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Biomedical subjects

M Ali

Publications and source records attributed to M Ali.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Hyaluronan is exocytosed from serous, but not mucous cells, of human nasal and tracheobronchial submucosal glands.

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronan is a large, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan that is a major component of many extracellular matrices. Secretion of hyaluronan has been associated with inflammation in the lungs and other tissues. The purpose of the present study was to determine the distribution of hyaluronan in human respiratory tissues and to determine if hyaluronan was present in human nasal secretions. METHOD: Hyaluronan was localized in histological sections of human nasal and tracheobronchial mucosa using a biotinlabeled affinity-purified hyaluronan binding probe derived from cartilage proteoglycan (b-PG) (Green et al. Exp Cell Res 1988; 178:224-32). Subjects had saline nasal provocation to collect baseline nasal secretions, then ate chili peppers to provoke parasympathetic cholinergic nasal glandular secretion (gustatory provocation). Total protein and hyaluronan concentrations were measured in the lavage fluids. RESULTS: Staining for hyaluronan was intense in basement membranes of epithelium, glands and vessels, and perivascular adventitia. Many epithelial cells contained hyaluronan, but the staining intensity was less than that on the basolateral aspects of these cells. Submucosal gland serous cells contained variable amounts of hyaluronan. Hyaluronan was not present in goblet cells, submucosal gland mucous cells, or sub-basement membrane collagen deposits. The gustatory, parasympathetic stimulus induced a 4-fold increase in hyaluronan secretion (P < 0.01) and a 3.5-fold increase in total protein release (P < 0.0010). Hyaluronan accounted for 75% to 80% of the polymeric uronic acids in human nasal secretions. CONCLUSION: Hyaluronan was present human respiratory epithelial cells and submucosal gland serous cells and was exocytosed in response to parasympathetic stimulation. This distribution suggests roles in packaging cationic proteins in serous cells, cellular adhesion to basement membranes, and activation of macrophages in airway lumens.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1996

Effects of bombesin family peptides and antagonists on guinea pig nasal mucosal secretion.

Receptors for the bombesin family of peptides are present on human and guinea pig respiratory tract submucosal glands and mediate glandular exocytosis. The effects of gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), neuromedin B (NMB), the amphibian skin peptides ranatensin and phyllolitorin and bombesin antagonists were assessed in the guinea pig nasal mucosal secretion model vivo, GRP induced significant total protein and alkaline phosphatase secretion with half maximal responses at 1 and 10 nM, respectively. NMB induced a larger percent change in alkaline phosphatase secretion than GRP with a half maximal response at less than 1 nM NMB. GRP-induced secretion was antagonized by three bombesin-like peptide analogs: BIM-26028, BIM-26187 and BIM-26226. Total protein secretion induced by 100 nM GRP was reduced 50% by BIM-compounds at concentrations of 1 to 3 nM, although BIM-26226 was even more potent on alkaline phosphatase secretion. BIM-26226 (1 nM) reduced the effects of increasing doses of GRP and NMB, Ranatensin and phyllolitorin did not stimulate any secretion. mRNA for GRP receptors, NMB receptors, bombesin receptor subtype 3, GRP and NMB were detectable in human nasal mucosal samples. These and previous data suggest that: 1) GRP is a more potent secretagogue of total protein than NMB and bombesin, 2) NMB is more potent at stimulating alkaline phosphatase, 3) ranatensin and phyllolitorin are not secretagogues, 4) BIM-26226 is a potent GRP and NMB antagonist, 5) these compounds do not alter basal secretion, suggesting that GRP and NMB do not play active roles stimulating tonic secretion in this model and 6) GRP, and potentially NMB, released from nerves or other sites may act on GRP receptor, NMB receptor or bombesin receptor subtype 3 to induce glandular secretion in respiratory mucosa.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Sustainability of a water, sanitation and hygiene education project in rural Bangladesh: a 5-year follow-up.

An integrated water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WSH) education intervention project was run by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, over the period 1983-87. In the intervention area the project provided handpumps, pit latrines, and hygiene education to about 800 households. The control population did not receive any interventions, but had access to the usual government and private WSH facilities. After 1987 no external support was provided to maintain these provisions. A cross-sectional follow-up survey, which was carried out in 1992, involved about 500 randomly selected households from the intervention and control areas. In 1992 about 82% of the pumps were still in good functional condition and of these, 94% had been functioning well in 1987. Fewer latrines were functional in 1992 (64%) than at the end of 1987 (93%). In the former intervention area about 84% of the adults were using sanitary latrines in 1992 compared with only 7% in the control area. Knowledge related to disease transmission, however, was poor and similar in both areas. People claimed that they used the WSH facilities to improve the quality of their lives. The prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases in the 1992 survey among the control population was about twice that among those in the intervention area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Comparative study of diclofenac sodium and flurbiprofen in osteoarthritis.

A comparative study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of diclofenac sodium and flurbiprofen both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in osteoarthritis. Forty patients of either sex between the ages of 35-60 years suffering from osteoarthritis of at least one knee joint minimum of eight weeks duration were included in the study. Diclofenac sodium exhibited better results by improving the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis in both high and low doses compared to flurbiprofen. The adverse effects observed were similar in both groups.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1996

[Usefulness and limits of intraoperative hormone determination in the surgery of endocrine duodeno-pancreatic tumors. Experience of 74 cases].

74 patients underwent surgery for organic hyperinsulinism (51 cases) or for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (23 cases). 20 minutes after removal of the specimen, quick intra-operative hormone measurements were done in the systemic and portal blood as well, with intra-operative secretin stimulation test for gastrinoma(s), to assess completeness of surgery. Results accurately predicted cure (all insulinomas) or non-cure (half of gastrinomas) of the disease. Stumbling-blocks of the method are: a) the possibility of normal hormone base line levels at the time of surgery; b) the importance of secretion of proinsulin products by insulinomas. Those products are not taken in account by the modern assay technique with monoclonal antibodies (IRMA). Basal and stimulated portal measurements are more sensitive than measurements in the systematic blood.

Gastrinoma↗
PubMed1995

Heuristically derived tumor burden score as a prognostic factor for stage IIIB carcinoma of the cervix.

PURPOSE: A retrospective analysis of radiotherapeutic management of locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix was performed to evaluate the effect of various treatment parameters and disease extent upon treat outcome. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1976 and 1989, 89 patients with Stage IIIB disease were treated with external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Treatment outcomes were evaluated by dose to Point A, the proportion of Point A dose delivered by brachytherapy, clinical response at 3 months, and a newly developed tumor burden scoring system that quantifies the anatomical extent of disease. Kaplan-Meier estimates of tumor control and survival parameters were determined. RESULTS: Loco-regional control (LRC), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OVS) at 5 years were 52.9%, 45.5%, and 50.3%, respectively. Clinical response at 3 months was highly predictive of local and distant tumor control. There was no correlation between proportion of brachytherapy dose and treatment outcome. The tumor burden scoring system demonstrates that FIGO Stage IIIB disease can be clinically divided into two prognostic groups of low and high tumor burden. Five year LRC was 62.9% and 40.2% for the low and high tumor burden groups, respectively (p = 0.024). Within the high tumor burden group the LRC was 53.0% and 22.5% when the point A dose given was > 78 Gy and < or = 78 Gy, respectively (p = 0.047). This correlated with improved DFS and OVS. CONCLUSION: The tumor burden scoring system subdivides FIGO Stage IIIB cervical carcinoma into two prognostic groups, predicting for overall survival and demonstrating a dose response in the high tumor burden group. This system may serve to improve future comparison of treatment outcome and to guide selection of patients who may benefit from a more aggressive treatment approach.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Mechanism by which garlic (Allium sativum) inhibits cyclooxygenase activity. Effect of raw versus boiled garlic extract on the synthesis of prostanoids.

We have studied the effect of aqueous extract of raw garlic and boiled garlic on cyclooxygenase activity in rabbit tissues. Raw garlic inhibited cyclooxygenase activity non-competitively and irreversibly. A dose-dependent inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity was observed in tissues treated with raw garlic. The garlic concentrations required for 50% inhibition of platelets, lung and vascular aortic cyclooxygenase activities of rabbits were 0.35, 1.10 and 0.90 mg, respectively. Cyclooxygenase activity of rabbit platelets was more sensitive to inhibition by raw garlic than the enzyme from blood vessels or lungs. Boiled garlic was found to have little effect on cyclooxygenase activity as compared to raw garlic in these tissues. This may be because the active component of raw garlic is destroyed upon heating. These results indicate that garlic may be beneficial in the prevention of thrombosis if ingested raw rather in a cooked form.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Consumption of a garlic clove a day could be beneficial in preventing thrombosis.

The effect of the consumption of a fresh clove of garlic on platelet thromboxane production was examined. A group of male volunteers in the age range 40-50 years participated in the study. Each volunteer consumed one clove (approximately 3 g) of fresh garlic daily for a period of 16 weeks. Each participant served as his own control. Thromboxane B2 (TXB2, a stable metabolite of thromboxane A2), cholesterol and glucose were determined in serum obtained after blood clotting. After 26 weeks of garlic consumption, there was an approximately 20% reduction of serum cholesterol and about 80% reduction in serum thromboxane. No change in the level of serum glucose was observed. Thus, it appears that small amounts of fresh garlic consumed over a long period of time may be beneficial in the prevention of thrombosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Role of amylase-treated, energy-dense liquid diet in the nutritional management of acute shigellosis in children: a controlled clinical trial.

To evaluate if an energy-dense porridge liquefied by amylase-rich flour (ARF) from germinated wheat increased the calorie intake in children with acute shigellosis, we studied 66 children, aged 6-35 months, in a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Children were randomized to receive either an energy-dense porridge liquefied with ARF (group 1), a thick unaltered porridge (group 2) or a porridge diluted with water (group 3) to a similar viscosity as that in group 1. Mean +/- SD calorie intakes (kJ/kg/day) from the porridges were 280 +/- 113, 167 +/- 100 and 151 +/- 80 in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p = 0.006, ANOVA). Total energy intakes (mean +/- SD) from the study diet and other food sources were 469 +/- 151, 377 +/- 121 and 351 +/- 100 kJ/kg/day, respectively (p = 0.006, ANOVA). Intake of breast milk was similar in all groups. Using multiple regression analysis the effect of ARF-treated energy-dense porridge in increasing the calorie intake persisted after adjusting for a number of confounders, such as age of the child, isolation of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and fever. The results of this study suggest that ARF-treated porridge increases energy intake in infants and young children during acute shigellosis. This feeding approach may be useful in preventing malnutrition following dysentery due to shigellosis.

Amylases↗
PubMed1995

Changes in transcripts encoding calcium channel subunits of rat myometrium during pregnancy.

Extracellular Ca2+ is normally required for myometrial cells to contract. Ca2+ enters muscle cells mainly through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) that open in response to action potentials. The synthesis of myometrial VDCCs may change during pregnancy to alter excitation-contraction coupling. We investigated the mRNA levels for the alpha 1- and beta-subunits of the L-type VDCC in rat myometrium to determine whether alterations are associated with term or preterm labor. RNA isolated from myometrial tissues was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers designed according to the published sequences of the VDCC subunits. From pregnant rat myometrium, two distinct PCR products were obtained for the alpha 1-subunit: one of the expected size at 372 bp and a smaller at 339 bp. Sequence analysis of the larger product revealed a 99.5 or 88% sequence homology between rat myometrium and rat aorta or rabbit heart, respectively, and the smaller product had an identical sequence to a 33-bp deletion. The two alpha 1-products followed the same trend throughout pregnancy. VDCC alpha 1-mRNA levels increased gradually to 6.9-fold just before labor on day 22 but decreased during labor. However, the beta-subunit mRNA level increased sharply on day 22 and then also declined during labor. Progesterone treatment from day 19 to day 22 inhibited term delivery and prevented the significant increase in alpha 1-mRNA levels. In contrast, antiprogesterone (onapristone, ZK-98.299) treatment on day 17 caused a statistically significant increase in the alpha 1- and beta-VDCC subunit mRNA after 8 and 15 h, respectively, then a decrease during preterm labor at 24 h. We conclude that mRNA levels for the VDCC subunits increase before term and preterm labor but decline during periods when VDCCs are likely at their peaks. The increase in levels of mRNA for VDCC likely reflects changes in expression of VDCCs during periods of term and preterm labor that may facilitate uterine contractility required for this process. Progesterone withdrawal or blockade appears to be responsible for regulating levels of mRNA for VDCC in the myometrium in preparation for labor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Identification of a new high oxygen affinity hemoglobin variant: Hb Aurora [beta 139(H17) Asn-->Tyr].

A 73-year-old female of Dutch descent was referred for investigation of a high oxygen affinity hemoglobin variant. The beta-globin gene was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. Direct nucleotide sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction amplified DNA revealed that she is heterozygous for a novel beta-globin gene mutation at codon 139, AAT-->TAT. The resulting hemoglobin variant has been designated Hb Aurora [beta 139 (H17) Asn-->Tyr].

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Eminent ayurvedic physicians of Nizam dynasty.

It is a biographical work which sheds light on the lives and works of some of the Ayurvedic Physicians flourished during Nizam dynasty. The credit for development of Ayurveda in Hyderabad goes to the eminent Ayurvedic Physicians, mentioned in this articles who taught Ayurveda in their private clinics, rendered their services during the outbreak of epidemics, organised conferences, compiled very useful works on Ayurveda and established an Ayurvedic school on a grand scale which was recognised by the government.

Health Occupations↗
PubMed1995

Moalejat-E-Hindi.

It is an introductory note on a rare and important medical manuscript, which were compiled in Persian language by the order of the 3rd Nizam of Hyderabad. It contains a number of Ayurvedic formulations, found very effective by him. These preparations were prepared and preserved by the Nizam in his royal store-house. The Sanskrit shiokas found in it are in transliterated form, written in beautiful script.

Famous Persons↗