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Biomedical subjects

S Gomathi

Publications and source records attributed to S Gomathi.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Thyroid function in a goitre endemia.

A study was conducted to determine the thyroid function in a goitre endemia. Sadam is small village in the south district of Sikkim. Severe iodine deficiency exist in this village (prevalence of goitre 73.5%, cretinism prevalence 4%; mean urinary iodine exeretion 4.13 ng/dl - SD 3.1). Total of 72 out pf 142 households were randomly selected. All the inmates of the households above 14 years of age were examined for goitre and blood samples were collected from them for estimation of concentration of thyroid stimulating hormones (triiodothyroine T-3, thyroixe T-4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Total of 244 subjects were examined, (137 males and 107 females). Goitre was detected in 149 (61.1%) individuals. The mean T-3, T-4 and TSH concentrations in the non-goitrous groups were (SD in parenthesis) 110.13 ng/dl (26.19), 10.12 ug/dl (2.38) and 1.01 uu/ml (0.52). The corresponding values for the goitrous group were, 132.22 ng/dl (46.25), 9.06 ug/dl (2.04) and 1.33 uu/ml (1.19). The differences in the mean concentrations between the goitrous and non-goitrous groups were statistically significant. An inverse correlation between the goitre size and T-4 on the one hand, and TSH and T-4 on the other hand was noticed. The result of the study show that functional decompensation of the thyroid occur in the majority of goitrous subjects.

Adolescent

Iodine deficiency disorders in school children of Sikkim.

Sikkim is a small state in the eastern Himalayas. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders in the state. A two stage sampling procedure was adopted. In stage one, all villages in the state were listed and 249 were randomly selected for the survey. In stage two, households, were randomly selected from the selected villages using the electoral lists. The basic sampling unit was a household and all members of the households were studied. A total of 17,837 subjects were studied from 3,197 households of 249 villages. Overall prevalence of goitre and cretinism in the community as a whole, were 54.03% and 3.46% respectively. Of the population studied, 5939 were children in the age group of 5 to 16 years. There were 3,005 boys and 2,934 girls. Goitre was detected in 3,381 (56.9%). Goitre prevalence in the boys was 55.4% and in girls it was 58.5% (p = < 0.05). Grade I goitre was seen in 2,472 (73.1%), grade II in 888 (26.3%) and grade III in 21 (0.6%). Endemic cretinism was diagnosed in 175 subjects (2.9%). Cretinism prevalence in the boys was 3.1%, and in girls in was 2.8% and this difference was not significant. Neurological; cretinism was the predominant form (98.3%). Estimation of urinary iodine concentration in 167 subjects revealed the mean concentration to be 3.64 u/dl (SD 2.47). The median value was ug/dl indicating the skewed distribution of the urinary iodine concentration. The study shows the existence of severe iodine deficiency in the school-aged children of Sikkim.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

Epidemiology of endemic cretinism in Sikkim, India.

A survey was conducted in Sikkim to determine the prevalence of endemic cretinism in the state. A household was the basic sampling unit. Villages were selected randomly in the state and from these households were selected randomly using the electoral lists. All members of the households were studied. Total of 17,837 individuals from 3,197 households from 249 villages were studied. There were 8,953 males and 8,884 females. A total of 617 endemic cretins were identified: 316 males and 301 females. The overall prevalence of endemic cretinism was 3.46%: (males 3.53% and females 3.39%). Endemic cretinism was observed in 194 (77.9%) villages studied. Neurological cretinism was the predominant form (98.7%). Deaf-mutism was the most salient neurological feature seen in 472 (76.5%) subjects. Motor system examination revealed proximal spasticity and brisk reflexes, both more marked in the lower limbs. Recording of daily life activities revealed 14.1% of the cretins to be totally dependent and another 23% to be requiring considerable assistance for their daily routine activities. The overall prevalence of goitre found in this survey was 54%. Urinary iodine concentration was estimated from a representative sample of the population; mean 4 micrograms/dl (SD 2.68). This survey shows the existence of severe iodine deficiency in Sikkim.

Adolescent

Pre-operative short-term pulmonary rehabilitation for patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

The role of pre-operative short-term pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery has been assessed for the first time prospectively. Forty-five patients posted for coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomised to receive either short-term pulmonary rehabilitation (group I) or no such programme (group II). Patients of both the groups were evenly matched with respect to age, sex, body surface area, duration and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease. Normal individuals who evenly matched with the study group were assessed for normal respiratory function parameters. Pre-operative and post-operative peak expiratory flow rate, inspiratory capacity, post-operative ventilation time, post-operative pulmonary complication and hospital stay were determined in both the groups. Peak expiratory flow rate (220.0 +/- 12.9 and 324.3 +/- 84.3 in group I, 218.0 +/- 16.4 and 260.5 +/- 35.2 in group II) and inspiratory capacity (844.0 +/- 147.4 and 1100.0 +/- 158.1 in group I, 830.0 +/- 117.4 and 1090 +/- 137 in group II) were significantly lower before and after surgery respectively in both groups compared to normal values. Even though both groups showed a significant rise in post-operative peak expiratory flow rate and inspiratory capacity after surgery, the post-operative peak expiratory flow rate and inspiratory capacity in group I was significantly higher than in group II. In group I, the post-operative ventilation time (24.5 +/- 6.00 hours), post-operative complications (n = 4) and hospital stay (12.4 +/- 3.6 days) were significantly lower than in group II (35.2 +/- 22.3 hours, n = 11, 18.8 +/- 6.6 days respectively). These data suggest that short-term pulmonary rehabilitation is feasible and effective in improving pulmonary functions before and after surgery and in reducing surgical morbidity and cost of medical care significantly.

Breathing Exercises