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Biomedical subjects

N Iqbal

Publications and source records attributed to N Iqbal.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Studies on the effects of some organic pollutants on the heavy metal transport in an Indian soil.

The translocation of some heavy metals, such as Hg, Cd, Cu, Co, Ni and Zn, as affected by organic pollutants, i.e. methanol, ethanol, propanol, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, acetone, ethyl methyl ketone and cyclo-hexanone, was studied in an Indian red soil using soil thin layer chromatography. It was observed that an increase in the concentration of organic compounds in developer enhances the heavy metal mobility, except in the case of Cu and Hg which show a decreasing trend. The results are discussed in relation to the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil and adsorption/desorption phenomena.

Journal Article↗

Chorionic haemangiomata and abruptio placentae. Case report and review.

A case of fetal death from abruptio placentae is reported in which the placenta was the seat of multiple chorangiomata. This association is believed not to have been fortuitous and a possible mechanism is suggested by which chorangioma may contribute to the pathogenesis of placental abruption. The incidence, morphological variation and clinical manifestations of placental chorangiomata are briefly discussed.

Abruptio Placentae↗

Plasma dexamethasone and cortisol levels in depressed outpatients.

We investigated the 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in 41 outpatients with major depressive disorder assessing the role of dexamethasone blood level, age and basal cortisol on DST results. Non-suppressors (approximately 25% of patients) had lower dexamethasone levels, and post-dexamethasone cortisol was negatively correlated with plasma dexamethasone; these findings were more significant after covarying out age and basal cortisol, factors that were also significantly associated to non-suppressors. A subgroup of patients (n = 19) also had 0.75-mg and 2.0-mg DST to evaluate whether a threshold dexamethasone blood level existed; a dexamethasone blood level greater than 1.5 ng/ml converted all non-suppressors to suppressors. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Adult↗

The syndrome of resistance to thyroid hormone, misdiagnosed and treated as thyrotoxicosis.

OBJECTIVE: To report two cases of resistance to thyroid hormone and to promote increased awareness of this syndrome, which is frequently misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated. METHODS: We describe a young woman and her father, both of whom were diagnosed at a younger age as having thyrotoxicosis and were treated with thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine. Both patients later proved to have resistance to thyroid hormone and required supraphysiologic doses of levothyroxine to normalize the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) while remaining euthyroid. RESULTS: Laboratory evaluation revealed increased serum total thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels as well as normal to increased TSH levels. The free alpha sub-unit/TSH ratio was normal, and magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland showed no tumor. Metabolic studies in the daughter, with use of graded doses of triiodothyronine, supported the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Both patients shown to have resistance to thyroid hormone were misdiagnosed and inappropriately treated in the past. The resultant hypothyroidism has been difficult to treat, particularly in the father who has coronary artery disease.

Journal Article↗

Life-threatening hypercalcemia associated with primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy: case report and review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of life-threatening hypercalcemia attributable to primary hyperparathyroidism in a pregnant patient and discuss the management of severe hypercalcemia during pregnancy. METHODS: We describe a 28-year-old pregnant woman who had life-threatening hypercalcemia (serum calcium level of 25.8 mg/dL). Primary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed. The patient's management and the published medical literature on primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy are reviewed. RESULTS: Our patient had the highest reported serum calcium level that we could find attributable to primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy. After initial stabilization, parathyroidectomy was successfully performed during pregnancy. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which this profound degree of hypercalcemia did not result in an adverse maternal or fetal outcome. CONCLUSION: Although uncommon, primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy may be associated with severe maternal and perinatal complications. Life-threatening hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy can be successfully managed surgically during pregnancy, with good maternal and fetal outcome.

Journal Article↗

Serum resistin is not associated with obesity or insulin resistance in humans.

BACKGROUND: Resistin has proposed link with obesity related insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The physiologic role of resistin in humans remains unknown. It is suggested that circulating resistin levels are not associated with obesity or insulin resistance in humans. However, the effects of weight loss on serum resistin concentration has not been studied. In order to better understand the physiologic role of resistin in human obesity, we measured the serum resistin concentration in subjects with severe obesity (before and after 6-months of dietary intervention) to test the hypothesis that serum resistin concentrations are elevated amongst individuals with severe obesity and weight loss would reduce these levels. METHODS: Seventy-one obese subjects (defined as BMI > 35 kg/m2) who were randomized to low fat (LF) vs low carbohydrates (LC) diets and who completed the 6-month follow-up were studied. Their baseline demographic information was collected and serum resistin, insulin, glucose were measured at baseline and at 6-months. RESULTS: Subjects in LC diet lost more weight than LF (-19.54 +/- 7.87 lbs vs -7.83 +/- 11.23 lbs., p = 0.001). Insulin sensitivity (HOMA) improved in LC group compared with LF group [-3.72 +/- 9.84 (LC) vs +1.31 +/- 7.31 (LF), p = 0.006]. Serum resistin levels did not decrease in either diet. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that despite a significant weight loss and improvement in insulin sensitivity there was no reduction in serum resistin concentration in morbidly obese men with metabolic syndrome suggesting that resistin does not play a central role in obesity related insulin resistance.

Aged↗

The effects of a low-carbohydrate versus low-fat diet on adipocytokines in severely obese adults: three-year follow-up of a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Adipocytokines are associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease and can be modified with weight loss. While we previously demonstrated weight loss and a reduction in leptin in obese adults who followed a low-carbohydrate diet for 6 months, the long-term effects of this diet on adipocytokines are unknown. METHODS: 132 obese adults with a body mass index of > or = 35 kg/m2 were randomized to receive one year of dietary counseling to follow either a low-carbohydrate diet < 30 g/day (LC) or a caloric-restricted diet (reduced by 500 calories/day with < 30% of calories from fat) (LF). Weight, leptin, adiponectin, TNF-alpha, CRP, and insulin were measured at 0, 6, and 36 months (24 months post-counseling). Follow-up data at was collected for 53 participants who returned at 36 months. RESULTS: Mean weight change from baseline was not different between the groups at 36 months. Between 6 and 36 months weight was unchanged for LF, while LC appeared to regain weight [+ 4.84 +/- 35.6 kg (+ 3.0%)]. This difference, however, was not significant (p = 0.08). Leptin was unchanged in LF at both 6 and 36 months. In LC leptin decreased by 8.49 +/- 6.4 ng/mL or 22.7% at 6 months (p < 0.001) and increased by 10.68 +/- 25.2 ng/mL or 41.9% between 6 and 36 months (p = 0.02). There were no differences in insulin, adiponectin, TNF-alpha, or CRP between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable changes in leptin that accompany weight loss are not sustained in individuals who followed a low-carbohydrate diet for one year. A low-carbohydrate diet had no significant effect on insulin, adiponectin, TNF-alpha, or CRP compared to a low-fat diet at 36 months.

Adiponectin↗