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Biomedical subjects

S Zaman

Publications and source records attributed to S Zaman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effect of barley and its amylopectin content on ruminal fermentation and nitrogen utilization in lactating dairy cows.

The effect of type of grain (corn vs. barley) and amylopectin content of barley grain (normal vs. waxy) on ruminal fermentation, digestibility, and utilization of ruminal ammonia nitrogen for milk protein synthesis was studied in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design trial with 6 lactating dairy cows. The experimental treatments were (proportion of dietary dry matter): CORN, 40% corn grain, NBAR, 30% normal Baronesse barley:10% corn grain, and WBAR, 30% high-amylopectin (waxy) Baronesse barley:10% corn grain. All grains were steam-rolled and fed as part of a total mixed ration. The NBAR and WBAR diets resulted in increased ruminal ammonia concentrations compared with CORN (8.2, 7.4, and 5.6 mM, respectively), but other ruminal fermentation parameters were not affected. Ruminal digestibility of dietary nutrients and microbial protein synthesis in the rumen were also not affected by diet. Corn grain had greater in situ effective ruminal dry matter degradability (62.8%) than the barley grains (58.2 and 50.7%, respectively), and degradability of the normal barley starch was greater than that of the waxy barley (69.3 and 58.9%, respectively). A greater percentage of relative starch crystallinity was observed for the waxy compared with the normal barley grain. Total tract apparent digestibility of dry matter and organic matter were decreased by WBAR compared with CORN and NBAR. Total tract starch digestibility was greater and milk urea nitrogen content was lower for CORN compared with the 2 barley diets. In this study, the extent of processing of the grain component of the diet was most likely the factor that determined the diet responses. Minimal processing of barley grain (processing indexes of 79.2 to 87.9%) reduced its total tract digestibility of starch compared with steam-rolled corn (processing index of 58.8%). As a result of the increased ammonia concentration and reduced degradability of barley dry matter in the rumen, the utilization of ruminal ammonia nitrogen for microbial protein synthesis was decreased with the barley diets compared with the corn-based diet. In this study, waxy Baronesse barley was less degradable in the rumen and the total digestive tract than its normal counterpart. The most likely reasons for these effects were the differences in starch characteristics and chemical composition, and perhaps the different response to processing between the 2 barleys.

Amylopectin↗
PubMed2004

Feeding patterns, diarrhoeal illness and linear growth in 0-24-month-old children.

The aim was to study the impact of simple healthcare interventions in 0-24-month-old children living in rural communities outside Lahore, Pakistan. Newborns belonging to four birth cohorts were followed monthly from 0-24 months of age living in rural communities. Three cohorts were from the same village: Cohort A (1984-1987), n = 485; Cohort B (1990-1992), n = 544; and Cohort C (1995-1997), n = 518. A fourth, Cohort D, was from neighbouring villages (1995-1997), n = 444. Findings from Cohort A formed the basis of a healthcare programme, including promotion of optimal breastfeeding practices, advice on oral rehydration therapy, and continued feeding during diarrhoea. The outcome measures studied were time of initiation of breastfeeding, feeding of prelacteals, exclusive breastfeeding, diarrhoeal illnesses, and postnatal linear growth. The median time of initiation of breastfeeding decreased from 47 to 3 h and exclusive breastfeeding increased from 5 per cent in Cohort A to more than 80 per cent in the subsequent cohorts, at 1 month of age. No prelacteals were given to 34 per cent of newborns in later cohorts compared with 100 per cent in Cohort A. Diarrhoeal illnesses during the first 6 months had reduced significantly. Postnatal linear growth improved by about 3 cm in the later cohorts. Appropriate changes in breastfeeding practices through integrated and focused healthcare, especially antenatally, can reduce diarrhoeal illnesses, and sustain and improve linear growth in young children.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2004

Mild intellectual disability in children in Lahore, Pakistan: aetiology and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: One of the main objectives of studying intellectual disability (ID) in children is to explore its causes. A specific aetiological diagnosis is important in determining the prognosis, nature and extent of services needed to support affected children. METHODS: Aetiology and risk factors in mild ID were studied in a cohort of longitudinally followed children (6-10 years of age, n = 40) in four population groups in and around Lahore, Pakistan. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of mild ID was 6.2%. In 22% of the cases the onset of mild ID was prenatal with small for gestational age and multifactorial inheritance as the main underlying factors. During the postnatal period (28% of the cases), social deprivation and malnutrition were the major causes of ID. In a substantial proportion of the cases (50%), the cause of ID could not be traced. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates a clear relationship of mild ID with prenatal and postnatal malnutrition and social deprivation. Two independent variables, maternal illiteracy and small head circumference at birth, showed a clear association with the development of mild mental disability among children in the study population.

Catchment Area, Health↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence and associated impairments of mild mental retardation in six- to ten-year old children in Pakistan: a prospective study.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of mild mental retardation (MMR) in 6-10-y-old children in a prospectively followed cohort in Pakistan from four areas with different socioeconomic conditions. Retarded children were identified by a two-step method, comprising a household screening with the Ten Questions Screening in 649 families followed by clinical investigation and psychometric testing (WISC-R and Griffiths) of the 132 children found by the screening. The overall prevalence of MMR among 6-10-y-old children was 6.2%. The distribution of MMR was uneven, with 1.2% among children from the upper-middle class, 4.8% in the village, 6.1% in the urban slum and 10.5% in the poor periurban slum area. Additional impairments were found in 75% of the children with MMR, of which speech impairment was the most common. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MMR was found to be higher in a developing country than in developed countries. It also seemed to be related to poor socioeconomic conditions, as the prevalence in the upper-middle class was comparable to figures from developed countries, while the prevalence in children from poor population groups was much higher.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Fractionated half-body irradiation (HBI) for the rapid palliation of widespread, symptomatic, metastatic bone disease: a randomized Phase III trial of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

PURPOSE: To find the fastest and most effective/efficient method to economically deliver fractionated half-body irradiation (HBI) for widespread (WS), symptomatic, metastatic bone cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A Phase III trial with 3 HBI arms: (Arm A) Control (15 Gy/5 fractions/5 days); (Arm B) Hyperfractionation (HF) (8 Gy/2 fractions/1 day); (Arm C) Accelerated HF (12 Gy/4 fractions/2 days). Six countries randomized 156 patients (all with WS bone metastases): 51, 56, and 49 patients to Arms A, B, and C, respectively. There were 72 (46%) breast, 50 (32%) prostate, 9 (6%) lung, and 25 (16%) miscellaneous primary tumors. Initial performance status (PS) was 1-2 in 101 (65%) and PS 3-4 in 55 (35%). The lower, upper, and middle halves of the body were treated 79, 68, and 9 times. RESULTS: Pain relief was seen in 91% of patients (45% complete [CR] and 46% partial [PR]) within 3-8 days. Overall (OS), median (MST), and pain-free (PFS) survival was 174, 150, and 122 days. Breast tumors had a higher OS (279 days) than that of other primary tumors, but when analyzed by treatment, was not significantly different than prostate tumors in Arm A. No survival differences were found in patients with PS 1-2 vs. 3-4, CR vs. PR, bone with/without visceral metastases, or by the number of metastases (< or > 15 bone lesions). Quality of life (QOL) assessed by the percent of the remaining life free of pain was 71%; furthermore significant improvements in PS, pain, and narcotic scores were seen after HBI. Toxicity was very acceptable (41% none, 50% mild/moderate, 12% severe but transitory); more was seen with upper HBI. CONCLUSION: In terms of response, time to response, OS, MST, PFS, QOL, and toxicity, schedules for Arms A and C were similar for all but prostate primaries. Schedule for Arm B, which delivered the lowest biologic dose in the shortest time, had significantly worse results in pain relief, OS, MST, PFS, and QOL. Results indicate that, for most primary tumor types (except prostate), delivering two HBI daily doses of 3 Gy in 2 consecutive days is as effective as delivering a daily dose of 3 Gy for 5 consecutive days. Thus, this is a faster and much more convenient HBI schedule for the palliation of pain in widespread cancer.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Determinants of stunting at 6, 12, 24 and 60 months and postnatal linear growth in Pakistani children.

UNLABELLED: A "nested" case-control design was used to identify cases from a longitudinally followed cohort of 1236 newborns registered during 1984-1987, living in three socioeconomically different areas. The children had a length <-2SDS (standard deviation scores) at 6, 12, 24 and 60 mo of age using the NCHS reference. The controls were matched for gender, area and month of birth. A logistic regression analysis was used for determining the risk factors for stunting at each age. Postnatal linear growth was also examined in these two groups of children and body size was compared with the NCHS reference and that of upper-middle-class children (n = 240). At 6 mo of age, prematurity and duration of breastfeeding showed a significant association with stunting. At 12 mo, maternal height, birthweight and stunting at 6 mo, while at 24 mo, stunting at 6, 12 and 18 mo were identified as important factors. At 60 mo, no other factors besides previous stunting could be identified. The mean height reached at 60 mo showed a deficit of 6 and 13 cm for the controls and the cases, respectively, compared to the NCHS reference. Twenty-eight percent of the children from the two poor areas who were stunted at 6 mo had improved by 60 mo of age. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for stunting varied at different ages, relating more to feeding at early ages and to previous stunting, predominantly at higher ages. The linear growth showed that faltering increased with age when cases and controls were treated separately. Recovery from stunting could also be demonstrated.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2000

The effect of the NK1 receptor antagonist CP-99,994 on emesis and c-fos protein induction by loperamide in the ferret.

The site of the anti-emetic action of the neurokinin1 receptor antagonist CP-99,994 was studied in the ferret using the centrally acting opiate receptor agonist loperamide at a dose (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) which induced emesis in all animals tested. CP-99,994 (1 mg/kg, s.c.x2) abolished the emetic response (retching and vomiting) and the behaviours (licking, wet dog shakes, mouth scratching and gagging) induced by loperamide over a 2-h observation period. The enantiomer of this compound CP-100,263 (1 mg/kg, s.c.x2) did not have any significant effect on emesis or related behaviours. Loperamide (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) administration (but not its vehicle) resulted in dense fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) mainly throughout the rostro-caudal extent of the nucleus tractus solitarius but not the area postrema. Although CP-99,994 (1 mg/kgx2) abolished the loperamide-induced emesis, it did not have any statistically significant effect on FLI in the brainstem. In loperamide and CP-100,263 (1 mg/kg, s.c.x2) treated animals FLI was comparable to that in animals treated with loperamide and CP-99,994. The results from this study taken together with those from previous studies indicate that loperamide exerts its emetic effect via nucleus tractus solitarius dendrites projecting into the area postrema. The lack of significant effect of CP-99,994 on the FLI induced by loperamide in this nucleus suggests that it is acting at a site "deep" in the nucleus tractus solitarius or elsewhere. The marked reduction in behaviours associated with loperamide administration by CP-99,994 provides a preliminary indication that NK1 receptor antagonist (as represented by CP-99,994) may in the clinic have effects on behaviours induced by emetic agents in addition to their previously described effects on retching and vomiting.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The mammary gland-infant intestine immunologic dyad.

The human infant has a very small immune system and needs the support of the mother with the transplacentally arrived IgG antibodies to protect tissues with inflammatogenic and energy-consuming defense. The mucous membranes, where most infections occur, need support via the specialized secretory IgA antibodies and the many other mucosal defense mechanisms provided via the mother's milk. This defense is not inflammatogenic and energy-consuming. We learn about additional defense factors in the milk, like the anti-secretory factor, which seems to protect against diarrhoea. The milk contains numerous growth factors and cytokines, like leptin, which may promote the development of the intestine as well as the immune system. Results are appearing giving interesting evidence for enhanced protection against infection also after the termination of breastfeeding. This may occur via the priming of the infant's immune system after uptake of anti-idiotypic antibodies and lymphocytes from the milk. A breastfeeding motivation study in a large Pakistani village resulted in a 50% decrease of diarrhoea and infant mortality. Deep interviews with the mothers and the traditional birth attendants suggested that even better results may be obtained.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2000

Direct amplification of Entamoeba histolytica DNA from amoebic liver abscess pus using polymerase chain reaction.

An important and serious complication of intestinal infection with Entamoeba histolytica is the involvement of the liver (hepatic amoebiasis). Hepatic amoebiasis is usually diagnosed by the clinical picture (pain in the right upper quadrant and fever), ultrasound examination and positive serology. However, none of these tests are definitive and the picture overlaps with pyogenic liver abscess caused by bacteria. It is for this reason that the feasibility of using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of E. histolytica DNA in liver abscess pus was investigated. A comparative study was done to verify the sensitivity of ten pairs of primers specific for detecting E. histolytica in stools. Samples of liver abscess pus from 22 serology-positive patients were collected under ultrasound guidance; and these were used directly in PCR assays without any prior pre-treatment of the samples. Of the ten pairs of previously published primers tested, two pairs of primers (PI + P2 and P11 + P12) were found to give 100% sensitivity. Based on these results, we recommend that PCR assay can be successfully used to confirm the diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess with the primers identified.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A randomized controlled trial of alternative modes of service provision to young children with cerebral palsy in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of an outreach program for young children with cerebral palsy with center-based and "minimal intervention" control groups. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial conducted in a group of 85 children between the ages of 1.5 and 5 years. Urban children were allocated to a daily center-based mother-child group or to monthly training of their parents along with a pictorial guidance manual. Rural children were allocated either to parent training or health advice. Outcome measures were changes in children's adaptive skills, maternal stress and adaptation to the child, satisfaction with social support, and knowledge of handling a physically disabled child. RESULTS: Fifty-eight children were successfully followed up. The pattern of change in children's adaptive skills was as predicted (ie, least progress in the health advice group). Positive effects of intervention also included increased maternal knowledge and perceived helpfulness of support from formal sources. However, maternal adaptation increased most in the health advice group with minimal intervention. When children had attended a program at least 4 times, their skills improved, and mothers' adaptation did increase. CONCLUSIONS: Outreach training for mothers in Bangladesh can help them to improve the skills of their young children with cerebral palsy and is perceived as helpful.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1999

The impact of climate on the prevalence of respiratory tract infections in early childhood in Lahore, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory tract infections are a major health problem in developing countries. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of the climate on the prevalence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in four socioeconomically different groups in a developing country. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among children in four socioeconomically different groups in Lahore, Pakistan. Monthly observations were made on 1476 infants born during 1984-1987 and followed for 24 months. Prevalence of URTI and LRTI was analysed according to age, area of living, family size, time of birth, the season of the year and climate variables such as rain, temperature and humidity. RESULTS: Low monthly average minimum day temperature was associated with high prevalence of URTI and LRTI. For LRTI the impact of temperature was larger for boys, children living in larger families and children living in the poorer areas. This pattern was not seen for URTI. A peak in prevalence for LRTI was shown at 5-6 months of age for LRTI and at 10-12 months of age for URTI. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature is related to prevalence of URTI and LRTI in a developing society. The effect of temperature on health varies between different subgroups. These effects should be considered in planning health actions to prevent respiratory tract infections.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1998

Age and sex are important factors in determining normal retinol levels.

Cut-off levels for serum retinol levels of 20 micrograms/dl for marginal and 10 micrograms/dl for definite deficiency have been advocated and extensively used in population studies. However, the blood serum levels of retinol of the newborn are known to be very low and although the age dependency of the retinol binding protein has been described, the normal levels of serum retinol at different ages have not been reported from larger series. While studying poor populations of young infants in Lahore, Pakistan, we thought it necessary to try to achieve appropriate reference values by analysing the levels of serum retinol of expatriates from the Indian subcontinent who live in the affluent United Arab Emirates, where retinol deficiency is not seen either at the hospital or the community levels. We have studied material, cord blood, infantile and adult levels of retinol and found a highly significant age relationship of serum retinol levels. During very early infancy the 'normal' mean is below what has been considered deficiency. This is new information and important in the evaluation of retinol status of individuals as well as populations. In addition, we found lower levels in women, pregnant or non-pregnant, than those in adult men. This sex difference in adults was not seen in infants. We recommend a cut off level for deficiency of 10 micrograms/dl, but only for those above 1 month of postnatal age.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Risk factors for mortality in young children living under various socio-economic conditions in Lahore, Pakistan: with particular reference to inbreeding.

Risk factors such as maternal age, parity, previous siblings' death, inbreeding of parents, birth weight, birth length were examined in a population-based prospective study in four population groups at different levels of urbanization in and round Lahore, Pakistan. From September 1984 to March 1995, 2967 full-term, single born infants were followed from the 5th month of gestation to 12 months of age. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant relative risk (RR) of infant death associated with parents' consanguinity (RR = 1.8), birth weight (RR = 1.8) and elder siblings' death (RR = 1.7). The risk attributed to these factors was 28, 17 and 25%, respectively. The number of lethal equivalents per gamete is about one. The B/A ratio 10.36 suggests that the genetic load is likely to be mutational. In countries like Pakistan, where consanguinity is favourably practiced, a substantial proportion of infant deaths may be prevented by cessation of such marriages. The implications of this finding for the Pakistani community are discussed.

Adolescent↗