Biomedical subjects

Ajit Sahai

Publications and source records attributed to Ajit Sahai.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Delay in surgery for acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: The present study investigates the effect of delay in appendicectomy on the outcome of surgery and also examines the contribution of patient and physician related delay to the stage of appendicitis. METHODS: During a 12-month period, 114 consecutive adult patients undergoing appendicectomy for acute appendicitis were monitored prospectively. Time of onset of symptoms, presentation to the hospital, surgery consultation, decision to operate and starting of surgery were all noted. The stage of the appendicitis was identified based on operative findings and pathology reports. Postoperative events were recorded. The stage of appendicitis and outcome were related to the prehospital and in-hospital delay of each patient. RESULTS: There were three (2.6%) normal, 62 (54.4%) early inflamed and 49 (43%) cases of advanced appendicitis. The total delay from onset of symptoms to performance of appendicectomy was 2.4 times longer in the advanced appendicitis group than in the early inflamed appendicitis group. There was no significant difference in the in-hospital delay between the two groups. Delay in the resumption of oral feed and total hospital stay were significantly higher in the advanced appendicitis group. CONCLUSIONS: The present prospective study concludes that morbidity caused by acute appendicitis correlates directly with delay in treatment. In the majority of cases the delay in treatment is predominantly caused by patient related factors. The negative appendicectomy rate can be reduced by close observation of cases with clinical uncertainty without increasing the morbidity.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2004

Modulation of cardiovascular response to exercise by yoga training.

This study reports the effects of yoga training on cardiovascular response to exercise and the time course of recovery after the exercise. Cardiovascular response to exercise was determined by Harvard step test using a platform of 45 cm height. The subjects were asked to step up and down the platform at a rate of 30/min for a total duration of 5 min or until fatigue, whichever was earlier. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure response to exercise were measured in supine position before exercise and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 minutes after the exercise. Rate-pressure product [RPP = (HR x SP)/100] and double product (Do P = HR x MP), which are indices of work done by the heart were also calculated. Exercise produced a significant increase in HR, systolic pressure, RPP & DoP and a significant decrease in diastolic pressure. After two months of yoga training, exercise-induced changes in these parameters were significantly reduced. It is concluded that after yoga training a given level of exercise leads to a milder cardiovascular response, suggesting better exercise tolerance.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Magnitude and risk factors of injuries in a glass bottle manufacturing plant.

A study was conducted in a glass bottle manufacturing plant in Pondicherry, India, to assess the magnitude and identify the risk factors of work-related injuries between January and December 1998. Three hundred and seventy-seven injuries were reported among 341 permanent workers followed up for one year (incidence=1,105.5/1,000 workers/yr). A higher load of injuries was noted in the first half of the night shifts and the second half of the other three shifts. Injuries were higher in the second half of the week and during the first half of the year. Hands and wrists were the most common sites of injury (40.6%), whereas the eye, foot, ankles and other body parts had 30%, 14.6%, 10.6% and 4.2% of injuries respectively. The commonest type of injury was cuts and lacerations (50.1%); injuries to the eye (due to foreign bodies, chemicals and welding sparks) accounted for 30%, sprains 8% and burns 7.1% of the injuries. A cohort of 75 workers chosen from the 341 permanent workers were followed up for the one year for identification of risk factors. Significant risk factors were age (less than 30 yr) and experience (less than 2 yr). Technical factors responsible for injury were a hazardous worksite in 37 (38.5%) cases, inadequate protection with safety wear in 32 (33%) cases and proximity to machines in 14 (14.6%) cases. Human factors identified were non-use of protective wear in 43 (45%), overconfidence in 18 (18.7%) and timing error while working with machines in 11 (11.4%) episodes.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Byssinosis among male textile workers in Pondicherry: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: In India, 20 million workers are involved in the manufacturing of textiles. However, there are few epidemiological studies from India that have assessed the magnitude or the risk factors associated with byssinosis. In Pondicherry, textile mills have been in existence for over a century. This case-control study aimed to find the factors associated with the development of byssinosis in textile workers. METHODS: The sample consisted of 761 men above the age of 30 years who had worked for at least 10 years in a textile factory. All the respondents were interviewed by a pretested questionnaire to gather information regarding the symptoms of byssinosis, certain personal characteristics and occupational history. Byssinosis was identified using the classification proposed by the World Health Organization. Two age-matched controls were selected for each case. RESULTS: Univariate analysis of the factors for symptomatic byssinosis showed that dusty worksites, heavy smoking and duration of service > or = 30 years were significant. Logistic regression analysis showed that working in the spinning (odds ratio 6.1) and weaving sections (odds ratio 1.9), heavy smoking (odds ratio 3.9) and > or = 30 years of service (odds ratio 2.0) were independent significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: Efforts to reduce dust levels in the working environment and to discourage smoking among textile workers need to be strengthened to minimize the risk of developing byssinosis.

Byssinosis↗