Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Ismail

Publications and source records attributed to S Ismail.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Higher clearance of hepatitis C virus infection in females compared with males.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: According to the literature, 14-46% of subjects clear hepatitis C virus (HCV) from blood after infection. Controversy exists about sex differences in HCV clearance rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared HCV clearance in males and females using data from a large population based study on HCV infection in Egypt. Definitions used in the paper were: cleared HCV infection (positive HCV antibody and negative HCV RNA test results) and chronic HCV infection (positive HCV antibody and positive HCV RNA test results). The study sample included 4720 village residents aged 18-65 years recruited through home based visits (n = 2425) or voluntary screening (n = 2295). RESULTS: Overall, HCV antibody prevalence was 910/4720 (19.3% (95% confidence interval 18.2-20.4)). Of those with HCV antibodies (n = 910), 61.5% had chronic HCV infection. Compared with males, females were more likely to have cleared the virus (44.6% v 33.7%, respectively; p = 0.001). Control for age, schistosomiasis history, iatrogenic exposures, and sexual exposure to HCV did not alter the positive association between female sex and viral clearance. CONCLUSION: This study provides strong evidence in favour of a higher HCV clearance rate in females compared with males.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Radiation exposure of trainee anaesthetists.

This prospective study was conducted to determine the level of radiation exposure of trainee anaesthetists working in urology, orthopaedics and radiology environments. Anaesthetists wore lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) badges over a 6-month period. The position of badges was standardised at the collar site (TLD1) and at waist level (TLD2). Area specific dosimeters were used and exchanged between anaesthetists. Of a total of 723 procedures, anaesthetists were exposed to radiation in 33% of procedures in orthopaedics, 30% in urology and 39% in radiology. The mean (SD) exposure time to radiation per case was significantly greater in orthopaedics than in urology (9.2 (4) min vs. 4.2 (2) min). The radiation exposure per case was highest in radiology (19.2 (22) min). The net combined exposure over a 6-month period was 0.2177 mSv in urology, 0.4265 mSv in orthopaedics and 3.8457 mSv in radiology. The combined exposure was less than the 20 mSv recommended as the maximum exposure per year. Our data does not support the need for routine dosimetric monitoring of anaesthetists working in the above settings.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed2006

Declines in HIV prevalence can be associated with changing sexual behaviour in Uganda, urban Kenya, Zimbabwe, and urban Haiti.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether observed changes in HIV prevalence in countries with generalised HIV epidemics are associated with changes in sexual risk behaviour. METHODS: A mathematical model was developed to explore the relation between prevalence recorded at antenatal clinics (ANCs) and the pattern of incidence of infection throughout the population. To create a null model a range of assumptions about sexual behaviour, natural history of infection, and sampling biases in ANC populations were explored to determine which factors maximised declines in prevalence in the absence of behaviour change. Modelled prevalence, where possible based on locally collected behavioural data, was compared with the observed prevalence data in urban Haiti, urban Kenya, urban Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, and urban Ethiopia. RESULTS: Recent downturns in prevalence observed in urban Kenya, Zimbabwe, and urban Haiti, like Uganda before them, could only be replicated in the model through reductions in risk associated with changes in behaviour. In contrast, prevalence trends in urban Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, urban Ethiopia, and Rwanda show no signs of changed sexual behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in patterns of HIV prevalence in urban Kenya, Zimbabwe, and urban Haiti are quite recent and caution is required because of doubts over the accuracy and representativeness of these estimates. Nonetheless, the observed changes are consistent with behaviour change and not the natural course of the HIV epidemic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Roberts syndrome: study of 4 new Rgyptian cases with comparison of clinical and cytogenetic findings.

Roberts syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder (MIM 268300). It is characterized by pre and postnatal growth retardation, severe shortening of limbs with radial defects, oligodactyly and characteristic facial features. The present study reports 4 new cases of Roberts syndrome from 3 families presenting variable phenotypes. Patients were thoroughly investigated clinically and cytogenetically. By reviewing literature, we compared our cases to those previously reported. The rating severity system proposed by Van den Berg and Francke (30) was applied to correlate the phenotypic and cytogenetics changes. We observed more severe reduction defects in the upper limbs than in the lower limbs. While the main reduction defects in the upper limbs involved the thumb and radius ranging to phocomelia, absent or severely hypoplastic fibula was the main lower limb involvement. We emphasize this finding in the present investigation. Heterochromatin repulsion of chromosomes derived from Roberts syndrome patients is a characteristic cytogenetic abnormality. It was a constant finding in our studied patients demonstrated by DABI stain which supports the possibility that mutations in Roberts syndrome lie in centromere related proteins which may also play a role in body patterning. This was proved recently by Vega et al. (31). Application of the clinical rating score and its correlation with cytogenetic changes showed negative results. Cytogenetic studies in normal obligatory heterozygotes parents showed no changes. Phenotypic variability within the same family as well as between different families was observed. The ascertainment of 4 cases with Roberts syndrome from 3 Egyptian consanguineous families during one year in our department may indicate a high frequency of the Roberts syndrome allele among Egyptians. This confirms the need for molecular studies for early and accurate prenatal diagnosis to prevent such dramatic malformation syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2005

Optimization of coagulation-flocculation process for palm oil mill effluent using response surface methodology.

The coagulation-flocculation process incorporated with membrane separation technology will become a new approach for palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment as well as water reclamation and reuse. In our current research, a membrane pilot plant has been used for POME treatment where the coagulation-flocculation process plays an important role as a pretreatment process for the mitigation of membrane fouling problems. The pretreated POME with low turbidity values and high water recovery are the main objectives to be achieved through the coagulation-flocculation process. Therefore, treatment optimization to serve these purposes was performed using jar tests and applying a response surface methodology (RSM) to the results. A 2(3) full-factorial central composite design (CCD) was chosen to explain the effect and interaction of three factors: coagulant dosage, flocculent dosage, and pH. The CCD is successfully demonstrated to efficiently determine the optimized parameters, where 78% of water recovery with a 20 NTU turbidity value can be obtained at the optimum value of coagulant dosage, flocculent dosage, and pH at 15 000 mg/L, 300 mg/L, and 6, respectively.

Facility Design and Construction↗
PubMed2004

Transcriptional networks and cellular senescence in human mammary fibroblasts.

Senescence, the molecular program that limits the finite proliferative potential of a cell, acts as an important barrier to protect the body from cancer. Techniques for measuring transcriptome changes and for modulating their expression suggest that it may be possible to dissect the transcriptional networks underlying complex cellular processes. HMF3A cells are conditionally immortalized human mammary fibroblasts that can be induced to undergo coordinated senescence. Here, we used these cells in conjunction with microarrays, RNA interference, and in silico promoter analysis to promote the dissection of the transcriptional networks responsible for regulating cellular senescence. We first identified changes in the transcriptome when HMF3A cells undergo senescence and then compared them with those observed upon replicative senescence in primary human mammary fibroblasts. In addition to DUSP1 and known p53 and E2F targets, a number of genes such as PHLDA1, NR4A3, and a novel splice variant of STAC were implicated in senescence. Their role in senescence was then analyzed by RNA silencing followed by microarray analysis. In silico promoter analysis of all differential genes predicted that nuclear factor-kappaB and C/EBP transcription factors are activated upon senescence, and we confirmed this by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The results suggest a putative signaling network for cellular senescence.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗
PubMed2004

Antimicrobial screening of plants used for traditional medicine in the state of Perak, Peninsular Malaysia.

Seventy-two extracts (methanol) obtained from the leaves, barks, and roots of 50 plant species used in the traditional medicine of Perak, Peninsular Malaysia, have been screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Peristrophe tinctoria, Polyalthia lateriflora, Knema malayana, Solanum torvum, Celosia argentea, Eclipta prostrata, Ancistrocladus tectorius, Dillenia suffruticosa, Piper stylosum and Rafflesia hasseltii displayed the broadest spectrum of activity.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2004

Spontaneous closure of a persistent post-traumatic pancreatic fistula in a child: incidental therapeutic effect of ERCP.

A child with a post-tramatic pancreatic pseuodocyst developed pancreatic fistula, following percutaneous drainage of the cyst. The fistula output was about 120ml/day and lasted for a month. A diagnostic ERCP revealed main pancreatic duct disruption. The fistula output ceased over the next two days following the ERCP. The patient has been well for the past four years. This patient's immediate recovery after ERCP could possibly be due to dislodgement of a mucus plug by the contrast injected during ERCP. Such a mechanism can explain the previous sporadic reports of spontaneous cure of persistent pancreatic fistulae in children.

Child↗
PubMed2004

The rusty knee--pigmented villonodular synovitis.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a distinct but rare clinical entity often presents late with a diagnostic difficulty. Its non-specific manifestations require exclusion of several chronic inflammatory disorders and other humorous lesions but all investigations including highly predictive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopic examination are non-diagnostic demanding confirmatory tissue biopsy. A typical case of such lesion is presented to highlight some potential difficulties.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The milder phenotype of the dystrophin gene double deletions.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the genotypephenotype correlation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (MD) patients with double deletion (Ddel) mutations in comparison with those having single deletions (Sdel). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 250 Duchenne/Becker MD male patients from whom the 10 Ddel patients were compared with 20 Sdel subjects of same age and disease durations. The patients were subjected to neurological examination including functional disability grading scale (FDGS), molecular analysis of the dystrophin gene and immunohistochemical studies of some muscle biopsies. RESULTS: The mean FDGS value in the Ddel group was lower than that in Sdel patients. The Ddel patients had partial expression of dystrophin in their skeletal muscles, while Sdel cases showed complete absence of the protein. CONCLUSION: Patients with double deletion mutations within the dystrophin gene have a milder phenotype than patients harboring single deletions at either major or minor hot spots of the gene.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2002

The use of armspan measurement to assess the nutritional status of adults in four Ethiopian ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the use of armspan as a proxy for height in the assessment of nutritional status using body mass index (BMI) for four ethnic groups in Ethiopia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Four regions in Ethiopia, namely Oromia, Amhara, Tigre and Somali Region. SUBJECTS: A total of 1706 (884 males and 822 females) Ethiopians aged 18-50 y from four different ethnic groups. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements (weight, height and armspan) were obtained using standard techniques. BMI using height (BMI-ht) and using armspan (BMI-as) were calculated, t-tests were used to compare means, and linear regression to investigate the relationship between BMI-ht and BMI-as. RESULTS: Ethnic and sex differences in the relationship between height and armspan, and their derived variables (BMI-ht and BMI-as), were found. Armspan and height (r=0.83-0.9), and BMI-ht and BMI-as (r=0.89-0.97), were highly correlated in all ethnic groups. BMI-as cut-offs equivalent to the conventional BMI-ht classification of chronic energy deficiency were similar in the Oromo, Amhara and Tigre, but substantially higher in the Somalis. CONCLUSION: Armspan can be used as a proxy for height to estimate BMI, but the relationship between the two measures varies considerably with ethnicity and sex. Unless sex- and ethnicity-specific cut-offs are applied, the use of BMI-as using conventional cut-offs will overestimate the prevalence of underweight in these populations. SPONSORSHIP: HelpAge International.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The association between nutritional status and handgrip strength in older Rwandan refugees.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between nutritional status and handgrip strength in older Rwandan refugees. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Rwandan refugee camp located in Karagwe district in the north-west of Tanzania. The study was carried out in the post-emergency phase. The response rate was 85%. SUBJECTS: A total of 413 men and 415 women aged 50-92 y participated in the study. METHODS: Weight, height, mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) and triceps skinfold were obtained using standard techniques. For people with visible kyphosis, height was estimated from armspan using regression equations developed from non-kyphotic subjects within the sample. Handgrip was measured using a mechanical handgrip dynamometer. Information regarding physical activity and health status was obtained by interview and clinical screening. RESULTS: Handgrip strength (kg) was significantly higher in men than in women (30.3+/-6.7 vs 22.3+/-5.1), and significantly lower in each older age group in both sexes. Handgrip strength was positively correlated to BMI (body mass index) and AMA (arm muscle area). The relative risk of impaired handgrip strength in individuals with poor nutritional status (BMI<18.5 kg/m(2)) compared with those of adequate nutritional status was 1.75. After controlling for potential confounders (sex, age and height), BMI remained a significant contributor to the variation in handgrip strength. CONCLUSION: Poor nutritional status is associated with poor handgrip strength independent of sex, age and height, in this refugee population. This may indicate that underweight older people are likely to have more difficulties in functioning independently in the community. Research is needed to investigate if improving nutritional status can lead to better functional ability. SPONSORSHIP: Department for International Development (UK) and HelpAge International.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Effect of age on haemodynamic response to tracheal intubation. A comparison of young, middle-aged and elderly patients.

The effect of age on the haemodynamic response to tracheal intubation was studied. Ninety ASA 1 or 2 patients were divided into three groups of 30 each based on age; ie., young (18-25 years), middle-aged (40-50 years) and elderly (65-80 years). The haemodynamic response after tracheal intubation was observed as percentage change in heart rate and blood pressure compared to the baseline. Inter-group comparison was also done at different time points. The greatest percentage change in the systolic arterial pressure after tracheal tube insertion was seen in the elderly group (15%). The increase in systolic arterial pressure was significantly less in theyounggroup compared with the two older groups at one, two, three and four minutes post-intubation. The greatest percentage increase in the diastolic blood pressure compared to the baseline was seen in the middle aged group (24%). The elderly and young patients showed a significant difference in the diastolic blood pressure response only at one minute post-intubation. The heart rate response was greatest in the middle-aged patients (40%) and least in the elderly (16%). These differences may have clinical significance and should be considered in assessing and performing research into the haemodynamic response to intubation.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Field evaluation of cypermethrin and cyfluthrin against dengue vectors in a housing estate in Malaysia.

Cynoff 25ULV (cypermethrin 25 g/l) and Solfac UL015 (cyfluthrin 1.5% w/v) were evaluated against the sentinel sugar-fed adults and 4th-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti in a housing estate endemic of dengue in Malaysia. The impact of both pyrethroids on field populations of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti larvae was monitored weekly using bottle containers. Both Cynoff 25ULV and Solfac UL015 showed adulticidal effects and larvicidal effects. This field trial using Cynoff 25ULV against dengue vectors showed its potential for use in dengue vector control programs.

Aedes↗
PubMed2002

Geographical distribution and host preference of common bunt Tilletia foetidae (Wallr.) Liro and Tilletia caries (DC) Tul. on bread wheat and durum wheat.

Based on the morphological characteristics of the ustilospores, the geographical distribution and host preference of common bunt Tilletia foetidae and T. caries on bread wheat and durum wheat in Syria has been studied. The spore wall structure forms the most feasible and convenient method for differentiation between the two pathogens. Accordingly, T. foetidae is the most prevalent pathogen in North Syria and the predominant pathogen in the bread wheat. T. caries was widespread in durum wheat in South Syria. This phenomenon has been confirmed in artificial inoculation tests and discussed as host-preference in T. foetidae and T. caries irrespective of the geographical area in which the disease is observed and irrespective of the environmental conditions. T. foetida, however was the predominant pathogen on bread wheat, while T. caries preferentially attacks durum wheat.

Basidiomycota↗