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C M Habibullah

Publications and source records attributed to C M Habibullah.

85 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Detection and characterization of circulating immune complexes in peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Immunological factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer following the demonstration of autoantibodies against IgA in patients with this disease. We investigated whether circulating immune complexes were present in this condition, and what type of immunoglobulins were involved. METHODS: The sera of 37 patients with duodenal ulcer and 8 with gastric ulcer were tested for the presence of circulating immune complexes using the polyethylene glycol (PEG) assay and the results compared with those in 79 controls. The precipitate was dissociated and the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM estimated using the single radial immunodiffusion technique. Simultaneous estimation of these immunoglobulins in the serum was also done. Autoantibodies against IgA in the serum were tested using the ELISA test. RESULTS: Eleven patients (6 with duodenal ulcer and 5 with gastric ulcer) were found to have circulating immune complexes. The mean protein content of the PEG precipitates was significantly higher in patients than in control subjects (p < 0.001). The mean values of all the immunoglobulin isotypes were higher in patients than in controls. The IgA content in the PEG precipitates of positive cases was higher than that in control subjects (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with peptic ulcer have circulating immune complexes which may interfere with normal immunoregulation.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Prevalence, risk factors and genotype distribution of HCV and HBV infection in the tribal population: a community based study in south India.

Viral hepatitis caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) represents a major public health problem in India. These viruses share common modes of transmission, such as parenteral routes. We aimed to assess the exposure of a tribal population to these viruses in south India. The present study was carried out on serum samples from 890 individuals (526 males and 324 females) belonging to the Lambada tribe residing in the state of Andhra Pradesh, south India. Anti-HCV antibody and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) status in the sera were analyzed using commercially available enzyme immunoassays (Abbott Labs, Chicago, IL). HCV-RNA and HBV-DNA in the sera was tested by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and PCR, respectively. The infecting genotype of HCV was determined using type-specific primers corresponding to the NS5 region of the virus. Out of the 890 samples, 18 (2.02%; male 11/526; female 7/364) were positive for HCV-RNA by RT-PCR and, 17 of them were positive for anti-HCV antibody. Genotyping of HCV isolates from the 18 individuals positive for HCV-RNA revealed that 66.67% (12/18) were infected with type 1 of HCV and its variants; while in the remaining (6/18), the infecting genotype was found to be type 3 and its variants. A total of 46 samples (5.16%; males 28/526; female 18/364) were positive for HBsAg; while 11 were positive only for HBV-DNA, 9 were positive for both hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and HBV-DNA. Cultural practices such as tattooing, traditional medicine (e.g. blood-letting), rituals (e.g. scarification), body-piercing etc are the potential sources of spread of infection in this tribe. None of the samples analyzed revealed co-infection with the 2 viruses.

Adolescent↗

Immunogenicity of detergent membrane proteins of Entamoeba histolytica.

The lymphokine release and antibody production were assessed in the peripheral blood of 52 and 48 cases of amoebic liver abscess respectively, by employing detergent dissected membrane proteins (DDMP) of axenic Entamoeba histolytica (NIH:200). Lymphokine release by T lymphocytes in response to both DDMP and whole amoebic lysate (WAL) was performed by leukocyte migration inhibition test. A highly increased release of LMIF and 100 per cent positivity was observed with DDMP where as the same for whole amoebic extract, was only 73 per cent. The difference between the means of the above two values with regards to release of LMIF, was found to be highly significant (P less than 0.005). Antibodies production in response to both DDMP and whole amoebic lysate was performed by indirect haemagglutination assay on blood samples from amoebic liver abscess cases. A 53 folds increased titres of IHA and cent percent positivity was observed with DDMP compared to WAL. The difference between mean titres of the above two with regards to detection of antibodies, was found to be highly significant (P less than 0.001). This shows that the patients, had high degree of leukocyte sensitization and production of antibodies which will not be assessed simply with WAL. These findings suggest that the shed material might have important role as a potent antigen in elicitation cell mediated and humoral immune response in amoebic liver abscess cases.

Animals↗

Effect of histamine and glucose on encystation of Entamoeba histolytica in vitro.

Isolates of Entamoeba histolytica grown and maintained in modified Boeck and Drbohlav's medium were used to examine the effect of histamine and glucose on encystation process in vitro. This revealed that 60-74% of the active and motile trophozoites of E. histolytica encysted within 72 hours in the presence of histamine and glucose, in contrast to 10-20% encystment in controls (with out histamine and glucose); a highly significant difference (P < 0.001). These observations also suggest the possibility of active role of histamine and glucose in encystation of E.histolytica in vivo.

Animals↗

A comparative study of different isolated fractions of Entamoeba histolytica in amoebic liver abscess.

Fifty six patients with amoebic liver ubscess were assessed for antibody production and lymphokine release using different antigenic fractions such as sephadex G-200 eluted fraction-I (F-I), shed of bile salt treated amoebae (SBSTA), amoebic membrane glycoprotein (AMG), amoebic RNA and whole amoebic lysate (WAL). Antibody production in response to WAL, F-I, SBSTA, AMG and RNA was assessed by indirect haemagglutination assay. Five and 53 fold increased titres of IHA was observed with F-I and SBSTA respectively compared to WAL. The difference between mean titres of F-I, SBSTA and WAL was found to be highly significant (P < 0.001). Amoebic RNA did not show pronounced antibody titres. Lymphokine release by T lymphocytes in response to F-I, SBSTA, AMG, RNA and WAL was assessed by leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) test. A highly increased release of LMIF by RNA, AMG, F-I and SBSTA was observed compared to whole amoebic lysate. The difference between the means of the purified fractions and WAL, to release of LMIF was found to be highly significant (P 0.001). These findings suggest that SBSTA, F-I and AMG fractions might have an important role as a potent antigen in inducing humoral and cell mediated immunity in patients with amoebic liver abscess and these findings also confirm the multiple antigenicity of E. histolytica.

Adult↗