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Biomedical subjects

M Ismail

Publications and source records attributed to M Ismail.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The efficacy of three anthelmintic drugs given in a single dose.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of a single dose mebendazole 500 mg from the original manufacturer and a formulation locally produced by State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation of Sri Lanka and albendazole 400 mg in mass treatment of soil-transmitted nematode infections. DESIGN: Randomised trial. SETTING: Government owned plantations in low-country regions of Sri Lanka with poor sanitary facilities. SUBJECTS: 399 children 3 to 15 years of age infected with at least one type soil-transmitted nematode. INTERVENTION: Mebendazole 500 mg or albendazole 400 mg given as single dose treatment. MEASUREMENTS: Cure rates and egg reduction rates calculated from egg counts of pre- and post-treatment stool samples using the quantitative Kato-Katz technique. RESULTS: All three drugs were effective against Ascaris infection with cure rates above 95%. The efficacy against Trichuris trichuria was uniformly poor. For hookworm infection albendazole appeared to be more effective in a single dose with cure rates of 77.9% compared with 28.7% and 35.8% for the two mebendazole formulations; corresponding egg reduction rates were 95.4% compared with 72.0% and 74.5%. CONCLUSION: Albendazole is the drug of choice for mass deworming where hookworm disease is prominent. There was no statistically significant difference between the original and locally produced mebendazole.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Fracture of the occipital condyle: case report and review of the literature.

Fracture of the occipital condyle is a rare injury that can be easily overlooked. We report a patient with an occipital condyle fracture who presented with pyramidal syndrome and normal plain radiographs. The diagnosis was made by high-resolution computed tomographic scanning with sagittal and coronal reconstructions and magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical treatment was deferred because of spontaneous recovery. This fracture should be considered whenever a trauma patient presents neck pain and plain cervical spine radiographs show no abnormalities.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The scorpion envenoming syndrome.

The pathophysiology of the scorpion envenoming syndrome is reviewed with emphasis on the body systems commonly affected. Concepts of the mechanisms underlying venom action, as can be explained by the recently discovered effects on ionic channels, are discussed. The results of clinical analysis of cases of scorpion sting victims and animal experiments with scorpion envenomation supporting these concepts are presented. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of scorpion venoms and their correlation to the magnitude of toxic effects are presented in relation to the potentials of therapeutic intervention. The pharmacological basis of the therapeutic usefulness and toxicities of the drugs commonly used in the treatment of scorpion envenoming is also projected. Finally, the results of a successful nation-wide clinical study with serotherapy of scorpion envenoming are presented and evaluated.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Furosemide reduces the incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (ascites) in broilers exposed to cool environmental temperatures.

The incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS; ascites) was evaluated in two experiments using broiler breeder male by-product chicks exposed after 3 wk of age to cool environmental temperatures (10 to 15 C). In Experiment 1, 3- to 6-wk-old birds were fed a grower diet to which 0 (Control), .001, .005, .010, or .015% furosemide had been added. All groups in Experiment 1 were fed a finisher ration containing no furosemide during Weeks 7 to 8. In Experiment 2, the Control group received no furosemide, a second group received .015% furosemide during the grower phase only (Weeks 3 to 6), and the third group received .015% furosemide during the grower and finisher phases (Weeks 3 to 8). Cumulative PHS mortality was significantly reduced by furosemide in both experiments. Compared with Controls, birds fed .015% furosemide did not have lower (P = .077) final body weights in Experiment 1 but did have significantly lower final body weights in Experiment 2. Lower levels of furosemide significantly reduced PHS mortality without reducing body weights. Furosemide did not improve feed conversion in either experiment. Neither body weight on Day 1 or 21 nor net Day 1 to 21 weight gain were predictive of susceptibility to PHS during the subsequent grower and finisher intervals in either experiment. On Day 55 of Experiment 2, large healthy birds fed .015% furosemide had significantly lower right:total ventricular weight ratios than control birds, indicating that furosemide reduced right ventricular hypertrophy, presumably by reducing pulmonary arterial pressure.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Supplemental L-arginine attenuates pulmonary hypertension syndrome (ascites) in broilers.

The incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS; ascites) was evaluated in two experiments using broiler breeder male by-product chicks exposed after 3 wk of age to cool environmental temperatures (10 to 15 C). In Experiment 1, 3- to 6-wk-old birds were fed a grower diet to which 0 (Control), .25, .5, or 1% supplemental L-arginine HCl had been added. During Weeks 7 to 8, all groups in Experiment 1 were fed a finisher diet containing no supplemental arginine. In Experiment 2, the Control group received no supplemental arginine, a second group was fed a grower diet supplemented with 1% L-arginine HCl (Weeks 3 to 6), and a third group was fed grower and finisher diets supplemented with 1% L-arginine HCl (Weeks 3 to 8). Cumulative PHS mortality was significantly reduced by 1% L-arginine HCl on Days 34 to 46 in Experiment 1. When data from all birds fed grower or finisher diets supplemented with 1% L-arginine HCl were pooled in Experiment 2, cumulative PHS mortality was marginally lower (P = .065) than for the Control group. Supplemental L-arginine HCl had no effect on final body weights, weight gain, or feed conversion in either experiment. Neither body weight on Day 1 or 21 nor net weight gain from Days 1 to 21 determined susceptibility to PHS during the subsequent grower and finisher intervals in either experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Interaction of lactoferrin with mononuclear and colon carcinoma cells.

Lactoferrin is known to bind to macrophages/monocytes and intestinal mucosal cells, but the nature and function of these interactions is not clear. We have therefore examined the interaction of lactoferrin in vitro with the promonocytic cell line U937 and with differentiated human colon carcinoma cells. U937 cells bound more lactoferrin than transferrin, although most of the lactoferrin binding was non-specific. Uptake of iron from transferrin was rapid, but uptake from lactoferrin was slow, and may have been due to prior transfer of iron to transferrin in the culture medium as a result of labilisation of iron from membrane-bound lactoferrin. Unlike transferrin, lactoferrin was not internalised by U937 cells. Lactoferrin significantly reduced uptake of non-transferrin-bound iron by the cells, but had no effect on uptake of transferrin-bound iron. Transport of lactoferrin-bound iron across monolayer cultures of differentiated Caco-2 cells in bicameral chambers was similar to that of ferric citrate, while transport of transferrin-bound iron was lower. Lactoferrin and transferrin themselves were not transported, although some proteolytically degraded material did cross the monolayer. Thus lactoferrin, unlike transferrin, is not an important iron donor to monocytic cells, but may instead serve to regulate iron uptake from other sources. It does not seem to enhance iron transport across mucosal cells.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1994

Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier), a dangerous and unduly neglected scorpion--I. Pharmacological and clinical studies.

Androctonus crassicauda venom has an i.v. LD50 in mice of 0.32 +/- 0.02 mg/kg, which makes the scorpion among the most toxic species in the world. Fifty-one non-fatal and one fatal cases of scorpion sting were presented. Pain and tenderness were very common following the sting. Generalized erythema occurred in 20-25% of all infants and children below the age of 5 years. Severe CNS manifestations including seizures, unconsciousness and marked irritability occurred mainly in infants and young children, while hypertension occurred in the majority of victims below the age of 11 years. Two pregnant victims were treated with antivenom with no bad consequences on mothers or foetuses. The fatal case described was inadequately treated with antivenom and presented a rare situation of intracranial coagulation in the basal cisterns or low in the cranial subarachnoid space. The victim developed moderate hydrocephalus of the communicating type with clear ventricular CSF and strongly xanthocromic fluid from lumbar puncture. The effects of A. crassicauda venom on isolated hearts, atria and anaesthetized rat blood pressure appeared to be mediated largely through stimulation of the autonomic nervous system with predominance of sympathetic stimulation and release of tissue catecholamines. Electrocardiograms recorded simultaneously with blood pressure changes showed evidence of ectopic foci during the hypertensive phase and ischaemia, inferior wall infarction and different degrees of heart block during the late hypotensive phase. Androctonus crassicauda venom was unique in following a three-compartment open model comprising a central compartment 'blood', a rapidly equilibrating 'shallow' tissue compartment and a slowly equilibrating 'deep' tissue compartment. The overall elimination half-life, t1/2 beta, was 24 hr, indicating that the venom has the slowest elimination among all known scorpion venoms. The long stay of the venom in the body might explain the increased risk of toxicity and the good potential for treatment with serotherapy even hours after the sting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The treatment of the scorpion envenoming syndrome: the Saudi experience with serotherapy.

A protocol for treatment of scorpion sting based mainly on antivenom therapy was applied nation-wide in Saudi Arabia. At least 5 x 1 ml ampoules of antivenom diluted in 20-50 ml saline were injected slowly i.v. in all patients confirmed to have scorpion stings or suspected stings with systemic manifestations. A list of drugs was specified to be used in adjunctive therapy, when required. Analysis of 1033 cases at Al-Baha region, 791 cases at Al-Qassim region and more than 600 cases from 12 central and specialist hospitals in the Central Province revealed impressive results. Except for a 12-year-old boy who was inadequately treated with antivenom and died from pulmonary oedema, haematemesis, severe neurotoxicity and circulatory failure, no other fatalities occurred. The incidence of pulmonary oedema, hypertension, hypotension, cardiac dysrhythmias and neurological symptoms requiring drug therapy following antivenom administration was very slight. The period of stay in the hospital was reduced; most patients were symptom-free within 1-2 days. The early reaction to antivenom administration was lower than expected, amounting to 6.6% and 1.7% among Al-Qassim and Al-Baha victims, respectively. The severity of the reaction in both groups was low, consisting mainly of skin rashes, urticaria, wheezing and bronchial secretion, but no anaphylaxis. About 13.8% of Al-Baha victims were previously treated with antivenom but only 1.7% of the patients showed positive skin tests. This might be due to the low protein content of the antivenom and the action of the venom in releasing massive amounts of catecholamines.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Unusual acantholytic bullous dermatosis associated with neoplasia and IgG and IgA antibodies against bovine desmocollins I and II.

There are unusual cases of pemphigus that have antibodies nonreactive with either pemphigus vulgaris or pemphigus foliaceus antigens. We describe a patient with an acantholytic bullous dermatosis and lung cancer with intercellular IgG and IgA antibodies that differed in specificity from those of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus and reacted with bovine desmocollins I and II and recombinant desmocollin protein.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The effect of the availability of latrines on soil-transmitted nematode infections in the plantation sector in Sri Lanka.

The relationship of soil-transmitted nematode infections to the availability of latrines was studied among 1,614 children 3-12 years of age living on plantations in Sri Lanka. The majority (89.7%) of the children had at least one type of soil-transmitted nematode. There was a significantly lower mean count of hookworm eggs for children coming from plantations with good sanitary facilities. For Ascaris and Trichuris, a similar association was observed between the mean egg count and the availability of latrines for children from the low-country plantations, where people live in more scattered settlements, but not in the up-country area, where worker settlements are larger and more crowded. Congested living conditions in themselves consequently seem to be a major determinant for ascariasis and trichuriasis, and the provision of latrines and safe water does not substantially change that situation. However, improvements of sanitary facilities will probably have a more immediate effect on the prevalence of hookworm infection.

Ascariasis↗
PubMed1994

Assessment of praziquantel therapy in treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infection.

The present study is the first report of the epidemiological survey carried out as a part of the Praziquantel resistance project which is one of the projects of Schistosomiasis Research Project (SRP) in Egypt. The results of the study, which has been carried out in 3 villages, revealed that praziquantel is effective as an antischistosomal drugs and reduced egg count significantly. However at the end of the study some cases remained infected in spite of the three treatment regimens. Several factors can be responsible, among them is the presence of resistance strains, which will only be elucidated in the subsequent steps of the project, when identification of resistant strains in experimental animals will be carried out.

Drug Resistance↗
PubMed1993

Binding of lactoferrin and transferrin to the human promonocytic cell line U937. Effect on iron uptake and release.

We have compared the ability of lactoferrin and transferrin to interact with and donate iron to the monocytic cell line U937. About 10 times more lactoferrin was bound than transferrin, but most lactoferrin bound nonspecifically, and the degree of specific binding was similar for both proteins (2-3 x 10(6) sites/cell). The binding affinity for lactoferrin (83 nM) was about 4-fold lower than for transferrin (21 nM). Lactoferrin did not inhibit binding of transferrin, or vice versa. Binding of lactoferrin was not inhibited by 30 mM glucose or fucose nor by incubating the cells with heparinase. Transferrin, but not lactoferrin, was internalized, and 3 mM primaquine caused intracellular accumulation of transferrin but not lactoferrin. The cells rapidly acquired iron from transferrin, but uptake from lactoferrin was 10-fold slower and probably resulted from transfer of 59Fe from lactoferrin to unlabeled transferrin during culture. Lactoferrin, but not transferrin, released iron to the extracellular medium when bound to U937 cells. Lactoferrin inhibited cellular uptake of iron from Fe-nitrilotriacetate but not from transferrin. It is concluded that transferrin, but not lactoferrin, acts as an iron donor to U937 cells. Lactoferrin may regulate uptake of potentially toxic non-transferrin-bound iron.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1993

Management of radial keratotomy overcorrections by corneal sutures.

Refractive hyperopia is a significant complication after radial keratotomy (RK). In this study, we corrected it by suturing the radial incisions, using purse-string sutures, and using a combined technique. Thirteen patients (six original overcorrections, four overcorrections after reoperation, and three progressive hyperopes) were included, demonstrating that the techniques induced a wide range of central corneal steepness and therefore corrected variable amounts of hyperopia. However, only the combination of purse-string suture and radial incision suturing provided a stable result. One patient in the purse-string group and two in the radial group required a third combined surgery to achieve an acceptable result. In the combined group, all cases achieved an improvement in visual acuity. While all cases were within 1 diopter of emmetropia, in seven cases pre-RK visual acuity was equal to the best corrected visual acuity six months after surgery. Preoperative best corrected visual acuity was maintained in all cases. Suture removal at the sixth month postoperatively did not seem to influence the refractive result. Our results suggest that neither purse string nor radial suturing is enough to achieve the girdle effect to the cornea; they must be combined. A significant regression of the effect should be expected following the suture placement, mainly during the early postoperative period, until a stable result is achieved about six months later. A computer-assisted photokeratoscope image was taken preoperatively and postoperatively, showing that some irregular astigmatism should be expected as a result of the procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effect of heat treatment and other milk proteins on the interaction of lactoferrin with monocytes.

The interaction of lactoferrin from human and bovine milk with the human promonocytic cell line U937 has been studied. Both human and bovine Fe-lactoferrins bound to the cells. Binding of bovine lactoferrin was inhibited by excess bovine lactoferrin but not by human lactoferrin, suggesting that the binding mechanisms for the two proteins are different. Binding of human but not bovine lactoferrin was inhibited by bovine lactoperoxidase, while a 20-fold excess of human IgA inhibited binding of human but not bovine lactoferrin. Human and bovine alpha-lactalbumins, bovine beta-lactoglobulin, and human lysozyme had no effect on binding of lactoferrin from either species. Samples of bovine Fe- and apolactoferrin in capillary tubes were exposed to temperatures of 72 degrees C for 20 s, 85 degrees C for 20 min or 137 degrees C for 8 s. All the heated samples inhibited binding of native Fe- and apolactoferrin, though to a lesser extent than the native proteins. Both heated and native lactoferrins enhanced [3H]thymidine incorporation by U937 cells, except for Fe-lactoferrin heated at 85 degrees C for 20 min, which was inhibitory. These results suggest that heat treatment of lactoferrin under conditions used for industrial processing does not greatly affect its ability to interact with and stimulate monocytic cells, and that other milk proteins in general do not interfere with lactoferrin-monocyte interactions. It may thus be feasible to incorporate biologically active lactoferrin into infant formulas.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Opioid antagonist adjuncts to epidural morphine for postcesarean analgesia: maternal outcomes.

This prospective, randomized, controlled investigation compared the effects of three prophylactic mu-opioid antagonists, epidural butorphanol (BU) 3 mg, epidural nalbuphine (NB) 10 mg, and oral naltrexone (NX) 6 mg, on postcesarean epidural morphine analgesia. After randomization, 102 term parturients underwent cesarean delivery with epidural anesthesia, 2% lidocaine and epinephrine 1:200,000. When the umbilical cord was clamped, each patient received one epidural solution (containing morphine 4 mg plus either saline or treatment drug), and one oral capsule (containing either placebo or treatment drug) in a double-blind manner. Maternal outcomes included pain and satisfaction [assessed with 100-mm visual analog scales (VAS)], and the incidence and severity of respiratory depression, somnolence, pruritus, nausea, and emesis. Through the first 12 h postpartum, the BU group achieved significantly greater analgesia than the morphine sulfate (control) (MS), NB, and NX groups, a significantly lower incidence of severe pruritus than the MS group, and significantly greater satisfaction than MS and NX groups. Epidural morphine and BU promoted better analgesia and satisfaction than any previously documented postcesarean regimen.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The ocular effects of spitting cobras: I. The ringhals cobra (Hemachatus haemachatus) venom-induced corneal opacification syndrome.

Venom from the ringhals cobra (H. haemachatus) caused extensive chemosis, prolonged corneal edema and marked miosis when applied locally to the eyes of two strains of rabbits: Buskat (albino) and Chinchilla (pigmented). In the pigmented rabbits, the corneal edema progressed to complete corneal opacification with corneal and conjunctival neovascularization that remained unchanged until the end of the experiment (70 d). In the albino rabbits the corneal cloudiness and conjunctivitis cleared within three weeks of venom instillation. Treatment with heparin and tetracycline markedly improved the corneal opacification syndrome, while treatment with specific antivenom resulted only in partial improvement. It is postulated that the venom owes its ocular effects to its cardiotoxin, the only venom fraction capable of inducing the corneal opacification syndrome. The protective effect of heparin is probably through its electrostatic binding to the cardiotoxin in the venom. Tetracycline could form ionic bonding at several sites in the strongly basic cardiotoxin. The corneal opacification syndrome was associated with the ability of the snakes to spit since venoms from the other non-spitting cobras were devoid of this activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The ocular effects of spitting cobras: II. Evidence that cardiotoxins are responsible for the corneal opacification syndrome.

Fractionation of H. haemachatus, N. nigricollis, N. nivea and N. melanoleuca venoms using Amberlite CG-50 and (NH4)HCO3 elution gradient chromatography yielded 11-13 fractions for each venom. One fraction, F X, from H. haemachatus, two fractions, F X and F XI, from N. nigricollis and one fraction, F VIII, from N. melanoleuca venoms possessed the whole of ocular activity of the venoms. The fractions were the only venom fractions that caused cardiac depressant activity; their effect was reversed by raising Ca++ concentration in the physiological solution; they did not influence the twitches of the phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm and guinea-pig ileum preparations. Further purification of the fractions on Sephadex G-50 followed by fractionation on Amberlite CG-50 yielded fractions free from phospholipase A2 activity but possessing the same ocular effects. Similarly, the cardiotoxin from commercial N. nigricollis venom caused the same ocular effects as the crude venom and its purified cardiotoxic fractions. All cardiotoxic fractions as well as N. nigricollis cardiotoxin, caused extensive chemosis, blepharitis and corneal opacification with corneal and subconjunctival neovascularization. On a weight basis, the cardiotoxins were weaker in their oculotoxic activity than the corresponding parent crude venoms possibly because of the potentiating effect of phospholipase A2 in the crude venoms. It is postulated that in spitting cobras the cardiotoxins are responsible for the corneal opacification syndrome. In other cobra venoms the stable binding of cardiotoxins with acidic proteins limits their possible ocular effects. Only in the venoms of the spitting species are the cardiotoxins present in an appropriately free form to cause the ocular opacification syndrome.

Animals↗