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Biomedical subjects

L Ali

Publications and source records attributed to L Ali.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Health and road transport in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: The 1998 Global Burden of Disease Study estimated that road traffic injuries (RTIs) will become the third leading cause of lost disability-adjusted life years, with two-thirds of the deaths occurring in the least developed nations. Moreover, automobile-based transport systems are associated with air pollution (lead toxicity, asthma and greenhouse gas accumulation), noise disturbances, physical inactivity and obesity. STUDY DESIGN: This study (1) reviewed road transport literature in Pakistan and the impacts on health outcomes; (2) examined health policies to assess their focus on transport-related health problems; and (3) identified policy gaps for future research. METHODS: A methodological review of the literature on direct and indirect effects of road transportation in Pakistan. This review includes government documents, memos, statements and draft policies as well as relevant articles indexed in MEDLINE. RESULTS: A systematic review revealed no approved transport policy in Pakistan, despite three national health policy documents. The Health Chapter of the 9th Five Year Plan appreciates the grave threat of unchecked RTI, but fails to offer specific policy interventions. Despite ambitious plans by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, actual projects and their implementation remain scarce, resulting in ever-increasing air pollution. The health impact of lead toxicity, noise pollution and RTIs remain high, while obesity is on the rise. CONCLUSION: The increasing health impact of road transport on 140 million people calls for immediate policy action. Government agencies must intervene effectively to establish monitoring and decentralised enforcement nationwide, while simultaneously supporting alternative modes of transportation.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2004

Diabetes mellitus in Tropical Chronic Pancreatitis Is Not Just a Secondary Type of Diabetes.

AIMS: In chronic calcific pancreatitis of the tropics, etiology and relationship to developing diabetes mellitus are unknown. Some consider these cases a straightforward secondary type of diabetes, while others suggest selective beta-cell impairment. Testing pancreatic function, we investigated whether selective beta-cell impairment triggers diabetes associated with tropical pancreatitis. METHODS: At a Bangladeshi research institute, 8 chronic tropical pancreatitis and no diabetes mellitus subjects, 14 fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetics and 27 matched healthy controls underwent arginine (endocrine pancreatic function) and secretin (exocrine pancreatic function assessment) stimulation tests. RESULTS: All patients with clinically-diagnosed, chronic pancreatitis demonstrated pronounced exocrine pancreatic dysfunction with beta-cell functioning differing significantly between the two groups. Compared to controls, patients having tropical pancreatitis and no diabetes showed normal plasma C-peptide values at baseline and after arginine stimulation, while fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetics demonstrated a typical diabetic pattern for plasma C-peptide levels. In contrast, pancreatic alpha-cell functioning (glucagon response to arginine) was preserved in both pancreatitis groups. CONCLUSION: A preserved pancreatic alpha-cell function in diabetics with advanced chronic pancreatitis of the tropics supports the concept of two different pathogenic mechanisms, one eliciting chronic pancreatitis and the other selective pancreatic beta-cell impairment and subsequent diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Acetylation phenotype status in a Bangladeshi population and its comparison with that of other Asian population data.

The objective of the present study was to determine the acetylator status of the Bangladeshi population and to compare the findings with the acetylator status of other Asian populations. The acetylator phenotype was determined in 517 unrelated healthy Bangladeshi subjects. The phenotyping procedure was done according to Price Evans' method using the NAT2 specific probe drug--sulphadimidine. The Bangladeshi population showed a bimodal distribution of fast and slow acetylators. Of a total of 517 healthy Bangladeshi, 79.5% (n=411) were fast acetylators and the rest 20.5% (n=106) were slow acetylators. The high frequency of the fast acetylators in the population of Bangladesh was comparable to other populations in East Asia. When this acetylator status was compared with other Asian data, the Asian population showed a positive correlation between the acetylator status and the geographical longitude (r=0.919; t=7.37; p>0.001; d.f.=10). The regression line of the scatter diagram showed that the frequency of acetylating capacity increasingly occurred in the populations towards eastern Asia (regression coefficient=0.54; constant=52.36). This line was termed as the Asian fast acetylator longitude (AFAL). Thus the AFAL was able to predict the acetylator status of the Asian population by the east-west geographical longitude. The AFAL could be a useful prognosticator in the disposition for the effective and safe use of numerous drugs and xenobiotic compounds in humans.

Acetylation↗
PubMed2004

Q-probes study of replicate specimens at the clinical laboratory, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this Q-probes study was to evaluate the precision of replicate specimens. METHODS: This Q-probes study done at the Clinical Laboratory, The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi is about routine chemistry analytes because of their importance in critical care patients. The analytes data was collected for six months from April to September 2002. There were total 358 samples, which were given for reanalysis during this period under the constant working conditions. After analysis, results of both the runs on different days, were compared to determine the percent difference between the results. After calculating the percent difference, the results were either accepted or rejected on the basis of guidelines set by CLIA 88(Clinical Laboratories Improvement Amendment 1988). RESULTS: Among 358 results, 5 were rejected according to the criteria selected. All of these results were then subjected to statistical analysis for calculating statistical significance. As our Null hypothesis was that the prevalence of rejected results were more than 2% with an acceptable limit of less than or equal to 2%. We failed to accept the Null hypothesis that means that it did not exceed the acceptable limits (p-value = 0.962930) with the Confidence Interval range of 0.2 -2.6 where Upper Confidence Interval is still less than 5% for a p-value of 0.05. The rejection of null hypothesis favors high precision between the two sets of results in our studied population. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that Q-Probes study of replicate specimens at the Clinical Laboratory at The Aga Khan University Hospital is within the acceptable limits. These figures show that a high quality precision is maintained among the observed specimens. This is an ongoing exercise and studies like these should be a continuous process to maintain and enhance the quality of Laboratory results).

Chemistry, Clinical↗
PubMed2004

Ketosis resistance in under thirty diabetic subjects.

Young onset diabetic subjects in tropical developing countries include a group of subjects who exhibits a characteristic ketosis resistance termed as Malnutrition Related Diabetes Mellitus (MRDM) by the WHO Study Group. The mechanism for this resistance to ketosis is still uncertain. To understand this mechanism we have studied the serum responses of glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and triglyceride (TG) to intravenous fat emulsion in newly diagnosed 8 fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) and 11 low insulin secretory (LIS) subjects under 30 years of age along with 27 age-matched Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) subjects. Overnight fasting subjects were given a 90 min infusion of intralipos 10% (2.5 mg/kg body weight/min) and serum was collected at 0, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min. The fasting NEFA in the 3 groups were almost similar (micromol/l, M +/- SEM: 486 +/- 58, 564 +/- 76 and 559 +/- 34 in FCPD, LIS and NIDDM respectively). Fasting TG also showed a close similarity among 3 groups (mg/dl, M+/-SEM: 117 +/- 11, 110 +/- 22 and 123 +/- 4 in FCPD, LIS and NIDDM respectively). Intravenous fat caused a steady rise of NEFA as well as TG in all groups during the 90 minutes of infusion followed by a gradual fall. No two groups significantly differed regarding NEFA and TG at any time point. Fasting glucose was markedly higher in FCPD (22.9 +/- 2.5, mmol/l, M+/-SEM) and LIS (20.8 +/- 1.6) than NIDDM (11.0 +/- 1.0). In all the 3 groups glucose showed a slow but steady fall. Fasting C-peptide was very low in FCPD (0.42 +/- 0.08, ng/ml, M +/- SEM) and LIS (0.55 +/- 0.09) whereas it was within normal range in NIDDM patients (2.99 +/- 0.24). The results suggest the following: (a) Depleted body fat store do not lead to a decreased supply of NEFA in FCPD and LIS subjects at the fasting state; (b) Increased supply of NEFA in these subjects lead to a normal esterification response as evidenced by a parallel rise of TG; (c) Inspite of markedly low level of the antilipolytic hormone insulin, FCPD and LIS subjects are capable to maintain NEFA and TG responses similar to NIDDM subjects. This may indicate that factor (s) other than substrate and esterification is (are) probably involved in the ketosis resistance of FCPD and LIS subjects; and (d) Although FCPD and LIS differ regarding generalized pancreatic damage (which raises the possibility of involvement of glucagon producing alpha-cells in the FCPD group) the two groups do not differ regarding the ketogenic substrate and esterfication responses.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Effect of soluble dietary fibre fraction of Trigonella foenum graecum on glycemic, insulinemic, lipidemic and platelet aggregation status of Type 2 diabetic model rats.

The soluble dietary fibre (SDF) fraction of Trigonella foenum graecum (Tf-sdf) has previously been shown to reduce postprandial elevation in blood glucose level of Type 2 model diabetic rats by delaying the digestion of sucrose. The Tf-sdf has now been investigated for its chronic effect on serum fructosamine, insulin and lipid levels, and on platelet aggregation in Type 2 diabetic rats. Tf-sdf was administered orally twice daily at a dose of 0.5 g kg(-1) for 28 days. It lowered the serum fructosamine level (P<0.05) with no significant change in the insulin level as compared with the control. Atherogenic lipids, i.e. triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were found to decrease significantly in Tf-sdf fed rats (P<0.01). HDL-cholesterol showed an opposite trend (P=0.024), but serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) values paralleled the atherogenic lipids (P=0.001). No significant effect on platelet aggregation (%) was found although there was a tendency to lower the aggregation (P=0.069). It is concluded that Tf-sdf has a beneficial effect on dyslipidemia and has a tendency to inhibit platelet aggregation in Type 2 model diabetic rats.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

Genetic susceptibility to fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes in Bangladeshi subjects: a family study.

Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) is an uncommon cause of diabetes, seen mainly in developing countries. A family-based study was carried out in 67 Bangladeshi families, consisting of a proband with FCPD and both parents, to determine whether an association exists between FCPD susceptibility and either the major histocompatiblity complex (MHC) or insulin gene (INS) loci. HLA-DQB1 typing was done using allele-specific primers, and INS was typed using the restriction enzyme HphI. Three microsatellites (TNFa, TNFc and TNFd), from within and flanking the TNF-LT locus, were used for MHC Class IV typing and a PCR-RFLP assay was used to define the -308G/A TNF promoter polymorphism. The extended transmission disequilibrium test (ETDT) was used for statistical analysis. An overall association was observed between FCPD and HLA-DQB1 (P = 0.003), that was largely due to a positive association with HLA-DQB1*0302 and a negative association with HLA-DQB1*0202. Although no association was found between FCPD and TNF-LT microsatellite markers a trend was observed for TNFc (P = 0.037, Pc = 0.15). No association was found between FCPD and INS (P = 0.26). This study confirms an association between FCPD and the MHC using a family-based study design and the stringent ETDT analysis; a novel protective association was found with HLA-DQB1*0202 in Bangladeshi FCPD subjects. The genetic susceptibility to FCPD has features both similar and dissimilar to T1DM.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed2002

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of Methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus infection in major cities of Pakistan. SETTING: Various laboratories of the country with one as the central Laboratory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven hundred and ninety two consecutive clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were collected from 8 laboratories all over Pakistan i.e. Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore, Sukkhur, Islamabad, Quetta, and Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. Antibiotic sensitivity was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and MIC of Vancomycin was determined by 'E' test. RESULTS: Forty two percent of the isolates were found to be Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) while no Vancomycin resistance was encountered. CONCLUSION: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are seen in the local population with frequencies varying between 2-61% highest incidence is seen in the major cities of the country. Fortunately no Vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus has been isolated from any of the major cities.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2001

The road to rave.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

SPINK1/PSTI mutations are associated with tropical pancreatitis in Bangladesh. A preliminary report.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tropical pancreatitis (TP) refers to a severe type of idiopathic chronic pancreatitis that develops in children in tropical regions of Africa and southern Asia. Phenotypically TP is subdivided into fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) and tropical calcific pancreatitis without diabetes mellitus (TCP). Recently an association was identified between idiopathic pancreatitis in the USA and Europe and mutations in the serine protease inhibitor, Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) gene (previously termed pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor, PSTI). Our aim was to determine if either form of TP has a genetic basis. METHODS: We studied 8 well-characterized patients from Bangladesh with FCPD, 4 with TCP and 4 controls without pancreatic disease. The entire SPINK1 gene was sequenced in these patients. RESULTS: We detected two disease-associated SPINK1 mutations (N34S/IVS1 - 37T > C and IVS3 + 2T > C) in 6 of 8 patients from Bangladesh with FCPD but not in 4 patients with TCP (p < 0.03) or 4 controls (p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that SPINK1 mutations are associated with FCPD in Bangladesh. Since SPINK1 mutations in Europeans and North Americans are associated with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis that is phenotypically different from FCPD, we further conclude that mutated SPINK1 markedly increases the risk of developing a variety of pancreatic diseases possibly through a chronic elevation of active trypsin within the pancreas.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Structures of the intradiskal loops and amino terminus of the G-protein receptor, rhodopsin.

The intradiskal surface of the transmembrane protein, rhodopsin, consists of the amino terminal domain and three loops connecting six of the seven transmembrane helices. This surface corresponds to the extracellular surface of other G-protein receptors. Peptides that represent each of the extramembraneous domains on this surface (three loops and the amino terminus) were synthesized. These peptides also included residues which, based on a hydrophobic plot, could be expected to be part of the transmembrane helix. The structure of each of these peptides in solution was then determined using two-dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. All peptide domains showed ordered structures in solution. The structures of each of the peptides from intradiskal loops of rhodopsin exhibited a turn in the central region of the peptide. The ends of the peptides show an unwinding of the transmembrane helices to form this turn. The amino terminal domain peptide exhibited alpha-helical regions with breaks and bends at proline residues. This region forms a compact domain. Together, the structures for the loop and amino terminus domains indicate that the intradiskal surface of rhodopsin is ordered. These data further suggest a structural motif for short loops in transmembrane proteins. The ordered structures of these loops, in the absence of the transmembrane helices, indicate that the primary sequences of these loops are sufficient to code for the turn.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Quantitative trait loci for root-penetration ability and root thickness in rice: comparison of genetic backgrounds.

Drought is the major abiotic stress limiting rice (Oryza sativa) production and yield stability in rainfed lowland and upland ecosystems. Root systems play an important role in drought resistance. Incorporation of root selection criteria in drought resistance improvement is difficult due to lack of reliable and efficient screening techniques. Using a wax-petrolatum layer system simulated to compacted soil layers, root traits were evaluated in a doubled haploid (DH) population derived from the cross between 'IR64' and 'Azucena'. Twelve putative QTLs (quantitative trait loci) were detected by interval mapping comprising four QTLs for root-penetration ability, four QTLs for root thickness, two QTLs for penetrated root number, and two QTLs for total root number. These QTLs individually explained 8.4% to 16.4% of the phenotypic variation. No QTL was detected for maximum penetrated root length by interval mapping. One QTL located between RG104 and RG348 was found to influence both root-penetration ability and root thickness. QTLs for root-penetration ability and root thickness were compared across two populations, 'IR64'-'Azucena' and 'CO39'-'Moroberekan', and different testing conditions. The identified consistent QTLs could be used for marker-assisted selection for deep and thick roots with high root-penetration ability in rice.

Oryza↗
PubMed2000

Viral hepatitis: recent experiences from serological studies in Bangladesh.

Infections due to hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis E (HEV) viruses are the major causes of hepatitis and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries like Bangladesh. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV antibody, anti-HAV antibody and anti-HEV antibody in patients suspected of having infection by HBV, HCV, HAV and HEV, respectively. Antibody to HAV was detected in 39% of subjects investigated. HBsAg was identified in 19% of subjects. Antibody to HCV and HEV was detected in 13% and 53% subjects, respectively. Infection with HAV was very high among children < or = 6 years of age (100%). On the contrary, exposure to HEV was higher in adult persons > or => 30 years of age (52%) compared to that in children < or = 6 years of age who had 0% incidence. Our study clearly indicates a high prevalence of those viruses, particularly of enterically transmitted HAV and HEV in Bangladesh, which appeared to be a serious health problem in this developing country. Control measures should be taken on an urgent basis to prevent the spread of infections by these viruses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Home monitoring of blood glucose (HMBG) in Type-2 diabetes mellitus in a developing country.

The cost-effectiveness of home monitoring of blood glucose (HMBG) in Type-2 diabetes in a developing country was evaluated. A total of 64 uncomplicated Type-2 diabetic individuals of higher middle class to rich socio-economic status were studied. Thirty-two were allocated to conventional monthly hospital visits group-I (Gr-I) and 32 to HMBG with hospital visits at 3 monthly intervals group-II (Gr-II). In Gr-I, compared to baseline, HbA1c values decreased by 0.76% (95% CI 0.11-1.42) after 9 months and by 0.95% (95% CI 0.12-1.77) after 15 months but lost significance after 18 months follow-up. On the other hand, in Gr-II patients, HbA1c decreased significantly from baseline from 3 months and remained so at 18 months when it was decreased by 1.37% (95% CI 0.25-2.49). Hypoglycaemic episodes per patient year follow-up were significantly lower among Gr-II patients (0.172 vs. 0.354, P = 0.03). Considering the cost for conveyance, wage loss, investigation, institutional cost, glucometer and test strips, the total cost per patient was quite similar in both groups. The present study suggests that HMBG with proper diabetes education may be cost-effective at least in selected groups of individuals with Type-2 diabetes, even in a developing country such as Bangladesh.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Serum and urinary magnesium in young diabetic subjects in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Magnesium imbalance, implicated in diabetes mellitus both as a cause and a consequence, has not yet been investigated in subgroups of subjects with malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus. which is prevalent in young patients in tropical developing countries such as Bangladesh. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the serum and urinary magnesium concentrations in groups of young diabetic subjects in Bangladesh. DESIGN: Forty patients newly diagnosed with diabetes [13 with fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes (FCPD), 13 with protein-deficient diabetes (PDDM), and 14 with type 2 diabetes mellitus] were studied along with 13 healthy control and 13 malnourished control subjects [body mass index (in kg/m2) < 19]. Magnesium was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Malnutrition itself was not related to the serum glucose (fasting: 3.68+/-0.74 and 4.11+/-0.29 mmol/L; postprandial: 6.30+/-0.41 and 6.00+/-0.24 mmol/L for healthy and malnourished control subjects, respectively) or serum or urinary magnesium (serum: 0.73+/-0.03 and 0.75+/-0.05 mmol/L: urinary: 232+/-124 and 243+/-88 mmol Mg/mol creatinine for healthy and malnourished control subjects, respectively) concentration. Subjects with FCPD and PDDM had significantly lower serum magnesium concentrations (PDDM: 0.68+/-0.06 mmol/L, FCPD: 0.66+/-0.07 mmol/L) than those in both control groups. In contrast with 0% of healthy and 7.7% of malnourished control subjects, 42.85% of type 2 diabetic subjects, 61.54% of those with PDDM, and 69.23% of those with FCPD were hypomagnesemic. Subjects with FCPD and PDDM had significantly higher urinary excretion of magnesium than the healthy and malnourished control subjects and the type 2 diabetic subjects. Hypermagnesuria paralleled hypomagnesemia. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition may not itself give rise to glucose intolerance, and serum magnesium deficiency seems to be a consequence rather than a cause of diabetes mellitus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Presenting features in Pakistani patients suffering from the antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody--classical subtype (c-ANCA) associated vasculitis.

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinicopathological features in c-ANCA positive patients suffering from vasculitis with a view to find out the most common mode of presentation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTINGS: Department of Immunology, AFIP, Rawalpindi, MH Rawalpindi, CMH Rawalpindi, Department of Rheumatology, PIMS, Islamabad, RGH Rawalpindi, FFH, Rawalpindi. SUBJECTS: Seventeen patients suffering from vasculitis and found to be positive for c-ANCA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinico-pathological features at presentation. RESULTS: There were 9 males in age range 11-60 years (mean age 32.5 years) and 8 females in age range 26-42 years (mean age 32.3 years). Common presenting features were a combination of cough, blocked nose and post nasal drip 14/17 (82%) followed by nose bleed and haematuria 11/17 (65%). Six patients were demonstrated to be suffering from Wegener's granulomatosis after biopsy. C-ANCA was detected by indirect immunofluorescence in the titre range of 8-640. The auto antibody levels related to disease activity. CONCLUSION: c-ANCA associated vasculitis is a rare (17 patients in five years) but aggressive form of vasculitis. It must be suspected in patients with persistent respiratory tract related symptoms associated with fever and joint pains which fail to respond to adequate treatment for infections. The c-ANCA estimations can be utilised as sensitive and specific diagnostic and prognostic marker in this form of vasculitis.

Adolescent↗