Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Joseph

Publications and source records attributed to A Joseph.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Coagulation protein function. II. Influence of thiols upon acetaldehyde effects.

It has been reported that prolonged prothrombin time may be a result of the interaction of acetaldehyde (AcH) with clotting proteins to form alkylated inactive products. The current investigation focuses on the influence of L-cysteine (CysH), DL-homocysteine (HC), D-penicillamine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), L-serine and L-alanine at 0.01 M concentrations, lactalbumin hydrolysate (2 mg/ml), and 1.0 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) on clotting time as well as their interaction with AcH. The sulfhydryl amino acids, as well as DTT prolonged clotting upon preincubation with plasma. Cysteine and NAC, upon addition to plasma prior to the addition of AcH, exhibited a prolongation of clotting time compared to that of AcH alone. On sequential addition of serine, alanine, or lactalbumin hydrolysate to plasma followed by the addition of acetaldehyde, a prolongation of clotting time comparable to that of AcH alone was exhibited. When HC and penicillamine were added to plasma prior to the addition of AcH, a prolonged clotting time was observed, which was significantly less than that of AcH alone. Premixing of serine, alanine, and lactalbumin hydrolysate with AcH for 20 min prior to addition to the plasma reduced the effectiveness of AcH in prolonging clotting time as compared to successive additions of the amino acid and AcH. Since CysH and penicillamine have been reported to form cyclic adducts with AcH, it is suggested that a similar possibility exists for penicillamine and for HC. The reversible cyclic adduct formation reported for CysH may explain why cysteine did not lower the prolonged clotting time induced by AcH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quadriceps atrophy in the anterior cruciate insufficient knee.

Atrophy of the quadriceps musculature is frequently associated with chronic knee instability. This atrophy may persist despite the patient's ability to return to athletic competition. When open biopsies of the quadriceps muscle from unstable knees were compared with those from normal acutely injured knees, it was found that clinical evidence of atrophy correlated with a relative decrease in the size of Type II or fast twitch muscle fibers. This supports the subjective, clinical impression that the unstable knee is less effective in explosive push-off. The findings also indicate the necessity of including exercise specific for the training of Type II fast twitch fibers in any program designed to rehabilitate the injured knee.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Scarabiasis in Kerala.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High risk for coronary heart disease in Thiruvananthapuram city: a study of serum lipids and other risk factors.

There is a trend towards increase in the incidence of coronary heart disease among Indian population. Also, little information is available on the population distribution of serum lipid components and risk factors for coronary heart disease in Kerala, a state fast turning urban. To study the serum lipid profile and the prevalence of other risk factors for coronary heart disease in the residents of an urban housing settlement in Thiruvananthapuram, fasting blood sample was collected from 206 (64%) residents above the age of 19 years and analysed for plasma glucose and various fractions of serum lipids. A detailed questionnaire on the clinical profile and history of the subjects, and measured weights and heights was also administered. Mean serum total cholesterol was 223.7 +/- 45.3 mg/dL; 223.7 +/- 44.9 mg/dL among males and 223.7 +/- 45.8 mg/dL among females. Mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was consistently higher in females in all age groups, while mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher in males till the age group 40-49 after which the pattern was reversed. Mean total cholesterol in the age range 35-64, after age standardisation, was 229.4 mg/dL. Mean serum total cholesterol was higher in this sample when compared to US population, as well as north and west Indian populations. Thirty-two percent subjects were in the highest risk category with serum cholesterol exceeding 239 mg/dL, while in the US population this fraction constituted only 18 percent. Other risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle and smoking also had a high prevalence in this population. In this settlement of urban residents in Thiruvananthapuram, serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are high. The causes are likely to be dietary. Combined with the high prevalence of other risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, smoking, diabetes and lack of exercise, this situation demands a preventive programme.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Type 2 diabetes in southern Kerala: variation in prevalence among geographic divisions within a region.

BACKGROUND: Numerous surveys carried out in India report the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Such studies have not included the population of Kerala. We estimated the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Neyyattinkara taluk, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state. METHODS: All panchayat wards in the taluk were grouped into urban, highland, midland or coastal, and one ward from each stratum was randomly selected for the study. All households were listed and adults, 20 years or older, screened for high (> 110 mg/dl) random blood sugar (RBS) by a glucometer test. Those with high RBS were reassessed by a fasting oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), consisting of initial examination of venous blood for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) values, administration of 75 g of glucose dissolved in distilled water, and examination of venous blood for postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG) exactly 2 hours after the administration of glucose. Diabetes was diagnosed according to the World Health Organization criteria as either FPG > 139 mg/dl, or PPPG > 199 mg/dl, or both. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was diagnosed if PPPG was 140-199 mg/dl. RESULTS: Out of 4988 eligible subjects, 3899 were available for the study, a response rate of 78.2%. Response was highest in the highland area (86.2%), and lowest in the coastal area (73.6%). The overall crude prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes was 5.9%. It was highest in the urban (12.4%), followed by midland (8.1%), highland (5.8%), and coastal (2.5%) regions. Ageing was associated with greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes in all regions and both sexes. Women showed a higher prevalence in the highland and coastal areas and men in the urban and midland areas. When compared to a population with standard age structure suggested by the World Health Organization for international comparisons, prevalence in the age group 30-64 years was found to be 16.9% in the urban, 10.1% in the midland, 6.8% in the highland and 3.6% in the coastal regions, respectively. Overall age-adjusted prevalence of type 2 diabetes in 30-64-year-olds in Neyyattinkara was 9.2% among men, 7.4% among women, and 8.2% for all persons. There was not much difference in prevalence if the American Diabetes Association criteria for diagnosis were used. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was fairly low in this population. Out of 229 diabetics in the sample, 175 (76.5%) were already diagnosed and under treatment, while our survey identified 54 new diabetics (23.5%). CONCLUSION: Though prevalence of type 2 diabetes is high in this population, the detection rate is also high. However, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance are low. The reasons for this need to be elucidated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antibody response to a single tetanus toxoid booster in young women in rural south India.

BACKGROUND: Tetanus toxoid immunization is an integral part of the maternal and child health programme in developing countries. It is likely that many women may have had childhood immunization and so already have antitetanus antibodies at the time of their first antenatal visit. A single dose of tetanus toxoid injection can boost the levels of antitetanus antibodies in these women. This study was undertaken to assess the previous immunization status by verbal history and assess the effect of a single tetanus toxoid injection in young women. METHODS: Ninety-nine unmarried women between 18 and 22 years of age were enrolled for the study. The history of childhood immunization was obtained from their mothers. Blood samples were collected to measure IgG antibody levels to tetanus using ELISA. Antibody levels were also measured on day 14 after a dose of tetanus toxoid injection. RESULTS: Of the 99 women studied, 81 had a history of childhood immunization while 18 did not. Overall, 92% of the women had protective levels of antibodies at the time of first testing and 99% of the women were protected with a single dose of tetanus toxoid. CONCLUSION: In areas with good maternal and child health services, a single booster dose of tetanus toxoid can be considered adequate for primigravidae with a history of childhood immunization.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Symptoms related to the reproductive tract and mental health among women in rural southern India.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms related to the reproductive tract and symptoms of psychological distress are commonly seen in women living in South Asia. This study aimed to determine the association, if any, between symptoms related to the reproductive tract and mental health among women in rural southern India. METHODS: The study was conducted in a community setting of a comprehensive community health programme in a development block in rural southern India. It was a cross-sectional survey with a nested case-control study. The main outcome measure was the probability of mental distress as assessed by the Tamil version of the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ). RESULTS: Of the 622 subjects recruited, 150 (24.4%) complained of at least one symptom related to the reproductive tract. The commonest symptom was vaginal discharge (17.5%). Significantly higher scores on the GHQ were associated with the presence of many current and past symptoms related to the reproductive tract, and receiving treatment for the same, even after adjusting for age, education, current marital status and type of house, using multiple regression analysis. GHQ scores were positively correlated with a higher number of current and past symptoms. Significantly higher scores were also associated with greater knowledge about prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive tract infections. Being currently married and educated were significant protective factors. A nested case-control study was done with the presence of a current common mental disorder as the outcome. Symptoms and other factors dated prior to this outcome were considered potential risk factors. Logistic regression models were developed. The presence of a symptom related to the reproductive tract for more than one month (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.8, 7.2) and a history of similar symptoms over the past year (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.3, 3.7) were risk factors for the development of common mental disorders. Higher education (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3, 0.7) and being currently married (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1, 0.6) were protective factors. CONCLUSION: The cross-sectional data suggest an association between symptoms pertaining to the reproductive tract and psychological distress. The results of the nested case-control study suggest that symptoms related to the reproductive tract are risk factors for common mental disorders, while education and being currently married are protective factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vision beyond 2005.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Humans↗