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Biomedical subjects

M A Omar

Publications and source records attributed to M A Omar.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), HIV-2, and human T cell lymphotropic virus-1 infection in Somalia.

A seroepidemiologic survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), HIV-2, human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), and Treponema pallidum infection among southern Somalis. Sera were collected from 1,269 study subjects in the urban area of the capital city, Mogadishu, and in the rural towns of Merka, Qoryoley, and Kismayo. The subjects included 57 prostitutes, 79 sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients, and 1,133 others, including outpatient and hospitalized patients with leprosy, tuberculosis, other infectious diseases, individuals from rehabilitation camps and secondary schools, and Ethiopian immigrants. Results indicated that none of the sera were positive for HIV-1 and HIV-2 by Western blot, but one was positive for HTLV-I. The prostitutes had a significantly higher prevalence of treponemal antibody (50.8%; P less than 0.0001) than either the STD patients (12.6%) or the other subjects (5.2%). Epidemiologic data indicated that 94% of the males and females were circumcised and only 2.6% of the males used condoms. Overall, the results of this study suggested a very low prevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2, and HTLV-I infections, especially among prostitutes and STD patients, who were considered at greatest risk of contracting these retroviral infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Isolated tricuspid valve infective endocarditis. A report of 6 cases.

Six cases of isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis in young women are described. Preceding genital sepsis was a predisposing factor in 4 patients. Cardiac signs are unusual at presentation, rendering the diagnosis difficult. Pleuropulmonary manifestations are the predominant findings, while overt signs of tricuspid insufficiency and right heart failure occur late in the disease. Staphylococcus aureus is the pathogen most commonly found and requires energetic treatment for a minimum of 4 weeks. The value of echocardiography in establishing an early diagnosis is stressed. Persistent sepsis constitutes a major indication for surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

HLA class I and II antigens in South African blacks with Graves' disease.

A study was done to evaluate the relationship between Graves' disease and the HLA system in South African Blacks of Zulu descent. One hundred and three patients with Graves' disease and 1416 control subjects were typed for HLA A, B, and C antigens while HLA DR antigens were done on 63 of the former and 330 of the latter. There was a significant increase in the frequency of HLA DR3 in patients compared to control subjects (57.1% vs 36.1%; P corrected = 0.014). A relationship was also seen at the DR1 locus (14.3% vs 4.6%; P corrected = 0.023).

Black People↗
PubMed1990

HIV infection surveillance in Mogadishu, Somalia.

A group of 89 prostitutes and 45 patients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Mogadishu, Somalia were examined for evidence of HIV infection. Both groups reported more than 1 sexual partner routinely and had sexual contacts with prostitutes. There was a significant amount of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in these two groups, with 11.2% and 6.7% respectively being culture positive for N. gonorrhoea. Among the prostitutes, 28.1% were positive for antibodies to T. pallidum while only 4.4% of the STD patients were positive. One isolate of N. gonorrhoea was resistant to penicillin. All study participants were negative for antibodies to HIV suggesting an extremely low prevalence of HIV in high risk behaviour groups in the capital city of Somalia.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

AIDS: the situation in Mogadishu during spring 1987.

To determine if AIDS was present in Mogadishu during spring 1987, we screened hospital patients for the presence of diseases compatible with acquired immunodeficiency. Twenty-nine such patients were identified and had their serum tested for antibodies to HIV by standard serologic techniques. All these sera were negative for HIV antibodies. During the same time, at the Mogadishu clinic for sexually transmitted diseases, 48 individuals were examined for evidence of HIV infection. No patient had clinical signs compatible with AIDS, but one serum was anti-HIV antibodies positive in both the ELISA and western blot assay. We conclude that there was no clinical AIDS in Mogadishu in early 1987 and that prevalence of HIV infection in high risk individuals was very low.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Diabetes and hypertension in South African Indians. A community study.

A community survey was done to assess the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in Indians living in Durban. Each subject, selected by systematic cluster sampling, had blood pressure measured and a glucose tolerance test. Diagnoses of diabetes mellitus and of hypertension were based on World Health Organization criteria. Of the 1,064 subjects studied 9% had diabetes and 14.2% hypertension; diabetes mellitus was more common in women (10.5%) than men (7%), whereas the prevalence of hypertension was similar in both sexes (women 13.5%, men 14.7%). Hypertension was found in 45.8% of the diabetic subjects, 31.4% of those with impaired glucose tolerance and 9.9% of those with normal glucose tolerance. Although hypertension was more common in women (63.3%) than men (37.9%) in the diabetic group, there was no significant difference in the sex distribution in the subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and those with normal glucose tolerance. Of the subjects with hypertension, 29.1% had diabetes; there was no significant difference in the sex distribution. The mean age-adjusted body mass indices were significantly higher in the hypertensive subjects with all degrees of glucose tolerance than in normotensive subjects. There was a trend towards elevation of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure with increasing degrees of glucose intolerance and increasing age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

HLA class I and II antigens in South African Indians with NIDDM.

The relationship between the HLA system and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in South African Indians, a migrant Indian group, was evaluated by testing HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens in 184 patients and 1444 control subjects and HLA-DR antigens in 104 patients and 330 control subjects. There was a significant increase in the frequency of HLA-Bw61 in patients compared with control subjects (27.7 vs. 18%, P = .00155), although the degree of association was not very strong (relative risk 1.7). A similar association has been noted in Fiji Indians, another migrant Indian group. However, no relationship could be established at the DR locus. It is suggested that the relatively high frequency of the Bw61 allele in South African Indians could, in the presence of some environmental factor like obesity, confer increased susceptibility to NIDDM.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Autoantibodies to thyroxin and triiodothyronine.

Two clinically euthyroid patients with multinodular goiter were found to have high "free" thyroxin (Amerlex-M, Amersham and Coat-a-Count, DPC) and triiodothyronine (Amerlex-M) concentrations (FT4 and FT3, respectively). The presence of antibodies to T4 and T3 was confirmed by the finding that polyethylene glycol precipitated a far greater proportion of radioactivity when radiolabeled FT4 or FT3 analog (Amerlex-M) was incubated with serum from these patients than was true for normal subjects. With this method we could not demonstrate antibodies to thyroid hormones in 116 healthy volunteers. Of 101 hyperthyroid patients tested, one had antibodies to T4 but none had antibodies to T3. One patient had antibodies to T4, and one to T3, of 36 hypothyroid patients tested. All patients with thyroid hormone antibodies also demonstrated antithyroglobulin antibodies (measured immunoradiometrically). Evidently, the presence of thyroid hormone antibodies should be suspected when results of thyroid-function tests are discordant with the clinical state, and we suggest that measurement of thyrotropin by an assay with improved detection limits will aid in correctly determining thyroid status.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Management of diabetes mellitus.

The management of diabetes mellitus involves patient education and dietary modifications, both of which play a key role in determining the success of therapy. Other therapeutic measures include oral hypoglycaemic agents and insulin. In type II diabetic patients not responding to diet alone the second-generation sulphonylureas are preferred. Biguanides are indicated in the very obese type II diabetic, provided there are no contraindications. Where insulin therapy is indicated (e.g. type 1 diabetes mellitus), the trend is to use a human preparation because it evokes a very weak antibody response. Optimal diabetes control, as gauged by home blood glucose monitoring and glycosylated haemoglobin levels or, in the case of type II diabetics, fasting blood glucose levels, prevents the acute symptoms of diabetes mellitus as well as coma and in addition appears to minimise the risk of vascular complications.

Biguanides↗
PubMed1987

The clinical efficacy of a second-generation alpha-glucosidase inhibitor in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

In a placebo-controlled double-blind randomised group comparison, the tolerability and metabolic effect of emiglitate, a new second-generation alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, was evaluated in 10 Indians with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus being treated with sulphonylureas. Patients on emiglitate showed a decrease in postprandial plasma glucose levels (means 10 +/- 0.94; 10.1 +/- 0.97 mmol/l) compared with the levels in the run-in period (mean 11.4 +/- 1 mmol/l) but the difference was not significant. However, the emiglitate group showed a significantly greater decrease while on the drug compared with the placebo group at the end of the 1st week (P less than 0.01). The Hb A1 levels in those on emiglitate decreased significantly a week after cessation of therapy (mean 7 +/- 0.81%) compared with the run-in levels (mean 9.4 +/- 1.79%; P less than 0.02). The drug was well tolerated and caused no haematological or biochemical abnormalities.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗
PubMed1987

A sensitive immunoradiometric assay for serum thyroid-stimulating hormone. A first-line investigation for thyroid function.

The value of a highly sensitive immunoradiometric assay for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in distinguishing between hyperthyroid patients and normal controls is discussed. The assay has a sensitivity of 0.3 microU/ml and correctly categorised all patients in this study as either hyperthyroid or euthyroid. An approach to thyroid function testing using this sensitive TSH assay as a first-line investigation is presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of the integrated 3-hour plasma cortisol concentration as a test for Cushing's syndrome.

Twenty-four hour urinary free cortisol and mean and integrated 13h00-16h00 plasma cortisol levels were measured in 9 patients with proven Cushing's syndrome (5 with Cushing's disease, 2 with ectopic adrenocorticotrophic hormone production due to bronchial carcinoma and 2 with adrenal adenomas) and in 21 patients without Cushing's syndrome. The 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels and mean and integrated 13h00-16h00 plasma cortisol estimations clearly distinguished patients with Cushing's syndrome from those without. However, adequate suppression on dexamethasone suppression tests (false negatives) were obtained in 3 of the 9 patients with Cushing's syndrome. Since the integrated 13h00-16h00 plasma cortisol estimation is cheaper and simpler than the mean 13h00-16h00 plasma cortisol estimation, we recommend it as an adjunct in the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome.

Cushing Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Human islet cell antibodies: immunoglobulin class and subclass distribution defined by monoclonal antibodies.

Utilizing defined monoclonal antibody reagents, the immunoglobulin class and subclass distribution of human islet cell antibodies (ICA) were evaluated by means of an indirect immunofluorescence technique. ICA positive sera from 14 subjects with Type 1 diabetes and 10 with "Pre-Type 1 diabetes mellitus" (ICA positive, currently non-diabetic "high risk" subjects, mostly first degree relatives, with varying degrees of beta cell dysfunction) were analyzed. ICA were confined solely to the IgG class, the majority of the subjects (17/24) demonstrating an ICA response restricted to one IgG subclass only (IgG1). The remainder (7/24) showed an IgG subclass distribution extending to no more than 2 subclasses only (IgG1 + IgG2 or IgG1 + IgG3). There was no relationship between specific ICA-IgG subclass response and the age, sex, stage and duration of diabetes mellitus. An ICA-IgM response was not seen in any of the subjects, including those studied during the early preclinical phase of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Adolescent↗