Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M M Faridi

Publications and source records attributed to M M Faridi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of massage & use of oil on growth, blood flow & sleep pattern in infants.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to investigate if massage with oils commonly used in the community for massage in infancy is beneficial. METHODS: Full term born healthy infants (n = 125), 6 +/- 1 wk of age, wt > 3000 g were randomly divided into five groups. Infants received (i) herbal oil, (ii) sesame oil, (iii) mustard oil, or (iv) mineral oil for massage daily for 4 wk. The fifth group did not receive massage and served as control. The study tools were anthropometeric measurements; microhaematrocrit; serum proteins, creatinine and creatine phosphokinase; blood flow using colour doppler and sleep pattern. RESULTS: Massage improved the weight, length, and midarm and midleg circumferences as compared to infants without massage. However, in the group with sesame oil massage increase in length, midarm and midleg circumferences by 1.0, 0.9 and 0.7 cm, respectively was significant (P < 0.05, < 0.01 & < 0.05). There was no change in microhaematocrit, serum: proteins, albumin, creatinine and creatine phosphokinase between both the groups. The femoral artery blood velocity, diameter and flow improved significantly by 12.6 cm/sec, 0.6 cm and 3.55 cm3/sec respectively in the group with sesame oil massage as compared to the control group. Massage improved the post massage sleep, the maximum being 1.62 h in the sesame oil group (P < 0.0001). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Massage in infancy improves growth and post-massage sleep. However, only sesame oil showed significant benefit.

Blood Circulation↗

Epidemic dropsy in the eastern region of Nepal.

Twenty-six persons from five families comprising 34 members residing in different areas of Saptari district of the eastern region of Nepal developed symptoms of epidemic dropsy over 6-8 weeks. Seventeen patients were studied during July-August 1996. The age of affected individuals varied from 3 to 75 years. Members who had not consumed food cooked in mustard oil or who were not residing with the family were spared. Mustard oil, which was used for cooking, was found to be contaminated with oil of Argemone mexicana seeds. Sanguinarine was detected in all mustard oil samples collected from the homes of affected families. Gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 82 per cent of cases a week or so prior to the onset of pedal oedema. Pitting oedema of the lower limbs, fever, and darkening of the skin were the most consistent features, found in all cases. Other prominent features such as local erythema (82 per cent) and tenderness (88 per cent) of the lower limbs were present in most cases. Two striking features not previously noted were perianal itching (100 per cent) and severe carditis (35 per cent) with congestive cardiac failure (29 per cent). Other unique features noted were 'sarcoid' skin changes (18 per cent), bilateral pleural effusion, and Roth's spots and subhyloid haemorrhages in the fundus in one patient. Other important findings were anaemia (88 per cent), hepatomegaly (41 per cent), pneumonia (35 per cent) and ascites (12 per cent). There were no deaths due to epidemic dropsy. In the majority of cases, oedema, cutaneous changes, and carditis showed a marked improvement in 2-3 weeks and patients were well after 6-8 weeks of follow-up.

Adolescent↗

Clinical and laboratory study of kala-azar in children in Nepal.

Reports are scanty regarding kala-azar in children in Nepal. In this communication we document 20 children diagnosed to have kala-azar who were admitted and treated at B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. The children were between 2 and 14 years old. The duration of illness varied between 12 days and 24 months with a majority (65 per cent) of children being ill for less than 6 months. Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were seen in 95 and 90 per cent of cases respectively. Splenomegaly was not found in two (10 per cent) children. Anaemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia were seen in 95, 60, and 75 per cent of children respectively. Amastigotes of Leishmania donovani (LD bodies) were demonstrated in Giemsa-stained smears of bone marrow aspirates in 16 (80 per cent) children. All the children responded to treatment with sodium stibogluconate. No mortality was observed. This study emphasizes the importance of kala-azar in children in endemic areas of eastern Nepal.

Adolescent↗

Clinical profile and risk factors for oral candidosis in sick newborns.

OBJECTIVES: To provide the clinical profile and assess the significance of various risk factors contributing to the occurrence of oral candidosis in newborns. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). SUBJECTS: Twenty newborns with oral candidosis and an equal number of age and weight matched controls. INTERVENTIONS: All cases of oral candidosis were treated with local application of 1% Clotrimazole. RESULTS: Oral candidosis was documented in 3.2% (20/650) cases in the NICU. Acute pseudomembranous candidosis was the most common presentation. The mean age of onset was 10.5 days. Candida albicans was isolated in 50% cases in addition to C. tropicalis, C. paratropicalis, C. krusei, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis. On univariate analysis, male sex, birth asphyxia and prolonged antibiotic therapy had a significant correlation with occurence of oral candidosis in neonates. Out of these, birth asphyxia was the only factor significantly associated with oral candidosis (OR 8.09, 95% CI 1.34-48.8, p = 0.0226) on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: C. albicans was the predominant isolate in this series of oral candidosis. Clinical manifestations were evident in the second week of life and birth asphyxia was the most important associated perinatal event.

Antifungal Agents↗