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Biomedical subjects

P R Joseph

Publications and source records attributed to P R Joseph.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

A hospital based study on the prevalence of conjunctivitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Very few studies have been done in India to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis causing conjunctivitis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Hence the prevalence of primary conjunctivitis due to C. trachomatis among individuals attending ophthalmic hospitals in Chennai was determined and compared with our earlier results. METHODS: A total of 328 conjunctival swabs from 255 (both eyes 73 and one eye 182) patients were investigated by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) on direct smears, culture and PCRs for cryptic plasmid and major outer membrane protein (MOMPI) gene of C. trachomatis. An infant with ophthalmia neonatorum was also included. RESULTS: Among these 328 specimens processed, 16 (4.9%) from 12 (4.7%) patients were positive by cryptic plasmid PCR. Among these, 3 from 2 patients were positive by FAT (direct smear), culture and PCR for MOMP 1 gene. Both eyes of the infant with ophthalmia neonatorum were positive by all the methods. The sensitivity of FAT and culture (18.8%) was lower compared to PCR. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: A significant decrease in the prevalence of adult chlamydial conjunctivitis has occurred in the 10-year period among patients reporting to the ophthalmic hospitals in Chennai. PCR using cryptic plasmid primers was found to be the most sensitive method to detect C. trachomatis in patients with conjunctivitis.

Chlamydia Infections↗
PubMed2000

Smallpox vaccine.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed1999

Selective mutism--the child who doesn't speak at school.

Selective mutism is a syndrome in which there is a consistent failure to speak in social situations where speech is expected, despite speaking in other situations. The problem is most common in the child who speaks actively and well at home but who refuses to speak in school. This paper describes 2 young children from the author's practice who refuse to speak at school and a short summary of recent changes in the thinking about the cause and therapy of selective mutism. This is the first article on selective mutism to appear in an American pediatric journal.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1999

Antibacterial activity of the white precipitate formed on the corneal surface after treatment with ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution.

PURPOSE: To determine the antibacterial activity of the white crystalline precipitate formed on the corneal surface after topical administration of 0.3% ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution by microbiologic assay. METHODS: White crystalline precipitate formed on the corneal surface of seven patients was scraped and individually dissolved in sterile distilled water. Quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and microbiologic assay of ciprofloxacin in the precipitate solutions were done. Microbiologic assay was performed by agar diffusion method against Klebsiella pneumoniae. RESULTS: By HPLC, concentrations of ciprofloxacin were estimated to be 1.5-60 microg/ml in the dissolved precipitate obtained from six patients, whereas the concentrations based on microbiologic assay varied from 1.6 to 16.1 microg/ml. Ciprofloxacin was not detected by either method in the precipitate obtained from one patient. The antibacterial activity (microg/ml) determined by microbiologic assay was not related to the actual amount of ciprofloxacin in the solutions as estimated by HPLC in cases 1, 2, 4, and 7. It was almost the same in the solutions from cases 5 and 6. CONCLUSION: The white crystalline precipitate formed on the corneal surface after topical administration of 0.3% ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution exhibited bacterial inhibitory activity, indicating that the precipitate may function as a drug depot.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Seabather's eruption.

BACKGROUND: Seabather's eruption is an annoying pruritic dermatitis that appears on the areas covered by the bathing suit as an erythematous macular or papular dermatitis, with or without urticaria. It occurs sporadically in Florida, the Caribbean, and as far north as Bermuda. The cause is not known. METHODS: We collected information in Nassau County, Long Island, New York, about cases of all types of water-related dermatitis reported by beach personnel, health providers, and affected swimmers from 1970 through 1991. Concurrently, we surveyed all Nassau County swimming waters, especially during the summer season (June through September), for the presence of organisms capable of causing dermatitis. In 1980 a sudden epidemic of a severe, unfamiliar dermatitis in ocean bathers prompted increased surveillance of cases and waters. Planula larvae of the phylum Cnidaria were collected from the ocean and beaches and inside bathing suits. They were examined, photographed, tested on healthy subjects, and observed in the laboratory for metamorphosis. RESULTS: Three outbreaks of seabather's eruption have occurred on Long Island since 1975. The first, in August 1975, affected a small number of swimmers on the eastern end of Long Island. In 1980 there were thousands of cases along the entire south shore of the island, and in 1990 there were hundreds in the same area. In nonepidemic years, five or fewer cases have been reported yearly. Surveillance for larvae revealed them to be present during the swimming season in epidemic years, but in nonepidemic years they did not appear until autumn, after the swimming season. Applying larvae to the skin of healthy subjects produced a dermatitis indistinguishable from seabather's eruption. All larvae metamorphosed in the laboratory to the adult sea anemone Edwardsiella lineata. CONCLUSIONS: Seabather's eruption, previously reported only as sporadic cases in southern climates, has occurred sporadically and in outbreaks 1000 miles north of most previously described cases. These Long Island episodes were probably caused by the planula larvae of E. lineata.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Clavicular fractures in neonates.

We evaluated the wide variation in the reported incidence of fractured clavicles (0.2% to 3.5%) in newborns by screening 626 consecutive infants delivered vaginally for fractures. One of us (P.R.J.) evaluated all infants, twice during the initial hospital stay and 2 weeks later. Eighteen fractured clavicles were identified for a frequency of 2.9% (18/626). One fracture was discovered on the first hospital examination, 10 on discharge, and 7 at follow-up. Only 2 patients had symptoms usually associated with fractured clavicles. The most reliable clinical sign for in-hospital diagnosis was difficulty in feeling the margins of the affected clavicle when compared with the normal clavicle. The mean birth weight of the infants was 3604 g (range, 3000 to 4930 g), and no obstetric complications occurred. The reported frequency of fractures diagnosed clinically during hospitalization significantly underestimates their occurrence. Most newborn infants with fractures have no symptoms and minimal physical findings during the first days of life, making repeated examination necessary.

Clavicle↗