Biomedical subjects
A S Abdulla
Publications and source records attributed to A S Abdulla.
Hepatitis C associated glomerulonephritis.
To determine the prevalence and type of glomerulonephritis (GN) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis, we prospectively evaluated 28 consecutive Saudi patients with HCV cirrhosis for liver transplantation. Six patients (21%) underwent kidney biopsies for proteinuria, unexplained elevated serum creatinine or both. All 6 had GN, 4 had membranoproliferative, one focal segmental and one membranous GN. Immunologic and electron microscopic studies demonstrated immune complex deposition in the glomeruli. Two patients with significant proteinuria were treated with interferon alpha for 3 months with improvement in kidney and liver function. To our knowledge, this is the first report of focal segmental GN associated with HCV. This high prevalence of HCV associated GN is alarming and warrants further studies in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients, particularly as an indication for therapeutic intervention.
Analysis of the human sex ratio. Factors influencing family size in Libya.
In 1981, data were obtained on sex of children and family size for 502 University of Garyounis, Benghazi, Libya, students and their parents. Secondary sex ratios (males: 100 females) were 105.1 for the parental and 106.7 for the present generations. Average numbers of children per family were 10.67 (5.48 males, 5.19 females) and 7.77 (4.01 males, 3.76 females) for the parental and present generations, respectively. Average number of children per family was influenced by level of formal education of the parents, especially that of the mother. The percentages of families stopping with three, four, five, and six children were greater when both sexes were present than when existing children were of the same sex; however, these differences associated with combinations of sexes were not significant. The lack of significant correlations between sexes of children within families, the absence of consistent patterns of significant chi-squares in the factorial analysis of associations between sexes of different births, and the agreement between observed and expected frequencies of sexes of children within families indicated a high degree of independence between sexes of children within families of the Libyan population.
Desired family size and sex of children in Libya.
During 1982, 600 Arabian students (300 females, 300 males) at the University of Garyounis (Benghazi, Libya) were surveyed to determine their preferences for family size and for combination and permutation of sexes of children. For families of the projected generation, the average number of children was 4.4, the sex ratio was 143.5 males: 100 females, the most preferred combination of sexes was 2m2f, and the most preferred permutation of sexes was mfmf. Strong preferences were indicated for the first-born to be male followed by an alternation of sexes.