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Biomedical subjects

T Cherian

Publications and source records attributed to T Cherian.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Effect of papaya latex extract on gravid and non-gravid rat uterine preparations in vitro.

In search of uterotonic principles, papaya (Carica papaya, Caricaceae) latex extract (PLE) was tested on rat uterine preparations in vitro at various stages of the estrous cycle and gestation periods. Rat uterine contractile activity was remarkably increased by different doses of PLE in proestrus and estrus stages compared to metestrus and diestrus stages of the estrous cycles. The maximum contractile activity of the uterus was observed at the later stages of pregnancy which correspond with the peak level of estrogen in the plasma. A direct dose-dependent spasmodic action with increased frequency and amplitude was observed with PLE in all non-gravid uterine preparations. Pretreatment of the tissue with phenoxybenzamine (PB) non-competitively blocked the effect of PLE. Blocking of the 5-HT receptors with methysergide partially blocked the excitatory response to PLE. Pretreating the tissue with Indomethacin, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, had no effect on the response to PLE. The release of PLE induced mast cell degranulation and subsequent release of heparin, biogenic amines or prostaglandins (PGs) was ruled out by pretreating the tissue with sodium cromoglycate, a mast cell stabilizer. Pure papain induced uterine contractions were not sustained for a longer period and at higher concentrations the receptor proteins were affected by the enzymatic action of papain. From this study it is evident that the crude papaya latex contain a uterotonic principle which might be a combination of enzymes, alkaloids and other substances which can evoke sustained contraction of the uterus acting mainly on the alpha adrenergic receptor population of the uterus at different stages.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Persistent rhinorrhoea in rural Indian children: prevalence and consequences.

To determine whether persistent rhinorrhoea constitutes a significant problem requiring intervention, 17 rural day care centres (Balwadis) in Tamilnadu, India, were visited. Among 414 children in the Balwadis 92 (22 per cent) children with persistent rhinorrhoea (15 days duration or longer) were identified. Demographic and clinical data and nasopharyngeal swabs for bacterial culture were obtained from 56 such children and 91 age-matched controls from the same Balwadi. Type of housing or nutritional status did not appear to be significant risk factors. There was a significantly higher number of children aged 5-15 years in the household of cases as compared to controls (1.23 +/- 1.08 vs. 0.83 +/- 0.95, p = 0.02). Other illnesses were noted in 25 (44.6 per cent) cases and seven (7.7 per cent) controls (OR 11.5; CI, 4.13-33.4; p < 0.00001). Notably, chronic ear discharge was noted in 6 (11.7 per cent) cases but in none of the controls (p = 0.007). Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs in 42/49 (85.7 per cent) cases and 44/80 (55 per cent) controls (p < 0.001) and H. influenzae from seven cases and five controls; S. pneumoniae was isolated in all children with chronic ear discharge and H. influenzae from one child. Serotypes of pneumococci commonly associated with otitis media, i.e., types 6, 14, 19, and 23 were isolated from 25 (51 per cent) cases and 16 (20 per cent) controls (OR 4.17; 95% CI, 1.78-9.85; p < 0.001). Persistent rhinorrhoea, presumably due to pneumococcus, is a common condition among rural Indian children and appears to be associated with chronic otitis media.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Tuberculosis with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Tuberculosis is the commonest opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients in developing countries including India. The seroprevalence of HIV among tuberculosis patients in various parts of India has been increasing steadily. Children who are HIV-infected have a higher risk of progression after primary infection. Children born to HIV positive parents who are not infected themselves are also at higher risk of acquiring tuberculosis because of exposure. The clinical and radiological manifestations of tuberculosis are similar to those seen in HIV-uninfected individuals, except in those with advanced immunodeficiency. Most patients respond well to standard chemotherapy but mortality remains high because of other opportunistic infections. Preventive treatment with isoniazid for 6-12 months is effective in reducing those with latent infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

Nasopharyngeal colonization of infants in southern India with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

To investigate the dynamics of nasopharyngeal colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae, and to determine the prevalent serogroups/types (SGT) and their antimicrobial susceptibility, we studied 100 infants attending our well-baby clinic. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained at 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 weeks and at 9 and 18 months of age and submitted for culture, serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of S. pneumoniae. Colonization with pneumococcus was seen on at least one occasion in 81 infants. The median age of acquisition was 11 weeks and the median duration of carriage was 1 3 months. The common SGTs identified were 6, 19, 14 and 15. SGT 1, which was a common invasive isolate in children in our hospital during this period, was not isolated from these children. Sequential colonization by 2, 3 or 4 SGTs was observed in 18, 5 and 2 children, respectively. Resistance to penicillin, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole and erythromycin was observed in 0, 13 (6%) 11 (5 %) and 5 (3 %) isolates, respectively. There was a significant difference in susceptibility to cotrimoxazole between colonizing and invasive isolates (5 % vs. 40 %, P<0.0001).

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗