PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Saeed

Publications and source records attributed to A Saeed.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Production of fungal biomass immobilized loofa sponge (FBILS)-discs for the removal of heavy metal ions and chlorinated compounds from aqueous solution.

A white rot basidiomycete, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, was immobilized on loofa sponge (FBILS) discs. It removed ca. 37 and 71 mg Cd (II) g(-1) from 50 and 200 mg l(-1) aqueous solutions and up to 89% of 4-chloroanisole from a 10 mg l(-1) aqueous solution. FBILS are physically strong and chemically recalcitrant, resisting temperature, mechanical agitation, and variations in pH without alteration to shape, structure or texture.

Biomass↗

Novel method for cell immobilization and its application for production of organic acid.

AIMS: The aim was to develop a novel and simple technique for the entrapment of fungal hyphae. METHODS AND RESULTS: A novel immobilization technique was developed by using a structural fibrous network (SFN) of papaya wood as an immobilizing matrix. The technique is simple and a stable entrapment was achieved simply by inoculating the Aspergillus terreus hyphae within culture medium containing SFN pieces for 3 days, without any prior chemical treatment. Results show that SFN has no detrimental effect both on growth and bioactivity of fungi. A 23.5% increase in the itaconic acid production by SFN-immobilized A. terreus was noted when compared with free biomass. SFN-immobilized fungal biomass retained 95% itaconic acid productivity for five repeated batch cycles, 7 days each, without any disintegration/release of hyphae in the production medium. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on the use of SFN, a structural material, as an immobilizing matrix for the entrapment of any kind of microbial biomass and its application in organic acid. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The low cost of SFN and simplicity of the technique applied for immobilization of fungal hyphae within/onto SFN make its use ideal for the immobilization of fungal biomass to produce commercially valuable products.

Aspergillus↗

Impact of cigarette smoking on response to interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients.

AIM: Smoking may affect adversely the response rate to interferon-alpha. Our objective was to verify this issue among chronic hepatitis C patients. METHODS: Over the year 1998, 138 chronic hepatitis C male Egyptian patients presenting to Cairo Liver Center, were divided on the basis of smoking habit into: group I which comprised 38 smoker patients (>30 cigarettes/d) and group II which included 84 non-smoker patients. Irregular and mild smokers (16 patients) were excluded. Non eligible patients for interferon-alpha therapy were excluded from the study and comprised 3/38 (normal ALT) in group I and 22/84 in group II (normal ALT, advanced cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia). Group I was randomly allocated into 2 sub-groups: group Ia comprised 18 patients who were subjected to therapeutic phlebotomy while sub-group Ib consisted of 17 patients who had no phlebotomy. In sub-group Ia, 3 patients with normal ALT after repeated phlebotomies were excluded from the study. Interferon-alpha 2b 3 MU/TIW was given for 6 mo to 15 patients in group Ia, 17 patients in group Ib and 62 patients in group II. Biochemical, virological end-of- treatment and sustained responses were evaluated. RESULTS: At the end of interferon-alpha treatment, ALT was normalized in 3/15 patients (20%) in group Ia and 2/17 patients (11.8%) in group Ib compared to 17/62 patients (27.4%) in group II (P = 0.1). Whereas 2/15 patients (13.3%) in group Ia. and 2/17 patients (11.8%) in group Ib lost viraemia compared to 13/62 patients (26%) in group II (P = 0.3). Six months later, ALT was persistently normal in 2/15 patients (13.3%) in group 1a and 1/17 patients (5.9%) in group Ib compared to 9/62 patients (14.5%) in group II (P = 0.47). Viraemia was eliminated in 1/15 patients (6.7%) in group Ia and 1/17 patients (5.9%) in group Ib compared to 7/62 patients (11.3%) in group II, but the results did not mount to statistical significance (P = 0.4). CONCLUSION: Smokers suffering from chronic hepatitis C tend to have a lower response rate to interferon-alpha compared to non-smokers. Therapeutic phlebotomy improves the response rate to interferon-alpha therapy among this group.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Lack of gender effect on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexamethasone in the camel after intravenous administration.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexamethasone were studied in six male and six female camels after a single intravenous dose (0.05 mgkg(-1) body weight) of dexamethasone. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the two-compartment pharmacokinetic model for female and male camels, respectively (mean+/-SEM) were as follows: terminal elimination half-lives were 8.02+/-1.15 and 7.33+/-0.80 h, total body clearances were 95.5+/-16.0 and 124.5+/-11.9 ml h(-1) per kg, volumes of distribution at steady state were 0.72+/-0.08 and 0.87+/-0.14 litre kg(-1), and the volumes of the central compartment were 0.12+/-0.02 and 0.17+/-0.02 litre kg(-1). There was no significant difference in any pharmacokinetic parameter between female and male camels. Pharmacodynamic effects were evaluated by measuring endogenous plasma cortisol, circulating lymphocytes and neutrophils numbers and were analysed using indirect pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models. The estimated IC50 of dexamethasone for cortisol and lymphocytes for female and male camels were 3.74+/-0.99 and 2.28+/-1.09 and 2.63+/-0.71 and 2.41+/-0.79 ng ml(-1), respectively. The EC50 for neutrophils for female and male camels were 24.5+/-5.83 and 20.2+/-3.82 ng ml(-1), respectively. There was no significant difference in any pharmacodynamic parameter between female and male camels. Dexamethasone in urine could be detected for 4-5 days by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for 3-4 days by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry after an intravenous dose of 0.05 mg kg(-1) body weight.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexamethasone after intravenous administration in camels: effect of dose.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexamethasone were evaluated in healthy camels after single intravenous bolus doses of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg body weight. Dexamethasone showed dose-independent pharmacokinetics. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the two-compartment pharmacokinetic model for the lowest intravenous dose (mean+/-SD) were as follows: terminal elimination half-life 8.17 +/- 1.79 h; total body clearance 100.7 +/- 52.1 (ml/h)/kg; volume of distribution at steady state 0.95 +/- 0.23 L/kg; and volume of the central compartment 0.22 +/- 0.07 L/kg. The extent of plasma protein binding was linear over the concentration range 5-100 ng/ml and averaged 75% +/- 2%. Pharmacodynamic effects were evaluated by measuring endogenous plasma cortisol concentrations, numbers of circulating lymphocytes and neutrophils and plasma glucose concentrations and were analysed using indirect pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models. The cumulative systemic effect increased with dose for markers of pharmacodynamic activity. The estimated IC50 of dexamethasone for cortisol and lymphocytes for the lowest dose were 3.74 +/- 2.44 and 5.58 +/- 8.37 ng/ml, respectively and the EC50 values for neutrophils and glucose were 45.8 +/- 36.9 and 1.17 +/- 0.71 ng/ml, respectively.

Animals↗

Socioeconomic status and breast cancer survival in Pakistani women.

OBJECTIVES: No data is available from developing countries correlating socioeconomic status (SES) with survival in female breast cancer patients. We decided to test the hypotheses whether SES is an independent determinant for disease stage, access to minimal expected treatment (MET) and survival. METHODS: Two hundred eighty six patients diagnosed with breast cancer were recruited between April 1996 to May 1998. Patients were divided into three groups according to their SES. Prognostic factors analyzed were age, tumor size, nodal status; stage at presentation, estrogen receptor status, time elapsed before diagnosis and access to MET. Disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined according to the SES of the patients. RESULTS: Patients were categorized into three socioeconomic groups, high (21%), middle (44%) and low (35%). Mean age of all patients was 46 years, in patients from lower SES mean age was 43 years compared to 50 years in high SES. Mean time elapsed before diagnosis for women from high-income group was 4.3 months versus 10.6 months in low-income group. Early breast cancer was more common in affluent strata, 70% versus 41% in the lower strata. Eighty-nine percent patients received MET from the affluent group compared to only 43% patients in the lower strata. Literacy rate of patients from high SES was 73.7% compared to 15% in the low SES. Five year DFS and OS are 79% and 86% for high income group, 48% and 68% for middle income group and 31%,49% for lower strata which were statistically significant (P=.0001 and P<.0001). CONCLUSION: In our cohort of patients strong association was noted between low SES and advanced disease, delay in diagnosis, limited access to MET and inferior DFS and OS. The outcome of these patients may be improved by patient education and availability of better health care facilities.

Adult↗

Petiolar felt-sheath of palm: a new biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water.

Biosorption of heavy metals such as Pb2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Cr3+ and Zn2+ by petiolar felt-sheath of palm (PFP) from contaminated water was examined. PFP was found to efficiently remove all the toxic metal ions with selectivity order of Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Ni2+ > Cr3+. The uptake was rapid, with more than 70% completed within 15 min. The bound metal ions were successfully desorbed and the PFP fibrous-biomass remained effective after several adsorption-desorption cycles.

Adsorption↗

Removal of heavy metals from contaminated water by petiolar felt-sheath of palm.

The ability of a reticulated fibrous network of palm petiolar felt-sheath (PPF) to remove toxic metals such as Cd, Cu and Zn from contaminated water was investigated as a new biosorbent system. PPF was found to sequester metal ions efficiently from dilute aqueous solutions with a selectivity order of Cd > Cu > Zn. The extent of adsorption was found to be dependent on pH, metal ion concentration and amount of biosorbent. The metal uptake was completed in a short time and contact of 30 min was observed to be optimum. The adsorption of all the three metals followed Langmuir isotherm. The bound metal ions were successfully desorbed and the PPF fibrous-biomass remained effective during five adsorption-desorption cycles. Present studies suggest that PPF has potential to be used in the removal/recovery of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions.

Adsorption↗

Total synthesis of (-)-callystatin A.

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective synthesis of callystatin A is described. The pivotal step in the synthesis is the stereoselective aldol reaction that generates the beta-hydroxy ketone moiety. Utilizing the allylic strain within the ethyl ketone precursor, we were able to generate the all-syn configuration of callystatin A. For the construction of the two diene moieties, both a Heck coupling and a Wittig reaction were employed.

Animals↗

Citric acid-enhanced Helicobacter pylori urease activity in vivo is unrelated to gastric emptying.

BACKGROUND: In a previous study, the use of a citric acid test meal produced a rapid dose-dependent increase in urease activity that was significantly greater than that resulting from a pudding meal, ascorbic acid or sodium citrate. The mechanism was hypothesized to be related to the ability of citric acid to delay gastric emptying and possibly to enhance intragastric distribution of the urea. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of sodium citrate, two doses of citric acid and a pudding meal on gastric motor function. METHOD: Eleven normal healthy volunteers were investigated using non-invasive techniques to measure gastric emptying and gastric motility. We evaluated gastric emptying using the Meretek 13Ceebiscuit solid phase gastric emptying breath test, which employs a 340-calorie biscuit containing 200 mg of the edible 13C-blue-green alga Spirulina platensis, after the administration of test meals of pudding, 2 g and 4 g of citric acid and 2 g of sodium citrate. Electrogastrograms (Digitrapper EGG) were also recorded for 30 min before and 180 min after the test meal. RESULTS: Gastric emptying, as assessed by the half-time (T1/2), was delayed similarly with the pudding (136.8 +/- 9 min) and with 4 g of citric acid (144.5 +/- 7 min) (P > 0.7). Sodium citrate (108.7 +/- 6 min) and 2 g of citric acid (110.1 +/- 6 min) had similar effects on gastric emptying (P=0.986), and were significantly less effective in delaying gastric emptying (P < 0.01) compared to pudding or 4 g of citric acid. The electrogastrograms remained normal and there were no differences among meals and no relation with the gastric emptying results. CONCLUSIONS: The increased intragastric urea hydrolysis associated with citric acid test meals cannot be attributed to delayed gastric emptying. Changes in the intragastric distribution of urea or a direct effect of citric acid on the bacteria (e.g. via the cytoplasmic protein, UreI) are more likely to be responsible.

Adolescent↗

Effect of i.v. tenoxicam during caesarean delivery on platelet activity.

BACKGROUND: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time in healthy subjects. We have studied the effect of i.v. tenoxicam during caesarean delivery on skin bleeding time, operative, and postoperative blood loss, and beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 as specific molecular markers for platelet activity. METHODS: Fifty women were studied. Twenty-five were given tenoxicam 20 mg i.v. 10 min before induction of general anaesthesia, and 25 formed a control group. Skin bleeding time and platelet markers were determined the day before and 1 h after induction of anaesthesia. RESULTS: In the tenoxicam group, there was an slight increase in skin bleeding time with no statistically significant changes in platelet marker levels. In the control group, platelet markers increased 1 h after surgery. The surgeon's assessment of uterine relaxation, using a visual analogue score, operating theatre blood loss, and the frequency of bleeding over 24 h after operation, showed no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: During caesarean delivery i.v. tenoxicam causes a slight increase in bleeding time with no significant changes in platelet marker levels.

Adult↗

Pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen enantiomers after intravenous administration of racemate in camels: effect of gender.

The pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen (KP) enantiomers were studied in ten female and eight male camels after a single intravenous dose (2.0 mg/kg) of racemic KP. A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the quantitation of the R- and S-enantiomers without derivatization of the samples using a S,S-Whelk-01 chiral stationary phase column. The data collected (median and range) were as follows: the areas under the curve to infinity (AUC) (microg/mL per h) were 22.4 (13.5-29.7) and 19.8 (13.8-22.1) for R- and S-KP, respectively, in female camels while the corresponding values in male camels were 16.0 (12.9-22.4) and 14.4 (11.0-19.3). In both sexes, the AUC for the R-enantiomer was significantly larger than that of the S-enantiomer. Total body clearances (Cl(t)) were 44.6 (33.7-74.1) and 50.6 (45.2-72.4) mL/kg per h for R- and S-KP, respectively, in female camels and were 62.8 (44.6-77.8) and 69.6 (51.8-91.1) mL/kg per h for R- and S-KP, respectively, in male camels. In both sexes of camels, the Cl(t) values for R-KP were significantly lower than its corresponding antipode. The steady-state volumes of distribution (Vss) were 97.9 (82.8-147.2) and 102.0 (90.1-169.0) mL/kg for R- and S-KP, respectively, in female camels and were significantly different from each other, while the respective values in male camels were 151.5 (105.3-222.3) and 154.0 (114.7-229.0) mL/kg but were not significantly different from each other. The volumes of distribution (area) followed a similar pattern, where the values for R- and S-KP in female camels were 118.5 (95.6-195.2) and 137.6 (115.8-236.2) mL/kg, respectively, and the respective values in male camels were 215.6 (119.1-270.1) and 229.1 (143.3-277.4) mL/kg. The elimination half-lives (t1/2beta) were 1.88 (1.42-2.34) h and 1.83 (1.67-2.26) h for R- and S-KP, respectively, in female camels and were significantly different from each other, while the corresponding values in male camels were 2.11 (1.50-4.20) and 2.33 (1.52-3.83) h for R and S-KP, respectively, but were not significantly different from each other. The mean residence time followed a similar pattern. All pharmacokinetic parameters for R- and S-KP in female camels were significantly different from their corresponding values in male camels. The extent of protein binding for R- and S-KP was evaluated in vitro by ultrafiltration. The extents of protein binding for R- and S-KP were not significantly different from each other when each enantiomer was supplemented separately. However, when the enantiomers were supplemented together, protein binding of R-KP was significantly higher than that of S-KP in female but not in male camels.

Animals↗

Stereoselective synthesis of a conformationally defined cyclohexyl carnitine analogue that binds CPT-1 with high affinity.

Carnitine (1, 3-hydroxy-4-trimethylammoniobutyrate) is important in mammalian tissue as a carrier of acyl groups. In order to explore the binding requirements of the carnitine acyltransferases for carnitine, we designed conformationally defined cyclohexyl carnitine analogues. These diastereomers contain the required gauche conformation between the trimethylammonium and hydroxy groups but vary the conformation between the hydroxy and carboxylic acid groups. Here we describe the synthesis and biological activity of the all-trans diastereomer (2), which was prepared by the ring opening of trans-methyl 2,3-epoxycylohexanecarboxylate with NaN3. Racemic 2 was a competitive inhibitor of neonatal rat cardiac myocyte CPT-1 (K(i) 0.5 mM for racemic 2; K(m) 0.2 mM for L-carnitine) and a noncompetitive inhibitor of neonatal rat cardiac myocyte CPT-2 (K(i) 0.67 mM). These results suggest that 2 represents the bound conformation of carnitine for CPT-1.

Animals↗

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Pakistan: a clinicopathological profile of 175 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas (NHL) are common in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa. The study was primarily undertaken to establish the demographic and clinicopathologic features of NHL in Pakistan. A secondary aim was to determine the applicability of the International Prognostic Index (IPI) developed by the international lymphoma task force in a developing country. METHODS: A retrospective and prospective analysis was performed on 175 patients over 14 years age who presented to the Department of Oncology between August 1994 and December 1996. All patients underwent initial staging according to Ann Arbor Staging System. Histopathologic classification was done according to the International Working Formulation. The IPI was applied to patients with aggressive lymphomas and age adjusted index to patients < 60 years, complete remission (CR), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. RESULTS: All 175 patients were evaluable. Median age of our patients was 45 years. Male to female ratio was 1.9:1. Seventeen (9.7%) patients were classified as low grade lymphomas while 158 (91.3%) had intermediate and high grade NHL. Large cell lymphoma was present in 30.9% patients. CHOP (cyclophosphamide 650 mg/m2 day 1, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 day 1, doxorubicin--45 mg/m2 day 1 and prednisone 100 mg/m2 day 1-5) was the most common chemotherapy regimen used. Advanced stage (74.9%) > B symptoms (51%) and extranodal involvement (74.3%) were present. One hundred sixty-seven patients were evaluable for response of which 42.8% achieved CR. Median DFS was 19 months and median OS was 22 months. The IPI was applicable to 153 patients and age adjusted IPI to 124 of 153 patients. CONCLUSION: Aggressive histology, extranodal diseases, B symptoms and advanced disease are common. International index and age adjusted international index predicted outcome accurately in various risk groups.

Adolescent↗

Morphometric changes in the prepubertal female rat thyroid gland following acute exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl and Aroclor 1242.

Weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats were given either 2 or 5 consecutive daily doses of 30 mg/kg 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (CB 47) or a total dose of 120 mg/kg Aroclor 1242 divided into 2, 3, or 5 daily doses by intraperitoneal injection. One day after the final dose, serum total thyroxine (T4) was determined and thyroid glands were collected and prepared for morphometric analysis. Serum T4 increased between 20 and 25 d of age, but declined to 35-52% of controls by d 25 in PCB-treated rats. In rats receiving only 2 doses of CB 47, the declines in serum T4 were more modest but the thyroid follicular epithelial cell height increased from 9 microns to 10-12 microns and the colloid area decreased from 1100 microns2 to 800-900 microns2. In Aroclor 1242-treated rats, follicular cell height increases and colloid area decreases were somewhat greater; serum T4 was higher (partially restored) in the rats having received earlier doses. The rapid response of the thyroid gland to moderate decreases in serum T4 attenuates the observed decrease in T4 and may mask effects on T4 metabolism in short-term structure-activity studies. Morphometric measurements may be helpful in characterizing early and/or transient responses to toxicants such as PCBs that have multiple endocrine disrupting effects.

Animals↗

Breast feeding practices and beliefs about weaning among mothers of infants aged 0-12 months.

Beliefs and practices related to the feeding of 52 infants were assessed in an urban community of Lahore in a longitudinal study through quantitative and qualitative data during their first year of life. Ninety-eight percent mothers started breast feeding within the first week and 54.3% continued until 12 months; the mean age for exclusive breast feeding was 1.08 (+/-1.109) months; breast feeding was initiated 47.4(+/-32.58) hours after birth and prelacteal feeds were given to 94% infants. In 34 infants (65.4%) colostrum was not given. Water was considered essential from the very first day in 55.4% cases. Forty-eight percent babies were put on supplemental bottle feeding during the first week and by five months of age 97% were bottle fed. The most common reason for starting bottle feeding was perceived "insufficiency" of breast milk (71%). Breast feeding was stopped earlier by mothers who were illiterate and poor and had female children. The mean age for initiating supplemental feeding with semi-solid food was 4.4(+/-0.99) months. Weaning occurred earlier in infants of the upper socioeconomic class and literate mothers. Working women reported problems in feeding their children exclusively on breast during early infancy. Advice of health professionals was used by 31% mothers, more in the upper socioeconomic group and literate group than in other groups. Health education interventions are needed to promote use of colostrum, exclusive breast feeding and appropriate complementary feeding practices.

Adolescent↗

Conformationally defined cyclohexyl carnitine analogs.

Three diastereoisomers of racemic (3-carboxy-2-hydroxy-1-cyclohexyl)trimethylammonium chloride [C10H20NO3+.Cl-; (1S,2S,3S) (2), (1R,2S,3S) (3) and (1S,2R,3S) (4)] were designed as rigid analogs for different low-energy conformational states of carnitine [(1), (3-carboxy-2-hydroxy-1-propyl)trimethylammonium chloride]. Structures (2)-(4) all assume a chair conformation in the solid state, in which the bulky trimethylammonio group occupies the equatorial position. As such, the orientations about C2-C3 in (2), (3) and (4) are all essentially the same as that found for (1) in the solid state (torsion angles for C1-C2-C3-N1 near 180 degrees), while the orientations about C1-C2 in (2)-(4) are such that each diastereoisomer contains a different one of the three possible low-energy staggered conformations predicted for (1) in solution. Comparisons between (1) and (2)-(4) in the solid state revealed that diastereoisomers (2), (3) and (4) provide rigid models for the major low-energy conformations of carnitine.

Carnitine↗