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Akheel A Syed

Publications and source records attributed to Akheel A Syed.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Association of glucocorticoid receptor polymorphism A3669G in exon 9beta with reduced central adiposity in women.

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) may be a common link between human obesity/metabolic syndrome and Cushing's syndrome. The effects of glucocorticoids are mediated through the functional isoform, GRalpha. An alternative isoform, GRbeta, behaves as a dominant negative inhibitor of GRalpha and has been implicated as a contributing factor to glucocorticoid resistance. A naturally occurring ATTTA to GTTTA single nucleotide polymorphism (A3669G) located in the 3' end of exon 9beta results in increased stability of GRbeta mRNA and increased GRbeta protein expression. Enhanced GRbeta expression may result in greater inhibition of GRalpha transcriptional activity, resulting in glucocorticoid insensitivity. To test the hypothesis that the 3669G allele would result in a phenotype less likely to express features of glucocorticoid excess, we studied the prevalence of this polymorphism and its relationship with obesity and features of the metabolic syndrome in 322 Europid and 262 South-Asian subjects in northeast England. We report evidence that 3669G allele is associated with reduced central obesity in Europid women and a more favorable lipid profile in Europid men. These data suggest that the 3669G allele may attenuate the undesirable effects of glucocorticoids on fat distribution and lipid metabolism, although its penetrance may vary in different ethnic groups.

Adiposity↗
PubMed2004

Low prevalence of the N363S polymorphism of the glucocorticoid receptor in South Asians living in the United Kingdom.

Similarities between clinical states of glucocorticoid excess and obesity have raised suspicion of a link between the two conditions. An Asn363Ser (N363S) polymorphism in exon 2 of the glucocorticoid receptor has been associated with glucocorticoid sensitivity and excess adiposity in people of European origin. Compared with Europid populations, South Asians have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including type 2 diabetes and central obesity. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the 363S allele in people of South Asian origin living in northeast England in relation to obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors. DNA from 142 males and 153 females was characterized for 363S allele status. Two N363S heterozygotes were identified; both subjects had raised body mass index and central obesity. Despite a higher prevalence of overweight (body mass index >/==" BORDER="0"> 25 kg/m(2)) people in the South Asian group compared with the Europid population in the same geographical area (66 vs. 56%, respectively), the 363S allele frequency was significantly lower in the South Asian group (0.3 vs. 3%, respectively). Therefore, the N363S polymorphism is unlikely to be an important factor in obesity and/or dysmetabolic traits in people of South Asian origin living in the United Kingdom.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Imipramine hydrochloride and desipramine hydrochloride as new reagents for detection of microamounts of blood in urine.

Benzidine and o-tolidine, the hazardous carcinogens are still in use for the detection of blood in urine. Development of safer substitutes are of paramount importance. Unfortunately, the alternate available reagents lack specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility. Imipramine hydrochloride (IPH) and desipramine hydrochloride (DPH) are proposed as new reagents for the detection of blood in urine. Both the reagents impact to blood a green-blue to blue color, in the presence of acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide and the development of this color is explored under laboratory conditions. IPH or DPH compares favorably with benzidine and multistix methods. Both the reagents are relatively inexpensive, and have required sensitivity and stability. The proposed reagents offer advantages of relatively low sensitivity to endogenous vegetable peroxidases; hence, the test can be performed on samples taken from patients who are on a normal diet and the results are reproducible. Besides, the reagents, are non-carcinogenic and can replace benzidine and o-tolidine without any extra procedural difficulties as they also exhibit a similar blue color.

Acetates↗
PubMed2002

Detection and diagnosis of blood in feces and urine: an overview.

BACKGROUND: Detection of blood in feces or urine has long been regarded as an indicator of patient's state of health. The ease with which feces or urine may be obtained and patient's willingness to provide the specimen make detection of fecal occult blood or urine analysis one of the most commonly performed screening examinations. Historically, the inspection of feces or urine for diagnostic purpose has been practiced for centuries. Of late, management of renal or urinary tract abnormalities or investigation of anemia, gastrointestinal diseases and for early detection of colorectal cancer has assumed greater importance. METHODS: The never-ending list of techniques for the diagnosis of disorders producing bleeding such as urine microscopy, urine cytology, urine based marker test, cytoscopy, ultra sonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, to mention a few, and four categories of detection of fecal occult blood namely, radioanalytical, physical, immunochemical and chemical methods makes the study very interesting. PURPOSE: This review attempts to overview various techniques, methods and methodologies for the diagnosis and detection of blood in feces and urine, in the direction of looking at past and current tests with an eye on future needs.

Feces↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early changes in thyroid-stimulating antibody activity following radioiodine therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether or not the titre of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody with stimulating (TRAb-S) activity changes in patients with Graves' disease (GD) or toxic multinodular goitres (TMNG) 3 months after treatment with sodium iodide ((131)I). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Serum specimens were obtained from 21 hyperthyroid patients (15 with GD and 6 with TMNG) at a median 0.5 months before and 3 months after (131)I treatment using a standard ablative dose of 555 MBq. TRAb-S activity was measured in a sensitive and specific luminescent bioassay employing the lulu cell line and expressed as a stimulation index (SI; normal </=1.5). RESULTS: The mean TRAb-S in the GD patients was 2.72 SI (95% CI: 1.51-4.03) 0.5 months before administration of (131)I and 3.98 SI (95% CI: 1.20-6.76) 3 months after administration of (131)I. The difference was not statistically significant at p LT; 0.8. It was not elevated in the TMNG patients before (0.57 SI; 95% CI: 0.41- 0.73) and after (1.00 SI; 95% CI: 0.74-1.26) treatment either. CONCLUSIONS: Radioiodine therapy for GD or TMNG did not induce a significant change in TRAb-S activity at 3 months after treatment with (131)I, probably due to effective antithyroid therapy or the timing of samples.

Animals↗