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Biomedical subjects

P R Rao

Publications and source records attributed to P R Rao.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Foot care economics--cost burden to diabetic patients with foot complications: a study from southern India.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the direct cost burden of diabetic patients with foot complications. METHODS: An illustrative sample of 270 subjects with type two diabetes were seen at the clinic selected for the study. Among them 164 were without any complication (Group I) and 106 patients were with foot complications (Group II). In the latter group 83 (Group IIA) required in-patient (IP) care and 23 (Group IIB) required out-patient (OP) care. Annual expenses on medical care were estimated by a questionnaire method. Validation of the questionnaire data was verifying the amount spent by checking up the bills. RESULT: Group I spent Rs.4373 (US $ 104 Approx.), Group II spent Rs.15450 (US $ 343 Approx.), Group IIA spent Rs.7200 (US $ 171 Approx.) and Group IIB spent Rs.16910 (US $ 403 Approx.) in the study year. In the total sample of 270 subjects 61% were without foot problems, 22% had foot problems requiring OP treatment only (Group IIA), and 78% had foot problems requiring IP treatment (Group IIB). CONCLUSION: Group IIB spent significantly greater percentage of their income than Group IIA, and both groups spent greater percentage of their income than Group I. All differences were statistically significant.

Cost of Illness↗
PubMed2001

Quality of drinking water from ponds in villages of Kolleru Lake region.

Kolleru Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the districts of East and West Godavari of Andhra Pradesh. The major population centres in the Kolleru Lake region are the 148 villages of which 50 bed villages and 98 belt villages. All bed and belt villages in lake region have at least one drinking water pond. Drinking water ponds are filled with lake water during monsoon season and directly supplied to the public throughout the year. The water samples were collected from village drinking water ponds in a year by covering three seasons and analysed for different physico-chemical parameters to assess the quality of drinking water.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2001

Heavy metals concentrations in the sediments from Kolleru Lake, India.

Kolleru Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is situated between the latitudes 16 degrees 32(1) and 16 degrees 47(1)N and longitude 81 degrees 05(1) and 81 degrees 21(1) E. The catchment area of the lake is 4763 sq. km. The sediment samples were collected at different points from Kolleru Lake in three seasons a year over a period of three years and analyzed for heavy metals and organic matter. Concentrations of Cu, Pd, Cd, Mn, Ni, Co, Fe and Zn in the sediments were analysed by using Atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) and selected sediments samples were analysed for Be, Sr, Ba, B, Mo, Tl, V, Cr, Ag, Bi, As and Se by using inductively coupled plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS).

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2000

Drug release kinetics from polymeric films containing propranolol hydrochloride for transdermal use.

Polymeric films containing propranolol hydrochloride (PPN) were formulated and evaluated with a view to select a suitable formulation for the development of transdermal drug delivery systems. Films containing different ratios of ethyl cellulose (EC), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), and PPN were prepared by mercury substrate method. In vitro drug release and skin permeation studies were conducted using paddle over disk and modified Franz diffusion cell, respectively. The drug release profiles from the polymeric film indicated that the drug content in the film decreased at an apparent first-order rate, whereas the quantity of drug release was proportional to the square root of time. The release rate of PPN increased linearly with increasing drug concentration and PVP fraction in the film, but was found to be independent of film thickness. The increase in release rate may be due to leaching of hydrophilic fraction of the film former, which resulted in the formation of pores. It was also observed that the release of drug from the films followed the diffusion-controlled model at low drug concentration. A burst effect was observed initially, however, at high drug loading level, which may be due to rapid dissolution of the surface drug followed by the diffusion of the drug through the polymer network in the film. The in vitro skin permeation profiles displayed increased flux values with increase of initial drug concentration in the film, and also with the PVP content. From this study, it is concluded that the films composed of EC/PVP/PPN, 9:1:3, 8:2:2, and 8:2:3, should be selected for the development of transdermal drug delivery systems using a suitable adhesive layer and backing membrane for potential therapeutic applications.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed2000

Cost burden to diabetic patients with foot complications--a study from southern India.

AIM: To study the economic burden of management of diabetes in patients with foot complications, as a large number of them suffer from foot complications of varying severity. This study relates to direct cost to diabetic patients with foot complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An illustrative sample of 270 Type 2 diabetic subjects, 164 without foot complications (Control group, Group 1) and 106 with foot complications (Group 2) were studied. They were available for the study during a six month period from January to June 1998. Group 2 had two sub-groups, i.e., those who needed out-patient (OP) treatment only (n = 23) and those who needed treatment in the hospital (HP) (n = 83). The study subjects were interviewed personally by the educator to collect demographic data and treatment expenditure. RESULTS: Total median expenditure incurred by the diabetic subjects without foot complications (Group 1) was Rs. 4373/- and by those with foot complications (Group 2) was Rs. 15,450/-. Patients who required hospitalised treatment incurred higher expenses than the OP patients, towards doctor's fees and hospitalisation (P < 0.0001). The percent of total income spent by the HP patients was higher than by the OP patients (P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic subjects with foot problems incur very heavy expenditure in the treatment process. Most of the direct costs of diabetes treatment results from its complications. The hospitalisation costs for the complications of diabetes are particularly heavy. This underscores the need to reduce complications and also their economic burden.

Cost of Illness↗
PubMed1998

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of polymeric films of diltiazem hydrochloride and indomethacin for transdermal administration.

Ethylcellulose-polyvinyl pyrrolidone films containing diltiazem hydrochloride and indomethacin were evaluated for their potential drug delivery at a controlled rate, using rat skin, to select a suitable formulation for the development of transdermal drug delivery systems. The influence of film composition, initial drug concentration, and film thickness on the in vitro drug release rate as well as drug permeation through rat abdominal skin were studied. Drug release studies were carried out employing the paddle over disk method and drug permeation through full thickness of the rat abdominal skin was tested using a modified Franz diffusion cell fastened with O-ring. The drug content of the film decreased at an apparent first-order rate, whereas the quantity of drug released was proportional to the square root of time. The release rates of both drugs increased linearly with increasing drug concentration and polyvinyl pyrrolidone fraction in the film, but was found to be independent of film thickness. The increase in release rate may be due to leaching of hydrophilic fraction of the film former which resulted in the formation of pores. It was also observed that the release of drugs from the films followed a diffusion-controlled model at low drug concentrations. A burst effect was observed initially, however, at high drug loading levels. This may be due to rapid dissolution of the surface drug followed by the diffusion of drug through the polymer network in the film. The in vitro skin permeation profiles showed increased flux values with increase of initial drug concentration in the film and also with the concentration of polyvinyl pyrrolidone. From this study, it is concluded that the films composed of ethylcellulose:polyvinyl pyrrolidone:diltiazem hydrochloride (8:2:2) and ethylcellulose:polyvinyl pyrrolidone:indomethacin (8:2:3) should be selected for the development of transdermal drug delivery systems, using a suitable adhesive layer and backing membrane, for potential therapeutic use.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1997

Permeability studies of cellulose acetate free films for transdermal use: influence of plasticizers.

Permeability of cellulose acetate (CA) free films casted from chloroform solution containing different plasticizers were studied with a view to developing a suitable rate controlling membrane for transdermal use. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), polyethylene glycol 600 (PEG 600) and propylene glycol (PG) were used as plasticizers at a concentration of 40% w/w of dry polymer weight. The free films were prepared by mercury substrate method and evaluated for uniformity of thickness, tensile strength and percentage elongation and water vapour transmission. Permeability characteristics of free films were studied using the drugs such as diltiazem hydrochloride (DLT) and indomethacin (Ind). The variation in film thickness was less than 2% which ensured uniformity. Tensile strength of films plasticized with DBP is more compared with other plasticized films. Water vapour transmission and drug diffusion through the free films followed zero order kinetics and decreased with increasing the film thickness. The films plasticized with PEG600 showed higher permeability for both drugs compared with other films. The order of decrease of permeability of plasticized films with plasticizers is PEG600 > PG > DBP. Diffusion of drugs through the free films of CA was extended over a longer period of time at a controlled rate and thus, these can be used as rate controlling membranes for the development of a transdermal drug delivery system.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1997

Gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in fluoride-treated rats.

Intraperitonial administration of 10 mg fluoride (NaF)/kg body weight resulted in hyperglycemia in rats. Role of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in this hyperglycemic response was evaluated. Results of the study indicate that the fluoride induced hyperglycemia is mainly due to increased hepatic glycogenolysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Malignant mesenchymoma of the pleura.

Malignant mesenchymomas are uncommon tumors of soft tissues. Three such tumors involving the pleura have been reported in the literature. We report a case of malignant mesenchymoma of the pleura that had liposarcomatous, rhabdomyosarcomatous, chondrosarcomatous, and osteosarcomatous elements.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1993

Role of calcium in biphasic immunomodulation by gamma-HCH (lindane) in mice.

gamma-HCH (Lindane) is reported to cause a biphasic immunomodulation-stimulation followed by suppression-after oral administration in mice. Role of calcium in this biphasic immunomodulation was assessed after 4, 12 and 24 wks of gamma-HCH administration. 45Ca-uptake was enhanced during the initial immunostimulation followed by decrease concomitant with immunosuppression. Lymphocyte proliferation was inhibited during both the phases of immune response by verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, and by trifluoperazine, a calmodulin inhibitor. These findings show an impairment of calcium homeostasis in lymphocytes culminating into the biphasic immunomodulatory effects of gamma-HCH.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1992

Immunomodulatory effects of gamma-HCH (Lindane) in mice.

Mice were fed for 24 weeks with three different subtoxic dosages of gamma-HCH (0.012, 0.12 and 1.2 mg/kg) mixed in powdered feed. The immunological profile was assessed at an interval of one month during the entire exposure period. Both the cell mediated and humoral components of immunity showed a biphasic response characterized initially by stimulation followed by suppression in a dose dependent manner. However, gamma-HCH did not affect the functional properties of peritoneal macrophages. Histological changes in lymphoid organs were in accordance with the biphasic immunomodulatory effects of gamma-HCH.

Animals↗