Sherif Soliman - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Sherif Soliman

Research paper thumbnail of Retinoid treatment of Emphysema in Patients on the Alpha-1 International Registry. The REPAIR study: study design, methodology and quality control of study assessments

Therapeutic advances in respiratory disease, 2010

Emphysema is characterized by the destruction of alveolar wall and enlargement of alveolar airspa... more Emphysema is characterized by the destruction of alveolar wall and enlargement of alveolar airspaces, resulting in a reduction of the total lung gas exchange area, loss of lung elastic recoil and hyperinflation. The REPAIR study (Retinoid treatment of Emphysema in Patients on the Alpha-1 International Registry) is the first proof-of-concept study of a new potential disease-modifying drug, Palovarotene©, an orally active, gamma selective retinoid agonist in patients with emphysema secondary to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) as a model population for the general smoke-induced emphysema population. This article describes the study design as well as the effectiveness of the quality control that was implemented on the key efficacy endpoints, based on data derived from the placebo-treated subjects. In this multicentre, multinational study the implementation of standardized procedures included: careful site selection, use of trained staff, regular monitoring and machine calibration,...

Research paper thumbnail of Quality control in longitudinal studies with computed tomographic densitometry of the lungs

Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, Jan 15, 2008

To guarantee the reliability of densitometric data in clinical trials on pulmonary emphysema a qu... more To guarantee the reliability of densitometric data in clinical trials on pulmonary emphysema a quality control procedure is presented, to prevent that a measured progression in lung density could be reflected by a gradual change in the maintenance of the computed tomographic scanner. For that purpose, a foam phantom has been developed, which mimicks the densities of emphysematous lung tissue, fixed in a sealed Perspex box. Analysis software was developed to automatically compare the density readings with a baseline reference. It was found that this quality control procedure can pick up subtle changes in the scanner of less than 1 hounsfield unit, due to changes in the X-ray tube, detectors, or reconstruction software, and can detect certain imaging artifacts. Therefore, it is recommended that this type of procedure be used to ensure the integrity of densitometric data in longitudinal studies.

Research paper thumbnail of Pharmacological control of ciliary activity in the young sea urchin larva. Effects of monoaminergic agents

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. C, Comparative pharmacology and toxicology, 1983

Ciliary activity is affected by serotonin, dopamine and various alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonis... more Ciliary activity is affected by serotonin, dopamine and various alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists reacting with specific receptors. The effects of various monoamine precursors applied at hatching or later on suggest that the initiation of ciliary activity and its control during early gastrulation reflects a temporary formation of monoamines. Application of monoamines brings about stimulation throughout gastrulation with some exceptions which may reflect side effects or some mechanism of feedback inhibition. Strong stimulation is often followed by conspicuous, transient decrease in ciliary activity around the mid-gastrula stage presumably reflecting feedback inhibition and compensatory mechanisms alleviating this.

Research paper thumbnail of Psychometric evaluation of the Work Readiness Questionnaire in schizophrenia

CNS Spectrums, 2014

Objective/Introduction Unemployment can negatively impact quality of life among patients with sch... more Objective/Introduction Unemployment can negatively impact quality of life among patients with schizophrenia. Employment status depends on ability, opportunity, education, and cultural influences. A clinician-rated scale of work readiness, independent of current work status, can be a valuable assessment tool. A series of studies were conducted to create and validate a Work Readiness Questionnaire (WoRQ) for clinicians to assess patient ability to engage in socially useful activity, independent of work availability. Methods Content validity, test–retest and inter-rater reliability, and construct validity were evaluated in three separate studies. Results Content validity was supported. Cronbach’s α was 0.91, in the excellent range. Clinicians endorsed WoRQ concepts, including treatment adherence, physical appearance, social competence, and symptom control. The final readiness decision showed good test–retest reliability and moderate inter-rater reliability. Work readiness was associate...

Research paper thumbnail of Design of Two Studies in Emphysema with an Orally Active, Gamma Selective Retinoid Agonist (R667)

Research paper thumbnail of Pharmacological control of ciliary activity in the young sea urchin larva. Studies on the role of Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: …, 1984

The ciliary stimulation by monoamines is enhanced by adenylcyclase activators and a phosphodieste... more The ciliary stimulation by monoamines is enhanced by adenylcyclase activators and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor indicating that CAMP is a mediator, a conclusion supported by the effects of db-CAMP. The role of cGMP is also examined. 2. When stimulation exceeds certain levels, it is overpowered by some inhibitory feedback mechanism. The effects of altered Ca*+ concentrations, Ca*+ antagonists and a Ca*-ionophore suggest that Ca'+ is involved in ciliary excitation as well as in the inhibitory mechanism. 3. These suggestions are examined by experiments on the influence of altered Ca2+ concentrations and of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor on the response to various agents.

Research paper thumbnail of Pharmacological control of ciliary activity in the young sea urchin larva. Studies on the role of Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: …, 1984

The ciliary stimulation by monoamines is enhanced by adenylcyclase activators and a phosphodieste... more The ciliary stimulation by monoamines is enhanced by adenylcyclase activators and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor indicating that CAMP is a mediator, a conclusion supported by the effects of db-CAMP. The role of cGMP is also examined. 2. When stimulation exceeds certain levels, it is overpowered by some inhibitory feedback mechanism. The effects of altered Ca*+ concentrations, Ca*+ antagonists and a Ca*-ionophore suggest that Ca'+ is involved in ciliary excitation as well as in the inhibitory mechanism. 3. These suggestions are examined by experiments on the influence of altered Ca2+ concentrations and of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor on the response to various agents.

Research paper thumbnail of Retinoid treatment of Emphysema in Patients on the Alpha-1 International Registry. The REPAIR study: study design, methodology and quality control of study assessments

Therapeutic advances in respiratory disease, 2010

Emphysema is characterized by the destruction of alveolar wall and enlargement of alveolar airspa... more Emphysema is characterized by the destruction of alveolar wall and enlargement of alveolar airspaces, resulting in a reduction of the total lung gas exchange area, loss of lung elastic recoil and hyperinflation. The REPAIR study (Retinoid treatment of Emphysema in Patients on the Alpha-1 International Registry) is the first proof-of-concept study of a new potential disease-modifying drug, Palovarotene©, an orally active, gamma selective retinoid agonist in patients with emphysema secondary to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) as a model population for the general smoke-induced emphysema population. This article describes the study design as well as the effectiveness of the quality control that was implemented on the key efficacy endpoints, based on data derived from the placebo-treated subjects. In this multicentre, multinational study the implementation of standardized procedures included: careful site selection, use of trained staff, regular monitoring and machine calibration,...

Research paper thumbnail of Quality control in longitudinal studies with computed tomographic densitometry of the lungs

Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, Jan 15, 2008

To guarantee the reliability of densitometric data in clinical trials on pulmonary emphysema a qu... more To guarantee the reliability of densitometric data in clinical trials on pulmonary emphysema a quality control procedure is presented, to prevent that a measured progression in lung density could be reflected by a gradual change in the maintenance of the computed tomographic scanner. For that purpose, a foam phantom has been developed, which mimicks the densities of emphysematous lung tissue, fixed in a sealed Perspex box. Analysis software was developed to automatically compare the density readings with a baseline reference. It was found that this quality control procedure can pick up subtle changes in the scanner of less than 1 hounsfield unit, due to changes in the X-ray tube, detectors, or reconstruction software, and can detect certain imaging artifacts. Therefore, it is recommended that this type of procedure be used to ensure the integrity of densitometric data in longitudinal studies.

Research paper thumbnail of Pharmacological control of ciliary activity in the young sea urchin larva. Effects of monoaminergic agents

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. C, Comparative pharmacology and toxicology, 1983

Ciliary activity is affected by serotonin, dopamine and various alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonis... more Ciliary activity is affected by serotonin, dopamine and various alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists reacting with specific receptors. The effects of various monoamine precursors applied at hatching or later on suggest that the initiation of ciliary activity and its control during early gastrulation reflects a temporary formation of monoamines. Application of monoamines brings about stimulation throughout gastrulation with some exceptions which may reflect side effects or some mechanism of feedback inhibition. Strong stimulation is often followed by conspicuous, transient decrease in ciliary activity around the mid-gastrula stage presumably reflecting feedback inhibition and compensatory mechanisms alleviating this.

Research paper thumbnail of Psychometric evaluation of the Work Readiness Questionnaire in schizophrenia

CNS Spectrums, 2014

Objective/Introduction Unemployment can negatively impact quality of life among patients with sch... more Objective/Introduction Unemployment can negatively impact quality of life among patients with schizophrenia. Employment status depends on ability, opportunity, education, and cultural influences. A clinician-rated scale of work readiness, independent of current work status, can be a valuable assessment tool. A series of studies were conducted to create and validate a Work Readiness Questionnaire (WoRQ) for clinicians to assess patient ability to engage in socially useful activity, independent of work availability. Methods Content validity, test–retest and inter-rater reliability, and construct validity were evaluated in three separate studies. Results Content validity was supported. Cronbach’s α was 0.91, in the excellent range. Clinicians endorsed WoRQ concepts, including treatment adherence, physical appearance, social competence, and symptom control. The final readiness decision showed good test–retest reliability and moderate inter-rater reliability. Work readiness was associate...

Research paper thumbnail of Design of Two Studies in Emphysema with an Orally Active, Gamma Selective Retinoid Agonist (R667)

Research paper thumbnail of Pharmacological control of ciliary activity in the young sea urchin larva. Studies on the role of Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: …, 1984

The ciliary stimulation by monoamines is enhanced by adenylcyclase activators and a phosphodieste... more The ciliary stimulation by monoamines is enhanced by adenylcyclase activators and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor indicating that CAMP is a mediator, a conclusion supported by the effects of db-CAMP. The role of cGMP is also examined. 2. When stimulation exceeds certain levels, it is overpowered by some inhibitory feedback mechanism. The effects of altered Ca*+ concentrations, Ca*+ antagonists and a Ca*-ionophore suggest that Ca'+ is involved in ciliary excitation as well as in the inhibitory mechanism. 3. These suggestions are examined by experiments on the influence of altered Ca2+ concentrations and of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor on the response to various agents.

Research paper thumbnail of Pharmacological control of ciliary activity in the young sea urchin larva. Studies on the role of Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: …, 1984

The ciliary stimulation by monoamines is enhanced by adenylcyclase activators and a phosphodieste... more The ciliary stimulation by monoamines is enhanced by adenylcyclase activators and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor indicating that CAMP is a mediator, a conclusion supported by the effects of db-CAMP. The role of cGMP is also examined. 2. When stimulation exceeds certain levels, it is overpowered by some inhibitory feedback mechanism. The effects of altered Ca*+ concentrations, Ca*+ antagonists and a Ca*-ionophore suggest that Ca'+ is involved in ciliary excitation as well as in the inhibitory mechanism. 3. These suggestions are examined by experiments on the influence of altered Ca2+ concentrations and of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor on the response to various agents.