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Biomedical subjects

M Afzal

Publications and source records attributed to M Afzal.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Studies on Bacillus stearothermophilus. Part 1. Transformation of progesterone to a new metabolite 9,10-seco-4-pregnene-3,9,20-trione.

When Bacillus stearothermophilus, a thermophilic bacterium isolated from the Kuwaiti desert, was incubated with exogenous progesterone for 24 h, three monohydroxylated metabolites were produced. 20alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone was the major metabolite produced in 60.8 relative percentage yield. The other two monohydroxylated metabolites were identified as 6beta-hydroxyprogesterone and the rare 6alpha-hydroxyprogesterone in 21.0 and 13.6 relative percentage yields, respectively. A new metabolite 9,10-seco-4-pregnene-3,9,20-trione was isolated in 3.7 relative percentage yield. All metabolites were purified by preparative TLC and HPLC followed by their identification using 1H, 13C NMR and other spectroscopic data.

Biotransformation↗
PubMed2001

Ginger: an ethnomedical, chemical and pharmacological review.

Powerful medicinal properties have been recorded for Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger. All of these medicinal activities have been compiled with 99 references to the present status of the plant in the literature. Volatile components and the presence of trace metals are included. In addition, details of individual medicinal activities are given and the molecular structures of identified organic metabolites and their synthesis are described.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed2000

Genotoxic effects of estradiol-17beta on human lymphocyte chromosomes.

The cytogenetic effect of a hormonal steroid, estradiol-17beta, was assessed in peripheral blood human lymphocyte culture. Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and chromosome aberrations (CA) were scored as genetic end points. Significant induction of CA was observed at 25 microg/ml and 50 microg/ml concentrations of estradiol-17beta in the absence of microsomal activation. The drug was effective in all treatments in the presence of rat liver S(9) microsomal fraction (S(9) mix) and exhibited increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations. The drug was effective in increasing the SCE frequency which was found to be maximum at the dose of 50 microg/ml concentration (i.e., 4.34+/-1.22) both with and without metabolic activation. It was found that estradiol-17beta itself and possibly its metabolites are potent mutagens beyond a particular dose in human lymphocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Garlic and onions: their effect on eicosanoid metabolism and its clinical relevance.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa) are among the oldest of all cultivated plants. Additionally, both plants have been used as medicinal agents for thousands of years. Both garlic and onion have been shown to have applications as antimicrobial, antithrombotic, antitumor, hypolipidaemic, antiarthritic and hypoglycemic agents. In recent years, extensive research has focussed on the beneficial and medicinal properties of garlic and onions. In particular, the use of these agents in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer is an area of considerable investigation and interest.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Immune response of buffaloes to vaccination with Brucella abortus strain 19.

The immune response of buffalo calves and heifers to a full or half dose of Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccine was studied. Buffalo calves developed high serum agglutination test (SAT) titres following full dose vaccination. These titres declined more rapidly in calves of six months of age than in calves of eleven to twelve months of age. Specific immunoglobulin G titres, as measured by 2-mercaptoethanol-treated serum agglutination, declined much earlier than SAT titres. Buffalo heifers vaccinated with a full or half dose developed high SAT titres. The rate of decline of SAT titres in heifers was much slower than in calves. Vaccination with a half dose did not appear to offer any advantage in terms of disappearance of SAT titres.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed2000

Ultrasonographic renal size in individuals without known renal disease.

OBJECTIVE: In order to establish some preliminary data of our population, we determined the ultrasonographic kidney dimensions in individuals without known renal disease. We assessed whether age, sex, side, body mass index (BMI) and presence or absence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension affect the renal size. METHODS: Ultrasonographic kidney measurements were performed on 194 adult patients without known kidney lesions. Measurements included length, width, cortical thickness and estimation of renal size which was obtained by multiplying the first three variables. The effect of age, gender, side, height, weight, BMI, hypertension and diabetes mellitus was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The mean kidney length was 10.4 +/- 0.8 cm, mean with 4.5 +/- 0.6 cm and mean cortical thickness 1.6 +/- 0.2 cm. The estimated mean renal size was 76 +/- 22 cm3. Kidney length did not significantly differ between right and left, however, kidney width, cortical thickness and size did (p < 0.05). Right kidneys were smaller than the left ones. In univariate analysis, the mean renal size correlated with age, sex, side, BMI and absence or presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. In a multivariate analysis, however, the only significant factors affecting renal size were sex and BMI. CONCLUSION: We conclude that renal size is related to age, side, sex and the individual's height and weight. Population-based studies are needed to establish the normal values for the Pakistani population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Trend of blood pressure in north Indian children.

In the summer of 899 School Children (473 boys and 426 girls) aged 6-11 years in Aligarh district, Northern part of India were measured of blood pressure, height and weight. Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure have a strong positive correlation with age, height and weight (P < 0.001). There is no significant difference in SBP, DBP and MBP among the boys and girls of corresponding age. Inspite of sample fluctuation weight has shown a strong correlation with blood pressure (P < 0.001) among both sexes in any of the age groups.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed2000

Genetic analysis of fragile X-syndrome.

Fragile X-syndrome is the most common inherited cause of mental retardation. The key clinical features of the fragile X-syndrome in males are mental retardation, a long face with large everted ears and large testes. The disorder is associated with a visible fragile site at Xq27.3 at FMR-1 loucs with the amplification of (CGC) n repeat sequence. The early diagnosis of affected individuals are carriers who are not aware of their high risk of having an affected child is important for proper management and counselling.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Fatty acid composition of human milk in Kuwaiti mothers.

Kuwaiti diet is exceptionally rich in fat, carbohydrates and proteins. In addition, subjects in Kuwait are exposed to extreme heat and sun light. Fatty acid profiles of human milk obtained from 19 full breast feeding Kuwaiti mothers were analyzed. Dietary patterns for individual mothers were determined by 24 h dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. The fatty acid content of human milk was affected by the diet consumed by the lactating mother. The content of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) in human milk lipids did not correlate with their parent fatty acids like linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids. However the human milk LCP were related to the of content of LCP in the maternal diet. Mothers reporting a high fish consumption showed significant amounts of C22:6, omega 3 and C20:5, omega 3 fatty acids. As a general conclusion, breast milk produced by a well nourished mother is better suited to meet the lipid requirements of infants.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Application of distance geometry to 3D visualization of sequence relationships.

SUMMARY: We describe the application of distance geometry methods to the three-dimensional visualization of sequence relationships, with examples for mumps virus SH gene cDNA and prion protein sequences. Sequence-sequence distance measures may be obtained from either a multiple sequence alignment or from sets of pairwise alignments. AVAILABILITY: C/Perl code and HTML/VRML files from http://www.nibsc.ac.uk/dg3dseq/

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in Al-Qaseem province--Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the oral health status, especially prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis among an urban and rural population of Al-Qaseem province. DESIGN: World Health Organization (WHO) oral health form was used to survey the population. SETTING: Subjects were surveyed from Urban and rural schools, Government and non-governmental organizations, administrative and training institutes of Buraida city and villages of Ain Al-Juwa and Al-Asiah. SUBJECTS: Eight hundred male subjects were surveyed in 12, 15, 35-44 and > 65 years age groups. Four hundred urban and four hundred rural subjects were examined. One hundred in each group. RESULTS: It was found that fluorosis is more prevalent in rural than urban population. 24-67 percent of 12, 15, 34-44 and > 65 years were with dental fluorosis both in urban and rural areas. 12.5 percent of the population examined were with moderate to severe dental fluorosis. Eight percent of the urban and 16.3% of rural population were with moderate to severe dental fluorosis. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Rural population have more prevalent and severe dental fluorosis as compared to urban population of Al-Qaseem province. There is a need of preventive oral health programs with community education on their diet and water consumption. There is a need to improve water supplies and defluoridation of water sources in affected areas. Multiple sources of fluoride should be analysed and prevented. From treatment need point of view, there is also a need to meet the increased demand of cosmetic restorations for aesthetic units of dentition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Effects of aqueous extract of onion on the liver and lung of rats.

The toxic effects of oral and intraperitoneal administration of onion extracts on lung and liver tissue of rats were investigated. Oral or intraperitoneal administration of low doses of onion (50 mg/kg) to rats had little effect on lung and liver tissues when compared to control animals. In contrast, administration of high doses of onion (500 mg/kg) resulted in apparent histological changes in lung and liver tissues of rats. Intraperitoneal administration of the high dose of onion was more damaging to lung and liver tissue than oral administration and resulted in a 25% rate of mortality in this treatment group. These results suggest that low doses of onion are nontoxic and may be administered with few ill effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Gastric antiulcer and cytoprotective effect of Commiphora molmol in rats.

The aqueous suspension of Commiphora molmol (oleo-gum resin) has been screened for its potential to protect gastric mucosa against the ulcers caused by 80% ethanol, 25% NaCl, 0.2 M NaOH, indomethacin and combined indomethacin-ethanol treatment. C. molmol pretreatment at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg provided dose-dependent protection against the ulcerogenic effects of different necrotizing agents used. The effects caused by ethanol were further investigated. Treatment of rats with 1 ml of 80% ethanol was found to cause depletion of stomach wall mucus, reduction in the concentration of protein, nucleic acids and NP-SH groups in the stomach wall. Ethanol treatment also caused histopathological lesions including necrosis, erosion, congestion and haemorrhage of the stomach wall. Pretreatment with C. molmol offered a dose-dependent protection against all these effects. In the same manner it affected the malondialdehyde concentration altered by ethanol treatment. C. molmol also offered protection against mucosal damage caused by indomethacin and its combination with ethanol. The protective effect of C. molmol observed in the present study is attributed to its effect on mucus production, increase in nucleic acid and non-protein sulfhydryl concentration, which appears to be mediated through its free radical-scavenging, thyroid-stimulating and prostaglandin-inducing properties.

Animals↗