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Biomedical subjects

M A Saeed

Publications and source records attributed to M A Saeed.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B6 plays vital roles in numerous metabolic processes in the human body, such as nervous system development and functioning. It has been associated with some benefits in non-randomised studies, such as higher Apgar scores, higher birthweights, and reduced incidence of pre-eclampsia and preterm birth. Recent studies also suggest a protection against certain congenital malformations. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical effects of vitamin B6 supplementation during pregnancy and/or labour. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group Trials Register (30 December 2005). SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials comparing vitamin B6 administration in pregnancy and/or labour with: placebos, no supplementations, or supplements not containing vitamin B6. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently extracted data and assessed trials for methodological quality. We used relative risk and weighted mean difference with 95% confidence intervals. MAIN RESULTS: Five trials (1646 women) were included. Four trials used blinding. One had adequate method of randomisation and allocation concealment; four did not report this. Three trials had large losses to follow up. Vitamin B6 as oral capsules or lozenges resulted in decreased risk of dental decay in pregnant women (capsules: relative risk (RR) 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71 to 0.98; one trial, n = 371; lozenges: RR 0.68; 95% CI 0.56 to 0.83; one trial, n = 342). A small trial showed reduced mean birthweights with vitamin B6 supplementation (weighted mean difference -0.23 kg; 95% CI -0.42 to -0.04; n = 33; one trial). We did not find any statistically significant differences in the risk of eclampsia (capsules: n = 1242; three trials; lozenges: n = 944; one trial), pre-eclampsia (capsules n = 1197; two trials; lozenges: n = 944; one trial) or low Apgar scores at one minute (oral pyridoxine: n = 45; one trial), between supplemented and non-supplemented groups. No differences were found in Apgar scores at one or five minutes, or breastmilk production between controls and women receiving oral (n = 24; one trial) or intramuscular (n = 24; one trial) loading doses of pyridoxine at labour. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There were few trials, reporting few clinical outcomes and mostly with unclear trial methodology and inadequate follow up. There is not enough evidence to detect clinical benefits of vitamin B6 supplementation in pregnancy and/or labour other than one trial suggesting protection against dental decay. Future trials assessing this and other outcomes such as orofacial clefts, cardiovascular malformations, neurological development, preterm birth, pre-eclampsia and adverse events are required.

Dietary Supplements↗
PubMed2004

Effect of collection frequency on the semen quality of broiler breeder.

1. Seven 35-week-old Hubbard broiler breeder males were subjected to three semen collection frequencies either once every 2 d (48 h), daily (24 h) or twice daily (12 h). 2. Semen characteristics including motility, volume, concentration and sperm numbers per ejaculate were determined for each ejaculate. 3. Sperm motility was unaffected by collection interval, but semen volume was lower at 12 than 24h intervals. Sperm concentration was lower at 12 than 48h intervals. 4. At 24 and 48 h number of sperm per collection (1.7+/-0.2, 1.8+/-0.2 x 10(9)) were higher than at 12 h (1.2+/-0.1 x 10(9)). 5. The number of semen doses over a 6-d period increased linearly as the frequency of collection increased from once every 2 d to twice daily. 6. It is concluded that output was theoretically maximal at twice daily collection, but in practice not all cockerels may be able to maintain full performance with such a demanding regime.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Management of globus pharyngeus: review of 699 cases.

The principal reason for performing investigations in patients with globus pharyngeus is to detect a pharyngeal or upper oesophageal malignancy presenting this way. There is uncertainty regarding both the necessity for investigation in globus patients and the first line investigation of choice in the screening of such patients. The authors therefore undertook a retrospective study of 699 patients who presented with globus sensation. Of these, 451 patients (64.5 per cent) had a typical history and in these patients, outpatient examination, including fibre-optic nasendoscopy was able to detect all pathologies, except one insignificant pharyngeal pouch, which required no intervention and one patient with a distal peptic stricture. In patients with atypical symptoms the combination of fibre-optic nasendoscopy and barium swallow identified all pathologies (five aerodigestive tract malignancies) except one distal peptic stricture. The authors concluded that if out-patient examination is adequate, no further investigation of typical globus symptoms is required. Such a policy would produce significant savings for both out-patient and radiology services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Nitrofurantoin quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection: effect of metronidazole resistance.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance has increasingly been recognized as the major cause of treatment failure for Helicobacter pylori infection. New therapies for patients with metronidazole- or clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori are needed. AIM: To investigate the role of nitrofurantoin quadruple therapy for the treatment of H. pylori. METHODS: Patients with confirmed H. pylori infection received nitrofurantoin (100 mg t.d.s.), omeprazole (20 mg b.d.), Pepto-Bismol (two tablets t.d.s.), and tetracycline (500 mg t.d.s.) for 14 days. Four or more weeks after the end of therapy, outcome was assessed by repeat endoscopy with histology and culture or urea breath testing. RESULTS: Thirty patients were entered, including 25 men and five women; the mean age was 54.9 years. The most common diagnoses were duodenal ulcer (23%) and GERD (18%). The intention-to-treat cure rate was 70% (95% CI: 50.6-85%). Nitrofurantoin quadruple therapy was more effective with metronidazole-sensitive strains (88%; 15 out of 17) than with metronidazole-resistant strains (33%; three out of nine; P=0.008). Two of the treatment failures had pre-treatment isolates susceptible to metronidazole, which were resistant after therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Because nitrofurantoin quadruple therapy performed inadequately in the presence of metronidazole resistance, we conclude that nitrofurantoin is unlikely to find clinical utility for the eradication of H. pylori.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Enhanced 99Tc(m)-MIBI SPECT detection of hibernating myocardium following the use of sub-lingual nitroglycerine.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of detecting hibernating myocardium using 99Tc(m)-MIBI SPECT imaging following the use of sublingual glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Thirty-eight subjects were studied, five asymptomatic and 33 with a history of myocardial ischaemia or myocardial infarction (MI). The study was conducted on two separate days, both at rest, one under controlled basal conditions and the other 20 min following the sublingual administration of GTN. A total of 190 cardiac segments were qualitatively analysed and 72 segments with fixed defects were compared to the study following the use of GTN for evidence of improved radionuclide uptake. Following GTN, 73.6% of fixed segment defects showed no change in uptake, 5.5% showed probable improvement whilst in 20.8% a definite enhanced uptake was demonstrated. In 3.7% of segments, worsening of radionuclide uptake was observed.

Administration, Sublingual↗
PubMed2001

Gastric intestinal metaplasia: subtypes and natural history.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the subtyping of intestinal metaplasia in the stomach is useful in stratifying patients with regard to risk of developing gastric cancer. AIM: To determine whether subtyping intestinal metaplasia provided useful information regarding the natural history of intestinal metaplasia. METHODS: The study used large cup gastric biopsy specimens from predetermined locations (gastric mapping). Follow up biopsies were obtained at one, two, and/or nine years. Biopsies with intestinal metaplasia were stained with high iron diamine/Alcian blue (HID/AB) to determine whether they expressed neutral mucins, sialomucins, or sulphomucins. RESULTS: Seventy nine patients with intestinal metaplasia were studied and characterised with regard to the most advanced subtype of intestinal metaplasia. The most severe type of intestinal metaplasia was type II in 33 patients and type III in 34 patients. Helicobacter pylori was cured in 67 patients. Follow up showed that changes in type of metaplasia (apparent regression or progression) occurred in both directions and were independent of H pylori status. For example, biopsy sites with "loss" of metaplasia at a follow up visit might have it "reappear" at a subsequent visit. During follow up, no patient developed gastric dysplasia or died from gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: HID subtyping did not provide useful information to the clinician or the pathologist. The data are consistent with the notion that the pattern, extent, and severity of atrophy with/without intestinal metaplasia is a far more important predictor of increased cancer risk than intestinal metaplasia subtype.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Phytochemical and antimicrobial studies of Salvia splendens Sello.

The phytochemical investigation of antimicrobial agents from locally occurring Salvia splendens Sello, was carried out. Three common solvents i.e. petroleum ether (40-60%), chloroform and methanol were successively used for the extraction of antimicrobial principles from its various parts. Three major compounds (namely C1, C2, and C3) were isolated and purified from the active methanol extract of roots by column and thin layer chromatography. Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus pumilus, B. subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coil and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a fungus (Candida albicans) were used to measure the zones of inhibition of these compounds by known method. One of the compound C1 gave larger zones than the other two isolated compounds (C2 and C3). An attempt was made to identify the nature of antimicrobial compounds by available spectral means. A possible structure-activity relationship of the potent antimicrobial compounds was discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

13beta,14beta-dihydroxy-13alpha-isopropylabietic acid, an elicitor of contact allergy.

Abietic acid isolated from colophony (W.W. grade) was selectively oxidized in the presence of KMnO4, into 13beta,14beta-dihydroxy-14alpha-isopropylabietic acid. The structure of the compound was elucidated using UV, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. Epicutaneous application of the dihydroxy acid to colophony-sensitized guinea pigs suggested the compound as an elicitor of contact allergy that had not been tested before in contact-sensitization reactions.

Abietanes↗
PubMed1991

Severe hypernatraemia in a very preterm infant.

Hypernatraemia in very low birth weight babies has been well documented and is usually attributable to excessive insensible water loss. We report a case in which, despite a peak serum sodium concentration of 204 mmol/l, the baby survived without morbidity. Treatment was simply to increase the intake of free water in Dextrose.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A procedural distinction between elective and progressive mutism.

This paper introduces a procedural distinction between elective and progressive mutism. In elective mutism, a child elects to talk freely with intimates (e.g. family members); in progressive mutism a child does not communicate verbally with anyone (including intimates). This analysis argues that clinicians' therapeutic goals and parents' expectations of treatment outcomes for elective mutism would differ from those applied to a case of progressive mutism and that the selection of the appropriate concept (elective vs progressive) to name the type of mutism prior to intervention would enhance treatment outcomes.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1987

Labeling and functional language in a case of psychological mutism.

Talking was increased in an 11-year-old girl who recently had stopped talking to anyone in any setting, despite the absence of biological factors, mental retardation, and autism. Productive labeling (correctly naming picture cards) and functional language (talking about picture cards in the absence of such pictures) were interspersed with a series of treatment packages (including verbal instructions, imitation, tokens, and praise). Interventions for productive labeling were programmed in a changing-criterion design. Interventions for functional language were programmed in an ABC design. Higher levels of productive labeling and functional language were noted with the introduction of the particular package, in comparison to baseline. The results also showed the generalization of the procedures to the shaping of functional language in the absence of picture cards.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1983

Anterior interosseous nerve syndrome: unusual etiologies.

The anterior interosseous nerve is a pure motor nerve supplying the flexor pollicis longus, flexor digitorum profundus to the index and middle finger, and the pronator quadratus. A relatively uncommon neuropathy of this nerve, called the anterior interosseous syndrome (AIS), sometimes occurs. This paper reports 2 cases of AIS which developed from unusual etiologies. The first patient developed AIS after some difficulty drawing blood from the cubital vein, while the second patient developed symptoms following bypass surgery involving intravenous injection in the cubital vein. Although the diagnosis of AIS can be made clinically by noting muscle weakness in the absence of sensory deficits, electrodiagnosis is helpful for confirming diagnosis and predicting prognosis.

Blood Specimen Collection↗
PubMed1982

Compound nerve action potentials of the medial and lateral plantar nerves through the tarsal tunnel.

The purpose of this study was to determine and standardize an easy and convenient method of studying the orthodromic latencies of the medial and lateral plantar nerves for clinical purposes using conventional equipment. Forty-one able-bodied adult subjects ranging in age from 20 to 76 years were tested orthodromically to establish normal values over fixed distances. The temperatures of the feet ranged from 26C to 32C. A standard TECA bipolar surface electrode fixed in a plastic mount was placed on the posterior tibial nerve proximal to the flexor retinaculum. The medial plantar nerve was stimulated with a bipolar surface stimulator at a distance of 10, 14, and 18cm, and at the great toe. The lateral plantar nerve was stimulated at a distance of 14 and 18cm, and at the little toe. Orthodromic latencies for the medial plantar nerve for distances of 10, 14 and 18cm, and the great toe were 2.4 +/- SD 0.15msec, 3.2 +/- SD 0.26msec, 4.0 +/- SD 0.22msec, and 5.0 +/- SD 0.38msec, respectively. Lateral plantar nerve latencies for 14 and 18cm segments were 3.2 +/- SD 0.25msec and 4.0 +/- SD 0.27msec, respectively. These standard values should allow more accurate assessment of tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) and peripheral neuropathies because the orthodromic method involves a mixed motor and sensory nerve action potential and should be more sensitive to early changes than a pure motor nerve action potential.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1982

Electromyographic findings in the intrinsic muscles of normal feet.

Four intrinsic muscles were studied with electromyography (EMG) in asymptomatic feet in 70 individuals to ascertain the percentage having abnormal potentials (positive sharp waves and/or fibrillation potentials). The number having positive sharp waves ranged from 6(8.6%) in the 1st dorsal interosseous to 11(15.7%) in the extensor digitorum brevis. The number showing fibrillation potentials ranged from 0 for the abductor hallucis to 4(5.7%) for the abductor digiti minimi. The authors concluded that using positive sharp waves as a diagnostic criterion in using EMG of intrinsic foot muscles in the evaluation of certain neuromuscular problems such as radiculopathy and tarsal tunnel syndrome may be misleading, but using the presence of fibrillation potentials as a criterion may be useful. Differences in the pattern of abnormalities in males and females are also discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Influence of low intensity 2,450 MHz microwave radiation upon the growth of various micro-organisms and their sensitivity towards chemical inactivation.

The non-lethal effects of 2,450 MHz radiation upon vegetative cell of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus have been assessed at low power intensities (1 joule min-1 ml-1) over a prolonged time period (16 h). Results indicated that the cell envelope was a primary target for such radiation. Growth of micro-organisms in the presence of microwaves produced minor structural changes in their cell envelopes which resulted in an alteration of preservative sensitivity. Such changes were not sufficiently great as to result in any alteration of specific growth rates during continuous microwave exposure, neither was motility nor cellular morphology affected.

Benzalkonium Compounds↗