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Biomedical subjects

S Rao

Publications and source records attributed to S Rao.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Assessing supplementary feeding programmes in selected Balwadies.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether feeding programmes achieve their goal of improving nutritional status of target groups when such groups live in environmental conditions that constantly pose risk of infections and infestations. Two major areas from Pune city were selected: one comprised mostly slum dwellers, living in poor environmental conditions (LSE) and the other with better-off families living in good environmental conditions (MSE). From each of the two areas two Balwadies (kindergartens) were selected: one was implementing a feeding programme (LSE(F) and MSE(F)) and the other was not (LSE(NF) and MSE(NF]. A total of 273 newly admitted pre-school children from these Balwadies were selected and anthropometric measurements were made three times during the study period of 7 months. Food items distributed in the school were weighted and analysed for energy and protein values. Assessment of nutritional status by the Gomez classification showed that in both areas, moderately and severely malnourished children receiving the supplement showed significant improvement (P less than 0.05) as compared to those not receiving the supplement, but the extent of improvement differed. The impact of the food supplement in LSE was less than that in MSE suggesting that poor environmental conditions were a major interfering factor and cannot be overlooked.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of Gomez and Waterlow classifications in a follow-up study among pre-school children.

Two classifications, widely used for assessing malnutrition, those of Gomez and Waterlow, were examined for concordance in a follow-up study. Unlike in cross-sectional studies, the classifications should reflect the changes in the nutritional status of individuals over a period of time. A method of cross-classification is illustrated for assessing these changes. Data were collected on 95 children from a village and on 74 children from an urban slum. Children were measured twice for weight and height, at an interval of 17 months in the village and 12 months in the slum. The usual way of comparing estimates of malnutrition in the initial and final rounds of a follow-up study would not reveal the shifts of individuals from one grade to another grade of malnutrition. The method illustrated in this paper, on the contrary, is able to identify individuals who improve, deteriorate or show no change in their nutritional status. It was found in this follow-up study that identical conclusions were reached by both classifications in only about 17 per cent of the children, whereas about 40 per cent showed only partial concordance (ie, between Gomez and either wasting only or stunting only).

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Haemophilus influenzae type b immunization of children with sickle cell diseases.

Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine is recommended for children 1.5 to 6 years of age with sickle cell anemia, but the adequacy of their response is unknown. A total of 69 children with sickle cell syndromes, 1.5 to 5.6 years of age, were immunized with two vaccines alternatively, single blind. PRP vaccine was given to 36 children and a diphtheria toxoid conjugated vaccine, PRP-D, was given to 36. Coded pre- and postvaccine sera were tested by radioimmunoassay for anti-PRP antibody. The groups did not differ in age distribution or type of sickle hemoglobinopathy. Preexisting antibody levels were low in both vaccine groups; 65% were less than 0.15 microgram/mL. The vaccines were safe but associated with frequent minor reactions. PRP-D gave higher geometric mean titers and mean fold titer increase than PRP in all children (15.58 micrograms/mL [234-fold] v 2.63 micrograms/mL [29-fold]) and in the subgroups 1.5 to 2.5 years of age or with pretiter values less than 0.15 microgram/mL. Titers for 64% of children receiving PRP and 94% receiving PRP-D were greater than or equal to 1.0 microgram/mL. Thus, both vaccines were useful in this population, but PRP-D was more immunogenic. Duration of antibody levels postvaccination, booster responses, and PRP-D immunogenicity in younger children with sickle cell syndromes all require further study.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1987

Interactions of aminoglutethimide with analgesics using antinociceptive tests in mice.

The action of aminoglutethimide in alleviating bone pain in women with metastatic breast cancer may be due to either an inherent analgesic effect or an interaction with other analgesic drugs. These possibilities have been investigated in mice by conventional antinociceptive tests. In the abdominal constriction test, aminoglutethimide alone had a dose-related antinociceptive activity. A low dose (which had no pharmacological activity) when co-administered with an effective sub-maximal dose of the analgesic, potentiated the effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) tested. In the tail immersion test, aminoglutethimide was inactive and did not enhance the antinociceptive activity of the centrally acting analgesics. As cytochrome P450-dependent routes which are inhibited by aminoglutethimide are not involved in the metabolism of the NSAIDs studied, an interaction at the drug metabolism level cannot explain these results. The NSAID-like activity of aminoglutethimide provides some evidence that the drug's mode of action may involve more than the suppression of oestrogen biosynthesis.

Aminoglutethimide↗
PubMed1987

Transient neutropenia of childhood.

Patient characteristics and clinical course are described in 21 children with newly discovered neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count less than 1500/microliter). Only children over age 3 months are included; 19 of 21 were less than age 2 years. The majority had respiratory tract infections and 11 had been on various medications at the time neutropenia was discovered. Bacteria were isolated from the blood of three patients (S. pneumoniae in two, H. influenzae in one) and from urine in one (E. coli). Respiratory syncytial virus was cultured from the nasopharynx of two patients. Opportunistic, gram-negative and staphylococcal infections did not occur. Neutrophil counts in all but one child returned to normal within 6 weeks of onset; half recovered within 7 days. Bone marrow examination was performed in 13 patients: maturation arrest at various stages in the myeloid series was noted in six, and seven had normal myeloid maturation. Bone marrow findings did not correlate with degree or duration of neutropenia. These observations indicate that previously well infants with isolated neutropenia generally have a benign clinical course, although three patients were ultimately proven to have significant chronic illness. Recommendations are made as to management.

Agranulocytosis↗
PubMed1987

Variations in dietary intake of adolescents.

In the past, variations in the daily intake of an individual maintaining his weight and activity were considered negligible as it was assumed they arose from measurement errors. It was therefore believed that such variation could be eliminated by averaging over an appropriate period. This, however, is not borne out by the experimental data. The present study reports findings based on a longitudinal diet survey conducted on 43 adolescent schoolboys in a village, over a period of 1 year. A diet survey was carried out for 1 week every 3 months. Intake was estimated by recording the weights of all the food items actually consumed during the day by the students and analysing corresponding food samples in the laboratory. Intake data when analysed for the relative contributions of between- and within-subject variation showed that not only intra-individual variation contributes a substantial portion of the total variation but a significant part of it arises from changes in the mean intake from week to week. The daily intakes of a subsample of 5 students were observed for 49 consecutive d to study the short-term nature of the variation. The results obtained confirm those from the long-term study. Additionally there is an indication that daily intakes of an individual are serially correlated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Congenital dislocation of hip in the newborn: a postnatal survey.

The results of a postnatal survey carried out for congenital dislocation of hip in children born at the Wellington Hospital maternity unit over a ten year period is presented. Of the 15,000 neonates born during this period, 91% underwent hip examinations. Abnormality was recorded 1.8% (n = 247) 78% (n = 192) of whom had clinically stable hips when re-checked seven to ten days later. In all, 60 children had unstable hips requiring definitive treatment, five of whom missed the neonatal screening and presented late. In this latter group, 77% (n = 46) had normal hips by six months of age following conventional splintage. Eight point two percent (n = 5) were unstable after six months of splintage, 5% (n = 3) were lost to follow-up, 1.6% (n = 1) presented late and in 8.2% (n = 5) the hip examination was either not done or instability not detected. We conclude that, in spite of the great awareness and known long term benefits of early neonatal hip examinations, late presentations because of missed examinations continue to be significant.

Female↗
PubMed1986

Histiocytosis X. Flow cytometric DNA-content and immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis.

A 76-year-old man developed a generalized orange-red nodular eruption associated with constitutional symptoms. A biopsy specimen of a nodule revealed an extensive infiltration of histiocytes with relatively abundant cytoplasm and folded nuclei. Electron microscopy showed Langerhans' cell granules, which confirmed the diagnosis of histiocytosis X. Results of immunohistochemical studies revealed a pattern of antigen expression usually found in histiocytosis X, including Ia, T6, and S100. Analysis of the DNA content of the cells with flow cytometry revealed an aneuploid peak. The patient responded partially to topical mechlorethamine hydrochloride therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Dye-mediated photolysis of human neuroblastoma cells: implications for autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Cells from three different human neuroblastoma cell lines and normal human bone marrow cells were exposed to the lipophilic fluorescent dye, merocyanine 540 (MC 540), and white light. In vitro clonogenic tumor cells were inactivated up to 25,000 times more rapidly than multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells (CFU-GEMM). It is conceivable that this pronounced difference in sensitivity to MC 540-mediated photolysis can be exploited for the selective killing of residual neuroblastoma cells in autologous remission marrow grafts.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1986

Effect of dosing frequency on the development of physical dependence and tolerance to pentobarbital.

Many studies have suggested the importance of the rate of drug elimination in the development of pharmacodynamic tolerance and physical dependence to sedative-hypnotic drugs. Our previous study demonstrated that the role of individual variation in elimination kinetics played an important part in producing pharmacodynamic tolerance and physical dependence when the drug was given at a fixed dose-frequency schedule. The present study investigated the effect of various dose-frequency schedules on the production of tolerance and physical dependence. Controlling the frequency of administration was thought to be the most rational clinical approach in avoiding the production of tolerance and physical dependence with repeated sedative-hypnotic medication. Groups of animals were treated with Na pentobarbital according to the "maximally tolerable" dosing schedule described previously, except that with different dose-frequency schedules, i.e., twice a day, once every day, once every 1.5 days and once every other day for 70 consecutive doses and then withdrawn abruptly. The relationship between the number of Na pentobarbital doses under each dose-frequency schedule and the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic tolerance production, plus the intensity of withdrawal, were studied. The withdrawal intensity was further correlated to the time lag between each drug administration by estimating the maximal time allowed between doses that does not produce any spontaneous withdrawal convulsions and overt withdrawal signs. It was concluded that the time required for repeated Na pentobarbital administration that does not produce withdrawal convulsion and overt withdrawal signs was 4.9 and 5.7 times the average pentobarbital half-life, respectively.

Animals↗