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Biomedical subjects

M R Ahmad

Publications and source records attributed to M R Ahmad.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Effect of sulfur fertilization on chemical composition, ensiling characteristics, and utilization by lambs of sorghum silage.

Effects of S fertilization, 0 or 138 kg of S/ha, as (NH4)2SO4 on chemical composition, ensiling characteristics, and utilization of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) silage by wether lambs was investigated. Pioneer 947' sorghum forage was ensiled at the soft dough growth stage. Sulfur fertilization increased (P < .01) concentrations of S, N, K, Mn, and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and decreased (P < .05) concentrations of Fe, Cu, Al, and acetic acid after ensiling. Sulfur-fertilized sorghum silage (N:S = 12) and non-S fertilized silage (N:S = 15) were fed alone and supplemented with urea to achieve 14% CP (N:S = 18 and 23, respectively) to 24 crossbred (1/2 Dorset, 1/4 Finn, 1/4 Rambouillet) wether lambs in a metabolism trial. Sulfur fertilization decreased apparent lignin digestibility and increased apparent digestibilities of DM, NDF, and hemicellulose (P < .05), apparent absorption and retention of S, N, P, K, Mg, and Mn (P < .01), and apparent absorption of Ca (P < .05). Apparent absorption and retention of Cu and Al were lower (P < .05) in lambs fed the S-fertilized silages. Digestibilities of DM and NDF were increased by N-supplementation in the non S-fertilized silage (N x S interaction, P < .05). Nitrogen supplementation increased (P < .01) blood urea nitrogen and apparent absorption and retention of N. Results indicate that S fertilization enhanced forage quality primarily due to increased TNC concentration, digestibility of hemicellulose, and N utilization by lambs but could exacerbate Cu deficiency where Cu levels are marginal.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Evidence for cardiomyopathy in familial diabetes mellitus.

Recent epidemiologic studies have suggested that cardiac disease in common in diabetics and may often have a noncoronary basis. To examine the status of the left ventricle, 17 adult-onset diabetics of familial type without hypertension or obesity underwent hemodynamic study and were compared to 9 controls of similar age. Of the 17, 12 subjects had no significant occlusive lesions by coronary angiography. From this group eight without heart failure had a modest, but significant, elevation of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. End-diastolic and stroke volumes were reduced, but ejection fraction and mean rate of fiber shortening were within normal limits. The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure/volume ratio was significantly higher than controls. Afterload increments effected a significant increase of filling pressure compared to normals without a stroke volume response, consistent with a preclinical cardiomyopathy. Four patients with prior heart failure had similar but more extensive abnormalities. None had local dyskinesia by angiography, and lactate production was not observed during pacing-induced tachycardia. Left ventricular biopsy in two patients without ventricular decompensation showed interstitial collagen deposition with relatively normal muscle cells. These findings suggest a myopathic process without ischemia. Postmortem studies were performed in 11 uncomplicated diabetics. Nine were without significant obstructive disease of the proximal coronary arteries, and the majority succumbed with cardiac failure. On left ventricular sections, none had evident luminal narrowing of the intramural vessels. All nine exhibited periodic acid-Schiff-positive material in the interstitium. Collagen accumulation was present in perivascular loci, between myofibers, or as replacement fibrosis. Multiple samples of left ventricle and septum revealed enhanced triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations, as compared to controls. Thus, a diffuse extravascular abnormality may be a basis for cardiomyopathic features in diabetes.

Adult↗