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Biomedical subjects

S K Chaturvedi

Publications and source records attributed to S K Chaturvedi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Osmotic adjustment in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) results in no yield benefit under terminal drought.

Variation in osmotic adjustment (OA) among chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars has been observed when exposed to terminal drought, but some studies suggest that this benefits yield while others suggest it does not benefit yield in water-limited environments. In the present study, parents differing in OA were crossed and a set of advanced breeding lines (ABLs) developed for yield testing. The variation in OA during podding was measured under terminal drought in the F(2), F(3), F(7), and F(8) progeny and in the parents by either rehydrating the leaves before sampling for osmotic potential (OP) or by measuring the relative water content (RWC) and OP on adjacent leaves for the calculation of the OP at full turgor. Yields were measured in the F(8) progeny under terminal drought in Australia and India. While differences in OA were measured in the chickpea lines and parents, OA varied from year to year and did not consistently benefit yield when measured in the field under terminal drought. In Australia, differences in OA were not associated with any yield benefit in any year, while in India early flowering resulted in higher yields at three of the four sites, and OA had an inconsistent effect on seed yields. A comparison of OP at full turgor measured after rehydration and from measurements of RWC and OP showed that the rehydration technique underestimated OA. The lack of contribution of OA to yield of chickpea is discussed.

Australia↗
PubMed2006

Somatoform disorders, somatization and abnormal illness behaviour.

Somatization and abnormal illness behaviour (AIB) often co-exist, and their inter-relationship appears to be complex. Patients with somatization are often observed to demonstrate abnormal illness behaviour. On the other hand, somatization has been explained in terms of abnormal illness behaviour. The exact cause-effect or any other relationship is not fully understood. This review examines the available evidence to understand these two clinically important, common and interrelated phenomena, their measurements and management. Many studies have confirmed that occurrence of multiple somatic symptoms as the chief or presenting complaints are highly suggestive of abnormal illness behaviour. Recognition of AIB in somatoform disorders is important in order to avoid unnecessary tests, inappropriate treatment, and to prevent encouragement and reinforcement of abnormal behaviours.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

Alexithymia in somatoform and depressive disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Alexithymia and its association with attribution styles, amplification and illness attitudes was studied among subjects with somatoform disorders, depressive disorders and normal subjects. METHODS: Two groups of 30 subjects each, bearing diagnoses of somatoform disorder and depressive disorder respectively (ICD-10 DCR), and one group of 30 normal controls were recruited. The study subjects were assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and scales for assessing attribution styles, amplification and illness attitudes. RESULTS: Mean alexithymia scores in the somatoform (60.4) and depressive disorder groups (62.5) were higher than in normal subjects (54.2). In the somatoform disorder group, total alexithymia and 'difficulty describing feelings' scores positively correlated with psychological attribution (the latter correlation was also noted in the depressive disorder group), but not with the illness attitudes, amplification, somatic attribution scores or any of the sociodemographic variables. Compared with normal subjects, those with somatoform and depressive disorder had greater difficulty in identifying bodily sensations and feelings. Subjects with depressive disorder had more difficulty in expressing feelings compared to somatoform disorder subjects. CONCLUSIONS: While total alexithymia scores do not differentiate somatoform from depressive disorders, the two diagnostic groups do differ in that depressed subjects have greater difficulty in expressing feelings. However, all three groups had mean scores within the non-alexithymic range. Alexithymia and difficulty in expressing feelings were associated with psychological attribution of innocuous bodily sensations in the somatoform disorder group suggesting that alexithymic subjects are more able to psychologize bodily symptoms than non-alexithymic subjects. Somatoform and depressive disorder subjects and normals differ from each other in certain alexithymic characteristics, which could have potential therapeutic implications.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Schizencephaly associated with bipolar affective disorder.

Schizencephaly is a rare congenital anomaly of the brain, characterized by formation of abnormal unilateral or bilateral clefts in the cerebral hemispheres. It often manifests with partial seizures, mental retardation and hemiparesis. Only two cases of schizencephaly associated with psychosis have been reported in the literature. A patient of schizencephaly, who had bipolar affective disorder is described. It has been compared with the earlier two reported cases of schizencephaly associated with pyschosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Weight-related body image concerns among 18-24-year-old women in Canada and India: an empirical comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: Sociocultural factors are important in the pathogenesis of eating disorders. We examined some core (DSM IV) features of eating disorders, i.e., drive for thinness and dissatisfaction with the weight of the abdomen, hips, and thighs among women in Canada and India. METHODS: A total of 65 Canadian (mean+/-S.D. age: 21.4+/-2.0 years) and 47 Indian (mean+/-S.D. age: 18.7+/-4.1 years) women completed the Drive for Thinness (DT) and Body Dissatisfaction (BD) subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and in addition rated the degree to which they believed all major regions of their body were overweight. RESULTS: After the effects of body mass index (BMI) were partialled out statistically, the DT (EDI) and BD (EDI) scores were not significantly different between the two countries. In both groups, concerns about the weight of the abdomen, hips, thighs, and legs loaded on a factor that essentially described the 'body dissatisfaction' construct. After the effects of BMI were partialled out, however, the factor scores from this factor correlated with BD (EDI) in the Canadian but not the Indian sample. DISCUSSION: In contrast to the Canadian women, the Indian women did not overestimate the 'fatness' of their abdomen, hips, thighs, and legs. Among the Indian women, concerns about the weight of the upper torso (i.e., face, neck, shoulders, and chest) emerged as a distinct body image construct. In conclusion, after the effect of BMI was controlled for statistically, the Canadian and Indian women scored similarly on some of the core features of eating disorders, as measured by the DT (EDI) and BD (EDI) subscales, however, the nature of the underlying body image construct was different between the two groups.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2001

Entropy generation method to quantify thermal comfort.

The present paper presents a thermodynamic approach to assess the quality of human-thermal environment interaction and quantify thermal comfort. The approach involves development of entropy generation term by applying second law of thermodynamics to the combined human-environment system. The entropy generation term combines both human thermal physiological responses and thermal environmental variables to provide an objective measure of thermal comfort. The original concepts and definitions form the basis for establishing the mathematical relationship between thermal comfort and entropy generation term. As a result of logic and deterministic approach, an Objective Thermal Comfort Index (OTCI) is defined and established as a function of entropy generation. In order to verify the entropy-based thermal comfort model, human thermal physiological responses due to changes in ambient conditions are simulated using a well established and validated human thermal model developed at the Institute of Environmental Research of Kansas State University (KSU). The finite element based KSU human thermal computer model is being utilized as a "Computational Environmental Chamber" to conduct series of simulations to examine the human thermal responses to different environmental conditions. The output from the simulation, which include human thermal responses and input data consisting of environmental conditions are fed into the thermal comfort model. Continuous monitoring of thermal comfort in comfortable and extreme environmental conditions is demonstrated. The Objective Thermal Comfort values obtained from the entropy-based model are validated against regression based Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) values. Using the corresponding air temperatures and vapor pressures that were used in the computer simulation in the regression equation generates the PMV values. The preliminary results indicate that the OTCI and PMV values correlate well under ideal conditions. However, an experimental study is needed in the future to fully establish the validity of the OTCI formula and the model. One of the practical applications of this index is that could it be integrated in thermal control systems to develop human-centered environmental control systems for potential use in aircraft, mass transit vehicles, intelligent building systems, and space vehicles.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2001

Depression in medical disorders.

This review highlights the occurrence of depressive disorders in medically ill patients. It discusses the difficulties in diagnosing depression in the medically ill due to the vegetative symptoms of depression which are also a feature of many medical diseases. Depression in the medically ill may be due to the disease itself, its psychological reaction, due to complications because of metabolic or other disturbances, or due to the medications for the treatment of the disease. The role of active consultation liaison between medical specialists and mental health professionals will help provide total care to the medically ill.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1998

Palliative care in India.

While India has a long tradition of home-based spiritual and religious care of the dying, there has been no contemporary palliative care until relatively recently. The existing and planned palliative care services in India are presented, and future perspectives and the opportunities for training for both professionals and lay volunteers are discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1998

Awareness of diagnosis and psychiatric morbidity among cancer patients--a study from South India.

Awareness regarding cancer diagnosis and its relationship to psychiatric morbidity was studied in 294 newly admitted cancer patients at an oncology center in South India. Fifty-four percent of patients were aware that they had cancer and were able to discuss their diagnosis; 46% of patients reported nonawareness of diagnosis. Discriminant function analysis revealed that oral cancers and relatives' awareness of the cancer was more prevalent in the group aware of diagnosis. More patients in the "unaware" group refused treatment for psychological distress. There was no difference between the two groups in patterns and prevalence of psychiatric morbidity. The study emphasizes the complexities in assessing awareness in cancer patients and a need to study its various components and relationship to psychological distress.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Persistent somatization in cancer: a controlled follow-up study.

Nature and frequency of somatic complaints, severity of anxiety and depression, and nature of psychiatric symptoms and disorders were evaluated in 81 adequately treated cancer patients, disease-free or with residual disease, using a controlled, prospective follow-up design. Patients were included in the index group (n=60) if they had persistent somatic complaints or unexplained nature or severity of somatic complaints, or the control group (n=21), if they did not report somatic complaints. Instruments used for evaluation were the Scale for Assessment of Somatic Symptoms, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Psychiatric Assessment Schedule, and DSM-III-R. Common somatic complaints in the index group were pain (19%), fatigue (17%), sensory symptoms (30%), and mixed symptoms (27%). Subjects in the index group significantly (p<0.001) more often had depressive or anxiety disorder (19%) and atypical somatoform disorder (15%). Patients were treated appropriately with psychotropic medications and counseling. Follow-up at 4-6 months revealed a significant reduction in the number of somatic symptoms (p<0.001) and anxiety (p<0.001) and depression (p<0.05) scores. The observations confirm that somatic symptoms may persist in cancer patients, which are related to concomitant psychopathology, and require psychiatric intervention.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1998

Psychological well-being among cancer patients receiving radiotherapy--a prospective study.

The impact of cancer on the psychological well-being of newly diagnosed cancer patients before and during the course of radiotherapy was assessed in 70 consecutive cancer patients. Most of the patients were over 40 years of age, women, illiterate and from a lower socioeconomic group. During the course of treatment there was a decrease in the well-being scores on some dimensions such as perceived family and primary group support. Improvements were seen in the dimensions of positive feelings, coping, social support other than the family and spiritual well-being. There were no changes in the dimensions of negative feelings and perceived ill-health. The results give a profile on well-being and the changes observed during radiotherapy.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Analysis and quantification of mental stress and fatigue using Maxwell relations from thermodynamics.

Several experimental and theoretical techniques have been developed to analyze both physical and psychological stresses. These techniques have relied mainly on certain parameters based on physiological, behavioral, and performance related data. This study is based on a thought experiment which describes the technique to quantify mental stress based on physiological responses using the entropy concept. It relates different physiological parameters using the Maxwell relations of thermodynamics with a systems approach. Data for testing this analytical approach were obtained from an experimental study which was conducted to determine the effects of a mentally stressful situation (final examination) on the common physiological responses (blood pressure, pulse rate, and oral body temperature) of students. The results indicated that the imposed mental stress causes significant changes in physiological responses. The Maxwell relations of thermodynamics were used to quantify the level of stress under different conditions. The results obtained from these relations validated the principles of thermodynamics as applied to the human system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Concerns, coping and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients.

This study was conducted to explore the concerns and coping mechanisms used by patients with head and neck cancer and assess their quality of life. A group of 50 consecutive patients with oral and laryngeal cancers were interviewed using a coping and concerns checklist and a semistructured interview proforma to elicit the common concerns in relation to head and neck cancers and their surgical treatment. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to detect anxiety and depression. Concerns were compared between oral and laryngeal cancers and between preoperative and postoperative patients. Commonest concerns were about the future (64%), subjective physical evaluation (60%), finances (56%), being upset (54%), communication (54%), current illness (52%) and inability to do things (50%). The commonest coping mechanisms used were helplessness and fatalism. Resolution was noted in less than 40% of the frequent concerns. As compared to laryngeal cancer patients, those with oral cancer significantly more often had concerns about current illness, subjective evaluation of health, eating and chewing, social interactions, pain and disfigurement (P < 0.05). Most subjects had numerous unresolved concerns. Mainly ineffective coping mechanisms such as helplessness and fatalism were employed leading to incomplete resolution. Interventions to minimise these concerns and to handle associated anxiety and depression would improve their quality of life.

Activities of Daily Living↗