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Biomedical subjects

M Ali

Publications and source records attributed to M Ali.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Optimizing typhoid fever case definitions by combining serological tests in a large population study in Hechi City, China.

Blood culture-based diagnosis can only detect a fraction of the total burden of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi. The objective of the study was to detect additional typhoid fever cases through serological tests. A total of 1732 prolonged fever episodes were evaluated using three serological tests, Widal, Tubex and Typhidot-M in a typhoid fever endemic area of southern China. A case definition which included a positive Widal test (TO>or=80 & TH>A), a positive Tubex test (>or=4) and a positive Typhidot-M test, increased the detection of cases by more than twofold from 13 to 28 cases. The case definition has a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 39%. Case definitions based on combinations of serological tests can detect additional typhoid fever cases with higher specificity than a single serological test. Improved case detection is essential to understand the true disease burden and can help to boost the power of intervention trials.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Introducing Vi polysaccharide typhoid fever vaccine to primary school children in North Jakarta, Indonesia, via an existent school-based vaccination platform.

OBJECTIVES: To report results on coverage, safety and logistics of a large-scale, school-based Vi polysaccharide immunization campaign in North Jakarta. METHODS: Of 443 primary schools in North Jakarta, Indonesia, 18 public schools were randomly selected for this study. Exclusion criteria were fever 37.5 degrees C or higher at the time of vaccination or a known history of hypersensitivity to any vaccine. Adverse events were monitored and recorded for 1 month after immunization. Because this was a pilot programme, resource use was tracked in detail. RESULTS: During the February 2004 vaccination campaign, 4828 students were immunized (91% of the target population); another 394 students (7%) were vaccinated during mop-up programmes. Informed consent was obtained for 98% of the target population. In all, 34 adverse events were reported, corresponding to seven events per 1000 doses injected; none was serious. The manufacturer recommended cold chain was maintained throughout the programme. CONCLUSIONS: This demonstration project in two sub-districts of North Jakarta shows that a large-scale, school-based typhoid fever Vi polysaccharide vaccination campaign is logistically feasible, safe and minimally disruptive to regular school activities, when used in the context of an existing successful immunization platform. The project had high parental acceptance. Nonetheless, policy-relevant questions still need to be answered before implementing a widespread Vi polysaccharide vaccine programme in Indonesia.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed2006

Aqueous extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. ameliorates additive urotoxicity of buthionine sulfoximine and cyclophosphamide in mice.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a commonly used anti-cancer drug which causes toxicity by its reactive metabolites such as acrolein and phosphoramide mustard. In the present study modulation of toxicity caused by concomitant exposure to CP and l-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO) by fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) extract was evaluated by measuring lipid peroxidation (LPO) and anti-oxidants in urinary bladder in mice. Fenugreek, a common dietary and medicinal herb, showed protective effect not only on LPO but also on the enzymatic anti-oxidants. CP-treated animals exhibited a significant decrease in the activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GP) and catalase (CAT) when compared to the controls. Level of reduced glutathione (GSH) was also reduced with an increase in LPO in CP-treated animals. BSO treatment depicted an additive toxic effect in CP-treated animals. Pre-treatment of herbal extract restored activities of all the enzymes and thus showed an overall protective effect on additive effect of CP and BSO. Restoration of GSH by extract treatment may play an important role in reversing CP-induced apoptosis and free radical-mediated LPO in urinary bladder. Fenugreek, known for its hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity, may be a promising protective medicinal herb for consideration in complementary therapy in cancer patients under chemotherapeutic interventions.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Irish-1 and Irish-2: UK epidemic meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains associated with Northern Ireland.

Since 1998, an increasing number of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates with one of two characteristic phage patterns have been referred to the authors' laboratory from Northern Ireland. These strains were designated 'Irish-1' and 'Irish-2'. Analysis of 956 submitted isolates classified as Irish-1 or Irish-2 showed that 97% of the former and 95% of the latter were from Northern Ireland. Only 0.2% and 3%, respectively, were from England. Eleven Irish-2 isolates had been referred from Western Australia as representatives of an epidemic strain originally isolated there in 1994. Ninety isolates with the Irish-1 phage pattern and 91 isolates with the Irish-2 phage pattern, from numerous hospitals, were characterized by SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), toxin gene carriage and antibiotic susceptibility. PFGE showed that, within each collection, a few isolates represented unrelated strains, but the majority were within six band differences of the most common profiles. Half of the Irish-1 isolates were homogeneous, with 22 DNA profiles among the remainder. Irish-2 isolates had two common profiles, D1 and D2, equally divided between one-third of the isolates and differing from each other by two bands; the remaining isolates shared 31 DNA profiles. Cluster analysis showed some overlap in DNA profiles between the Irish-1 and Irish-2 strains, but clear separation from other epidemic MRSA strains. There was no obvious correlation between PFGE profile and either antibiotic resistance pattern or toxin gene possession. All but three Irish-1 isolates possessed only the staphylococcal enterotoxin A (sea) gene, whereas almost all Irish-2 isolates were negative for all 12 enterotoxin genes. Sixty-nine percent of Irish-2 isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, kanamycin, neomycin and streptomycin, while 90% of Irish-1 isolates were resistant to all these plus gentamicin and mupirocin. All isolates were sensitive to quinupristin/dalfopristin, teicoplanin and vancomycin. Urease production was negative in both strains. The results suggest that Irish-1 and Irish-2 are distinct epidemic strains, identifiable by phage typing, DNA profiles, antibiotic resistance and toxin gene carriage.

Bacteriophage Typing↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence of sputum smear-positive tuberculosis in a rural area in Bangladesh.

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) in a rural area in Bangladesh at Matlab. A TB surveillance system was established among 106,000 people in rural Bangladesh at Matlab. Trained field workers interviewed all persons aged > or = 15 years to detect suspected cases of TB (cough > 21 days) and sputum specimens of suspected cases were examined for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Of 59,395 persons interviewed, 4235 (7.1%) had a cough for > 21 days. Sputum specimens were examined for AFB from 3834 persons, 52 (1.4%) of them were positive for AFB. The prevalence of chronic cough and sputum positivity were significantly higher among males compared to females (P < 0.001). The population-based prevalence rate of smear-positive TB cases was 95/100,000 among persons aged > or = 15 years. Cases of TB clustered geographically (relative risk 5.53, 95% CI 3.19-9.59). The high burden of TB among rural population warrants appropriate measures to control TB in Bangladesh. The higher prevalence of persistent cough and AFB-positive sputum among males need further exploration. Factors responsible for higher prevalence of TB in clusters should be investigated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Molecular characteristics of Shigella spp. isolated from patients with diarrhoea in a new industrialized area of Thailand.

In this study, we used plasmid profile analysis, XbaI macrorestriction with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and PCR of the ipaH gene, to study the molecular characteristics of 183 Shigella spp. isolated during May 2000 to April 2003 from rectal swabs of patients with watery and/or bloody diarrhoea in a new industrialized area of Thailand. Among the 183 isolates, 167 were S. sonnei and 16 were S. flexneri. For plasmid profile analysis, the 183 isolates revealed 16 different plasmid patterns, designated patterns A to P. The sizes of the plasmid bands were: 6, 5.5, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.25, 2.75, 2.5, 2, 1.75, 1.5 and/or 1.25 kb. The frequency of each plasmid band was 4.5 kb (165 isolates), 3.25 kb (161 isolates), 5.5 kb (129 isolates), 1.75 kb (121 isolates), 1.5 kb (35 isolates), 5 kb (21 isolates), 2 kb (16 isolates), 2.75 kb (12 isolates), 1.25 kb (9 isolates), and 6 kb (8 isolates). PFGE analysis revealed 45 different XbaI macrorestricted DNA banding patterns which could be grouped into 11 groups. All the isolates gave PCR amplicons of the ipaH gene. Plasmid profile analysis and PFGE are powerful tools for differentiation of the Shigella spp. This study provides important data on the molecular characteristics of Shigella isolates in Thailand, which could be useful as an epidemiological baseline for identifying relationships with strains that may emerge in the future.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed2006

New compounds from Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl.

Phytochemical investigation of Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. has afforded six new compounds identified as cadina-3-en-15-ol (myrracadinol A) (1), 7, 8-seco-2, 5-dihydroxy-12-acetoxycalam-8-ene (myrracalamene A) (2), 7, 8-seco-2, 3, 5-hydroxy-12-acetoxycalame-8-ene (myrracalamene B) (3), 7, 8-seco-cadin-3, 8-dien-2beta, 12-diol (myrracadinol B) (4), 7, 8-seco-12-hydroxycalam-8-ene (myrracalamene C) (6), 7, 8-seco-cadin-3,7(12)-dien-5alpha,10alpha-diol (myrracadinol C) (7) along with a known compound tria-cont-1-ene (5). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical analyses.

Acetylation↗
PubMed2006

Genetic aspects of restless legs syndrome.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Ekbom syndrome, is a common movement disorder with sensorimotor symptoms occurring during sleep and quiet wakefulness. The underlying cause for RLS is unknown but genetic influences play a strong part in the pathogenesis of RLS, particularly when the condition starts at a young age. This review explores the genetic basis of RLS and related phenotypic variations. Recently, three loci showing vulnerability to RLS have been described in French-Canadian and Italian families in chromosomes 12q, 14q and 9q, emphasising on an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. These have been labelled RLS1, RLS2 and RLS3, respectively. However, specific causative mutations remain elusive and no linkage analysis has been identified so far in the candidate genes investigated in RLS.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed2006

Formulation and development of gastroretentive drug delivery system for ofloxacin.

The aim of the present study was to develop a delivery system wherein the retention of ofloxacin could be achieved for increased local action in gastric region against Helicobacter pylori infection. The formulation was optimized on the basis of in vitro buoyancy and in vitro release in citrate phosphate buffer (pH 3). The hydrodynamically balanced capsules were prepared by physical mixing of various grades of HPMC and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) alone as well as in combinations. Cellulose acetate pthalate, liquid paraffin, and ethyl cellulose were used as release modifiers so as to maintain release of drug over a period of 12 h. The capsules prepared with PEOWSR 60K and drug coated with 2.5% ethyl cellulose gave the best in vitro percentage release and were taken as the optimized formulations. Various grades of Eudragit and PEO were used in combination for formulating floating microspheres using solvent diffusion technique for preparation of multiple unit system. The use of two different solvents (dichloromethane and ethanol) that differed in the rate of diffusion led to formation of a hollow core in the microspheres, which was partially responsible for the flotation ability. The in vitro release of the floating capsules and microspheres was found to be 96.02% and 95.83% in 12 h, respectively. Both the dosage forms follow Higuchi model for release from formulations. By fitting the in vitro release data of single unit dosage form into zero-order, first-order, and Higuchi model, it could be concluded that the release followed Higuchi model, as the correlation coefficient (R2 value) was higher than those in the other two release models. In both cases of single and multiple unit dosage form, R2 values for Higuchi model were found to be good, showing that drug release followed non-Fickian diffusion mechanism.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

The SAGES Bariatric Surgery Outcome Initiative.

BACKGROUND: The recent initiative for identifying centers of excellence in bariatric surgery calls for documentation of surgical outcomes. The SAGES Outcomes Initiative is a national database introduced in 1999 as a method for surgeons to accumulate and compare their data with summary national data. A bariatric-specific dataset was established later in 2001. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of bariatric surgery from the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons' (SAGES) bariatric database with data derived from a national administrative database of academic centers. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2004, 24 surgeons with 1,954 patients participated in the SAGES Bariatric Outcome Initiative, and 97 institutions with 42,847 patients participated in the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) database. Only 7 of the 24 surgeons participating in the SAGES Bariatric Outcome Initiative submitted more than 50 cases. The main outcome measures included demographics, comorbidities, type of bariatric procedure, operative time, length of hospital stay, short- and long-term complications, mortality, and weight loss. RESULTS: Both datasets were comparable for gender. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass had been performed for 88% of the patients in the SAGES database and 96% of the patients in the UHC database. Associated comorbidities were similar between the two groups except for a higher rate of hyperlipidemia for the patients in the SAGES database. The SAGES database contains more bariatric-specific information such as body mass index, operative time, blood loss, bariatric-specific complications, long-term complications, and weight loss data than the UHC database. According to the available data, no statistically significant differences exist between the two datasets in terms of perioperative complications and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The SAGES Bariatric Outcome Initiative provides valuable bariatric-specific data not currently available in an administrative database that may be useful for benchmarking purposes. However, this database is currently underutilized.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Emergency medical services in Islamabad, Pakistan: a public-private partnership.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the emergency medical services (EMS) based in Islamabad, Pakistan. Rescue-15 is an innovative EMS collaboration project between the police, the private sector and the community. METHODS: Data from Rescue-15 were used for systems analysis. The institutional set-up, private-public partnership, client satisfaction and sustainability issues were examined. The access and efficiency of EMS were assessed in terms of ambulance response time. RESULTS: Primarily, systems analysis showed community participation to explain the project's strength. Since its establishment, the project has been meeting its own recurrent expenditures without levying an extra burden on the Government. Sustainability issues such as amendments to legislation have been addressed at departmental and governmental levels. Data analysis showed that rescue time is, on average, 10.4 min (SD=2.6 min). A client survey also demonstrated user satisfaction and increased confidence in the service. CONCLUSIONS: This EMS programme exemplifies the potential of public-private partnership involving the police and the private sector in project implementation and management in a developing country with scarce resources. This initiative to involve the public and the private sector may provide a model for implementation of such services in other resource-poor developing countries, which may in turn facilitate realistic solutions for better prehospital care in developing countries.

Consumer Behavior↗
PubMed2005

Modulatory effect of cadmium exposure on deltamethrin-induced oxidative stress in Channa punctata Bloch.

The modulatory effect of cadmium pretreatment (0.2 mg/kg b.w. i.p.) on deltamethrin-induced oxidative stress and alterations of antioxidants was studied in freshwater fish Channa punctata Bloch. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) was measured as one of the indicators of oxidative stress. Activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase were also studied in liver, kidney, and gills. Levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in various tissues. Fish pretreated with cadmium and subsequently exposed to deltamethrin showed significantly reduced LPO values when compared with deltamethrin-exposed fish. Conversely, in the kidney, a potentiation response was observed. Deltamethrin exposure in fish resulted in significant alteration in activities of glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes. In the cadmium preexposed fish, which were subsequently exposed to deltamethrin, antioxidant enzymes showed a tendency toward normalization over deltamethrin-only exposed fish in liver and gills. GSH also showed a similar pattern in liver and gills but in kidney it remained elevated. Cadmium alone had no significant effect on various parameters at the concentration used in this study. When metallothionein (MT) induction was studied, only liver showed an MT-like protein band in sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. These results demonstrate a modulatory role of cadmium on the oxidative stress and other related parameters in liver and gills. These findings are important in the context of exposure to a mixture of pollutants in aquatic environment.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The burden of cholera in the slums of Kolkata, India: data from a prospective, community based study.

AIMS: To conduct a prospective, community based study in an impoverished urban site in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) in order to measure the burden of cholera, describe its epidemiology, and search for potential risk factors that could be addressed by public health strategies. METHODS: The study population was enumerated at the beginning and end of the study period. Surveillance through five field outposts and two referral hospitals for acute, watery, non-bloody diarrhoea was conducted from 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2004. Data and a stool sample for culture of Vibrio cholerae were collected from each patient. Treatment was provided in accordance with national guidelines. RESULTS: From 62 329 individuals under surveillance, 3284 diarrhoea episodes were detected, of which 3276 (99%) had a stool sample collected and 126 (4%) were culture confirmed cholera. Nineteen (15%) were children less than 2 years of age, 29 (23%) had severe dehydration, and 48 (38%) were hospitalised. Risk factors for cholera included a household member with cholera during the period of surveillance, young age, and lower educational level. CONCLUSIONS: There was a substantial burden of cholera in Kolkata with risk factors not easily amenable to intervention. Young children bear the brunt not only of diarrhoeal diseases in general, but of cholera as well. Mass vaccination could be a potentially useful tool to prevent and control seasonal cholera in this community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

A second locus for Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome at chromosome 13q14-21.

BACKGROUND: Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) is an autosomal recessive, early onset encephalopathy characterised by calcification of the basal ganglia, chronic cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis, and negative serological investigations for common prenatal infections. AGS may result from a perturbation of interferon alpha metabolism. The disorder is genetically heterogeneous with approximately 50% of families mapping to the first known locus at 3p21 (AGS1). METHODS: A genome-wide scan was performed in 10 families with a clinical diagnosis of AGS in whom linkage to AGS1 had been excluded. Higher density genotyping in regions of interest was also undertaken using the 10 mapping pedigrees and seven additional AGS families. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate significant linkage to a second AGS locus (AGS2) at chromosome 13q14-21 with a maximum multipoint heterogeneity logarithm of the odds (LOD) score of 5.75 at D13S768. The AGS2 locus lies within a 4.7 cM region as defined by a 1 LOD-unit support interval. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a second AGS disease locus and at least one further locus. As in a number of other conditions, genetic heterogeneity represents a significant obstacle to gene identification in AGS. The localisation of AGS2 represents an important step in this process.

Basal Ganglia Diseases↗
PubMed2005

Emergency obstetric care in Pakistan: potential for reduced maternal mortality through improved basic EmOC facilities, services, and access.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain and compare compliance with UN emergency obstetric care (EmOC) recommendations by public health care centers in Pakistan's Punjab and Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) provinces. METHOD: Cross-sectional data were collected from July through September 2003 using UN process indicators. From each province, 30% of districts (n=19); were randomly selected; all public health facilities providing EmOC services (n=170) were included. RESULTS: The study found that out of 170 facilities only 22 were providing basic and 37 comprehensive EmOC services in the areas studied. Only 5.7% of births occurred in EmOC health facilities. Met need was 9% and 0.5% of women gave birth by cesarean section. The case fatality rate was a low 0.7%, probably due to poor record keeping. Access and several indicators were better in NWFP than in Punjab. CONCLUSION: Almost all indicators were below UN recommendations. Health policy makers and planners must take immediate, appropriate measures at district and hospital levels to reduce maternal mortality.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2005

Genetic syndromes mimic congenital infections.

Genetic syndromes that mimic congenital infection are important to recognize because of the associated risk of recurrence. We describe two brothers born to consanguineous parents with clinical features suggestive of intrauterine infection but with negative serologic investigations. Our observations suggest that Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome (AGS) and pseudo-TORCH syndrome likely represent the same disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Illness incidence and health seeking behaviour among street children in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: This is the first study in Pakistan to elicit street children's perceptions of health and the barriers to service utilization. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out during September and October 2000. The data were collected in twin-cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad through individual, semi-structured street-based interviews; with 40 school age participants; in addition, three focus group discussions were also completed. The sampling was convenience based. This strategy was applied because of the non-existence of a sampling frame for the street-based children owing to the absence of any census or other reports, and also the difficulty of tracking very mobile street children. RESULTS: Results indicate that these youth were highly susceptible to many adverse health outcomes. The common ailments were injuries, respiratory and skin infections. Along with low self-perceived severity of medical problems, self-medication was preferred and medical pluralism existed. Their perceived constraints to services included long waiting time, monetary, negative attitude of service providers and their inferior status. CONCLUSIONS: In developing user-friendly services, it is important to be sensitive to street children's needs and requirements. Eliminating these barriers and the integration of health services among public and private resources are imperative for the regular and sustainable provision of health care to this vulnerable, under-served group of children.

Adolescent↗