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Biomedical subjects

B N Reddy

Publications and source records attributed to B N Reddy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Body mass index and its association with socioeconomic and behavioral variables among socioeconomically heterogeneous populations of Andhra Pradesh, India.

The nature and extent of relationship between socioeconomic and behavioral variables and body mass index [BMI = weight (kg)/height (m)2] is studied in a sample of 1119 individuals (456 males and 663 females), aged 18 to 75 years, drawn from socioeconomically diverse populations from southern Andhra Pradesh, India. These populations are categorized into four groups, with graded lifestyles toward urbanization. The BMI of the participants ranged from 12.6 to 35.1 in males and from 12.3 to 34.2 in females. There is an increasing trend in mean BMI until about 50 years, followed by a decline, indicating nonlinear nature of age effects. Mean BMI also increases with better socioeconomic status of the constituent groups and with decreased physical activity level. A trend of a decrease in the proportion of individuals with chronic energy deficiency and an increase in the proportion of obese individuals is also seen from the traditional Yerukala tribe (group 1) to the urbanized group 4, from the lower to the higher income categories, and from heavy to light physical activity types. Smokers show a greater proportion of obese cases compared with nonsmokers. The prevalence of obesity (BMI > or = 25) is 6.6% in males and 10% in females. The results of the analysis of variance suggest that three of the four socioeconomic and behavioral variables (except smoking) show significant effects on age-adjusted BMI, and the R2 suggests that these variables explain 27.4% of variation in males and 17% in females. Although income explains the largest amount of variation (24%) in males, followed by physical activity and group affiliation, in females group affiliation (12.5%), followed closely by income, accounted for most of the variation. Inclusion of age in the model improved explanatory power by 5-7%. The positive association between socioeconomic status and BMI observed in the present study is qualitatively different from the negative association that characterizes contemporary Western populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Ambiguities in leprosy histopathology.

This paper presents the percentage of definite or suggestive evidence present in 482 biopsies from different types of leprosy. The presence of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and nerve involvement were taken as definite features for a diagnosis of leprosy, and infiltration of the dermal appendages, neurovascular bundles and dermis by granuloma cells and lymphocytes were regarded as suggestive signs of leprosy. Using these criteria, all cases were categorized into three groups having definite, suggestive, or no signs of leprosy. The results showed definite and suggestive features in 72.2% and 14.1% of the cases, respectively. The remaining 13.7% had none of these signs. These cases were mostly healed lesions. Large, epithelioid cell granulomas without any nerve element present and healed cases proved difficult for a definite diagnosis. Emphasis is placed on searching for residual nerve elements in AFB-negative sections because this increases the certainty level of the diagnosis. Also, it is suggested that for uniformity of understanding and reporting, terminologies need to be narrowed down and restricted to only definite, suggestive, or no diagnosis of leprosy.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1992

Initial intensive therapy for multibacillary leprosy patients--in retrospect.

We analysed the results of 4845 multibacillary (MB) patients being treated with multidrug treatment (MDT) in the Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh, India. Of these, 2309 (47.7%) patients were given an initial 14-day intensive therapy with rifampicin, clofazimine and dapsone, followed by the WHO recommended pulse therapy. The rest of the cases were given only pulse therapy. The improvement in terms of bacteriological clearance and the proportion of cases declared released from treatment (RFT) was found to be significantly higher among patients treated with only pulse therapy. Clinic attendance was found to be better and more regular in patients treated with intensive therapy, and no relapses were seen with either therapy. The implications of these findings on the operational aspects of programme implementation are discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Is bacteriological examination by skin smear necessary in all paucibacillary leprosy patients in mass control programmes?

Skin smear bacteriological examination results of 11,255 paucibacillary leprosy patients from 8 leprosy control units under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) in South India and the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Central Leprosy Teaching & Research Institute (CLT&RI), Chengalpattu, between 1987 and 1989 were collected and analysed. Only 0.05% of the smears from leprosy control units and 2.49% from the OPD of CLT&RI were found to be positive. Not a single smear from indeterminate, tuberculoid and pure neuritic types of leprosy out of 8263 examined was found positive under field conditions. The relevance of carrying out routine bacteriological examination in mass leprosy control programmes is discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Seroepidemiological study of leprosy in a highly endemic population of south India based on an ELISA using synthetic PGL-I.

As part of a continuing longitudinal immuno-epidemiological study, blood samples were collected by finger prick from 4243 individuals living in a highly endemic area for leprosy in South India. The samples were tested for IgM antibodies against phenolic glycolipid-I using an ELISA. Seropositivity defined as optical density greater than or equal to 0.2000 was marginally higher in the age group 10-30 years and in females. There was no evidence for a higher level in contacts than in non-contacts. The future prospect for the large scale use of this ELISA in high-endemic populations in special epidemiological investigations or routine control programs as a serological tool to detect leprosy infection appears questionable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1974

Sickle cell anaemia and the NBT test.

Patients with sickle cell anaemia have an increased susceptibility to bacterial infections Previous reports of false-negative nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) tests in the presence of bacteria infection and of a faulty phagocytic response following stimulation in vitro have suggested the possibility of polymorphonuclear dysfunction in certain patients with sickle cell anaemia. In the present study an unstimulated, histochemical NBT technique was used to evaluate the test in patients with sickle cell anaemia. There was a significant difference between the results in the group of patients with infection (mean NBT-positive cells 42.7%) compared to those without infection (mean 9.4%). There was no significant correlation between the total white blood cell count, absolute number of polymorphonuclear cells, and infectious complications. These findings indicate an appropriate polymorphonuclear cell response, as evaluated by the NBT test, in patients with sickle cell anaemia and bacterial infection. The NBT test may be used as an additional parameter in the differentiation of those patients with sickle cell anaemia with bacterial infection.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Time lag between case registration and commencement of treatment in a leprosy control unit.

Analysis of client-based data as a part of computerised management information system in a Government leprosy control unit in Tamil Nadu reveals that there was delay in initiating treatment of leprosy patients. The mean and standard deviation of the period of delay for cases registered before, within 6 months and after 6 months of start of MDT in the Unit were 6.80 +/- 6.40, 1.97 +/- 3.60 and 0.90 +/- 2.21 months respectively. Further, the delay was longer in PB, female and child cases. Giving priority to therapy for backlog cases and an effective monitoring system with specific indicator for time lag in starting treatment is indicated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A computerized information system for evaluation of NLEP through monthly progress reports.

A computerized system for monitoring district-wise operational performance and epidemiological progress using existing regular and special monthly reports of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is presented. The same system, with some minor modifications could be used for programme assessment at the Leprosy Control Unit level also. The advantage of the system is the speed with which it can generate output in the form of comparative tables and graphs for different regions for use by programme managers for making overall assessments in time and for sending feedback reports to workers at various levels, for self-assessment and for taking timely corrective action. The system presented provides immediate and easy access to the stored and/or processed information (indicators etc.,) at any time. The system has been pilot-tested using monthly reports from eighteen districts of Tamil Nadu.

Databases, Factual↗