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Biomedical subjects

M Mahmoudi

Publications and source records attributed to M Mahmoudi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Antiinflammatory activity of Sambucus ebulus hexane extracts.

Hexane extracts of aerial parts (flowered browes), leaves and roots of Sambucus ebulus were investigated for their antiinflammatory activity in rats. Aerial parts and roots extracts produced statistically significant and dose dependent inhibition of edema induced by carrageenan at all doses when compared to the control groups. On the contrary, hexane extract of leaves did not show any activity up to 600 mg/kg i.p. The highest activity was showed in the aerial parts and roots that at 600 mg/kg i.p. inhibited inflammation by ca. 80% (78% for diclofenac at 100 mg /kg i.p.). No extracts exhibit toxicity when injected up to 2 g/ kg intraperitoneally in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Analgesic activity of the methanolic extract and total alkaloids of Glaucium paucilobum.

The species of Glaucium have been used in Iranian herbal medicine as laxative, hypnotic, narcotic, and antidiabetic agents and also in the treatment of dermatitis. The analgesic activity of the aerial parts of Glaucium Freyn (Papaveraceae), a native plant of Iran, were studied using formalin, hot plate, and writhing tests in rodents. The methanolic extract and total alkaloids of Glaucium paucilobum caused graded inhibition of both phases of formalin-induced pain. In the hot plate test, i.p. administration of G. paucilobum extract at the doses of 50-90 mg/kg and total alkaloids at the dose of 10-60 mg/kg significantly raised the pain threshold at an observation time of 30 min in comparison with control (p < 0.001). In the writhing test, the extract at the doses of 30-90 mg/kg and total alkaloids at the doses of 10-60 mg/kg produced a significant decrease in the number of writhings in comparison with the control group (p < 0.001). The methanolic extract and total alkaloids of G. paucilobum, at antinociceptive doses, did not affect the motor coordination of animals when assessed in the rotarod model. The results showed that analgesic activity of this plant may be related partly to the alkaloids.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMed2005

Identification of peptides specific for antibodies in vitiligo using a phage library.

Patients with vitiligo produce specific autoantibodies that can be detected in their sera. These antibodies are believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. A random peptide library displayed on phage is a technique that can be used to identify the epitopes that react with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. We used this technique to identify the epitopes that react specifically with the vitiligo autoantibodies. By screening the random peptide phage library and using ELISA, two clones that showed a higher frequency of reactivity with the antibodies in the sera of patients with vitiligo were identified. The peptides do not show any similarity with the autoantigens so far implicated in vitiligo, indicating that these epitopes may mimic conformational epitopes in proteins.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Distribution of primary immunodeficiency disorders diagnosed in the Children's Medical Center in Iran.

Primary immunodeficiency disorders include a variety of diseases that render patients more susceptible to infections. To determine the percentage of different primary immunodeficiency disorders diagnosed in the Children's Medical Center Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran, we retrospectively reviewed the charts of the patients being referred to our hospital for immunologic evaluation of recurrent infections during a 20 year period. Among these patients, antibody deficiencies were the most frequent ones and were found in 52.6% of patients (n = 130). T-cell disorders, phagocytic disorders and complement deficiencies were found to be present in 24.69% (n = 61). 22.2% (n = 55) and 0.4% (n = 1) respectively. On the whole, common variable immunodeficiency was the most frequent disorder (n = 65), followed by ataxia telangiectasia (n = 39), X-linked agammaglobulinemia (n = 33), chronic granulomatous disease (n = 29) and selective IgA deficiency (n = 20). This study reveals that antibody deficiencies are the most common type of disorders as shown in other studies. A comparative study shows some differences between our results and other registries. This article also indicates that immunodeficiency disorders should be considered in patients with recurrent infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Introductory experience with the continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS; Medtronic Minimed) in detecting hyperglycemia by comparing the self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in non-pregnant women and in pregnant women with impaired glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the detection rate of hyperglycemia with a continuous glucose monitoring system compared to a self-monitoring blood glucose profile in non-pregnant, non-diabetic pregnant women, and patients with impaired glucose tolerance or gestational diabetes.. METHODS: Eight non-pregnant (NP) and 56 pregnant women (17 dietary-treated gestational diabetics (GDM), 15 women with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 24 non-diabetic pregnant women (NDP)) underwent a 72-hour measurement with the CGMS (Medtronic Minimed, Northridge, CA, USA). Self-monitored blood glucose measurements, performed 30 minutes before and 120 minutes after each meal, were compared to the duration of hyperglycemia monitored by the continuous glucose monitoring system. RESULTS: No clinically observable infection was found at the subcutaneous tissue where the electrode was placed. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in body mass index, HbA1c, and in gestational age, but not in age or parity. Using the self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG), 88 % (7/8) of the NP and 54 % (13/24) of the NDP had no measurement above 6.7 mmol/l. However, 17 % (4/24) of the NDP and 40 % (6/15) of the IGT showed more than two measurements above 6.7 mmol/l compared to 24 % (4/17) of the dietary-treated GDM. The differences between these groups were not significant (p = 0.21). The mean durations (+/- SD) of hyperglycemia above 6.7 mmol/l/24 h were: NP 111 +/- 120 min, NDP 138 +/- 120 min, IGT 381.8 +/- 295 min, and GDM 190 +/- 155 min, p = 0.017; above 7.8 mmol/l/24 h NP 24 +/- 49 min, NDP 38 +/- 47 min, IGT 170.7 +/- 190 min, and GDM 64 +/- 88 min, p = 0.016; and above 8.9 mmol/l/24 h NP 9.3 +/- 25 min, NDP 7.5 +/- 14 min, IGT 59 +/- 77 min, and GDM 14 +/- 21 min, p = 0.026. There was no significant difference in the fetal outcome or rate of birth percentiles using the sensor data. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the sensor in pregnant women is unproblematic. a) The CGMS detected more frequent and longer durations of hyperglycemia in GDM compared to non-diabetic pregnant women than the SMBG. b) Women with an IGT exhibited higher glucose levels than patients with gestational diabetes. c) The clinical importance of these hyperglycemic intervals, e.g. with respect to the risk for macrosomia, must be assessed in larger trials.

Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring↗
PubMed2004

A laboratory method for purification of major cow's milk allergens.

Food allergy is responsible for the most frequent allergic reactions in children under 1 year of age. Diagnostic tests such as skin test or specific IgE assay usually need highly purified preparations of allergenic proteins. The aim of the present study was to purify three main cow's milk proteins: casein, alpha-lactalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin as allergenic extracts for first time in Iran.

Allergens↗
PubMed2004

The role of cow milk allergy in increasing the severity of atopic dermatitis.

Previous studies have shown that up to 33% of children with atopic dermatitis have experienced food hypersensitivity and among different kinds of food allergens Cow Milk (CM) has almost always been one of the most common food allergens in children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cow milk allergy (CMA) as an increasing factor of severity of atopic dermatitis. One hundred and nineteen children (between 1.5 months and 12 years of age) with atopic dermatitis in the sense of Hanifin and Rajka's criteria entered this study and the severity of atopic dermatitis was identified via the SCORAD index. In order to make the diagnosis of cow milk allergy, a careful history, and a familial history of allergy was taken and the results of skin prick test (SPT) with CM and 4 other food allergen extracts, Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) with CM allergens and a food challenge test with cow milk (fresh or dried) were used. Also a total serum IgE determination and an eosinophil count (with a stool exam) were accomplished. The clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis in patients was started from their first day of life up to 10 years of age. The family history in 83% of the patients was positive. Positive skin prick test and RAST with CM allergens were positive in 37.9% and 29.3% of cases respectively and the response to challenge test with cow milk was positive in 35 out of 40 patients and in total 44.5% had CMA according to a positive history of cow milk allergy and a positive outcome of the IgE tests (SPT and/or RAST) or a positive challenge test with CM allergens. The results showed that the most common food allergens in patients with atopic dermatitis are certainly cow milk allergens (44.5%) whereas other food allergens are tomato (29.41%), egg (28.57%), nuts (9.24%) and wheat (3.36%) according to the skin prick test. The mean total serum IgE was 307.11 +/- 6.56 IU/ml (range = 6-5000) in children with CMA and 81.04 +/- 5.97 IU/ml (range = 1-5000) in children without CMA while the mean eosinophil count was 569.52 +/- 3.02 count/ml (range = 67-8500) and 314.22 +/- 2.94 count/ml (range = 5-5000) respectively. The mean severity of atopic dermatitis according to the SCORAD index was 60.76 in children with CMA and 44.29 in children without CMA. The severity of atopic dermatitis in patients with CMA was significantly higher than patients without CMA (p < 0.0001). Also the mean total serum IgE and mean eosionophil counts in children with CMA were significantly higher than in children without CMA (P < 0.01 and p < 0.0001, respectively). It shows the important role of CM allergen proteins in the induction and in increasing the severity of AD in children.

Allergens↗
PubMed2003

Dermatophytes isolated from domestic animals in Iran.

Between 1994 and 1998, a total of 790 feather, hair and skin specimens from a variety of animals with suspected dermatophytoses were studied, of which 248 (31.4%) yielded dermatophytes. The most frequent dermatophytes isolated were Microsporum canis (38.3%), Trichophyton verrucosum (31.8%), T. mentagrophytes (13.3%) and M. gypseum (7.7%). There was a significantly higher proportion of positive cultures from cats (54.8%) than dogs (8.2%), and M. canis was the most common species isolated (87.2 and 50% respectively). Trichophyton verrucosum was the most frequent causative agent of dermatophytoses in ruminants, M. equinum in horses, M. gypseum in rabbits, M. gallinae in chickens and T. mentagrophytes in pet squirrels.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

Two related cases of primary complement deficiency.

Primary complement deficiencies are rare and two related patients are reported here. The first patient is a 41-year-old man with eighteen episodes of pneumococcal meningitis and other purulent infections. The serum C3 level was checked at three separate times, showing that this was a primary C3 deficient case; other immunological tests were normal. This patient now takes prophylactic antibiotics and the meningitis had not recurred, but he does have glomerulonephritis. The second case is a 40-year-old woman with repeated episodes of orofacial and laryngeal edema and dyspnea. The serum C1INH levels were 4.3 to 7 which is very low compared with normal healthy subjects (C1INH was 40-50 mg/dl) and C4 was lower than normal but other immunological tests were normal. Other causes of angioedema such as lymphoproliferative disorders were excluded. She had hereditary angioedema without a family background. The condition may be due to genetic mutation. The angioedema was controlled with Danazol and Stanasol. As our patients are related, this may suggest a genetic relationship between these two disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Use of CA-125 to define progression of ovarian cancer in patients with persistently elevated levels.

PURPOSE: To determine an accurate definition for progression of ovarian cancer in patients with a persistently elevated serum CA-125. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 300 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma with at least one measurement of CA-125. The date of progression according to clinical or radiologic criteria was ascertained in the 88 patients with persistently elevated CA-125 levels (> 23 U/mL). This was compared with the date of progression according to CA-125, defined as the date on which the CA-125 level first increased to >or= twice its nadir level, confirmed by a second sample also >or= twice the nadir. RESULTS: Eighty of the 88 patients had evidence of progression by both standard and CA-125 criteria, giving a sensitivity of 94%. In six of these patients, no sample was taken to confirm CA-125 doubling. In 13 patients, CA-125 doubling occurred after the date of clinical progression. Only one patient had a false-positive prediction of progression according to CA-125; the patient died as a result of a myocardial infarct before evidence of clinical progression. CONCLUSION: In patients whose CA-125 level decreases to normal after chemotherapy, a doubling from the upper limit of normal has been shown to predict progression. In those with persistently elevated levels, doubling of CA-125 from its nadir level has now been shown to accurately define progression. If confirmed, these CA-125 criteria should be used as additional end points in clinical trials.

CA-125 Antigen↗
PubMed2001

Weekly cisplatin and oral etoposide as treatment for relapsed epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Response rates to chemotherapy in relapsed, platinum resistant epithelial ovarian cancer remain poor. We have explored the effectiveness of weekly cisplatin combined with prolonged oral etoposide in this patient group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two women with relapsed, advanced ovarian cancer were treated with cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15, 29, 36 and 43 and oral etoposide 50 mg given from day 1-14 and day 29-43. In those who were responding and tolerating treatment (n = 13) oral etoposide 50 mg was continued for two further cycles (days 1-21 repeated every 28 days). The interval since last platinum containing chemotherapy was > 6 months in 28 patients and < 6 months in 16 patients. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were evaluable for response according to CA 125 criteria giving an overall response rate of 44%. The response rate in evaluable patients declined with increasing numbers of previous treatments: 57% with one prior treatment, 42% with two, 40% with three or more. The response rate in patients who had received platinum chemotherapy within six months prior to treatment was 46%. The only significant non-haematological toxicity was nausea and vomiting in 4 patients who experienced greater than grade 2 toxicity. The number of patients experiencing haematological toxicity more than grade 2 was as follows: haemoglobin 3, white blood count 12, platelets 6. Sixteen patients had dose delays and two had dose reductions. CONCLUSION: We conclude that this short but intensive regimen provides worthwhile response rates, even in those patients who would ordinarily be considered refractory to platinum, and has an acceptable toxicity profile.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed2001

GABA mechanisms and antinociception in mice with ligated sciatic nerve.

In the present study, the effects of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptor agonists and antagonists on hyperalgesia induced by sciatic nerve ligation was investigated in mice. The response to morphine or GABA receptor agonists was examined 14 days after unilateral nerve ligation by hot-plate test. Intraperitoneal injection of different doses of morphine (3, 6 and 9 mg/kg), muscimol (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg) or baclofen (1, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) induced a dose-related antinociception in both intact and ligated mice. The response of morphine but not that of muscimol or baclofen, in nerve-ligated mice was significantly less than that induced in the intact animals. The responses induced by muscimol or baclofen in nerve-ligated animals, were reduced by bicuculline or CGP35348 [P-(3-aminopropyl)-P-diethoxymethyl-phosphinic acid], respectively. However, morphine in combination with muscimol (2 mg/kg) tends to induce higher response; the combination of the GABA receptor agonists with morphine did not show potentiation, but additive effect. The opioid receptor antagonist naloxone reduced the response induced by muscimol in nerve-ligated animals. It was concluded that although ligation of the sciatic nerve clearly reduced the analgesic effect of morphine and not that of the GABA agonists, the results nevertheless indicated that morphine and the GABA(A) agonist shared the same mechanism of action.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus.

A 38-year-old woman with human immunodeficiency virus who was recently diagnosed with gastric ulcer presented to the hospital with nausea and vomiting of 1 month's duration. Work-up of patient led to a diagnosis of diffuse, large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient underwent six cycles of chemotherapy, and repeated endoscopy and biopsy failed to reveal malignancy. She remains in remission 23 months posttreatment. Management of patients with human immunodeficiency virus and concurrent malignancy remains a challenge. The primary care physician plays a central role by collaborating with infectious disease and oncologist specialists to formulate a management plan.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Cold-induced urticaria.

Cold-induced urticaria is a form of physical urticaria that develops on cold exposure in susceptible individuals. The majority of cases have an unknown etiology (primary or idiopathic). In rare forms, it is associated with various disease entities (secondary). The workup of a patient includes a history and physical examination, cold challenge, and a battery of laboratory tests. The management of such patients includes precaution and avoidance measures as well as treatment with antihistamines. Life-threatening symptoms necessitate carrying a self-administered injectable epinephrine.

Cold Temperature↗
PubMed2000

Quantification and synthesis of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (79-102)-like immunoreactivity and mRNA in rat tissues.

The distribution of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (79-102)-like immunoreactivity (CART-LI) was quantified in brain and peripheral tissues of male and female Wistar rats, and male obese (fa/fa) and heterozygous (Fa/+) Zucker rats using a specific RIA. CART-LI tissue levels have not been quantified previously. The assay, using cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) (79-102) as a standard and radioactive tracer and an antibody to CART (79-102) fragment, detected CART-LI in all brain regions examined, the anterior and posterior pituitary, the spinal cord and throughout the gastrointestinal tract of both male and female Wistar rats. The highest concentrations were found in the hypothalamus, duodenum, anterior pituitary and posterior pituitary (50.6+/-4.4, 26.1+/-4.2, 50.0+/-1.3 and 373.0+/-55.2 pmol/g wet tissue respectively, means+/- s.e.m., n=6-10 male animals). There was no significant variation between the sexes. The concentrations of CART-LI in hypothalami and anterior and posterior pituitaries from fa/fa rats were significantly (P<0002) lower than those of Fa/+ controls (35.9+/-2.1 vs 53.9+/-4.9,<0.6 vs 1.8+/-0.4 and 114+/-9.1 vs 255.5+/- 20.9 pmol/g wet tissue respectively, means+/- s.e.m., n=7). Gel permeation chromatography of regions of rat brain and gastrointestinal tract showed possible differential processing between regions. CART-LI was released from hypothalamic tissue slices in a calcium-dependent fashion by potassium-induced depolarisation. Northern blot analysis detected CART mRNA in the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, brain stem, cerebellum and spinal cord. The pattern o! f distribution of CART mRNA and CART-LI in various neural and other tissues is in accord with a role for CART as a neurotransmitter.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Sick building syndrome. III. Stachybotrys chartarum.

Increasingly, physicians are being asked to evaluate patients with putative environmentally associated illnesses. These can include a variety of problems, including infectious illnesses (Legionnaire's disease), chemical exposure in the workplace, and sick building syndromes. The latter has been an issue particularly in asthma because of the association of mold and increased bronchial responsiveness. Recently, attention has been focused on the mold Stachybotrys in human disease. Stachybotrys was first identified more than 60 years ago following an epidemic of stomatitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, pancytopenia, neurologic disorders, and death in horses. Since then, Stachybotrys has been identified in several outbreaks of disease in animals. It has also attracted attention as a possible agent in idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage in infants. Stachybotrys is a relatively uncommon fungus but has been isolated from a variety of sources, including contaminated grains, tobacco, indoor air, insulator foams, and water-damaged buildings with high humidity. This fungus is particularly important because it is one of a series of fungi that produces trichothecenes mycotoxins; these mycotoxins are biologically active and can produce a variety of physiological and pathologic changes in humans and animals, including modulation of inflammation and altered alveolar surfactant phospholipid concentrations. The presence of Stachybotrys in a building does not necessarily imply a cause-and-effect relationship with illness, but should alert physicians and healthcare professionals to do more vigorous environmental testing. Guidelines are presented herein for intervention measures in the maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Latex allergy: a primary care primer.

Latex allergy has become an epidemic among healthcare workers. Other individuals who are frequently exposed to latex gloves or products containing latex have experienced latex hypersensitivity, as well. Identification of patients who have latex allergy is crucial to physicians in order to formulate a management plan. This article includes discussion of the basic background on latex preparation, hypersensitivity, occupational risks, and management of affected patients.

Allied Health Personnel↗