Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Gandhi

Publications and source records attributed to A Gandhi.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Effect of premenstrual stress on audiovisual reaction time and audiogram.

A study of weight, auditory reaction time (ART), visual reaction time (VRT) and audiogram was carried out on 105 healthy female subjects between the age of 17-20 years during the premenstrual and post-menstrual phase. A significant increase in weight and prolongation in auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) were observed during premenstrual phase. A slight increase in decibel loss was also observed during premenstrual phase in audiogram though not significant. These changes could be attributed to fluid and salt retention due to overain steroids leading to decrease in the processing capability of central nervous system.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1996

Effect of noise stress on some cardiovascular parameters and audiovisual reaction time.

A study of the effect of noise stress on some of the physiological parameters was carried out on healthy male workers of thermal power station (exposed to sound level 90-113 dBA) and compared with age and sex matched healthy controls (exposed to sound level 48-66 dBA). The parameters recorded were heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), galvanic skin resistance (GSR), auditory and visual reaction time (ART and VRT) and audiogram. Significant impairment in audiogram at 3000 Hz and 4000 Hz, increase in HR, SBP, DBP and decrease in GSR, ART and VRT were recorded in workers who were exposed to noise stress. Also a higher prevalence of hypertension was observed in them and that they were at a higher risk of developing hypertension than the control group. It was also observed that these modifications are related to duration of exposure to noise stress. It is presumed that all the above extra auditory effects are due to activation of autonomic nervous system and hypothalamo-hypophyseal adrenal axis, and the resultant release of catecholamines from adrenal medulla due to noise stress.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1993

Autonomic functions and audiovisual reaction time in heroin addicts.

Radial pulse rate, systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), initial GSR0), GSR after 5 minutes of relaxation (GSR5), auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time, (VRT) were measured in 30 male heroin addicts and compared with 25 male control subjects of similar age group. In heroin addicts DBP was significantly low (71.73 mmHg +/- 7.42, P < 0.05); while SBP although being low (106.13 mmHG +/- 10.08) was not significant. However, radial pulse was significantly higher. GSR0 was significantly higher (P < 0.001) but GSR5 was not significantly higher in these addicts, suggesting less sympathetic activity. In a separate group of ten heroin addicts effect of change in posture from supine to erect on BP was studied. This did not produce any rise in SBP or DBP at 1 and 2 min, suggesting probably inhibition of baroreceptor reflex. Auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) were significantly prolonged (P < 0.001 for each) in addicts, indicating deterioration of processing capability of CNS, or poor sensory-motor performance, or both.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Benefits of antibiotic prophylaxis in children with chronic sinusitis: assessment of outcome predictors.

Eighty-six children with chronic sinusitis, documented by x-ray with symptoms and signs for more than 12 weeks, were evaluated for atopy and B-cell immune abnormalities. Twenty-nine percent (25/86) of the patients had some B-cell abnormality of immunoglobulin isotype, IgG subclass, and/or hyporesponsiveness to pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPS) vaccine (Pneumovax). Eleven of 17 patients who were hyporesponsive to PPS vaccine had normal immunoglobulin isotypes and IgG subclasses. Twenty-six of these 86 children were followed prospectively for > or = 1 year on prophylactic antibiotics. The 12-month period before the use of prophylactic antibiotics was taken as the control period for each child for comparison. Nineteen of 26 (74%) children had a good outcome (greater than a 50% reduction in the number of exacerbations of sinusitis during a 12-month period compared with the previous year) on prophylactic antibiotics with a reduction in exacerbations of sinusitis from 9.8 per year to 2.7 episodes per year. In contrast, 7/26 had a poor outcome (p < .0001) on prophylactic antibiotics (from 12.6 per year to 8.7 per year on prophylactic antibiotics). There were no significant differences in age, gender, atopy, or presence of a B-cell immune abnormality in the good versus the poor outcome groups to prophylactic antibiotic therapy. Treatment outcome correlated inversely with the number of sinus infections before prophylactic antibiotics, p = .036. Underlying B-cell immune abnormalities could not be correlated with intervention outcome on prophylactic antibiotics. The use of prophylactic antibiotics was an effective treatment modality in children with chronic sinusitis, even in patients with selective immune abnormalities.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preparations of liposomal fluconazole and their in vitro antifungal activity.

Fluconazole was successfully incorporated into multilamellar (MLV) and large unilamellar liposomes (LUV). Both MLV and LUV were stable up to 72 h in saline but were less stable in the high-resolution medium. The MLV-entrapped fluconazole was found to be four-fold more active than LUV-entrapped fluconazole against Candida pseudotropicalis and over six-fold more active against C. albicans. The MLV-fluconazole was one-fold less active than free fluconazole in terms of its endpoints (MIC value). However, when compared with free fluconazole, MLV-fluconazole was one-fold more active against two strains of C. albicans and equally active against C. kefyr and C. parapsilosis. In an incubation time-dependent assay against C. tropicalis, MLV-Fluconazole was one-fold more active after 16 h incubation and two-fold less active than fluconazole after 24 or 36 h post-incubation. Our results demonstrate the usefulness of liposomal formulation of the water-soluble azole, fluconazole, in the limited in vitro assay method used.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of Sahaj Yoga on depressive disorders.

Sahaj Yoga is a meditative technique that has been found to have beneficial effects in some psycho-somatic illnesses. The study was carried out on 30 cases (19 Males, 11 females, age 18-45 years) of major depression diagnosed on the basis of DSM IV criteria. The patients were then randomly divided into two groups: Group 1: (10 Males & 5 Females) Patients who were practising Sahaj Yoga and also received conventional anti-depressants. Group 2: (9 Males & 6 Females) Patients who were only receiving conventional anti-depressants. Training in Sahaj yoga was conducted under the supervision of a trained Sahaj Yogi for 8 weeks. At start of the study, all the patients were subjected to Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A). Above scales were again assessed after two months of treatment. There was significant improvement in HAM-D as well as HAM-A scores in both Group 1 and Group 2 patients (P<0.001). However, percentage improvement in HAM-D scores and HAM-A scores in patients receiving Sahaj Yoga was significantly higher than in Group 2 patients. The number of patients who went into remission after two months of intervention were also significantly higher in Group 1 patients (P=0.02). The present study demonstrates that Sahaj Yoga has got a potential role as a component in the management of depressive disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A study of lung function abnormalities in workers of cotton spinning shops.

Lung function was studied by forced expiratory spirograms and measurement of peak expiratory flow in fourteen young male subjects of the age 20 to 30 years. Seven of the subjects were cotton spinners in small shops in Paharganj market with the duration of work from 1 to 3 years. The other seven subjects served as controls. All the subjects were of the same socio-economic status and were North Indians. Forced vital capacity; forced expiratory volume in 1 sec; forced expiratory volume in 1 sec expressed as a percentage of forced vital capacity; forced expiratory flow between 80 and 70 per cent, between 55 and 45 per cent, between 30 and 20 per cent and between 15 and 5 per cent of the forced vital capacity were determined from forced expiratory spirograms. Peak expiratory flow and FEB-80-70% were significantly lower in cotton spinners suggesting involvement of larger airways.

Adult↗