Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Abdulla

Publications and source records attributed to M Abdulla.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Trace element alterations in infectious diseases.

Trace elements like copper, zinc, iron and selenium have a significant influence on the function of the immune system. We studied plasma levels of trace elements in 53 patients with acute bacterial and viral infections. In bacterial infections (septicaemia, pneumonia, erysipelas and meningitis) the plasma concentrations of selenium, iron and zinc were decreased. Plasma copper was unchanged in patients with erysipelas, but increased in other types of bacterial infections. Although the patients with viral infections showed similar shifts of the trace elements as were observed in patients with bacterial infections, the changes were not as pronounced. A plasma selenium value below 0.8 mumol/l was found in only 6% of the patients with viral infections in contrast to 63% of the patients with septicaemia or 57% of the patients with pneumonia. Furthermore, in viral infections 60% of the zinc values were below the mean level of 12.8 mumol/l observed in healthy controls as compared with 90% of the values in patients with sepsis or 92% of the values in patients with pneumonia. The onset of change in trace elements occurred within a few days and persisted for several weeks. These changes seem to be non-specific and are independent of the agent causing infection. The different types of infections were followed by changes in most of the plasma proteins which are known to be associated with an inflammatory reaction. The changes in plasma proteins were most pronounced in patients with sepsis and pneumonia. Patients with sepsis having a high degree of inflammation did not show a positive correlation between the severity of the disease--as judged by plasma proteins--and the alterations of trace elements.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1987

Early biochemical and histological changes in rats exposed to a single injection of thioacetamide.

Liver injury was induced by one subcutaneous administration of thioacetamide (200 mg/kg b.wt.) and studied 24 and 48 hrs later. Levels of aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) increased after 24 and 48 hrs. The lysosomal enzymes beta-hexosaminidase (beta-NAG) and beta-glucuronidase (beta-GLU) increased significantly after 24 hrs, while the level of beta-GLU returned to normal after 48 hrs, but the activity of beta-NAG remained significantly high even after 48 hrs. Histopathological examination showed necrotic hepatocytes around the central vein with infiltration of macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils. The plasma zinc level decreased after 24 hrs and returned to normal after 48 hrs. Liver zinc content increased simultaneously at 24 hrs, returning to normal after 48 hrs. No alterations of plasma copper were observed after 24 and 48 hrs. Copper content of the liver increased significantly after 24 and 48 hrs. The present study thus shows that one dose of thioacetamide results in profound liver injury and supplementation of zinc prior to and simultaneously with thioacetamide normalized plasma zinc, increased liver zinc content and reduced the increase of beta-NAG, but did not influence the histological changes.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1987

Diagnosis and therapy of varicocele. Fertility aspects.

Calling attention to the andrological importance of subclinical varicocele, the authors' own operative material is analysed from the point of view of fertility. Problems of surgical indications, with particular regard to the azoospermic and normozoospermic groups, are discussed. Based on their own results, they express their views on the choice of surgical intervention.

Humans↗
PubMed1986

Iron, zinc and folate status during pregnancy and two months after delivery.

Iron, zinc and folate statuses of 45 women were determined during pregnancy around 12, 20, 28, 32 and 36 weeks, and again 2 months after delivery. Analyses of plasma ferritin, Hb, MCV, folate and zinc in plasma and whole blood were performed. Iron supplementation was recommended from mid-pregnancy but 13 of the participants did not use the iron supplements. This group had significantly decreased levels of plasma ferritin and MCV at the end of pregnancy, but none developed anemia. Two months post partum the plasma ferritin of the unsupplemented group had normalized and was in the same range as in the supplemented group. The concentrations of zinc in plasma and whole blood and the calculated levels of red cells were low even at the first examination around 12 weeks of gestation, compared with non-pregnant women. Throughout the course of pregnancy the plasma zinc levels continued to decrease, while the whole blood and red cell levels showed a significant rise. At term of gestation almost half the women had subnormal plasma folate levels (L. casei), which persisted during the post partum follow-up. The corresponding value for red cell folate was 10% below normal values at term and 30% subnormal 2 months after parturition. These findings stress the importance of extending the observation period to include also the lactating period, in order to judge the need for folate supplementation.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Alterations in trace element and plasma amino-acid profile in experimental gram-negative septicaemia.

Infection can produce changes in the levels of trace metals such as copper, iron and zinc and several amino acids. These trace metals are involved in many metabolic reactions as well as in the host defence response. In the present study we have induced septicaemia in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were made septic by surgical insertion of a gelatine capsule containing known amounts of E. coli (1.25 x 10(7) bact/ml) and Bacteroides fragiles (2.5 x 10(7) bact/ml) along with sterile rat faeces as an adjuvant (50% vol/vol), and barium sulphate (10% weight/weight) as an irritant into the abdomen. Blood samples were collected at 36, 60 and 72 h to study alterations in the pattern of copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium and plasma amino acids. Liver samples were taken after sacrifice at 72 h for inorganic element analysis. Sepsis produced a significant increase in copper and magnesium and a significant decrease in zinc and calcium levels of plasma. Trace element content of the livers the septic rats did not differ appreciably from control rats. Septic rats also had a lowered concentration of branched chain amino acids. These changes especially those of copper and zinc could be expected to have a role in the progress of the disease. The changes observed in the present study might be caused through the release of Interleukin-I or related substances from the phagocytic cells.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Nutrient intake and health status of lactovegetarians: chemical analyses of diets using the duplicate portion sampling technique.

Six middle-aged lactovegetarians (three men and three women) collected copies of four 24-h diets using the duplicate portion sampling technique. By chemical analyses, the nutrient composition of the lactovegetarian diet was determined in detail and compared with that of a mixed Swedish diet (normal) and a vegan diet (vegan) studied previously. The nutrient composition of the lactovegetarian diet expressed per 1000 kcal represented an average between normal and vegan diets. It was in closer agreement with Swedish recommended dietary allowances than the normal Swedish diet. Thus, the lactovegetarian diet contained 35% of the energy as fat and was rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, which resulted in a polyunsaturated/saturated fat ratio of 0.6. The lactovegetarian diet had a cholesterol concentration only half of that of a normal diet. Protein content and amino acid composition were well above recommendations. The lactovegetarian diets contained less sucrose than normal and vegan diets, but the sum of the intake of low molecular weight carbohydrates was comparable to normal and vegan diets. Dietary fiber was three times higher than in a normal diet. Essential minerals and trace elements, ie, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, satisfied current requirements. The intake of vitamin B12 by the lactovegetarians was around 1.4 micrograms daily, which is below the recommendations. The intake of folates was high, 300 to 400 micrograms daily. The clinical and biochemical investigation of the subjects revealed no signs of nutritional deficiency. Their plasma lipoproteins and the blood pressures were low for their age, in agreement with observations made earlier in a group of vegans.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Public health/clinical significance of inorganic chemical elements.

Food tables documenting the concentration of various nutrients in individual foods do not provide satisfactory information on the contribution of essential inorganic trace elements by prepared meals. Only direct analysis of the actual food consumed during a 24-hour period can give an accurate estimate of the dietary intake. Employing the duplicate portion technique, we have analysed the concentration of a number of inorganic chemical elements in 882 dietary samples from various population groups in Sweden. The intake of several elements including potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper and selenium, in the normal mixed diets is low when compared with recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Vegetarian diets are richer in these elements than ordinary non-vegetarian diets. Plasma levels of trace elements are often poor indicators of body status. A clinical follow-up of a group of pensioners in Dalby, Sweden, for a period of 10-12 years has not indicated any specific signs or symptoms of trace element deficiencies. Vulnerable groups, namely, children, pregnant women, alcoholics and the elderly, may, however, be more susceptible than the population in general to marginal deficiencies resulting from normal everyday consumption of Western diets.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Zinc, copper, magnesium, and calcium in blood and plasma after phlebotomy.

Zinc levels in plasma and whole blood were investigated in 2 groups of blood donors. The first group consisted of 19 men and 11 women who donated blood for the first time and were followed during 3 phlebotomies. The second group comprised 44 men with 9 or more previous blood donations, their blood being analysed on a single occasion. Plasma concentrations of copper, magnesium, calcium and ferritin were also analysed. The zinc levels in whole blood and plasma in the second group were significantly lower as compared to the first group (P less than 0.001). Furthermore, the second group had significantly higher levels of copper and copper:zinc quotient in plasma as compared to those of the new blood donors (P less than 0.001). Our results indicate that besides the earlier known effect of blood donation on iron stores, there are also signs of zinc depletion when judged from the zinc levels in plasma and in erythrocytes. No significant changes in calcium and magnesium concentrations were seen during phlebotomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

How adequate is plasma zinc as an indicator of zinc status?

Determination of plasma zinc is the most widely used parameter for assessing the body status of this trace element. Plasma zinc levels are influenced by a wide variety of conditions, including infections and other factors causing stress. Low plasma zinc levels are not always indicative of zinc deficiency. Liver zinc is a much better parameter than plasma zinc for assessing subclinical deficiencies induced by dietary factors or disease. When the plasma zinc level is reduced, there is a reciprocal increase in plasma copper, and as such the copper:zinc ratio in plasma may reflect the temporary shift in plasma zinc. Whenever possible, plasma zinc level determinations should be complemented with zinc concentration determinations in a nucleated tissue, such as liver, muscle or bone. Zinc-dependent enzymes may not always reflect the status of the element in the body. In summary, then, plasma levels of zinc alone cannot be regarded as definitive evidence for assessing the body status or deficiency states of zinc.

Diet↗