Biomedical subjects

M Mourad

Publications and source records attributed to M Mourad.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Some carcass characteristics of Alpine kids under intensive versus semi-intensive systems of production in France.

The effect of system of production (intensive versus semi-intensive) on some slaughter and carcass traits of Alpine male kids was evaluated. Data adjusted to a common age, indicated that management system had no significant effect (P>0.05) on carcass shape (carcass conformation and compactness and gigot conformation) and external fat score. Kids raised under the intensive management (IM) had heavier slaughter and carcass weights and large carcass width (P<0.01). Their dressing percentage and internal fat score were higher (P<0.05).

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Performance of Djallonké sheep under an extensive system of production in Faranah, Guinea.

A total of 147 ewes, 4 rams and 188 lambs of their progeny of the Djallonké breed of sheep were used to study the factors affecting reproductive and growth traits and the causes of lamb mortality. Data on ewes were collected during a 12-month period, while those on the lambs born to 123 of the ewes were collected until they were 12 months of age. The average fertility and abortion rates were 0.84 and 0.09. The fertility rate increased and the abortion rate decreased with increasing age of the ewes (p<0.05). The number of lambs born per ewe joined, litter weight at birth per ewe joined and litter weight at weaning per ewe joined were 1.28, 3.5 kg and 17 kg, respectively. The average numbers of lambs born per ewe, lambs born alive per ewe, lambs born dead per ewe and lambs per ewe that died between birth and weaning were 1.53, 1.43, 0.03 and 0.3, respectively. The age of the ewes significantly (p<0.05) affected all these traits except the number of dead lambs and the index of fertility (94%). The age of the ewes significantly (p<0.05) affected the birth weight and the weight at 6 and 12 months of age, whereas the lambing season significantly (p<0.05) affected all the growth traits studied. The type of birth was the most important source of variation in body weights of lambs. Sex had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the growth traits studied. The complex 'starvation-bad management-light body weight at birth' caused 48% of the lamb mortality between birth and weaning, while diarrhoea, pneumonia and internal and external parasites caused approximately 52% of the lamb mortality over the same period. The seasonal raw mortality rate of the lambs before weaning was highest in the humid season.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

PubMed2001

The incidence of pemphigus in the southern region of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: This is the first epidemiologic study of pemphigus in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Data were collected from patient records in the outpatient and inpatient departments of Asir Central Hospital during the period 1990-99. The diagnosis of pemphigus was based on the clinical, histopathologic, and direct immunofluorescence patterns which were consistent with pemphigus. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean incidence of the disease in the general population was 0.16/100 000; the mean incidence of the disease in the population above 20 years of age was 0.27/100 000. The prevalence of the disease at the end of the study period was 1.56/100 000 for the total population, and 2.7/100 000 for the population above 20 years of age. The male to female ratio was 2.2 : 1. The age of onset of the disease ranged from 23 to 67 years, except for one case at an age of 9 years, giving an average of 43.1 +/- 13.4 years and a median of 40 years. Pemphigus vulgaris was the most commonly encountered type, followed by pemphigus erythematosus (94.7% and 5.3%, respectively). Mucosal involvement occurred in 84.2% of cases. No association with neoplasia was found in the current study. CONCLUSIONS: Pemphigus in the southern region of Saudi Arabia is as common as in other parts of the world, but with higher mucosal involvement.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Correlation of mycophenolic acid pharmacokinetic parameters with side effects in kidney transplant patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil.

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is widely used in organ transplantation to prevent acute rejection. Because MMF can produce hematologic and/or gastrointestinal toxicity, therapeutic monitoring is becoming mandatory. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the clinical events and the pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid (MPA) in adult renal transplantation. METHODS: Thirty-one adult kidney recipients were prospectively included in the study. MPA pharmacokinetic profiles (blood sampling at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 h after MMF oral dose) were obtained after transplantation (desired creatinine clearance, 40 mL/min), at 3 months after grafting, and at every clinical event (e.g., side effect or rejection). All patients received a 10-day course of anti-thymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, MMF (1 g twice daily), and steroids. RESULTS: We divided the 31 patients into two groups (groups 1 and 2). Ten patients (32%; group 1) had uneventful outcomes, and 21 patients (68%; group 2) presented with MPA-related side effects. For groups 1 and 2, the MPA trough concentrations (C(min)) were 1.63 +/- 1.07 and 2.29 +/- 1.16 mg/L, respectively (P = 0.06), and the areas under the curve (AUCs) for MPA from t(0) to t(12 h) (MPA-AUC(0-12h)) were 39.80 +/- 15.29 and 62.10 +/- 21.07 mg. h/L, respectively (P = 0.0005, two-sample t-test). Three patients experienced acute graft rejection after the oral MMF dose was reduced because of side effects. In this group, the MPA-C(min) and MPA-AUC were significantly lower by the time acute rejection occurred (1.00 +/- 0.45 mg/L and 25.00 +/- 6.20 mg. h/L, respectively). At a fixed dose (1 g twice per day), we compared the pharmacokinetic parameters of MPA [C(min), the MPA concentration 30 min after the oral dose of MMF (C(30)), and AUC] according to the presence or absence of side effects in the two groups. C:(min) and AUC did not differ between the two groups [C(min) = 2.22 +/- 1.13 vs 2.17 +/- 1.13 mg/L (P = 0.9); AUC = 66.82 +/- 29.87 vs 55.70 +/- 11.74 mg. h/L (P = 0.11)]; and C(30) was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (C(30) = 32.99 +/- 12.59 vs 7.45 +/- 5.40 mg/L; P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship between MPA and clinical events. At a fixed dose of 2 g/day, a high C(30) is associated with increased risk for side effects. This study suggests that dividing the MMF daily oral dose into more than two divided doses might prevent early MPA toxicity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Pharmacokinetic basis for the efficient and safe use of low-dose mycophenolate mofetil in combination with tacrolimus in kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an effective posttransplantation immunosuppressive agent used in combination with cyclosporin A (CsA) or tacrolimus (Tc). An increase in plasma mycophenolic acid (MPA) has been shown in patients receiving Tc-MMF combination therapy compared with CsA-MMF combination therapy at the same dose of MMF. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship for MPA in kidney transplant patients receiving low-dose MMF (500 mg twice a day) in combination with Tc. METHODS: Adult kidney transplant recipients (n = 51) were included. MPA-PK profiles (blood sampling at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 h after MMF oral dose) were obtained within the first 2 weeks after transplantation, 3 months after grafting, and at every adverse clinical event [side effect or acute rejection (AR)]. All patients received Tc, MMF (500 mg twice a day), and steroids. RESULTS: Thirty patients (59%) had uneventful outcomes, and 21 patients had 33 episodes of MPA-related side effects; only 3 patients had AR. A total of 78 MPA-PK profiles were obtained. The following PK parameters were increased in the side-effects group compared with the non-side effects group: mean MPA c(min), 2.63 +/- 1.58 vs 1.75 +/- 0.82 mg/L (P = 0.016); mean c(30), 10.47 +/- 6.27 vs 7.66 +/- 8.95 mg/L (P = 0.009); mean c(60), 9.67 +/- 5.42 vs 5.83 +/- 2.6 mg/L (P = 0.0002); mean area under the MPA time-concentration curve from 0 to 12 h [MPA-AUC((0-12))], 48.38 +/- 18.5 vs 36.04 +/- 10.82 mg. h/L (P = 0.0006); mean dose-normalized MPA-AUC, 0.16 +/- 0.05 vs 0.12 +/- 0.04 (mg. h/L)/(mg/m(2)) (P = 0.0015). For the three AR patients, MPA concentrations obtained at the time of AR revealed MPA c(min) values of 1.86, 1.76, and 3.83 mg/L, respectively, and MPA-AUC((0-12)) values of 37.7, 24.9, and 104.9 mg. h/L. The threshold of toxicity was 3 mg/L (sensitivity, 38.7%; specificity, 91.5%) for c(min), 8.09 mg/L for maximum MPA concentration during the first hour (sensitivity, 77.8%; specificity, 67.4%), and 37.6 mg. h/L for MPA-AUC((0-12)) (sensitivity, 83.3%; specificity, 59.6%). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the relationship between plasma MPA concentrations and toxicity. High c(min), c(30), and c(60) values as well as AUC((0-12)) are associated with increased risk for side effects. These values may have an importance in a routine monitoring program.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

The experimental (in vitro) and clinical (in vivo) immunosuppressive effects of a rat IgG2b anti-human CD2 mAb, LO-CD2a/BTI-322.

BACKGROUND: CD2 is a cell surface glycoprotein expressed on most human T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, working as a cell adhesion and costimulatory molecule. The aim of this paper is to analyze the mechanism of action of a rat IgG2b anti-human CD2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) (LO-CD2a/BTI-322 mAb), which is a potent immunosuppressive agent and inducer of cell death. In vivo, this mAb is able to prevent or treat kidney allograft rejection. METHODS: The mechanisms by which the LO-CD2a/BTI-322 mAb is able to induce inhibition of cell activation and cell death were analyzed by mixed lymphocyte reactions and by flow cytometry. After in vivo treatment, levels of circulating mAb were measured by ELISA as well as anti-rat immunization and cytokine release. RESULTS: We show that the inhibition of cell activation induced by LO-CD2a/BTI-322 mAb after allogeneic or OKT3 stimulation is due to an Fcgamma receptor-dependent CD2 down-modulation and to T-cell depletion through an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity mechanism mediated by NK cells or activated monocytes. Peripheral T- and NK-cell depletion was observed after in vivo treatment with LO-CD2a/BTI322. Cytokine release (TNFalpha) was correlated with some side effects, but only after the first injection, and the effects were never severe or life threatening. CONCLUSION: The correlation between the in vitro and in vivo data suggests that T-cell depletion, especially of activated cells, and inhibition of cell activation after CD2 down-modulation are the main mechanisms of action of the LO-CD2a/BTI-322 mAb.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Laparoscopic and open live donor nephrectomy: a cost/benefit study.

Recently, laparoscopic liver-donor nephrectomy has been developed in order to increase organ donation. In this study we compare and review the records of 10 donors operated by open extraperitoneal approach and of 10 donors operated by a laparoscopic transperitoneal approach (LSC). Results show less use of postoperative parenteral narcotics in the LSC group (109 mg vs 272 mg; P < 0.0005) than in the extraperitoneal group. Morbidity was similar in both groups. There was no difference in postoperative stay. Allograft kidney function was similar in both groups until 6 months after donation. The use of disposable laparoscopic material bears an extra cost of 900 US$. We can thus conclude that laparoscopic live-donor nephrectomy is a safe procedure that significantly reduces postoperative pain, and is not detrimental to the allograft. The total cost of the laparoscopic procedure will be lower than that of the open approach if the length of postoperative stay is cut by 3 days.

Adult↗

PubMed2000