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Biomedical subjects

K R Sundaram

Publications and source records attributed to K R Sundaram.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Alcohol abuse in a rural community in India. Part I: Epidemiological study.

By systematic sampling of households after two stage proportionate random sampling of villages, a total of 4670 persons above 15 years of age were selected from the rural areas of Ajmer district in Rajasthan, India, to estimate the prevalence rate of alcohol abuse and to study its socio-demographic correlates (Part I) and the pattern and characteristics of use (Part II, submitted). The data on these aspects were collected through pre-tested questionnaires. The results showed that prevalence of alcohol abuse in the sample was 24.7% (36.1% for males and 13.4% for females) and the percentage of dependents was 3%. Relative risk of alcohol abuse in males was 3.64 with respect to females. Alcohol abuse was found to be significantly associated with religion (higher in Hindus with a relative risk of 8.65 in males and 5.21 in females), marital status (higher in married with a relative risk of 2.51 in males), age (higher in age group more than 20 years with a relative risk of 2.50 in males and 1.63 in females), family structure (higher in nuclear or joint families with a relative risk of 2.88 in males), educational status (higher in illiterates with a relative risk of 1.53 in males) and occupational status (higher in those engaged in agriculture with a relative risk of 1.43 in males and 1.80 in females). It was not significantly associated with per-capita income. These results have been compared with those in similar studies in the country and the possible reasons for differences, if any, have been discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Alcohol abuse in a rural community in India. Part II: characteristics of alcohol users.

This part of the study dealt with the analysis of the characteristics of alcohol users. About 50% of both male and female users were between 20 and 39 years of age; 8.1% of males and only 1.3% of females used alcohol daily or several times in a week. Desi (country) liquor was the beverage used by more than 85% of the users; 77.5% of males and 96.5% of females consumed less than one quarter of a bottle of alcohol, and 65.3% of males and 93.6% of females were taking alcohol at their houses only. The reasons given for drinking by the majority of users were 'for pleasure', 'for celebration of an event' and 'status symbol'. The quantity/frequency index analysis showed that the percentage of alcoholics was 4.2 and the remaining were social drinkers. Physical, economic and social problems were reported by a significantly higher percentage of alcoholics than social drinkers. The importance of consideration of these factors in formulating a strategy of social policy in the field of alcohol use is emphasised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Activity of preoptic neurons during synchronization and desynchronization.

Extracellular unit activity from 29 neurons in the preoptic area was recorded together with the cortical EEG in encéphale isolé cats. A majority (55%) of neurons showed alterations in their firing rates during transient changes in the EEG. Among them, a majority (62.5%) showed an increased firing rate during synchronization and the remaining showed an increased firing rate during desynchronization of the EEG. Most neurons showed a Poisson distribution pattern of firing during both the synchronized and the desynchronized phases of the EEG. The changes in the neuronal discharge occurring together with the specific changes in the cortical EEG fits in well with the assigned role of the preoptic area in the sleep-waking cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Hydrocephalus caused by tuberculous meningitis: clinical picture, CT findings and results of shunt surgery.

This study is an analysis of 70 children, five months to eleven years of age, with hydrocephalus secondary to tuberculous meningitis. They presented as an acute illness, mostly in early childhood, with disturbance of consciousness, convulsions, rigidity and, sometimes, neurological deficit. CT scans showed ventricular dilatation, periventricular translucency and exudates in basal cisterns. Shunt surgery performed early produced gratifying results without dissemination of tuberculosis. Residual ventricular dilatation following shunt surgery was inversely related to intellectual status. Even with advanced degrees of tuberculous meningitis, thirteen of the twenty-eight children tested for intellectual status were found to be educable or having near normal intelligence. Fatal intraventricular haemorrhages were seen in six cases as a late complication.

Cerebral Ventriculography↗
PubMed1982

Results of ventriculoatrial shunt surgery for hydrocephalus using Indian shunt valve: evaluation of intellectual performance with particular reference to computerized axial tomography.

The clinical experience of treating 110 Indian Children for hydrocephalus by ventriculoatrial shunts using the Upadhyaya shunt valve has been presented. Most of the children had a poor socioeconomic background and were late referrals. Children operated during the period from March 1979 to February 1980 were evaluated pre and postoperatively for mental performance and by CAT scanning as a longitudinal study. Children operated earlier than March 1979 and who came to the clinic for follow-up were also included in the study for observing serial changes in CAT scans and mental performance. A new method of quantifying mental performance in infants and children has been described. Age at operation and nature of hydrocephalus do not seem to have any correlation with the mental performance in shunted children. Severity of hydrocephalus measured as ventricular/brain ratio on CAT scan appears to have a very significant correlation with the intellectual status, children with smaller ventricles having better performance. The longitudinal part of the follow-up study indicates that mental performance of shunted children improves progressively up to 5 years. Longitudinal study of mental performance and serial CAT scans after shunt surgery are recommended as essential refinements in the management of hydrocephalic children.

Brain↗
PubMed1981

Relative risk of adolescent drug abuse: Part I. Socio-demographic and interpersonal variables.

This study was carried out on a sample of 254 male senior high school students in New Delhi. The authors found that variables contributing significantly to drug use were age, heterosexual dating, drug abuse among family members and drug abuse among friends. However, drug use was not found to be significantly associated with family income, father's occupation, family structure and place of residence. Since the sample studied was relatively small, additional confirmation is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Relative risk of adolescent drug abuse: Part II. Intrapsychic variables.

The total sample size for the study of intrapsychic variables was 252 (152 non-drug users and 100 life-time users including 69 current users). Using a multiphasic personality questionnaire, the Eysenck personality inventory and an orientation questionnaire, the authors found that high orientation, extraversion, anxiety and psychopathic deviate scores were associated with a relative risk of drug use. No significant difference is reported between the mean scores of users and non-users on mania, paranoia, depression, schizophrenia, hysteria and neuroticism.

Adolescent↗