PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Amin

Publications and source records attributed to R Amin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Contraceptive use and desire for more children in two rural districts of Sierra Leone.

Data from a 1993 household survey in rural Sierra Leone revealed that, among women aged 12-49 with at least one child younger than 5, about 13% were using a contraceptive method and about 67% wanted more children. These rates differ from those reported for the 1980s and 1970s, when the contraceptive use rate was around 6% and more than 85% of women desired more children, suggesting a trend towards fertility limitation over the years. Logistic regression analysis showed that contraceptive use was positively associated with age, number of living children, age at marriage, education, and economic status, and negatively associated with Islamic and traditional religious affiliations. Government and other health clinics, hospital, and government paramedical personnel were the major sources of contraceptive supplies. The lower desire for more children might relate to demographic pressure from the recent improved child survival rate compounded by recent economic hardship.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

An aldose reductase inhibitor and aminoguanidine prevent vascular endothelial growth factor expression in rats with long-term galactosemia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of an aldose reductase inhibitor (ARI-509, Wyeth-Ayerst, Princeton, NJ) and aminoguanidine (AMG), agents that have been reported to prevent or delay diabetic retinopathy, on retinal vascular abnormalities and the immunocytochemical expression in the retina of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rats maintained for up to 2 years on a 50% galactose diet. METHODS: Albino rats were placed on a control diet, a diet containing 50% galactose, or the 50% galactose diet containing either ARI-509 or AMG. Treatment with ARI-509 or AMG was initiated at the beginning of the experiment or after 12 months of galactose feeding. After 22 to 24 months, the rats were killed and the retinal vasculature from half of one eye was isolated by trypsin-elastase digestion for semiquantitative evaluation of retinal vascular lesions. The other half of the retina was prepared for immunocytochemistry and stained for the presence of VEGF, factor VIII, vimentin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Red blood cells, sciatic nerves, and a portion of the retina from the second eye were assayed for glucose, galactose, fructose, sorbitol, galactitol, and myo-inositol. Red blood cells were also assayed for galactosylated hemoglobin. RESULTS: Galactose-fed animals developed a vascular retinopathy characterized by severe cellular loss in the retinal capillaries and intensification of periodic acid-Schiff staining of the vascular basement membranes. Some animals also displayed dilation and hypercellularity of vessels in the posterior retina. These changes were substantially reduced in animals receiving ARI-509 from the beginning of the galactose diet, but were unaffected in all of the other treatment groups. None of the rats receiving ARI-509 or AMG treatment, whether initiated from the onset or after 12 months of galactosemia, demonstrated VEGF immunoreactivity. With the exception of the animals receiving ARI-509 from the beginning of the experiment, all of the galactose-fed animals developed dense cataracts within 6 weeks of the beginning of the galactose diet. Galactitol levels in animals receiving ARI-509 were 86% to 93% lower in red blood cells, retina, and sciatic nerve than those in the other galactose-fed groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although ARI-509 and AMG have different abilities to delay or prevent the diabetic-like retinopathy in galactosemic rats, even when substantial retinal microvascular acellularity occurs, both drugs prevent the immunocytochemical expression of VEGF. These results suggest that factors other than hypoxia may be responsible for VEGF expression in the retina, and that aldose reductase inhibitors and AMG have potential roles in preventing such expression and, thus, perhaps preventing retinal neovascularization.

Aldehyde Reductase↗
PubMed1997

Effect of aqueous extract of Commiphora opobalsamum on blood pressure and heart rate in rats.

The cardiovascular effects of aqueous extracts from the branches of Commiphora opobalsamum tree were investigated. The intravenous administration of 4 mg/kg of the aqueous extract depressed systemic arterial blood pressure by 20% (P < 0.01) and reduced heart rate of anaesthetised rats by 14% (P < 0.05). The hypotensive and the bradycardiac effects were immediate and in a dose related manner. The hypotensive effect of C. opobalsamum was inhibited by the pretreatment with atropine sulfate (1-4 mg/kg). These results suggest that the hypotensive effect of C. opobalsamum is due to the activation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

NGO-promoted women's credit program, immunization coverage, and child mortality in rural Bangladesh.

A growing number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are adopting the collateral-free credit programs by anchoring them with their social development programs aimed at improved program effectiveness and sustainability. Drawing upon a sample of 3,564 targeted poor households covered by five small NGOs in rural Bangladesh, this study finds that the NGO credit-members as well as those who reside in the NGO program area are higher adopters of child immunization than those in the non-program area. Similarly, the study found that infant and child mortality is lower among the NGO credit members than among the non-members and that under five-year deaths of children progressively decline with the increase in the doses of vaccines. Implications of these findings are discussed in the study.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Hypoglycemic effect of copper(II) acetate imidazole complexes.

The effect of copper(II) complexes on glucose metabolism was studied in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The copper(II) complexes used were bis(acetato)tetrakis(imidazole) copper (II), [Cu(OAc)2(Im)4], bis(acetato)bis(2-methylimidazole) copper(II), [Cu(OAc)2(2mIm)2], bis(acetato)bis(1,2-dimethylimidazole) copper(II), [Cu(OAc)2(1,2dmIm)2], and bis(acetato)bis(mu-acetato)tetrakis(N-methylimidazole) copper(II) hexaaquo, [Cu2(OAc)4-(NmIm)4].6H2O. Intramuscular administration of various doses of Cu(OAc)2(Im)4 ranging from 10 to 100 mg/kg body mass to overnight fasted rats decreased blood glucose levels in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum hypoglycemic effect was observed 3 h after administration and lasted for at least 6 h. Treatment with 100 mg/kg body mass of Cu(OAc)2(Im)4 caused hypoglycemic shock, which was irreversible and even lethal. Blood insulin levels were reduced sharply during this hypoglycemic shock. Similar changes in blood glucose level were achieved using Cu(OAc)2(2mIm)2. The same pattern of hypoglycemia, although less pronounced, was observed for Cu2(OAc)4(NmIm)4.6H2O and Cu(OAc)2(1,2dmIm)2. Binary copper(II) acetate complex, the ligand imidazole, and the inorganic form of copper, such as copper(II) chloride, had no significant effect on blood glucose level. These results indicate that the hypoglycemic activity of these complexes varies with the imidazole ligand and structure of the complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Immunization coverage and child mortality in two rural districts of Sierra Leone.

The study, which is based on data from a household level health survey conducted in early 1993 in the rural areas of the districts of Western Area and Port Loko of Sierra Leone, examines the coverage of an Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), infant and child mortality, and disease symptoms in children who died under age five in the study area. The results of the study indicated that the infant and child mortality rate per thousand live births declined from about 162 in the mid 1980s to about 77 in 1993. This decline was associated with immunization coverage which considerably increased by 1993, reaching as high as above 60% of the eligible children. The study further reveals that the major symptoms of disease at the time of death of an infant or a child were fever, cough, troubled breathing, and diarrhea in that order. While fever and cough could reflect the persistence of malaria and pneumonia-two major causes of infant and child deaths not covered by existing EPI-the study also revealed that many children failed to take full doses of immunization. Similarly, inadequate coverage of domiciliary oral rehydration therapy (ORT) might have been the reason of high incidence of diarrhea-related deaths. Simple medical technologies to eliminate many of the existing major causes of infant and child mortality in rural Sierra Leone are now available. Perhaps, a strengthened primary health care service, including an extensive rural health care network, aimed at eliminating these diseases, would go a long way in reducing infant and child mortality to irreducible minimum.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1996

Relationship between survival status of first child and subsequent child death.

This paper examines the association between infant mortality of the first born and subsequent children using data from rural Bangladesh collected during the period 1971-82. It shows that birth spacing and age of mother at the time of the second birth are important predictors of the survival status of the first child. The findings are discussed in terms of policy implications.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1996

Pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and safety of montelukast sodium (MK-0476) in healthy males and females.

PURPOSE: The safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of intravenous *i.v.) montelukast sodium (Singulair, MK-0476), and the oral bioavailability of montelukast sodium in healthy males and healthy females were studied. METHODS: This was a two-part study. Part I was a four-period study in males of rising i.v. doses of montelukast sodium (3, 9, and 18 mg) administered as 15-minute constant-rate i.v. infusions (Periods 1-3), followed by a 10-mg oral tablet dose of montelukast sodium (Period 4) under fasting conditions. Part II was a four-period study in females of i.v. montelukast sodium (9 mg) infused over 15 and 5 minutes (Periods 5 and 6, respectively) or injected as a bolus over 2 minutes (Period 7), followed by a 10-mg oral tablet dose of montelukast sodium (Period 8). Plasma samples were collected and analyzed by HPLC. RESULTS: In males (N = 6), as the i.v. dose of montelukast sodium increased from 3 to 18 mg, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of montelukast sodium from time 0 to infinity (AUC) increased proportionately. The mean values of plasma clearance (CL), steady-state volume of distribution (Vss), plasma terminal half-life (t1/12), and mean residence time in the body (MRTi.v.) of montelukast sodium were 45.5 ml/min, 10.5 1, 5.1 hr, and 3.9 hr, respectively, and remained essentially constant over the i.v. dosage range. Following oral administration of a 10-mg tablet of montelukast sodium, the AUC, maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), time when Cmax occurred (Tmax), apparent t1/12, mean absorption time (MAT), and bioavailability (F) of montelukast sodium averaged 2441 ng.hr/ml, 385 ng/ml. 3.7 hr, 4.9 hr, 3.4 hr, and 66%, respectively. Following i.v. administration of 9 mg of montelukast sodium to females (N = 6), the values of CL, Vss, t1/2, and MRT i.v. averaged 47.6 ml/min, 9.6 1, 4.5 hr, and 3.6 hr, respectively. Following oral administration of a 10-mg tablet to females, the mean AUC, Cmax, Tmax, apparent t1/2, MAT and F were 2270 ng.hr/ml, 350 ng/ml, 3.3 hr, 4.4 hr, 2.6 hr, and 58%, respectively. These parameter values were similar to or slightly smaller than those in healthy males receiving the same i.v. and oral doses. CONCLUSIONS: The disposition kinetics of montelukast sodium were linear. Gender had little or no effect on the kinetics of montelukast sodium. Safety results from this study indicate that intravenous doses of montelukast sodium from 3 to 18 mg and a 10-mg oral dose are well tolerated.

Acetates↗
PubMed1995

Infant and child mortality levels and trends in Bangladesh.

Infant and child mortality levels and trends in Bangladesh are examined using data from the 1989 Bangladesh Fertility Survey. Both infant and child mortality declined from the mid 1970s but infant mortality declined more quickly. The level of infant mortality in 1989 was around 100 per 1000 live births while child mortality (5q0) was 200 per 1000 live births. Life table analysis confirms the change in infant and child mortality. The decline in infant mortality is attributed to the introduction of improved public health measures and access to maternal and child health services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Replication-deficient adenovirus induces expression of interleukin-8 by airway epithelial cells in vitro.

Preclinical studies with first-generation adenovirus (Ad) vectors administered in vivo to the respiratory tract have demonstrated a nonspecific host response consisting, in part, of parenchymal neutrophil accumulation followed by mononuclear cell and macrophage accumulation. We hypothesized that the mechanism for this host response might be the elaboration of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) from the airway epithelium following the exposure to Ad. To evaluate this hypothesis, we infected A549 cells (a human-derived lung epithelial cell line) in vitro with an adenovirus type 5 (Ad5)-based vector expressing a nuclear targeted beta-galactosidase enzyme (Av1LacZ4). We found that cellular transduction was efficient, resulting in gene delivery to 85.5% +/- 3.9% of the cell monolayer after 96 hr. Importantly, IL-8 mRNA transcript levels in Av1LacZ4-transduced cells were significantly higher than uninfected controls by 24 hr and remained elevated for 96 hr. IL-8 protein secretion from Av1LacZ4-transduced cells was increased for the same period. The Av1LacZ4-transduced A549 cells also showed a neutrophil chemoattractant activity higher than control cells, measurable at 24 hr, and persisting for 96 hr. The chemoattractant activity could be neutralized by a specific monoclonal antibody to IL-8. Whereas Av1LacZ4 transduction induced IL-8 gene expression, there was a lack of expression of MCP-1 by A549 cells. These observations demonstrate that the gene delivery to the airway epithelium using the Ad5-based expression vector results in IL-8 gene activation in these cells, which may contribute to the described inflammatory host response.

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed1995

Single dose pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of MK-0476, a new leukotriene D4-receptor antagonist, in healthy volunteers.

MK-4076 or sodium 1-(1(R)-(3-(2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)-(E)- ethenyl)phenyl) 3-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)phenyl)propyl)thio)methyl) cycloproprane) acetate is a novel, potent, and specific LTD4-receptor antagonist. The safety, tolerability and plasma drug profiles of single oral doses of MK-0476 (capsules) were evaluated in 18 healthy male volunteers assigned to one of the two parallel 9-subject panels. Under fasting conditions, increasing single doses of 20 to 800 mg were administered in a first part of the study and in a second part, 200 mg MK-0476 was given either as a solution, under fasting conditions, or as capsules, after a standard breakfast. All volunteers completed the study. Side effects, reported by the investigator to be related to study drug, were mild and transient. No laboratory abnormalities were noted. In the evaluated dose range of MK-0476 (20 to 800 mg) the median value of tmax ranged from 2 to 4 h, while the apparent t1/2 value averaged 4 to 5 h. The median tmax value of the 200 mg capsule dose was not significantly different from the median tmax of the 200 mg oral solution dose indicating that neither disintegration nor dissolution is a rate-limiting step for the absorption of MK-0476 from capsules. There was a statistically significant increase in the AUC (geometric mean ratio of fed/fast was 2.52 with 95% confidence interval of 1.25, 5.06) and in Cmax (geometric mean ratio of fed/fast was 1.36 with 95% confidence interval of 0.60, 3.04) when MK-0476 was given together with a breakfast, suggesting an increase in bioavailability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetates↗
PubMed1995

Case report: malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis--an indolent course.

Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis is an extremely rare tumour. So far less than 50 cases have been reported in the literature. Radical inguinal orchiectomy appears to be the optimal treatment. Upon recurrence, treatment remains unsatisfactory. A further case is reported here, where the disease ran an indolent course despite several recurrences after initial treatment.

Fatal Outcome↗
PubMed1995

Case report: malignant fibrous histiocytoma following radiation therapy of fibrous dysplasia.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma commonly occurs spontaneously. In some cases it follows previous therapeutic or incidental irradiation, or miscellaneous pre-existing osseous conditions. Recently, it has been associated with total hip arthroplasty. We report a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma following radiation therapy of fibrous dysplasia and review the relevant literature.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Recent evidence on trends and differentials in Bangladesh fertility: an update.

A comparison of contraceptive and fertility data for 1985-91 with data for 1983 shows that fertility has continued to decline in Bangladesh, in all segments of society. The magnitude of decline varied according to educational level, region and urban-rural locality. The percentage decline in total marital fertility rate was somewhat higher among urban than rural residents; educated women showed greater declines than uneducated, increasing the overall educational differences in total fertility by 1991. Factors contributing to the recent decline in fertility are discussed.

Adolescent↗