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Biomedical subjects

S Begum

Publications and source records attributed to S Begum.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Studies on the constituents of the leaves of Nerium oleander on behavior pattern in mice.

Fresh, undried and uncrushed leaves of Nerium oleander were subjected to methanol extraction and bioassay directed fractionation. This led to the isolation of two purified fractions namely, B-1 and B-3. Fractions B-1 and B-3 were studied with respect to their actions on the central nervous system and behavior pattern in mice. Both fractions were found to produce reduction in locomotor activity, rota rod performance and potentiation of hexobarbital sleeping time. These fractions also showed analgesic activity. When tested against picrotoxin induced convulsions fraction B-1 showed 40% protection, while fraction B-3 exhibited 60% protection against bicuculline induced convulsions. These findings suggest that both fractions possess a CNS depressant action.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Working women, maternity entitlements, and breastfeeding: a report from Bangladesh.

Early infant feeding practices and facilities available for supporting breastfeeding in workplaces in Dhaka, Bangladesh were studied through interviews with working women (n = 238) with children younger than 30 months of age. Of the women interviewed, 20 percent were aware of the benefits of, and had exclusively breastfed in the first month, 13 percent in the second month, and two percent in the fifth month of employment. The median age of starting complementary feeds was 41 days (range, 1-210) preparatory to resuming work. Total duration of breastfeeding was significantly shorter in mothers who had started these feeds before 41 days of age as compared to those who started later (mean +/- SD) 275 +/- 216 days versus 361 +/- 223 days (p = 0.003). Ninety-nine percent of the mothers were unaware of their maternity entitlements, and only 20 percent had taken breaks for breastfeeding, those breaks being treated as "unofficial." Working women should be informed through health personnel and communication media, about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and about maternity entitlements. Provision of facilities to support breastfeeding in the workplace must also be encouraged so that maternal employment does not hamper breastfeeding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Reliability study of reporting of days since last sexual intercourse in Matlab, Bangladesh.

The accuracy of responses to a question on the frequency of sexual intercourse in the 4-week period prior to an interview is expected to be low. This paper examines the reliability of an alternative question: 'How many days since you last had sexual intercourse?'. This was a part of a larger longitudinal study of fertility dynamics in Matlab, Bangladesh. The response pairs of 61 women who were asked the same question by an interviewer and on the next day by a supervisor, were analysed. Refusals were more common among older women and among women who gave a response at the extremes of the distribution for the other interview. Of the pairs of two responses, 78% had a difference of 3 days or less. Further study and use of the question on days since last intercourse is recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Fabric softeners and softness perception.

In order to evaluate the efficiency of various commercial chemical fabric softeners, a technique of obtaining subjective assessment known as 'magnitude estimation' was used to estimate the fabric softness. Particular emphasis was given to subjective scaling and limits of human perception. Comparison between softness and compression (a physical measure) was demonstrated.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis of alkyl catechols and evaluation of their antibacterial and cyfotoxic activity.

A series of potential biologically active mono-, di- and tetra- alkyl catechols were prepared through Friedel- Crafts alkylation of catechol, and evaluated for their antibacterial and cytotoxic activity. The mono-substituted alkyl derivatives showed maximum antibacterial activity in vitro which increased with the increasing length of the alkyl chains. Primary screening results indicated that all the monoalkyl derivatives except 4- (2-octyl) catechol inhibited the growth of B. bronchoseptica and maximum zones of inhibition were observed in case of monohexyl catechols (both n- and 2-hexyl) and monobenzyl derivative. In case of Gram-negative organisms growth of Kl. pneumoniae and A. calcoaceticus was inhibited by several derivatives. Mono-3-octyl-, monononyl- and monobenzyl catechols markedly inhibited the growth of Kl. pneumoniae. Mono-2-heptyl catechol inhibited the growth of six Gram-negative bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentration of six most active compounds of the series was determined against Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms; it ranged from < 100 mug/ml to l0 mug/ml. The antibacterial activity of catechol was not significant. Cytotoxicity test done by brine shrimp assays showed that the order of cytotoxicity decreases in going from mono- to tetra- alkyl catechols, and among the mono- alkyl products, a decrease in order of cytotoxicity was noted in going from mono-methyl catechol (LD(50) = 59) to monopentyl catechol (LD(50) = 173) after which the order of cytotoxicity gradually increased upto the largest alkyl substituent tested i.e. monononyl catechol (LD(50) = 114). Methyl and ethyl catechol, which were almost inactive in respect of their antibacterial activity possessed prononounced cytotoxicity as compared to higher homologues. Catechol itself did not show significant cytotoxicity (LD(50) = 393.27).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Detection of antibodies to serum IgA and IgG in peptic ulcer cases by indirect haemagglutination test.

Autoantibodies to serum IgA and IgG were detected in 206 peptic ulcer patients (196 duodenal ulcer and 10 gastric ulcer) and 52 healthy age and sex-matched controls by indirect haemagglutination test. A significantly increased mean titre of autoantibodies to serum IgA was observed in the peptic ulcer patients. Forty-eight (24.61%) duodenal ulcer cases had autoantibody titre values above mean +/- 2 SD of controls. Titres of autoantibodies to serum IgG were significantly increased only in the gastric ulcer cases. The results suggest an immunologic abnormality in a sizeable fraction of these cases.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗
PubMed1992

In vitro assessment of 'T' lymphocyte functioning in vitiligo. Support for autoimmune hypothesis concerning the disease.

Ten patients with vitiligo in the active state of the disease and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls were selected for certain immunological markers. A significantly high production of leukocyte migration inhibition factor was observed in these patients when compared with controls. Levels of immunoglobulin G were found to be significantly elevated. Eighty percent of the cases showed elevated levels of circulating immune complexes. Our investigation supports the autoimmune hypothesis for the disease, showing an increased release of LMIF with a subsequent activation of B-cells which might have led to the observed hypergammaglobulinaemia and elevated levels of circulating immune complexes in these patients.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1992

Methyl parathion induced regional alterations in the regulatory proteins during critical stage of central nervous system development in albino rat pups.

Sublethal doses of methyl parathion (O,O-dimethyl-O-nitrophenyl- thiophosphate) injected intraperitoneally to 15 and 21 day old rat pups induced regional alterations in the central nervous system (CNS) in the levels of total RNA, total proteins, modulatory protein Calmodulin (CaM), in the activity levels of membrane bound enzyme Ca(2+)-ATPase and phospholipids. Levels of RNA and total proteins increased considerably in 15 days old methyl parathion treated (MPT) rat pups. Contrary to this the RNA and total protein content exhibited remarkable decrease in 21 day old methyl parathion treated animals. Calmodulin level showed an increase in cerebral cortex and brain stem and decrease in cerebellum and spinal cord in 15 day old methyl parathion treated rat pups. Whereas the level of Calmodulin decreased in cerebral cortex and cerebellum and increased in brain stem and spinal cord in 21 day old methyl parathion treated rat pups. Activity levels of calcium dependent ATPase showed significant inhibition in all the regions of Central Nervous System (CNS) of 15 and 21 day old methyl parathion treated rat pups. Phospholipids showed a general increase in all the regions of Central Nervous System on methyl parathion exposure. In the light of these observations, it has been suggested that the molecular regulatory mechanisms involving Ca2+/CaM are rendered inefficient due to toxic impact of methyl parathion.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Autoimmunity in amoebiasis.

Amoebic liver abscess (ALA) and symptomatic intestinal amoebiasis cases were assessed by indirect haemagglutination assay for auto-reactive IgG and IgA class of antibodies in response to healthy human serum IgG and IgA. The present results indicated the presence of autoreactive IgG and IgA class of antibodies in ALA and intestinal amoebiasis respectively.

Autoimmunity↗
PubMed1992

Can mothers safely prepare labon-gur salt-sugar solution after demonstration in a diarrhoeal hospital?

Home-based salt-sugar solution (SSS) prepared with labon (locally produced sea salt) and gur (unrefined brown sugar) has been recommended as a cheap, locally available and a simple tool to prevent and treat diarrhoeal dehydration. Preparation of labon-gur SSS is demonstrated to the patients and the attendants at ICDDR, Bangladesh. To evaluate performances, 150 mothers were asked to measure labon and gur by finger pinch and first method and 100 mothers measured half a seer of water to prepare labon-gur SSS, shortly after the demonstration sessions. 4.0% of the samples exceeded the upper safety limit while 1.3% exceeded the upper danger limit for salt and 98.7% samples of gur were within safe and effective range. Mothers' performances were not different with regard to their educational status and prior practice at home. 80% knew about the solution before coming to the hospital and 45% had utilized this knowledge. Our study suggests that demonstration of home-based SSS in a diarrhoeal hospital may positively affect health education and that health personnel should actively participate in increasing health awareness.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1992

Detection of autoreactive antibodies to serum IgG and IgA in amoebic liver abscess cases.

Assessment of autoreactive antibodies in response to healthy human serum IgA and IgG was performed by indirect haemagglutination assay on serum samples from 81 amoebic liver abscess cases for IgA and 70 for IgG. Appropriate controls were taken simultaneously. IgA, IgG were isolated and purified from a healthy human serum through Sephadex G-200 and protein A CL 4B sepharose chromatography. These immunoglobulins were used for the detection of its own antibodies in amoebic liver abscess cases. This revealed that 43.20% and 48.50% of the cases were positive for IgA and IgG respectively, where as only 19.35% and 28.30% of the controls were in positive category (IgA and IgG respectively). The mean titres with standard deviation of the autoreactive antibodies to serum IgA both in ALA cases and controls shows a highly significant difference between tests and controls (P less than 0.001). Similarly the mean titres with standard deviation both in ALA and controls for the serum IgG differed significantly (P less than 0.001). This suggests the presence of autoreactive antibodies against serum IgA and IgG in amoebic liver abscess cases.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗
PubMed1991

Study on quality assessment of neonatal tetanus cases admitted in the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Dhaka.

This study was conducted at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Mohakhali, Dhaka through an interview schedule and check list. The study population comprised of attendants of 64 neonatal tetanus cases. It has been observed that majority of neonatal tetanus patients came from low socio-economic condition. The follow-up records of 45% admitted cases did not include complete salient features. Treatment was not reviewed in majority of cases within 6-12 hours. Progress reports of serious cases were not maintained properly in about 50% cases. Case fatality rate was very high (64.46%) and recovery rate was only 12.4%. Standard criteria and norms should be developed as to measure the performance in terms of quality assurance of neonatal tetanus cases to justify the cost effectiveness.

Bangladesh↗