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Biomedical subjects

A Mustafa

Publications and source records attributed to A Mustafa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Somatogenic and lactogenic binding sites in rat brain and liver: quantitative autoradiographic localization.

The distribution of somatogenic and lactogenic binding sites in female and male rat brain as well as in liver was studied by quantitative receptor autoradiography using 125I-human growth hormone (125I-hGH) as a ligand. Quantitative measurement of binding sites for 125I-hGH showed differences in the levels of these sites in the female and male brain and liver. Moreover, regional differences in the brain were also observed in each sex. In the female brain high levels of 125I-hGH binding sites were found in the choroid plexus. Intermediate levels were observed in the striatum, the hypothalamus and the hippocampus, whereas low levels of these sites were found in the central gray, the temporal, the piriform and the entorhinal cortices. In the male brain high levels of 125I-hGH binding sites were detected in the choroid plexus. Intermediate levels were observed in the parietal cortex, the hypothalamus and the hippocampus, whereas low levels were found in the tegmentum, the temporal cortex and the striatum. Quantification of 125I-hGH binding sites in the liver revealed higher levels in the female than in the male liver. In general, higher levels of binding sites (16%-77%) were observed in the female than in the male tissues. The quantification of rat growth hormone (rGH) by radioimmunoassay was also performed in this study. Varying amounts of rGH immunoreactivity were detected in the different brain regions, with the highest levels of rGH-like material being found in the midbrain and cortex of both sexes. Moreover, higher levels of rGH-like material were observed in the female than in the male brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Cellular expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma in the liver biopsies of children with chronic liver disease.

The liver biopsies of patients with autoimmune liver diseases have a dense portal tract mononuclear cell infiltrate. To investigate whether these cells produce tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma, cytokines which could be involved in the autoimmune attack through a direct cytopathic effect and/or through induction/enhancement of major histocompatibility complex antigen expression, we immunohistochemically stained cryostat liver sections from 21 children with autoimmune liver disease and from 15 children with metabolic liver disorders and histological evidence of portal tract inflammation as controls. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma producing cells were detected simultaneously within the inflammatory cell infiltrate in the liver biopsies of 18 patients with autoimmune liver disease, but only one patient with a metabolic disorder was positive for tumour necrosis factor-alpha. There was a significant correlation between frequency of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma producing cells, intensity of inflammatory cell infiltrate (p < 0.03 and p < 0.05, respectively) and transaminase levels (p < 0.008 and p < 0.03, respectively). These results suggest that tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma play a pathogenic role in autoimmune liver cell damage.

Adolescent↗

Viral induction of the human beta interferon promoter: modulation of transcription by NF-kappa B/rel proteins and interferon regulatory factors.

Multiple regulatory domains within the -100 region of the beta interferon (IFN-beta) promoter control the inducible response of the IFN gene to virus infection. In this study, we demonstrate that the formation of NF-kappa B-specific complexes on the positive regulatory domain II (PRDII) precedes the onset of detectable IFN-beta transcription in Sendai virus-infected cells. By using NF-kappa B subunit-specific antibodies, a temporal shift in the composition of NF-kappa B subunits in association with the PRDII domain is detected as a function of time after virus infection. Furthermore, a virus-induced degradation of I kappa B alpha (MAD3) protein is observed between 2 and 8 h after infection; at later times, de novo synthesis of I kappa B alpha restores I kappa B alpha to levels found in uninduced cells and correlates with the down regulation of IFN-beta transcription. In cotransfection experiments using various NF-kappa B subunit expression plasmids and two copies of PRDII/NF-kappa B linked to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene, we demonstrate that expression of p65, c-Rel, or p50 or combinations of p50-p65 and p65-c-Rel differentially stimulated PRDII-dependent transcription. Coexpression of I kappa B alpha completely abrogated p65-, c-Rel-, or p65-p50-induced gene activity. When the entire IFN-beta promoter (-281 to +19) was used in coexpression studies, synergistic stimulation of IFN-beta promoter activity was obtained when NF-kappa B subunits were coexpressed together with the IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) transcription factor. Overexpression of either I kappa B or the IRF-2 repressor was able to abrogate inducibility of the IFN-beta promoter. Thus, multiple regulatory events--including differential activation of DNA-binding NF-kappa B heterodimers, degradation of I kappa B alpha, synergistic interaction between IRF-1 and NF-kappa B, and decreased repression by I kappa B and IRF-2--are all required for the transcriptional activation of the IFN-beta promoter.

Animals↗

Identification and sequencing of the Choristoneura biennis entomopoxvirus DNA polymerase gene.

A degenerate oligonucleotide probe corresponding to a highly conserved amino acid sequence in several DNA polymerases was used to locate the DNA polymerase gene in the Choristoneura biennis entomopoxvirus. Southern blot analysis of the entomopoxvirus genome using the degenerate oligonucleotide probe showed specific interaction between the probe and an eight kilobasepair EcoRI fragment from the entomopoxvirus genome. Sequencing this EcoRI fragment revealed an open reading frame 2892 nucleotides in length, capable of encoding a protein about 115 kilodaltons. Homology search of this open reading frame against other proteins indicated a high degree of homology in four distinct regions with DNA polymerases from other organisms. The highest degree of homology (24.9% at the amino acid level) was found between the vaccinia DNA polymerase gene and the entomopoxvirus open reading frame.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Surgical treatment of hydatid cyst of liver.

Results of surgery in 52 cases of hepatic hydatid disease are described. Ultrasound examination proved to be the most useful and accurate diagnostic tool. All the patients were treated by enucleation of cyst and closed suction drainage of the cavity lined by pericyst. Mebendazole was given routinely pre-operatively for 15-30 days and postoperatively for 3 months. This mode of treatment had greatly reduced the morbidity and mortality as compared to conventional hydatid cyst surgery.

Adolescent↗

The role of salivary progesterone in studies of infertile women.

Fifteen women with normal menstrual cycles, dated by accepted criteria, had salivary progesterone concentrations during the luteal phase of the cycle which were significantly higher than those in the follicular phase. Progesterone concentrations in matched samples of plasma and saliva showed excellent correlation in both normal and infertile women. Salivary progesterone profiles derived from daily sampling of 20 infertile patients not only allowed accurate assessment of ovarian dysfunction but also indicated more effectively than conventional techniques the change in hormonal status following ovulation induction therapy with clomiphene citrate or bromocriptine.

Adolescent↗

Lead exposure in the city of Arar, Saudi Arabia.

In follow-up to a case of lead encephalopathy, high prevalences of lead exposure (23%) and iron deficiency (60%) were found in children who lived in Arar, Saudi Arabia. Environmental factors had minor effects on the blood lead concentrations of these children. We concluded that traditional cosmetics and remedies were the major sources of lead exposure in this Arar population.

Acute Disease↗

Decreased plasma insulin-like growth factor-I level in familial Alzheimer's disease patients carrying the Swedish APP 670/671 mutation.

The plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) level was determined in family members carrying the Swedish amyloid precursor protein (APP) 670/671 mutation with or without Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in age-matched controls from the same family. Plasma growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) levels were also determined. Measurement of the plasma IGF-I level by radioimmunoassay revealed a significant reduction only in the family members with AD compared to age-matched controls. However, there was no significant difference in the levels of GH and PRL between the mutation carriers with or without AD and their respective age-matched controls. These findings indicate that the mechanism(s) regulating GH and PRL were preserved and those regulating IGF-I levels might be affected in AD patients with the Swedish APP 670/671 mutation. CopyrightCopyright 1999S.KargerAG, Basel

Aged↗