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Biomedical subjects

A Memon

Publications and source records attributed to A Memon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Immunoradiometric measurement of pS2 in breast cancer--correlation with steroid receptors and plasminogen activators.

pS2 was measured by radioimmunometric assay in tumour extracts from 197 breast cancer patients. Values ranged from 0 to 50 ng/mg protein (mean 9.6 and median 3 ng/mg). We found no correlation with age, menopausal status, nodal metastases, disease stage or tumour histology. There was, however, a linear relationship with both ER (p < 0.0001) (particularly nuclear ER) and PR (p < 0.0001) expression determined by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA), as well as a good correlation when high and low expressors were stratified on the basis of combined ER/PR expression using consensus cut-off points. Only 15% of ER - ve/PR - ve patients were classified as pS2 + ve compared with 83% of those who were ER + ve/PR + ve. pS2 was also directly correlated with high expression of tPA and inversely with uPA. Comparison with previous studies showed that the current ELISA method produced consistent results, in contrast to other methods, particularly those based on immunohistochemical detection. The close relationship between pS2 and both steroid receptors suggests that pS2 may be important in terms of defining hormone-responsive patients who are likely to benefit from endocrine therapy.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, and syphilis and associated risk behaviours in male transvestites (Hijras) in Karachi, Pakistan.

In Pakistan, male sex workers are predominantly transvestites and transsexuals known as Hijras. In 1998 in Karachi, Pakistan, we studied the seroprevalence of HIV, HBsAg and syphilis and associated risk factors in Hijras. Study subjects were verbally administered a structured questionnaire that determined risk behaviours for sexually transmitted and blood-borne diseases and knowledge of AIDS/STDs. After pre-test counselling, verbal consent was taken for serological testing. The results were provided on a one-on-one post-test counselling session. Three hundred male transvestites were approached; all agreed to answer the questionnaire, 208 consented to blood testing. Of 300, 81% acknowledged commercial sex with men. Of 208, prevalence of syphilis was 37%; HBsAg 3.4%; HIV 0%. The prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is low in transvestite sex workers but that of syphilis is high. Intervention programmes implemented at this stage can have an impact on HIV and STD prevention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Earwitness recall and identification: comparison of the cognitive interview and the structured interview.

77 undergraduates instructed to act as kidnap victims heard taped instructions given by a mock abductor. Two days later witnesses' recall of the culprit's monologue was tested using either a Cognitive Interview or a Structured Interview. Participants then rated the abductor's voice for nine speech characteristics and attempted to identify his voice from an audiotaped lineup. No significant differences were found between the two interview conditions for accuracy or error rates in free recall, for ratings of descriptive voice characteristics, or for performance in voice identification. These earwitness results are consistent with eyewitness investigations which have yielded no positive influence of the cognitive interview on identification. It is concluded that the success of the cognitive interview is best explained through its influence on social components of interviewing.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Age differences in accuracy and choosing in eyewitness identification and face recognition.

Studies of aging and face recognition show age-related increases in false recognitions of new faces. To explore implications of this false alarm effect, we had young and senior adults perform (1) three eye-witness identification tasks, using both target present and target absent lineups, and (2) and old/new recognition task in which a study list of faces was followed by a test including old and new faces, along with conjunctions of old faces. Compared with the young, seniors had lower accuracy and higher choosing rates on the lineups, and they also falsely recognized more new faces on the recognition test. However, after screening for perceptual processing deficits, there was no age difference in false recognition of conjunctions, or in discriminating old faces from conjunctions. We conclude that the false alarm effect generalizes to lineup identification, but does not extend to conjunction faces. The findings are consistent with age-related deficits in recollection of context and relative age invariance in perceptual integrative processes underlying the experience of familiarity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Water as an irrigant in transurethral resection of the prostate: a cost-effective alternative.

The safety of water as an irrigant solution in transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has been a controversial issue. Although it has been mostly abandoned in more affluent countries, it is still widely used in developing countries simply because of financial reasons. With this study, we attempted to show in a representative number of cases that this method can be applied without major fluid absorption, as would be indicated by changes in sodium (Na), creatinine (Crea), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and free haemoglobin (fHb) levels in serum. Prospectively, we assessed the occurrence of clinical symptoms of TUR-syndrome, as well as changes in serum parameters in 60 patients irrigated during TURP with sterile water. Values of patients with some degree of resorption, as indicated by a drop in serum sodium, were compared to patients without any resorption. There was no TUR-syndrome in our patients, and serum levels of all parameters did not change significantly after TURP with water. Patients with a drop in sodium post-TURP did not have significant changes in Crea, BUN or fHb. The average saving was 162.60 USD per treatment. In our study population, water was a safe irrigation solution. Even with some degree of resorption, there were no significant haemolysis or metabolic imbalances. Saving for the patient are considerable and render the treatment affordable.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Factors associated with the initiation of smoking by Kuwaiti males.

PURPOSE: To estimate the age patterns in cumulative probability of smoking initiation among Kuwaiti adult males and to study the differentials in smoking initiation in relation to factors such as age-cohort, marital status, educational level, income, type of residence, and history of smoking among family members and friends. METHODS: A stratified three stage cluster sampling design was implemented for the selection of the sample. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 1798 Kuwaiti adult males working in different ministries. RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS: Of the 1798 respondents, 34.4% were classified as current smokers, 17.7% as former smokers and 47.9% as non-smokers. The highest probability of smoking initiation (among current and former smokers) was found for the age group 15-20 years, where almost 29% of the respondents initiated smoking. In the univariate analysis, marital status, education, income, type of residence, and history of smoking among family members and friends showed significant variation in the age-patterns of initiation. In the Cox proportional hazard regression model, education, type of residence, and history of smoking among family members and friends were found to be independently associated with the risk of initiation. The highest risk of initiation (Relative Risk (RR) = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.62-2.10) was found among those who had a history of smoking in family and friends. Individuals in the lowest education category (RR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.32-2.04) and those residing in apartments (RR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.43-1.92) were at a higher risk of initiation compared with those who had university education or those who resided in villas. The results of the study should prompt further efforts to develop tobacco control policies in Kuwait and the other Arabian Gulf countries to help establish norms for not initiating smoking through persistent messages to not start or to stop smoking. There is also a need to enhance awareness about the influence of smokers in family or friends on other people to initiate smoking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Incidence of hip fracture in Kuwait.

BACKGROUND: Hip fracture as a consequence of osteoporosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among the elderly. Due to improving life expectancy, the number of elderly individuals is increasing more rapidly in the developing countries of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Incidence of hip fracture, which rises exponentially with age, varies substantially between countries and according to the age, sex, and ethnic distribution of the population. Highest rates are observed in Scandinavia and in whites in the US, intermediate in western Europe, and the lowest rates in Asia. Little is known about the epidemiology of hip fractures in the Middle Eastern populations. In particular, there are no published reports from any of the Arab countries. We have therefore estimated the incidence of hip fracture in Kuwait and compared it with other populations. METHODS: The study was conducted at a specialized orthopaedic hospital which provides services to residents in the three governorates--representing about 70% of the total population of Kuwait. All new hip fracture patients who were operated on or treated conservatively during the 4-year period (1992-1995) were included in the study. Hip fracture was defined as clinical and radiological evidence of fracture of the proximal femur. For comparison with other populations, age-specific incidence rates in females and males aged > or =50 years were standardized to the 1985 US population. RESULTS: A total of 513 cases of hip fracture (205 females, 308 males) were recorded during the study period: 293 (57.1%) cases occurred among Kuwaiti nationals and 220 (42.9%) among non-Kuwaitis (expatriates). Age-standardized rates (per 100,000) of hip fractures were, in Kuwaitis, 295 for females (95% CI: 238.8-350.8) and 200 for males (95% CI: 163.3-236.5)--much higher than those observed in other Asian countries such as Korea, Singapore, China, Malaysia, and Japan (41-202 for females, 49-100 for males). Rates in Kuwaiti females were similar to those observed in some of the European countries (Italy, UK, France) and in Asian females in the US. In contrast, rates in Kuwaiti males, which were relatively high, were almost equal to those observed in white males in the US. Rates of hip fracture in non-Kuwaitis (374 for females [95% CI: 247.6-500.8], 215 for males [95% CI: 126.5-302.9]), who predominantly (96%) originate from southeast Asian and Arab countries, were similar to those observed in Kuwaiti nationals. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of hip fracture in the Kuwaiti population is higher than that reported from other countries in Asia and is comparable to the incidence in some of the western European and North American populations.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Uroflowmetry and evaluation of voiding disorders.

Uroflowmetry (UFM) is a simple, noninvasive way of evaluating the dynamics of micturition. The amount of information provided by UFM, along with ultrasonic estimation of residual urine in the bladder, usually is enough in the routine evaluation of elderly men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). A small subgroup, however, will require more detailed urodynamic testing. It also has made the decision concerning treatment of patients with stricture urethrae, managed by urethrotomy or dilatation, more objective. The role of UFM as an initial tool in the evaluation of all patients presenting with LUTS, irrespective of age and gender, is evolving. The addition of new parameters, performing UFM in the domiciliary setup, and the introduction of new software to facilitate interpretation will further enhance its ability in the evaluation of micturition disorders. The main limitation of UFM is its inability to discriminate between poor detrusor function and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), for which pressure flow studies are necessary. This article reviews the current opinion concerning the principles and practice of UFM in the evaluation of LUTS.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Steroid receptor measurement in breast cancers: comparison between ligand binding and enzyme-immunoassay in cytosolic and nuclear extracts.

We have analysed cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts of breast-cancer tissue from a total of 799 patients, measuring both oestrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) using either the ligand binding assay (LBA) or the enzyme immunoassay technique (EIA). Mean and median receptor levels were much lower than those widely reported by others. For ER, this may in part be a consequence of the younger median age of the patient group. The frequency of positivity, using consensus cut-off values for clinical evaluation, was also lower than that reported by the EORTC Receptor Study Group. Although the measurements comparing the 2 methods were statistically correlated in terms of positivity, based on the above criteria for clinical assessment, concordance was considered to be relatively poor, particularly for ER when assayed in the same samples by the 2 methods. In cytosolic but not nuclear extracts, the LBA method gave a higher median value for ER than the EIA (except in the group that had EIA values greater than 15 fmol/mg protein); for PR, median values were higher with EIA in both cell fractions. There was an excellent correlation between receptor amounts in cytosolic and nuclear extracts for both ER and PR using the EIA; this was significantly better than with LBA. We also observed a correlation between ER and PR in both cytosolic and nuclear fractions which was most pronounced when the analysis was done by EIA. The amounts of ER in the cytosolic fraction were also correlated with the those of PR in the nuclear fraction and ER in the nuclear fraction with PR in the cytosolic fraction, but only when the EIA method was used. We conclude that the EIA method appears to be more sensitive and gives biologically more reliable results. However, the disagreement between the methods may be due to legitimate recognition of altered forms of the receptor and may be of biological significance. Although the presence of receptor in the cytosolic fraction is artifactual, its measurement by EIA does parallel the amounts of nuclear receptor, which may be a more relevant biological parameter.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Eyewitness performance in cognitive and structured interviews.

This paper addresses two methodological and theoretical questions relating to the Cognitive Interview (CI), which previous research has found to increase witness recall in interviews. (1) What are the effects of the CI mnemonic techniques when communication techniques are held constant? (2) How do trained interviewers compare with untrained interviewers? In this study, witnesses (college students) viewed a short film clip of a shooting and were questioned by interviewers (research assistants) trained in conducting the CI or a Structured Interview (SI)--similar to the CI except for the "cognitive" components--or by untrained interviewers (UI). The CI and SI groups recalled significantly more correct information compared to the UI group. However they also reported more errors and confabulated details. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed in terms of precisely identifying the CI facilitatory effects and consequent good practice in the forensic setting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Efficacy and safety of mebendazole in children with worm infestation.

Children aged between 2-16 years, were screened for worm infestation. Fifty-five children fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study. They were treated with mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for three consecutive days and followed-up for 15 days to assess cure rate and side effects. Fifty children completed the study with their stools being tested by direct smear and concentration methods and blood CBC done before treatment and at the end of the study. The cure rate for ascaris was 100% and for trichuris 75%. The drug was well tolerated and apart from mild diarrhoea occurring in 22% children, no untoward effects were reported. Nemazole (mebendazole) has shown promise and seems useful in treating children with worm infestation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Recovered memories in context: thoughts and elaborations on Bowers and Farvolden (1996)

The recovered memory debate exposes several traditional and recent contradictions within psychology. Building on K. Bowers and P. Farvolden (1996), the nature of recovered memories has profoundly different meanings for therapeutic versus legal settings. Whereas memory can be distorted during the process of retrieval, certain techniques--such as nondirective writing--may be helpful in reducing suggestive influences in recall. Ironically, methods that have been found to produce the most accurate recollections of the past appear only subtly different from those that yield the greatest distortions. The recovered memory debate must ultimately be viewed within a cultural context, both in terms of the phenomenon and its treatment. The authors discuss parallels to other explanatory and therapeutic fads related to states of nonspecific distress.

Cultural Characteristics↗
PubMed1995

Psychotherapy and the recovery of memories of childhood sexual abuse: U.S. and British practitioners' opinions, practices, and experiences.

Licensed U.S. doctoral-level psychotherapists randomly sampled from the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (Surveys 1 and 2, n = 145; Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, 1992) and British psychologists sampled from the Register of Chartered Clinical Psychologists (Survey 2, n = 57; British Psychological Society, 1993) were surveyed regarding clients' memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The 3 samples were highly similar on the vast majority of measures. Respondents listed a wide variety of behavioral symptoms as potential indicators of CSA, and 71% indicated that they had used various techniques (e.g., hypnosis, interpretation of dreams) to help clients recover suspected memories of CSA. Across samples, 25% of the respondents reported a constellation of beliefs and practices suggestive of a focus on memory recovery, and these psychologists reported relatively high rates of memory recovery in their clients.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A search for unknown blood-borne oncogenic viruses.

In previous decades, infants who received blood transfusions shortly after birth or in utero might have been infected at a particularly vulnerable age by some blood-borne oncogenic virus. A cohort of such infants has therefore been followed into adult life to see if they suffered any excess of neoplastic disease or of non-neoplastic mortality. A total of 12,690 infants were identified who were transfused between 1 January 1942 and 31 December 1970, in most cases for the prevention or treatment of haemolytic disease of the newborn. All but 361 (2.8%) were found to have been registered with a National Health Service (NHS) practitioner and were followed in the NHS central records until they died, emigrated, were removed from NHS lists or until 1 January 1992, whichever occurred first. Mortality and cancer incidence were compared with that expected from national rates. No marked disparity was observed and there was no excess of childhood leukaemia. The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at 15 to 49 years of age was about twice that expected, but the excess was not statistically significant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Colovesical fistula: an unusual complication of prostatomegaly.

Colovesical fistula as a sequela to long-term bladder outflow obstruction is to our knowledge a previously unreported complication. We report a case in which single stage colonic resection and anastomosis with bladder repair and transurethral resection of the prostate resolved the condition.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

The scope and place of ultrasound-monitored extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in a multimodality setting and the effects of experiential, audit-evoked changes on the management of ureteric calculi.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the results from ultrasound-monitored extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for ureteric stones, to compare the results with other treatment modalities and to evaluate experiential audit-evoked gains. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A review of the records of 109 patients with ureteric stones who were treated during 1990 (Group I) and 69 patients treated by ESWL during the first 10 months of 1991 (Group II), was carried out. All patients with a steinstrasse or fragments secondary to ESWL were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Of the 109 patients in Group I, 63 were treated with ESWL, nine underwent ureteroscopic push-up of the stone and 11 underwent catheter push-up prior to ESWL, 28 underwent ureteroscopic extraction/fragmentation, five underwent post-ESWL ureteroscopy and 29 underwent open ureterolithotomy (nine after failed ureteroscopy). Ureteroscopy was successful in fragmentation/extraction of 19 of 28 (68%) stones and 95% of patients were stone-free at 3 months. All patients who underwent ureterolithotomy and 84% who underwent ESWL (and post-ESWL ancillary procedures) were stone-free at 3 months. All patients who underwent ureterolithotomy, 51% of those who underwent ureteroscopy and 56% of patients who underwent ESWL needed only one treatment. The mean stone burdens of patients in Groups I and II were comparable but more patients presented with larger stones (> 15 mm length, > 100 mm2 surface area) in Group II. The stone-free rates for ESWL monotherapy with ESWL increased from 84% in 1990 to 92% in 1991. A higher proportion of stones were treated in situ in 1991 and a stent was used less frequently in obstructed ureters. Post-ESWL procedures fell from 8% in 1990 to 6% in 1991 and the proportion of patients who required more than one treatment fell from 44% in 1990 to 14% in 1991. CONCLUSIONS: The choice of treatment for patients with ureteric stones is critical but will vary depending on the individual's circumstances, the availability of equipment, costs and time required to perform the procedure. The results obtained using ESWL for ureteric stones improved considerably over the course of the study as a result of experience and refinement of the technique. Stones located in more difficult systems such as in kidneys with a thin cortex and those located above the ischial spine were no longer subjected to ESWL. Audit of the results obtained following treatment allows identification of problem areas, alerts physicians to alternative methods of treatment and gives an objective quantification of experience, assisting rational decision making with consequent improved success.

Adult↗