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Biomedical subjects

P Sarma

Publications and source records attributed to P Sarma.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Changing roles of grass-root level health workers in Kerala, India.

OBJECTIVE: Multipurpose health workers (MPWs) are envisioned as key personnel in the delivery of primary health care. We evaluated their role and participation in implementing different national health programmes in Kerala, INDIA: DESIGN: Cross-sectional, community-based survey. PARTICIPANTS: We selected three out of the 14 districts in KERALA: Three-hundred and twenty-six MPWs (95 male and 231 female) from 44 randomly selected primary health centres from the three districts were questioned using a structured pre-tested questionnaire that sought information regarding the provision of health services by the MPWs to eligible beneficiaries in the community. We randomly selected 90 subcentres (30 from each district) and 750 households using a cluster sampling technique, and conducted household surveys to compare the actual delivery of services at the doorstep with that reported by the MPWS: Work sampling of MPWs was also performed to examine the fieldwork time spent by them on implementing individual national health programmes. These data were supplemented with focus group discussions and personal interviews of MPWs and household members. RESULTS: MPWs consistently 'over-reported' their performance when self-reported information was compared with that obtained from household surveys. Male MPWs concentrated on the National Malaria Eradication Programme and health education while female workers focused on the family welfare and immunization programmes. Key national health programmes (such as for tuberculosis and acute respiratory infection) were neglected by all MPWS: MPWs were aware of health problems of the elderly, but were not adequately trained nor officially expected to deliver any services in these fields. CONCLUSIONS: Grass-root level workers apportion more time to select national health programmes to the detriment of other health programmes, thereby negating their multipurpose role. Our study emphasizes the need for interventions to derive 'multipurpose benefits' from the MPWS:

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed2000

Comparative chemotherapeutic efficacy of balhimycin, desgluco-balhimycin against experimental MSSA and MRSA infection in mice.

Balhimycin and desglucobalhimycin are glycopeptide antibiotics isolated from an Amycolatopsis spp during the search for novel antibacterials against MRSA from the natural product screening at the Research Centre of formerly Hoechst India Ltd. in Bombay, India. Both compounds show excellent in vitro activity against methicillin sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA). Both compounds were also found to be active against a number of MRSA strain in the animal studies. The activities were comparable to that of the reference glycopeptides vancomycin and teicoplanin used in these studies. Teicoplanin displayed better in vivo efficacy against S. epidermidis 4929H and Streptococcus pyogenes A77 than either vancomycin or desgluco-balhimycin in the present study. Preliminary studies on pharmacokinetic and acute toxicity were done to get some idea at the early stage of the investigation about the promise of the compounds for development.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Capsulorhexis in intumescent cataract.

This technique of anterior capsulorhexis is for use in eyes with high intralenticular pressure and absence of red reflex as encountered in intumescent cataract. The initial steps of fashioning the anterior capsular flap and lens decompression are done under the microscope's high magnification and noncoaxial oblique illumination. Intralenticular pressure is controlled by filling the anterior chamber with a viscoelastic agent. Once the lens is decompressed, the capsulorhexis is completed with a capsule forceps and an endoilluminator is used as an oblique source of illumination. This technique allows controlled capsulorhexis in eyes with intumescent cataract.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Randomized dose-response evaluation of etoposide in small cell carcinoma of the lung: a Southeastern Cancer Study Group Trial.

To evaluate postulated dose-response relationships of etoposide (VP-16) for patients with recurrent small cell carcinoma of the lung, a prospectively randomized study was undertaken. VP-16 was administered iv at three dose levels: 300, 600, and 900 mg/m2. Based on historical information, a 20% response rate was anticipated in the standard-dose level and the study was designed to be able to detect a response rate of 40% in either of the high-dose levels. The planned number of patients required in each arm was 45, with an alpha-level of 0.1 and a beta-level of 0.2. The total number of patients actually entered was less than the planned number due to a low response rate. Seventy-seven of 79 treated patients were eligible, and 26, 27, and 26 patients were treated at each dose level, respectively. Toxicity was predominantly hematologic, with the higher dose levels substantially more toxic. Response to therapy was infrequent, with only four partial responses achieved and distributed between all dose levels. In this study, using previously treated patients, VP-16 at standard-dose or at moderate-dose increments had minimal activity.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗
PubMed1977

Reactive depression.

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Adjustment Disorders↗