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Biomedical subjects

A Chowdhury

Publications and source records attributed to A Chowdhury.

90 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Breast-feeding patterns in rural Bangladesh.

Nearly 1500 women with live births from February through September 1974 were included in this multiple phase study of breast-feeding patterns in a rural area of Banglandesh. The median duration of breast feeding was observed to be 30 months. Over 75% of the women whose most recently born children were living were breast feeding at 2 1/2 years postpartum. The major reason for discontinuing breast feeding in the 1st year was infant death, and in the 2nd year, pregnancy. Insufficient milk was given as a reason for discontinuing breast feeding by 18% of the women who stopped breast feeding for reasons other than child death; among these women almost 60% were pregnant at the time they stopped. Of the breast-feeding women who became pregnant, over 50% continued to breast feed through the 6th month of pregnancy. A sample of 200 breast-feeding women with children ages 17 to 25 months were followed longitudinally for 1 1/2 years or until the mothers conceived. A seasonal trend in suckling time was observed with women reducing suckling during the harvest season. Total suckling time was inversely associated with socioeconomic factors and with infant nutritional status. No association was found between mean suckling time and maternal nutritional status, maternal morbidity, infant morbidity, or child's sex.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1980

Anthropometric assessment of energy-protein malnutrition and subsequent risk of mortality among preschool aged children.

This paper examines the usefulness of various anthropometric classification systems of nutritional status in prognosticating the subsequent risk of mortality among 2019 children aged 13 to 23 months residing in a rural area of Bangladesh. The indices investigated included: weight-for-age; weight-for-height; height-for-age; arm circumference-for-age; arm circumference-for-height; weight quotient; and height quotient. Cross-sectional anthropometry was conducted during October 1975 to January 1976 and the mortality experience of the study children was followed prospectively over 24 months. Results indicated that severely malnourished children, according to all indices, experienced substantially higher mortality risk. Normal, mild, and moderately malnourished children all experienced the same risk. All indices were found to discriminate mortality risk; weight/age and arm circumference/age were strongest and weight/height weakest. For each index, a threshold level was noted below which mortality risk climbed sharply. The discriminating power of anthropometry was enhanced when maternal weight, maternal height, or housing size were included.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1978

Quantitation of Leydig cells in testicular biopsies of oligospermic men with varicocele.

Leydig cell density was evaluated quantitatively in bilateral testicular biopsies from 16 oligospermic men with varicocele. The method utilized for this quantitation is based on the determination of the total number of Leydig cells, Leydig cell clusters, and seminiferous tubules in the entire histologic section of each biopsy, and the calculation of the following indices: mean Leydig cells per seminiferous tubule, mean Leydig cell clusters per seminiferous tubule, and mean Leydig cells per cluster. A significant correlation between Leydig cells per tubule and Leydig cell clusters per tubule was demonstrated, suggesting that determination of Leydig cell clusters per seminiferous tubule in testicular biopsies is an objective and clinically applicable method for quantitative evaluation of Leydig cell density. An association of varicocele with Leydig cell hyperplasia was not noted for the 16 patients studied. In addition, no significant differences in Leydig cell density between right and left testes were found, and no correlation between Leydig cell density and site or degree of varicocele, or age of the patients could be demonstrated. To our knowledge this is the first report of quantitative analysis of Leydig cell density in men with varicocele.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serodiagnosis of ascariasis with specific IgG4 antibody and its use in an epidemiological study.

In an earlier study Ascaris-specific IgG4 antibody was found to be elevated in cases of ascariasis. However, the usefulness of the elevated levels of this antibody in Ascaris infection as a diagnostic marker has not been well established. In India, in early 1999, blood samples of 83 cases of Ascaris infection, 35 cases of other nematode infection and 53 control subjects (without any helminth infection) were tested for anti-Ascaris IgG4 by ELISA. Further anti-Ascaris IgG4 levels in the blood of Ascaris-infected patients were determined, after eradication of the worms with drugs, at regular intervals to ascertain the duration of elevation of titre of the serological marker following initial infection. This information would indicate the sensitivity of the test as a diagnostic marker for recent infection. Blood samples of 422 rural people were also tested for anti-Ascaris IgG4 titre to ascertain the prevalence of ascariasis in the community. High levels of anti-Ascaris IgG4 antibody (OD 1.246 +/- 0.212) were found in all the 83 Ascaris-infected subjects compared to controls (OD 0.158 +/- 0.047). Anti-Ascaris IgG4 antibody levels of other nematode-infected subjects were comparable to the controls. Anthelmintic treatment of 8 Ascaris-infected subjects caused sequential fall of IgG4 level in their blood, and its titre reached control level within 6 months of deworming. Of 422 individuals from the rural community 229 (54.3%) had significantly high levels of specific IgG4 antibody against Ascaris excretory-secretory antigen, suggesting that they were infested with Ascaris. Thus, this study demonstrated that anti-Ascaris IgG4 antibody is a very sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of Ascaris infection. Utilizing this test, a significant number of a rural population could be diagnosed with Ascaris infection in West Bengal, India.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multiple myeloma presenting as acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is a very uncommon presenting feature of multiple myeloma. We report an elderly non-alcoholic man presenting with acute abdominal pain and rapidly progressing renal failure. Investigations revealed lytic lesions in the vertebrae and skull, M band on urine electrophoresis, and radiological and biochemical evidence of acute pancreatitis. The patient died despite conservative management of the pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of hepatitis B infection in the general population: a rural community based study.

BACKGROUND: Available seroprevalence studies of hepatitis B in Indian population has limitations. A community based door to door epidemiological study was conducted between December 1997 and January 1988 to look for the dynamics of hepatitis B exposure in a single village of West Bengal. METHODS: In all, 960 inhabitants out of 1261 (according to 91 census) in a village of Birbhum district in West Bengal were interviewed and their blood were tested by ELISA for HBV exposure. Odds ratio was calculated to estimate the relative risks for each potential factor facilitating virus transmission. RESULTS: Participation rate in the present study was 76.1%. Over all HBsAg carrier rate was found to be 5.3%. Only 2/51 (3.9%) carriers were HBeAg positive. Injection by glass syringe (odds ratio = 3.01), age < 20 years (odds ratio = 1.41) and male sex (odds ratio = 1.57) were significant risk factor. CONCLUSION: The results of this rural, predominantly poor, agrarian worker based community data reveals a fairly large reservoir of infection (5.3%). It is mainly built-up early in life. Injection practices need to be safer in addition to HBV vaccination to fight this menace.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oxidative stress in gastric mucosa in Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Infection with Helicobacter pylori is believed to be associated with generation of reactive oxygen molecules which leads to oxidative stress in the gastric mucosa; but the relation between oxidative stress and gastrointestinal mucosal damage has not been documented. AIM: To look for evidence of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in the gastric mucosa in H. pylori-associated peptic ulcer. METHODS: 34 duodenal ulcer (DU) patients with H. pylori infection, 14 DU patients without H. pylori infection and 10 healthy subjects without H. pylori infection were studied. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by histology and rapid urease test on endoscopic biopsies from the gastric body and antrum. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured in biopsies taken from the gastric antrum. Statistical analysis was done using Student's t test. RESULTS: Tissue levels of GSH were significantly lower (91.7 [35.4] nmole/100 mg versus 147.3 [41.2] nmole/100 mg; p < 0.001) and MDA higher (163.0 [83.4] nmole/100 mg versus 109.2 [51.3] nmole/100 mg; p < 0.01) in patients with DU associated with H. pylori infection as compared to those without H. pylori infection. GSH levels were significantly lower and MDA levels higher in DU patients with or without H. pylori infection as compared to control subjects. Serum MDA levels in DU patients with H. pylori infection were also significantly higher than in patients without H. pylori infection. CONCLUSION: Depletion of gastric mucosal glutathione in H. pylori-infected DU patients may be due to failure of the antioxidant defense system. Failure of the glutathione-dependent defense system results in accumulation of free radicals which can initiate membrane damage by lipid peroxidation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oxidative stress in liver of mice exposed to arsenic-contaminated water.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the initiation of hepatic damage caused by various agents. Not much data on oxidative stress in liver in chronic arsenic exposure are available in the literature. We therefore studied this aspect in a murine model. METHODS: BALB/c mice were given arsenic-contaminated (3.2 mg/L) or arsenic-free (< 0.01 mg/L, control) drinking water ad libitum. Batches of mice were sacrificed after 2 and 4 months, and blood samples and liver tissue were collected. Liver histology was examined and levels of hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde, and enzymes of the antioxidant defense system in the liver tissue were determined. Arsenic content in liver tissues obtained at 4 months was estimated. RESULTS: Two-month exposure to arsenic caused significant elevation of hepatic GSH (11.4 [0.8] micrograms/mg protein) compared to control mice (9.3 [0.4]; p < 0.01). Levels of enzymes related to GSH homeostasis were also elevated. At 4 months, hepatic GSH was significantly reduced (8.4 [0.5] micrograms/mg protein) when compared to control mice (9.3 [0.4]; p < 0.01). Arsenic content in the liver tissue after 4 months of exposure was significantly higher (0.40 [0.05] microgram/g) as compared to control mice (0.04 [0.04]; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the antioxidant defense system in the liver of mice is activated after exposure to arsenic for 2 months. However, prolonged exposure to arsenic probably causes overuse failure of this system, which might result in initiation of biochemical injury to the liver.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of an animal model of hepatic fibrosis by excretory-secretory antigen of Ascaris suum.

OBJECTIVE: The excretory-secretory (ES) antigens of Ascaris suum are known to cause hepatic damage in animals. The present study was aimed at developing an animal model of hepatic fibrosis with these antigens. METHODS: Three doses of ES antigens of A. suum were injected into 24 golden hamsters on days 0, 10 and 20. Batches of 8 animals each were sacrificed at 3 days, 45 days and 90 days after the third injection, after collection of blood. Three groups of 6 control animals each were injected with normal saline and were sacrificed similarly. Liver biochemistry, leukocyte migration inhibition test on cells separated from spleen, and liver histology were carried out. RESULTS: Serum ALT levels in experimental animals were significantly higher than those in control animals at days 3, 45 and 90 after the last antigen dose; AST levels were elevated 45 and 90 days after the last dose of ES antigen. Leukocyte migration inhibition in experimental animals was 58.2 (8.5)%, 51.6 (11.2)% and 50.5 (12.8)% at days 3, 45 and 90 after the last antigen dose. Marked centrivenular degeneration and necrosis were observed in liver tissue in all the experimental animals sacrificed 72 h after the last antigen dose. Condensation of reticulin around the portal zone with extension into the liver lobule was observed in 4 of 8 and 7 of 8 experimental animals sacrificed 45 and 90 days, respectively, after the last dose. Control animals did not have such lesions. CONCLUSION: An animal model of hepatic fibrosis could be produced by repeated injection of ES antigens of A. suum.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of chronic anal fissure with topical glyceryl trinitrate: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Topical glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) may produce healing of anal fissure by decreasing the high resting anal sphincter pressure in these patients. The present study assessed the efficacy of GTN in chronic anal fissure in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. METHOD: Patients with chronic anal fissure (for more than 8 weeks) underwent measurement of maximum anal resting pressure (MARP) before and 12 minutes after application of either 0.2% GTN or placebo ointment in a randomized manner. They then received twice-daily local application of their respective ointment for 6 weeks. Symptoms and healing of fissure were assessed; patients were evaluated at 3 months for evidence of relapse. RESULTS: 19 adult patients (12 men) were studied; 10 received GTN and 9 placebo. Mean (SD) MARP decreased from 131.0 (32.3) cm H2O to 93.5 (28.4) cm H2O (p<0.05) with GTN and from 150.5 (36.9) cm H2O to 142.8 (35.0) cm H2O (p=ns) with placebo. Fissure healed in 7 of 10 patients treated with GTN and 2 of 9 patients treated with placebo (p<0.05). There was no relapse of fissure in either group. CONCLUSION: Local application of GTN was effective in healing chronic anal fissure.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Induction of oxidative stress in antitubercular drug-induced hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Oxidative stress could play a role in the pathogenesis of antitubercular drug (ATD)-induced hepatotoxicity. We therefore studied the plasma level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with ATD-induced hepatotoxicity (cases), ATD-treated controls (disease controls) and in healthy volunteers. METHODS: This study was carried out in a case-control design. Twenty-one cases, 21 age- and sex-matched disease controls, and 10 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Plasma levels of GSH and MDA were measured. RESULTS: Plasma levels of GSH (median [range] 11.5 [6.2-21.2] mmol/dL) and MDA (1390 [560-2310] nmol/dL) of cases were significantly different (p<0.01) from GSH (18.4 [10.5-24.4]) and MDA (290 [240-550]) of disease controls. Further, plasma GSH and MDA levels of both the ATD-treated groups were different from those in healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Lower levels of plasma GSH and higher levels of MDA may be due to oxidative stress resulting from ATD therapy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastro-duodenal mucosal changes associated with low-dose aspirin therapy: a prospective, endoscopic study.

OBJECTIVES: The association of low-dose aspirin use and gastro-intestinal bleeding is well described. However, the gastroduodenal mucosal changes associated with low-dose aspirin therapy have not been properly evaluated. We undertook a prospective, endoscopic study to evaluate gastro-duodenal mucosal lesions produced by low-dose aspirin. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with non-hemorrhagic cerebral infarct or transient ischemic attacks and normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomized to receive either enteric-coated (n=25) or plain (n=22) aspirin (150 mg/day). Follow-up endoscopy was done at 2, 4 and 8 weeks; gastro-duodenal mucosal lesions, if present, were scored. Forty-seven patients with hemorrhagic infarct who were not treated with aspirin served as controls. RESULTS: Twenty eight (60%) of 47 patients receiving aspirin had mucosal lesions; stomach alone was the most frequent site (32%), followed by both stomach and duodenum (23%). Frequency of mucosal changes in the stomach at 8 weeks (19%) was significantly lower (p<0.05) than those at 2 weeks (53%) and 4 weeks (55%). Coated (56%) and plain (63.6%) aspirin induced mucosal lesions with similar frequency. CONCLUSION: Administration of low-dose aspirin, either plain or enteric-coated, induces endoscopic gastro-duodenal mucosal lesions in a large majority of patients. The frequency of damage decreased after 8 weeks of therapy.

Adult↗