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Biomedical subjects

H L Dhar

Publications and source records attributed to H L Dhar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Gender, aging, health and society.

There are more women than men at any elderly age group. Depression and osteoporosis are the commonest problems in elderly subjects. Some problems specific to males are hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction and enlargement of prostrate and to females are post-menopausal disturbances, urinary incontinence and breast and lung cancer. However, problems of special concern in both male and female elderly are malnutrition, falls and cognitive dysfunction. Men and women in general suffer from the same sorts of health problems but the frequency of these problems as well as the speed of the onset of death distinguishes them. Infact cultural and social forces act to separate the sexes in their personal health ethos and their sick propensity. The impact of old age on women is different from that of men because of differences in their status and role in society. This is specially so because proportion of widows in 60+ age group is considerably higher than that of widowers. Sexuality is often overlooked as a health status particularly in elderly women. Clinicians should recognise the importance of sexual functions to the overall health of older persons particularly women. Religious participation and involvement are associated with positive mental and physical health. Family life is the key to the health of elders specially older men. Lack of social support increases the risk of mortality and supportive relationships are associated with lower illness rates, faster recovery rates and higher levels of health care behavior.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2000

Primitive society, health & elderly.

Mankind have been ravaged by diseases since primitive age and remedial measures were emprirical learnt either by accident, experience or superstition. But most elderly population were killed and hardly died of diseases. Fate of women were no better. Care for elderly came with civilization. They were little better in the East compared to the West. Although elderly population were better treated in India, China tops the list for elderly care. Even today the oldest man in the family is most respected. Civilized nations even today discriminate elderly population compared to children and adult, but apply the yardstick in a different manner, direct killing alone is not allowed.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of hypertension in Mumbai.

There are few reports on prevalence of hypertension in India. We are presenting a study of its incidence in OPD of hospital patients in Mumbai. Prevalence of hypertension was 7.82% in all subjects, however, it was higher in females 10.5% than in males 6.1%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Newer approaches in increasing life span.

Based on ideal conditions technical life span of human kind is approximately 110-120 years. Although number of studies including calorie restriction and antiparkinsonism drug (deprenyl) have indicated increased life span in animals, it is premature to expect them to increase life span in man. However, current studies like activation of immune system with DHEA in man and anticipation of antioxidant therapy contributing to increased life span are encouraging. Practice of meditation particularly TM and balanced diet might be contributory.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Physiology of aging.

Aging could be due to reduced ability to adapt to stress and/or aging of immune system. It is suggested that body cells (except germ cells and transformed cells) bear specific 'death' genes responsible for aging process. However, current concepts of free radicals (chemical intermediate) and aging, postulate that intermolecular linkages between degradation products of lipid oxidation (when free radical is a polysaturated fatty acid) results in inactive polymers interfering with cell activity which could be inactivated by natural or artificial antioxidants (e.g. vit.E, vit.C) With aging body composition and conformation changes resulting in diminished activity of vital organs and structural changes in the body involving skin, muscle, bones etc. with altered look, diminished movements, hearting, vision etc. However, changes in higher function cause decline in intelligence, memory, ability to take decision, slow reaction and decrease ability to learn new skills resulting in more rigid attitude in elderly. Balanced diet plays an important role in delaying aging process and sexual activity promotes active life span.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Health and aging.

Regular meditation is the key to health (mental, physical and social wellbeing). It elevates mind from gross level to finer aspect and makes the body and mind follow the law of nature achieving good health, preventing disease, improving performance and reducing aging process. Balanced diet (less sugar, less salt and less fat as age advances supplemented with vitamins and minerals) and mild to moderate exercise (walking etc.) are complimentary to the effects of meditation.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Cross reactivity of cephalosporins with penicillin.

Cross antigenicity of cephalosporins with penicillin has been studied experimentally and also by using serum from penicillin sensitive individuals. Definite hypersensitivity reaction was observed in all the animals sensitised with cephalosporins and challenged with penicillin except in rats. Cephalosporins could elicit reaction in tissues sensitised passively with serum obtained from penicillin sensitive individuals.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effects of verapamil and nifedipine on psychomotor performance in human subjects.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of two structurally dissimilar calcium channel blockers, verapamil (a phenylalkylamine) in a single dose of 40 and 80 mg, and nifedipine (a dihydropyridine) in a single dose of 10 and 15 mg, on psychomotor performance and higher mental functions in human volunteers. Placebo and diazepam (5 mg) were used as negative and positive controls respectively. For evaluating these functions, tests employed were arithmetic ability, visual and auditory reaction time, letter (alphabet) cancellation, rapid fire arithmetic deviation and short term memory for playing cards. Careful record was kept of the heart rate, blood pressure and side effects of the therapy, each time the psychomotor tests were performed. Verapamil, both in 40 and 80 mg dose, was found to impair the performance of subjects to a significant extent in auditory reaction time, letter cancellation and short term memory. These effects were similar to those observed with administration of diazepam. With nifedipine, impairment in performance was observed only in rapid arithmetic deviation test. Thus, calcium channel antagonists, specially verapamil, impaired psychomotor performance of human subjects in our study.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Double blind comparative trial of Abana and methyldopa for monotherapy of hypertension in Indian patients.

Abana is a herbomineral medicinal preparation with a property of down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors. A double-blind, parallel group study was conducted in 43 Indian men and women suffering from hypertension to evaluate the antihypertensive effect of Abana and compare it with that of methyldopa (M-DOPA). Twenty-one patients received 800 mg tds of Abana and 22 patients received 250 mg tds of M-DOPA for 4 weeks. Blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded at weekly intervals. Relevant clinical and biochemical investigations were carried out before and after treatment. In patients treated with Abana, there was a significant fall both in systolic B.P. (from 167 +/- 3.73 to 145 +/- 6.11 mmHg) and in diastolic B.P. (from 110 +/- 1.86 to 91 +/- 3.04 mmHg) at the end of 4 weeks. Similarly in patients treated with M-DOPA, systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced from 165 +/- 4.92 to 146 +/- 4.9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure was reduced from 106 +/- 2.74 to 96 +/- 2.67 mmHg after 4 weeks. The onset of antihypertensive effect was earlier and there was a higher percentage of responders (80%) in the Abana-treated group. None of the patients had clinically or biochemically significant side-effects. The results of this study suggest that therapy with Abana proved highly effective in hypertensive patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Captopril--nifedipine interaction in hypertension.

Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker exerts significant peripheral vasodilatory activity in hypertensive patients. It has been postulated that the antihypertensive effect of peripherally acting vasodilators is masked, by counter regulatory mechanism e.g. activation of renin-angiotensin aldosterone (RAA) axis. The present work was undertaken to study the effect of blockade of RAA axis using captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on the blood pressure lowering activity of nifedipine. Pretreatment with captopril in a dose of 25 mg. bd was carried out for 4 weeks in one group of 10 patients before administering nifedipine 10 mg bd for 4 weeks. The other matched group of 10 patients received nifedipine alone in the same dose. It was observed that although captopril by itself had no appreciable effect on blood pressure in the dose used, it significantly enhanced the blood pressure lowering activity of nifedipine. It appears that counterregulatory mechanisms play an important role in determining the net antihypertensive effect of peripheral vasodilators.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Role of cholinergic mechanism in the hypoglycemic action of B. pertussis vaccine.

The present work aims to study the role of the cholinergic mechanism in the hypoglycemic action of B. pertussis vaccine in rats. The vaccine resembles insulin in that the hypoglycemia produced is mainly due to the increase conversion of glucose to glycogen in the liver and muscle. Both the hypoglycemia as well as glycogen deposition was partially blocked by atropine. On the other hand the vaccine potentiated the fall in the blood sugar and deposition of glycogen in the tissues produced by physostigmine. This suggests the possible involvement of the cholinergic system in the hypoglycemic action of the vaccine.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effect of Bordetella pertussis vaccine on bleeding time, whole blood coagulation time and platelet aggregation in animals.

Bordetella pertussis vaccine, a hypoglycemic agent significantly prolonged the bleeding time and whole blood coaguistion time in rabbits and dogs when administered intraperitonially. The vaccine also affects platelet aggregation in rats 4 days after its intraperitonial administration. The effect on platelet aggregation is thought to be due to its beta adrenargic receptor blocking action which may also contribute to the hypoglycemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

The insulin-like action of Bordetella pertussis vaccine in rats.

Treatment of rats with Bordetella pertussis vaccine significantly lowered the blood sugar level 4 days later but the vaccine did not alter the level in diabetic rats. The vaccine, like insulin, raised glycogen levels in liver, skeletal muscle and heart and reduced the plasma free fatty acid concentration. The action of a beta-adrenoceptor blocker was potentiated by the vaccine but not by insulin. Part of the hypoglycaemic action of the vaccine is probably due to beta-adrenoceptor blockade.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗