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Biomedical subjects

M Massoud

Publications and source records attributed to M Massoud.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Public-private partnerships for solid waste management services.

The increasing cost of municipal solid waste (MSW) management has led local governments in numerous countries to examine if this service is best provided by the public sector or can better be provided by the private sector. Public-private partnerships have emerged as a promising alternative to improve MSW management performance with privately owned enterprises often outperforming publicly owned ones. In Lebanon, several municipalities are transforming waste management services from a public service publicly provided into a public service privately contracted. In this context, a regulated private market for MSW management services is essential. The present study examines a recent experience of the private sector participation in MSW management in the Greater Beirut Area. The results of a field survey concerning public perception of solid waste management are presented. Analysis of alternatives for private sector involvement in waste management is considered and management approaches are outlined.

Cities↗
PubMed2001

Methane emissions from wastewater management.

Greenhouse gas emissions in the form of methane and carbon dioxide are produced when municipal and industrial wastewater and their residual solid by-product (sludge) are handled under or subject to anaerobic conditions, thus contributing to the global warming potential or the greenhouse effect. This paper presents estimation methods used for determining methane emissions from the management of wastewater. Applications for estimating countrywide methane gas emissions from wastewater management are presented with the country of Lebanon as an example. The relative significance of these emissions is assessed in comparison with methane emissions from developing and developed countries. Uncertainty associated with the estimation process and mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts of methane emissions from wastewater management are also discussed.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed2000

Particulate matter in urban areas: health-based economic assessment.

The interest in the association between human health and air pollution has grown substantially in recent years. Based on epidemiological studies in several countries, there is conclusive evidence of a link between particulate air pollution and adverse health effects. Considering that particulate matter may be the most serious pollutant in urban areas and that pollution-related illness results in financial and non-financial welfare losses, the main objective of this study is to assess the economic benefits of reducing particulate air pollution in Lebanese urban areas. Accordingly, the extent and value of health benefits due to decreasing levels of particulate in the air are predicted. Health impacts are expressed in both physical and monetary terms for saved statistical lives, and productivity due to different types of morbidity endpoints. Finally, the study concludes with a range of policy options available to mitigate particulate air pollution in urban areas.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1996

The deleterious effects of human erythropoietin gene driven by the rabbit whey acidic protein gene promoter in transgenic rabbits.

Human erythropoietin (EPO) gene and cDNA associated with the rabbit whey acidic protein (WAP) gene promoter were used to tentatively produce the recombinant protein in milk of transgenic mice and rabbits. Several gene constructs showed good efficiency in the mouse mammary cell line HC11. None of them was able to direct the expression of the hormone at a concentration higher than 50 micrograms/mL in mouse and rabbit milk. With one of the construct, the rabbits had an abnormally high amount of red blood cells irrespectively of their sex, they could not reproduce and no milk could be obtained from them. These animals died prematurely. In these animals, the EPO gene was therefore expressed at a low but supraphysiological level in organs other than the mammary gland. These experiments show that transgenic animals obtained with gene constructs which do not contain insulators cannot be used as living fermentors to produce human erythropoietin in their milk at an industrial scale.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Rabbit whey acidic protein gene upstream region controls high-level expression of bovine growth hormone in the mammary gland of transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice were produced which secreted high levels of bGH into milk. The 6.3-kb upstream region of the rabbit whey acidic protein (rWAP) gene was linked to the structural part of the bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene, and the chimeric gene was radioimmunoassay into mouse oocytes. bGH was detected by radioimmunoassay in the milk of all resulting transgenic mice. bGH concentrations in milk varied from line to line, from 1.0-16 mg/ml. This expression was not correlated to the number of transgene copies. In all lines studied, the mammary gland was the major organ expressing bGH mRNA during lactation. bGH mRNA concentrations were barely detectable in the mammary gland of cyclic females; they increased during pregnancy. These results show that the upstream region of the rWAP gene harbors powerful regulatory elements which target high levels of bGH transgene expression to the mammary gland of lactating transgenic mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Pre-eclampsia. II: Investigative procedures.

Pre-eclampsia is a potential hazard to both mother and fetus. Clinical features alone give a poor indication of the significance or severity of the condition. Investigations which indicate the extent of multisystem maternal changes help to distinguish pre-eclampsia from other hypertensive disorders and help to assess the need for, and timing of intervention. Serial assessments of sensitive indicators such as proteinuria, platelet counts and serum urate are more helpful than single measurements. Full ultrasound biophysical profiles of the fetus are desirable in the presence of severe pre-eclampsia, but when this sophisticated examination is not available much can be learned from ultrasound estimates of fetal growth, liquor volume and from cardiotocography.

Female↗
PubMed1992

EBV strain variation: geographical distribution and relation to disease state.

The strains of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were characterized in epithelial and lymphoid malignancies from geographic regions with high or low incidence. The predominant strains in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from regions with elevated incidence were EBV type 1 in southeast Asia and Mediterranean Africa. In Alaskan Eskimos, a distinct variant of EBV type 2 was found in NPC and carcinoma of the parotid gland. This strain contained polymorphisms characteristic of the Asian EBV type 1. The strains prevalent in southeast Asia and Mediterranean Africa were also found in NPC which developed in caucasian Americans. These variants were not detected in lymphomas which developed in central Africa, Mediterranean Africa, or continental United States. These results suggest that distinct EBV strains predominate in geographic areas with elevated incidence of NPC. The detection of these distinct strains in epithelial tumors from areas of low incidence may reflect an epithelial cell tropism or pathogenicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Expression of active recombinant human alpha 1-antitrypsin in transgenic rabbits.

A DNA construct containing the human alpha 1-antitrypsin gene including 1.5 and 4 kb of 5' and 3' flanking sequences, was microinjected into the pronucleus of rabbit embryos. The recombinant human protein was (a) expressed in the blood circulation of F0 and F1 transgenic rabbits at an average concentration of 1 mg ml-1, (b) shown to be fully active and (c) shown to be separable from its rabbit counterpart. Transgenic rabbits might represent a novel source of human proteins of therapeutic interest.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effects of maternal sickle cell haemoglobinopathy on pregnancy.

In order to determine the significant factors which may contribute to complications in pregnant mothers with sickle cell haemoglobinopathy, a study was considered on 100 mothers (35 SS and 65 AS) and the results were compared with 20 control women with normal haemoglobin electrophoretic pattern. The incidence of vaso-occlusive was significant in mothers with sickle cell disease. Furthermore, it was observed that high levels of fetal haemoglobin did not have any beneficial effect in patients with sickle disease during vaso-occlusive episodes.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1991

Specific rubella virus IgG and IgM in umbilical cord sera in Saudi Arabia.

The sensitive ELISA assay was used to measure the specific rubella virus IgG & IgM, and also the total IgM in the umbilical cord sera taken from 182 Saudi mothers during delivery in the Maternity Department at Al Ali General Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Nearly 84.6% (154 out of 182) Saudi women tested were found to be immune to rubella virus.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1991

Chlamydial infection in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Sera of patients attending a genitourinary clinic, gynaecological clinic in Al Ali General Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and from males and females without overt genital diseases were tested for the presence of antichlamydial antibodies using an immuno-fluorescence test. Antibodies for Chlamydia trachomatis were found in 66 (46%) of 145 male patients and 72 (35%) of 200 female patients attending a genitourinary clinic and gynaecological clinic respectively and in two (2%) of 100 men and in none of 100 women without genital diseases. These results suggest that the prevalence of chlamydial infection in Saudi Arabia among both men and women is high. Since serious complications can follow chlamydial genital infection, further work has to be done in this field.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Hepatitis D anti-bodies in some HBs Ag positive in Saudis at Riyadh.

This study was done on 212 male and female Saudi blood donors and those visiting the Outpatient Clinics in Al Ali General Hospital during the years 1987 to 1990. None of them had history of hepatitis and all were clinically free. The prevalence of anti-Delta Ab in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) carriers was 17.6%. The existence of closely linked family ties and joint family systems, result in close contact between patients and other members of the family and hence the high prevalence rate in normal population (8%). Vaccination against Hepatitis B virus may be particularly necessary.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1990

[Production of human proteins in the blood of transgenic animals].

The human alpha 1-antitrypsin gene has been microinjected into rabbit embryos. A line of transgenic rabbits has thus been established. Human alpha 1-antitrypsin was found in the blood of transgenic animals at the concentration of 1 mg/ml plasma. The human protein was active and separable from its rabbit counterpart. This experiment demonstrates that it is possible to use blood from transgenic animals as a source of recombinant proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Efficient tissue-specific expression of bovine alpha-lactalbumin in transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice carrying a 3.2-kb genomic fragment comprising the bovine alpha-lactalbumin gene transcription unit with 750 bp and 336 bp of 5' and 3' flanking regions, respectively, were generated. Tissue-specific expression of the transgene was observed in five out of the six lines analyzed at levels close to the endogenous gene in two of them.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Antiparietal cell antibodies in gastritis associated with chronic liver diseases.

Thirty patients with gastritis associated with chronic liver disease and ten normal controls were the subject of this study. Pathologically about 18 were diagnosed as chronic atrophic gastritis, 10 as chronic superficial gastritis, 1 as gastric atrophy and 1 as hypertrophic gastritis. Parietal cell antibodies (PCA) were detected (IFA) in 2 cases with no significant relation.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1987

Effects of pregnancy and lactation on lipolysis of ewe adipocytes induced by beta-adrenergic stimulation.

During pregnancy and lactation, three phases of beta-adrenergic stimulation of lipolysis appeared in adipocytes isolated from omental adipose tissue of ewes: During the first 90 days of pregnancy, there was a fall in the maximal lipolytic effect of isoproterenol. The maximum response to beta-lipolytic stimulus was reduced by 38% on day 90 (815 nmol/2 h/10(6) cells, compared to 1304 for controls) without any change in system sensitivity. Between days 90 and 120 of pregnancy (switch in adipose metabolism), this lipolytic effect increased progressively and became significantly larger (34%) than in non-pregnant ewes around parturition. The system sensitivity was then higher (0.05-0.11 vs. 0.21 microM) and remained so throughout lactation. During the first 3 weeks of lactation, this stimulated rate was twice as great as in controls.

Adaptation, Physiological↗