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Biomedical subjects

A Hamdi

Publications and source records attributed to A Hamdi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Epidemiology of nosocomial bacterial infections in a neonatal and pediatric Tunisian intensive care unit].

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to describe the epidemiology of nosocomial bacterial infections in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit of the Tunis children's hospital. DESIGN: A prospective surveillance study was made from January 2004 to December 2004. All patients remaining in the intensive care unit for more than 48 h were included. CDC criteria were applied for the diagnosis of nosocomial infections. RESULTS: 340 patients including 249 (73%) neonates were included. 22 patients presented with 22 nosocomial bacterial infections. The incidence and the density incidence rates of nosocomial bacterial infections were 6.5% and 7.8 per 1,000 patient-days, respectively. Two types of infection were found: bloodstream infections (68.2%) and pneumonias (22.7%). Bloodstream infections had an incidence and a density incidence rate of 4.4% and 15.3 per 1,000 catheter-days, respectively. Pneumonia had an incidence and a density incidence rate of 2% and 4.4 per 1,000 mechanical ventilation-days, respectively. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Gram-negative bacteria (68%) with Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates accounting for 22.7%. The most common isolate in bloodstream infections was K. Pneumoniae (26.7%), which was multiple drug-resistant in 85% of the cases, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (20%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common isolate in pneumonia (28.6%). Associated factors of nosocomial infection were invasive devices and colonization with multiple drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The major type of nosocomial bacterial infections in our unit was bloodstream infection and the majority of infections resulted from Gram-negative bacteria. Factors associated with nosocomial bacterial infections were identified in our unit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Conservative treatment of talar dislocation: a case report].

Dislocation of the talus is a rare and serious injury. The functional prognosis is poor due to osteonecrosis of the talus which develops in the majority of cases. We report a case of anterolateral dislocation-enucleation of the right talus (Cauchoix type II) in a 26-Year-old work accident victim. Dislocation was caused by an indirect mechanism. Emergency reduction was performed by external manipulations without repair of the capsuloligamentary structures. At three Years, the right ankle was pain free and stable. Motion was satisfactory: 10 degrees dorsal flexion, 30 degrees plantar flexion. Standard x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated moderate narrowing of the anterior talocrural and posterior subtalar joints.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2003

[Abdominal actinomycosis. Three cases].

BACKGROUND: Abdominal actinomycosis is a suppurating affection caused by a positive Gram germ, Actinomyces israelii. Manifestations of this rare disease are usually pseudotumoral syndromes leading to surgical exeresis. The diagnosis is obtained from the histologic report. CASES REPORT: We report three cases in all of which this disease presents with tumoral symptoms. The first affected the sigmoïd, the second affected the mesentery and the last affected the greater omentum and abdominal wall. In no case, the diagnosis was done before surgery. In 2 of the cases reported here, the patients had an old, incontrolled intra-uterine device. DISCUSSION: From a review of the literature, we observed that the diagnosis of abdominal actinomycosis remains difficult. The radiologic findings are nonspecific. Actinomycosis is treated with prolonged antibiotics, and surgery is only needed in abdominal abscess and fistula. CONCLUSION: Theses observations illustrates the difficulties of the diagnosis of this rare unrecognized disease.

Abdominal Abscess↗
PubMed2002

[Hydatid cyst of the thigh: three cases].

Three patients presented a benign soft tissue mass in the thigh muscles. Ultrasonography provided the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. Total pericystecomy was performed in all cases with no recurrence at 8 months, 3 years and 4 years. We point out the importance of preoperative diagnosis and the need for radical excision to avoid recurrence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Regulation of cardiac and renal peripheral benzodiazepine receptor binding in rapid eye movement sleep-deprived rats.

This study was designed to examine the effects of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation and stress on the properties of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs). Rats were deprived of REM sleep for 96 hours by a small pedestal (water tank) method. Using radioligand assays with the selective antagonist [3H]PK11195, receptor density (Bmax) and affinity were measured in the heart and kidney in three groups: 1) REMSD group (REM sleep deprived-group), 2) TC group (tank control group; large pedestal), and 3) CC group (cage control group). REMSD group showed an increase in the density of PBRs in the heart (18%; p<0.002), but not in the kidney (-5%; p=0.058) compared to TC group, and IC group showed an increase in the density of these receptors in the heart (17%; p<0.014), and the kidney (12%; p<0.002) compared to CC group. While the cardiac Kd value was 37% (p<0.0004) and 36% (p<0.002) higher in the REMSD group than in the CC and TC groups, respectively, the renal Kd value was lower (-5%; p=0.057 and -16%; p<0.0004, respectively). The changes in PBRs observed herein are tissue- and treatment-specific, and may suggest a close functional relationship between REM sleep and PBRs.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Association of biochemistry grades with performance in pharmacology and anatomy in a Saudi Arabian medical college.

The College of Medicine, King Khalid University of Abha, Saudi Arabia currently accepts 100 students a year, up from 50 to 70 students four years ago. The first-year students take four science courses (Biology,Chemistry, Physics, and Statistics) in addition to some general university requirement courses. Biochemistry is offered in the second year, Anatomy in the second and third year and Pharmacology in the fourth year. This study was carried out to determine the correlation between the performance of medical students in Biochemistry and their performance in Anatomy and Pharmacology. Data were obtained from two groups of students (Group 22 and 23) of the years 1995 and 1996 who had already taken Biochemistry, Anatomy and Pharmacology. Performance was equal in Pharmacology but in biochemistry performance of group 23 was clearly lower than group 22. Scores of students in Biochemistry course strongly correlated with the basic Pharmacology course (r=0.714, P<0.0001). Scores in Anatomy also correlated with those in Biochemistry (r=0.616, P<0.001) but much less with scores in Pharmacology (r=0.345, P<0.01).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Structural changes in the tunica intima of varicose veins: a histopathological and ultrastructural study.

Many factors have been implicated in the aetiology of varicose veins; however, there is ample evidence implicating that the defect is in the wall of the lower limb veins. In order to know the pathological changes in the tunica intima of varicose veins, the smooth muscle cells (SMCs), collagen and elastin of varicose and control patients were studied by light and electron microscopy. The morphological changes in the SMCs, collagen and elastin point to a possible secretory or phagocytic role of the SMCs in producing abnormal immature collagen or elastin fibres or in modulation of function of SMCs due to excessive production of extracellular matrix (ECM).

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Quantitative immunoelectron microscopic colocalization of GABA and enkephalin in the ventrocaudal periaqueductal gray of the rat.

In the present ultrastructural study in the ventrocaudal periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the rat, the relationship and the association between GABAergic and enkephalinergic neuronal elements were investigated using postembedding colocalization immunogold electron microscopic technique in order to establish the precise relationship between these two important neurotransmitters in this part of the brain stem. The GABA-like neuronal elements were immunoreacted with 20 nm gold particles and the enkephalin (ENK)-like immunoreactive neurons were labeled with 10 nm gold particles. Double labeling of sections with ENK and GABA produced colocalization in 23.3% and 1.2% of axon terminals and dendrites, respectively. Most of the double-labeled terminals contained more GABA-like than ENK-like immunolabeling. Approximately 19.4% of the labeled axon terminals and 8.5% of the labeled dendrites contained only GABA-like immunoreactivity, while 24% of the immunolabeled dendrites were immunoreactive with only ENK-like immunoreactivity. The synapses between the two kinds of immunolabeled neuronal profiles appear to be both asymmetrical and symmetrical. GABA-like immunolabeled terminals contained small, clear, pleomorphic or round vesicles and were found to make synapses with ENK-like immunolabeled and nonimmunolabeled dendrites, whereas most of the ENK-like immunolabeled axon terminals contained dense-cored vesicles. Approximately half of the axon terminals (51%) and dendrites (56%) in the ventrolateral PAG were not labeled for either GABA or for ENK immunoreactivity. The results are discussed in terms of GABAergic inhibition of antinociceptive mechanisms in the ventrolateral PAG and of the activation of these mechanisms by ENK neurotransmitter.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Melatonin administration increases the affinity of D2 dopamine receptors in the rat striatum.

Rats receive melatonin (MEL) (476 +/- 6.5 microg/kg/day) via their drinking water for 2 weeks. At the end of this period, the density of D2 dopamine (DA) receptors and their affinity for [3H]-YM-09151-2 are measured in the striatum. MEL treatment increases the apparent affinity (decreases the Kd) of D2 DA receptors for [3H]YM-09151-2 by 48%, while it does not significantly alter the density (Bmax). These findings indicate that the affinity of D2 DA receptors in the striatum is influenced by exposure to MEL. The possible implications of these results are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Mitoxantrone and cytosine arabinoside in previously untreated adult patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.

Twenty-five adult patients with previously untreated acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were treated with mitoxantrone (Mto) 12 mg/m2 daily by 30 minutes intravenous (IV) infusion for 3 days and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) 200 mg/m2 daily by continuous infusion for 7 days, as an induction therapy. After complete remission (CR) was observed, they were given two more courses of consolidation therapy which was as Mto 12 mg/m2 daily by 30 minutes IV infusion for one day, and Ara-C 200 mg/m2 daily by 30 minutes IV infusion for 5 days. CR was obtained in 18 of 25 patients (72%). Median remission duration was 294 days and length of survival was 366 days. 11 patients (44%) are still in remission. Myelosupression developed in all patients following induction therapy, but it was not observed after consolidation therapies. Non-hematological side-effects consisted of nausea, vomiting, alopecia, stomatitis, and transient elevation in liver enzymes. Our therapeutic responses are similar to those obtained by others.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

REM sleep deprivation alters dopamine D2 receptor binding in the rat frontal cortex.

REM sleep deprivation (RSD) of rats results in facilitation of dopaminergic behavior and an increase in striatal D2 receptor density. To determine whether RSD results in changes in D2 receptor in other brain regions, receptor affinity (Kd) and density (Bmax) were measured in the anteromediofrontal (AM), cingulate (CN), and sulcal cortex (SL) in four groups of rats: 1), RSD96 group (RSD for 96 h; small pedestal/water tank method), 2) RSD24 group (large pedestals for 72 h then small pedestals for 24 h), 3) tank control group (TC; large pedestals for 96 h), and 4) cage control group. In separate groups, ambulation was recorded for 30 min following treatments. Group RSD96 showed an increase in activity compared to TC, and TC was increased compared to CC (p < 0.05 for all). In group RSD24, the AM showed an increase in Bmax and Kd (p < 0.05), but there were no effects by RSD96. In the CN, Bmax and Kd were decreased by RSD96 (p < 0.05) but not RSD24. In the SL, Bmax was increased by RSD96, but not RSD24, whereas Kd was increased in both RSD groups (p < 0.05).

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Combined immunosuppressive therapy in aplastic anaemia.

Fifteen patients with aplastic anaemia (AA) were treated combined immunosuppressive treatment (9 of them had severe, the others had less severe AA). Cyclosporin A(CsA) was given as 12 mg/kg/daily intravenous infusions for 90 days with serum levels being monitored weekly by radioimmunoassay. Antilymphocyte globulin serum (ALG) was administered by intravenous infusion through eight hours at a dosage of 20 mg/kg/daily for eight days. Methylprednisolone (MP) was given orally as 5 mg/kg/daily, tapered every three days, for 29 days. Complete remission (CR) was observed in five severe AA patients and two less severe AA patients with therapy. Partial remission (PR) was observed in one severe AA and two less severe AA patients. No remissions were reached in four patients, two of whom had severe AA, the others had less severe AA. Replace was observed in two patients as sixth and ninth month. Haemolysis occurred in one patient and MP was started. Only one patient died during the treatment because of infection due to febrile neutropaenia. Toxicities were reversible. Combined immunosuppressive treatment may be the treatment of choice for patients who are not eligible for bone marrow transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Differential modulation of dopaminergic systems in the rat brain by dietary protein.

Rats that consume a diet 50% rich in protein exhibit hyperactivity and hyperresponsiveness to nociceptive stimuli, in which facilitation of dopaminergic activity has been implicated. We studied the regional changes in the concentrations of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the brains of rats that were maintained on high-protein (HP, 50% casein), normal-protein (NP, 20% casein), and low-protein (LP, 8% casein) diets for 36 weeks. Brain nuclei that represented different DAergic systems were punch-dissected and analyzed using HPLC. In the substantia nigra, the striatum, and the dentate gyrus, DA concentrations decreased and increased, respectively, with a decrease and increase in dietary protein (p < 0.05 compared to the NP diet). Similar trends in the effect of the HP diet were observed in the ventral tegmental area, amygdala, frontal cortex, subiculum, centromedial nucleus (CM) of the thalamus, and inferior colliculi (IC), although the differences in DA concentrations were not statistically significant. These brain areas also showed a pattern of decreased DA concentration in association with the LP diet, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05) in the CM and IC. DA concentrations in most regions of the midbrain and brainstem were not different between the diet groups, nor were consistent trends observed in those regions. Also, there were no consistent relationships between DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA ratios and dietary protein level. These data suggest that only discrete dopaminergic neuronal circuits in the rat forebrain were sensitive to changes in dietary protein level.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Chronic nicotine reverses age-associated increases in tail-flick latency and anxiety in rats.

The chronic consumption of low doses of nicotine in drinking water for two years consistently increased the sensitivity of rats to a nociceptive thermal stimulus (tail-flick test), but reduced aversiveness in the elevated plus-maze test, relative to the responses of age-matched controls in these tests. The responses of aged nicotine-consuming rats were indistinguishable from those of young adult rats that did not receive nicotine. To determine whether these effects were due to a nicotine-induced retardation of age-related changes, young adult rats were similarly treated with nicotine for three months and similar changes in the tail-flick latency and performance in the plus-maze test were observed during nicotine consumption. These changes were reversed following withdrawal from nicotine. It is concluded that the maintenance of circulating low levels of nicotine (and/or its metabolites) increased the nociceptive sensitivity of the rats and reduced their aversions in the plus-maze test regardless of their age.

Aging↗
PubMed1994

[Rupture of the excretory urinary tract due to a lithiasis of the pelvic ureter].

A case of rupture of the urinary tract related to lithiasis of the pelvic ureter is reported. Outcome was favorable after percutaneous drainage of the urinoma and removal of the stone using a Dormia catheter. Clinical diagnosis was readily established on the patient's history and on ultrasound and intravenous urogram findings.

Dilatation, Pathologic↗
PubMed1993

Bidirectional changes in striatal D1-dopamine receptor density during chronic ethanol intake.

Results of previous studies on the effects of ethanol consumption on the properties of D1 dopamine receptors appear contradictory and inconclusive. In this study we have examined the time course of the effects of dietary ethanol on the properties of striatal D1 dopamine receptors. Chronic ethanol intake led to bidirectional changes in the maximum number (Bmax) of [3H]SCH-23390 binding to striatal D1 dopamine receptors measured 10 hrs after termination of the ethanol intake. A significant decrease (80% of control), increase (159% of control), increase (122% of control), and decrease (85% of control) after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of ethanol intake respectively was observed. The bidirectional changes disappeared after 6 and 10 weeks of continued ethanol intake and the Bmax returned back to the control level. The receptor affinity (Kd), however, remained unaltered in all cases. These data suggest that the duration of ethanol exposure may be an important determinant in regulating D1 dopamine receptor density.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Effects of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation on the properties of striatal dopaminergic system.

Using the water tank procedure, we have examined the effects of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation and associated stress on the properties of striatal dopaminergic system. While stress decreased the number of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors, a combination of REM sleep deprivation attenuated the decrease. The ratio of D1 to D2 densities, however, increased on both the stress and REM sleep deprivation groups. In contrast, the number of dopamine uptake sites remained unchanged. The enhanced behavioral responses to dopaminergic stimulants after REM sleep deprivation are discussed.

Animals↗