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Biomedical subjects

A Syed

Publications and source records attributed to A Syed.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in affluent and poor urban communities of Pakistan.

Using previously applied methods a survey of joint symptoms was undertaken among 4232 adults, evenly distributed between affluent and poor areas of Karachi, Pakistan. Only six cases of definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1958 ARA criteria) were identified in the 245 persons who complained of joint problems of at least 4 weeks duration. The prevalence was 0.9 [confidence interval (CI) 0.21-3.61] and 1.98 (CI 0.55-5.1) per thousand in the poor and affluent districts, respectively. These were substantially less than prevalence rates reported in the West but were similar to figures derived from other developing countries. There was no obvious impact of current living standards on the findings. The relative paucity of older female subjects in both the affluent and poor communities may account at least in part for the low rates observed. The infrequency of rheumatoid nodules in Southern Asians with RA illustrates the difficulty of applying existing diagnostic criteria to this community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The frequency of known diabetes, hypertension and ischaemic heart disease in affluent and poor urban populations of Karachi, Pakistan.

The high frequency of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease among people of South Asian extraction living in the West is well established. The prevalence of these disorders in Southern Asia is less certain. No previous attempt has been made to estimate their occurrence in Pakistan. In order to compare the prevalence of known diabetes mellitus, hypertension and ischaemic heart disease between affluent and poor urban communities in Pakistan, a survey of consecutive households was undertaken in a relatively prosperous and a poor area in Karachi. Information was obtained on 4232 adults evenly distributed between the two areas. Body weight and height were measured in 199 healthy subjects at the two sites. The prevalence of known diabetes in the affluent population was 4.5%, significantly higher than 1.8% in the poor area (p < 0.001). A maximal prevalence of 25% was seen in the affluent community aged 55-64. Diabetes was more common in females in both populations. The overall prevalence of hypertension was similar in the two areas although significantly more frequent in the middle aged and affluent. A history of ischaemic heart disease occurred in 1.9% of the affluent and 0.6% of the poor (p = 0.003). Healthy subjects were heavier and more obese in the richer community. Thus the susceptibility of South Asian populations to diabetes and ischaemic heart disease is also apparent in an affluent segment of Pakistani society. The phenomenon is not attributable simply to urbanization. Obesity is probably an important contributory factor. The economic implications for developing South Asian countries are serious.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Assessment of renal function during pregnancy using a random urine protein to creatinine ratio and Cockcroft-Gault formula.

The current standard for assessment of renal function in pregnant women is a 24-hour urine collection to determine creatinine clearance and proteinuria. It is easier to use the random urine protein to creatinine (P:C) ratio and the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) formula to estimate protein excretion and glomerular filtration rate, but the reliability of these formulae in combination for assessing renal function in pregnant women with renal disease is unknown. We compared the results of the P:C ratio with the 24-hour urinary protein excretion and the results of the CG clearance estimate with the 24-hour urine creatinine clearance in 34 pregnant women with underlying renal disease. Comparisons were made once in each trimester and postpartum. Prepregnancy weights were used in the CG formula: (140 - age x weight [kg] x 0.85)/72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL). Twenty-six first trimester, 33 second trimester, 21 third trimester, and 15 postpartum comparisons were made for creatinine clearance and 16 first trimester, 29 second trimester, 15 third trimester, and 15 postpartum comparisons were made for protein excretion. Measured creatinine clearance for the three trimesters combined (105 +/- 40 mL/min [mean +/- SD]) correlated significantly with CG clearances (113 +/- 52 mL/min; r = 0.87). The mean P:C values (2.03 +/- 3.15) for the three trimesters combined correlated significantly with 24-hour urine protein (2.25 +/- 4.21 g; r = 0.92). Our study demonstrates excellent correlations between the CG formula using prepregnancy weights and 24-hour creatinine clearance and between the P:C and 24-hour urinary protein in this population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

dishevelled is required during wingless signaling to establish both cell polarity and cell identity.

The dishevelled gene of Drosophila is required to establish coherent arrays of polarized cells and is also required to establish segments in the embryo. Here, we show that loss of dishevelled function in clones, in double heterozygotes with wingless mutants and in flies bearing a weak dishevelled transgene leads to patterning defects which phenocopy defects observed in wingless mutants alone. Further, polarized cells in all body segments require dishevelled function to establish planar cell polarity, and some wingless alleles and dishevelled; wingless double heterozygotes exhibit bristle polarity defects identical to those seen in dishevelled alone. The requirement for dishevelled in establishing polarity in cell autonomous. The dishevelled gene encodes a novel intracellular protein that shares an amino acid motif with several other proteins that are found associated with cell junctions. Clonal analysis of dishevelled in leg discs provides a unique opportunity to test the hypothesis that the wingless dishevelled interaction species at least one of the circumferential positional values predicted by the polar coordinate model. We propose that dishevelled encodes an intracellular protein required to respond to a wingless signal and that this interaction is essential for establishing both cell polarity and cell identity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the temporomandibular joint.

The first case of pigmented villonodular synovitis of the temporomandibular joint in a Chinese patient is reported. The clinicopathological features are described and the presentation as a parotid mass is emphasized. This rare tumour requires a high clinical suspicion for diagnosis. For removal, meticulous dissection of tumour and facial nerve is necessary.

Child↗
PubMed1993

Splenic infarct presenting as sterile peritonitis with peripheral embolic phenomena.

Two patients with end-stage renal disease from diabetes mellitus on peritoneal dialysis for 2 or more years developed sterile peritonitis secondary to splenic infarcts with associated peripheral embolic phenomena. The dialysate had WBC counts > 200/microL, of which 70% or more were polymorphonuclear cells, and RBC counts of 60/microL or less, although transient hemoperitoneum occurred in both patients. Extensive atherosclerotic vascular disease as well as hematologic abnormalities were also present in both patients. One patient had polycythemia due to decreased plasma volume. The other patient had evidence of dysfibrinogenemia. The patients responded well to anticoagulation with warfarin. When the warfarin was discontinued, recurrent emboli occurred in both patients. Splenic infarct should be included in the differential diagnosis of diabetic patients with atherosclerotic disease who present with sterile peritonitis that does not respond to antibiotic therapy, especially if hemoperitoneum occurs even transiently. The diagnosis can be confirmed with CT scan of the abdomen. Warfarin therapy is effective in preventing recurrent embolic phenomena, but may need to be continued indefinitely.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Prediction of nonresponse to corticosteroids in stable chronic airflow limitation.

The efficacy of corticosteroids in chronic airflow limitation is variable and nonpredictable. We believe that the corticosteroid-induced improvement seen in a few subjects with chronic airflow limitation indicates coexistent bronchial asthma. Therefore, we hypothesize that by carefully excluding all features (other than corticosteroid response), either objective or subjective, that might be consistent with coexisting asthma, we could predict non-response to corticosteroids. Twenty patients with chronic airflow limitation related to cigarette smoking were chosen. Features that might suggest coexisting asthma were carefully excluded; these included rhinitis, nocturnal symptoms, atopy, large response to bronchodilator, and sputum or blood eosinophilia. Eighteen of these 20 subjects completed a double-blind random-order cross-over placebo-controlled trial of 30 mg of prednisone for 14 d (with a 14 d washout between treatments). There were no significant differences, individually or collectively, in objective or subjective determinations. Based on a greater than or equal to 250 mL improvement in FEV1, there were two placebo responders and two prednisone responders. Although it may be difficult to predict corticosteroid response in chronic airflow limitation, it appears that careful exclusion of 'asthmatic tendencies' may predict nonresponse to corticosteroids.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Effect of some i.v. anaesthetic agents on canine gastrointestinal motility.

Thiopentone 20 mg kg-1, ketamine 8 mg kg-1 and minaxolone 2 mg kg-1 were administered to fasting greyhound dogs. Mechanical and electrical activities from stomach, duodenum, jejunum and ileum were recorded using strain gauge force transducers and implanted bipolar electrodes. Thiopentone and minaxolone caused intense activity in the duodenum and jejunum (phase I and phase II of the interdigestive cycle), but not the stomach or ileum. The activity following injection of thiopentone or minaxolone was prevented by premedication with either atropine 0.05 mg kg-1 or pentolinium 0.2 mg kg-1. Ketamine had no influence on gastrointestinal activity or the response to thiopentone or minaxolone. None of these drugs altered the basal electrical rhythm of the intestine.

Action Potentials↗