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Biomedical subjects

J Awad

Publications and source records attributed to J Awad.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Blastocystis hominis as a cause of hypoalbuminemia and anasarca.

The protozoan Blastocystis hominis has been considered nonpathogenic, but this classification has come under scrutiny in light of reports in the medical literature indicating it could be the cause of intestinal disorders and, in one case, hypoalbuminemia. Reported here is a severe case of infection with B. hominis that caused acute gastroenteritis with prolonged diarrhea, hypoalbuminemia and anasarca. The diagnosis was based on the parasitological finding, since no other pathological evidence was found. The patient responded favorably to treatment with metronidazole for 10 days. This case supports the idea that B. hominis should be considered as a cause of opportunistic infection in debilitated patients despite the controversy surrounding its pathogenicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Toxic-shock-like-syndrome due to Streptococcus pneumoniae sinusitis.

We describe a patient with Streptococcus pneumoniae sinusitis associated with a severe sepsis syndrome and desquamative rash whose clinical illness strongly resembled toxic-shock syndrome. Assay of convalescent serum for antibodies to toxic-shock syndrome toxin 1 was negative. This case suggests the possibility of an additional bacterial pathogen associated with toxic-shock syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Metabolic and environmental origins of volatile organic compounds in breath.

Although more than 200 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been identified in human alveolar breath, their origins are still mostly unknown. An attempt was made to determine whether the major VOCs in breath were derived from inside or outside the body--that is, were they products of metabolism or contaminants from the environment? The concentrations were measured of the 24 most abundant VOCs in the alveolar breath of 12 normal volunteers and also in the air they inspired. The polarity of the mean alveolar gradient (concentration in breath minus concentration in inspired air) was positive in 15 VOCs and negative in nine. The mean alveolar gradient varied from strongly positive (for example, 2,3,3-trimethylpentane), consistent with a metabolite manufactured in the body, to strongly negative (for example, isoprene), consistent with ingestion of an air pollutant which was then catabolised in vivo or excreted via an extra-pulmonary pathway.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed1994

Regulation of eicosanoid production and mitogenesis in rat intestinal epithelial cells by transforming growth factor-alpha and phorbol ester.

Growth factors and tumor promoters have been shown to play a role in intestinal epithelial growth regulation and transformation. In this study, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) and the tumor promoter, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), are shown to stimulate the production of eicosanoids by rat intestinal epithelial (RIE-1) cells in culture. A 4.5-kb mRNA, which hybridizes to the mouse cyclooxygenase-2 cDNA probe, is elevated 18-fold within 30 min after TGF alpha or TPA treatment. Stimulation of RIE-1 cells with TGF alpha leads to the increase of a protein (M(r) approximately 69,000), which binds a monospecific antibody to the mouse cyclooxygenase-2 protein. Dexamethasone markedly inhibits the increase of the 4.5-kb mRNA. Pretreatment of TGF alpha or TPA-stimulated RIE-1 cells with dexamethasone or cyclooxygenase inhibitors prevents the increase in eicosanoid production by these cells. Treatment of quiescent RIE-1 cells with TGF alpha stimulates mitogenesis. This mitogenic activity is blocked by pretreating the cells with dexamethasone or cyclooxygenase inhibitors. A mitogen-inducible cyclooxygenase gene is thus shown to be regulated by TGF alpha and TPA in rat intestinal epithelial cells. We suggest that products of an intestinal growth factor-inducible cyclooxygenase may play a role in the regulation of mitogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Sensitivity of three median-to-ulnar comparative tests in diagnosis of mild carpal tunnel syndrome.

We studied 193 hands of 113 patients referred for typical carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Ninety-five (49%) hands had normal median distal motor latency (< or = 4.2 ms) and normal or borderline sensory conduction velocity from digit 2 stimulation (> or = 45 m/s). In these cases we performed three median to ulnar comparative tests: (1) difference between median and ulnar distal motor latencies recorded from the second lumbrical and interossei muscles (2L-INT); (2) difference between median and ulnar sensory latencies from digit 4 stimulation (D4M-D4U); and (3) difference between median and ulnar mixed nerve latencies from palmar stimulation (PM-PU). The 2L-INT difference was > or = 0.6 ms in 10% of hands. PM-PU and D4M-D4U were > or = 0.5 ms in 56% and 77% of hands, respectively. The greater sensitivity of D4M-D4U might be explained by the funicular topography and consequent greater susceptibility to compression of the cutaneous fibers from the third interspace which, at the distal carpal tunnel, are clumped superficially in the anteroulnar portion of the median nerve just beneath the transverse ligament.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1992

Compressive bilateral peroneal neuropathy: serial electrophysiologic studies and pathophysiological remarks.

A case of bilateral common peroneal neuropathy following prolonged squatting is reported. Serial peroneal conduction velocities with analysis of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, area and duration performed at Days 1, 2, 5, 7, 14, 21, 37, 80 showed conduction block localized at the fibular head which lasted 14 days and paralleled clinical conditions. Axonal loss coexisted as indicated by amplitude reduction of CMAP from peroneal nerve stimulation at the ankle which reached the lowest values at Day 7. Excessive temporal dispersion, as indicated by abnormal increased duration of the CMAP from stimulation above the fibular head, was never detected. Conduction velocity in the segment across the fibular head was reduced as long as conduction block was present, due to preferential block of large diameter, fast conducting, fibers. The rapid resolution of conduction block and the absence of temporal dispersion suggest that compressive conduction block is not necessarily due to demyelination. Mechanical factors or ischemic-metabolic mechanisms might play a role.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Is rheumatoid arthritis in Indians associated with HLA antigens sharing a DR beta 1 epitope?

HLA class II antigens were identified in a group of 44 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) originating largely from the north or northeast of the Indian subcontinent and resident now in east London. Compared with 67 locally typed east London Asian controls, the prevalence of three HLA-DR antigens was raised in the patients: DR1 18.2% v 6.0% chi 2 = 3.99, DR4 20.5% v 11.9% chi 2 = 1.48, and DRw10 27.3% v 8.9% chi 2 = 6.56. These differences were also found when the patients with RA were compared with a larger control group of 110 northern Indians: DR1 18.2% v 7.2% chi 2 = 4.02, DR4 20.5% v 7.2% chi 2 = 5.56, and DRw10 27.3% v 8.1% chi 2 = 9.7. Twenty five (57%) of the patients expressed at least one of these antigens. All patients were also characterised for HLA-Dw types by mixed lymphocyte culture typing. The prevalence of the HLA-DR4 associated Dw types in the patients was: Dw4 2.3%, Dw10 0%, Dw14 11.4%, and Dw15 6.8%. The DR beta 1 chains of DR1 and DRw10 together with the Dw types of DR4 other than Dw10 share amino acid residues in a region of the third hypervariable region considered to be critical in antigen presentation. It is concluded that RA in Indians is associated with these HLA antigens, and data from this study support the hypothesis of a cross reactive epitope common to HLA specificities associated with RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1990

Orthodromic median and ulnar fourth digit sensory conductions in mild carpal tunnel syndrome.

Because the fourth digit (D4) has a dual innervation, median and ulnar D4 sensory conduction velocity (SCV) comparison may be useful in diagnosing the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We studied 50 control hands and 41 hands with recent onset symptoms and signs of CTS but normal median distal motor latency and normal SCV from the second digit (D2). In CTS, D4 SCV was significantly slower than D2 SCV and D4 median and ulnar sensory conduction difference was abnormal in 38 hands (92%). In 36 CTS hands (87%), but in no control hand, a double peak potential could be recorded over the median after D4 stimulation providing an immediate visual confirmation of the diagnosis of CTS. Comparing median and ulnar D4 SCV is a very sensitive method to detect early or mild CTS and should be used whenever conventional electrodiagnostic studies are normal or borderline.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

HLA DQ region gene polymorphism associated with primary IgA nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) has been associated with HLA-DR4. We have recently described two non-allelic Taq I DQ beta gene-associated fragments sized 2.0 kb (T2) and 6.0 kb (T6), which strongly associate with DR4. T2 represents a polymorphism of the DQ beta gene and has been redesignated DQw8 (10th International HLA Workshop). The origin of the T6 fragment has not been determined, but probably represents a polymorphism of either the DQ beta or DX beta gene. When present together T2 and T6 define a subgroup of DR4 subjects at high risk of developing autoimmune disease. We have, therefore, studied DQ beta gene polymorphisms in IgAN. The DR antigen distribution was similar in IgAN and normal controls. The T2+/T6+ phenotype was present in 49% patients with IgAN compared to 15% of controls [P less than 0.0001, chi 2 = 32.8, Cramer's V = 0.41; relative risk = 5.5 (range, 2.8-11.0)]. Seventy-two percent of DR4+ IgAN patients and 29% of DR4+ controls were T2+/T6+ (P = 0.007, chi 2 = 17.0). These findings confirm the hypothesis that disease susceptibility genes are important in IgAN, and suggest that the putative gene(s) are located within or near to the DQ subregion. Moreover, similar DQ beta gene associations have been found in IDDM and pemphigus vulgaris, pointing to a common immunogenetic mechanism predisposing to several autoimmune diseases.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1990

Heterogeneity of HLA-DR4 in Greeks including a unique DR4-DQw2 association.

It has been shown that Greek RA patients do not show an increased frequency of HLA-DR4 compared with Greek controls. As only the Dw4 and Dw14 subtypes of DR4 are implicated in RA, we have characterised DR4-positive Greek RA patients and controls using serology, MLC typing and RFLP analysis to see whether the distribution of DR4 subtypes or other HLA antigens associated with DR4 could account for these findings. In the 10 patients and 12 controls studied, Dw10 was common, being present in almost half the controls. Dw4 was not detected in the controls, but was present in three of the RA patients, indicating that there may be some relationship between Dw4 and RA in this population; Dw13 and Dw14 were also found, Dw15 was not detected. Eight of the subjects did not type as any of the HLA-D antigens mentioned. Three controls had unusual DR4-DQ associations, two having DR4-DQw2 and one possessing DR4-DQw4. Analysis of the TaqI DRB RFLP of the subjects showed that one control did not have the 6.1 kb band characteristic of DR4s. All these results indicate that DR4 is a heterogeneous antigen in this population and that several as yet undescribed variants of DR4 may be present.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1990

Association of DR4 related RFLP bands and RA in Greeks.

Using the Taq1 restriction enzyme and DR beta, DQ alpha probes, the DNAs of Greek RA patients and controls were characterised for RFLP's associated with DR4. Three DR beta bands, 14.8kb, 6.1kb and 5.4kb were observed at significantly higher frequency in the patients compared with controls. By using a DQ alpha probe, the 2.6kb band (associated with DR1, DRw10, DRBR and DRw14 (Dw9)) was at a significantly raised frequency in the patients. The DQ alpha 5.3kb band associated with DR4, DR7 and DR9 was also raised in the RA patients although this increase did not reach statistical significance. In view of the previously documented lack of association between DR4 (and other DR antigens) and RA in Greeks, the results suggest that some degree of HLA class II association exists with RA in this population at the DNA level which may not be overtly reflected serologically.

Adult↗