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Biomedical subjects

B A Khan

Publications and source records attributed to B A Khan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ischemic stroke in young adults of South Asia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the risk factors, etiology and management of ischemic stroke in young adults in a South Asian population. METHODS: Retrospective study conducted at a large tertiary hospital in Karachi. One hundred and eighteen patients between fifteen and forty-five years admitted over a five year period with a diagnosis of ischemic infarct constituted the study population. The study variables included the full clinical spectrum, spanning historical, laboratory, radiological and outcome parameters. RESULTS: Forty-three percent of patients were hypertensive and 30% were diabetic. The combination of diabetes and hypertension was found in 19.5% of patients, intra-cranial and carotid artherosclerosis in 22% and embolism in 11% of the cases. The in-hospital mortality was 11%. The outcome was excellent in 27%, good in 50% and poor in 23% of patients. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for artherosclerosis and the contribution of intra and extra-cranial artherosclerosis were found to be much higher than those from the Western Hemisphere.

Adolescent↗

Omeprazole as adjuvant therapy to endoscopic combination injection sclerotherapy for treating bleeding peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic endoscopy has provided a new means of treating bleeding peptic ulcers. Additional medical therapy may enhance the therapeutic benefit. Hemostasis is highly pH dependent and is severely impaired at low pH. Proton pump inhibitors, by achieving a significantly higher inhibition of gastric acidity, may improve the therapeutic outcomes after endoscopic treatment of ulcers. PATIENT AND METHODS: We enrolled 166 patients with hemorrhage from duodenal, gastric, or stomal ulcers and signs of recent hemorrhage, as confirmed by endoscopy. Twenty-six patients had ulcers with an arterial spurt, 41 patients had active ooze, 37 had a visible vessel, and 62 patients had an adherent clot. All patients received endoscopic injection sclerotherapy using 1:10,000 adrenaline and 1% polidocanol and were randomly assigned to receive omeprazole (40 mg orally) every 12 hours for 5 days or an identical-looking placebo. The outcome measures used were recurrent bleeding, surgery, blood transfusion, and hospital stay. RESULTS: Six (7%) of 82 patients in the omeprazole group had recurrent bleeding, as compared with 18 (21%) in the placebo group (P = 0.02). Two patients in the omeprazole group and 7 patients in the placebo group needed surgery to control their bleeding (P = 0.17). One patient in the omeprazole group and 2 patients in the placebo group died (P = 0.98). Twenty-nine patients (35%) in the omeprazole group and 61 patients (73%) in the placebo group received blood transfusions (P <0.001). The average hospital stay was 4.6 +/- 1.1 days in the omeprazole group and 6.0 +/- 0.7 days in the placebo group (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The addition of oral omeprazole to combination injection sclerotherapy decreases the rate of recurrent bleeding, reduces the need for surgery and transfusion, and shortens the hospital stay for patients with stigmata of recent hemorrhage.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

Bone mineral density of the spine and femur in healthy Saudi females: relation to vitamin D status, pregnancy, and lactation.

Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements of the anterio-posterior lumbar spine and the proximal femur using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, as well as relevant clinical and biochemical parameters, were determined in 321 healthy Saudi females in order to establish reference values and to study the effects of physical and lifestyle factors on BMD. Mean +/- SD of age, body mass index (BMI), number of pregnancies, and total duration of lactation were 35.4 +/- 11.3 years, 26.5 +/- 5.2 kg/m2, 3.1 +/- 3.1, and 23.7 +/- 42.4 months, respectively. Mean +/- SD of serum calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), and PTH levels were 2.37 +/- 0.09 mmol/liter, 24.5 +/- 17.2 nmol/liter, and 52.0 +/- 30.8 pg/ml, respectively. Peak BMD values were observed around age 35 years at the spine and earlier at the femur. Compared with USA females, Saudi females had lower weight-matched Z scores at the spine (-0.126 +/- 1. 078, P = 0.04), femoral neck (-0.234 +/- 0.846, P < 0.0001), and Ward's triangle (-0.269 +/- 1.015, P < 0.0001). Further, the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in subjects >/=31 years old were 18-41% and 0-7%, respectively, depending on the site examined. Severe hypovitaminosis D (25OHD level </=20 nmol/liter) was present in 52% of the subjects. However, there was no correlation between 25OHD level and BMD at any site. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels correlated significantly with 25OHD levels (r = -0.28, P < 0.0001) and with weight-matched BMD Z scores at the spine (r = -0.17, P = 0.005), femoral neck (r = -0.16, P = 0.007), and Ward's triangle (r = -0.2, P = 0.0008), suggesting that the distribution of 25OHD levels in the cohort is below the threshold needed for maintaining normal BMD. On the other hand, number of pregnancies and total duration of lactation correlated with weight-matched BMD Z scores at the spine (r = -0.17, P = 0.003; r = -0.1, P = 0.08, respectively). We conclude that BMD in healthy Saudi females is significantly lower than in their USA counterparts. This may be due in part to increased number of pregnancies and longer duration of lactation together with prevalent vitamin D deficiency. http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00223/bibs /65n1p23. html

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Ascaris-induced liver abscess.

The prevalence, symptomatology, and outcome of Ascaris-induced liver abscess was studied prospectively in Kashmir, India, which is an endemic area of ascariasis, from December 1987 to December 1997. Of 510 patients with liver abscess admitted during this period, 74 had biliary ascariasis as the cause (14.51%). Of these 74 patients, 11 had intact ascaridae (live or dead) within the abscess. Six patients had a single abscess, and five had multiple abscesses. Seven patients had associated worms in the bile ducts. Ultrasonography was the main diagnostic procedure used. Ten patients were diagnosed based on clinical and ultrasound findings, and one was diagnosed during laparotomy. Most of the patients were young (age range 3-40 years) with a mean age of 17.20 years. Seven were females, and four were males. Ten patients underwent surgery; nine recovered completely, and one died postoperatively due to septicemia. Another patient died as well: a young child who presented late, was in refractory septic shock following suppurative cholangitis and liver abscess, and could not be taken for surgery. The mortality thus was 9.9%. Liver abscess following invasion of intrahepatic biliary radicles by ascaridae through the ampulla is an unusual complication of an otherwise common disease in Kashmir Valley, affecting children and young adults. The outcome depends on early diagnosis and surgical drainage of the abscess with extraction of worms from the ducts.

Adolescent↗

Cellular radiosensitivity of patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with papillary (differentiated) thyroid carcinomas were compared to those from healthy subjects, ataxia telangiectasia (AT) homozygotes and AT heterozygotes for colony-forming ability after low dose-rate irradiation, and post-irradiation DNA synthesis as indicated by uptake of [3H]-thymidine. The cells from the cancer patients exhibited enhanced radiosensitivity (intermediate between normal and AT) and less than normal level of radioinduced inhibition of DNA synthesis.

Adult↗

CT and MR imaging in young stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the role of CT and MR imaging in the diagnosis and management of young stroke patients. METHODS: CT scan findings of 108 patients and MR findings of 30 patients between 15-45 years of age were reviewed retrospectively. The variables included the territory of infarct on CT and MR imaging, the cortical distribution and size of infarct. RESULTS: About 80% of the patients had infarcts of the carotid territory and 20% the vertebro-basilar distribution. More than half of the infarcts were cortical (56%). The yield of MR imaging was much higher for deeper structures such as basal ganglia, thalamus and brainstem. In half the cases, the infarct size was more than 3 cm. CONCLUSION: The ratio of carotid to vertebro-basilar infarcts was similar to that reported previously. A large proportion of the carotid territory infarcts were cortical. Deeper infarcts were better imaged with MR scan. There was a high proportion of large infarcts.

Adolescent↗

Carotid Doppler ultrasonography in young stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: The present study focuses on the role of carotid doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) in the diagnosis and management of carotid stenosis in young stroke patients. METHODS: The findings of carotid doppler in 45 ischemic stroke patients between 15-45 years of age were reviewed retrospectively. The variables of interest for this study included risk factors for atherosclerotic disease, primary abnormality detected on carotid doppler ultrasonography (ulceration vs. stenosis), degree of stenosis and the type of plaque (soft vs. calcified). RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was 50% and 35% respectively. The rate of carotid stenosis in the study population was found to be 31%. The degree of stenosis was mild in 35% and moderate in 21%. High-grade stenosis was found in 21% of patients. The plaque was soft in the majority of cases (43%). CONCLUSION: The proportion of carotid stenosis in young stroke patients was relatively high compared with previous studies. This may be due to an increase in the risk factors for atherosclerotic disease in developing countries.

Adolescent↗

Sequential serum hepatitis C viral RNA levels longitudinally assessed by branched DNA signal amplification.

The aim of this study was to determine the stability of viral load over an extended period in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Sequential serum specimens collected from fourteen non-alcoholic adult patients with chronic HCV between 1990 and 1997 were tested retrospectively for HCV RNA levels by branched DNA assay (Quantiplex HCV RNA 2.0 [Chiron Diagnostics, Emeryville, CA]). A minimum of three serum samples was obtained at various intervals from each patient. None of the patients received antiviral therapy. Liver biopsies, available for 10 of 14 patients, showed mild or moderate hepatitis in seven and cirrhosis in three (one developed cirrhosis during follow-up). RIBA strip immunoassay showed that 7, 3, and 4 patients had viral genotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The follow-up time averaged 5.3 years (range, 3.7 to 6.6 years). Eight patients (57.2%) showed increased viral levels from baseline to follow-up, the remaining six patients (42.8%) showed decreased viral levels. The three cirrhotic patients had the highest viral levels over time. The mean change was a 0.29-fold decrease (median, +1.14 [corrected]; range, -17.49 to +7.32). A less than twofold change in either direction was demonstrated for six patients (42.8%), and a less than threefold change was demonstrated for 10 patients (71.4%). Variation from baseline to last follow-up as calculated by log determination showed that the viremic load varied less than one log10 in all but one individual. These results show that viral load remains relatively stable over prolonged periods in most untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Adult↗

Short-course ceftriaxone therapy in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Forty patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, three of whom had complicating acute hepatitis syndrome, eight late-onset hepatic failure, and 29 with cirrhosis, were treated with ceftriaxone 2 g intravenously once daily for 5 days. Ascitic fluid culture was positive in 28 patients, with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella as common isolates. All the bacteria isolated were sensitive to ceftriaxone except Enterococcus faecalis, which was isolated in a cirrhotic patient. All culture-positive patients sensitive to ceftriaxone showed bacteriological cure and 26 (65%) patients showed cytological cure after 48 hours of treatment. A total of 95% were cured of their infection after 5 days of treatment. Twelve (30%) patients died during hospitalisation after documented cure of their spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (renal failure, gastrointestinal bleed and cerebral oedema were the primary causes of death). Infection-related mortality due to Pseudomonas septicaemia was seen in one cirrhotic patient.

Adolescent↗

Percutaneous drainage compared with surgery for hepatic hydatid cysts.

BACKGROUND: In recent years percutaneous drainage has been used successfully to treat the hepatic hydatid cysts of echinococcal disease. We performed a controlled trial to compare the safety and efficacy of percutaneous drainage with those of surgical cystectomy, the traditional treatment. METHODS: In a prospective study, we randomly assigned 50 patients with hepatic hydatidosis to treatment with percutaneous drainage (25 patients) or cystectomy (25). Albendazole (10 mg per kilogram of body weight per day for eight weeks) was administered to the patients who underwent percutaneous drainage. Serial assessments included clinical and biochemical examinations, ultrasonography, and serologic tests of echinococcal-antibody titers. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) hospital stay was 4.2+/-1.5 days in the drainage group and 12.7+/-6.5 days in the surgery group (P<0.001). Over a mean follow-up period of 17 months, the mean cyst diameter decreased from 8.0+/-3.0 to 1.4+/-3.5 cm (P<0.001) after percutaneous drainage and from 9.1+/-3.0 to 0.9+/-1.8 cm (P<0.001) after surgery. The final cyst diameter did not differ significantly between the two groups (P=0.20). The cysts disappeared in 22 patients (88 percent) in the drainage group and in 18 (72 percent) in the surgery group (P=0.29). After an initial rise, the echinococcal-antibody titers fell progressively and at the last follow-up were negative (<1:160) in 19 patients (76 percent) in the drainage group and 17 (68 percent) in the surgery group (P=0.74). There were procedure-related complications in 8 patients (32 percent) in the drainage group and 21 (84 percent) in the surgery group, 17 of whom had fever postoperatively (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous drainage, combined with albendazole therapy, is an effective and safe alternative to surgery for the treatment of uncomplicated hydatid cysts of the liver and requires a shorter hospital stay.

Adolescent↗

A comparison of omeprazole and placebo for bleeding peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: The role of medical treatment for patients with bleeding peptic ulcers is uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 220 patients with duodenal, gastric, or stomal ulcers and signs of recent bleeding, as confirmed by endoscopy. In 26 patients the ulcers showed arterial spurting, in 34 there was active oozing, in 35 there were nonbleeding, visible vessels, and in 125 there were adherent clots. The patients were randomly assigned to receive omeprazole (40 mg given orally every 12 hours for five days) or placebo. The outcome measures studied were further bleeding, surgery, and death. RESULTS: Twelve of the 110 patients treated with omeprazole (10.9 percent) had continued bleeding or further bleeding, as compared with 40 of the 110 patients who received placebo (36.4 percent) (P<0.001). Eight patients in the omeprazole group and 26 in the placebo group required surgery to control their bleeding (P<0.001). Two patients in the omeprazole group and six in the placebo group died. Thirty-two patients in the omeprazole group (29.1 percent) and 78 in the placebo group (70.9 percent) received transfusions (P<0.001). A subgroup analysis showed that omeprazole was associated with significant reductions in recurrent bleeding and surgery in patients with nonbleeding, visible vessels or adherent clots, but not in those with arterial spurting or oozing. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with bleeding peptic ulcers and signs of recent bleeding, treatment with omeprazole decreases the rate of further bleeding and the need for surgery.

Adult↗

A prospective study of VEC-POB and POCE chemotherapy in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The optimal combination and scheduling of chemotherapy for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is unclear, and the elderly have a poor tolerance to treatment. A Phase II prospective study was undertaken using outpatient weekly combination chemotherapy: the VEC-POB (etoposide, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, Oncovin, bleomycin, and prednisone) regimen in patients < 60 years and less intensive POCE (etoposide, Oncovin, cyclophosphamide, and epirubicin) in patients > or = 60 years. All patients with intermediate and high-grade lymphoma (International Working Formulation) with bulky disease and/or advanced stages (III, IV) seen between January 1991 and June 1992 were entered. Of 29 patients treated with VEC-POB, 23 patients (79%) achieved complete remission (CR), with one (3%) toxic death. Overall survival at 29 months is 67%, and disease-free survival at 60 months is 60%. Of 29 patients treated with POCE, 14 achieved CR, with three (10%) toxic deaths. Overall survival is 58% at 18 months, and disease-free survival at 10 months is 50%. Adverse prognostic factors were analyzed. The results are comparable to the best results achieved with other regimens, and toxicity is acceptable.

Adult↗

Anti-oxidant effects of curry leaf, Murraya koenigii and mustard seeds, Brassica juncea in rats fed with high fat diet.

Status of lipid peroxidation was studied in rats induced high fat diet and some commonly used spices, viz. Murraya koenigit and Brassica juncea. The study revealed that these species alter the peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) level to a beneficial extent. Histological studies also focus on modulation of hepatic functions to near normal level.

Animals↗

Murraya koenigii and Brassica juncea--alterations on lipid profile in 1-2 dimethyl hydrazine induced colon carcinogenesis.

The influence of the two commonly used spices Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) leaf and Brassica juncea (mustard) seeds on the levels of lipids, fecal bile acids and neutral sterols was studied in rats administered 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine (1,2 DMH). The levels of cholesterol and phospholipids decreased in the experimental groups when compared with the control. The cholesterol phospholipid ratio showed an elevated level in the DMH treated control compared with the species group. Bile acids and neutral sterols showed a sharp increase in the spices treated groups in liver and feces when compared with the control. Morphological and histological studies revealed that the mean number of neoplasms in the colon and intestine were significantly low in the spices fed groups.

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine↗