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Biomedical subjects

N Siddiqui

Publications and source records attributed to N Siddiqui.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Day-case adenoidectomy: how popular and safe in a rural environment?

In spite of previously favourable reports on day-case adenoidectomy, there are still worries amongst otolaryngologists that such practice is unsafe, especially in a rural environment. A national survey was therefore carried out which shows that only 41 per cent of respondents perform adenoidectomy routinely as day-case, and even fewer in rural areas. A regional audit on day-case adenoidectomy, covering five hospitals, was conducted in East Anglia. Between 1994 to 1995, 73 day-case adenoidectomies were performed and the outcome was compared to those of 183 in-patient adenoidectomies during the same period. The children in the day-case group recovered post-operatively even better than the in-patient group. None of them stayed overnight or required re-admission. There was no increased in post-operative consultation to the general practitioner. The parents in the day-case group were mostly in favour of the day-case arrangement (88 per cent). The results suggest that day-case adenoidectomy is safe and popular with parents even in a rural environment.

Adenoidectomy↗

A clinical and pharmacokinetic study of the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel for epithelial ovarian cancer.

The aim of this phase I study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of a 3-h infusion of paclitaxel, combined with carboplatin at a fixed AUC of 7 mg ml-1 min every 4 weeks for up to six cycles and to evaluate any possible pharmacokinetic interaction. Twelve chemonaive patients with ovarian cancer were treated with paclitaxel followed by a 30-min infusion of carboplatin. Paclitaxel dose was escalated from 150 mg m-2 to 225 mg m-2 in cohorts of three patients. Carboplatin dose was based on renal function. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed in nine patients (at least two at each dose level). A total of 66 courses were evaluable for assessment. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was seen in 70% of the courses, however hospitalization was not required. Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 24% of the courses. Alopecia, myalgia and peripheral neuropathy were common but rarely severe. The pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel was non-linear and did not appear to be influenced by co-administration of carboplatin. The AUC of carboplatin was 7.0 +/- 1.4 mg ml-1 min, indicating that there was no pharmacokinetic interaction. The combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel may be administered as first-line treatment for advanced ovarian cancer. Although myelosuppression is the dose-limiting toxicity of the component drugs, the severity of thrombocytopenia was less than anticipated. The results of this study, with only a small number of patients, need to be confirmed in future investigations.

Adult↗

Evidence for response set effects in structured research interviews.

The Addiction Severity Index and NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule data of 20 methadone-maintained subjects with "fake bad" invalid profiles on the Personality Assessment Inventory, 15 methadone-maintained subjects with "fake good" invalid profiles, and 158 methadone-maintained subjects with valid profiles were compared. The findings revealed a number of significant group differences on both measures with the highest scores for the fake bad subjects and lowest scores for the fake good subjects. These findings suggest that the response sets exhibited in response to the Personality Assessment Inventory questionnaire extended to performance during the two semi-structured interviews. There was no indication that interviewers were aware of misrepresentation. The limitations of the findings and alternative interpretations of the data are considered.

Adult↗

Carboplatin in combination with paclitaxel in advanced ovarian cancer: dose determination and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions.

Data from various phase I/II studies of carboplatin in combination with paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) have suggested that the degree of thrombocytopenia seen is less than that expected when carboplatin is given alone. However, some studies also have suggested that the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of carboplatin is lower than that expected, raising the possibility of a pharmacokinetic interaction. Patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with first-line carboplatin (AUC = 7, using the 51Cr EDTA [edetic acid] clearance method) and escalating doses of paclitaxel. Thrombocytopenia was mild and was significantly less when the paclitaxel dose was 175 mg/m2 versus 150 mg/m2. Paclitaxel kinetics were nonlinear, as previously reported. The achieved carboplatin AUC was 7 +/- 1 mg/mL.min, indicating that the pharmacokinetics of carboplatin are not affected by paclitaxel. Glomerular filtration rates measured in 184 patients using the 51Cr EDTA clearance method were compared with rates estimated from the plasma creatinine level using the Cockcroft-Gault or Jeliffe formulas and showed a significant bias of these two formulas. Clearances above 50 mL/min were underestimated by an amount that became greater as the clearance increased and was approximately 25% to 35% for patients with clearances in the normal range. Since creatinine-based methods have been used in many previous studies, care is needed in interpreting the predicted AUC values from these studies. Carboplatin and paclitaxel may be given safely in combination at full doses, and the thrombocytopenia seen is significantly less than that observed with single-agent carboplatin. No evidence exists of a pharmacokinetic interaction, and the observation in some studies that the carboplatin AUC was lower than expected was probably due to the methodology used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate.

Adult↗

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of new 1-substituted 1'-methyl-3-chloro-2-oxospiro (azetidin-3',4-indol-2' ones).

The aim of the present research work is to discover new compounds with potential anticonvulsant activity. Several indolinone derivatives and also azetidinones are reported to have significantly anticonvulsant activity. So, it was thought considerable to synthesise compounds having both these moieties and study their anticonvulsant activity. The new spiroazetinones synthesized from the reaction of 3-(N-substituted) imino-1-methyl-indol-2-ones with chloroacetyl chloride in presence of triethylamine have been characterised on the basis of triethylamine have been characterised on the basis of satisfactory analytical and spectral data. Of the eight compounds screened in the series two compounds (3c and 3h) exhibited significant activity against MES.

Animals↗

Demographic, medical history and sexual correlates of HIV seropositive methadone maintained women.

Beginning in January 1989, consecutive female admissions to the ARTC MMTP Clinics in NYC were interviewed about their medical, drug, sexual and social experiences during 6 distinct historical years. Bloods were drawn and each sample tested for HIV via ELISA and Western Blot analysis. The data for 256 females was analyzed. The sample was predominantly Black (56%) and Hispanic (36%). Fifty-four percent (140) were between the ages of 31 and 40; 35% (91) were between the ages of 18 and 30; and 10% (27) were 41 or older. The majority, 179 (69%), had less than a high school education, while 79 (31%) had a high school education or greater. The seropositivity for this sample of females was 60.4%. Aside from the common types of illnesses often seen in gay men infected with the HIV virus (i.e., pneumonia, night sweats, sore throat and swollen glands) our sample of females presented with symptoms such as abnormal discharges from the vagina, infections or abscesses of the veins, kidney or bladder infections, bleeding from the bowels and hepatitis infections. The most commonly reported risk factors among our sample of HIV positive females were sharing injecting materials (38%); injecting drugs in the veins (37.2%); dividing an injection (24.3%); and blood transfusions (10.9%). Of our HIV positive females, 42 of 97 (43.3%) reported having sex with a man they shared needles with only one time so that having sex with a man who is potentially infected with the HIV virus only once may be enough for a female to seroconvert. One limitation of this data is that there is no knowledge of when the HIV positive women seroconverted. Some of the behaviors reported could be due to exposure to AIDS education, and not to the knowledge to their HIV serostatus.

Adolescent↗

Analgesic and hypnosis potentiation effect of some 1-(2-benzothiazolyl)-1-aryl-3-phenyl-4-aryl guanidines.

1-(2-benzothiazolyl)-1-aryl-3-phenyl-4-arylguanidines (I-X) were prepared by oxidation of 1,3-diarylthioureas. The compounds were screened for their analgesic and hypnotic activities in rats. Of these, p-methyl group substituted compound of the series was the most potent analgesic as compared to other compounds of the series. In hypnotic test all the compounds potentiated pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis.

Analgesics↗

Tracheal soiling with blood during intranasal surgery--comparison of two endotracheal tubes.

Sixty adult patients, ASA Classes I & II, were involved in a study to compare the effectiveness of Mallinckrodt Hi-Lo-Evac tube and Portex blue line tube in preventing soiling of the lower airways during intranasal surgery. The Hi-Lo-Evac tube with and without pack was significantly more effective than the Portex tube with pharyngeal pack (P less than 0.002) and (P less than 0.01 respectively). There was no significant difference when the Hi-Lo-Evac tube was used with or without a pack (P greater than 0.2). The more effective protection of the lower airways by the Hi-Lo-Evac tube is attributed to the facility of subglottic aspiration during surgery. It is suggested that the Hi-Lo-Evac tube could be used with safety during intranasal surgery in order to reduce postoperative morbidity associated with the use of pharyngeal pack.

Adolescent↗

Impact of workshops on Themes of World AIDS Days.

BACKGROUND: Abbottonians Medical Association, Abbottabad, Pakistan in collaboration with UNAIDS Pakistan arranged two Workshops, the first in 1999, the Theme of which was "Listen, Learn, Live", and the second in the year 2000 with "Men Make Difference" as the Theme. The aim of these workshops was to create awareness amongst the participants regarding HIV/AIDS. OBJECTIVES: We used the data of the above-mentioned workshops to analyze the gain in knowledge and attitudes of the participants, with an idea to develop recommendations for the use of such workshops for increasing the awareness regarding HIV/AIDS. METHODS: The data of the two above-mentioned workshops were used to assess the percentage gain in knowledge and attitudes of the participants. We also compared our results with the contemporary studies and developed our recommendations. RESULTS: The results show highly significant (p < .001) increase in the HIV/AIDS related knowledge and attitudes in the participants of these workshops. This difference was more significant in the teachers as compared to the students, showing a higher level of awareness in the youngsters. The net gain in the knowledge was very significant. The knowledge about HIV spread increased by 28.96% for the students and 19.54% for the teachers, while the net gain in attitudes was 36.16% for the students and 71.43% in the teachers. CONCLUSIONS: Short workshops on the Themes of World AIDS Days are very beneficial for improvement in the level of awareness for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Elderly African-Americans and the influenza vaccine: the impact of the primary care physician.

BACKGROUND: Despite recommendations for annual vaccinations against influenza, many older African-Americans do not receive this vaccine. For 1 month in our private medical offices, we conducted a survey to estimate the vaccination rate for our practice, the reasons why older African-Americans declined to be vaccinated, and any impact we could make on their misconceptions about its safety and efficacy. SETTING: The study was conducted in a three-physician private practice of geriatric/internal medicine in the borough of Queens, New York. PARTICIPANTS: 231 consecutive community-residing patients aged 65 or older were evaluated starting in October 1999. METHODS: A total of 231 patients aged 65 to 96 were given a questionnaire asking if they planned to or had already received the influenza vaccine for the 1999-2000 season. Those who had no intention of taking the vaccine were asked why. Categories included: Vaccine not recommended/not recommended strongly enough, vaccine has no benefit, I became ill after being vaccinated, too afraid, I heard it makes people sick, no special reason, allergy to eggs, never had the flu. Those who refused had a brief discussion with their physician and it was noted whether they agreed later to be vaccinated. Ten patients who were not black were excluded. RESULTS: Forty-four percent (98/221) of patients intended to be vaccinated before discussion with their physician. After discussion with their physician about potential side effects, efficacy,safety, the percentage rose to 63% (139/221). This compares favorably with the national health objective of 60% or greater for the year 2000 in this population. CONCLUSIONS: The primary care physician had a significant impact on the increase of the influenza vaccination rate among older African-Americans in our study from 44 to 63%.

Journal Article↗