Biomedical subjects
H M Ismail
Publications and source records attributed to H M Ismail.
Clinical pattern of newly-diagnosed seizures in Saudi Arabia: a prospective study of 263 children.
The clinical patterns, including history, examination, and electroencephalographic (EEG) and computed tomography (CT) findings were examined prospectively in 263 children (153 boys, 110 girls) with newly diagnosed recurrent seizures. The overall mean age was 4. 2 years, with a range of 0.05-13 years. The age of onset was within the first year of life in 128 (48.7%) of the patients. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (14.8%), febrile seizures (9.1%) and developmental delay (4.6%) were the predominant signs in this age group. Consanguinity of the parents was present in 29.7% cases. The main EEG abnormalities were epileptiform activity, which was generalized in 133 (50.6%) and focal in 80 (30.4%). Other abnormalities included slow wave activity in 41 (15.6%) and hypsarrhythmia in 3 (1.1%). The main seizure types were generalized in 60.4% and partial in 32.7%. The types of epileptic syndromes included localization-related (28.1%), generalized (23.2%), undetermined (37.4%) and (special) syndromes 11.4%. The cranial CT findings were normal in 60.5%, and the predominant abnormality was cerebral atrophy in 25.3%. The pattern of seizure types and the peak presentation in early childhood are comparable to those in western reports.
A rapid supercritical fluid extraction method for the qualitative detection of 2-alkylcyclobutanones in gamma-irradiated fresh and sea water fish.
2-Alkylcyclobutanones are routinely used as chemical markers for irradiated foods containing lipids. However, current extraction procedures (soxhlet-Florisil chromatography) for the isolation of these markers involve a long and tedious clean-up regime prior to GC-MS identification. A simple and rapid method for the isolation of these markers using carbon dioxide as a super critical fluid is described for low lipid content fish samples (fresh and sea water) irradiated up to 8kGy. The presence of 2-dodecylcyclobutanone (2-DCB), a radiolytic marker, was confirmed in all irradiated fish samples at all doses. This was a clear indication that the fish samples had been irradiated and that both methods of isolation (florisil and supercritical fluid extraction) were capable of qualitatively extracting this marker. Supercritical fluid extraction is proposed as an alternative extraction procedure to the florisil chromatography method currently in use and has the added advantage of a considerably shorter extraction time.
Pattern of electroencephalographic abnormalities in children with hydrocephalus: a study of 68 patients.
The pattern of electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities was studied in 68 patients (41 male, 27 female, age range 1 month to 17 years) with hydrocephalus. They all had standardized EEG recordings, which were read by the same electroencephalographer. In 48 children the EEG was performed after ventriculo-peritoneal shunting. The EEG abnormalities in the shunted group included slow waves in 26 patients [focal 2 (4.2%), generalized asynchronous 22 (45.8%), generalized synchronous 2 (4.2%)]; amplitude abnormalities in 2 (focal 1, generalized 1); epileptiform activity in 26 [partial 11 (22.9%), generalized 15 (31.3%)] and hypsarrhythmia in 4 (8.3%). Only 4 (8.3%) traces were normal, giving an overall percentage abnormality of 92%. In the unshunted group generalized asynchronous slow waves were found in 12 patients (60%), generalized amplitude abnormality in 1, focal epileptiform activity in 3 (15%), and generalized epileptiform activity in 6 (30%); 2 tracings in this group were normal, giving an overall percentage abnormality of 90%. Hydrocephalus in children, regardless of the cause, may be associated with generalized or focal EEG abnormalities. This may reflect the heterogeneity of the neural generator in the underlying disease process.
Iodine deficiency disorders among school children in upper Egypt: an epidemiologic study.
Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are the world's single most significant cause of preventable brain damage and mental retardation. Data regarding IDD in upper Egypt are scarce and even lacking. The aim of the present work was to study the prevalence of IDD and some potential risk factors in upper Egypt. Using a two-stage cluster sampling technique, 6750 school children aged 8-10 years were screened for IDD through clinical examination of the thyroid gland and determination of urinary iodine, from three governorates in upper Egypt, namely Al-Minya (population of 3.3 million), Assyut (population of 2.9 million), and Suhag (population of 3.1 million). Iodine was determined in samples of soil and drinking water. Overall, the prevalence rate of goitre was 34.6 per cent. The median urinary iodine level for children with goitre was 5.04 micrograms/dl compared to 14.81 micrograms/dl among children free of goitre. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that certain groups of school children were much more likely to develop goitre. They included females (OR = 3.07, 95 per cent CI = 2.78-3.39), children in households where drinking water had an iodine content of less than 0.5 microgram/100 ml (OR = 3.44, 95 per cent CI = 3.09-3.89), and children living in places where soil content of iodine was less than 0.2 microgram/100 g (OR = 2.67, 95 per cent CI = 2.30-3.10). We conclude that IDD is a severe public health problem in upper Egypt. The present situation in upper Egypt necessitates an urgent intervention programme.
The effect of intermittent heating on some chemical parameters of refined oils used in Egypt. A public health nutrition concern.
As part of a public health campaign in Egypt, various chemical parameters of oil which are considered good indices in assessing the degree of thermal abuse, oxidation and overall quality (acid values, iodine values, peroxide values, etc.) were studied with respect to different frying oils. Ingestion of decomposition products formed as a results of thermal abuse and oxidation of frying oils are known to lead to a variety of symptoms and diseases (allergies, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease). Results show that the oil most commonly used by street vendors in Egypt (blend of cotton seed and sunflower oil) is the least suitable for frying, while palm oil on the basis of the various chemical parameters studied, is the ideal choice. However, from the nutritional and public health stand point, the use of saturated oils is to be discouraged. Corn oil is therefore the next best choice from both the chemical and nutritional stand point, and is recommended for public use in a country in which deep-fried vegetable patties ('fallafel') forms the staple food item in the diet.
Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Preventing treatment failures and early reinfection.
Although antimicrobial agents from a number of classes have been used with a good degree of clinical success for acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, the incidence of resistance by beta-lactamase-producing strains to certain penicillins and cephalosporins continues to increase and represents a growing clinical problem. There also have been reports of significant resistance by Streptococcus pneumoniae to tetracyclines and of treatment failures caused by this organism among patients receiving fluoroquinolones. The emergence of penicillin-resistant pneumococci in North America also is of concern. Although first-generation cephalosporins are no longer regarded as first-line therapy or optimal alternatives for acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, more recently developed agents of this class have better activity against the primary pathogens, and their efficacy and safety have been demonstrated in a number of clinical trials. Newer macrolide agents probably should be reserved for infections caused by atypical organisms.
The hemiplegic arm after stroke: measurement and recovery.
Seven clinical tests have been used to study the recovery of arm function in 92 patients over 2 years following their stroke. These tests are simple and quick, and can be used by any interested observer. They form a hierarchical scale that measures recovery. Statistically significant improvement is only seen in the first 3 months. Fifty-six patients initially had non-functional arms; eight made a "complete recovery" and 14 a partial recovery. The tests described are inadequate on their own because they are not sufficiently sensitive at the upper range of ability. While recovery of lost function does relate to the degree of initial neurological loss in the arm, it seems to be largely independent of the overall severity of the stroke.
Isometric tension development in a human skeletal muscle in relation to its working range of movement: the length-tension relation of biceps brachii muscle.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Recording of isometric contractions of human biceps brachii muscle [proceedings].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Energy expenditure and physiological performance of Sudanese cane cutters.
The thermal and exercise tolerances of 165 Sudanese cane cutters were measured in the laboratory and related to work performance and productivity in the cane fields. The results showed that the amount of cane cut per minute in the field was significantly correlated with changes in body weight (r = +0-53) during the third hour of work, aerobic energy expenditure (r = + 0-43), and cardiac frequency during work. These variables in turn were associated with predicted maximal power output (VO2 max) measured in the laboratory. The average energy expenditure during cane cutting was 1-66 +/- 0-33 1/min-1 (34-9 kJ/min-1) which represents approximately 60% of the workers predicted VO2 max. This rate of energy expenditure was sustained in the cane fields for at least three hours without significant pauses for rest. The sweat losses measured in 32 cane cutters during the two and three hours of work averaged 637 +/- 221 and 770 +/- 282 g/h-1 respectively, while the mean urine temperature immediately on cessation of effort was 37-74 +/- 0-46 degrees C. Despite the additional environmental heat load of the tropics, it would seem that cane cutters performing a self-paced task demanding heavy physical effort, are able to sustain work levels well in excess of those recommended for most European factory workers without obvious signs of fatigue or heat stress.
Physiological performance and work capacity of Sudanese cane cutters with Schistosoma mansoni infection.
Physiological tests of work performance and measurement of field productivity were made in 194 Sudanese cane cutters in order to study the effect of Schistosoma mansoni infection. The cane cutters were selected from two age ranges (16-24 and 25-45 years) and subdivided into three clinical groups: not infected, infected with, and infected without clinical signs of hepatosplenomegaly. Men infected with Schistosoma haemotobium, malaria (blood film), or with hemoglobin levels less than 10 g/100 ml were excluded. There was a statistically significant (P less than 0.002) higher mean hemoglobin concentration in those not infected but the mean difference was less than 1 g/100 ml. Submaximal responses to exercise on a stationary bicycle ergometer, oxygen intake, ventilation, tidal volume, cardiac frequency and estimated maximal aerobic power output calculated both in absolute terms and relative to lean body mass and leg volume were similar in the six groups of cane cutters. No significant differences were found in physique, body composition or in thermoregulatory function tests. The cane cutters were found to have little natural acclimatization to heat in terms of sweating capacity when compared with a group of fully acclimatized Sudanese soldiers. The mean productivity (mean daily weight of cane cut per man) was significantly correlated with the individual's estimated maximum aerobic capacity determined in the laboratory, but not with the degree of S. mansoni infection. The noninfected group was less "efficient" (mean productivity:oxygen intake) during cutting than the infected groups but a larger proportion of the noninfected were in their first season of cutting. There was a positive correlation between the number of seasons' cutting experience and the individual's age, degree of infection and mean productivity. Cane cutters studied in this investigation were a relatively fit, active population from whom the more seriously ill were excluded. These results do not, therefore necessarily reflect the effects of S. mansoni on physiological work capacity and productivity of more static populations in areas of high endemicity.
Isometric contractions of normal and spastic human skeletal muscle.
Isometric contractile properties of human elbow flexor muscles were examined in 27 normal subjects (7 females and 20 males). Contractions of elbow flexors were elicited by application of electrical pulses to the biceps motor points. The tension development was recorded at the wrist with the elbow angle fixed at 90 degrees--100 degrees. The data for the time to peak and time to half relaxation of the twitch, the twitch tension-to-tetanus tension ratio, and the posttetanic twitch potentiation are reported. The contractile properties of spastic elbow flexor muscles from 7 subjects who had been hemiparetic for periods ranging from 4 months to 60 months were found to be similar to those of muscles in normal subjects and unaffected muscles in hemiparetic subjects.