Biomedical subjects

R Faris

Publications and source records attributed to R Faris.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Diuretics for heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide. Diuretics are regarded as the first-line treatment for patients with congestive heart failure since they provide symptomatic relief. The effects of diuretics on disease progression and survival remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To assess the harms and benefits of diuretics for chronic heart failure SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 2 2004), MEDLINE 1966-2004, EMBASE 1980-2004 and HERDIN database. We hand searched pertinent journals and reference lists of papers were inspected. We also contacted manufacturers and researchers in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Only double-blinded randomised controlled trials of diuretic therapy comparing one diuretic with placebo, or one diuretic with another active agent (e.g. ACE inhibitors, digoxin) in patients with chronic heart failure were eligible for inclusion. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently abstracted the data and assessed the eligibility and methodological quality of each trial. Extracted data were entered into the Review Manager 4.2 computer software, and analysed by determining the odds ratio for dichotomous data, and difference in means for continuous data, of the treated group compared with controls. The likelihood of heterogeneity of the study population was assessed by the Chi-square test. If there was no evidence of statistical heterogeneity and pooling of results was clinically appropriate, a combined estimate was obtained using the fixed-effects model. MAIN RESULTS: We included 14 trials (525 participants), 7 were placebo-controlled, and 7 compared diuretics against other agents such as ACE inhibitors or digoxin. We analysed the data for mortality and for worsening heart failure. Mortality data were available in 3 of the placebo-controlled trials (202 participants). Mortality was lower for participants treated with diuretics than for placebo, odds ratio (OR) for death 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.83; P = 0.02. Admission for worsening heart failure was reduced in those taking diuretics in two trials (169 participants), OR 0.07 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.52; P = 0.01). In four trials comparing diuretics to active control (91 participants), diuretics improved exercise capacity in participants with CHF, difference in means WMD 0.72 , 95% CI 0.40 to 1.04; P < 0.0001. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The available data from several small trials show that in patients with chronic heart failure, conventional diuretics appear to reduce the risk of death and worsening heart failure compared to placebo. Compared to active control, diuretics appear to improve exercise capacity.

Diuretics↗

PubMed2003

Does egg-sharing compromise the chance of donors or recipients achieving a live birth?

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of egg-sharing and the outcome of assisted reproductive treatment (ART) in standard IVF/ICSI patients, egg-sharing donors and egg-sharing recipients. METHODS: Descriptive cohort study to evaluate 276 egg-sharing cycles involving 192 egg-sharers, 274 recipient cycles receiving eggs from egg-sharers and 1098 non-egg-sharing standard IVF/ICSI cycles from January 1998 to December 2002. Patients were divided into three groups: group A, egg-sharers; group B, non-egg-sharers, age <36 years, FSH <10 IU/l, BMI <30 kg/m(2); and group C, egg-sharing recipients, all ages. Duration and amount of gonadotrophin required to achieve follicular maturity, number of eggs collected and donated, fertilization rate, pregnancy rates and live birth rates were compared between donor, recipient and standard IVF/ICSI patients. The chi(2 )test was used to test for statistical significance (P < 0.05). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in pregnancy rate and live birth rate of egg-sharers, group A (42.0%, 33.0%), non-egg-sharers, group B (40.0%, 30.9%) and recipients, group C (41.4%, 28.6%). The number of oocytes collected, number of mature follicles and amount of gonadotrophin used was not significantly different between the two groups (A and B). The average number of embryos transferred and the mean number of eggs allocated between egg-sharers and recipients was not statistically different. CONCLUSION: Egg-sharing does not compromise the chance of achieving a pregnancy or live birth for the egg-sharer or the recipient as compared to standard IVF/ICSI patients. The egg-sharers were not at a higher potential risk of ovarian stimulation syndrome and there was no imbalance of egg allocation.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Current evidence supporting the role of diuretics in heart failure: a meta analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To summarise the current evidence from randomised controlled trials for diuretics in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). DATA SOURCES: English-language randomised controlled trials and review papers referenced in Medline, Embase between 1966 and 1999. General literature review of pertinent journals was carried out and reference lists of papers were inspected. REVIEW METHOD STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of diuretic therapy in patients with CHF. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they were randomised comparisons of loop or thiazide diuretics and control, or one diuretic and another active agent (e.g. ACE inhibitors, ibopamine and digoxin). DATA ABSTRACTION: Using a standardised protocol, two reviewers independently abstracted the data and assessed the methodological quality of each paper. DATA SYNTHESIS: The odds ratio (OR) of treated group compared with control was estimated for each end-point outcome and plotted against each other using the fixed-effects model. THE MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes of our analysis were effects of diuretics on mortality and morbidity. RESULTS: Eighteen trials met our criteria and were eligible for analysis, involving 928 patients. Eight trials were placebo-controlled. We analysed the data for mortality and for worsening heart failure. A further ten trials compared diuretics against other agents such as ACE inhibitors, ibopamine, and digoxin. Mortality data were available in three of the placebo-controlled trials (n=221); the mortality rate was lower for patients treated with diuretics than for control [the odds ratio for death, 0.25; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.07-0.84; P=0.03]. Admissions for worsening heart failure in the four small trials (n=448) showed an odds ratio of 0.31 (95% CI 0.15-0.62; P=0.001). In six studies of diuretics compared to active control, diuretics significantly improved exercise capacity in patients with CHF [OR: 0.37; CI: 0.10-0.64, P=0.007]. CONCLUSION: Compared to active control, diuretics appear to reduce the risk of worsening disease and improve exercise capacity. The available data from small studies show that in CHF conventional diuretics reduce the risk of death and worsening heart failure compared to placebo.

Diuretics↗

PubMed2002

Clinical depression is common and significantly associated with reduced survival in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure.

Several studies have shown that depression is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients with ischaemic heart failure. We have investigated whether clinically recognised depression is linked to mortality in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in the Royal Brompton Hospital (RBH), a tertiary cardiac centre located in London, UK. We retrospectively examined a cohort of 396 consecutive adult patients with DCM who satisfied our inclusion and exclusion criteria identified from an echocardiographic database and the hospital medical records. Mean age was 53+/-15 years. In all, 83 patients (21%) were clinically depressed, the majority of which (60%) were taking antidepressant therapy. After a follow-up period of 48 months, 83 (21%) patients died, 15 (4%) underwent cardiac transplantation and 130 (33%) were readmitted; 29 (35%) of the deaths and 40 (31%) of the readmissions were among clinically depressed patients. After 5 years, clinically depressed patients had significantly higher mortality and readmission rates than non-depressed; 36 vs. 16% (hazards ratio for death, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.4; P=0.004), and 87 vs. 74% (hazards ratio for readmission, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.07-0.90; P=0.03), respectively. The risk of depression was greatly increased in the presence of other recognised adverse clinical variables at baseline. Depression increases the risk of death and readmission in patients with heart failure secondary to non-ischaemic DCM. The risk associated with depression appears to be greatest among patients with milder disease, those with a shorter duration of symptoms and those demonstrating a lower systolic or diastolic blood pressure, renal impairment, or a restrictive left ventricular physiology on echocardiography. Interventions targeted at reducing depression warrant further study as a possible way to improve quality of life and/or outcome in patients with heart failure.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Human antibody responses to Wuchereria bancrofti infective larvae.

Human IgG antibody responses to Wuchereria bancrofti third stage infective larvae (L3) surface and somatic antigens were studied by indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) and immunoblot with endemic Egyptian sera (n = 115) with the aim of identifying targets of protective immunity. Human sera variably recognized 14 major bands in L3 by immunoblot. The statistical significance of group differences in antibody prevalence was assessed by the chi-squared test. Children and young adults (aged 10-20 years) tended to have antibodies to more L3 somatic antigens than older adults, with significant differences for bands at 66, 60 and 5 kDa. Infected subjects had more consistent antibody responses to antigens at 55, 50 and 6 kDa than endemic normal subjects with negative serum filarial antigen tests, who are presumed to be uninfected. A 5 kDa antigen was preferentially recognized by the latter group. Antibodies to L3 surface antigens were equally prevalent in uninfected children (75%) and adults (90%) but less prevalent in people with microfilaremia (38%) than in amicrofilaremic subjects with or without filarial antigenemia (81%) (P < 0.001). IFA-positive sera showed significantly enhanced recognition of antigens at 66, 40 and 14 kDa in immunoblots relative to IFA-negative sera. Additional studies are needed to further characterize antigens identified in this study and to establish whether they are indeed targets of protective immunity in humans.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

The impact of environmental and entomological factors on intervillage filarial focality in the Nile Delta.

In the Nile Delta of Egypt, levels of W. bancrofti infection in humans vary among nearby villages. Ecological and entomological factors that might explain variability between adjacent villages, El Qolzom (QOL) and Kafr Shorafa (KSH) with respective 10.8% and 2.1% microfilaria (MF) prevalence were examined. The epidemiological study covered 127 and 79 houses scattered in QOL and KSH, respectively, and described 25 items relating to housing characters, socio-economic state and human activities. It revealed that QOL is more rural than KSH, and therefore would be more favorable to the vector mosquito population and hence, filarial parasite transmission in QOL. Weekly records (N = 81 and 62 for QOL and KSH, respectively) of ambient temperature, relative humidity and wind speed taken at sunset, over 3 months during summer, revealed no significant variation between villages. Those measured at sunrise revealed significant, although inconsistent, differences at a particular month, but no difference over the whole period. Whether climatological conditions could have influenced mosquito bionomics in the study villages is questionable. Abundance of female Cx. pipiens collected weekly by standard sampling methods using 247 and 240 dry ice-baited CDC trap-nights in QOL and KSH, respectively, oral aspiration from within 346 and 304 respective house-nights, and 65 and 40 respective ovitrap-nights, did not vary significantly over the whole study period. Daily survival and survival to infectivity rates of wild-caught mosquitoes were based on parity and were generally more elevated in QOL than KSH. Monthly records of abundance and survival seemed to favor filaria transmission by mosquitoes in QOL. Autogeny amounted to 6.5 and 20% for QOL and KSH, respectively. Experimental infection of Cx. pipiens from the study villages with W. bancrofti revealed that QOL females were 3.3 times more efficient vectors than KSH ones, mainly because QOL mosquitoes survived longer. The ultimate outcome of observed entomological factors might explain its preponderance in QOL.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

A longitudinal study of Bancroftian filariasis in the Nile Delta of Egypt: baseline data and one-year follow-up.

We initiated a longitudinal study of Bancroftian filariasis to improve understanding of dynamics and risk factors for infection in villages near Cairo, Egypt. Baseline prevalence rates for microfilaremia and filarial antigenemia for 1,853 subjects more than 9 years of age were 7.7% and 11.2%, respectively. Microfilaria counts, antigen levels, and microfilaremia incidence over a 1-year period were all significantly lower in older people. These findings suggest that humans develop partial immunity to Wuchereria bancrofti over time. One-year incidence rates for microfilaremia and antigenemia were 1.8% and 3.1%, respectively. Filarial antigenemia, IgG4 antibody to recombinant antigen BmM14, and household infection were all significant risk factors for microfilaremia incidence. Microfilaria counts and parasite antigen levels were significantly reduced by diethylcarbamazine therapy, but many infected subjects refused treatment, and most treated people were still infected one year later. Incident infections approximately balanced infections lost to produce an apparent state of dynamic equilibrium.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Field evaluation of a rapid-format kit for the diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis in Egypt.

The AMRAD-ICT Filariasis Test (ICT-Fil) is a new, rapid-format card test for the detection of bancroftian antigenaemia in human blood. We evaluated the performance of the test under field conditions in Egypt by comparing 1813 endemic and 102 nonendemic participants. Endemic participants were tested for microfilaraemia (thick smear and membrane filtration) and serum antigenaemia (ELISA). The infection rates detected were 2.8% by thick smear, 3.5% by membrane filtration, 8.8% by ELISA and 9.0% by ICT-Fil. The card test detected antigenaemia in 98.0% and 95.3% of microfilaraemia carriers testing positive by thick smear and blood filtration respectively. Nonendemic participants were ICT-Fil negative. Identical results were obtained for 173 out of 184 (94%) endemic participants tested by the serum and whole blood ICT-Fil versions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Predictive model of coronary heart disease in Egypt (a disease with multiple risk factors).

As a multifactorial disease and with the need of primordial prevention coronary heart disease (CHT), a risk scoring system for the prediction of CHD was devised at Community Medicine Department Ain Shams University, Cairo, EGYPT. In this matched case-control study of 119 cases and 121 age and sex matched controls, current cigarette smoking, lack of siesta, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, low occupational physical activity, hypercholesterolemia, marital status, urban residence, level of education, work index, coffee consumption, positive family history, BMI, elevated W/H ratio, low HDL and elevated TC/HDL were studied for association with CHD. The additive risk scoring system based on the results of conditional multiple logistic regression identified the first six factors with statistical weights of 1, 5, 10, 6, 6, 11, respectively. On back validation receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, a total score of 17 was found to be the cut off point above which there was increased risk of CHD. The overall predictive accuracy of this system--equivalent to the area under the ROC curve--was 0.873. Future studies need to assess the risk scoring system in population based studies.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Bancroftian filariasis in Egypt: visualization of adult worms and subclinical lymphatic pathology by scrotal ultrasound.

The purpose of this study was to explore the value of scrotal ultrasound as a means of evaluating Bancroftian filariasis. Color Doppler ultrasound examinations were performed to look for subclinical hydroceles and motile adult filarial worms (dancing worms) in dilated lymphatics. Sixty-one male subjects from a filariasis-endemic area in Egypt were studied including 19 clinically normal microfilaria (MF) carriers (seven with dancing worms and eight with subclinical hydroceles), 13 MF-negative subjects with positive filarial antigen test results (three with dancing worms and seven with subclinical hydroceles), 22 exposed subjects with no MF and negative antigen test results (no dancing worms, four subclinical hydroceles), and seven subjects with clinical filariasis (no dancing worms, seven hydroceles). Thus, all men tested with clinical filariasis and most clinically normal subjects with either microfilaremia or filarial antigenemia had abnormal ultrasound examination results. Ultrasound findings often changed after therapy with diethylcarbamazine, with disappearance of dancing worms and development of new scrotal calcifications or hydroceles. This study confirms the value of scrotal ultrasound as a means of noninvasively visualizing adult filarial worms and assessing subclinical lymphatic damage in Bancroftian filariasis.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Abdominal ultra sonographic findings detected in the course of a hepatitis survey in an Egyptian rural area.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of abnormal findings detected by abdominal ultrasonography (US) in an Egyptian rural area. This study was a part of a community based cross sectional survey for virus hepatitis carried out at Kalama village in Nile Delta, 40 kilometers north of Cairo. People above 10 years of age living in a 10% systemic random sample of houses in the village were subjects of this study. A member of the team carried out US examination of the liver, biliary tree, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, para aortic areas and the pelvis. Examination included morphological assessment and organometry. All results are recorded on images by videoprinter. Abnormalities in abdominal US was detected in 34% of examined cases. Abnormal liver impressions were detected in 28.3% of cases. Ascites was detected in 13 cases (1.8%). Diseases of the gall bladder and kidneys were detected in 2.7% and 2.1%, respectively. US diagnosed pregnancy in 5 women, one of them had a blighted ovum. Some of these abnormalities were detected in subjects with no complaint. It is concluded that abdominal US may be a tool for early detection of asymptomatic disease.

Cholecystitis↗

PubMed1998

Residue levels of organochlorinated insecticides in breast milk: a preliminary report from Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.

Breast milk samples obtained from 115 mothers residing in Al-Kharj area, Saudi Arabia, were quantified by gas chromatography and confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for lindane, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, endrin, p,p-DDE, p,p-DDD, and p,p-DDT. The results showed that 80.9% of the samples contained p,p-DDT, 93.9% p,p-DDE, and 74.8% p,p-DDD. Whereas lindane, heptachlor, heptachlor-epoxide, dieldrin, and endrin were found in 23.5, 20.9, 36.5, 48.7, and 32.2% screened samples, respectively. Results of this survey clearly show that infants were exposed to organochlorinated pesticides. Although the levels of organochlorinated pesticides reported here are lower than those reported from several other countries, the maximum daily intakes of those pesticides exceeded the WHO/UNEP Acceptable Daily Intakes for a 5-kg infant. This finding warrants further research to determine the magnitude of the problem in Saudi Arabia. As there is a bulk of literature that highlights the adverse health effects of organochlorinated pesticides on children and infants, it would be advantageous to establish a regular organochlorinated pesticides monitoring program.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Antigenic phenotypes common to rat oval cells, primary hepatocellular carcinomas and developing bile ducts.

The shared expression of monoclonal antibody-defined antigens by oval cells and by bile ducts, neoplastic nodules and primary hepatocellular carcinomas (PHC) has provided support for the ability of oval cells to undergo differentiation along ductular or hepatocyte lineages and/or to progress to hepatocellular carcinoma. With the aim of obtaining additional insight into this process, we have combined serial section and double labeling immunofluorescence analysis to determine if phenotypes expressed in vitro by four rat oval cell lines and the H5D.61 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line and in situ by ethionine-induced primary hepatocellular carcinomas reproduce antigenic patterns occurring during normal liver development. Analysis using monoclonal antibodies specific for the oval cell antigens OV6 and OC.2 and hepatocyte markers HBD.1 and H.4 defined subpopulations in four oval cell lines and neoplastic hepatocytes in PHC and H5D.61 with OC.2-/OV6+ and OC.2+/OV6+ phenotypes. Cells with an OC2+/OV6- phenotype were rarely observed in cell lines or primary tumors. In contrast, areas composed of OV6+/H.4+ cells were frequently found in PHC. Examination of fetal and neonatal rat livers demonstrated the stage-specific appearance of three of these phenotypes during liver development. The OC.2+/OV6- phenotype appeared transiently prior to embryonic day (ED) 18 in a subpopulation of HBD.1+ hepatoblasts. OV6 expression was first detected at ED18 on developing bile ducts that were negative for OC.2. These newly formed ducts rapidly acquired OC.2, starting with ducts in the hilar region and spreading outward towards the periphery. This OC.2 expression gradient persisted in the newborn rat liver but became more skewed towards doubly positive cells, with OC.2-/OV6+ cells being found primarily in the periphery. Hepatocytes expressing both OV6 and H.4 were not observed in fetal liver but appeared in neonatal liver in close proximity to OV6+ interlobular ducts. From these findings, it was concluded that oval cells and PHC display phenotypes representing normal stages in liver development, suggesting that oval cells and cells within ethionine-induced PHC are capable of initiating but are unable to complete pathways of hepatocytic or biliary differentiation.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Evaluation of a stage-specific proteolytic enzyme of Schistosoma mansoni as a marker of exposure.

Cercarial elastase (CE) is one of the first proteins released in the host by invading schistosome cercariae. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-formatted immunoassay has been developed to detect antibodies to the stage-specific CE antigen of Schistosoma mansoni as marker of exposure. We have evaluated this test system as an epidemiologic tool, using well-characterized sera collected from S. mansoni- and S. haematobium-infected subjects residing in endemic areas and from control subjects living in nonendemic areas in Egypt. Urine, stool specimens, and blood samples were collected from a sample of 272 endemic subjects randomly selected to represent different age groups in the range of 2-20 years of age. Of 47 S. mansoni-infected subjects, 41 (87.2%) had anti-CE IgG antibodies. Of 52 S. haematobium-infected cases, 38 (73.0%) had IgM antibodies to CE and 43 (82.7%) had IgG antibodies to CE. Of 173 egg-negative people in the endemic area, 84 (48.6%) were IgM positive and 99 (57.2%) were IgG positive. The mean IgM and IgG antibody levels were similar in the infected groups but were significantly lower in the egg-negative group (P = 0.001). All sera from young children (2-3 years of age) were uniformly ELISA negative. The prevalence of IgM and IgG antibodies to CE in children less than six years of age were significantly lower than in other age groups. There was no significant difference in prevalence rates of IgM and IgG anti-CE antibodies between subjects having other parasites present in the endemic area (Ascaris lumbricoides, Entrobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, H. diminuta, Trichostrongylus spp., and Entamoeba histolytica) and those without any parasitic infection. All nonendemic sera (58), including those with other helminth infections, were uniformly ELISA negative for antibodies to CE. These findings suggest that antibodies to elastase indicate exposure, but not necessarily active schistosome infection.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Ultra sonographic measurements of the normal liver and spleen among Egyptians 10-50 years old.

OBJECTIVE: To determine reference values of ultra sonographic (US) measurements of the normal liver, spleen, portal vein, right and left periportal thickness, gall bladder wall thickness and common bile duct diameter of Egyptians. DESIGN: Community-based cross sectional study. SETTING: Kalama village in Nile Delta, 40 kilometers north of Cairo. SUBJECTS: 10% systematic sample of people above 10 years of age. Selection criteria included normal clinical examination, normal liver functions by ALT, absence of hepatitis B and C virus markers and liver or spleen pathology by US. MEASUREMENTS: Organometery of the liver, spleen, portal vein, right and left periportal thickness, gall bladder wall thickness and common bile duct diameter by US. RESULTS: 217 subjects were admitted to the study out of 700 examined. All measured parameters increased with age till 20 years. There was no significant difference in measurements between males and females. The means, standard deviation and 95th percentiles of all measurements were higher than those recorded in other studies. CONCLUSION: Egyptian norms for US organometery of the liver, spleen, portal vein and gall bladder are different from those of other countries. We suggest that Egyptian sonologists use these norms in routine practice.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Selenium levels in breast milk and cow's milk: a preliminary report from Saudi Arabia.

We measured the selenium in 117 milk samples by means of inductively coupled plasma spectrometry with the hydride t-system. The samples were collected from healthy lactating mothers living in the Al-Kharj area in Saudi Arabia and from seven brands of Saudi fresh cow's milk. The concentration of selenium in breast milk significantly decreases toward the end of lactation. Our results also showed that the selenium concentration in breast milk is also influenced by the number of breast feedings per day. Further studies are needed to evaluate the selenium status in Saudi infants. The selenium concentration in local cow's milk samples was significantly higher than in the breast milk samples.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Filariasis transmission potential of mosquitoes to humans of different age groups.

Age-specific levels of Wuchereria bancrofti infection determined by microfilaremia in filarious 10 to 60 years old males from endemic village revealed that microfilaria intensity was higher in younger age, presumably because of increased vector biting rate of younger individuals. Out of 1334 Cx. pipiens captured while attempting to bite 51 child-adult bait pairs, 54.0% selected a host in the 10-15 age group. Biting preference towards children was more evaluated (79.2%) later than earlier in the night. Frequency distribution of age-specific biting collections indicated that 62.7% recorded exceeding numbers of bites on children, 21.6% adult biting, and 15.7% equal biting of one of the baits in the pair. Furthermore, 21.6% of the children were exposed to nightly bites ranging from 21 to 64 and only 7.8% of the adults experienced from 21 to 85 bites. Mosquito biting intensity averaged 14.2 and 11.6 bites/night for children and adults respectively. Children experienced 22.4% more bites per night than adults. Thus, children are more exposed to filaria infection and seem to represent an important source of infection. It is concluded that attempts at widespread control of filariasis in the densely populated Nile Delta, where youngsters may account for an immense proportion of the local population, should concentrate on immatures.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition enhances plasma glutathione in the resting state.

Glutathione (GSH) is the major intracellular antioxidant and is essential to normal cell function and replication. Cysteine and other thiol compounds have been considered rate-limiting for GSH biosynthesis, but recent studies have demonstrated that glutamine (GLN) becomes essential during metabolic stress to replete tissue GSH levels which have become depleted. To determine the role of GLN supplementation in the resting, nonstressed state, we studied three groups of Wistar rats. The animals were catheterized and randomly assigned to one of three groups; (1) chow ad libitum group receiving iv saline (control), (2) standard total parenteral nutrition (STA-TPN) group, and (3) glutamine-enriched TPN (GLN-TPN) group. The intravenously fed animals received no rat chow. The infusions were administered at a rate of 2.2 ml/hr for 4 days and all animals were harvested on the fifth day of study. The GLN-TPN group had a significantly higher plasma GSH level than STA-TPN or control animals (P < 0.01). The hepatic concentration of GSH and the oxidized GSH/reduced GSH were similar in all groups. GLN-TPN had a significantly lower plasma ALT level than the control group (P < 0.05). The control group had a significantly higher ALP level than STA-TPN and GLN-TPN animals (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in other measures of hepatic functions among the three groups. Our data demonstrate that in this model GLN-enriched TPN enhances plasma GSH concentrations, while maintaining hepatic GSH stores. This suggests that GSH turnover is altered during glutamine-enriched TPN, which may explain how dietary GLN supplementation enhances tissue antioxidant capacity.

Animals↗