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Biomedical subjects

N Haddad

Publications and source records attributed to N Haddad.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Female mortality in reproductive age in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1991-1995: underlying causes of death and maternal mortality].

OBJECTIVE: To describe female mortality in the reproductive age (15 to 49 years old) in the State of S. Paulo, Brazil, from 1991 to 1995, according to the age and underlying causes of death. METHODS: Underlying causes of death, according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, were determined in the program Automated Classification of Medical Entities (ACME), developed by "Fundação Seade", which provided us data files and estimated women population by age groups and numbers of live births during the 1991 - 1995 period. Specific rates were calculated per 100,000 women and maternal mortality rates were given per 100,000 live births. Percentages of death were calculated for sub-groups. The median of the rates for a five-year-period was calculated to allow the comparison among the leading underlying causes of death. RESULTS: "Cellular immunity deficiency" increased from 1991 to 1995 in women aged 25 or more which seems to be concomitant to the spreading of the AIDS epidemic among women. Lesions and poisonings were the leading causes of death in younger women, but after the age of 35 cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms became the chief causes. Infectious and parasitic diseases were rated in the 7th or 8th positions in all ages. Accidents and homicides were high. Maternal mortality rates ranged from 43.7 to 49.6 per 100,000 live births, their leading causes were presented and discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Women in the reproductive age were exposed to external factors, chronic diseases and AIDS. The majority of maternal causes of death are preventable diseases. There is a lack of adequate and extensive antenatal care as well as in delivery and postpartum care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Mortality due to cardiovascular disease in women during the reproductive age (15 to 49 years), in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, from 1991 to 1995.

OBJECTIVE: To describe mortality due to cardiovascular diseases in women during the reproductive age (15 to 49 years) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, from 1991 to 1995. METHODS: A list of all deaths and their underlying causes, coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, multiple causes of death, and estimates of the female population according to age groups were provided by the SEADE Foundation. Specific coefficients for 100 thousand women for each year as well as the medians of these coefficients related to 5 years, and the percentage of death by subgroups were calculated. RESULTS: Cerebrovascular diseases have the highest coefficients (14.24 for 100 thousand females), followed by ischemic heart disease (7.37), other heart diseases (6.39), hypertensive disease (3.03), chronic rheumatic heart disease (1.58), pulmonary vascular diseases (1.29), and active rheumatic fever (0. 05). Systemic arterial hypertension, as an associated cause, occurred in 55.3% to 57.8% of all the deaths due to intracerebral hemorrhage and in 30.4% to 30.8% due to subarachnoid hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: The significance of cerebrovascular diseases, coronary artery disease, and systemic arterial hypertension as causes of mortality suggests the need to emphasize preventive actions for young women who have the potential to reproduce to avoid possible complications in future pregnancies, and premature mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Electrophoretic and morphological differentiation between two sympatric species of Adlerius: Phlebotomus brevis and Phlebotomus simici (Diptera: Psychodidae).

Phlebotomus simici Theodor and P. brevis Artemiev & Dergacheva are closely related species in the subgenus Adlerius that only may be identified by the male terminalia. Females only may be differentiated by collecting them in copula. Because females of P. simici may be involved in Leishmania transmission, their identity should be verified. Our study separated individual from 2 sympatric populations in Lebanon by means of agarose enzyme electrophoresis. Differential patterns were found at the PGM and HK loci. Results were confirmed by morphological reexamination of female spermathecae and pharyngeal armature.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The effect of pregnancy on the lower-limb venous system of women with varicose veins.

OBJECTIVES: to assess the effect of pregnancy on the lower-limb venous system of women with varicose veins. Design a longitudinal prospective study of 11 pregnant women, with varicose vein disease. METHODS: eleven pregnant women with varicose veins were recruited as part of a larger study. Veins were assessed in both lower limbs using colour-flow duplex scanning at a 75 degrees head-up tilt. The diameter and velocity and duration of reflux were measured in each vein at 12, 20, 26, 34, 38 weeks gestation and 6 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: eleven women had reflux and varicose veins demonstrated at first scan. All veins dilated with increasing gestation. This was maximal in the superficial system, reaching significance (p</=0.05) in the right long saphenous, superficial femoral and posterior tibial veins, left long and short saphenous, popliteal, peroneal, anterior and posterior tibial veins. The velocity of reflux increased while the duration decreased with increasing gestation. This was most obvious in the long saphenous veins but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: maximum changes were seen in the superficial venous system in the thigh. The effect was more pronounced on the left and the changes in reflux returned to pre-pregnancy levels in the puerperium.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Ascites and pleural effusion secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis in the pleura and peritoneum is rare. It is usually asymptomatic and generally is diagnosed on post mortem examination. Herein we describe a 33-year-old woman with long-standing myelofibrosis who presented with symptomatic ascites and pleural effusion. After complete evaluation, these were found to have been caused by extramedullary hematopoietic implants to the pleura and peritoneum. The pleural effusion responded to low-dose radiotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Serial colour flow duplex scanning of the veins of the lower limb throughout pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in diameter and reflux in normal veins of the lower limb throughout pregnancy. METHODS: Fifty-seven women were recruited into the study and 43 completed the full assessment to six weeks postpartum. Thirteen had pre-existing venous disease and are reported elsewhere. The veins were assessed in both lower limbs using colour flow duplex scanning. This was performed at a 75 degree tilt measuring vein diameter and the presence or absence of reflux. Measurements were made at 12, 20, 26, 34, 38 weeks of gestation and 6 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: No new reflux developed in any of the veins studied. In the superficial system the maximum change was seen in the long saphenous vein at 34 weeks, on the left side the vein diameter failed to return to baseline size. Significant change also occurred in the superficial femoral vein. Dilatation of the deep veins of the calf was observed being greater in the left posterior tibial and the left peroneal at the mid-calf point. CONCLUSION: Colour flow duplex scanning is an acceptable method of assessing the lower limb veins in pregnancy. Maximum diameter changes were seen in the long saphenous vein and in the deep veins at mid-calf. No new reflux developed during the gestation period in veins which were previously normal.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Productivity of teaching hospitals in the state of São Paulo,Brazil].

Teaching hospitals can be defined as hospitals whose mission is both to provide health care to the population and to train qualified professionals. This represents high costs that need to be balanced by higher productivity and quality. The aim of the present study was to identify the level of productivity in five teaching hospitals in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. For that, we measured indicators such as patient length of stay, patient turnover rate, substitution interval, and number of employees per hospital bed. For a better understanding of the reality of these teaching hospitals, data regarding morbidity and geographic range of influence were also analyzed. Results were compared with the results from a previous study which analyzed private tertiary and secondary hospitals and public secondary hospitals. Productivity was defined as inversely proportional to length of stay, patient turnover rate, substitution interval, and number of employees per hospital bed. We observed that private hospitals have a higher productivity in terms of most indicators, which suggests that these hospitals make a more efficient use of their human, material, and financial resources. Teaching hospitals have a higher length of stay than the other hospitals (median = 7 days); lower turnover rate than private hospitals and similar to public hospitals (median = 3.70 days); higher employee per bed ratio than the private hospitals, and smaller than public hospitals (median = 7 employee/hospital bed). Substitution interval was different for each type of hospital; only public hospitals had a lower substitution interval than teaching hospitals (median = 1.70 days).

Brazil↗
PubMed1996

Molecular characterization of a surface-exposed superoxide dismutase of Mycobacterium avium.

Mycobacterium avium is an intracellular pathogen capable of growing inside the phagosomal compartment of macrophages. In this work, we characterized the superoxide dismutase of M. avium, as a putative candidate to resist the oxidative stress. The gene sodA encoding superoxide dismutase (SOD:EC1.15.1.1) from Mycobacterium avium TMC724 was cloned and sequenced. It encodes a 23 kDa protein (207 aminoacids) showing identity with the Mycobacterium leprae SOD (91%) and the M. tuberculosis SOD (83%). This enzyme was functionally expressed in both Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis, and identified as a manganese (Mn) SOD on the basis of sequence comparison with other MnSODs from different organisms, and by activity inhibition studies. By indirect immunogold labeling of M. avium with a mAb directed against M. leprae SOD, the enzyme was found to be exposed at the cell surface of M. avium. It was also shown that SOD was released in supernates of M. avium TMV724 during exponential growth, suggesting a role of this enzyme during interactions with the environment. When SOD was expressed in the non-pathogenic M. smegmatis, it was also exposed at the surface of bacteria and released in supernates, but this was not sufficient to protect this recombinant mycobacterium from the killing mechanisms of macrophages.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Expression and role in growth regulation of tumour necrosis factor receptors p55 and p75 in acute myeloblastic leukaemia cells.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha exerts multiple effects on human acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) cells in vitro, including (1) synergistic stimulation of proliferation with interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF); (2) inhibition of granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF)-induced growth; (3) suppression of multiplication of clonogenic leukaemic cells; (4) induction of autocrine growth. Recently, two distinct TNF receptors (TNF-Rs), TNF-Rp55 and TNF-Rp75, have been identified. In this study we show that both receptors are expressed on freshly isolated AML blasts, with p75 being the predominant TNF-receptor type. This study investigates the roles of these two receptors in TNF-alpha-driven growth regulation of AML blasts in vitro. Using a receptor-specific antibody, it is shown that both receptor types participate in TNF-alpha-mediated stimulation of GM-CSF/IL-3-induced proliferation and in TNF-alpha-induced autocrine growth. In contrast, the TNF-alpha-triggered growth inhibition (antiproliferation) and the potent suppression of G-CSF- and SCF-induced proliferation exclusively result from activation of TNF-Rp55. Taken together, these results suggest that the proliferative effects of TNF-alpha on AML blasts are mediated through both p55 and p75 TNF receptors, whereas the TNF-alpha-signalled growth inhibition is exclusively transduced via TNF-Rp55.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Screening of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B) in the perinatal period].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the carriage rate of Streptococcus agalactiae in a group of pregnant women and evaluate its role in a neonatal infections. DESIGN: Prospective study between December 1992 and May 1993. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 166 patients aged 17 to 41 years (m = 28 yrs) with a gestational age of 32 to 42 wks (m = 39.99 +/- 1.73) were admitted to the delivery suite. All patients had a vaginal swab on admission before any lavage. RESULTS: The recovery rate of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B) was found to be 7.8% (13/166) in our population. Twelve of the thirteen newborn to colonized mothers (92%) were term newborn as compared to 141 of 153 (92.1%) newborn to non-colonized mothers (p = 0.72). Three of thirteen (23%) colonized mothers had premature rupture of membranes and 23% (3/13) had prolonged labor > 12 h as compared to of 38 (25.1%) and 8 (5.1%) non-colonized mothers (respectively p = 0.58; NS; p = 0.035). No intra-partum fever was reported. All neonates born to colonized mothers had a birth weight > 2,800 g, an average Apgar score of 8.6 while neonates of non-colonized women had a weight > 2,800 g in 89.4% of cases and an average Apgar of 8.8 (p = 0.9). Two (15.4%) newborn infants born to colonized mothers had an early neonatal infection: one had a pneumonia and had a favorable outcome, the other one developed sepsis and meningitis and died on day 3. CONCLUSION: Despite the low rate of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B) colonization (found in our population), regular identification of the organism is recommended because of the high risk of neonatal infection with a high mortality. Further studies on a larger group are needed to confirm such an approach.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Postremission therapy with two different dose regimens of cytarabine in adults with acute myelogenous leukemia.

Sixty-seven out of 105 (64%) adults with de novo acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), achieving complete remission after induction chemotherapy, entered two successive postremission treatment protocols. Between 1987 and 1989, 35 patients received an intermediate dose of cytarabine (IDAC) along with other drugs. Between 1990 and 1993, 32 patients received high dose cytarabine (HIDAC) with similar other drugs. Patients treated with IDAC had a median survival of 13.8 months (95% CI 11.2-23.1 months) and a 2 year survival of 34.3 +/- 8.0%. Patients receiving HIDAC had a median survival of 35.5 months (95% CI, lower limit 29.8 months) and a 2 year survival of 71.6 +/- 9.4% (P < 0.002). The 2 year actuarial leukemia-free survival (LFS) was 17.8 +/- 6.6% in the IDAC group and 67.3 +/- 10.0% months in the HIDAC group (P = 0.004). The HIDAC group had a significant 2 year survival advantage over the IDAC group only in patients younger than 45 years. The 2 year survival in the first group was 83.3 +/- 10.8% versus 23.5 +/- 10.3% in the IDAC group (P = 0.0001). In patients older than 45 years, no significant differences in 2 year survival was noticed (52.9 +/- 15.78 versus 44.4 +/- 11.7, P = 0.8). Censoring the 21 patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at BMT did not change significantly the survival analysis of the patients in each group. This study is consistent with previous reports favoring HIDAC intensification in the postremission treatment of young patients with AML.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1995

Mercury resistance as a selective marker for recombinant mycobacteria.

The use of antibiotic-resistance markers for the selection of recombinant mycobacteria is widespread but questionable considering the development of live recombinant BCG vaccines. In contrast, vector-encoded resistance to heavy metals such as mercury may represent an interesting alternative for the development of live vaccines compatible with use in humans and in animals. The mercury resistance genes (mer) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and from Serratia marcescens were cloned into the Escherichia coli-Mycobacterium shuttle vector pRR3. The resulting vectors, designated pMR001 and pVN2, were introduced by electroporation into Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium bovis BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The recombinant mycobacteria were stable in vitro and in vivo, and had high-level mercury resistance, thus indicating that the mer genes can be useful as selective markers in mycobacteria.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Test of three bait types for oral immunization of dogs against rabies in Tunisia.

Chicken heads and two types of artificial bait were tested in Tunisia during two field trials in a waste disposal site carried out in 1988 and 1989 to compare their effectiveness as vehicles for the oral administration of antirabies vaccine to free-roaming dogs. Baits were made available for 36 hr and those that disappeared or were consumed were replaced on several occasions. In 1988, an artificial bait composed of fat and fishmeal (artificial bait type I) was tested. In the second trial, chicken heads and an artificial bait composed of polymerized fishmeal and wax (artificial bait type II) were compared. The vaccine containers were loaded with a topical marker (rhodamine B or methylene blue) to identify animals that had consumed baits. The artificial type I bait tested in 1988 was poorly accepted, but in the second trial, the number of chicken-head baits probably taken by dogs was more than seven times greater than the number of artificial type II baits taken. Thirteen dogs observed during the day showed topical marker staining. In both trials, most baits were taken during the night when dog activity in the waste disposal site was at its maximum. Artificial baits were characterized either by their lack of thermostability (type I, melting) or a certain attractiveness for cats (type II, fish flavor). Chicken heads fulfill established requirements for baits for vaccine delivery. They are well-accepted by free-roaming dogs, inexpensive, usually easily available at local markets, unattractive to humans, relatively easy to store in large quantities, and easy to handle.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Assay of oral vaccination of dogs against rabies in Tunisia with the vaccinal strain SADBern.

The possibility of immunizing dogs orally against rabies, using SADBern, an attenuated strain, was tested on dogs in the field in Tunisia. This strain induced high neutralizing antibody titres and conferred to all vaccinated dogs total resistance against a challenge with a Maghrebian strain. However, an excretion of virus of vaccinal origin was observed in one dog, hampering the use of SADBern in dogs. Nevertheless, this work demonstrates for the first time that dogs in developing countries, especially those which are inaccessible to parenteral vaccination, could be efficiently immunized against rabies by the oral route.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Respective effects of soluble interleukin-1 receptor and tumour necrosis factor receptor on IL-1 and TNF-alpha-induced DNA synthesis of common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia blasts in vitro.

This study investigates the capacity of human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) to induce DNA synthesis of highly purified blasts from nine adult common acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (cALL) in 7 d liquid culture. IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha stimulated 3H-TdR uptake in leukaemic blasts in a dose-dependent fashion. The IL-1-induced DNA synthesis of cALL cells could not be prevented by the addition of neutralizing antibodies against IL-3, GM-CSF, IL-6 or TNF-alpha. Similarly, the TNF-alpha-stimulated 3H-TdR incorporation of leukaemic blasts was not affected by the addition of antibodies towards IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-3, GM-CSF or IL-6. These observations suggest that IL-1 as well as TNF-alpha stimulated growth could not be attributed to the endogenous production of factors, corresponding to the antibodies used in these experiments. Both IL-1 as well as TNF-alpha mediate their action through interaction with specific cell surface receptors. Recently two distinct types of IL-1 receptors (IL-1-Rs), IL-1R(p80) and IL-1-R(p65), as well as two distinct types of TNF-receptors (TNF-Rs), TNF-R (p55) and TNF-R (p75) have been identified. Both types of TNF-Rs exist also in soluble forms (sTNF-Rs), while soluble IL-1-Rs (sIL-1-Rs) have not yet been found naturally. In this study we show that sIL-1-R as well as sTNF-R modulate the effects of their corresponding cytokine in a dose-dependent bimodal fashion; at lower concentrations they augmented while at higher concentrations they inhibited the cytokine-stimulated DNA synthesis of cALL blasts in vitro. It may therefore be concluded from this study that soluble receptors for both IL-1 and TNF, at least in vitro, are functional and interfere with their corresponding cytokine bioactivity.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1994

Effects of soluble interleukin-1 receptor and tumor-necrosis factor receptor, respectively, on the IL-1- and TNF-alpha-induced DNA synthesis of acute myeloblastic leukemia blasts in vitro.

This study demonstrates that soluble interleukin-1 receptor and tumor necrosis factor receptor modulate their corresponding cytokine-induced DNA synthesis of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) blasts in a dose-dependent, bimodal fashion; at lower concentrations they enhanced, while at high concentrations they inhibited, the cytokine-mediated effects. Furthermore, the concentrations of endogenously produced IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha were found to be significantly (p < 0.01) higher in supernatants of AML cells cultured in the presence of corresponding soluble receptors compared to their levels in supernatants of cells growing in the absence of these molecules. Our data might suggest that the attenuation of the spontaneous decay of IL-1 beta as well as TNF-alpha activities by soluble receptors may account for their ability to augment some of their effects.

Adolescent↗