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Biomedical subjects

V S Rajan

Publications and source records attributed to V S Rajan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1986

Hepatitis B infection in prostitutes.

The prevalence of HBV markers in prostitutes is known to be higher than that of the normal population of similar age range in previous studies. This study showed a significant correlation between the duration of prostitution and the prevalence of HBV antibodies amongst the prostitutes. The prevalence of HBV antibodies doubled after the first year of prostitution. A two-year follow-up study of these prostitutes showed that 37% of HBsAg positive prostitutes lost the HBsAg. The seroconversion rate of HBsAg negative prostitutes was 10% during this two-year period. Early immunization against HBV infection should be considered in this high risk group in view of these findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Hepatitis B virus markers in prostitutes in Singapore.

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in 121 men and 239 women prostitutes was studied. Of 33 (9.7%) with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), nine (27.3%) also had hepatitis Be antigen, which was more prevalent in men than women. Antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were found in about 71% of men and women prostitutes. Hepatitis B virus markers were more prevalent in men than in women prostitutes. Compared with other people, prostitutes had a significantly greater prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers. This study strongly suggested the importance of sexual transmission of infection with hepatitis B virus in a country where infection is endemic.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1984

Chemoprophylaxis and gonococcal infections in prostitutes.

The influence of chemoprophylaxis on gonorrhoea has not been reported recently. 777 prostitutes were interviewed and checked for evidence of chemoprophylaxis. The study showed that chemoprophylaxis does reduce the risk of gonococcal infections and that those who took penicillin chemoprophylaxis had a higher risk of Penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) infections compared to those who took non-penicillin chemoprophylaxis and those who did not take any prophylaxis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1984

Juvenile plantar dermatosis in Singapore.

Juvenile plantar dermatosis (JPD) is the most common form of foot dermatitis in children in Singapore. Sixty-four patients (29 boys) with an age range of 2-25 years were studied. The Chinese have a greater predisposition for JPD compared with the Malays and Indians. The mean age of onset was 8 years, but onset in adulthood is not uncommon. Friction and closed shoes are the main aggravating factors. Association with an atopic history (42%) and ichthyosis vulgaris (19%) is reported. Patch testing was not rewarding. The histology was essentially a subacute dermatitis. Women with no atopic background, in whom the type of shoes made no difference and had a family member with a similar dermatosis, tend to have a more prolonged course of disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Stevens-Johnson syndrome associated with occupational exposure to trichloroethylene.

Reports on cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (erythema multiforme major) have seldom related it to occupational exposure to chemicals. Serious liver involvement is also uncommon. This report describes 5 cases of the syndrome who had been occupationally exposed to trichloroethylene. The circumstantial evidence suggested that the chemical might have been a causative factor in the disease. The liver was involved in all and in 3 it was serious, with one death. The degree of exposure to trichloroethylene varied. The duration of exposure ranged from 2 to 5 weeks. It seemed likely that there was a hypersensitive reaction to trichloroethylene in these cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Cross sensitivity in colour developers.

Colour developers are widely used and contact dermatitis and lichen planus-like eruptions from them are well-known. As a result of automation, there have been few recent reports of contact dermatitis from colour developers. We describe here 4 cases of dermatoses from Kodak CD4 colour developer and study their cross sensitivity to other colour developers and PPD. Attempts were made to determine the purity of the patch test allergens to ensure that cross sensitivity was not the result of contamination and decomposition of the allergens.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea with rosoxacin (acrosoxacin).

An open study was designed primarily to evaluate the efficacy of rosoxacin in the treatment of gonorrhoea caused by penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and non-PPNG strains. A total of 199 patients (99 men and 100 women) satisfactorily completed follow up examinations, 50 men and 50 women having received rosoxacin 300 mg orally and the remainder having received kanamycin 2 g intramuscularly. Rosoxacin achieved an overall cure rate of 94% (96.7% for PPNG and 90% for non-PPNG strains). In patients treated with kanamycin the overall cure rate was 89.9% (92.7% for PPNG and 83.3% for non-PPNG strains). A correlation between treatment failures and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of rosoxacin was noted in non-PPNG strains but not in PPNG strains. Side effects which were mild and self limiting were noted in 15 of 100 patients treated with rosoxacin. The high failure rates associated with non-PPNG strains requiring MICs of 0.125 mg/l and the observation of a substantial rise in the MICs for isolates after treatment is of concern. Otherwise, rosoxacin in a single dose of 300 mg appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea.

4-Quinolones↗
PubMed1984

Two dose Augmentin treatment of acute gonorrhoea in men.

We studied 192 men with acute gonococcal urethritis, 97 of whom received two oral doses of Augmentin (amoxycillin 3 g and clavulanic acid 250 mg) separated by a four hour interval; the remaining 95 received 2 g kanamycin in a single intramuscular injection. Of the patients treated with Augmentin, 93 (95.9%) were cured, which was significantly more than the 83 (87.4%) patients treated with kanamycin. Augmentin was equally effective in the treatment of penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and non-PPNG infections, the cure rates for which were 96.6% and 95.6% respectively.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

The treatment of gonorrhoea--beta lactamase producers.

The high endemicity of PPNG in some regions preclude the continued routine use of procaine penicillin as treatment for gonorrhoea. The aminoglycosides, spectinomycin, second and third generation cephalosporins are highly effective and on epidemiological grounds, should replace penicillin as the first choice antibiotic. However, due cognizance has to be given to the impact of this recommendation on the non PPNG strains and the development of chromosomal resistance to the latter antibiotics. Also, the discontinuation of penicillin as the first line drug for gonorrhoea may see a resurgence of early syphilis. All future recommendations on the treatment of gonorrhoea should take these factors into consideration. Synergetic combination of beta lactam antibiotics and beta lactamase inhibitors or combination therapy may be the lines along which future research should head.

4-Quinolones↗
PubMed1983

Oral retinoid (Tigason R etretinate) therapy in congenital disorders of keratinisation.

We report our experience in Singapore with the use of the new oral Retinoid-etretinate (Tigason RO 10-9359) in 23 patients suffering from various congenital disorders of keratinisation. In this study the drug was administered to 8 patients with Darier's disease, 7 patients with congenital ichthyosis, 4 patients with palmar plantar keratoderma, 2 patients with systematised epidermal naevus and 2 patients with progressive symmetrical erythrokeratoderma. The best results were obtained in patients with ichthyosis where complete clearance was possible. All patients with Darier's except one showed significant improvement. Palmar plantar keratoderma except for one patient gave only fair to minimal improvement. Etretinate was useful in systematised epidermal naevus and progressive symmetrical erythrokeratoderma. Pruritus and cheilitis were the commonest side effect. In two patients (both with Darier's disease) treatment was stopped because of side effects. The side effects were dose related. The histology showed a reduction of the keratin layer but remnants of the original features of the pathology were still present.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

The susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Singapore to antimicrobial agents--studies on changes in susceptibility patterns over the years.

The results of antibiotic MIC determination on gonococci isolated in Singapore over several years were studied. 53.6% of the strains isolated in 1981 had penicillin MIC values of 0.5 microgram/ml or more. The implementation of a control programme was followed by an increase in the susceptibility of the gonococcus to penicillin, ampicillin and tetracycline. An outbreak of PPNG occurred in 1978 while the control programme was on. In the initial period the PPNG was less susceptible to tetracycline, kanamycin and spectinomycin than the non-PPNG. Later on, as the PPNG was subjected to the same antibiotic selective pressures as the non-PPNG, the differences were less obvious. Following the use of kanamycin as a front-line drug, the percentage of PPNG isolated was stabilized.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1983

The susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Singapore to ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, gentamicin and cotrimoxazole.

240 and 183 strains of non-PPNG and PPNG isolated in 1981 were studied for their susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime respectively. All the strains were susceptible to 0.016 microgram/ml of either antibiotic. PPNG from males were less susceptible to cefotaxime than non-PPNG or PPNG from females. PPNG isolated in 1979 were less susceptible to gentamicin than non-PPNG. The relatively high MIC values of cotrimoxazole may account for the high treatment failure rate encountered with the drug.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗