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Biomedical subjects

M A Tahir

Publications and source records attributed to M A Tahir.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Typing of DNA HLA-DQ alpha alleles extracted from human nail material using polymerase chain reaction.

The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) typing of human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) DQ alpha from human fingernails is described. HLA-DQ alpha genotypes can be accurately determined from clipped fingernails. We have typed 26 nails accurately, while one did not give any type since that one sample did not amplify due to the low quantity of DNA. The cut off limit for the digested material to be amplified is approximately 9 mgs of nail material.

Alleles

Gm(11) grouping of dried bloodstains.

An absorption inhibition method for the detection of gamma marker Gm(11) in dried bloodstains is described. Particular reference is made to the association of Gm(11) with Gm(-1, -2). When a dried bloodstain fails to inhibit anti-Gm(1) and anti-Gm(2), this may represent a true Gm(-1, -2) result or there may be insufficient material to inhibit either antibody. The detection of Gm(11) in a bloodstain extract provides an objective means of confirming the apparent absence of Gm(1) and Gm(2) as representing a true Gm(-1, -2) result. This antigen compares very well with other blood group systems with regard to the amount of bloodstain required for analysis and its stability. No evidence is available for preferential loss of Gm(1) and Gm(2) relative to Gm(11) in dried bloodstains.

Blood Group Antigens

Erythrocyte acid phosphatase in human hair root sheaths.

Erythrocyte acid phosphatase (EAP) was observed in human hair root sheaths where hair sheaths and blood samples were collected from 150 donors. In each case, the hairs were typed first for EAP and then confirmed by typing the blood from the same donors. Of the 150 donors checked, EAP activity was found in 135 of the samples; the other 15 samples showed no activity because they contained no sheath cells. Of the 135 samples showing activity, 108 of those were typed accurately in EAP. The remaining 27 samples had EAP activity but with inconclusive findings. In this study, all six common phenotypes were encountered.

Acid Phosphatase

Blood grouping in a sexual assault case: criteria and methodolgy for genetic marker analysis.

A sexual assault case was received in the laboratory. Upon examination, a small bloodstain was located on a bed sheet that was recovered from the defendant's motel room. Typing the whole blood samples from the defendant and the victim revealed that both blood samples exhibited identical phenotypes in eleven different genetic markers. Gm(1) and Gm(2) analysis was then performed on the two whole blood samples which provided discrimination between the two parties.

Blood Chemical Analysis

Effects of ad libitum, maintenance and sub-maintenance feeding and of compensatory growth on some biochemical properties of muscle from weanling rabbits.

Weanling male rabbits were fed either: 1) a complete diet ad libitum (control); 2) a maintenance diet; or 3) a sub-maintenance diet. After 20 days, half of each group was slaughtered and the remainder was placed on treatment 1 until they achieved the same body weights as the controls (about 30 more days), when they were also killed. Body organs, including livers, hearts, lungs and kidneys, were significantly reduced in weight by nutritional stress. Maintenance and sub-maintenance feeding resulted in creases in ultimate muscle pH, water content and alkali-soluble and -insoluble stromal proteins. The intracellular proteins, especially the myofibrillar fraction, decreased markedly, depending on the degree of nutritional stress. Swelling of the stromal proteins was less for the underfed rabbits, indicating that nutritional stress increased the number of acid-stable corss-linkages. Calcium-induced contraction was not effected by any of the nutritional treatments. Blood enzymes were not affected by nutritional stress from the standpoint of their multiple molecular forms, mobility or band profiles. All differences in muscle characteristics disappeared during compensatory growth except for the increased amount of alkali-insoluble stroma protein. The concepts of labile, mobilizable and fixed body proteins are discussed.

Animals