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Biomedical subjects

M Zaman

Publications and source records attributed to M Zaman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Parameters affecting the display of antibodies on phage.

Despite the fact that a multitude of antibody phage display libraries has been built, systematic comparisons of critical design parameters are rare. Here we analysed the impact of various factors on the performance of the phage display system. First, we compared several vector designs for the display of Fab fragments of antibodies. Bicistronic as well as monocistronic expression of the antibody/pIII operon and vectors using fd-pIII as well as LC-pIII fusions were tested. Further, we evaluated the influence of glucose on the promoter induction. We compared monovalent versus oligovalent display of the antibody fragments and we used antibody fragments with different folding efficiency to assess the influence of the individual antibody sequences on the performance of the system. Finally, both phage display efficiency and yield of soluble Fab fragments were analysed. The significant differences found for phage yield, display of Fabs on the phage and expression of soluble Fabs suggest to use a bicistronic vector with an fd-fragment-pIII fusion for the construction of future Fab phage display libraries.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cefuroxime induced lymphomatoid hypersensitivity reaction.

An 84 year old woman developed erythematous blotchy erythema and purpuric rashes over the lower limbs three days after being started on intravenous cefuroxime for acute diverticulitis. A skin biopsy specimen showed a mixed infiltrate of lymphoid cells and eosinophils; many of the lymphocytes were large, pleomorphic, and showed a raised mitotic rate. Immunohistochemistry showed the infiltrate to be T cell rich, with all the large cells being CD30 positive. Typical mycosis fungoides cells, marked epidermotropism, and Pautrier's abscesses were not seen. The rash disappeared 10 days after cessation of cefuroxime and the patient remained asymptomatic 15 months later. This apparent cutaneous T cell lymphoma-like reaction is best described as lymphomatoid vascular reaction. The drug induced immune response with an atypical cutaneous lymphoid infiltrate mimics a cutaneous pseudolymphoma.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Toxoplasma gondii pneumonia in a pancreas transplant patient.

A 41-year-old woman had fever of 3 days' duration. She had had pancreas transplantation 2 years previously and had recently completed a course of antirejection medication. Temperature spikes occurred during treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics. No obvious cause for the fever was found. The patient's condition worsened, with development of shortness of breath, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiographs, sepsis, and shock. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage showed the presence of Toxoplasma gondii. Pyrimethamine and clindamycin were started, and the patient improved. Toxoplasma gondii occurs in contaminated food containing oocysts or cysts. Organ transplantation and blood transfusions are other routes of transmission. Most recent cases have occurred in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with reactivation of previous infection. Serology and tissue biopsies are used for diagnosis. Treatment includes a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine or trisulfapyrimidines.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Studies on antihypertensive and antispasmodic activities of methanol extract of Acacia nilotica pods.

A methanol extract of Acacia nilotica pods (AN) caused a dose-dependent (3-30 mg/kg) fall in arterial blood pressure. Treatment of animals with atropine abolished the vasodilator response of acetylcholine (ACh), whereas the antihypertensive effect of the plant extract remained unaltered. Phentolamine (an alpha-adrenergic blocker) abolished the vasoconstrictor effect of norepinephrine (NE), whereas pretreatment of the animal with AN, did not modify the NE response. These results indicate that the antihypertensive effect of plant extract is independent of muscarinic receptor stimulation or adrenoceptor blockade. In the in vitro studies, AN produced a dose-dependent (0.3-3.0 mg/mL) inhibitory effect on force and rate of spontaneous contractions in guinea-pig paired atria. Similarly, it inhibited the spontaneous contraction of rabbit jejunum in a concentration-dependent (0.1-3.0 mg/mL) manner. AN also inhibited K(+)-induced contractions in rabbit jejunum at a similar concentration range, which suggests that the antispasmodic action of AN is mediated through calcium channel blockade, and this may also be responsible for the blood pressure lowering effect of AN, observed in the in vivo studies.

Acacia↗
PubMed1996

Experience with a hospital-wide outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were first detected in our institution in 1991. An outbreak was recognized in late 1992 when there was a sudden rise in the number of patients per month with VRE. Little information exists concerning the natural history of infection with these pathogens, and the effect of antimicrobial therapy is unclear. Recent guidelines emphasize prudent use of vancomycin and prompt institution of barrier precautions to limit the spread of vancomycin resistance. METHODS: Data were obtained by review of microbiologic and clinical records. Patients were categorized according to site of infection, and outcome of therapy was assessed. Hospital antibiotic usage was analyzed to determine any correlation with the outbreak. Infection control measures instituted in 1993 included patient isolation, environmental cleaning, and a reemphasis of barrier precautions. Surveillance cultures were performed to assess the extent of the outbreak in January 1995. RESULTS: VRE were detected in clinical cultures from 159 patients from 1991 through 1994. Mortality rate was 48%, but in most cases death could not be attributed to enterococcal infection. Patients with wound infections healed without specific therapy. Many patients with bacteremia had resolution with ampicillin or without specific therapy. Patients were widely scattered throughout the hospital from the beginning of the outbreak. Hospital usage of cefotaxime correlated with the number of cases. Infection control measures were not successful. Surveillance culture results in January 1995 revealed that 53% of all medical and surgical inpatients had fecal colonization with VRE. Genetic analysis of selected isolates revealed that one strain predominated, but at least seven distinct strains were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that many infections with VRE resolve without specific therapy. The infection control measures we used were ineffective, possibly because of the multiple strains present in our hospital. Isolation of all patients with VRE is impractical when there is widespread fecal carriage.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of five selective media for identifying fecal carriage of vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

There is no uniformly accepted method for detecting colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The sensitivities of five culture methods were determined for patients known to harbor VRE. Of 189 inpatients, 101 were found to harbor VRE by at least one method. Three methods detected fewer than half of the cultures. Campylobacter agar identified 70% of patients. Enterococcosel broth (containing vancomycin and aztreonam) identified 88% and may be preferred over other media for routine surveillance.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1996

Impact of pulmonary rehabilitation team effort for ambulatory patients with chronic lung disease.

The pulmonary rehabilitation program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, is a program consisting of an interdisciplinary team effort that is coordinated by a clinical pharmacist and focuses intensively on educating patients with chronic lung disease about their disease, the basics of care, and life style changes that may prevent acute illnesses and help the patient remain as functional as possible. Implementation of this program, including information and data on proposal and development of this preventive care program are included. The success has been measured in the accomplishment of its goals of decreasing inpatient acute care needs through patient and family education, increasing functional status of patients handicapped with lung disease, and increasing patients' satisfaction with their care.

Case Management↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) by diuretic renography.

Of 52 cases with 56 affected renal units having symptoms and signs suggestive of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction (UPJO) evaluated by conventional (F + 15) diuretic renography where frusemide is given 15 minutes post-injection of radiopharmaceutical m99TC.DTPA.F + 15, twelve (21%) showed a good clearance (group A), 16 (28%) showed partial (group B) and 28 (50%) a poor clearance pattern (group C) indicating a definite obstruction. A high flow (F-15) diuretic renography where frusemide is given 15 minutes prior to the radiopharmaceutical m99TC.DTPA, was done in 23 cases with 27 affected renal units. Eleven renal units showed a good clearance (group A). Of these, 7 (64%) showed a persistent good clearance, 3 (27%) converted to poor clearance and 1 (9%) to partial clearance pattern. Of 8 renal units in group B, 5 (63%) converted to poor clearance and two (25%) to good clearance on F-15 and one remained unchanged. All renal units which presented as poor clearance (group C) on conventional (F + 15) diuretic renography remained unchanged on high flow (F-15) diuretic renography. In majority of cases conventional (F + 15) renography gave a reliable assessment of the upper tract drainage, however, since equivocal group was resolved by the F-15 and the intermittent obstruction group was definitely diagnosed, high flow (F-15) diuretic renography was more conclusive in assessment as compared to F + 15.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in rheumatoid arthritis. Effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and water immersion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy and water immersion on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum and urine levels of cortisol were compared in untreated RA patients, NSAID-treated RA patients, and healthy control subjects. RESULTS: ACTH levels were significantly higher in untreated RA patients (mean +/- SEM integrated area 11,377 +/- 5,246 hours ng/liter) than in NSAID-treated RA patients (2,285 +/- 388 hours ng/liter) or healthy controls (1,845 +/- 35.5 hours ng/liter) (P < 0.001). Serum and urine cortisol levels were not significantly different between groups. Two-hour head-out water immersion had no effect. CONCLUSION: Elevated ACTH levels without hypercortisolemia occur in untreated RA. NSAID therapy alters HPA axis response, but immersion has no effect.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1994

Influence of surgical resection and brachytherapy in the management of superior sulcus tumor.

We analyzed the results of surgical treatment of all patients presenting with untreated superior sulcus tumors between 1974 to 1991 inclusive at our institution. Most patients received preoperative radiotherapy. We attempted to analyze the influence of surgical resection and intraoperative brachytherapy in obtaining locoregional control and disease-free survival. One hundred twenty-four patients underwent thoracotomy and 100 patients underwent resection. The overall 5-year survival rate was 26% for all patients and 30% for resected patients. Those patients receiving a complete resection achieved a 41% 5-year survival. The best single group were those patients undergoing a lobectomy (versus wedge resection) and en-bloc chest wall resection (60% 5-year survival). We were unable to demonstrate an advantage for the use of intraoperative brachytherapy in those patients with complete resection. For those patients with incomplete resection, the use of brachytherapy combined with preoperative or postoperative external radiation therapy resulted in a 9% 5-year survival. Locoregional failure was significant both in patients with complete resection and in patients with incomplete resection. Adverse prognostic factors included Horner's syndrome, N2 and N3 disease, T4 disease, and incomplete resections. In superior sulcus tumors, every attempt to completely resect the tumor by en-bloc chest wall resection combined with lobectomy and adequate nodal staging remains the surgical treatment of choice together with either preoperative, postoperative, or "sandwich" external radiation therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Safety of pharmacological (intravenous dipyridamole) stress for Thallium-201 perfusion imaging in patients with coronary artery disease unable to exercise.

Exercise Thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging is a sensitive technique for detection of CAD. However, in patients unable to perform exercise pharmacological stress with intravenous dipyridamole can be used to dilate coronaries. Out of 125 patients (21 men and 104 women; mean age 52.03 years) evaluated, 110 were considered to be unable to perform adequate stress by their physician while remaining 15 had LBBB. One hundred and seven patients had chest pain with or without a remote MI while 18 individuals were clinically asymptomatic but had ECG abnormalities. Intravenous dipyridamole was administered at a rate of 0.142 mg/kg/min for 4 min. After 3 min an i.v. bolus of T1-201 was given. Diffuse or occipital headache of mild to moderate intensity occurred in 50 (40%) cases; 39 patients experienced chest pain and had either a positive thallium scan (26 cases) suggestive of CAD or a normal thallium study (15 cases). Complete relief from dipyridamole induced symptoms was brought by i.v. aminophylline and sublingual nitrate in 51 of 54 cases (94%) and 11 of 18 (61%) respectively. We, therefore, conclude: 1) i.v. dipyridamole-thallium scintigraphy offers a safe, effective and reliable method for evaluating CAD in those who are unable to perform adequate exercise and 2) parenteral aminophylline is very effective antidote to dipyridamole.

Aminophylline↗
PubMed1994

Possible presence of calcium channel blocker(s) in Rubia cordifolia: an indigenous medicinal plant.

Crude extract of Rubia cordifolia (RC) was tested in isolated tissue preparations for its possible calcium channel antagonistic activity. RC suppressed the spontaneous contractions of guinea-pig atria, rabbit jejunum and rat uterus in a concentration dependent manner (0.1-3 mg/ml). In rabbit aorta, it inhibited norepinephrine (10 microM) and KCl (80 mM) induced contractions. Replacement of physiological salt solution with calcium free solution abolished the spontaneous movements of rabbit jejunum. However, addition of calcium (25 micrograms/ml) in the tissue bath restored the spontaneous movements. When the tissues were pretreated with plant extract (1 mg/ml) or verapamil (0.5 microgram/ml), addition of calcium failed to restore spontaneous contractions. These results indicate that the plant extract exhibits spasmolytic activity similar to that of verapamil suggestive of presence of calcium channel blocker like constituent(s) in this plant.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Differential expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor and its ligands in primary non-small cell lung cancers and adjacent benign lung.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and one of its ligands, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha), are thought to function as a potential autocrine loop in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the expression pattern of EGFR and the TGF-alpha-related ligands have not been fully characterized in primary NSCLC and adjacent benign lung tissue. For this reason, we comprehensively examined the coexpression and differential expression of EGFR and its ligands, TGF-alpha, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and amphiregulin (AR), by Northern analysis, in paired samples of primary tumors and uninvolved lung. For those RNA species overexpressed in malignant lung, single cell expression patterns were studied by immunohistochemistry. Specimens were obtained from 57 consecutive patients who underwent resection of carefully staged resectable NSCLC and were followed prospectively. Most (112 of 114) tissue samples yielded high-quality RNA. EGFR was expressed in 82 of 88 (93%) tissue samples, while TGF-alpha was expressed in 62 of 72 (86%) samples, and AR was expressed in 64 of 70 (92%) samples. EGF was unexpressed in total cellular RNA in both tumor and uninvolved lung. In a comparison of RNA expression patterns in tumors and uninvolved lung, overexpression of EGFR was found in 45% (22 of 44) of tumors, while overexpression of TGF-alpha was seen in 61% (22 of 36) of tumors, and decreased expression of AR was seen in 63% (22 of 35) of tumors. Cell type and stage did not influence differential expression, indicating that this is a frequent event in primary NSCLC. Simultaneous overexpression of EGFR and TGF-alpha was seen in only 38% of tumors. Simultaneous overexpression of EGFR and decreased expression of AR were seen in only 21% of tumors. Thus far, the differential expression of EGFR, TGF-alpha, and AR does not correlate with either disease-free or overall survival. These findings indicate that histologically dissimilar tumors can express similar components of autocrine or paracrine growth factor loops. Differential expression of EGFR and its ligands in tumor specimens compared to uninvolved lung is a common event in NSCLC and may participate in tumor growth without necessarily influencing tumor progression or histology.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Voluntary beer drinking in rats.

Female Long-Evans rats (N = 30) were tested for individual preference for beer for a 24 h period and then assigned to beer (BR) (N = 15) or control (CT) (N = 15) groups according to preference. BR animals were allowed ad libitum access to beer, food and water; while CT animals were allowed ad libitum access to food and water for a 21 day period. Beer, food and water consumption levels were recorded daily. Animals were weighed every other day. Blood alcohol levels and pattern of drinking (comparison of beer consumption in light versus dark cycles) were measured in a separate set of animals. At the end of 21 days of drinking, beer was withdrawn from the BR group and all animals were observed for withdrawal symptomology. BR animals ate more food than CT animals days 2 through 13, and then ate less than CT on days 17 through 21. BR animals drank more "total water" (drinking water plus water in beer) than CT. Body weights were not affected. Changes in body temperatures and tail flick latency, and notation of hyperactivity, shivering and tremoring during 8 hours of withdrawal indicated that BR animals were dependent on alcohol.

Alcohol Drinking↗