temporal artery and dura mater. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Brain magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed multifocal dural enhancement and enhancement of the temporalis muscles. The temporal artery showed a necrotizing vasculitis and the dura showed perivascular inflammatory cells. CONCLUSION: It is proposed that the temporal arteritis caused the multifocal dural enhancement and temporalis muscle enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Treatment of isolated complex distal femoral fractures by external fixation.

Thirteen patients with isolated distal femoral fractures were treated by external fixation. There were seven males and six females with an average age of 45 years. Four were Type A3 fractures, one Type C1, five Type C2 and three Type C3 fractures. Seven of these were open. In seven cases the articular surface was first reduced and fixed. The fixation was extended across the knee to supplement the distal fixation in six severe cases. The average follow up was 30 months. There was one non-union in the study with the average time to union in the other patients being six months. Using the Mize criteria for assessing clinical results we found that nine patients obtained a good to excellent score and four were classed as failures. The average range of movement of the knee in the study was 100 degrees. Apart from the single non-union all the fractures healed and there were no other serious complications. Considering the severity of the fractures we did not find any evidence to suggest that temporary fixation of the lateral soft tissues by fixator pins was detrimental. The results suggest that external fixation may be used to treat these difficult fractures without the risk of serious complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Sanjad-Sakati and autosomal recessive Kenny-Caffey syndromes are allelic: evidence for an ancestral founder mutation and locus refinement.

The Sanjad-Sakati syndrome (SSS; MIM241410), an autosomal recessive trait characterized by congenital hypoparathyroidism, growth and mental retardation, seizures, and a characteristic physiognomy, was recently linked to chromosome area 1q42-q43. SSS resembles the autosomal recessive form of Kenny-Caffey syndrome (KCS; MIM244460), with similar manifestations but lacking osteosclerosis. Since KCS was recently linked to the region 1q42-q43, the possibility that this disorder is allelic with SSS was considered. Eight Sanjad-Sakati families from Saudi Arabia were genotyped with polymorphic short tandem repeat markers from the SSS/KCS critical region. A maximum multipoint LOD score of 14.32 was obtained at marker D1S2649, confirming linkage of SSS to the same region as autosomal recessive KCS. Haplotype analysis refined the critical region to 2.6 cM and identified a rare haplotype present in all the SSS disease alleles, indicative of a common founder. In addition to the assignment of the Saudi SSS and Kuwaiti KCS syndromes to overlapping genetic intervals, comparison of the haplotypes unexpectedly demonstrated that the diseases shared an identical haplotype. This finding, combined with the clinical similarity between the two syndromes, suggests that the two conditions are not only allelic but are also caused by the same ancestral mutation.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of plasma and red cells obtained after leucocyte depletion of whole blood.

We evaluated whole blood integral filtration to produce leucocyte-depleted red cells and plasma by using the WBF1 whole blood filter (Pall Medsep). Whole blood units were filtered after either warm (2-4 h at room temperature) or cold (12-24 h at 4 degrees C) holds. Filtered and control units were processed using either a bottom-and-top or top-top method. Red cells were tested weekly for 6 weeks, and plasma 3 monthly for 12 months. All filtered red-cell packs contained < 5 x 10(6) leucocytes/unit with 71 of 72 containing < 1 x 10(6) leucocytes/unit. No clinically significant differences in red-cell storage parameters were seen, although haemolysis was less and pO2/pCO2 values were better maintained in filtered units. Plasma units contained < 2.5 x 10(3) leucocytes/unit with no significant loss of factor VIII except in the warm hold units processed by the top-top method. There was no evidence of complement or coagulation activation with significant removal of preformed C3a in cold hold units. Plasma storage parameters were maintained at control levels for 12 months.

Erythrocyte Count↗
PubMed1999

Long-term weekly iron supplementation improves and sustains nonpregnant women's iron status as well or better than currently recommended short-term daily supplementation.

This 7-mo double-blind study compared the efficacy of two iron supplementation schemes in improving iron nutrition among 116 healthy fertile-age women. They were randomly distributed in three groups, receiving: Group 1, iron + folate (60 mg and 250 microg, respectively) daily for 3 mo (currently recommended scheme), and folate (250 microg) weekly the subsequent 4 mo. Group 2, folate daily, and 60 mg iron only once weekly for 3 mo, and then weekly iron + folate for 4 mo. Group 3, folate daily for 3 mo and then weekly for 4 mo. At baseline, 16% had depleted stores (plasma ferritin <15 microg/L) and 16% had hemoglobin levels <125 g/L. Eight percent had hemoglobin levels <120 g/L. In Group 1 hemoglobin and ferritin increased at 3 mo but returned to near basal conditions after 4 mo of weekly folate. In Group 2, hemoglobin and ferritin increased progressively throughout the 7 mo but mostly after 3 mo. Group 3 did not change. Side effects were highest with daily iron. Weekly iron supplementation over 7 mo (30 doses) improved and sustained iron nutrition at least as effectively and was better tolerated than 90 daily iron supplements consumed during 3 mo.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Problems in the interpretation of hemorrhage into neck musculature in cases of drowning.

To investigate the possible causes of unexplained hemorrhage into the neck musculature in deaths due to drowning, all cases of drowning between the years 1985 and 1995 examined by members of the Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Sheffield were reviewed. Cases were selected in which hemorrhage was found within the neck musculature but in which no apparent explanation for the hemorrhage, such as compression of the neck or trauma, was present. Eight cases were identified from a total of 99 deaths from drowning. Postmortem hypostasis was distributed in the back or diffusely in 6 cases and in the face in 3 cases. The degree of decomposition varied but was severe in only 1 case. A raised blood alcohol level was detected in 3 cases. Anterior neck compartment hemorrhage is probably due to hypostasis in a high proportion of cases. The Prinsloo and Gordon artifact may be an operative factor in at least some cases. Hemorrhage may result from violent neck movements during the process of drowning. Apparent "bruising" of the neck musculature does not always indicate compression of or trauma to the neck.

Adult↗