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Biomedical subjects

M F Allam

Publications and source records attributed to M F Allam.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Selenium supplementation for asthma.

BACKGROUND: Selenium deficiency may be important in chronic asthma. Observational studies have demonstrated that patients with chronic asthma may have lower levels of selenium than their control. Nevertheless, selenium supplementation has not been recommended with drug therapy for asthma. This review systematically examines RCTs that evaluated the role of selenium supplementation in chronic asthma. OBJECTIVES: Recognition that chronic asthma can be associated with selenium deficiency has led to the investigation of the role of selenium supplementation in reducing the symptoms and impact of chronic asthma. The objective of this review was to assess the efficacy of selenium supplementation as an adjunct to medication for the treatment of chronic asthma. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group trials register, MEDLINE/PUB MED, and EMBASE. Searches were current as of August 2003. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials comparing patients with chronic asthma receiving selenium supplementation in conjunction with asthma medication, with patients taking asthma medication only. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers applied the study inclusion criteria MAIN RESULTS: One trial with a total of 24 patients suffering from chronic asthma was included. The study reported significant clinical improvement in the selenium-supplemented group, as compared with the placebo group, in terms of a 'clinical evaluation'. However, this improvement could not be validated by significant changes in separate objective parameters of lung function and airway hyper-responsiveness. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: There is some indication that selenium supplementation may be a useful adjunct to medication for patients with chronic asthma. This conclusion is limited because of insufficient studies and lack of improvement in the clinical parameters of lung function.

Asthma↗
PubMed2003

Parkinson's disease, smoking and family history: meta-analysis.

To estimate the pooled risk of tobacco smoking for Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients with and without PD family history. We conducted systematic searches of Medline, PsycLIT, Embase, Current contents, Best Evidence, Nisc Mexico Biblioline, previous reviews, examination of cited reference sources and personal contact and discussion with several investigators expert in the field. Studies in all languages were considered. Published observational studies on PD and cigarette smoking stratified by PD family history were reviewed. When two or more papers were based on an identical study, the paper that principally investigated the relationship between PD, smoking stratified by PD family history or the paper that was published last was used. Three case-control studies were carried out between 1996 and 2000, of which one reported risk estimates. The risk of ever smoker in patients with positive PD family history was 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.44-1.53). There was an obvious protective effect in the pooled estimate in patients with negative PD family history [odds ratio 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.59-1.01)]. Although our pooled estimates show that smoking is inversely associated with the risk of PD only in patients with negative PD family history, further studies evaluating the interaction between smoking and PD family history are strongly needed.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2001

Factors associated with the condoning of female genital mutilation among university students.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is practiced in Egypt, despite its recent ban, generally in rural and uneducated communities, under unsanitary conditions and by non-medical personnel. Immediate and long-term complications are frequent. The aim of this study was to gain insight into what beliefs or knowledge are conducive to supporting FGM. One thousand and seventy university students in Cairo, Egypt were randomly selected. A 32-item questionnaire was used to interview students regarding their knowledge and attitudes toward FGM. Multivariable analyses were performed to find factors associated with being against the abolishment of FGM.The response rate was 95% (n=1020). Twenty-eight percent of the students support FGM. The most significant factors associated with the condoning of FGM were believing FGM has a religious basis (OR=2.53), disagreeing that FGM is a custom with no other basis (OR=2.59), not believing it is harmful (OR=4.11), and ignoring that it is usually followed by complications (OR=5.14). Even in an educated population, a considerable amount of ignorance concerning FGM exists. Widespread education about FGM is important to dispel the myths that surround its practice and to bring the practice to an end.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Breast cancer risk factors: PCB congeners.

The chronic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a public health concern, and a potential relationship with breast cancer has been postulated. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible relationship between PCBs and breast cancer. All women (134) treated by excision biopsy because of breast lump at Reina Sofia University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain over a period of 10 months were included in our study. They were all administered a questionnaire by interview, calculation of body mass index, histopathological examination of excised mass and chemical estimation of PCB congener levels in breast fat. The collected samples were from 65 (48.5%) women with benign lesions and 69 (51.5%) with malignant lesions. The variables associated with malignant lesions on univariate analysis were age, lactation period, overweight, PCB n-28 and PCB n-52. On the multivariate analysis PCB n-28 was found to be the most important risk factor (OR 9.6, 95% CI 3.8-24.4). Other risk factors were identified as age, drinking alcohol, low parity and overweight. If these findings can be confirmed in a large study population, however, they may have important implications for breast cancer risk.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

PAH-DNA adducts in a petrol refinery in Egypt.

Epidemiological surveys in occupationally exposed populations postulate that long-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is carcinogenic. We studied the ability of PAHs to induce the formation of adducts in the DNA of white blood cells of petrol refinery workers exposed at the workplace. Our study included a random sample of 56 workers exposed to PAHs and 37 non-exposed workers. In the univariate analysis, the DNA adduct level of PAH-exposed workers (42.22 +/- 45.11) was significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared with that in the non-exposed group (20.90 +/- 22.56). However, we could not identify either current smoking or absence of glutathione S-transferase class Mu as possible risk factors for DNA adducts. Linear regression analysis identified degree of exposure to PAHs as the only DNA adducts risk factor. Further research with a larger sample size is under investigation to identify the DNA adduct levels and relationship between the different types of PAHs.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Thoracoscopic sympathectomy for treatment of hyperhidrosis surgical experience and results of 30 cases.

The thoracoscopic sympathectomy in treatment of primary palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis was performed on 30 patients complaining of hyperhidrosis admitted to El Demerdash University Hospital and Ain Shams University Specialised Hospital and The Saudi German Hospital between March 1999 and March 2001. The indication of surgery was primary palmar hyperhidrosis in 24 cases and combined palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis in 6 cases. 25 cases were males and 5 cases were females. The mean age in our sample was 25.7 +/- 4.05 years. There were no major complications in our series and 4 cases were complicated by intercostal vessels bleeding which were successfully controlled by cauterization during surgery and no one of them necessitated neither thoracotomy nor application of intercostal tubes. The patients were followed up for one year after operation and only one case had recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of the effectiveness of routine measles vaccination: case-control study.

A retrospective case-control study was conducted in two primary schools located in eastern region of Cairo to evaluate the protective value of routine measles vaccination. A total of 230 children who had a previous measles illness were identified over 3 months period. Each case was matched to two controls based on age and sex. Vaccination status of the study children was ascertained through reviewing vaccination certificates The overall measles vaccine effectiveness was estimated at 53% (95% CI 71%-26%) There was an association between age of measles vaccination and vaccine effectiveness (VE) Primary vaccination failure due to young age of measles vaccination is the likely explanation of the low measles vaccine effectiveness. Adoption of two-dose measles vaccination policy with the second dose being given at older age needs to be considered to correct the problem of vaccine failure.

Bias↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Parkinson's disease and smoking: coherence and plausibility].

INTRODUCTION: Many studies have shown that smoking is lower in patients with Parkinson s disease. However, in other investigations this was not observed. The various studies involved showed wide variation with regard to methodology, criteria for diagnosis and periods of observation and hence it is difficult to compare them. DEVELOPMENT: The first studies published were designed to examine the effects of smoking in general and information was obtained regarding the possible disorders related to tobacco smoking according to the records of mortality, which may contain errors due to selective mortality and mistaken diagnosis. Most of the studies of cases and controls included prevalent cases which accepted the study, mainly hospital cases. Also it is probable that the prevalent cases of Parkinson s disease do not smoke because of their disorders of movement. CONCLUSIONS: Many researchers have found important information about the pathophysiology of Parkinson s disease and its association with smoking. However, the hypothesis regarding the association between smoking and low risk of Parkinson s disease are various and independent, apart from the hypothesis of a truly biological mechanisms. Since the subject is still controversial, systematic reviews together with epidemiological and experimental studies are necessary.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Parkinson's disease, tobacco and age: meta analysis].

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated contradictory results about the association between smoking and the risk of Parkinson s disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: Examine the hypothesis of the EUROPARKINSON group that smoking protects against PD only in patients below 75 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a meta analysis including all observational studies that were published about this association before January 2001. All languages were included with no restriction for year of publication. Risk estimate and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were extracted or calculated for all localized studies in patients below or above 75 years of age. RESULTS: Seventeen studies investigated the association between PD risk and smoking in patients below 75 years of age. Meanwhile, only seven studies investigated the association in patients above 75 years of age. The fixed effect pooled analysis in patients below 75 years of age was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.52 0.67), with insignificant homogeneity test. Patients above 75 years of age had fixed effect pooled analysis of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.59 0.99), with insignificant homogeneity test. CONCLUSIONS: The pooled analysis in patients below 75 years of age clearly demonstrates that smoking is inversely associated with PD risk. The 95% CI of the pooled analysis in patients above 75 years of age is nearly overlapping unity. This result is not in favor for the negative association in old patients, and confirms the hypothesis of the EUROPARKINSON group.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Parkinson s disease risk factors].

AIMS: In this review we present and discuss the main risk factors (RF) for Parkinson s disease (PD) reported by epidemiological and biochemical research. METHODS: The most frequently mentioned RF are: 1. Age: PD is not a pathological condition that is restricted to the elderly, although most people who suffer from it are over 60 years of age; 2. Sex: in most epidemiological studies there are no differences to be found in prevalence of PD according to sex; 3. Genetic: no gene has been identified as being responsible for idiopathic PD. Nevertheless, family antecedents of PD have been identified as RF; 4. Craneoencephalic trauma: this factor can have a systematic bias, since patients seek an explanation for their illness and remember any head injury as its possible cause; 5. Neurotoxins: a great deal of research was focused on the relation between PD and direct or indirect exposition to compounds such as MPTP, used in pesticides; 6. Antioxidants: it is thought that if ingested in sufficiently high quantities, either as part of the diet or in the form of supplements, they might reduce the risk of PD or slow down its progress; 7. Smoking: several studies have shown a negative relation, while other studies found no significant relation. CONCLUSIONS: There are several RF for PD, although no single decisive triggering factor has been found to date. Future research must consider the hypothesis of a multifactor aetiology and take into account the interaction between genetic and environmental factors.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Young onset Parkinson's disease and smoking: meta-analysis].

INTRODUCTION: Previous systemic reviews have reported a protective effect of smoking against Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the protective effect has not been examined before by any systemic review in patients with young onset PD. OBJECTIVE: Examine the association between young onset PD and tobacco smoking. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis including all published observational studies that investigated this association before January 2003. All languages were included with no restriction for year of publication. Risk estimate and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were extracted or calculated for all localized studies in patients with young onset PD. RESULTS: Five case-control studies investigated the association between young onset PD risk and ever smoking. The fixed-effect pooled analysis was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.38 0.81), with insignificant homogeneity test. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows a protective effect of tobacco smoking against young onset PD. Our results coincide with the other reviews which did not consider the age of diagnosis of PD. However, it is highly recommended prospective studies for the association between young onset PD risk and ever smoking

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Meta-analysis: the science of review in Neurology].

INTRODUCTION: The review and continuous analysis of the present knowledge have always been necessary for scientific and clinical practice advance. This study presents the difference between narrative and systematic reviews, the most important points of meta-analysis, and finishes with detailed description of its phases. Our objective was to explain, in simple terms, the technique of meta-analysis and this could permit its application and use in the clinical practice and neurological investigations. DEVELOPMENT: The term meta-analysis was described for the first time by the psychologist Glass in 1967. Since then, the meta-analysis was utilized by many investigators as a technique to combine the results of different studies. The steps of a meta-analysis are: 1. Hypothesis of the study; 2. Localization of the studies of investigation; 3. Selection of the localized studies; 4. Qualitative meta-analysis; 5. Quantitative meta-analysis. Basically, It refers to the numeric combination of data, which were extracted by the reviewers. The mathematical method which will be used to evaluate the effect size should be chosen, also homogeneity and sensibility tests should be done. CONCLUSIONS: Well-designed meta-analysis is accepted as the optimum form to present the results of different studies. The meta-analysis could be of great importance for clinical practice and neurological research.

Humans↗