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Biomedical subjects

M Ali

Publications and source records attributed to M Ali.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Failure of serum ferritin levels to predict bone-marrow iron content after intravenous iron-dextran therapy.

The relation between serum ferritin levels and stainable-iron deposits in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow was investigated in 36 patients with chronic renal failure who died after being on haemodialysis for 1-103 months. Elemental iron (mean, 5450 mg) had been given intravenously as iron dextran to patients in a long-term subgroup, who had been on dialysis for more than 3 months. The results of semiquantitative histochemical assessment of tissue iron in slides obtained at necropsy (scale 0 to 4+) were confirmed by chemical analyses of tissue iron. Serum ferritin levels correlated well with the degree of hepatosplenic siderosis but did not always correlate with bone-marrow iron stores in these patients. Serum ferritin concentrations were raised in 10 marrow-iron-depleted subjects (mean, 1336 ng/dl). The paradoxical association of hepatosplenic siderosis with marrow iron depletion was observed in most of the patients on dialysis for less than 40 months. The histochemical data show that the bulk of intravenously injected iron dextran is taken up by the liver and spleen; that the hepatosplenic stores fail to be mobilised to the bone marrow; and that intravenous iron-dextran therapy, by-passing the intestinal mechanism for the regulation of iron absorption, carries a high risk of long-term hepatosplenic siderosis.

Aged↗

Synthesis and secretion of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin by newborn rat brain cells in culture.

Brain cells of newborn rat were found to synthesize and secrete alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin in short-term culture. Synthesis of AFP and albumin was demonstrated by time-related linear incorporation of [14C]leucine into immunoprecipitable AFP and albumin by brain cells from newborn rat during 6 h incubation of the cultures. Newly synthesized labeled AFP and albumin were also accumulated (secreted) linearly as a function of incubation period. Cycloheximide could inhibit this incorporation of [14C]leucine into immunoprecipitable AFP and albumin. Synthesis of AFP and albumin accounted for 11-13% and 5-6% respectively, while their secretion into the culture medium was about 27-30% and 11-13% respectively of the total proteins synthesized and secreted by brain cells of newborn rat. Rate of AFP synthesis was about 2-fold greater than that of albumin. AFP and albumin secreted by brain cells displayed a complete immunological identity with, and electrophoretic mobilities similar to, the serum AFP and albumin. Molecular weights of AFP and albumin secreted by brain cells were also similar to their corresponding serum proteins. AFP was identified as the only active estradiol binding protein secreted by newborn rat brain cells in culture. Our studies suggest that albumin and estrophilic AFP originate in the developing rat brain in situ by intracellular synthesis.

Albumins↗

Immunochemical CK-MB assay for myocardial infarction.

The diagnostic efficiency of an immunochemical assay for CK-MB (I-MB) was compared with that of an electrophoretic procedure for this isoenzyme (E-MB) in 215 consecutive patients in whom acute myocardial infarction (MI) was clinically suspected. All patients were investigated with a standard protocol consisting of serial assays of total creatine kinase (CK) and lactic dehydrogenase (LD) activities, CK-MB and LD1 isoenzymes, and electrocardiograms. Technetium pyrophosphate cardiac scans were obtained for eleven patients; autopsy was performed in six cases. The diagnosis of acute MI was established in 45 patients. The coefficients of variation for the intra-assay and interassay precision of I-MB assay ranged from 2.05%-7.2%. Concordance between the I-MB and E-MB results at the decision values for acute MI was observed in 203 of 215 patients (94.4%). At the cut-off point of 10 U/L, the I-MB assay was 95.5% sensitive and 95.3% specific for acute MI; the corresponding rates for the E-MB test were 93.3% and 94.7% respectively. The test efficiency rate for I-MB assay was 95.3% and that of E-MB procedure 94.4%. A complete time-based isoenzyme protocol for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction has several variables; the need for interpretation of individual profiles and for the preparation of a formal report is discussed.

Clinical Enzyme Tests↗

Infant rat model of attenuation for recombinant influenza viruses prepared from cold-adapted attenuated A/Ann Arbor/6/60.

The pathogenicity of 6 wild-type influenza A viruses and 21 recombinant strains prepared from wild-type viruses and cold-adapted A/Ann Arbor/6/60 virus for infant rats was determined. Thus, the titers of virus present in the turbinates and lungs of virus-infected animals was measured serially for 5 days after intranasal infection, and the ability of virus strains to promote subsequent systemic bacterial infection by Haemophilus influenzae was measured at 48 h after virus infection. The results obtained were assessed with reference to the genetic constitution of the virus strains and to virus virulence for volunteers. The results showed that virulent viruses grew to relatively high titers in rat turbinates and significantly promoted systemic infection by H. influenzae. In contrast, attenuated strains grew to lower titers and failed to promote systemic H. influenzae infection. For the strains tested, the results showed clear differences for attenuated and virulent strains, and the model was a reliable indication of virulence for humans. Although the virulent strains tended to grow to higher titers in rat lungs than did attenuated strains, exceptions were found, and this measurement could not reliably discriminate virulent and attenuated virus strains. The results suggest that infant rats can be used to assess the virulence of cold-adapted recombinant influenza virus strains, and thus, they can facilitate the development of such strains for vaccine production.

Animals↗

Retinal complications of optic disc drusen.

Following reports by Sanders et al. and Wise et al. of optic disc drusen associated with retinal bleeding, an additional 19 cases were studied and followed up for 1 to 10 years (average 5 years). Four of them showed haemorrhages at the optic disc and its borders only, but 15 showed extensive retinopathy with macular involvement. In 3 cases retinopathy was serous and not haemorrhagic. Apart from cases in which bleeding was limited to the disc and its immediate vicinity the main clinical features of the syndrome were as follows: (1) the presence of optic disc drusen; (2) extensive retinal haemorrhage; (3) intraretinal extravasation of serum with or without the presence of blood; (4) elevated mounds lifting the retina and causing striae radiating from the mounds towards the macula and beyond; (5) pigmentary disturbance of the macula or a wider area of papillo-macular bundle after the resolution of acute stages which, while often clinically severe, is compatible with recovery of normal or near normal vision. It is proposed that the syndrome be designated the 'optic disc drusen retinopathy.'

Adolescent↗

Dissociation between hepatosplenic and marrow iron in liver cirrhosis.

Histochemical study of tissue iron in the various parts of the reticuloendothelial system in 15 subjects with cirrhosis was performed. Stainable iron in the liver and spleen sections, generally in large quantities, was found in 13 of 15 cases. Paradoxical association of hepatosplenic siderosis with depletion of marrow iron reserves was observed in seven subjects. In all seven, gross gastrointestinal blood loss had occurred during life and the source of bleeding from one or more anatomic lesions was identified at the time of autopsy. Depletion of marrow iron reserves in these seven subjects can be attributed to two factors: first, the available marrow iron stores were used for erythropoiesis; second, the ample hepatosplenic iron deposits could not be mobilized for transport to the bone marrow. Thus, hepatosplenic iron in cases of cirrhosis seems to be sequestered from its normal metabolic pathways.

Adult↗

Some health problems of the Maldives.

It is difficult to quantify the major health scourges from which the Maldivians suffer because of the scattered nature of their settlements and their conservative attitudes to health and hygiene-related matters. Projects to improve the quality of the health and disease data have been instituted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Maldivian Ministry of Health. The paper analyses information that has since become available on three major ill-health conditions in the Maldives, namely infant deaths, malaria and leprosy.

Adolescent↗

5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, and mitomycin-C (Hi-FAM) chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Thirty patients with unresectable adenocarcinoma of the lung were treated with high doses of 5-fluorouracil, Adriamycin, and mitomycin-C (Hi-FAM). Objective responses were seen in ten patients (one complete and nine partial remissions). No patient with pleural disease responded to treatment. Responses were seen in all other sites of involvement including liver. In a subgroup of patients younger than 65 years, who had not had prior treatment, and who had a performance status of greater than 60 (Karnofsky), an overall response rate of 50% was realized. The overall median survival for responding patients was 10+ months while nonresponders had a median survival of 5.21 months. Patients who had had prior irradiation had a median survival of 4.81 months compared with patients who had not had any prior treatment, whose median survival was 8.45 months. Toxicity was substantial and included primarily bone marrow suppression and stomatitis. Elderly patients with poor performance status and prior treatment tolerated therapy less well. These results indicate that Hi-FAM is useful in selected groups of patients with advanced adenocrcinoma of the lung.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: review of the literature and report of a case.

A case of primary signet-ring carcinoma of the urinary bladder treated with total cystectomy and clinically disease-free three years and nine months after surgery is described. The signet-ring cell carcinoma of the bladder is a rare neoplasm; among the five cases found in the literature, the neoplasms pursued a fulminant course, diffusely invaded the bladder wall without forming intraluminal growths, and could not be controlled by segmental resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy alone or in combinations. The pathogenesis of mucus-producing signet-ring cell carcinoma in the urinary bladder, an organ that normally contains no mucogenic elements, is discussed. The histologic evidence for the origin of this neoplasm from the totipotent urothelium is illustrated.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

Ontogeny of alpha-foetoprotein in human foetal brain.

Alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) was found to be present in human foetal brain during early embryonic life. Antigenically and electrophoretically foetal brain AFP is similar to that found in human foetal serum. Like serum AFP it did not bind oestradiol. Developmental profile of the proteins in foetal brain was distinct from that observed in foetal serum, amniotic fluid and maternal serum compartments. Peak levels of brain AFP were obtained in foetuses in the 20th week of gestation. These levels decreased rapidly and no AFP could be detected in foetal brains derived from the third trimester of pregnancy. The origin of AFP and its possible role in foetal brain development is discussed.

Brain↗

Immunological and non-immunological synthesis and release of prostaglandins and thromboxanes from isolated guinea pig trachea.

Specific radioimmunoassays were used to demonstrate the synthesis by the guinea pig trachea of 6-keto PGF1 alpha, TxB2, and PGF2 alpha in addition to PGE2. The rank order of both spontaneous and stimulated release was PGE2 greater than PGF2 alpha greater than 6-keto PGF1 alpha = TxB2. Ovalbumin-induced prostanoid release from sensitized tissue was antigen-specific. The release was unlikely to be secondary consequence of tracheal contraction since incubations with calcium ionophore A23187, at a concentration which produces an equivalent magnitude of contraction of sensitized trachea, did not induce a significant PG or Tx production. In contrast, significantly higher prostanoid synthesis was induced by A23187 in unsensitized than sensitized trachea. Thus sensitization altered the profile of arachidonic acid metabolism evoked by the ionophore.

Animals↗