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Biomedical subjects

A Haldar

Publications and source records attributed to A Haldar.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effects of growth hormone-releasing factor on growth hormone response, growth and feed conversion efficiency in buffalo heifers (Bubalus bubalis).

The aim of this study was to determine the benefits of growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) on growth and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in buffaloes. Twelve Murrah buffalo heifers (Bubalus bubalis) of mean age 24.8 months and mean body weight 302.4kg were divided into two groups (treatment and control) with six animals in each group. The buffaloes were given intravenous injections of bovine GRF (bGRF) at a dose rate of 10microg/100kg body weight or an equal volume of saline at 15-day intervals for a period of 9 months. Plasma growth hormone (GH) responses to bGRF challenge were measured in blood samples collected at 90-day intervals on days 1, 90, 180 and 270 and samples were taken at -60, -30, 0, +10, +20, +30, +60, +120 and +180min relative to bGRF injection. Blood samples were also collected weekly by jugular venepuncture for the quantification of plasma GH. The average growth rate (AGR) and FCE of all animals were recorded at 15-day intervals. Plasma GH concentrations increased (P=0.001) steadily following bGRF challenge, peaking 10-20min after challenge and declining to baseline by 180min. In the treatment group, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in either the peak heights of the GH response or the area under the curve (AUC) of the GH response after bGRF challenge on any of the four occasions of intensive bleeding. There were overall increases in plasma GH concentrations (P<0.01), AGR (P<0.01) and FCE (P=0.05) in the treatment group compared with the control animals. The study showed that GH responsiveness to administration of bGRF at 15-day intervals over 9 months of treatment remained unchanged in buffalo heifers. Exogenous bGRF treatment for a long period can therefore enhance GH release leading to higher growth rates and better feed conversion efficiency in buffalo heifers.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) induced growth hormone advances puberty in female buffaloes.

Exogenous bovine growth hormone-releasing factor (bGRF) at the dose rate of 10 microg/100 kg body weight was administered intravenously (i.v.) to six Murrah buffalo heifers as treatment group, while another six buffalo heifers served as control group which received the vehicle (0.9% NaCl solution) at an interval of 15 days for a period of 9 months to study the effect of bGRF on puberty onset associated with temporal hormonal changes in peri-pubertal buffalo heifers. Blood samples were collected at 3-day interval from all the animals during the experimental period and plasma harvested was assayed for growth hormonal (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone. The day that plasma progesterone was greater than 1.0 ng/ml for three consecutive sampling days was defined as the day of puberty. Exogenous bGRF administration increased (P = 0.02) plasma GH concentration in treatment group over control group during the treatment of bGRF as well as during the peri-pubertal period. Plasma progesterone concentrations increased transiently earlier (P = 0.05) by 58.5 days in bGRF-treated buffaloes than that in the control group. However, plasma LH concentrations were unaffected by the treatment of bGRF (P = 0.48). Both plasma GH and LH in the buffalo heifers increased (P < 0.01) over time preceding puberty and the higher hormonal concentrations were maintained during the onset of puberty, and thereafter, the concentrations of both the hormones declined (P < 0.05) after puberty. GH and LH were positively correlated both before puberty (r = +0.59 and +0.63; P < 0.05 for control and treatment group, respectively) and after puberty (r = +0.42 and +0.46; P < 0.05 for control and treatment group, respectively) indicating the interaction and/or close relationship of GH and LH in the mechanism of puberty in buffalo species.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Peripheral patterns of growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, and progesterone before, at, and after puberty in buffalo heifer.

Buffalo, the premier dairy animal in India, suffers from slow growth rate, delayed puberty, and silent heat. It is not known whether the delay in puberty in such animals is due to the delay in expression of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal functions. To determine the changes in growth hormone (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone before, at, and after puberty of Murrah buffalo heifers, six Murrah buffalo heifers (21.92 +/- 1.09 months of age, 269.67 +/- 7.97 kg body weight) were assigned to well-ventilated individual pens and fed a roughage-concentrate diet to provide weight gain of 0.4 kg/day. Blood samples were collected at 3-day intervals during a period of 12 months, and plasma harvested from blood samples was assayed for progesterone, LH, and GH. The day that plasma progesterone was greater than 1 ng/mL for three consecutive sampling days was defined as the day of puberty. Heifers attained puberty at an average age of 31.53 +/- 0.88 months with a body weight of 380.67 +/- 6.42 kg. Progesterone levels were very low (0.20 to 0.30 ng/mL) during the pre-pubertal period. There were two distinct elevations before the day of puberty onset. Plasma LH and GH concentrations increased (P < 0.05) during the months preceding puberty and were highest during the month before puberty. GH and LH were positively correlated (P < 0.05) prior to (r = +0.59) as well as after puberty (r = +0.42). A positive correlation (P < 0.05)between LH and body weight during the pre-pubertal period (r = +0.61) and thereafter, negative correlation (P < 0.05) during post-pubertal period (r = -0.64) was noted. GH and body weight showed positive correlation both before puberty (r = +0.92, P < 0.01) and after puberty (r = +0.32, P < 0.05). Results suggest that both GH and LH are equally important and vital cues in inducing onset of ovarian functions in buffalo heifers.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Impact of blast induced transitory vibration and air-overpressure/noise on human brain--an experimental study.

Human response to blast induced ground vibration and air-overpressure/noise is a major concern of current mining activity. This is because the fact that mines are fast transgressing the habitats and people are getting educated. Consequently the response of humans is changing and expectedly will increase in days to come with no viable and economic alternative to blasting--an essential component of mining. The response of humans can be purely physiological or psychological in nature or combination of both depending upon the situation and conditions of mining. Where physiological response is documented in terms of effects on ears and lungs there is a meager amount or no literature available regarding effects of blasting on the brain. Moreover, the studies on transitory phenomenon like the effects of blasting on humans are rare in comparison to the whole body vibration studies. This study was designed to address the issues as a precursor to a major initiative. The preliminary investigations conducted with the monitoring of EEG responses of humans to vibration and air-overpressure/noise due to blasting revealed that there is no major response of the brain to transitory vibrations and noise.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Epidemiology of undernutrition.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to find out the magnitude of the problem of under nutrition among the children under 5 years of age and also to identify the important factors influencing the nutritional status of the children. METHODS: 30 cluster sampling technique had been applied in the study. A total of 600 children below five years of age were covered. Twenty under five children from each cluster were chosen for the study which was carried out during January to February '97. As per IAP criteria a total of 60.29% children were undernourished and 3.92% were severely undernourished. According to NCHS standard 46.57% & 6.86% children had weight below-2SD and -3SD respectively. RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was found between the different age groups and nutritional status of under 5 children. Severe degree of malnutrition had highest prevalence under two years of age. The influence of variables like age, sex, religion, literacy status of parents and morbidity of the children were significantly associated with malnutrition. CONCLUSION: Practice of exclusive breast feeding, introduction of timely complementary feeding, education for maintaining personal hygiene, proper implementation of UIP immunization, periodic deworming, standard case management of diarrhoea and ARI as well as continuation of feeding during illness may reduce malnutrition of under-five children.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2001

Mass DEC campaign for filariasis in a hyper endemic district of West Bengal.

As a part of the on-going National Filaria Control Programme, National Filaria Day was observed in Purulia district of West Bengal on 26th Nov 2000 with an extensively organized mass DEC consumption campaign preceded by IEC activities and followed by mopping up operations. In all 81.07% of the targeted population was covered, females (84.3%) being more available than males (78.3%). Percentage of coverage declines with increase in age. Municipalities and notified areas had less coverage as well as supervised consumption than in other areas. Consumption was highest in Balarampur block (88.6%). Supervised consumption among surveyed population was highest in Bandwan (56.0%). Overall patient compliance was very good, with side effects of vomiting, dizziness, headache and fever being 2.12% only among surveyed population. Disease prevalence among population covered showed 0.1% hand swelling, 0.6 to 0.8% leg swelling, while 1.1% of males had hydrocele.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

OEIS complex with craniofacial anomalies--defect of blastogenesis?

We report on a 31-week fetus with hydrocephalus, hypertelorism, microtia, short neck, vertebral and rib defects, scoliosis, omphalocele, exstrophy of bladder, absent external genitalia and pubic rami, imperforate anus, diaphragmatic hernia, defective lobulation of lungs, single kidney, bicornuate uterus, and flexion deformities of the limbs. Similar extensive anomalies in the rostral and caudal regions were described by Russell et al. [Pediatrics, 67:176-182, 1981] and Stewart et al. [Am J Med Genet, 45:426-429, 1993]. The patients described by them had a combination of the oculo-auriculo-vertebral sequence (OAV) and caudal deficiency sequence, whereas the patient reported here can best be described as a combination of OAV and OEIS (omphalocele, exstrophy of bladder, imperforate anus, spinal defects) complexes. The widespread malformations seen in our patient may be the result of an error during blastogenesis.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1994

Preaxial brachydactyly with abduction of thumbs and hallux varus: a distinct entity.

We describe a father and his daughter who had a unique pattern of preaxial brachydactyly, and unusual facial appearance. Both had short broad abducted thumbs and halluces. The second digits of both hands were also short and broad and those of feet were medially angulated. The radiographic findings were short first metacarpals and first metatarsals and hypoplastic phalanges of first two digits of hands and feet. A similar pattern of brachydactyly was described by Christian et al. [1972: Am J Hum Genet 24:694-701] and Mononen et al. [1992: Am J Med Genet 42: 706-713]. Our patients differ from those described by Christian et al. in that they did not have any mental retardation and from those of Mononen et al. by the absence of short stature and epiphyseal and metaphyseal changes. The heterogeneity of this new type of brachydactyly remains to be resolved.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1994

An outbreak of viral hepatitis in a housing complex of north Calcutta.

In a housing complex of North Calcutta, a sudden outbreak of hepatitis occurred between September 1988 and January 1989. Of 620 residents, 8.5 per cent were affected. Majority of the cases occurred among the adult population and the case fatality rate was 3.8 per cent. The epidemic was common source with peak incidence in the month of November. The source of infection was most likely drinking water supplied by the Municipal Corporation which was found to be contaminated by faecal coli. Epidemic was suspected to be caused by enterically transmitted Non A Non B hepatitis virus as the serological testing of all 18 blood samples were negative for anti-HAVIgM titre and only one sample was positive for HBsAg.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effectiveness of training on infant feeding practices among community influencers in a rural area of west Bengal.

Total 34 Influencers were trained in a subcentre area of South 24-parganas district of West Bengal. Knowledge was imparted to community influencers on infant feeding practices through lecture, group discussion, question-answer session and hand-on-training by trained health workers. Pre-assessment was done before initiation of training. Repeat training was conducted at frequent intervals within a period of 3 months. Mean score of knowledge of influencers during pre-training assessment was 13.3 and improved thereafter-following training to 20.8 (1st assessment), 20.6 (2nd assessment), 23.7 (3rd assessment) and 25.2 (final-assessment). Repeat training had also desired impact.

Child Nutrition Sciences↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A study of relapse after MDT in a district in West Bengal, India.

A study was undertaken to estimate the magnitude of the problem of relapse and to identify factors responsible for relapse in leprosy units that were delivering MDT in Purulia District of West Bengal. From records patients were classified as "Relapse" or "Not relapse". "Not relapse" patients were selected by simple random sampling from the Surveillance Register and were matched according to age, sex, and the leprosy control unit. 128 cases ("Relapse") and 128 controls ("Not relapse") were interviewed in the clinic using a pre-tested questionnaire. Details of methods to identify and confirm relapse were circulated to all reporting units for ensuring uniformity and reliability. NGOs covered 42% of the population, while the State Government covered the remaining. The patients had been followed up after completion of treatment for a period of two years in PB leprosy and for five years in MB leprosy. The study revealed that the relapse rate was 1.71/1000 person-years for original PB cases and 0.76/1000 person-years for original MB cases. The study also showed that history of contact with an active leprosy patient and irregular treatment led more PB cases to relapse than control cases. All patients with an initial BI of 3+ relapsed with a BI of 1+ or 2+.

Adolescent↗