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Biomedical subjects

F Rahman

Publications and source records attributed to F Rahman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Cellular and humoral immune responses induced by intradermal or intramuscular vaccination with the major hepatitis B surface antigen.

The vaccination route may influence the success of immunization against pathogens. The conventional intramuscular (i.m.) application of a vaccine containing the hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) led to protective anti-HBs antibody levels in the majority of vaccine recipients. In this study, we vaccinated healthy volunteers and a group of i.m. vaccine nonresponders via the intradermal (i.d.) route and analyzed the HBV-specific B-cell response as well as class-II- and class-I-restricted T-cell responses by (3)H-thymidine uptake, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT). The results were then compared with i.m. vaccinated controls. I.d. vaccinations were well tolerated and induced neutralizing anti-HBs antibodies in all naive vaccine recipients and, importantly, all but one former i.m. nonresponder developed protective anti-HBs serum antibody levels after 2 or 3 i.d. immunizations. On the cellular level, i.d. vaccine recipients showed significantly higher anti-HBs producing B-cell frequencies and more vigorous class-II-restricted T-helper (Th) cell responses than i.m. controls. However, although the HBsAg-specific T cells were characterized by their cytokine release as Th1-like cells in both groups, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2+ individuals who received the soluble HBsAg via the i.d. route developed higher peptide-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cell precursor (CTLp) frequencies. In conclusion, i.d. HBsAg vaccination is more effective even in former i.m. vaccine nonresponders with respect to antibody induction and specific B- and T-cell responses. The induction of virus-specific CTLp may provide the rationale to study the i.d. HBsAg vaccine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed2000

Potential of using existing injury information for injury surveillance at the local level in developing countries: experiences from Bangladesh.

Although injury is a major public health problem in Bangladesh, as in other low income countries in the world, it has gained very little attention from policy makers, or even health professionals, mainly due to the lack of valid injury information in these countries. To address the injury problem, there is an urgent need to develop injury surveillance activities, based on existing sources of potential interest for obtaining injury information. This study is an evaluation of existing injury data sources in terms of prevention orientation representativeness, and sustainability with respect to the use of these sources in injury surveillance at the local level in Bangladesh. The regular injury information sources that have been used in this study include hospital records, post-mortem reports, newspaper reports, and police reports. In addition, 60 health practitioners in the area, representing various categories, were interviewed according to questionnaire, and ten others were interviewed in-depth about their opinions regarding their participation in the injury surveillance system. The information sources were then assessed for their potential to be included in the surveillance system. The validity was estimated by means of comparisons of the different sources. All the existing sources of injury information suffer from certain deficiencies such as, lack of representativeness, low prevention orientation and poor sustainability. Post-mortem reports and police reports have been found to be potential sources of mortality data but not morbidity data. Hospital records can be seen as potential sustainable sources of injury morbidity data but suffer from low prevention orientation and representativeness. The injury information was not consistent from source to source and failed to depict the true picture of injury in the area. To develop an injury surveillance system, a combination of data obtained from several different sources is necessary to compensate for inadequacies in the individual sources and to improve the overall usefulness of the system. Updated with E-codes, hospital discharge records could be used for injury morbidity surveillance, and updated police and post-mortem data can be used for mortality data in injury surveillance systems at the local level in developing countries.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1999

Is ethanol an important antioxidant in alcoholic beverages associated with risk reduction of cataract and atherosclerosis?

It has been reported in the epidemiological literature that cataract, stroke, and atherosclerosis risk is reduced by 50% in people consuming one alcoholic drink per day. Peroxide has been implicated as a causative agent in cataractogenesis, and LDL oxidation appears to play a role in atherosclerosis. The antioxidant activity of alcohol was measured by: (i) use of a luminescent assay developed in our laboratory, confirmed as appropriate; (ii) electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping; and (iii) copper-catalysed oxidation of LDL and VLDL from hamsters fed 6% ethanol in their drinking water. Ethanol reduced the luminescent counts/min from peroxide and superoxide. It significantly reduced the spin-trapped signal of hydroxyl radical, but not the superoxide signal. Other alcohols also showed large reductions in counts from hydrogen peroxide. Plasma from hamsters fed 6% ethanol had lower lipid peroxides and the oxidizability of LDL and VLDL was significantly reduced compared to controls. These data provide a possible explanation for the effect of beverages containing ethanol in the reduction of cataract and atherosclerosis risk observed in human population studies.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1998

An immunosuppressive regimen using FTY720 combined with cyclosporin in canine kidney transplantation.

FTY720 induces apoptosis, specifically in lymphocytes, and prolongs allograft survival in rats and dogs. The purpose of this study was to define an effective range of FTY720 doses that could be combined with a suboptimal dose (10 mg/kg) of cyclosporin for canine kidney allograft recipients. The combination significantly prolonged allograft survival in all groups receiving FTY720 at a dose of 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg. None of the recipients died due to notable side effects of the drug. In peripheral blood, the number of lymphocytes was extremely low, whereas the percentage of granulocytes increased during FTY720 administration. No significant difference in cyclosporin trough levels was observed between the cyclosporin-alone group and the combination groups. We conclude from the present study that FTY720 has a potent effect at an extremely low dose and a wide therapeutic window when combined with cyclosporin in canine kidney transplants.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Medical help seeking behaviour of injury patients in a community in Bangladesh.

While looking for a valid source of injury information in developing countries, it is important to know the help-seeking pattern of injury patients. A population-based study of 3258 households was conducted to explore the flow of injury patients in a local area of Bangladesh. Trained field level health workers collected the information by face-to-face interviews with the head of households, using three pretested structured forms. A total of 191 injury cases and 18 injury deaths were identified with a reference period of 15 d and 5 y, respectively. The estimated annual incidence rate of injury is 311 per 1000 inhabitants per year. The majority of the injury cases were minor (70.7%) and occurred in the home area (42%) or workplace (42%). Of the total 191 injured people, 41 (21.5%) did not seek any type of treatment for their injury but almost all of these cases were simple. Only 23.3% of injury cases who sought any type of medical treatment, went to the hospital. All severe cases, 40% of the moderate cases, and only 12.5% of minor cases were attended to at a hospital for treatment of their injuries. Allopathic quack or medicine shop owners were consulted by 42% of the injury patients. Most of the educated people preferred hospital treatment for moderate injury cases. In injury deaths, 61.1% had no opportunity to receive treatment before death, and postmortem examinations were performed in 66.7% of cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Effects of co-trimoxazole, erythromycin, amoxycillin, tetracycline and chloroquine on sperm function in vitro.

This in-vitro study was designed to investigate the effects of commonly prescribed antibiotics on sperm movement characteristics, viability and the ability of spermatozoa to undergo the acrosome reaction. Spermatozoa were obtained by swim-up from normozoospermic semen and cultured for 24 h with increasing concentrations of co-trimoxazole, erythromycin, amoxycillin, tetracycline and chloroquine. Tetracycline at concentrations as low as 2.5 microg/ml led to a significant dose-dependent inhibition in percent rapid-moving spermatozoa, mean path velocity (VAP), straight-line velocity (VSL) and curvilinear velocity (VCL), but at 50 microg/ml tetracycline all spermatozoa were static. Erythromycin had significant effects on rapid movement, VAP, VSL and VCL only at concentrations >100 microg/ml. In contrast, percent rapid-moving spermatozoa was significantly enhanced at low concentrations of chloroquine (5 microg/ml), but significantly inhibited by higher concentrations. Co-trimoxazole did not adversely affect percent rapid-moving spermatozoa below 500 microg/ml, at which concentration movement was decreased by 34%. The mean lateral head displacement (ALH) was significantly enhanced by 5 microg/ml co-trimoxazole and reduced at 1 mg/ml erythromycin. The effects of these drugs were mostly irreversible. Amoxycillin had no effect on sperm movement characteristics over the dose range used, though it inhibited viability at high doses. Viability was significantly reduced at concentrations of all drugs which affect rapid sperm movement; these concentrations of drugs did not appear to affect the ability of spermatozoa to undergo the acrosome reaction. The results from this study, when combined with known effects on spermatogenesis, should facilitate the choice of drugs for the treatment of both genitourinary and unrelated infections in men who are attempting to conceive.

Acrosome Reaction↗
PubMed1998

Can a single measurement of amniotic fluid delta optical density be safely used in the clinical management of Rhesus-alloimmunized pregnancies before 27 weeks' gestation?

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy of a single measurement of amniotic fluid optical density deviation at 450 nanometers in predicting fetal anemia in Rhesus-alloimmunization before 27 weeks gestation. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, fetal blood and amniotic fluid samples from 43 Rhesus-alloimmunized pregnancies at 18 to 26 weeks gestation were obtained under ultrasound guidance. Amniotic fluid samples were scanned by spectrophotometry for optic density at various wavelengths. Deviation at 450 nanometers was calculated between 550 and 365 nanometers. The fetuses were divided into three groups based on their hematocrit levels and the predictive efficacy of optic density zones for anemia was evaluated. RESULTS: A high number of false positive and false negative results were observed when the delta-amniotic fluid optical density of fetuses at risk for anemia was plotted to the zones recently proposed to manage Rhesus-alloimmunized pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm previous results that the diagnosis of fetal anemia in Rhesus-alloimmunized pregnancies before 27 weeks' gestation cannot be accurately made by a single measurement of amniotic fluid optical density at 450 nanometers.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1997

The effect of intravascular blood transfusion on the flow velocity waveform of the portal venous system of the anemic fetus.

Our objective was to assess flow velocity waveforms of the portal venous system of the anemic fetus prior to and immediately following intravascular transfusion. Color-guided pulsed Doppler was used to obtain flow velocity waveforms from the fetal portal vein in 14 anemic fetuses that were transfused in utero for rhesus alloimmunization The portal vein velocity pattern was defined as continuous when no change in velocity during the cardiac cycle was noted. It was defined as pulsatile when a deflection of the wave was present. The flow velocity waveforms were quantified by using the ratio between the peak (highest, H) and the nadir (lowest, L) velocities (H/L ratio). Fourteen intravascular transfusions were performed. Gestational age ranged from 19.5 to 35 weeks (mean +/- SD, 26.7 +/- 5.3 weeks). The hematocrit ranged from 5.9 to 31.2% (mean +/- SD, 20.3 +/- 9%) prior to transfusion; after transfusion it was between 24.8 and 56.7% (mean +/- SD, 42 +/- 10.4%). In six cases (43%) the waveforms were pulsatile prior to transfusion; in the other eight (57%) they were continuous. The pulsatile pattern was present following transfusion in 13 cases (93%, p < 0.05). The mean of the H/L ratio was 1.3 +/- 0.38 prior to transfusion and 2.0 +/- 0.86 after transfusion (p < 0.05). Because the portal vein has continuous non-pulsatile flow in the normal fetus, the presence of pulsatility in the waves of six anemic fetuses (43%) may suggest portal hypertension. Compared to normal fetuses, there was an increased number of cases with pulsation, and even more so after transfusion. The pattern corresponds to findings in children with portal hypertension.

Anemia↗
PubMed1996

Y-26763 protects the working rat myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion injury through opening of KATP channels.

This investigation was undertaken to determine the possible protection against ischemia afforded by Y-26763, [(-)-(3S,4R)-4-(N- acetyl-N-hydroxyamino)-6-cyano-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran- 3- ol], which has K+ channel-opening properties, in isolated rat hearts under working conditions. This preparation was subjected to 28 min of global ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Drugs were injected into the aortic cannula prior to ischemia. Compared to control, Y-26763 (1 microM) resulted in a significant recovery of post-ischemic cardiac functions, significant reduction of cellular enzyme loss, and preserved significantly the stocks of cellular high-energy phosphates and the myocyte ultrastructure. These effects of Y-26763 were completely prevented by glibenclamide (10 microM), a specific K+ channel blocker of KATP channels. In non-ischemic conditions, Y-26763 significantly increased coronary flow without affecting cardiac output and heart rate. The data were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance. The results clearly demonstrate that Y-26763 protects the myocardium from ischemic injury by opening KATP channels.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1995

Serum is more effective than albumin in promoting human embryo development and implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of serum with those of Albuminar-5 (Armour Pharmaceutical Co., Eastbourne, Sussex, United Kingdom) as medium supplements to Earl's balanced salt solution (EBSS) for IVF and subsequent embryo development. DESIGN: A retrospective study. Gametes and embryos from 318 patients were cultured in the presence of serum (group 1). Gametes and embryos from 130 patients were cultured in the presence of Albuminar-5 (group 2). Embryos obtained from IVF were replaced into the uterus within 48 hours after insemination. Surplus bipronucleate embryos were cultured up to 14 days with either serum or Albuminar-5. SETTING: Two tertiary referral fertility clinics; university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Four hundred forty-eight patients with a wide spectrum of causes of subfertility, ranging in age from 24 to 43 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fertilization rate, pregnancy rate (PR), implantation rate, and surplus embryo development in vitro. RESULTS: The PR for group 1 patients was higher than that of group 2 (27.0% versus 15.4%, respectively). Although fertilization rates were identical in the two groups, cumulative embryo scores and implantation rates were significantly higher in group 1. There was no difference between the groups in age distribution, types of ovarian stimulation, numbers of patients with day 1 or day 2 transfers, or luteal phase support. Of 31 embryos cultured with serum, 54.8% reached the fully expanded blastocyst stage and 25.8% hatched. Of 19 embryos cultured with Albuminar-5, only 5.3% reached the fully expanded blastocyst stage and none hatched. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that, under certain conditions, serum supplementation yields better results than protein supplementation alone. The latter may be suitable only in conjunction with additional components.

Adult↗