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Biomedical subjects

M Ali

Publications and source records attributed to M Ali.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Biochemical building blocks of a lepidopteran insect, Schoenobius inotata.

Schoenobius inotata, a pheromone producing insect, commonly known as rice stem borer, was studied for its biochemical composition namely lipid, carbohydrate and amino acids. The studies involved the application of column, thin layer and gas liquid chromatography besides mass and proton magnetic resonance spectrometry. Amino acid analysis was performed on automatic amino acid analyser. No such report on this species has so far appeared.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Lipid contents of marine fish: Carcharhinus melanopterus (Black Shark) and Lutjanus johnii (Hira).

Total lipid composition of liver oil of two marine fish Carcharhinus melanopterus (Black Shark) and Lutjanus johnii (Hira) was determined. The fatty acid contents of total liver lipids were identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was found that fatty acid methyl eaten mainly consist of myristic, pentadecylic, palmitic, stearic acids as saturated, and palmitoleic, oleic, elaidic, eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, and clupanodonic acids as unsaturated components. Appreciable quantities of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUPA) and omega-3 fatty acids were detected.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Predisposing factors in enterotoxemias of camels (Camelus dromedarius) caused by Clostridium perfringens type A.

C. perfringens type A was isolated from different organs and intestines from breeding and racing camels which died from peracute and acute enterotoxemias in two separate outbreaks. Pathological changes in the digestive tract were mild in breeding camels, and severe in racing camels. A polyvalent clostridial antiserum of bovine origin given intravenously had a life-saving effect on breeding camels, but not on racing camels. In the two outbreaks, fifty percent of the breeding camels were suffering from an acute Trypanosoma evansi infection, and 25% of the racing camels had developed a salmonellosis. It is suggested that both infections played an important role as predisposing factors for the outbreak of C. perfringens enterotoxemias.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Transfer RNA nucleoside composition in 13762 rat adenocarcinoma.

1. Abnormalities in patterns of tRNA methylation and in the activities of tRNA methyltransferases are well-documented phenomena. In this study, we focused our attention on tRNA from adenocarcinoma, a 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene-induced mammary tumor, because prior evidence has suggested the occurrence of an abnormal pattern of tRNA methylation. 2. Chemical postlabeling of tumor vs normal rat liver and mammary gland tRNAs revealed tumor specific differences in the modified nucleoside distribution, i.e., a 5.8-fold increase in tumor N-2-methylguanosine together with a 2.7-, 2.8-, 2.6- and 2.8-fold decrease in tumor 1-methyladenosine, dihydrouridine, pseudouridine and 5-methylcytidyne, respectively. 3. Class A tRNAs, a slower gel migrating group of tumor tRNAs, exhibited even lower 1-methyladenosine levels. Most of the remaining nucleosides in class A tRNAs showed molar ratios similar to those found in bulk tumor tRNA. However, N-2-methylguanosine levels in class A tRNA are intermediate between bulk tumor tRNA (2.8%) and mammary gland tRNA (0.49%). 4. The only qualitative difference found in tumor tRNA seems to be the absence of inosine usually present in tRNAs from liver and mammary tissues. 5. In spite of its abnormal methylation pattern adenocarcinoma tRNA binds to glucocorticoid receptor protein from mouse AtT-20 cells, generating a 6S tRNA-protein complex, in a fashion similar to that previously described for the endogenous tRNA isolated from the same cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Presacral extramedullary hematopoiesis in thalassemia intermedia.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis is manifested by several clinical hematologic disorders including beta-thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia. We report an unusual case of extramedullary hematopoiesis, which presented as a painful presacral mass in a patient with beta-thalassemia intermedia. The diagnosis was confirmed by a needle biopsy guided by computed tomography. The patient responded well to radiation therapy to the sacral region.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia in the elderly.

PURPOSE: To determine the value of serum ferritin, mean cell volume, transferrin saturation, and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin in the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia in the elderly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied consecutive eligible and consenting anemic patients over the age of 65 years, who underwent blood tests and bone marrow aspiration. The study consisted of 259 inpatients and outpatients at two community hospitals in whom a complete blood count processed by the hospital laboratory demonstrated previously undiagnosed anemia (men: hemoglobin level less than 12 g/dL; women: hemoglobin level less than 11.0 g/dL). RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of our patients had no demonstrable marrow iron and were classified as being iron-deficient. The serum ferritin was the best test for distinguishing those with iron deficiency from those who were not iron-deficient. No other test added clinically important information. The likelihood ratios associated with the serum ferritin level were as follows: greater than 100 micrograms/L, 0.13; greater than 45 micrograms/L but less than or equal to 100 micrograms/L, 0.46; greater than 18 micrograms/L but less than or equal to 45 micrograms/L, 3.12; and less than or equal to 18 micrograms/L, 41.47. These results indicate that values up to 45 micrograms/L increase the likelihood of iron deficiency, whereas values over 45 micrograms/L decrease the likelihood of iron deficiency. Seventy-two percent of those who were not iron-deficient had serum ferritin values greater than 100 micrograms/L, and in populations with a prevalence of iron deficiency of less than 40%, values of greater than 100 micrograms/L reduce the probability of iron deficiency to under 10%. Fifty-five percent of the iron-deficient patients had serum ferritin values of less than 18 micrograms/L, and in populations with a prevalence of iron deficiency of greater than 20%, values of less than 18 micrograms/L increase the probability of iron deficiency to over 95%.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Comparative study of the in vitro synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes in plants belonging to Liliaceae family.

1. Homogenates of garlic (Allium sativum), onions (Allium cepa) and Allium porum were in vitro incubated with [14C]arachidonic acid. 2. Separation of labelled prostaglandins and thromboxanes were accomplished by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and the Rf values were compared with those of authentic standards. 3. The prostaglandins identified were 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, TXB2, PGE2 and PGD2. 4. PGE2 and PGD2 were the major metabolites of arachidonic acid among all the members of the Liliaceae family studied. 5. Garlic was found to have the highest capacity to metabolize the [14C]arachidonic acid into prostaglandins and thromboxanes. 6. The synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes, was inhibited by preincubation of homogenates with indomethacin or was completely destroyed by boiling the plant extract prior to incubation with arachidonic acid. This confirmed the presence of cyclooxygenase in these plants.

Allium↗
PubMed1990

A potent thromboxane formation inhibitor in green tea leaves.

A ninhydrin positive compound (L2) now identified as 2-amino-5-(N-ethylcarboxyamido)-pentanoic acid, from unprocessed tea leaves was a potent inhibitor of thrombin-stimulated thromboxane formation in rabbit whole blood (Ali and Afzal; Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Medicine, 27: 9, 1987). In the present study, processed and unprocessed tea leaf extracts were given to rats to consume for a period of eight weeks. Cholesterol and thromboxane levels were measured in the serum obtained from clotting the blood at 37 degrees C. A significant reduction in thromboxane levels was observed in rats taking unprocessed tea extract. This reduction was equally distributed in adult as well as in juvenile rats. However no appreciable changes in the levels of thromboxane were noticed in the serum of rats taking processed tea extracts. This might be due to the presence of a labile component which is destroyed during the processing of green tea leaves. A decreased level of cholesterol was observed in rats consuming unprocessed tea extract. This decrease could be linked to the decrease in thromboxane levels as observed. Processed tea refers to commercially available tea of different brands while unprocessed tea refers to dried green tea leaves.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

Antithrombotic activity of garlic: its inhibition of the synthesis of thromboxane-B2 during infusion of arachidonic acid and collagen in rabbits.

Rabbits were given collagen and arachidonic acid intravenously. Blood pressure, platelet counts, plasma thromboxane-B2 (TXB2) and plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) were determined. Both thrombogenic agents, upon infusion of a lethal dose, caused thrombocytopenia, indicative of in vivo platelet aggregation and hypotension. These changes were associated with an increase in plasma levels of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Pretreatment of rabbits with an aqueous extract of garlic (500 mgkg) provided protection from thrombocytopenia and hypotension. Thromboxane-B2 synthesis was significantly reduced in animals pretreated with garlic and then injected with a lethal dose of either collagen or arachidonic acid. The amount of TXB2 synthesized in these animals was not sufficient to induce thrombocytopenia or hypotension. All animals pretreated with garlic were well protected against the effects of collagen or arachidonate infusion, and no apparent symptoms were observed in these animals. These observations indicate that garlic may be beneficial in the prevention of thrombosis.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1990

Involvement of prostaglandins in paraquat intoxication.

Paraquat is known to cause severe lung damage through pulmonary edema as its initial feature of toxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxicity of paraquat in rabbits intraperitoneally injected with 2 or 4 mg/kg/day of the herbicide for a period of 7 days. In the lung, prostaglandin levels of the intoxicated rabbits showed a significant increase in PGF2 alpha. This increase was dose dependent. However, a nonsignificant change in the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was also observed. Plasma and serum levels of thromboxane-B2 were also significantly elevated but the levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were affected nonsignificantly. The pathology of elevated levels of PGF2 alpha and TXB2 in the lung and blood, in response to paraquat toxicity, is discussed.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1990

Antibodies to HIV-1 nef(p27): prevalence, significance, and relationship to seroconversion.

A sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunoassay for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nef gene product, p27, has been developed using recombinant Escherichia coli-derived protein from the LAV-1-Bru sequence. Of 92 HIV-1 infected hemophiliacs, 72 (78%) produced anti-nef antibodies in this assay; the early appearance of anti-nef prior to full seroconversion was a rare event in this population, occurring in only one subject (approximately 1%). Anti-nef antibodies were not detected in any of 500 sera from 98 repeatedly HIV seronegative subjects who had been exposed to sexually transmitted modes of HIV infection (45 subjects) or through blood products (53 subjects). There was no significant association of titer or anti-nef antibody with protection from disease in HIV infection (p = 0.1). Although the nef protein is relatively immunogenic in natural infection, this study cannot confirm the previously reported high prevalence of anti-nef antibodies prior to seroconversion, nor the finding of anti-nef antibodies in HIV seronegative but exposed subjects.

Cohort Studies↗