Biomedical subjects

Saifuddin Ahmed

Publications and source records attributed to Saifuddin Ahmed.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Effects of domestic violence on perinatal and early-childhood mortality: evidence from north India.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of physical violence during pregnancy on perinatal and early-childhood mortality. METHODS: We estimated the prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy among a population-based sample of 2199 women in Uttar Pradesh, India. We used a survival regression model to examine the risks for perinatal, neonatal, postneonatal, and early-childhood (aged 1-3 years) mortality by mother's exposure to domestic violence, after we controlled for other sociodemographic and maternal health behavior risk factors. RESULTS: Eighteen percent of the women in our study experienced domestic violence during their last pregnancy. After we adjusted for other risk factors, births among mothers who had experienced domestic violence had risks for perinatal and neonatal mortality that were 2.59 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.35, 4.95) and 2.37 (95% CI=1.21, 4.62) times higher, respectively, than births among mothers who had not experienced violence. We found no significant associations between domestic violence and either postneonatal or early-childhood mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Domestic violence is a significant risk factor for perinatal and neonatal mortality.

Cause of Death↗

PubMed2006

A mouse strain difference in tumorigenesis induced by biodegradable polymers.

The use of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) surgical implants for repair of bone fractures has gained popularity in the past decade. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effect of PLLA plates on subcutaneous tissue in two mouse strains, BALB/cJ and SJL/J, which have higher and lower tumorigenicity, respectively. Gap-junctional intercellular communication and protein expression of connexin 43 were significantly suppressed, whereas secretion of transforming growth factor-beta1 and expression of extracellular matrix, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, and cysteine-rich intestinal protein 2 were significantly increased in PLLA-implanted BALB/cJ mice when compared with BALB/cJ controls. Finally, tumors were formed after implantation of cultured cells from the more-tumorigenic BALB/cJ, but not SJL/J, mice into nude mice.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Domestic violence and contraceptive adoption in Uttar Pradesh, India.

This study examines the association between domestic violence and the subsequent adoption of modern contraception in North India. Matched data on married couples who were not practicing contraception are analyzed from companion surveys of married husbands and wives in five districts of Uttar Pradesh. By means of hazard modeling, a significant negative association was found between a husband's reporting of using physical domestic violence against his wife and the couple's adoption of a modern method of contraception. Community norms that were more tolerant of domestic violence were, in contrast, not a significant predictor of subsequent method adoption. The results highlight the need to address the issue of support for women experiencing domestic violence within existing family planning services and to sensitize service providers to the specific needs of women experiencing such violence.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Individual and contextual determinants of domestic violence in North India.

OBJECTIVES: We examined individual- and community-level influences on domestic violence in Uttar Pradesh, North India. METHODS: Multilevel modeling was used to explore domestic violence outcomes among a sample of 4520 married men. RESULTS: Recent physical and sexual domestic violence was associated with the individual-level variables of childlessness, economic pressure, and intergenerational transmission of violence. A community environment of violent crime was associated with elevated risks of both physical and sexual violence. Community-level norms concerning wife beating were significantly related only to physical violence. CONCLUSIONS: Important similarities as well as differences were evident in risk factors for physical and sexual domestic violence. Higher socioeconomic status was found to be protective against physical but not sexual violence. Our results provide additional support for the importance of contextual factors in shaping women's risks of physical and sexual violence.

Humans↗

PubMed2005

Hydroxy apatite microspheres enhance gap junctional intercellular communication of human osteoblasts composed of connexin 43 and 45.

The aseptic loosening of artificial joints with associated periprosthetic bone resorption may be partly due to the suppression of osteoblast function to form new bone by wear debris from the joint. To assess the effect of wear debris on osteoblasts, effects of model wear debris on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) of normal human osteoblasts were estimated. The GJIC activity of the osteoblasts after a 1-day incubation with the microspheres was similar to that of normal osteoblasts. However, hydroxy apatite particles, which have been reported to enhance the differentiation of osteoblasts in contact with them, enhanced the GJIC function of the osteoblasts. From RT-PCR studies, not only connexin 43 but also connexin 45 is suggested to play a role in the GJIC of the osteoblasts in an early stage of coculture with the microspheres, although it is still unclear how these connexins work and are regulated in the GJIC and differentiation. However, this study suggests that there is a relationship between the early levels of GJIC and the differentiation of the cells. Therefore, estimating the effect of biomaterials, even in the microsphere form, on the GJIC of model cells, with which the biomaterials may be in contact in vivo, can provide important information about their biocompatibility.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Novel mechanism of tumorigenesis: increased transforming growth factor-beta 1 suppresses the expression of connexin 43 in BALB/cJ mice after implantation of poly-L-lactic acid.

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a widely used promising material for surgical implants such as tissue-engineered scaffolds. In this study, we aimed to determine the in vivo effect of PLLA plates on the cellular function of subcutaneous tissue in the two mouse strains, BALB/cJ and SJL/J, higher and lower tumorigenic strains, respectively. Gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) protein were significantly suppressed, whereas the secretion of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) level was significantly increased in PLLA-implanted BALB/cJ mice compared with BALB/cJ controls. However, no significant difference in TGF-beta 1 secretion was observed between the SJL/J-implanted and SJL/J control mice. We found for the first time that a significant difference was observed between the two strains; thus, the PLLA increased the secretion of TGF-beta 1 and suppressed the mRNA expression of Cx43 at the earlier stage after implantation into the higher-tumorigenic strain, BALB/cJ mice. This novel mechanism might have a vital role in the inhibition of GJIC and promote the tumorigenesis in BALB/cJ mice.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Topically applied sunflower seed oil prevents invasive bacterial infections in preterm infants in Egypt: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Because the therapeutic options for managing infections in neonates in developing countries are often limited, innovative approaches to preventing infections are needed. Topical therapy with skin barrier-enhancing products may be an effective strategy for improving neonatal outcomes, particularly among preterm, low birth weight infants whose skin barrier is temporarily but critically compromised as a result of immaturity. METHODS: We tested the impact of topical application of sunflower seed oil 3 times daily to preterm infants <34 weeks gestational age at the Kasr El-Aini neonatal intensive care unit at Cairo University on skin condition, rates of nosocomial infections and mortality. RESULTS: Treatment with sunflower seed oil (n = 51) resulted in a significant improvement in skin condition (P = 0.037) and a highly significant reduction in the incidence of nosocomial infections (adjusted incidence ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.81; P = 0.007) compared with infants not receiving topical prophylaxis (n = 52). There were no reported adverse events as a result of topical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Given the low cost (approximately .20 dollars for a course of therapy) and technologic simplicity of the intervention and the effect size observed in this study, a clinical trial with increased numbers of subjects is indicated to evaluate the potential of topical therapy to reduce infections and save newborn lives in developing countries.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2003

Women's status and domestic violence in rural Bangladesh: individual- and community-level effects.

We explore the determinants of domestic violence in two rural areas of Bangladesh. We found increased education, higher socioeconomic status, non-Muslim religion, and extended family residence to be associated with lower risks of violence. The effects of women's status on violence was found to be highly context-specific. In the more culturally conservative area, higher individual-level women's autonomy and short-term membership in savings and credit groups were both associated with significantly elevated risks of violence, and community-level variables were unrelated to violence. In the less culturally conservative area, in contrast, individual-level women's status indicators were unrelated to the risk of violence, and community-level measures of women's status were associated with significantly lower risks of violence, presumably by reinforcing nascent normative changes in gender relations.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Effect of zinc supplementation started during diarrhoea on morbidity and mortality in Bangladeshi children: community randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect on morbidity and mortality of providing daily zinc for 14 days to children with diarrhoea. DESIGN: Cluster randomised comparison. SETTING: Matlab field site of International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. PARTICIPANTS: 8070 children aged 3-59 months contributed 11 881 child years of observation during a two year period. INTERVENTION: Children with diarrhoea in the intervention clusters were treated with zinc (20 mg per day for 14 days); all children with diarrhoea were treated with oral rehydration therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of episode of diarrhoea, incidence of diarrhoea and acute lower respiratory infections, admission to hospital for diarrhoea or acute lower respiratory infections, and child mortality. RESULTS: About 40% (399/1007) of diarrhoeal episodes were treated with zinc in the first four months of the trial; the rate rose to 67% (350/526) in month 5 and to >80% (364/434) in month 7 and was sustained at that level. Children from the intervention cluster received zinc for about seven days on average during each episode of diarrhoea. They had a shorter duration (hazard ratio 0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 0.90) and lower incidence of diarrhoea (rate ratio 0.85, 0.76 to 0.96) than children in the comparison group. Incidence of acute lower respiratory infection was reduced in the intervention group but not in the comparison group. Admission to hospital of children with diarrhoea was lower in the intervention group than in the comparison group (0.76, 0.59 to 0.98). Admission for acute lower respiratory infection was lower in the intervention group, but this was not statistically significant (0.81, 0.53 to 1.23). The rate of non-injury deaths in the intervention clusters was considerably lower (0.49, 0.25 to 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: The lower rates of child morbidity and mortality with zinc treatment represent substantial benefits from a simple and inexpensive intervention that can be incorporated in existing efforts to control diarrhoeal disease.

Antidiarrheals↗

PubMed2002

Association study of the NRAMP1 gene promoter polymorphism and early-onset type 1 diabetes.

Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) has an important role in regulating macrophage functions that affect innate resistance as well as immune responses. We analyzed the microsatellite polymorphism in the promoter region of the human NRAMP1 gene in 206 type 1 diabetes patients and 200 normal children to determine whether this polymorphism might be associated with type 1 diabetes in the Japanese population. The frequency of allele 2 (180 bp) of the promoter microsatellite polymorphism of the NRAMP1gene was slightly lower in the early-onset population (2-10 years of age) of type 1 diabetes patients than in controls, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. The association study of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene, located near the NRAMP1 gene, and type 1 diabetes showed that the CTLA-4 gene significantly contributed to the development of type 1 diabetes, whereas NRAMP1 had an additional effect on the onset of type 1 diabetes in the young population.

Abatacept↗

PubMed2002

Genetic basis of patients with bacille Calmette-Guérin osteomyelitis in Japan: identification of dominant partial interferon-gamma receptor 1 deficiency as a predominant type.

Interferon (IFN)-gamma-mediated immunity plays an important role in host defense against intracellular pathogens, especially mycobacteria. Six Japanese children with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) osteomyelitis were evaluated (1 disseminated, 3 multiple, and 2 solitary types) for mutations of genes involved in interleukin-12-dependent, IFN-gamma-mediated immunity. Heterozygous small deletions with frameshift (818del4 and 811del4) that are consistent with the diagnosis of partial dominant IFN-gamma receptor 1 (IFN-gammaR1) deficiency were detected in 3 unrelated patients. Expression of IFN-gammaR1 on monocytes was significantly increased in all 3 patients. Screening of family members with recurrent and disseminated mycobacterial infections found the identical deletion in 1 of the fathers. Antimycobacterial treatment was effective in these patients and resulted in good clinical outcome. This study demonstrated that partial dominant IFN-gammaR1 deficiency was the most common in Japanese patients who showed predisposition to curable BCG osteomyelitis.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Simultaneity in the use of maternal-child health care and contraceptives: evidence from developing countries.

This study examined the relationship between the use of maternal-child health (MCH) care and the use of contraceptives. The high correlation between the two may be due to the independent effect of one on the other or to an association of both with the same or similar background factors. We used structural equation models to examine the relationship between these two interventions. The data were derived from six Demographic and Health Surveys: Zimbabwe from Sub-Saharan Africa, Thailand from Asia, Egypt and Tunisia from North Africa, and Guatemala and Colombia from Latin America. The results show that in all six countries, the use of contraceptives and MCH care are significantly associated, independent of intervening factors; this finding suggests that families develop a joint demand for better-quality health and limited family size and translate these demands into action by using health services for mothers and for children and by voluntarily regulating fertility.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of topical treatment with skin barrier-enhancing emollients on nosocomial infections in preterm infants in Bangladesh: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Infections and complications of prematurity are main causes of neonatal mortality. Very low birthweight premature infants have compromised skin barrier function, and are at especially high risk for serious infections and mortality. Our aim was to ascertain whether topical application of emollients to enhance skin barrier function would prevent nosocomial infections in this population. METHODS: We randomly assigned infants born before week 33 of gestation after admission to Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Bangladesh, to daily massage with sunflower seed oil (n=159) or Aquaphor (petrolatum, mineral oil, mineral wax, lanolin alcohol; n=157). We then compared incidence of nosocomial infections among infants in these two groups with an untreated control group (n=181) by an intention-to-treat analysis. FINDINGS: 20 patients in the control group, and 22 in each of the treatment groups left the hospital early, but were included in the final analysis. Overall, infants treated with sunflower seed oil were 41% less likely to develop nosocomial infections than controls (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.59, 95% CI 0.37-0.96, p=0.032). Aquaphor did not significantly reduce the risk of infection (0.60, 0.35-1.03, p=0.065). No adverse events were seen. INTERPRETATION: Our findings confirm that skin application of sunflower seed oil provides protection against nosocomial infections in preterm very low birthweight infants. The low cost, availability, simplicity, and effect of treatment make it an important intervention for very low birthweight infants admitted to hospital in developing countries.

Adult↗