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Biomedical subjects

L Ali

Publications and source records attributed to L Ali.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
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↗
PubMed1998

Lack of R117H mutation in the cationic trypsinogen gene in patients with tropical pancreatitis from Bangladesh.

The etiology of nonalcoholic chronic pancreatitis, occurring in tropical regions, is unknown. Although environmental factors may play a role in its pathogenesis, a specific genetic predisposition may be necessary. The genetic mutation responsible for hereditary pancreatitis was described recently. Unlike in patients with hereditary pancreatitis, we found a lack of the R117H mutation in the cationic trypsinogen gene in all patients with tropical pancreatitis from Bangladesh.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The first and second cytoplasmic loops of the G-protein receptor, rhodopsin, independently form beta-turns.

The cytoplasmic face of the transmembrane protein, rhodopsin, is made up of one carboxyl terminal and three cytoplasmic loops connecting six of the seven transmembrane helices. Neither the high-resolution, three-dimensional structure of this G-protein receptor nor any other cell surface receptor is known. In this work, the structures of peptides containing the amino acid sequence of the first and second cytoplasmic loops of rhodopsin have been determined. Both loops show ordered structures in solution. In both loops, the ends of the transmembrane helices unwind and form a beta-turn. The conformations of the two loops are remarkably similar, even though their sequences are not. These data suggest a structural motif for short loops in transmembrane proteins. The well-ordered structures of these loops, in the absence of the transmembrane helices, indicate that the primary sequences of these loops stabilize the beta-turn. These data further suggest that the loops may contribute to the folding of such membrane proteins during their synthesis and insertion into membranes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Tropical calcific pancreatitis and fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes in Bangladesh.

The relationship between tropical calcific pancreatitis (TCP) and fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) is still unclear. The clinical, biochemical and radiological data of age-matched TCP and FCPD subjects have been briefly discussed in the present review. Fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes patients present with a significantly lower BMI compared with TCP patients. Analysis of the family history reveals that some kind of environmental factors seem to play a predominant role in the development of diabetes in FCPD patients, although these factors remain to be identified. Both TCP and FCPD patients predominantly come from a rural background. Fasting and 2 h blood glucose values as well as fructosamine levels in FCPD patients are approximately four-times higher than those of TCP patients. Measurements of early renal haemodynamic and microvascular changes (glomerular filtration rate, kidney size, microalbuminuria and microtransferrinuria) indicate an early renal involvement in FCPD patients. Tropical calcific pancreatitis subjects have approximately twice as high fasting C-peptide values compared with FCPD patients. Findings of single stranded DNA measurements suggest the involvement of oxidative damage in FCPD patients. Ketosis resistance is the most conspicuous clinical feature in the FCPD group and this relative absence of ketosis is probably due to a defect in the ketone body synthesis pathway and/or in the regulation of counterbalancing hormones. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography findings of TCP and FCPD patients suggest that FCPD should not be considered only as a form of secondary diabetes consequent to generalized pancreatic damage in TCP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Effect of socioeconomic risk factors on the difference in prevalence of diabetes between rural and urban populations in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of diabetes between the poor and rich of rural and urban populations in Bangladesh. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 1,052 subjects from urban and 1,319 from rural communities (age > or = 20 years) of different socioeconomic classes were investigated. Capillary blood glucose levels, fasting and 2 h after a 75-g glucose drink (2-h blood glucose [BG]), were measured. Height, weight, waist, hips, and blood pressure were also measured. RESULTS: Age-adjusted (30-64 years) prevalence of NIDDM was higher in urban (7.97% with 95% CI 6.17-9.77) than in rural subjects (3.84%, CI 2.61-5.07), whereas impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) prevalence was higher in rural subjects. In either urban or rural areas, the highest prevalence of NIDDM was observed among the rich, and the lowest prevalence was observed among the poor socioeconomic classes. The rural rich had much higher prevalence of IGT than their urban counterpart (16.5 vs. 4.4%, CI 6.8-17.4). Increased age was an important risk factor for IGT and NIDDM in both rural and urban subjects, whereas the risk related to higher BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was less significant in rural than urban subjects. Using logistic regression and adjusting for age, sex, and social class, the urban subjects had no excess risk for NIDDM. In contrast, an excess risk for glucose intolerance (2-h BG > or = 7.8 mmol/l) was observed in the rural subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Adjusting for age, sex, and social class, the prevalence of NIDDM among urban subjects did not differ significantly from that among rural subjects. Increased age, higher socioeconomic class, and higher WHR were proven to be independent risk factors for glucose intolerance in either area.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of the hypoglycemic effects of Trigonella foenum graecum seed.

The whole powder of Trigonella foenum graecum seeds and its extracts were tested for their hypoglycemic effect on normal and diabetic model rats. The powder, its methanol extract, and the residue remaining after methanol extraction had significant hypoglycemic effects when fed simultaneously with glucose. The water extract of the methanol extractive-free residue of the seed powder showed significant hypoglycemic activity at different prandial states. The Soluble Dietary Fibre (SDF) fraction showed no effect on the fasting blood glucose levels of nondiabetic or NIDDM model rats. However, when fed simultaneously with glucose, it showed a significant hypoglycemic effect (p < 0.05) in NIDDM model rats. Chemical analysis showed that the major constituent of the SDF is a galactomannan. The results confirm the involvement of SDF in the hypoglycemic effect of T. foenum graecum seeds. However, compound(s) other than SDF is (are) also involved in the hypoglycemic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Hypoglycemic effects of three plants from eastern Himalayan belt.

Rhizome of Costus speciosus, tuber of Nephrolepsis tuberosa, and bulb of Stephania hernandifolia, used by the local people and traditional healers in the Eastern Himalayan belt, were studied for their effects on serum glucose levels in nondiabetic and diabetic rat models at different prandial states. The results showed that in nondiabetic rat C speciosus and N tuberosa had no significant effect in the fasting or postprandial state when freeze-dried juices were fed simultaneously with glucose. However, when fed 30 min before the glucose load both C speciosus (p < 0.05) and N tuberosa (p < 0.003) showed hypoglycemic effect. To the contrary, S hernandifolia increased the serum glucose levels of nondiabetic rats in all the series of experiments (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). In NIDDM model rats N tuberosa opposed the rise in serum glucose level when it was fed 30 min before the glucose load (p < 0.02), whereas S hernandifolia had a tendency to raise the serum glucose level. In IDDM model rats, none of these three freeze-dried juice showed any effect in the fasting state. However, C speciosus showed significant hypoglycemic effect (p < 0.002) when the juice was fed with simultaneous glucose load. In marked contrast to the findings with nondiabetic and NIDDM model rats S hernandifolia showed significant hypoglycemic effect (p < 0.05-0.006) in both the stages (fed simultaneously with, and 30 min before the glucose load) of prandial states of the IDDM model rats. The results indicated that these three plants have interesting possibilities as a source of oral hypoglycemic agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Studies on hypoglycemic effects of fruit pulp, seed, and whole plant of Momordica charantia on normal and diabetic model rats.

Extracts of Momordica charantia fruit pulp, seed, and whole plant were tested for their hypoglycemic effects on normal and diabetic rat models. The results show that during the oral glucose tolerance test the peak blood glucose values in rats are obtained much earlier (15-45 min) than in human subjects (around 60 min). Pulp juice of M. charantia lowered fasting blood glucose levels in normal rats (p < 0.05 at 120 min); the effect was more pronounced with the saponin-free methanol extract of the pulp juice (p < 0.05 at 60 min and p < 0.01 at 120 min). The pulp juice also had a significant hypoglycemic effect in the glucose-fed normal rats when the extract was fed 45 minutes before the oral glucose load [percentage increments over basal value (M +/- SE): 85 +/- 10 in the control group vs. 54 +/- 7 in the pulp juice group, p < 0.01]. In the IDDM model rats the pulp juice had no significant effect on blood glucose levels either in fasting or postprandial states. In the NIDDM model rats the saponin-free methanol extract of juice produced a significant hypoglycemic effect both in fasting (p < 0.05 at 120 min) and in postprandial states (sum of percentage increments over basal value: 140 +/- 26 in the control vs. 71 +/- 7 in the pulp juice group, p < 0.05). Methanol extracts of seed and of whole plant, and saponin-free methanol extract of whole plant produced no hypoglycemic effects in normal or IDDM model rats either in fasting or in postprandial states.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Glucose stimulation of ouabain-resistant efflux of Na+ from rat pancreatic islets.

1. Integrating flame photometry was employed for measuring the mobilization of sodium from rat pancreatic islets after substitution of extracellular Na+ by N-methylglucamine. 2. Glucose accelerated the initial loss of sodium both in the absence and presence of ouabain (1 mM). In the latter case the effect was maximal at 5 mM of the sugar. 3. Amiloride (0.1 mM), an inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange, prevented the effect of glucose on the ouabain-resistant Na+ efflux, increasing the rate of outward transport in the absence of the sugar. 4. Extracellular K+ and arginine (10 mM) mimicked the action of glucose in promoting a ouabain-resistant mobilization of sodium. 5. Whereas the hypoglycaemic sulphonylurea tolbutamide (100 microM) did not modify the outward transport of Na+, the ouabain-resistant component of this process was partially suppressed after bumetanide (100 microM) inhibition of the chloride-dependent co-transport of Na+ and K+. 6. It is suggested that the glucose-induced lowering of the steady-state content of islet sodium involves an increased outward transport mediated at least in part by mechanisms other than stimulation of the Na(+)-K+ pump.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Free and bound sodium in pancreatic beta-cells exposed to glucose and tolbutamide.

The effects of glucose and tolbutamide on the sodium handling of the pancreatic beta-cells were evaluated by measuring the total sodium content in intact islets from ob/ob-mice by integrating flame photometry and the free ion in individual beta-cells by dual wavelength fluorometry. Whereas increasing the glucose concentration from 3 to 20 mM resulted in a lowering of sodium, the addition of 100 microM tolbutamide caused a rise. The above-mentioned effects were most marked (about 50%) for the physiologically significant free sodium. The data indicate a more important role for Na+ in the regulation of insulin release than so far acknowledged. Increase of Na+ may contribute to the secretory response to hypoglycemic sulfonylureas by providing an additional rise of cytoplasmic Ca2+.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effects of depolarizing agents on the sodium content of rat pancreatic islets.

Rat pancreatic islets were used for studying the effects of depolarization on their sodium content. The islet sodium was markedly affected by small variations of extracellular K+. As with increased K+, the presence of low concentrations of glucose (5 mM) and arginine (2 mM) decreased the sodium content. The latter substances did not lower the sodium concentration below the value obtained by depolarization with excessive K+, nor was it possible to obtain a further decrease when 10 mM arginine was combined with 5 mM glucose. The sodium content was also reduced in the presence of 10 mM L-leucine, 10 mM 2-ketoisocaproate and 0.1 mM Ba2+. Tolbutamide differed from the other depolarizing agents in that it increased the sodium concentration, an effect manifested also in the presence of excessive K+. The observation that depolarizing agents other than sulfonylureas do not increase but actually reduce sodium implies that islet cells are exceptional among electrically excitable cells. The observed reduction of sodium may reflect activation of a voltage-sensitive carrier mechanism for outward transport of Na+.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The effects of glibenclamide and its non-sulfonylurea analogue HB 699 on the sodium content of rat pancreatic islets.

Sodium contents were determined in rat pancreatic islets using integrating flame photometry. Whereas the sodium content decreased in the presence of glucose, it increased when 0.1-100 mumol/l glibenclamide was added to a medium containing 3 mmol/l glucose. The complexity of the glibenclamide action became evident with its reversal after removal of extracellular Ca2+ and the observation that the sulfonylurea counteracted the increase of sodium obtained after removal of K+. The effects of glibenclamide were mimicked by 1 mmol/l of its non-sulfonylurea analogue HB 699 with the exception that the latter compound being without suppressive action on the sodium content in medium deprived of Ca2+. Also exposure to 1 mmol/l sulfadiazine resulted in a Ca2+-dependent increase of sodium. The results suggest a role for sodium in amplifying the secretory response to the increased entry of Ca2+ obtained with the depolarisation of the beta-cells with glibenclamide or HB 699.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Sulphonamide modulation of sodium content in rat pancreatic islets.

Sodium was measured in rat pancreatic islet exposed to tolbutamide, glipizide, diazoxide or sulfisomidine. When added to a medium with physiologically balanced cations these sulphonamides induced a significant rise of the islet content of sodium. The insulin-releasing compounds, tolbutamide and glipizide, had effects opposite to those of the hyperglycemic diazoxide in counteracting the increase of sodium obtained with removal of K+. The tolbutamide-induced increase in sodium was reversed to a decrease when Ca2+ was omitted from the incubation medium. The increase of sodium, which was also seen with non-hypoglycemic sulphonamides, is itself not sufficient for initiating insulin release. However, it may well represent an important mechanism contributing to the secretory response initiated by Ca2+ entry into the sulfonylurea-depolarized beta-cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Opposing effects of glucose and tolbutamide on the sodium content of rat pancreatic islets.

Integrating flame photometry was employed for measuring sodium in rat pancreatic islets incubated in media buffered with HEPES or bicarbonate. The sodium content decreased by nearly 40% when the islets were exposed to 5 mmol/l glucose, no further reduction being seen with additional rise of the concentration to 20 mmol/l. Whereas the depressing effect of glucose was mimicked by 100 mumol/l quinine, increased sodium contents were noted after inhibition of the Na/K pump (removal of extracellular K+ or addition of 1 mmol/l ouabain) or exposure of the islets to 1 mmol/l tolbutamide. Although promoting sodium accumulation in the islet cells, tolbutamide counteracted the increase in sodium obtained on withdrawal of K+ from the incubation medium. It is suggested that tolbutamide in addition to its major effect in promoting the entry of Ca2+ also facilitates insulin release by suppressing the outward transport of this ion.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Possible treatment of some genetic deficiency diseases--a hypothesis.

A conceptual hypothesis for the possibility of treatment of genetic deficiency diseases utilizing genetic engineering techniques is presented. It is proposed that the gene responsible for the synthesis of a protein which is missing in the patient may be inserted into the patient's stem cells using already established techniques of gene splicing and delivery. The so modified stem cells, if put back into the patient's system (e.g. bone marrow), by virtue of their ability of self multiplication are likely to start synthesizing and continue to produce missing protein. Since stem cells are also capable of differentiating into various blood cells, the nucleated blood cells are also likely to begin production of the protein whose gene was inserted into the stem cells. In this way a blood protein synthesized by any organ (e.g. liver) in normal persons may be synthesized by stem cells or their differentiated forms in the patient resulting in correction of the deficiency. Certain genetically deficient animals may be used to prove this hypothesis.

Genetic Engineering↗