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Biomedical subjects

S Islam

Publications and source records attributed to S Islam.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Validity of the 'Ten Questions' for screening serious childhood disability: results from urban Bangladesh.

A survey of 2576 children aged two to nine years was carried out in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as part of a collaborative study to test the validity of a questionnaire (the Ten Questions) for screening severe childhood disabilities in community settings. Approximately 7% of the children were positive on the screen and this rate was slightly higher in boys than girls. The sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of the Ten Questions were perfect or nearly perfect for severe and moderate (serious) disabilities. The positive predictive value was only 22% for serious disabilities, but 70% of children classified as false positives were found to have mild disabilities or other conditions (such as ear infections) for which early detection and treatment could be beneficial. No major age or gender differences in the validity of the questionnaire were apparent, but this finding needs additional study and confirmation with studies based on larger samples. In general, the results indicate that the Ten Questions is a valid tool for screening serious disabilities in children and can potentially improve the efficiency of health services by reducing the number of children requiring attention from professionals. Future studies using the Ten Questions should foster greater attention to the dimensions of childhood disability as a public health problem in the less developed world.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1990

[Exudative enteropathy and interstitial cystitis due to systemic lupus erythematosus].

A 33-year-old woman presented with chronic diarrhea, vomiting and anasarca due to systemic lupus erythematosus with protein-losing enteropathy, interstitial cystitis and glomerulonephritis. Methylprednisolone could not prevent aggravation of diarrhea, obstructive uropathy, and nephrotic syndrome, and prolonged intestinal ileus developed. Because of this steroid-resistance, bolus injections of cyclophosphamide (1 g i.v. monthly) were decided. Protein-losing enteropathy and ileus both disappeared rapidly following the first injection. Protein-losing enteropathy, intestinal ileus and interstitial cystitis are exceptional manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus; steroid-resistance of the digestive manifestations has only been reported in one case and our observation is the first reporting the efficacy of cyclophosphamide.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Protein engineering and design.

Rapid advances in site-directed mutagenesis and total gene synthesis combined with new expression systems in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have provided the molecular biologist with tools for modification of existing proteins to improve catalytic activity, stability and selectivity, for construction of chimeric molecules and for synthesis of completely novel molecules that may be endowed with some useful activity. Such protein engineering can be seen as a cycle in which the structures of engineered molecules are studied by X-ray analysis and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. The results are used in the improvement of the design by using knowledge-based procedures that exploit facts, rules and observations about proteins of known three-dimensional structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Pharmacokinetics of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in serum and ascitic fluid in cirrhotic patients.

A combination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid (Augmentin) might be useful for first-line treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis. We have studied the pharmacokinetics of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in serum and ascitic fluid of six cirrhotic patients. A total of 66 simultaneous serum and ascitic samples were analysed. Following iv injection of 1 g amoxycillin plus 0.2 g clavulanic acid, the ascites to serum AUC ratio was 1.38 for amoxycillin and 1.01 for clavulanic acid, indicating a good distribution of these drugs into the ascitic fluid. In this study, experimental data were fitted to a three compartment body model which revealed that the prolonged serum half-lives of amoxycillin (274 min) and clavulanic acid (200 min) were probably due to the slow return from the ascitic compartment.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Characteristics of clometacin-induced hepatitis with special reference to the presence of anti-actin cable antibodies.

The clinical, biochemical, histopathological and immunological features of 30 cases of clometacin-induced hepatitis are described. The age range of the patients was 32-84 years with a notable female predominance of 29:1. The hepatitis was highly cytolytic with high values of transaminases but with little or no cholestasis. Gammaglobulins were higher than 18 g/l in 73% of the cases. 25 liver biopsies were performed and showed acute hepatitis with a predominant centrilobular necrosis in 17; chronic aggressive hepatitis was noted in 8 cases but 1 showed concomitant cirrhotic changes. Anti-tissue antibodies were looked for in all cases. Anti-smooth muscle antibodies of anti-actin cable type (titre 1/80 to 1/2, 560) were detected in 19 cases, anti-nucleus antibodies in 16 cases which were associated to the former in 14 cases. The above findings show that clometacin produces a hepatitis syndrome quite akin to autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (lupoid hepatitis) and to the hepatopathy induced by oxyphenisatin.

Actins↗
PubMed1988

Acetate causes endothelium-independent increases in cyclic AMP in rat caudal artery.

The mechanism of the vasorelaxant action of acetate is unknown. Because cyclic nucleotides have been linked to vasorelaxation in vascular smooth muscle, we studied the effects of acetate on tissue adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) levels in rat caudal artery. Acetate (4 mM) induced an increase in tissue cAMP levels (control: 5.1 +/- 0.67, acetate: 7.1 +/- 0.97 pmol/mg protein, P less than 0.05), with the increase noted as early as 15-30 s after acetate exposure, and peaking at 60 s. The time course of the cAMP response was compatible with the vasorelaxant effect of acetate against an arginine vasopressin (AVP, 2 X 10(-9) M) contraction. Both the increase in cAMP and the vasorelaxant effect were completely blocked by 10(-3) M 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). Acetate increased cAMP levels in 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX)-treated tissue with an effective concentration producing 50% of the maximum response (EC50) of 1.5 mM, similar to the relaxant EC50 (without IBMX) of 2.2 mM against an AVP contraction. In other experiments, the effect of acetate on cAMP was shown to be independent of endothelium. In contrast, acetate had no effect on tissue cGMP levels, whether the endothelium was present or absent. The results suggest that acetate causes an increase in tissue cAMP levels that is not dependent on presence of a functioning endothelium. The changes in cAMP may be contributory to the vasorelaxant effect of acetate in the caudal artery.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1987

Comparative study of the effect of beta-blockers with different pharmacological properties on cholesteryl ester formation in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

The effect of three beta-blockers: non-selective (propranolol), beta 1-selective (metoprolol), and with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (pindolol), was investigated on 14C-oleic acid incorporation into cholesteryl esters in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Incorporation of 14C-oleic acid into cholesteryl esters was reduced about 10-fold by propranolol at 10(-4) M while incorporation into triacylglycerols was only 30% decreased at the same concentration. Metoprolol and pindolol had no significant effect on 14C-oleic incorporation into cholesteryl esters or triacylglycerols. Finally, propranolol inhibited the acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol-O-acyltransferase activity, measured in vitro on macrophages homogenates, while the other studied beta-blockers were ineffective. These results suggest that propranolol could antagonize cholesteryl ester accumulation by macrophages, one of the main processes involved in atherogenesis.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1987

Impact of massive doses of vitamin A on nutritional blindness in Bangladesh.

Impact of 6-monthly massive dosings of preschool-age children with oral vitamin A (VAC: 200,000 IU of oil soluble retinyl palmitate with 40 IU vitamin E) was evaluated in Bangladesh. In 100 sites, 11,889 households were visited and eyes of 22,335 children aged 3-71 mo were examined. About half the rural target population and less than 20% urban slum population were being reached. Risk of night blindness was halved for children reportedly given VAC, although 2.5% of the reportedly protected population were still night blind. There was no significant reduction in prevalence of Bitot's spot. Risk of corneal ulcers or keratomalacia (X3A/B) was 2.7 times higher in children not given VAC. Based on reported coverage, efficacy of protection against potentially blinding corneal lesions was 63%. For maximum impact on eye lesions, massive dosing with vitamin A at ideally less than 6-monthly intervals needs to be combined with other nutrition and health interventions.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1986

[Association of autoimmune chronic active hepatitis and acquired erythroblastopenia cured by cyclophosphamide].

To the best of our knowledge this is the reported first case of the successive occurrence in the same patient of chronic active hepatitis and acquired pure red cell aplasia, both probably of autoimmune origin. The diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis was based on the presence of characteristic lesions at the examination of the liver biopsy specimen, high titer of anti-smooth muscle antibodies in the serum, and remission obtained by steroid therapy. Erythroid aplasia, which appeared during the course of this treatment, was revealed by a regenerative anemia (4.4 g Hb/100 ml) and proved by bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. In vitro bone marrow culture was normal, suggesting the in vivo presence of an inhibitor of erythroblastic differentiation. Red cell aplasia was cured by cyclophosphamide (100 mg/day during 56 days). No recurrence was noted until the death of the patient, which occurred one year later, due to hepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Action of cyclophosphamide on the pure red cell aplasia suggested the immune origin of this disease. The liver and the bone marrow erythroid lineage have probably been the successive targets of immunologic dyscrasia.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1985

Fasting serum bile acid level in cirrhosis. A semi-quantitative index of hepatic function.

We examined the roles of the factors which influence bile acid levels in order to define to what extent fasting serum total bile acid (FSTBA) level might reflect hepatic function and/or anatomy of the portal circulation in patients with cirrhosis. In a first group of 13 patients having mild to moderately advanced cirrhosis we determined the apparent oral clearance (CLo) of chenodeoxycholic acid (764 mumol) and their FSTBA levels. In a second group of 15 similar patients we measured FSTBA levels and by hepatic vein catheterization the intrinsic clearance (CLi) of ICG as well as total hepatic blood flow (Q). We found a significant inverse log-log relationship (r = 0.752, P less than 0.01) between the FSTBA and the CLo on the one hand and significant inverse log-log relationship (r = 0.707, P less than 0.01) between the FSTBA and CLi on the other hand. Q was not found to bear any significant relation to FSTBA (r = 0.120, P greater than 0.1). To conclude, in view of the observed relationship between CLi and CLo vs FSTBA, the latter might serve as a simple non-invasive semiquantitative index of hepatic function and/or anatomy of portal circulation in cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Survival of patients in acute renal failure: effect of nutrition and its associated complications].

A retrospective study of 150 patients with acute renal failure (ARF) was conducted to assess the influence of both protein and caloric intake and non-renal complications on the prognosis, as well as the predictive value of plasma protein levels. The majority of ARF had occurred in medical or surgical settings (46% and 32.7%, respectively). Nutritional data were available from 94 patients, fed either by parenteral or enteral routes, or both. The mean caloric intake was higher (29 kcal/kg/day) in patients who recovered than in those who did not (24 kcal/kg/day, p less than 0.01). A caloric intake above 35 kcal/kg/day resulted in an improved survival, independently of either patients' age or non-renal complications. Serum prealbumin and transferrin levels were higher in surviving patients than in those who died, 0.25 vs 0.16 g/l (p less than 0.001) and 1.7 vs 1.4 g/l (p less than 0.01), respectively. Nutritional support in ARF could be adapted according to the variations of these serum markers. Its influence on survival should be assessed with regard to the associated prognosis factors.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1980

Oral therapy in children with cholera: a comparison of sucrose and glucose electrolyte solutions.

We performed a double-blind trial comparing sucrose electrolyte oral solution with glucose electrolyte oral solution in children less than 5 years of age with severe cholera-like diarrhea. Of 111 patients studied (102 with bacteriologically confirmed cholera), 55 received sucrose solution and 56 received glucose solution. The success rates, as defined by the absence of the need to give unscheduled intravenous therapy, were similar in the two groups (73% and 77% in the sucrose and glucose groups, respectively). There was no difference in purging rates between the two groups. The primary determinant of success for oral fluid regardless of the sugar was the purging rate. Sucrose malabsorption was responsible for oral therapy failure in one child. This study demonstrates that sucrose is an effective alternative to glucose in the oral therapy solution, but either must be used in conjunction with intravenous solution when treating severe dehydrating diarrhea.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1980

Disease due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in Bangladeshi adults: clinical aspects and a controlled trial of tetracycline.

The clinical characteristics of disease due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) were determined in 88 adult males admitted to a hospital in Dacca, Bangladesh, with moderate to severe dehydration. Persons infected with ETEC strains producing both heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable (ST) toxin had more dehydration and acidosis, longer duration of illness, and greater stool volume than persons infected with strains producing only ST. Tetracycline therapy, evaluated in 63 cases, resulted in slightly earlier termination of illness in patients with LT-ST strains but had no effect on illness in the patients with ST strains. In both groups of patients tetracycline shortened the duration of excretion of organisms. Because of its limited effectiveness and the generally excellent response of ETEC diarrhea to rehydration therapy alone, tetracycline is not warranted for use in treatment of ETEC diarrhea in adults in this population.

Adult↗