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Biomedical subjects

M Ali

Publications and source records attributed to M Ali.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

HLA antigens in an Omani population with dilated cardiomyopathy.

We have investigated the frequency of HLA antigens in 50 Omanis with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy to establish whether there are ethnic/racial differences in the reported HLA associations with this disease. There were no statistically significant HLA-A, B, C, DR or DQ antigen frequency differences between the patients and 247 healthy Omanis. THe reported association of HLA-DR4 with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in the Caucasian population does not apply to the Omanis. This confirms the heterogeneity of this disease and points to ethnic/racial origins as important factors when examining the HLA association. This is particularly pertinent as HLD-DR4 has been strongly linked to autoantibody formation in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in Caucasians. The lack of any HLA antigen association in Omanis would argue against the proposed HLA-linked autoimmune pathology of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗
PubMed1996

Sonography of hepatobiliary ascariasis.

We present the real-time sonographic features of 19 surgically proven cases of hepatobiliary ascariasis, in which ultrasound examination was the primary modality used to achieve the diagnosis. All the patients presented with right upper quadrant abdominal symptoms. There were no false positive diagnoses. The "impacted worm" sign, reported here for the first time, presented in two patients as long curved, tubular, non-shadowing structures with echoluscent cores, in the distribution of the intrahepatic biliary ducts. Both of these patients died soon after surgery indicating poor prognosis in such cases. Two other patients are described in whom macerated round worms were seen as intraluminal, localized, soft tissue masses in the common duct mimicking a cholangiocarcinoma. Thus, biliary ascariasis must be added to the differential diagnosis of an intraluminal bile duct mass in patients from endemic areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Field trial of inactivated oral cholera vaccines in Bangladesh: results from 5 years of follow-up.

To determine the protective efficacy (PE) of three doses of oral B subunit-killed whole cell (BS-WC) or killed whole cell-only (WC) vaccines against cholera, a clinical trial was conducted among 62285 children over 2 years and adult women in rural Bangladesh. During 5 years of follow-up, there were 144 cases of cholera in the BS-WC group (PE = 49%; P < 0.001), 150 in the WC group (PE = 47%; P < 0.001), and 283 in the K12 group. Protection by each vaccine was evident only during the first three years of follow-up; long-term protection of young children was observed only against classical but not El Tor cholera; 3-year protection against both cholera biotypes occurred among older persons, but at a higher level against classical cholera.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Histopathological effects of garlic on liver and lung of rats.

The comparative toxic effects of oral and intraperitoneal administration of garlic extracts on lung and liver tissue of rats were studied. Administration of low doses of garlic (50 mg/kg) to rats either orally or intraperitoneally had little effect on lung and liver tissues as compared to control animals. In contrast, administration of high doses of garlic (500 mg/kg) resulted in profound changes in lung and liver tissues of rats. Intraperitoneal administration of the high dose of garlic was more damaging to lung and liver tissue of rats than oral administration.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

An evaluation of garlic and onion as antithrombotic agents.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa) have been evaluated as possible antithrombotic agents. Rats were given aqueous extracts of garlic and onion, orally or intraperitoneally, daily for a period of 4 weeks after which the rats were sacrificed. The blood was collected from the heart without anticoagulant and the serum was prepared. The level of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) in the serum was measured by radioimmunoassay. TXB2 levels in serum of rats treated with the low dose of aqueous extract of garlic (50 mg/kg) was significantly inhibited regardless of the mode of administration (orally or intraperitoneally). At the high dose of garlic and onion (500 mg/kg), a further decrease of TXB2 levels in the serum of the rats was observed. Boiled garlic and onion at high concentration (500 mg/ kg) had very little effect on TXB2 synthesis. This shows that garlic and onion should be consumed in a raw rather than cooked form in order to achieve a beneficial effect. Boiling of these plants may cause the decomposition of the potential antithrombotic ingredient present in these herbs. Garlic was found to be more potent than onion in lowering the TXB2 levels. A high dose of garlic and onion produces toxicity in the rats (unpublished observation). These results show that garlic and onion can be taken frequently in low doses without any side effects, and can still produce a significant antithrombotic effect.

Allium↗
PubMed1996

SLE autoantibodies recognize spermine induced Z-conformation of native calf thymus DNA.

The binding specificity of naturally occurring anti-DNA antibodies with spermine modified DNA was analyzed by direct binding and competition ELISA. The binding was visualised by band shift assay. The SLE anti-DNA antibodies appreciably recognized the spermine induced Z-conformation of native DNA. The degree of binding of these antibodies to the Z-conformer was almost similar to their binding with native DNA. The spermine-DNA complex was found to be thermodynamically more stable than native DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Surface localization, regulation, and biologic properties of the 96-kDa alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase (EhADH2) of pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica.

The 96-kDa surface antigen of Entamoeba histolytica was demonstrated through extensive immunologic evaluation with monoclonal and monospecific antibodies to be identical to or an isoform of the amebic alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase (EhADH2). EhADH2 was secreted, excreted, or shed into the culture medium in quantities commensurate with amebic growth when studied in a novel culture system. Of importance, using RNase protection assays, specific mRNA coding for the EhADH2 gene product(s) was up-regulated by treatment of viable trophozoites with the enzyme substrate ethanol. These data provide insight into the biology of this enzyme and its regulation by appropriate stressors.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1996

Differential regulation of nitric oxide in the rat uterus and cervix during pregnancy and labour.

The aim of this study was to determine if nitric oxide (NO) production and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms change within the uterus and cervix during pregnancy and labour either at term or preterm. NO production was compared in the rat uterus and cervix of non-pregnant and pregnant rats on days 18-22 prior to labour, day 22 during delivery, 1 day post-partum and after treatment with either 10 mg onapristone or progesterone. Uterine NO synthesis, reflected in nitrite production, increased during gestation (194.2 +/- 22.6 nmol/g on day 19) compared with the non-pregnant state (76.2 +/- 18.4 nmol/g, P < 0.05) and decreased during term labour and post-partum. Furthermore, injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 micrograms/rat i.p.) on day 20 of gestation resulted in a significant increase in NO synthesis after 6 h. Conversely, cervical NO synthesis and nitrite production was low in the non-pregnant (65.1 +/- 9.2 nmol/g) and pregnant animals on days 18-22 of gestation (53.2 +/- 9.0 nmol/g on day 22, P > 0.05), but markedly increased during term labour (139 +/- 28.6 nmol/g, P < 0.05). Treatment with the antiprogestin onapristone suppressed uterine NO production and increased cervical production while continuous administration of progesterone from day 19 had the opposite effect. LPS produced a significant increase in cervical NO production in both the pregnant (8-fold) and non-pregnant (4-fold) states. All three known NOS isoforms (i.e., iNOS, nNOS and eNOS) were detected in the cervical samples but only two were present in the uterus (iNOs and eNOS). An increase in the presence of iNOS occurred during labour at term compared with cervices collected from day 19. This was contrary to the measurements of the isoform in the uterus. Also, there was a similar increase of nNOS in the cervix during labour. This isoform seemed absent in the uterus during gestation. No significant changes occurred in the abundance of eNOS in the cervix during labour at term compared with day 19. During preterm labour after onapristone, iNOS concentrations increased significantly in the cervix. In order to examine whether the NO pathway plays a role in cervical ripening, the effects of the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor L-nitro-arginine methylester (L-NAME) on the duration of delivery and on cervical extensibility were also investigated. The duration of delivery was significantly prolonged in L-NAME-treated rats compared with the control group (2.4-fold). Moreover, cervical extensibility decreased significantly (1.7-fold) after in-vitro incubation with L-NAME (P < 0.005). We conclude that the NO system may have an active role in the cascade of processes involved in preparing the uterus and cervix for parturition.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of the steady state pharmacokinetics of two formulations of cyclosporin in patients with atopic dermatitis.

A comparison was made of the efficacy, tolerability, safety and steady state pharmacokinetics of Sandimmun and Neoral in 11 stable atopic dermatitis patients already on Sandimmun. The study was of an open, crossover design. At entry into the trial, patients were switched to Neoral for 28 days. Treatment was switched back to Sandimmun for Days 28 to 42. The morning dose was given fasting, the evening dose after a standard meal. All measures of eczema severity improved during the Neoral treatment period. Neoral was markedly better tolerated with fewer side-effects. Switching from Sandimmun to Neoral at the same dose resulted in less variable pharmacokinetic profiles in both fasted and fed states. There was an increase in bioavailability with better, less variable and faster absorption, with a slightly reduced tmax, a higher mean Cmax (+43%) and a higher mean AUC (+30%) in fasted, but not fed patients. Higher trough levels (Cmin) occurred throughout for Neoral. These differences between the two formulations were not associated with any changes in safety parameters. Overall, Neoral was equivalent or superior to Sandimmun in tolerability and efficacy when given on a 1:1 dose basis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Antigen capture ELISA for the heat shock protein (hsp60) of Chlamydia trachomatis.

AIMS: To develop an indirect ELISA using the heat shock protein (hsp60) of Chlamydia trachomatis as antigen. METHODS: The hsp60 gene was amplified by PCR, expressed in the vector pDEV-107 and transformed into Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein, expressed as a beta-galactosidase fusion product, was captured onto a solid phase using a monoclonal antibody directed against beta-galactosidase. Following incubation with goat anti-human antibody conjugated to peroxidase and colour development on addition of peroxidase substrate, antibody recognition of antigen was quantified by optical density at 492 nm. RESULTS: A sensitive and relatively specific ELISA to detect hsp60 has been produced, which can be exploited to determine the antibody response to C trachomatis hsp60. CONCLUSIONS: This assay will permit the future investigation of the immunopathogenesis of persistent inflammation following C trachomatis infection.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1996

Neonatal screening for hereditary fructose intolerance: frequency of the most common mutant aldolase B allele (A149P) in the British population.

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) causes severe and sometimes fatal metabolic disturbances in infants and children but responds to dietary treatment. To determine the practicability of screening newborn infants for HFI, we have investigated the frequency of the most common and widespread mutant allele of aldolase B, A149P, in the neonatal population. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify aldolase B exon 5 genomic sequences in DNA present in dried blood specimens preserved on Guthrie cards. The A149P mutation was identified by discriminatory hybridisation to allele specific oligonucleotides and confirmed independently by digestion with the restriction endonuclease BsaHI. Twenty-seven A149P heterozygotes were identified by the molecular analysis of aldolase B genes in blood samples obtained from a random cohort of 2050 subjects born in 1994 and 1995, 1.32 +/- 0.49% (95% confidence level). Although no A149P homozygotes were identified, the data allow the frequency of 1 in 23,000 homozygotes for this allele to be predicted. Our findings have implications for establishing an interventional mass screening programme to identify newborn infants with HFI in the UK.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Failure of prolonged exercise training to increase red cell mass in humans.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the time-dependent effects of long-term prolonged exercise training on vascular volumes and hematological status. Training using seven untrained males [age 21.1 +/- 1.4 (SE) yr] initially consisted of cycling at 68% of peak aerobic power (VO2peak) for 2 h/day, 4-5 days/wk, for 11 wk. Absolute training intensity was increased every 3 wk. Red cell mass (RCM), obtained using 51Cr, was unchanged (P > 0.05) with training (2,142 +/- 95, 2,168 +/- 86, 2,003 +/- 112, and 2,080 +/- 116 ml at 0, 3, 6, and 11 wk, respectively) as were serum erythropoietin levels (17.1 +/- 4.3, 13.9 +/- 3.5, and 17.0 +/- 2.0 U/l at 0, 6, and 11 wk, respectively). Plasma volume measured with 125I-labeled albumin and total blood volume (TBV) were also not significantly altered. The increase in mean cell volume that occurred with training (89.7 +/- 0.95 vs. 91.0 +/- 1.0 fl, 0 vs. 6 wk, P < 0.05) was not accompanied by changes in either mean cell hemoglobin or mean cell hemoglobin concentration. Serum ferritin was reduced 73% with training (67.4 +/- 13 to 17.9 +/- 1 microgram/l, 0 vs. 11 wk, P < 0.05). Total hemoglobin (HbTot) calculated as the product of hemoglobin concentration and TBV was unaltered (P > 0.05) at both 6 and 11 wk of training. The 15% increase in VO2peak (3.39 +/- 0.16 to 3.87 +/- 0.14 l/min, 0 vs. 11 wk, P < 0.05) with training occurred despite a failure of training to change TBV, RCM, or HbTot.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Spontaneous release of submucosal gland serous and mucous cell macromolecules from human nasal explants in vitro.

Respiratory epithelial and gland cells cultured in vitro demonstrate changes from differentiated serous and mucous cells toward intermediate "seromucous" cells. This spontaneous process was examined by culturing human nasal mucosal explants in CMRL 1066 medium without growth factors for 6 days and measuring the concentrations of spontaneously released serous cell products [lactoferrin, lysozyme, 7F10-immunoreactive mucoglycoconjugates (7F10-irm)] and Alcian blue-staining mucous cell products. 7F10-irm was progressively and significantly increased on each day of culture. In contrast, lysozyme, lactoferrin, and Alcian blue-staining material decreased significantly. Each had its own pattern of decreasing release. Dexamethasone (1 microM) had no effect on these trends. Phorbol myristate ester (PMA; 100 nM) reduced 7F10-irm release on days 4-6 and delayed the drop in lactoferrin release. Dexamethasone blunted these effects of PMA. These data indicate that respiratory secretory cells alter their phenotypes when cultured in vitro and progressively change the relative amounts of mucoglycoconjugates and proteins spontaneously released. These changes should be anticipated when interpreting experiments involving cultured respiratory cells.

Alcian Blue↗
PubMed1996

A brief history of Indian alchemy covering transitional and tantric periods (circa 800 A.D.-1300 A.D.).

A brief history of Indian alchemy covering the pre-vedic, vedic and Ayurvedic periods (Circa 4000 B.C. to 800 A.D.) was given in one of the previous issues of this Bulletin, i.e. Volume 23, NO.2, July, 1993, pp. 151-166. In continuation of the same, this article is presented here, giving an account of the development of the chemical knowledge in India during transitional and tantric periods (circa 800 A.D. to 1300 A.D.).

Alchemy↗
PubMed1996

One hundred fifty years of Osmania Medical College (1846-1996).

The Hyderabad Medical School which came into existence in 1846 A.D. was the fore-runner of Osmania Medical College. The medium of instruction was Urdu the degree was Hakeem. Last two decades of nineteenth century was the glorious period of this school. Seventh and the last Nizam of Hyderabad Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan established Osmania University in 1919 A.d. and in the following year the Hyderabad Medical College. In 1957 A.D. Hyderabad became the Capital of enlarged Andhra Pradesh. Tremendous zeal and enthusiasm was evident to achieve alround progress in medical education.

Education, Medical↗
PubMed1996

[New endoprostheses for the condylar process of Russian manufacture].

Experience gained in repair of the mandibular condylar processes with titanium endoprostheses in 6 patients (8 endoprostheses) is presented. The defects were due to improperly healing fractures, ankylosis of the temporomandibular processes, and cancer. Two variants of endoprostheses differing by the fixing device are proposed. One variant is intended for replacement of defects of the condylar process only, the other permits the use of various titanium constructions to replace bone tissue defects in the branch, angle, and body of the jaw after its resection. Good immediate and late results (followed up for up to 14 months) demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method.

Adult↗