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Biomedical subjects

S M Ali

Publications and source records attributed to S M Ali.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Clinical profile: prognostic index in hepatocellular carcinoma.

A clinical study and follow-up of 77 patients (63 males and 14 females) with hepatocellular carcinoma with age range from 22 to 80 years were collected from the Institute of Post Graduate Medicine and Research and eight private hospitals from Dhaka City. Past history of transfusion was present in 16 (20.8%), Jaundice in 20 (26%) and 13 (16.9%) patients had associated cirrhosis. HBs Ag was positive in 17 (33.33%) out of 51 patients and liver ultrasound suggested hypoechogenic lesion in 44 (57.2%) patients. CT was performed in 7 (9.1%) and in one MRI was done. Eight (50%) out of 16 patients had alphafetoprotein ranging from 1000-12000 ng/ml. Space occupying lesion was detected in 25 (71.4%) out of 35 cases by isotope scan and needle biopsy was confirmatory in 25 (32.5%). Commonest presentations were abdominal lump (96.2%), weakness (79.3%), weight loss (74%), and loss of appetite (78%). Fifty six (72.2%) patients were followed weekly till death (2.9 +/- 2.4 months). The mean survival was higher under 30 years (5.9 +/- 3.7 months; P less than 0.05). Serum bilirubin above 5 mg/dl with HCC also had poor prognosis (1.6 +/- 0.8 months; P less than 0.01) Those who had prothrombin time higher than 16 seconds died earlier (1.6 +/- 0.7 months; P less than 0.01). Survival was poor in those who had the tumour size over 7 cm (2.5 +/- 0.9 months; P less than 0.01).

Adult↗

Liver abscess in children--not an uncommon problem.

Thirty cases of amoebic liver abscess in children are being presented. Diagnosis was based on clinical presentation, ultrasound examination, detection of E.H. trophozoite in the aspirate and response to therapy. Aspiration of pus along with appropriate medication was found more appropriate management than medical therapy alone.

Child↗

C-reactive protein in CNS infection.

Serum and CSF levels of CRP were measured by radial immunoassay in 99 subjects consisting of 20 controls, 34 pyogenic meningitis (PM), 21 tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and 24 viral encephalitis (VE). There was significant difference in the CRP levels (p less than 0.01) depending on the type of disease in both serum and CSF. The initial serum and CSF levels of CRP in patients with TBM was intermediate between those of PM and VE and were found to be significantly (p less than 0.001) low when compared with three days post treatment levels in children with PM. Both serum and CSF-CRP levels were significantly high (p less than 0.001) in patients succumbing to death than those who survived. Measurement of CRP in serum and CSF is a useful parameter in differentiating partially treated PM from TBM.

Biomarkers↗

Assessment of low attendance at primary health care centre.

The study was conducted at 11 (eleven) randomly selected villages of Rupganj Upazila in order to find out the way to promote Primary Health Care. 1186 household heads and 11 physicians interviewed for the purpose. The study revealed that more than 54.14 percent of the study population were suffering from various diseases and only 4 percent of the patients attended Primary Health Care Centre/Complex. 52% of the patients were not satisfied by the service of Primary Health Care Centre/Complex. Want of medicine, lack of good physicians and doctors, carelessness about the patients constituted the principal causes of unsatisfactory treatment. The comparative distribution of opinion of household heads and physicians about non-attendance to Primary Health Care Centres by patients is statistically insignificant (P less than 0.05) which implies that the opinions are more or less the same. Both household heads and physicians opined that supply of sufficient medicine, equipment, improvement of health education and more budget allocations are essential to make the Primary Health Care service effective.

Bangladesh↗

Duodenal ulcer dyspepsia in the first degree relatives of subjects with duodenal ulcer disease.

In a population survey, the point prevalence of duodenal ulcer disease (DUD) was found to be 11.98 percent which is the highest prevalence rate so far reported in the literature. The prevalence of duodenal ulcer dyspepsia in the first degree relatives of groups of subjects with proven duodenal ulcer, non ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) (duodenal ulcer dyspepsia but without evidence of ulcer at endoscopy) and normal healthy control (HC), all matched by age and sex and all from the population with the high prevalence of duodenal ulcer disease, were studied. Both DUD and NUD subjects had a significantly higher family history of duodenal ulcer dyspepsia than the control subjects.

Adult↗

Immunocytochemical localization and messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations for human placental lactogen in amnion, chorion, decidua, and placenta.

Human placental lactogen is one of the major hormones secreted by the placental syncytiotrophoblast and detected in the maternal circulation. Other sources of this hormone in intrauterine tissues at term have been sought by means of immunohistochemistry and northern analysis. Avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase staining with a specific polyclonal antibody to human placental lactogen showed this hormone to be present in groups of cells at the interface between chorionic cytotrophoblast and decidua parietalis and in some cells of the basal plate in addition to the classic source, the syncytiotrophoblast. Hybridization of polyadenylic-(+)ribonucleic acid extracted from amnion, chorion, decidua parietalis, basal plate, and placental trophoblast with a radiolabeled 48 mer oligonucleotide and a 540 base pair complementary deoxyribonucleic acid probe to human placental lactogen showed the placental trophoblast to be the major source of human placental lactogen and the extravillous chorion and basal plate to be additional minor sources.

Amnion↗

The stimulatory effect of calpactin (annexin II) on calcium-dependent exocytosis in chromaffin cells: requirement for both the N-terminal and core domains of p36 and ATP.

Calpactin, or calpactin heavy chain (p36), reconstitute secretion in digitonin-permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells after a reduction in their secretory potential resulting from the loss of cytosolic components. We have characterized the stimulatory effect of p36, which resulted in an increase in both the extent and the rate of exocytosis. A mixture of other annexins (p70 and p32) did not have any effect on secretion at similar or greater concentrations than p36. Controlled proteolysis of p36 using chymotrypsin was carried out, and the 33,000 molecular weight core and 3000 molecular weight tail peptide isolated. In contrast to p36, p33 had no effect on exocytosis, even at high calcium concentrations. The N-terminal tail peptide and a synthetic peptide based on the tail of p36 [Ac-calpactin-(1-15)-NH2] had no effect on endogenous secretion, or secretion stimulated by exogenous p36. The results show that both the tail and core domains are required for p36 to stimulate exocytosis. The tail domain is unlikely to be required for interaction with cellular components but probably has a regulatory effect on the core domain. Endogenous secretion and the stimulatory effect of p36 were markedly inhibited by depletion of ATP. The ATP requirement for p36 action was not due to a requirement for phosphorylation by protein kinase C (PKC), since the PKC inhibitor staurosporine partially inhibited endogenous secretion but did not affect the stimulation of exocytosis due to exogenous p36.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Relaxin gene expression in the sow corpus luteum during the cycle, pregnancy, and lactation.

Relaxin (RLX) mRNA was sought in the corpus luteum of the pig during the cycle, pregnancy, and lactation using Northern analysis and in situ hybridization. Three oligonucleotide probes to regions of the preprorelaxin molecule were used for hybridization to detect RLX message and gave similar results. Northern analysis showed a single 1-kilobase RLX transcript at all three stages of the reproductive cycle studied. The intensity of the RLX hybridization signal was greatest in pregnancy and varied during the cycle. The signal in ovaries from day 3 cyclic animals increased by day 13 and declined on day 19. However, the hybridization signal at midcycle was only 2% of that during pregnancy. After parturition on day 2 of lactation, RLX message was still detected in the ovary, although at reduced levels compared with those during the cycle and pregnancy. In situ hybridization results showed hybridization to RLX mRNA in luteal tissue on day 13 of the cycle, but not on day 3 or 19. An increased hybridization signal was observed on days 40, 60, and 90 of pregnancy, with a decline on day 2 of lactation. Control sections incubated with labeled heterologous probe or preincubated with excess unlabeled probe did not hybridize. These results indicate a good correlation between the relative concentrations of RLX transcript and immunohistochemical results previously reported in the corpus luteum of the sow. In addition, they demonstrate that the RLX gene is expressed in luteal tissue, not only in pregnancy, but also in the cycle and early lactation.

Animals↗

Human relaxin in the amnion, chorion, decidua parietalis, basal plate, and placental trophoblast by immunocytochemistry and northern analysis.

Immunocytochemistry and Northern analysis were used to show that relaxin is a product of intrauterine tissues of pregnancy. In addition, tissues from a patient without ovaries had similar results on both immunocytochemistry and Northern analysis as tissues from intact patients. The parietal decidua was clearly the major source of relaxin within the uterus and the relaxin mRNA (1.2 kilobases) from this tissue was detected with a 48-mer oligonucleotide probe designed to hybridize with both H1 and H2 relaxin gene transcripts. The mRNA isolated from the placental trophoblast was slightly smaller (1.1 kilobases), and the placental basal plate which has both maternal and fetal cells contained relaxin mRNAs of both sizes. Two monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) raised to synthetic human relaxin (H2) gave different patterns of localization in the fetal membranes, decidua and placenta. One Mab (RLX8) stained the chorionic cytotrophoblast in the fetal membranes and all of the cells in the placental basal plate. The other Mab (RLX6) stained the chorionic cytotrophoblast in some instances and selectively stained the decidua-like cells of the placental syncytiotrophoblast, whereas Mab RLX8 failed to detect this relaxin. Tissues obtained after spontaneous labor and delivery contained significantly less relaxin mRNA than tissues obtained at elective cesarean section without labor, but their hormone contents, as judged by immunocytochemistry, were not different. We conclude that the relaxin gene (H2) is expressed in intrauterine tissues, but that expression and hormone synthesis are not ubiquitous. Whether the relaxin gene H1 is expressed has not been determined.

Amnion↗

Multiple reuse of disposable insulin syringes in hospital.

In a prospective study disposable insulin syringes were repeatedly used for injecting insulin to 92 insulin-taking diabetic patients admitted in hospital with various illnesses. One separate syringe was used for each patient; the syringes were not washed or boiled and were not kept in spirit or in refrigerator during reuse. Syringes were flushed with air, needle recapped and replaced into their plastic cover. Number of injections made using one syringe was 2 to 120 (mean 31.3, SEM 2.3). For the patients' total insulin - taking period in hospital one disposable syringe per patient was enough in all but six cases. There were 2792 reinjections and incidence of infection of the injection site was zero.

Bangladesh↗

A role for calpactin in calcium-dependent exocytosis in adrenal chromaffin cells.

Stimulation of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells results in a rise in the concentration of cytosolic calcium which triggers the release of catecholamines by exocytosis. Several cytosolic proteins that bind to secretory granule membranes in a calcium-dependent manner have been implicated in exocytosis and some belong to a family of calcium-binding proteins, the annexins. One of these, calpactin, is a tetramer consisting of two heavy and two light chains (relative molecular masses 36,000 and 10,000 respectively) and can aggregate and fuse membranes in vitro in the presence of arachidonic acid. Calpactin is found at the cell periphery and is phosphorylated when chromaffin cells are stimulated. We show here that both calpactin and calpactin heavy chain (p36) reconstitute secretion in permeabilized chromaffin cells in which secretion has been reduced as a result of leakage of cellular components. This effect is inhibited by an affinity-purified antibody against p36. Secretion from permeabilized cells is inhibited by a synthetic annexin-consensus peptide, but not by a nonspecific hydrophobic peptide; this inhibition is reversed by p36. Our results indicate that either calpactin or p36 is essential for exocytosis.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Does son preference matter?

The demand for additional children is influenced by the presence of sons within a family. This study is based on cross-sectional data of 9416 currently married women under age 50 from a Pakistan national survey in 1979-80. The analysis suggests that having at least one son in the family influences the demand for additional children. Urban and rural comparisons indicated a higher preference for sons in urban areas. Unless the socioeconomic milieu changes, son preference is likely to remain strong in Pakistan.

Adult↗

Determinants of family size preferences in Pakistan.

"The paper attempts to investigate and identify some of the most important predictors of family size-preferences in Pakistan. Based on cross-sectional data relating to 9,416 currently married women, the results of this study suggest that having one or more sons in the family is the principal predictor of the desired family size. Yet another important predictor is the education of the wife which plays a critical role in the family size determination. The study shows that the preferences for family size do not vary greatly between urban and rural areas."

Asia↗

Epilepsy and photosensitivity.

In a series of 2053 cases of epilepsy studied 3.9% were found to have some form of photosensitive epilepsy. The mean age of onset was 14.9 years for males, 11.8 years for females. In the age group of 6-10 years there was a definite male preponderance. In 48.2% cases the seizures were caused by watching television and in 7.4% they were precipitated by sunlight or electric lights. Primary generalized tonic clonic seizures were seen in 44.4% cases and 34.6% had secondary generalized seizures. E.E.G. was normal in 60% cases, while 18.8% had nonspecific dysrhythmias, 2.1% hypersynchronization during the interictal period with spike and sharp wave complexes. A family history of photosensitive epilepsy was present in 14.1% cases.

Adolescent↗

Role of plasma ascorbate in diabetic microangiopathy.

Plasma total ascorbate status measured by 2.4 dinitrophenyl hydrazine method showed that diabetics (N = 100) had significantly lower plasma total ascorbate compared with 45 age and sex matched non-diabetic controls; 0.34 +/- 0.16 mg/dl vs 0.68 +/- .06 mg/dl, P less than 0.001) regardless of presence or absence of retinopathy and irrespective of mode of treatment. The finding unique to this study was that plasma total ascorbate status in diabetics with retinopathy (0.19 +/- 0.07 mg/dl) was significantly lower than that of uncomplicated diabetics (0.49 +/- 0.06 mg/dl; P less than 0.001). Plasma Glucose had no correlation with plasma ascorbate levels and effect of duration of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) on ascorbate status in diabetics was ambiguous. Diabetics had abnormally fragile cutaneous capillaries detected by Hess test. The incidence of capillary fragility was more in patients with retinopathy. Hess test can be used as an easy and non-invasive test to assess plasma ascorbate status to detect microvascular involvement in DM. The experience of this study reflects that the two distinct microvascular lesions in diabetes, i.e. abnormal dermal capillary fragility and retinopathy may have a common link to ascorbic acid deficiency. An early switching on of the supplementation of ascorbic acid may retard the development of microvascular complications in diabetes.

Adult↗