Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

S Srinath

Publications and source records attributed to S Srinath.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

A waveguide-based acoustic microscope.

A new instrument is presented which is capable of high resolution acoustic imaging at relatively low frequencies. This approach results in increased complexity of the signal processing required and reduced throughput of the instrument. However, these disadvantages are amply compensated by the ability to create velocity scan images of materials with either high attenuation or low material velocities. These measurements are not possible using traditional/acoustic microscopes. The initial performance of the new instrument is demonstrated using thin samples of shim materials to show that acceptable spatial resolution and highly accurate time delay measurements are possible. An application is then shown using the instrument to evaluate subchondral sclerosis in horse bones. It has been hypothesized that changes in the elastic modulus may be associated with fatigue-induced microdamage. The modulus change may further represent bone damage which precedes the development of microcracking. Thin samples are used to allow complementary microradiography to be performed on the bone slices. Because of the low material velocity, surface wave interference methods (so called V(z) curves) are not well suited for use in some bone samples. The thickness of the samples eliminates the potential for the samples to be evaluated using pulse-echo time delay measurements. The new instrument is thus unique in its ability to create velocity scans of these samples.

Animals

A prospective study of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents from India.

Bipolar disorder in adults is known to run an episodic course. However, little information exists on the long-term naturalistic course of bipolar disorder in juvenile populations. The present study was undertaken with the objectives of (i) documenting the rates of recovery and relapse, (ii) identifying the predictors of recovery and relapse and (iii) assessing the rates of comorbid conditions. A total of 30 subjects with onset of bipolar illness (according to DSM-III-R criteria) in childhood and adolescence were assessed systematically at baseline and 4 to 5 years later. All 30 subjects (100%) had recovered from their index episodes and none had exhibited chronicity. Twenty of the 30 subjects (67%) had relapsed, with most relapses occurring within 2 years of recovery from index episodes. No predictors of recovery and relapse could be identified. Conduct disorder was the only comorbid diagnosis in two subjects (7%). The main implication of our study, in view of the high rates of relapse in the crucial developmental phase of a young individual, is that long-term maintenance medication should be considered in juvenile bipolar patients, even if it is a first episode.

Adolescent

Triplet repeat polymorphism & fragile X syndrome in the Indian context.

Mental retardation due to fragile X syndrome is one of the genetic disorders caused by triplet repeat expansion. CGG repeat involved in this disease is known to exhibit polymorphism even among normal individuals. Here we describe the development of suitable probes for detection of polymorphism in CGG repeat at FMR1 locus as well as the diagnosis of fragile X syndrome. Using these methods polymorphism at the FMR1 locus has been examined in 161 individuals. Ninety eight patients with unclassified mental retardation were examined, of whom 7 were found to have the expanded (CGG) allele at the FMR1 locus. The hybridization pattern for two patients has been presented as representative data.

Female

More on ECT.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent

Clinical profile of mania in children and adolescents from the Indian subcontinent.

OBJECTIVES: To see whether classic DSM-III-R criteria for mania are applicable to Indian youngsters and to examine the clinical presentation of mania in an Indian child and adolescent psychiatric sample. METHOD: Fifty subjects with a diagnosis of functional psychosis as per the definition in ICD-9 were recruited from the population referred during the study period of approximately one year (n = 840) to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) clinic of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, South India. The subjects were systematically evaluated using a standardized clinical interview and demographic questionnaire and were classified according to DSM-III-R. The subjects who satisfied DSM-III-R criteria for mania formed the sample for this study. RESULTS: Twenty-one subjects received a diagnosis of mania according to DSM-III-R. The most common symptoms of mania included pressure of speech, irritability, elation, distractibility, increased self-esteem, expansive mood, flight of ideas, and grandiose delusions. No subject had comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Additionally, 13 (61%) of the 21 manic subjects had delusions and/or hallucinations. The other common symptoms included psychomotor agitation, reduced sleep, anger, temper tantrums, decreased concentration, disobedience, aggression, and hyperactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Mania was diagnosable in Indian children and adolescents using classic DSM-III-R criteria. The clinical profile appears to be generally similar to that seen in adults. ADHD is not a comorbid condition. The presence of aggressive or disruptive behaviours and hyperactivity in childhood- and adolescent-onset mania, however, could lead to a misdiagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder/conduct disorder (ADHD/CD). Similarly, the presence of psychotic features could lead to a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia.

Adolescent

Characteristics of a child inpatient population with hysteria in India.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the rate, correlates, and clinical outcome of childhood hysteria in a sample of inpatients in India. For comparison, the rate of this disorder among outpatients was computed. METHOD: Data were derived from case records of inpatient (n = 143) and outpatient admissions (n = 640) during a 1-year interval at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, South India. RESULTS: The diagnosis of hysteria was made in 30.8% (n = 44) of the inpatient and 14.8% (n = 95) of the outpatient samples. The inpatients with hysteria were mostly postpubertal, their gender distribution was approximately even, and pseudo-seizure was the most frequent presentation. These inpatients had a brief duration of illness at admission and short-term outcome was generally positive. CONCLUSIONS: Children with hysterical symptoms form a notable proportion of cases in child guidance and psychiatry clinics in India. It could be that, in this culture, having a "medical" illness is one of the more acceptable means of seeking psychiatric help. The use of a structured and intensive inpatient treatment package appeared to bring about rapid symptom remission. Some of the present findings could be the basis to explore subtypes of childhood hysteria.

Adolescent

Comparative study of classification of psychosis of childhood and adolescent onset.

Classification of psychosis in childhood and adolescence has always been controversial due to the possible developmental modulation of symptom expression. Major classificatory systems have no special criteria for children, and recommend the use of adult criteria. Hence, this study aimed to study the nosology of psychosis of childhood and adolescence, using adult criteria (ICD-9, ICD-10 and DSM-III-R). Fifty subjects between the age of 5 and 16 years who met the ICD-9 definition of psychosis were studied using the Intake Sheet for Adolescents: cross-cultural study and the Interview Schedule for Children and Adolescents. Most of the subjects could be classified into one of the major functional psychosis categories, indicating the applicability of adult criteria in children and adolescents.

Adolescent

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome in India: two cases.

Two cases of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome from India are presented. The symptomatology of Tourette syndrome is the same as that documented in western populations which suggests biological factors in the aetiology of the syndrome.

Adolescent

The domiciliary consultation service: outdated anachronism or essential part of community psychiatric outreach?

This paper describes a retrospective audit of a domiciliary visiting service in adult psychiatry in one district over a six-month period. General practitioners requested urgent assessment visits for three-quarters of the sample population, but were not present when the consultant attended. When the referrals were compared to the official definition of a domiciliary visit, less than a third were considered to fit the criteria. The implications of these findings are discussed.

England

True hallucinations in non-psychotic states.

While hallucinations are known to occur as conversion symptoms in non-psychotic psychiatric states such as hysteria and grief, there is a lack of distinction between true and pseudo-hallucinations in such cases. We discuss the rationale which has necessitated this distinction, affirm that true hallucinations can occur in non-psychotic states, discuss the characteristics of such hallucinations, and postulate certain factors which may lead to hallucinations in non-psychotic states being judged as "true."

Adolescent

Childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder. 1. Psychopathology.

The obsessions and compulsions noted in 16 cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children were compared to the phenomenology seen in 398 cases during a decade. Less obsessions, more compulsions, more frequent washing and repeating compulsions characterised the childhood group.

Child

True hallucinations as a culturally sanctioned experience.

Earlier, we reported that true hallucinations may present as a conversion symptom. We here reiterate this and suggest that cultural sanction may be one factor that can lead to hallucinations being classified as true in non-psychotic psychiatric states.

Adult

A clinical study of infants presenting to a mental retardation clinic.

Early detection has a central role in the prevention and management of mental retardation. The purpose of this present study is to delinerate the characteristics of developmentally delayed infants and their families attending Mental Retardation Clinic. The sample consisted of 101 infants who were registered in Mental Retardation Clinic of NIMHANS, Bangalore in 1988 constituting 12.5% of total registrations. Data was collected from case records. Majority of subjects were males, first or second born, 7 months or older, from a consanguineous lower or middle class family. Along with developmental delay, 60% had other complaints. Medical problems were reported in about half of the subjects and most had abnormalities on physical examination. Aetiology was discernible in 77.1%. Majority had associated physical disorder such as cerebral palsy, seizures and hearing and/or visual impairment. Around 17% came for follow-up thrice or more, 43% dropped out after work-up. The main conclusions are that; (i) certain socio-demographic, personal and clinical variables influence treatment seeking, and (ii) developmental delay recognised in infancy tends to be associated with clear aetiologic factors and significant medical/neurologic problems.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in autism.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of the serotonin and dopamine metabolites, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA), respectively, were measured in a group of 17 children with Autistic Disorder (DSM-III-R). The group means observed for 5HIAA (135 +/- 91 nmol/L) and HVA (502 +/- 324 nmol/L) in the autistic children were not significantly different from those seen in the control group of 15 nonneurologically impaired children (5HIAA, 122 +/- 120 nmol/L; HVA 401 +/- 378 nmol/L). These data suggest that consistent, marked alterations in central serotonin and dopamine turnover are not present in the autistic subjects studied. Although studies to date have found little or no alteration in CSF 5-HIAA in autism, the various reports of CSF HVA are not entirely congruent. Although this study is consistent with most previous studies in not finding a group difference in CSF HVA, the possibility of increased CSF HVA in autism cannot be ruled out.

Autistic Disorder