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Biomedical subjects

N H Ismail

Publications and source records attributed to N H Ismail.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Xanthones from Garcinia mangostana (Guttiferae).

Studies on the stem of Garcinia mangostana have led to the isolation of one new xanthone mangosharin (1) (2,6-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-xanthone) and six other prenylated xanthones, alpha-mangostin (2), beta-mangostin (3), garcinone D (4), 1,6-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-xanthone (5), mangostanol (6) and 5,9-dihydroxy-8- methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2H,6H-pyrano-[3,2-b]-xanthene-6-one (7). The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods such as 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectrometry (MS) and by comparison with previous studies. All the crude extracts when screened for their larvicidal activities indicated very good toxicity against the larvae of Aedes aegypti. This article reports the isolation and identification of the above compounds as well as bioassay data for the crude extracts. These bioassay data have not been reported before.

Aedes↗
PubMed2005

The relationship between postoperative complications and outcomes after hip fracture surgery.

INTRODUCTION: We studied the prevalence of postoperative complications in a series of consecutive patients who received surgery for hip fractures in a major public hospital in Singapore. We also studied the predictors for the occurrence of complications and the impact of these complications on patient outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients admitted with hip fracture, from March to November 2001, was carried out. Patients were classified as having postoperative complications if they developed any of the following conditions after surgery: dislocation of prosthesis, deep vein thrombosis, postoperative confusion, foot drop, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias or acute myocardial infarctions, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, wound infection and incident pressure sores. RESULTS: Of the 180 patients studied, 60 developed postoperative complications. Significant predictors of complications after logistic regression included being of female gender [odds ratio (OR), 2.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13 to 6.89] and pre-fracture mobility status (OR for independent ambulators 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.87), but not the age of the patients. Postoperative complications significantly affected the length of stay within the acute hospital (beta coefficient, 6.42; 95% CI, 2.55 to 10.29), but were not associated with a decline in mobility status at 3 months post-fracture, eventual discharge destination or readmission within 1 year. CONCLUSION: Postoperative complications are common after surgery for hip fractures and result in significantly longer hospitalisation periods. Significant predictors for such complications include being of female gender and pre-fracture mobility. Age, in itself, does not result in a higher risk of complications and should not preclude older hip fracture patients from surgical management.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Nitric oxide synthase inhibition negates septic-induced alterations in cytoplasmic calcium homeostasis and membrane dynamics.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the sepsis-induced disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis and membrane dynamics. Anticoagulated whole blood was obtained from 10 healthy volunteers. Equal aliquots were incubated with saline (control), 2 microg/mL Escherichia coli endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), 8 microg/mL NO inhibitor, N-monomethyl arginine (NMA), and endotoxin plus NO inhibitor (lipopolysaccharide/NMA). Erythrocytes were harvested, washed, and loaded with the calcium chelator, FURA-2AM, and the fluorescent membrane probe TMA-DPH. Cells were evaluated for both intracellular calcium concentration and membrane viscosity (anisotropy) by fluorescent spectrophotometry. Endotoxin induced a significant increase in both intracellular calcium concentration and anisotropy. NMA had no intrinsic affect on either of these cellular characteristics. NMA was, however, effective in preventing the endotoxin-induced changes. These results suggest that NO may play a role in the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis and erythrocyte membrane deformability noted in sepsis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Prevention of falls in a geriatric ward.

Falls occurring in the hospital are significant events because of the injuries sustained, extended hospital stay and potential medicolegal implications. We conducted a 3-year study to determine the characteristics of fallers in a geriatric ward and assess the effectiveness of lectures and nursing assessments in the prevention of falls. In the first year of the study we found that the rate of falls was 9% of all patients admitted. About 85.7% of falls occurred at the bedside and 41.4% happened while getting in and out of bed. Most falls occurred between 4 pm and 8 pm and half of the fallers had no preceding symptoms. In the second year, a series of lectures and educational material were given to the same nursing staff and the prevalence of falls was reduced to 7% (P > 0.05). However, the implementation of a nursing assessment protocol in the third year of the study achieved a marked reduction in prevalence of falls to 5.9% from the initial 9% (Chi-square chi 2 = 4.19, P = 0.04). Thus, the vigorous administration of a nursing assessment protocol can reduce falls in a geriatric ward.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1997

Bacteraemia in the elderly.

The aims of the study were to describe community-acquired and nosocomial bacteraemia in elderly patients and to determine the factors associated with increased mortality in these patients attending a tertiary hospital in Singapore. A consecutive series of 191 patients aged more than 60 years of age admitted in 1995 was studied retrospectively. All of them had positive blood culture results obtained from the Department of Pathology and the case notes were reviewed and entered into a standard clinical protocol. They were analysed for age, sex, place of origin, race, sites of infection, clinical parameters and bacteriology. The mean age of the study population was 75 years (SD = 8.9 years). Bacteraemia was acquired from the community in 57.5% of patients, 33% was nosocomial in origin and 9.5% acquired it in chronic long term care facilities. The common organisms cultured in community-acquired infections were Escherichia coli (26.1%), Klebsiella species (25.4%), Streptococcus species (11.1%), methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (7.6%) and Proteus mirabilis (4.8%). The common organisms cultured in nosocomial infections were Klebsiella species (19.8%), Enterobacter species (14.6%), E. coli (11.8%), Acinetobacter baumanii (9.2%), methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (7.9%) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7.9%). Whilst most cases of bacteraemia were single organism cultures, 13.5% were polymicrobial. The common sources of bacteraemia were chest (27.5%), urinary tract (24.5%), skin (12.5), hepatic (8.8%), gut (4.3%), cardiovascular system (1%) and others (3.6%). In 12.5% of cases, the sources were multiple and in 5.3% of cases, the source could not be identified. Twenty-one per cent of patients with bacteraemia died. The following factors were associated with increased mortality rate: older age (median age of those that died was 78.5 years compared to survivors with a median age of 73 years, P = 0.011), patient's place of origin (patients in nursing home at higher risk of death, P = 0.04), patient's mobility status (immobile patients at higher risk, P = 0.00297), source of bacteraemia--respiratory infection at increased risk of death (P = 0.00009) but urinary tract infection had a better survival rate (P = 0.03935) and multiple sites of infection (patients with multiple sites of infection had higher risk, P = 0.00897). Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia was associated with a mortality rate of 35.3%, followed by Klebsiella species 28.6%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 28.6%, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 25%, Proteus mirabilis 25% and E. coli 19.1%. Important clinical parameters which indicated a poor clinical outcome were: high pulse rate, hypotension, increased respiratory rate, low total white cell count, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminaemia and increased creatinine level.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

High molecular mass forms of epidermal growth factor in pig uterine secretions.

Accumulating evidence suggests that uterine luminal fluids contain a variety of polypeptide growth factors and cytokines that, it is speculated, have roles in the development, growth and differentiation of the uterus and, during pregnancy, in the growth and survival of the embryo. Although epidermal growth factor (EGF) has previously been identified by radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry in the pig uterus, there have been no detailed studies of the secreted EGF protein. EGF was therefore purified from uterine flushings and uterine fluids of nonpregnant pigs of mixed breed using a variety of ion-exchange chromatography steps. Uterine flushings and fluids contained an anionic factor(s) that at 4 degrees C competed with 125I-labelled mouse EGF for binding to EGF receptors on an endometrial carcinoma cell line and stimulated DNA synthesis in Balb/c mouse 3T3 fibroblasts. As analysed by gel filtration, uterine fluids contained a 3-6 kDa factor that stimulated 3T3 cell DNA synthesis and was a competitor of cellular 125I-labelled EGF binding. Gel filtration further revealed that uterine flushings and fluids contained, respectively, 45 kDa and 40-70 kDa moieties that were mitogenic and that bound to the EGF receptor. SDS-PAGE and western blotting using an antiserum specific for pig EGF revealed immunoreactive forms of EGF of approximately 25 kDa in partially purified uterine flushings. It is concluded that uterine secretory EGF occurs, at least in part, as high molecular mass proteins. The ability of these high molecular mass EGFs to bind to and activate the EGF receptor suggests that they may be authentic ligands for the EGF receptor in utero.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Nutritional evaluation of working Malay women in Kuala Lumpur as studied by total food duplicate method.

Nutrient intake was surveyed by the total food duplicate method in 49 adult ethnically Malay women (at the ages of 18 to 47 years and mostly at 30-39 years) working in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Simultaneously, hematological examinations, serum biochemistry, anthropometry and clinical examination were conducted. Nutrient intakes were estimated in reference to the weight of each food item and the standard food composition tables. Lunch was the most substantial meal of the day with rice as a staple food. Compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values, daily intakes of energy (1,917 kcal as an arithmetic mean), protein (62.2 g), vitamin B1 (0.83 mg) and vitamin B2 (1.18 mg) were sufficient, but intakes of minerals [i.e., calcium (347.8 mg) and iron (12.5 mg)] and some vitamins [i.e., vitamin A (equivalent to 627 micrograms retinol) and niacin (7.84 mg)] were less than RDA. When evaluated on an individual basis, the prevalence of those who took less than 80% RDA was highest for iron (92%), followed by niacin (80%), calcium (57%) and vitamin A (57%). The presence of 7 hypohemoglobinemia cases may be related to the insufficient iron intake. Overweight cases (14 women) were also detected, the prevalence of which increased at advanced ages. Lipid intake was rather high (28% of total food on energy basis), for which the major source was plants with limited contribution from fish/shellfish.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Flanged coaxial microwave probes for measuring thin moisture layers.

We obtain an analytical, closed-form expression for the input admittance of a flanged, open-ended coaxial line radiating into a layered lossy material. The effect of higher modes as well as the dominant mode have been taken into consideration. The results obtained in the experimental measurement of the microwave reflection coefficient of the probe radiating into very thin water layers are described and compared with the results obtained from numerical calculations based on a theoretical model. The measurements were made in the 5.0-7.0 GHz range. The results demonstrate, for example, the usefulness of this type of device in measuring thin moisture layers in the outer layer of the human skin.

Body Water↗