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Biomedical subjects

A Bari

Publications and source records attributed to A Bari.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Is endoscopic ultrasound clinically useful for follow-up of gastric lymphoma?

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is considered the best technique for locoregional staging at diagnosis but its role in the follow-up of patients with gastric lymphoma after organ-conserving strategies has not been established. DESIGN AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 23 patients with primary gastric lymphoma treated with a stomach-conservative approach. Sixteen of them were affected by MALT lymphoma and seven by diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Five patients were treated with Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication therapy alone (omeprazole + amoxicillin + clarithromycin); eight patients received a treatment including HP eradication and chemotherapy and the remaining 10 patients were treated with chemotherapy alone. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, a complete remission was documented in 21 (91%) patients by endoscopy with biopsy (E-Bx) but in only seven (30%) patients by EUS. A total of 99 evaluations with both EUS and E-Bx were evaluated and we found concordance between the two methods in 33 occasions (33%) only. No significant difference on the percentage of concordance was recorded between MALT and DLBCL. After a median follow-up of 36.5 months we have not observed any relapse in 12 patients (six DLBCL and six MALT) with a persistent positive EUS but negative E-Bx. CONCLUSIONS: Although the length of follow-up cannot exclude late relapse, we think that in restaging and follow-up of gastric lymphoma, EUS seems not to be a reliable tool if it is abnormal and E-Bx still remains the gold standard. Therefore, after conventional conservative treatment, persistence of EUS abnormality with a negative histology should not be considered as a clinically relevant persistence of disease and should not be a reason for further treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Experimental investigation of mass efficiency curve for alpha radioactivity counting using a gas-proportional detector.

Gross alpha counting of evaporated water residues offers a simple method for screening alpha radioactivity in water for both public health and emergency purposes. The evaporation process for water has been improved by using a combination of roughening of the surface of counting planchettes, two-stage evaporation, and temperature-controlled block heating. The efficiency of the gas-proportional detector for alpha-particle detection in water residues was studied as a function of sample mass-thickness in the range between 0.1 and 13 mg cm(-2). The effect of alpha energy on the efficiency, as well as moisture absorption on the samples, were studied using (230)Th, (238)U, (239)Pu, (241)Am, and (244)Cm radionuclides. Also, alpha-to-beta crosstalk was investigated as a function of sample mass for (230)Th, (238)U, (239)Pu, (241)Am, and (244)Cm. The improved method can also be applied for gross alpha detection in biological fluids.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Low-background gamma spectrometry for environmental radioactivity.

Development and performance of a low-background gamma-ray spectrometer are described. The spectrometer consists of a 131% efficient Ge detector in U-type configuration. The passive shielding consists of ultrapure lead of 6" thickness. A top muon guard is used as an active shielding. The spectrometer and shielding are positioned inside a steel room made of 6"-thick pre-World War II iron. The steel room is located underground with 33 m of water-equivalent overburden. The total integrated background rate in the energy range 50-2,700 keV was measured at 0.068 counts per second per 100 cm3 Ge volume. The spectrometer serves as a reference instrument for low-level and highly accurate environmental radioactivity measurements. One specific application of 228Ra determination in drinking water is described. With a 1 l water sample, 1-step chemical procedure, and 1,000 min counting time, a detection limit Ld = 20 mBq/l (0.55 pCi/l) was reached, which meets the EPA mandated limit of 1 pCi/l. Methods of upgrading the spectrometer as well as the predicted improvements in 228Ra detection, including direct counting of water without chemical processing, are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Analysis of heavy metals in atmospheric particulates in relation to their bioaccumulation in explanted Pseudevernia furfuracea thalli.

Lichens explants and airborne particulates were analysed for Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Fe, Mn and Cu content in a rural site in the province of Vercelli (Piedmont, N. Italy). Thalli of the fruticose lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea were collected from an uncontaminated area and exposed for one year using two different techniques. Particulates were collected using a continuously operating particulate sampler set up near the lichens explanted throughout the experiment survey. The results confirm both the importance of assessing contamination in rural areas corroborated by the analysis of the presence of the heavy metals in particulates in relation to the main wind directions and the validity of this lichen as biomonitor of airborne metal pollution, although meaningful differences were pointed out between the two different techniques of exposure. The significant correlation between most of the metals accumulated by lichens and the metal air concentrations shows a good evidence of their ability to represent atmospheric contamination.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection in male adults in Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with HCV infection in Islamabad-Rawalpindi. METHODS: Fifty-seven cases and 180 controls were enrolled from various departments of the nine major hospitals of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad during July-September 1998. Cases were enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) positive for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV), aged 20-70 years, and residents of Islamabad or Rawalpindi division. Controls were anti-HCV ELISA negatives of the same age range and from the same area. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic variables and potential risk factors, which was analysed by logistic regression to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk factors. RESULTS: The final multivariate logistic regression model revealed that after adjusting for age, cases were more likely to have received therapeutic injections in the past 10 years (1-10 vs. 0 therapeutic injections; adjusted OR=2.8, 95% CI: 1.1-7.1; > 10 vs. 0 therapeutic injections; adjusted OR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.2-7.9) and were significantly more likely to have daily face (adjusted OR=5.1, 95% CI: 1.5-17.0) and armpit shaves (adjusted OR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.3-6.5) by a barber. CONCLUSION: HCV control and prevention programs in this region should include safe injection practices and educate men about the risk of HCV infection from contaminated instruments used by barbers.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of safety of glucose oral rehydration solution and maize oral rehydration therapy for home management of diarrhoea in Kenya.

Safety margins and variability in the composition of glucose and maize-based oral rehydration therapy (ORT) prepared by mothers in a rural district of Western Kenya, are reported here. In a 2-year longitudinal field study, packets containing glucose ORS and a home solution made with maize and table salts, were provided to the mothers of 6180 children in Kakamega District in two separate sub-locations. Experienced and trained field workers supported by community registered nurses provided training for the preparation and use of ORT during weekly visits to every household. On four occasions separated by 4-6 months, a 5 per cent random sampling was done of the home-prepared solutions actually used for the treatment of children with diarrhoea. The water used for preparing ORT was also sampled. Samples of 174 glucose-based ORT, 148 maize-salt ORT, and 201 samples of water were analysed. Only 2 per cent of the maize-based ORT were above 120 meq/1 sodium (i.e., the safe range of sodium concentration) compared to 17.8 per cent for glucose solutions (p < 0.001). Home water samples contained substantial amounts of salt, which could unpredictably affect the final composition of the ORT solutions. We conclude that maize-salt ORT had a better margin of safety than glucose-based ORS.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2000

Bangladeshi rural mothers prepare safer rice oral rehydration solution.

Mothers in rural Bangladesh were trained to prepare and use either Rice-ORS (R-ORS) or Glucose-ORS (G-ORS) solutions to treat children with diarrhoea. Families were provided with either G-ORS or R-ORS of the same electrolyte composition through a depot holder. Subsequently, random samples of solutions actually used for treatment by the mothers were collected from homes by field workers. A total of 227 R-ORS and 239 G-ORS samples were analysed. The sodium concentration in about 90% of the samples had a safe range (50-120 mmol/l). Only 4% of R-ORS solutions were above 120 mmol/l in sodium concentration, while 12% of G-ORS solutions exceeded these limits (p < 0.0025). R-ORS (after acid hydrolysis) provided significantly higher glucose (257 +/- 42 mmol/l) for active but safe absorption compared to G-ORS (115 +/- 39 mmol/l). To make R-ORS liquid enough to drink requires addition of sufficient water, preventing the risk of higher sodium concentration. Unlike rice starch, glucose is a highly soluble substance. It is thus possible to prepare a drinkable solution containing dangerously high concentrations of both sodium and glucose, but this can be minimized by more intensive training of the mothers.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1998

A phase I trial of human corticotropin-releasing factor (hCRF) in patients with peritumoral brain edema.

BACKGROUND: Human corticotropin-releasing factor (hCRF) is an endogenous peptide responsible for the secretion and synthesis of corticosteroids. In animal models of peritumoral brain edema, hCRF has significant anti-edematous action. This effect, which appears to be independent of the release of adrenal steroids, appears mediated by a direct effect on endothelial cells. We conducted a feasibility and phase I study with hCRF given by continuous infusion to patients with brain metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Peritumoral brain edema documented by MRI and the use of either no steroids or stable steroid doses for more than a week were required. MRIs were repeated at completion of infusion and estimations by dual echo-image sequence (Proton density and T2-weighted images) of the amount of peritumoral edema were performed. The study was performed in two stages. In the feasibility part, patients were randomized to receive either 0.66 or 1 microgram/kg/h of hCRF or placebo over 24 hours. The second part was a dose finding study of hCRF over 72 hours at escalating doses. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were enrolled; only one was receiving steroids (stable doses) at study entrance; dose-limiting toxicity (hypotension) was observed at 4 micrograms/kg/h x 72 hours in two out of four patients, while zero of five patients treated at 2 micrograms/kg/h developed dose-limiting toxicities. Flushing and hot flashes were also observed. Improvement of neurological symptoms and/or exam were seen in 10 patients. Only small changes were detected by MRI. Improvement in symptoms did not correlate with changes in cortisol levels, and changes in cortisol levels were not correlated with changes in peritumoral edema. CONCLUSIONS: hCRF is well tolerated in doses up to 2 micrograms/kg/h by continuous infusion x 72 hours. Hypotension limits administration of higher doses. The observation of clinical benefit in the absence of corticosteroids suggests hCRF may be an alternative to steroids for the treatment of patients with peritumoral brain edema. Further exploration of this agent in efficacy studies is warranted.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of the malonyl-/acetyltransacylase domain of the multifunctional animal fatty acid synthase by expression in Escherichia coli and refolding in vitro.

cDNAs of various lengths encoding the second domain of the multifunctional fatty acid synthase (FAS) have been expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant proteins refolded in vitro to catalytically active monomeric malonyl-/acetyltransacylases. FAS residues 428-487, previously thought to represent the amino terminus of the malonyl-/acetyltransacylase, can be omitted from the recombinant enzyme with no loss in catalytic activity. This shortened transacylase, consisting of FAS residues 488-809, can be repeatedly denatured and renatured in vitro with reproducibly high recovery and no loss in specific activity. When expressed as a soluble enzyme in Spodoptera frugiperda cells, this transacylase has the same specific activity as the enzyme that has been refolded in vitro. The refolded transacylase consisting of FAS residues 488-809, but not the longer enzyme consisting of residues 428-815, can be crystallized readily. These results suggest that FAS residues 428-487, previously thought to represent the amino terminus of the malonyl-/acetyltransacylase, are not required for catalysis of the transacylase reaction. This region of the FAS is less well conserved than the transacylase catalytic domain and may constitute an extended structural linker that facilitates the functional interaction between the transacylase and acyl carrier protein domains.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase↗
PubMed1997

Sero-diagnosis of human brucellosis among TB suspected patients.

In order to verify the frequency of human brucellosis among a TB suspected population, a study was conducted on the basis of sero-diagnosis of a total of 229 blood samples from TB suspected patients. Serological tests carried out were slide and semi-quantitative agglutination tests. Of the tested samples, 44 (19.21%) were SAT positive and of these, 28 (12.23%) were positive for the semiquantitative agglutination test. Twelve (42.86%) had a brucella titer of 1:80; 14 (50%) had a brucella titer of 1:160 and 2 (7.14%) had a titer of 1:320. The majority of patients positive for brucellosis, exhibiting sero-agglutination titers ranging between 1:40 and 1:320, were of rural background. However, 35.72% persons positive for brucella antibody with titer of 1:160 were from urban localities. Fever (84.48%), headache/dizziness (71.43%) and weakness/fatigue (46.43%) were the most common presenting symptoms among the brucellosis positive patients. The frequency of brucellosis among these TB suspected patients was found to be higher in women (73.91%), as compared to men (52.38%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

A field trial of wheat-based oral rehydration solution among Afghan refugee children.

A total of 326 Afghan children aged between 6 months and 5 years with uncomplicated nondysenteric diarrhea for the previous 24 h to 5 days were treated at home by their mothers with either wheat-salt solution (WSS) or World Health Organization recommended glucose-oral rehydration salts (G-ORS). For 7 consecutive days the children were examined in the household and the mothers interviewed to assess the progress, feeding practices, and perception of treatment efficacy. Children treated with WSS recovered significantly earlier; the mean duration on treatment was 4.0 days (SD 1.7 days) on WSS compared to 6.4 days (SD 1.7 days) on G-ORS. By the second day of treatment, significantly more mothers using WSS (56%) reported that their children had formed stools versus 11% of their G-ORS counterparts; the mean stool frequency after 2 days was also significantly reduced; 3 stools day-1 (SD 2.1) on WSS versus 5 (SD 2.9) on G-ORS. The cereal-based solution was not confused with normal food and led to better feeding patterns. By day 2, 74% of the mothers using WSS had resumed their normal feeding frequencies as opposed to 33% of G-ORS mothers. On recovery the WSS group had gained significantly more weight; the WSS group gained 169 g (SD 142 g) while the G-ORS group lost 150 g (SD 174g). This study suggests by subjective and objective measures that WSS could be considered as an effective home fluid for the first-line treatment of diarrhea.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Rice oral rehydration solution hastens recovery from dysentery.

Using a three-cell study design over two years, we assessed the efficacy of rice ORS (R-ORS) for home management of dysentery in rural Bangladesh involving 1,911 children of less than five years of age who were matched for socioeconomic status, morbidity, nutrition and other factors. Dysentery was defined as passing blood and/or mucus in the stool, and the total numbers of episodes studies were: 1472, 1335, and 1557 in the R-ORS, glucose ORS (G-ORS), and comparison areas respectively. Packaged R-ORS and G-ORS were supplied free of cost. The comparison area continued the usual treatment of dysentery as practised in the community. During the two-year period, weekly observations were made in all areas on the incidence, management, and outcome of all episodes of dysentery. We demonstrated that the use of R-ORS was associated with reduction in duration and a lower incidence of prolonged diarrhoea compared to treatment with G-ORS or drugs. The mean durations of dysenteric diarrhoea were 7.6 +/- 4.9, 10.1 +/- 6.3, and 14.0 +/- 8.0 days in the R-ORS, G-ORS, and comparison areas respectively. Similarly, the cumulative recovery rates on day 7 of the illness were 61%, 42% and 21% in R-ORS, G-ORS, and comparison areas respectively. Based on these observations, we conclude that R-ORS may be an effective treatment of dysentery and deserves further investigation.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1993

A community study of the application of WHO ARI management guidelines in Pakistan.

During a community-based study in four rural villages in Pakistan, 617 cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in children younger than 5 years of age were assessed, classified and managed according to the WHO ARI case management guidelines. Of these, 509 (82.5%) had 'cough and cold' without clinical evidence of pneumonia, 95 pneumonia, two severe pneumonia and 11 otitis media. Of the 509 without clinical evidence of pneumonia but with cough and cold, 491 (96.5%) were successfully treated without antibiotics and only 18 (3.5%) of these children needed antimicrobial therapy on follow-up. Of the 95 cases of pneumonia, 87 (91.4%) showed a satisfactory clinical response to oral cotrimoxazole and only eight (8.4%) required a change of antibiotic.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Enamel hypoplasias in a 19th century population from northern Italy.

In a sample from northern Italy of the second half of the 19th century hypoplasias in maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth was examined. The maxillary canine is the most frequently affected tooth. Frequencies of hypoplasias show slightly lower figures than other 19th century skeletal populations. The age interval most affected was between 2 and 4 years and suggests an association with stress at weaning and immediately thereafter.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Role of cereal-based oral rehydration therapy in persistent diarrhoea in children.

A total of 2000 children aged under five and 12,500 diarrhoea episodes were studied prospectively for assessing the efficacies of R-ORS and G-ORS and for comparing them with that of a comparison area using drugs for treatment. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of ORS use rate, consumption of ORS per episode, duration of diarrhoea and rate of recovery. The data were analysed to compare the rate of persistent diarrhoea in the three areas. Mean ORS consumption was 946 +/- 576 and 1236 +/- 766 ml per episode of watery diarrhoea in the R-ORS and G-ORS areas respectively. The mean durations of watery diarrhoea were 3.3 +/- 2.1, 5.4 +/- 3.5 and 8.8 +/- 5.5 days in the R-ORS, G-ORS and comparison area, respectively. The median durations for dysentery were 7, 9 and 12 days in the three areas respectively. The incidences of persistent diarrhoea following water diarrhoea were 0.4, 3 and 12% in the R-ORS, G-ORS and comparison area respectively, and, following dysenteric episodes, 8, 18 and 40%. The results of the study suggest that R-ORS can hasten recovery from both watery diarrhoea and dysenteries, thus reducing the incidence of persistent diarrhoea.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1990

Toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in northern parts of Pakistan.

Three hundred and twenty four serum samples, collected from different areas of Punjab, NWFP and Azad Kashmir, were screened for Toxo IgG and IgM antibody titres utilizing the Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the total 149 (46%) samples were positive for IgG antibody. Seven (2.1%) showed titre greater than 130. Ninety sera (27.7%) were positive for IgM antibody, twenty six (8%) had a titre of more than 40 and the uncertain positive percentage was 19.7%. Infection rate was highest in Punjab (63%) followed by Azad Kashmir (48%) and NWFP (38%).

Female↗
PubMed1990

Role of glucose polymer (cereal) in oral rehydration therapy.

The standard packaged glucose-based oral rehydration solution (ORS) provides optimal rehydration of acute diarrhea from any cause, but it does not reduce the volume, frequency, or duration of diarrhea. A new ORS formulation has been developed in which glucose is replaced by 50 to 60 gm of cereal flours, such as rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, or millet, or equivalent amounts of noncereal staples, such as boiled potato or plantain. In a clinical trial in children suffering from acute diarrhea, the staple-based or polymer-based ORS achieved a 40% to 60% reduction in the stool volume compared with the standard ORS. A three-cell longitudinal study in rural Bangladesh involving 2,000 children aged 1 to 4 years demonstrated the superior efficacy of rice ORS compared with glucose ORS or no ORS. The cumulative recovery rate on day 3 was 66%, 24%, and 11% in the rice ORS, glucose ORS, and comparison groups, respectively. The study suggests that staple-based or food-based ORS is the optimal treatment of diarrhea.

Diarrhea↗