Transplant renal artery aneurysm following venous patch repair of a traction injury to the renal artery.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
N Ahmad
Publications and source records attributed to N Ahmad.
Comparative studies of indoor radon concentration levels in Jordan using CR-39 based bag and cup dosimeters.
Indoor radon concentration levels have been measured in 9 major cities of Jordan using CR(-3)9 detectors placed in punched polyethylene bags to measure both radon and thoron, and in cups to measure radon only. The average value of indoor radon and thoron concentration levels measured with bag dosimeters vary from 32 to 107 Bq m(-3) and the indoor radon concentration levels measured with cup dosimeters vary from 27 to 88 Bq m(-3). The indoor radon concentration levels in Irbid and Zaraka are comparable to the world average of 27 Bq m(-3). In Ajloun, Jerash, Salt, Tafilah and Amman, the indoor radon levels are greater than the world average by a factor of up to 2, and in Madaba and Karak these levels are greater than the world average by a factor of more than 3. The large variation in the measured radon levels may be attributed to the large variation in the 226Ra activity in the soil of the region.
Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
Conservation of an intact vif gene of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 during maternal-fetal transmission.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vif gene is conserved among most lentiviruses, suggesting that vif is important for natural infection. To determine whether an intact vif gene is positively selected during mother-to-infant transmission, we analyzed vif sequences from five infected mother-infant pairs following perinatal transmission. The coding potential of the vif open reading frame directly derived from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA was maintained in most of the 78,912 bp sequenced. We found that 123 of the 137 clones analyzed showed an 89.8% frequency of intact vif open reading frames. There was a low degree of heterogeneity of vif genes within mothers, within infants, and between epidemiologically linked mother-infant pairs. The distances between vif sequences were greater in epidemiologically unlinked individuals than in epidemiologically linked mother-infant pairs. Furthermore, the epidemiologically linked mother-infant pair vif sequences displayed similar patterns that were not seen in vif sequences from epidemiologically unlinked individuals. The functional domains, including the two cysteines at positions 114 and 133, a serine phosphorylation site at position 144, and the C-terminal basic amino acids essential for vif protein function, were highly conserved in most of the sequences. Phylogenetic analyses of 137 mother-infant pair vif sequences and 187 other available vif sequences from HIV-1 databases revealed distinct clusters for vif sequences from each mother-infant pair and for other vif sequences. Taken together, these findings suggest that vif plays an important role in HIV-1 infection and replication in mothers and their perinatally infected infants.
Adult↗
Maintenance of an intact human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vpr gene following mother-to-infant transmission.
The vpr sequences from six human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected mother-infant pairs following perinatal transmission were analyzed. We found that 153 of the 166 clones analyzed from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA samples showed a 92.17% frequency of intact vpr open reading frames. There was a low degree of heterogeneity of vpr genes within mothers, within infants, and between epidemiologically linked mother-infant pairs. The distances between vpr sequences were greater in epidemiologically unlinked individuals than in epidemiologically linked mother-infant pairs. Moreover, the infants' sequences displayed patterns similar to those seen in their mothers. The functional domains essential for Vpr activity, including virion incorporation, nuclear import, and cell cycle arrest and differentiation were highly conserved in most of the sequences. Phylogenetic analyses of 166 mother-infant pairs and 195 other available vpr sequences from HIV databases formed distinct clusters for each mother-infant pair and for other vpr sequences and grouped the six mother-infant pairs' sequences with subtype B sequences. A high degree of conservation of intact and functional vpr supports the notion that vpr plays an important role in HIV-1 infection and replication in mother-infant isolates that are involved in perinatal transmission.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Typhoid fevers: treatment with lomefloxacin.
Typhoid group of fevers pose a major threat and are a cause of high morbidity and mortality in the tropical countries. Over the last decade there has been a steady increase in the development of multiresistant strains of Salmonellae all over the world. Multiresistance ranges between 5% to 86%. In a recent study in Pakistan multidrug resistance in Salmonellae has increased to over 39%. Hence alternative therapy is needed. Fluroquinolones are an effective alternative requiring a shorter course of treatment than conventional antimicrobial agents. Lomefloxacin because of its longer half life and convenient BD dose was used in a multicentre study to treat cases of typhoid group of fevers including cases due to multiresistant isolates. In order to overcome the challenge presented by the multiresistant salmoneallae, a dual purpose multicentre study was conducted in two stages. The first stage included a vitro study and the second in vivo study. Two hundred local salmonellae isolates were collected and their sensitivity and minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by standard methods. Two hundred and fourteen patients clinically suspected of suffering from typhoid groups of fevers were given Lomefloxacin 200 mg. BD for 14 days. Forty percent of Salmonellae isolates were found to be multiresistant while only 2% were found to be resistant to Fluroqunilones. The mean MIC 90 was found to be 0.06 mg/L Lomefloxacin was found to be effective in over 97% cases for treating typhoid group fevers including the ones due to multiresistant isolates. The side effects were found to be minimal and transient.
Adolescent↗
Green tea constituent epigallocatechin-3-gallate and induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human carcinoma cells.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The polyphenolic compounds present in green tea show cancer chemopreventive effects in many animal tumor models. Epidemiologic studies have also suggested that green tea consumption might be effective in the prevention of certain human cancers. We investigated the effect of green tea polyphenols and the major constituent, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, on the induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death) and regulation of cell cycle in human and mouse carcinoma cells. METHODS: Human epidermoid carcinoma cells (cell line A431), human carcinoma keratinocyte (cell line HaCaT), human prostate carcinoma cells (cell line DU145), mouse lymphoma cells (cell line L5178Y), and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) were used. Apoptosis was assessed by 1) the formation of internucleosomal DNA fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis, 2) confocal microscopy, and 3) flow cytometry after tagging the DNA fragments by fluorescence label. The distribution of cells in different phases of the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Treatment of A431 cells with green tea polyphenols and its components, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, epigallocatechin, and epicatechin-3-gallate, resulted in the formation of internucleosomal DNA fragments, characteristic of apoptosis. Treatment with epigallocatechin-3-gallate also resulted in apoptosis in HaCaT, L5178Y, and DU145 cells, but not in NHEK. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry confirmed the findings. The DNA cell cycle analysis showed that in A431 cells, epigallocatechin-3-gallate treatment resulted in arrest in the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle and a dose-dependent apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Green tea may protect against cancer by causing cell cycle arrest and inducing apoptosis. It needs to be evaluated in human trials.
Animals↗
Nitric oxide synthase and skin tumor promotion.
Up-regulation of inducible form of nitric oxide (NO)-synthase and increased production of NO has been shown to occur in many pathological conditions associated with inflammatory responses. In this study we show that topical application of skin tumor promoters, which are known to produce inflammatory response, down-regulate the constitutive form of NO-synthase in SENCAR mouse epidermis. The phorbol type of tumor promoters viz 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and mezerein produced greater inhibitory effects than the non phorbol tumor promoters viz anthralin, n-dodecane, benzoyl peroxide and okadaic acid. Pretreatment of the skin with a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea, which possesses strong antioxidant activity, almost completely restored the inhibitory response. We suggest that the constitutive NO-synthase activity may play an important role in tumor promoter-caused oxidative burst during the promotion stage of multistage skin carcinogenesis, and that antioxidants may also target their anti-tumor promoting effect via attenuating the NO-synthase pathway.
9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
Advantages of intraperitoneal placement of renal transplants.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Abdominal Muscles↗
Transplantation of small pediatric kidneys in adult recipients: a 22-year experience.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Actuarial Analysis↗
Relationships of hormonal patterns and fertility to occurrence of two or three waves of ovarian follicles, before and after breeding, in beef cows and heifers.
Ovarian follicular waves were characterized before and after breeding in 52 lactating beef cows and 16 heifers. Effects of two (2 W) or three (3 W) waves of follicular development and associated patterns of concentrations of steroids in jugular serum on pregnancy rate were examined. Animals were observed for oestrus (= day 0) twice daily and inseminated artificially at second oestrus. Follicular development was monitored by ultrasonography and jugular blood samples were collected simultaneously on alternate days from day 6 after first oestrus until ovulation after the second oestrus and from day 6 after second oestrus (insemination) until next ovulation or day 24 of pregnancy. Pregnancy was determined by ultrasonography at 25 days after insemination. From individual patterns of growth or regression of the largest follicles, more of the 59 animals with oestrous cycles of 17 to 25 days had 2 W (51, 86%) than 3 W (8, 14%) during the oestrous cycle before breeding (P < 0.01). Cycles averaged 1.1 days longer (P < 0.10) and corpora lutea regressed later (P < 0.01) in animals with 3 W vs. those with 2 W, but mean oestradiol between 7 and 2 days before second oestrus (3.7 +/- 0.3 pg ml-1) did not differ between cycles with 2 W or 3 W. Ovulatory follicles in animals with 2 W differed from those with 3 W (P < 0.05) in day of detection (12.3 +/- 0.3 vs 16.5 +/- 0.5), growth rate (1.0 +/- 0.1 vs 1.5 +/- 0.1 mm day-1), interval from detection to ovulation (9.3 +/- 0.3 vs 6.3 +/- 0.7 days) and duration of dominance (4.0 +/- 0.2 vs 2.1 +/- 0.6 days). Pregnancy rates, 82% in cows with 2 W and 100% in cows with 3 W, did not differ (P > 0.05). During the period equivalent to an oestrous cycle after breeding, 29 (49%) of the 59 animals had 2 W and 30 (51%) had 3 W. Fewer animals with 2 W than 3 W after breeding became pregnant (16/23, 70% vs 26/27, 96%; P < 0.05), but patterns of concentrations of progesterone on days 6 through 14 or mean oestradiol on day 14 (2.6 +/- 0.2 pg ml-1) did not differ. In conclusion, fewer animals had 3 W than 2 W before breeding and fertility did not differ. During the equivalent of one oestrous cycle after breeding, approximately equal numbers of animals had 2 W or 3 W and fertility was greater for animals with 3 W.
Animals↗
Peripheral blood from human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients displays diminished T cell generation capacity.
An organ culture chimera system was used to assess the effect of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection on the T cell-generation capacity of precursors derived from human peripheral blood. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-1-infected patients and uninfected controls were placed on fetal thymus lobes of NOD/LtSz-scid/scid mice. Blood from the HIV-1-infected patients consistently produced fewer CD4 and CD8 cells compared with blood from controls (P < .01). Addition of zidovudine to the cultures did not alter this profile. Limit dilution experiments suggested that there were fewer functional precursors in the infected patients. These results were not dependent on the patient's level of peripheral CD4 cells; even samples from patients with normal CD4 cell counts were unable to generate T cells in organ cultures. The results are consistent with a loss in the capacity of HIV-1-infected patients to produce functional T cell progenitors in their peripheral blood.
Animals↗
The efficacy of nonopioid analgesics for postoperative dental pain: a meta-analysis.
The evidence for the efficacy of nonopioid analgesics in the dental pain model was examined by conducting a meta-analysis. Studies were obtained by searching the literature from August 1996 back to 1975 using the terms pain, analgesics, and dentistry. This led to the review of 294 articles, of which 33 studies met the inclusion criteria. Pain scale results were transformed into a common percent scale and converted to N-weighted means with differences in efficacy considered significant using a 95% confidence interval. Collectively, therapeutic doses of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) commonly used in dentistry were significantly more efficacious than the combination of acetaminophen (600 or 650 mg) with codeine (60 mg). Similarly, specific doses of each of diflunisal, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, and ketorolac were significantly more efficacious than the commonly used acetaminophen-codeine combination. These quantitative results show that particular NSAIDs may be more efficacious than the acetaminophen-codeine combination for relief of postoperative dental pain.
Acetaminophen↗
Preoperative chemoradiotherapy for localized pancreatic carcinoma. A perspective.
BACKGROUND: The role of chemotherapy (CTX) in the treatment of localized adenocarcinoma of the pancreas must be enhanced if current results are to be surpassed. It is postulated that histologic response to various chemotherapeutic agents may offer an assessable endpoint intermediate to and perhaps as or more meaningful than survival analysis. METHODS: A history of trials assessing the value of adjuvant preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) is provided. Experiences with histologic assessment of treatment response are reviewed. RESULTS: There has been no clear benefit from adjuvant CTX, either when delivered with RT or as postoperative maintenance. Imaging tests were much less sensitive than histologic grading in determining responses (7% vs. 71% partial responses) of patients with resected pancreatic cancers previously treated with RT/CTX. This suggests that standard imaging assessments of pancreatic carcinoma response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be inaccurate. CONCLUSIONS: Preresectional delivery of chemotherapeutic agents with RT allows response rates to be quantified histologically. This method of response analysis, being much more sensitive than analysis by computed tomographic scanning, may allow the more rapid development of improved chemotherapeutic programs for this malignancy.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Comparative evaluation of chelating agents on the mobilization of cadmium: a mechanistic approach.
A comparative evaluation of chelating agents, namely, diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDC), dimethyl dithiocarbamate (DMDC), 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (CYCLAM), 1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclopentadecane (TACPD), 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), and 2,3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonate (DMPS) was conducted to assess their efficacy against acute cadmium (Cd) toxicity. DMSA and DMPS appeared to be most effective in reducing mortality as well as Cd burden of liver, kidneys, and brain in cadmium intoxicated mice. DMDC reduced Cd levels only in liver and kidneys, while DDC significantly enhanced its level in brain. CYCLAM and TACPD significantly increased the Cd level in liver and kidneys and were ineffective in brain. The therapeutic index as well as therapeutic efficacy was highest for DMSA followed by DMPS and DMDC. A fair degree of correlation was found to exist between (1) stability constant of Cd chelates and percent survival (r = .438, (2) stability constant and percent transport (r = .479), and (3) percent survival and percent transport (r =.447). However, the lipophilicity did not show any appreciable correlation with percent survival and stability constant of Cd chelates.
Animals↗
Protection against malignant conversion in SENCAR mouse skin by all trans retinoic acid: inhibition of the ras p21-processing enzyme farnesyltransferase and Ha-ras p21 membrane localization.
Many studies have shown that all trans retinoic acid (RA) exhibits significant protective effects against mouse skin tumor promotion and spontaneous as well as enhanced malignant conversion. In a recently completed study, we showed that under treatments in which papillomas on SENCAR mouse skin are induced at low and high probabilities to convert to malignant carcinomas, RA affords significant protection against both tumor promotion and subsequent malignant conversion. More than 95% of these mouse skin papillomas and carcinomas have been shown to contain point mutation at the 61 codon of Ha-ras oncogene. The ras oncogene encodes a p21 protein that, in its mutated form, transforms mammalian cells only when p21 is at the inner surface of the plasma membrane, by a series of enzymatic reactions in which the initial step is catalyzed by farnesyltransferase (FTase). In this study, we assessed whether the protective effect of RA against malignant conversion involves the inhibition of ras p21 processing in those tumors that contain the activated ras oncogene. The FTase activity and the levels of cytosolic and membrane-bound Ha-ras p21 were determined in all papillomas and carcinomas obtained from acetone- or RA-treated animals. No matter how the data were analyzed and what comparisons were considered, in all the protocols used, compared with controls, papillomas and carcinomas obtained from RA-treated groups showed significantly decreased (P < 0.01-0.001) FTase activity. Furthermore, the tissue samples from RA-treated groups in different protocols also showed significantly diminished membrane localization of Ha-ras p21, with a concomitant increase in cytosolic Ha-ras p21 levels. The analysis of these data also showed that in all the protocols used, the increased FTase activity and membrane localization of Ha-ras p21 were associated with the induction of papillomas and their subsequent malignant conversion to squamous cell carcinomas. Taken together, these results indicate a strong correlation between the inhibition of ras p21 farnesylation because of a decrease in FTase activity by RA and its protective effect against malignant conversion of papillomas to carcinomas. Based on the results of this study, it is tempting to suggest that clinical trials evaluating the preventive or therapeutic potential of retinoids may be directed more toward those clinical malignancies that are known to contain the activated ras oncogene.
Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗
Metal-independent putative superoxide dismutase mimics in chemistry, biology, and medicine.
The excessive generation of superoxide radicals O2-. with inadequate available defence provided by the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) may result in the development and exacerbation of many of mankind's common illnesses. The native SOD proves too problematic to be used for the prevention and cure of such diseases. A number of metal-independent synthetic SOD mimics, based on organic nitroxides, have been tried as therapeutic interventions. Among the widely studied mimics, 2-ethyl-2,5,5-trimethyl-3-oxazolidinanyl, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidimyloxy, nitrosoureas, and triazene derivatives have indicated promising results with possible future applications in chemistry, biology, and medicine.
Cyclic N-Oxides↗
Evidence for the involvement of nitric oxide in cisplatin-induced toxicity in rats.
Cisplatin treatment of rats results into a significant increase in the activity of Ca(2+)-independent nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in kidneys and liver. Significant enhancement of lipid peroxidation in gastric mucosa, kidneys and liver was also observed. The administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of NOS, markedly reduced renal and gastrointestinal toxicity, and also decreased the content of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and incidence of diarrhoea along with a significant inhibition in lipid peroxidation in the target organs. The present report, while demonstrating the beneficial effect of the blockade of NO pathways during cisplatin chemotherapy, may be helpful in developing strategies for combating some of the toxic side-effects of the drug.
Animals↗
Scope for fly control as a diarrhoea intervention in Pakistan: a community perspective.
Clinic records show childhood diarrhoea to be an important health problem in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, particularly during the Spring months when the density of houseflies is highest. Fly control measures during this season may reduce the incidence of diarrhoea. By using participatory research tools during meetings with 61 mothers it was found that diarrhoea was perceived to be the biggest health problem faced by their young children and, after mosquitoes, houseflies were considered to be the biggest insect pest in the domestic environment. It was found, during in-depth interviews with a separate group of mothers, that flies were considered to be the principal cause of diarrhoea. If fly control is shown to reduce childhood diarrhoea then long term community based fly control may be feasible because the community is likely to support efforts resulting in reduced fly density. Treatment of diarrhoea, in the study area, was based on a combination of local remedies and commercially produced drugs. It was found that following an estimated average of 4.2 and 0.8 visits per child year to the local dispenser and specialist, respectively, an estimated average of $9.4 per child year was spent on diarrhoea treatment alone. A reduction in diarrhoea incidence as a result of fly control would result in economic gains over and above health gains. The preliminary results presented in this paper support the need to investigate the impact of fly control on childhood diarrhoea in Pakistan and this would have relevance for other developing countries.
Animals↗