Biomedical subjects

A Babiker

Publications and source records attributed to A Babiker.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1988

Adjuvant chemotherapy in T3 carcinoma of the bladder. A prospective trial: preliminary report.

We report the early results of a multi-centre, randomised prospective trial of neoadjuvant and maintenance chemotherapy with methotrexate (MTX) in 376 patients with advanced (T3) carcinoma of the bladder. In patients under 65 years of age, treatment consisted of radical radiotherapy (64 Gy) or, in some centres, pre-operative radiotherapy (44 Gy) and elective cystectomy. All patients over 65 had radical radiotherapy. MTX was administered to 188 patients. There was no increase in toxicity attributable to the MTX. MTX did not significantly increase the proportion of patients whose tumours responded to radiotherapy; 50% (70/141) responded to radiotherapy and 56% (76/136) to MTX radiotherapy. The development of metastases and survival was also similar in both groups (3-year survival: radiotherapy 37.3%, MTX + radiotherapy 38.6%). We report the logistic difficulties of the administration of prolonged courses of maintenance chemotherapy. Further controlled trials of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced bladder cancer are required, involving more active regimes.

Aged↗

PubMed1985

Focality and seasonality of Schistosoma mansoni transmission in the Gezira Irrigated Area, Sudan.

In the Gezira Irrigated Area of Central Sudan, transmission of Schistosoma mansoni was shown to be geographically focal, being concentrated near villages and small settlements. In a study during 1981 and 1982 of the entire area around a typical Gezira village almost 90% of the Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails carrying schistosome infections were found in one minor canal near the village. Sites near smaller settlements some distance from the minor canals yielded few infected snails. The factors which influenced the prevalence of infection in the snails were temperature, turbidity and human contact with the snail habitat. A strategy was proposed for control of Schistosoma transmission through focal and seasonal mollusciciding, health education, chemotherapy, improved water supply and latrine distribution.

Agriculture↗

PubMed1978

The in vivo development of Schistosoma bovis in the Nile rat.

The in vivo development of the Sudanese strain of Schistosoma bovis in the Nile rat, Arvicanthus niloticus is described. Six stages in development are distinguished: the 'lung form' (stage 1), attaining maximum numbers on day 5 post-infection; the 'closed-gut form' (stage 2) on day 14, characterized by the union of the gut caeca behind the ventral sucker; 'organogeny' (stage 3) on day 17, the male possessing one testis and a gynaecophoric canal and the female a narrow uterus; 'gametogeny' (stage 4) on day 26, with pairing, the male having four fully developed testes and the female an ovary; 'egg-shell formation' (stage 5) on day 35; 'oviposition' (stage 6) on day 37, with the female showing uterine eggs. The time to complete in vivo development in the Sudanese strain of S. bovis is more rapid than in the Israeli strain, 37 and 42 days respectively.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pupil-led sex education in England (RIPPLE study): cluster-randomised intervention trial.

BACKGROUND: Improvement of sex education in schools is a key part of the UK government's strategy to reduce teenage pregnancy in England. We examined the effectiveness of one form of peer-led sex education in a school-based randomised trial of over 8000 pupils. METHODS: 29 schools were randomised to either peer-led sex education (intervention) or to continue their usual teacher-led sex education (control). In intervention schools, peer educators aged 16-17 years delivered three sessions of sex education to 13-14 year-old pupils from the same schools. Primary outcome was unprotected (without condom) first heterosexual intercourse by age 16 years. Analysis was by intention to treat. FINDINGS: By age 16 years, significantly fewer girls reported intercourse in the peer-led arm than in the control arm, but proportions were similar for boys. The proportions of pupils reporting unprotected first sex did not differ for girls (8.4% intervention vs 8.3% control) or for boys (6.2% vs 4.7%). Stratified estimates of the difference between arms were -0.4% (95% CI -3.7% to 2.8%, p=0.79) for girls and -1.4% (-4.4% to 1.6%, p=0.36) for boys. At follow-up (mean age 16.0 years [SD 0.32]), girls in the intervention arm reported fewer unintended pregnancies, although the difference was borderline (2.3% vs 3.3%, p=0.07). Girls and boys were more satisfied with peer-led than teacher-led sex education, but 57% of girls and 32% of boys wanted sex education in single-sex groups. INTERPRETATION: Peer-led sex education was effective in some ways, but broader strategies are needed to improve young people's sexual health. The role of single-sex sessions should be investigated further.

Adolescent↗