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Biomedical subjects

F Atassi

Publications and source records attributed to F Atassi.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

In vitro antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus helveticus strain KS300 against diarrhoeagenic, uropathogenic and vaginosis-associated bacteria.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate in vitro the antibacterial activity of the Lactobacillus helveticus strain KS300 against vaginosis-associated bacteria including Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia, uropathogenic Escherichia coli, and diarrhoeagenic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. METHODS AND RESULTS: The KS300 strain inhibited the growth of G. vaginalis, P. bivia, S. typhimurium, and pathogenic E. coli. After direct co-culture, data show that the Lactobacillus strain decreased the viability of G. vaginalis, P. bivia, S. typhimurium, and pathogenic E. coli. The adhering KS300 strain inhibited the adhesion of G. vaginalis DSM 4944 and uropathogenic Dr-positive E. coli IH11128 onto HeLa cells. Moreover, the KS300 strain inhibited the internalization of uropathogenic Dr-positive E. coli IH11128 within HeLa cells and S. typhimurium SL1344 within Caco-2/TC7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that L. helveticus strain KS300 is adhesive onto cultured human cells and has antagonistic activities against vaginosis-associated, uropathogenic and diarrhoeagenic pathogens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Adhering L. helveticus strain KS300 is a potential probiotic strain displaying a strain-specific array of in vitro antibacterial activities.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed2005

Modafinil for daytime somnolence in Parkinson's disease: double blind, placebo controlled parallel trial.

BACKGROUND: Excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) commonly complicates Parkinson's disease (PD). The aetiology of EDS is probably multifactorial but is probably exacerbated by dopaminergic medications. Modafinil is a wake-promoting agent approved for use in narcolepsy, but it is often used to treat a variety of somnolent conditions. METHOD: A double blind, placebo controlled parallel design trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of modafinil (200-400 mg/day) for the treatment of EDS in PD. The primary efficacy measure was the Epworth Sleepiness (ES) scale score. Secondary efficacy points included the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the Fatigue Severity Scale, the Hamilton Depression Scale, and the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). RESULTS: Of a total of 40 subjects (29 men, mean (SD) age 64.8 (11.3) years), randomised to modafinil or placebo, 37 completed the study. Modafinil failed to significantly improve ES scores compared with placebo (2.7 v 1.5 points improvement, respectively, p = 0.28). MSLT failed to improve with modafinil relative to placebo (-0.16 v -0.70, respectively, p = 0.14). UPDRS, global impressions, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Hamilton Depression Scale scores were unchanged. Adverse events were minimal. CONCLUSION: Modafinil failed to significantly improve EDS in PD compared with placebo. The drug did not alter motor symptoms in PD and was well tolerated.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Daytime sleepiness and other sleep disorders in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: PD is associated with a variety of sleep problems. The dopamine agonists (DA) pramipexole and ropinirole were recently implicated in causing "sleep attacks" and motor vehicle accidents. METHODS: In order to determine the overall rate of subjective sleep problems in PD and to determine if any factors, including specific medications, correlate with sleep pathology, the authors surveyed consecutive patients with PD seen over a 3-month period in a Movement Disorders Clinic. The authors collected demographic and medication data, and the patients completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), questions assessing the presence of restless legs syndrome (RLS), a modified National Sleep Foundation sleep survey, and specific questions regarding falling asleep while driving. RESULTS: A total of 320 patients completed the questionnaire. The authors eliminated 17, six for incomplete data and 11 for having a primary diagnosis other than PD. The mean age of the remaining 303 patients was 67.1 +/- 10.7 years, and the mean duration of PD was 9.1 +/- 5.7 years. The ESS scores averaged 11.1 +/- 5.9, and in 50.2% of patients the score was abnormally high (>10). Stepwise regression analysis found that sleepiness correlated with longer duration of PD (p < 0.001), more advanced PD (p < 0.004), male sex (p < 0.001), and the use of any DA (p < 0.003). The soporific effects of the three most common DA (pramipexole, ropinirole, and pergolide) were similar. Falling asleep while driving was reported by 63/279 (22.6%) of current drivers and correlated with higher ESS scores (p < 0.05). Other sleep disorders, including RLS, were also frequently reported. CONCLUSION: Daytime sleepiness is common in PD and correlates with more advanced and longer duration of PD, and male sex. The DA were also independently associated with daytime sleepiness, but in this group, no single DA was more culpable than the others.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The effect of humidity on samples of microcrystalline cellulose taken from the extrusion/marumerization process.

The purpose of this work was to examine the sorption and desorption of water by various samples of microcrystalline cellulose, MCC (Avicel PH-101), taken from the extrusion/marumerization process, and to provide data that may explain how water affects the MCC polymer matrix during the formation of beads. Two isopiestic (humidity) studies were conducted: the first used samples exposed directly to controlled humidity conditions, whereas the second used samples that were freeze-dried before being exposed to controlled humidity conditions. Water sorption and desorption were determined gravimetrically. When both sets of samples were initially exposed to low-humidity conditions, they reached equilibrium by desorbing water. When these samples were initially exposed to high-humidity conditions, the high moisture content samples desorbed water, whereas the low moisture content and the freeze-dried samples sorbed water to reach equilibrium. When the first set of samples was initially exposed to high- and then to low-humidity conditions, they reached the same water content achieved by being equilibrated directly at the low-humidity condition. However, samples that were initially exposed to low- and then to high-humidity conditions had equilibrium water contents that were lower than those achieved by being equilibrated directly at the high-humidity condition. The original MCC systems exhibit a hysteretic effect above 85%, whereas the freeze-dried systems have a broader range hysteretic effect starting at 20% relative humidity. The results suggest that the internal structure of the MCC polymer fibers must change with the sorption and desorption of water, supporting the autohesion theory.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1992

Probe tine diameter and probing depth.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of difference in tine diameter on probing pocket depth measurement. 2 sets of tines with Williams markings at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 mm, and with a "round" tip, diameter 0.5 mm, were compared. One set was described as parallel-sided, the other as tapered. The parallel-sided tine was almost parallel from the 10 mm marking to the tip (tip diameter mean = 0.46 mm, 95% C.I. 0.456-0.464), while the corresponding diameter for the tapered tine varied (tip diameter mean = 0.48 mm, 95% C.I. 0.473-0.489). Calibration markings appeared highly consistent with the expected value to within 0.01 mm. The tines were mounted in Brodontic handles at 0.25 N. Examiner probing repeatability yielded kappa 0.86 for "parallel-sided" and 0.81 for "tapered" tines in vivo. 412 approximal pockets were assessed in 53 patients with routine chronic adult periodontitis, mean age 42.1 years. Each site had a probing depth of greater than or equal to 5 mm, PlI less than or equal to 1, GI less than or equal to 1, PBI less than or equal to 1. Each site was probed 2x with a 15-min interval. At the first 251 sites, the parallel-sided tine was used initially, and the tapered at the remaining 161 sites. Results indicated a highly significant tendency for the parallel-sided tine to yield a deeper reading when a difference occurred. These findings indicate that with adequate training providing high examiner repeatability, one source of error in probing data can be minimised.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral hygiene profile of subjects on renal dialysis.

The study was designed to assess the level of oral home-care among subjects on renal dialysis. The study included 90 subjects, 37 (41.1%) male and 53 (58.9%) female, on renal dialysis. The mean age was 45.63 +/- 16.77. Four indices were used; the plaque index (PI); the debris index (DI); the calculus index (CI) and the gingival index (GI). Results showed that all subjects did not have optimal oral hygiene, means of PI, DI, CI and GI., were 2.0444, 1.9556, 1.8944 and 1.8167 respectively. No significant differences were observed between male and female. Frequency of plaque distribution indicated that 69.9% of the individuals had poor oral hygiene. In conclusion, subjects on renal dialysis were at high risk for developing periodontal disease. It is recommended that, subjects on renal dialysis should be regularly examined by dentists for proper care.

Analysis of Variance↗