Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A A Ahmed.
The aerial part of Leptadenia arborea has been shown to contain pinoresinol (1), syringaresinol (2), leucanthemitol (3) and E-ferulaldehyde (4). These known compounds are being reported for the first time from this plant. Among them, syringaresinol has shown an inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase. The IC(50) (the concentration of 50% enzyme inhibition) value of this compound was 200 microg/ml.
Out of 350 acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) patients 110 (31.4%) were positive on culture. Among then (35.5%) yielded from upper respiratory tract infection (URI) and 64.5% yielded from lower respiratory tract infection (LRI). Predominant bacterial isolates from URI were Staph aureus (12.4%) and Strepto. pyogen (9.8%) whereas predominant agent from LRI were Strepto. pneumoniae (14.7%) and Haemophilus influenzae (8.6%). Capsular typing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and type specific antisera revealed that 64.7% of the isolates were type-b and rest were non-b. The most frequent resistance pattern of H. influenzae was found resistant to penicillin-ampicillin (64.7%) followed by SMX-TMP (14.7%) and tetracycline (5.9%). Among penicillin-ampicillin resistant strains, 81.8% were beta lectamase positive and 18.2% were beta lectamase negative. Among beta lectamase positive strains 66.7% were capsular type-b and 33.3% were non-b, had MICS < or = 8 microgram/ml. and < or = 4 microgram/ml. respectively. 5.9% strains of Strepto. pneumoniae was found resistant to SMX-TMP, 5.9% to penicillin-ampicillin and 2.9% to cephalexin. Common resistance pattern of Staph aureus was penicillin-ampicillin (60%), SMX-TMP (37.2%) and tetracycline-erythromycine-cephalexin (11.4%). Strepto. pyogen was found resistant to tetracycline in 12.2% cases and to SMX-TMP in 8.3% cases.
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OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of minilaparotomy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy. METHODS: A prospective pilot study in a general hospital was conducted. Twenty patients who were on the waiting list for abdominal hysterectomy were included in the study. All these patients had one or more relative contraindications to vaginal hysterectomy. The hysterectomy procedure was started vaginally in all cases. A minilaparotomy incision was performed to complete the procedure if vaginal hysterectomy was not feasible. Results were analyzed on the intention to treat basis. RESULTS: The procedure was successfully completed as intended in 19/20 patients (95%). Six patients had the procedure completed vaginally (30%). Thirteen patients had the procedure completed with minilaparotomy assistance (65%). The mean operative time was 63+/-24.8 min (+/-S.D.). The median estimated blood loss was 155 ml (range: 20-800). One bladder injury occurred. The overall post-operative complication rate was 35% (7/20). This included urinary retention necessitating catheterization for 24 h (n=3), urinary infection (n=2), vaginal infection (n=1) and wound hematoma (n=1). The mean post-operative pain score on a scale from 1 to 10 was 3.1. The overall patient satisfaction based on a scale from 1 to 10 was 9.23 (range: 8-10). CONCLUSIONS: Minilaparotomy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy is a feasible and safe procedure. Our results suggest that this approach is potentially useful in increasing the proportion of hysterectomies performed vaginally.
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Plumbagin, isoshinanolone, epishinanolone, shinanolone, quercetin and kaempferol were isolated from the leaves of Nepenthes gracilis. Spectral data of shinanolone are presented.
This is an observational retrospective study, which included 77 patients who underwent sacrospinous fixation (SSF) over a period of 3 years in a district general hospital. Casenotes were reviewed and all patients were invited to attend a further review appointment (14-49 months). The object was to determine short- and long-term success of SSF,particularly in elderly (28% were > or = 70 years), obese (24.7%) and medically compromised (64.9%) patients. Fifty-two patients (67.5%) had previous gynaecological procedures, while the remaining 25 (32.5%) had no previous surgery. Intra- and postoperative complications were 3.9% and 32.5%, respectively. There was considerable relief of patients' symptoms at both short- and long-term followup, while the rate of recurrence of vault prolapse was 10.3%. Our experience suggests that SSF appears to be a safe and effective procedure, especially for those who may constitute surgical or anaesthetic risks. It has a reasonable success rate, good postoperative recovery and acceptable long-term results.
Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Aster subspicatus afforded a new sesquiterpene lactone, 8 alpha-acetoxy-1 alpha-hydroxy-3 alpha,4 alpha-epoxy-5 alpha,7 alpha H-9,11(13)-guaiadien-12,6 alpha-olide (1), in addition to the known compounds arteglasin-B (2), diversoside (3), and 2-phenylethyl beta-D-glucopyranoside. Re-investigation of Aster ageratoides afforded the known compounds crotocorylifuran, and oplopanone. The structure of the new compound was determined by spectroscopic methods particularly high resolution 1H, 13C NMR, DEPT, 2D 1H-1H and 1H-13C COSY NMR and HMBC analysis.
Mast cells reside in tissues, where upon activation through the high-affinity-IgE-receptor (FcepsilonRI) they degranulate and orchestrate the allergic reaction. Mast cells survive this activation and can thus be reactivated. In this study we demonstrate that this process depends on the pro-survival gene A1. Activation of mast cells through FcepsilonRI resulted in degranulation, strong induction of A1 mRNA and protein, and cell survival. In contrast, A1-deficient mast cells released granule mediators similar to the wild-type control, but the cells did not survive an allergic activation. Furthermore, A1(-/-) mice that had been sensitized and provoked with allergen exhibited a lower number of mast cell compared with littermate controls. The induction of A1 was dependent on calcium, as EDTA prevented A1 expression. The calcium ionophore, ionomycin, induced A1 expression and mast cell survival, whereas compound 48/80, a well-known mast cell secretagogue, did not. This study uncovers the importance of A1 for mast cell survival in allergic reactions, and it proposes A1 as a potential target for the treatment of allergic diseases.
A 61-year-old man with angina had a lesion in the left upper lobe of his lung on chest roentgenogram. Coronary angiography revealed a dominant circumflex lesion. Combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and left upper lobectomy was performed through left posterolateral thoracotomy without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Off-pump CABG abolishes the complications of cardiopulmonary bypass, while posterolateral thoracotomy provides a direct access to the circumflex vessels and is ideal for lung resection.
Aortic dissection complicating percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is rare. We report the case of a 45-year-old man who after right coronary artery angioplasty with stenting, dissected that vessel to involve the aorta to the bifurcation. Surgical repair with Gelatin-Resorcinol-Formaldehyde (GRF) glue as opposed to prosthetic graft replacement of the ascending aorta was successful. The use of GRF glue is effective in the surgical treatment of aortic dissection after coronary angioplasty.
Re-examination of the chemical constituents of the leaves of Ferula sinaica afforded a new eudesmanolide and a new carotane. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.
Two monoterpene coumarins, designated ferulagol A and B, as well as three known monoterpene coumarins and three sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the chloroform extract of the roots of Ferula ferulago. The structures of ferulagol A and B were determined to be 7-[(E)-3'-hydroxy-3',7'-dimethyl-4',6'-octadienyloxy]coumarin and 7-[(3'Z,5'E)-7'-hydroxy-3',7'-dimethyl-3',5'-octadienyloxy]coumarin, respectively.
From the chloroform extract of the roots of Ferula assa-foetida, two sesquiterpene coumarins designated assafoetidnol A and assafoetidnol B were isolated, in addition to six known compounds, gummosin, polyanthin, badrakemin, neveskone, samarcandin and galbanic acid. The structures of the sesquiterpenes new compounds were established by spectroscopic methods.
A new eudesmanolide, 1beta,9alpha-dihydroxyeudesm-3-en-5beta,6alpha,7alpha,11alphaH-12,6-olide (1), was isolated from Crataegus flava fruits. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods.
Reinvestigation of the MeOH-CH(2)Cl(2) extract of the aerial parts of Cleome amblyocarpa led to isolation of a new dammarane triterpenoid, 15alpha-acetoxycleomblynol A, whose structure was determined to be 11alpha,15alpha-diacetoxybrachycarpon-22(23)-ene (1) by NMR data interpretation and X-ray analysis.
Two new manoyl oxide-alpha-arabinopyranoside diterpenoids, 15-hydroxy-13-epi-manoyl oxide-14-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (tarapacol-14-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside) (1) and 15-acetoxy-13-epi-manoyl oxide-14-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (tarapacol-15-acetate-14-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside) (2), as well as a new grindelic acid derivative, 19-hydroxygrindelic acid (3), together with five known diterpenoids (tarapacol, tarapacanol A, grindelic acid, methyl grindeloate, 3beta-hydroxygrindelic acid, 4) were isolated from the aerial parts of Grindelia integrifolia. The structures of 1-3 were elucidated by spectral data analysis.
Host-parasite interactions and their outcome constitute a critical and challenging step in disease establishment in cutaneous leishmaniasis. In the present in vitro study we investigated the possible modulating effects of both sensory and autonomic neuropeptides that normally exist in human and mouse skin, on the uptake and leishmanicidal capacity of macrophages on Leishmania (L.) major parasites, using a monocyte/macrophage murine cell line (Raw 264.7). The sensory neuropeptides somatostatin (SOM), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) suppressed the macrophage capacity for phagocytosing L. major promastigotes at different concentrations, 10(-10) - 10(-5) M, however, the suppressive effect of SP does not reach a significant level. CGRP and SP enhanced the leishmanicidal capacity of macrophages at 10(-7) M, and 10(-5) M, respectively, whereas SOM was without effect. The autonomic neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) both suppressed the phagocytic and leishmanicidal capacities of macrophages at various concentrations, 10(-10) - 10(-5) M. The findings indicate that neuropeptides have modulating effects on macrophage-L. major interactions. These effects might be exerted by a direct action on macrophages or indirectly through induction of other mediators.