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Biomedical subjects

G Naik

Publications and source records attributed to G Naik.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Morphological and molecular variation of Morus laevigata in India.

Morus spp., commonly known as mulberry, is significantly associated with human civilization and spread of silk-culture from Asia to Europe, Africa and Latin America. One of its species, Morus laevigata, traditionally well known for its timber value, forage use and silkworm's feed, is widely distributed in India extending from Himalayan foothill to Andaman islands. The variability occurring for 12 morpho-biochemical parameters and RAPD profiles, generated with 13 selected RAPD primers, for M. laevigata accessions from six different zones were investigated. Analyses revealed high degree of genotypic similarity of collection from Himalayan foothill (West Bengal) with those from Andaman Islands. Specific accessions from central India and south India also revealed genotypic similarities with specific accessions from north-east India. These observations are discussed in the context of clonal propagation of mulberry and evolutionary perspective of dispersal of this species, through human activities

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed2001

Viral hepatitis during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: A great degree of controversy prevails over the existing reports on the severity and outcome of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) during pregnancy. The present study describes the outcome of AVH associated with pregnancy. A correlation was also assessed for gestation period, viral etiology and outcome of AVH. METHOD: The serum samples of 273 females with viral hepatitis (age group 18--23 years) were included in the study. Among them, 127 females were pregnant and 146 were non-pregnant cases (as a control group). The sera were screened for seromarkers of the hepatitis A virus (HAV) through to the hepatitis E virus (HEV) by the latest available generation ELISA kits. Among the 127 pregnant females, 83 were AVH cases, while 44 were fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) cases. Among the 146 non-pregnant females, 129 were AVH and 17 were FHF cases. RESULT: Among the AVH pregnant females, 73 (57.5%) had HEV infection. Fifty-eight percent of the HEV infected pregnant females were associated with FHF. Among non-pregnant females HEV was documented in 67 (46%) cases. HBV infection was observed in 19% and 18% of the pregnant and non-pregnant females, respectively. Twenty percent of the pregnant and 33% of the non-pregnant females remained non-reactive for seromarkers of HAV-HEV. The mortality rate was highest (56%) among HEV infected FHF cases during third trimester of pregnancy. The chi(2) test was applied to check the statistical significance for the differences over the prevalence in various groups. CONCLUSION: In the present study, HEV was found to be the chief etiological agent, associated with higher morbidity and mortality. However, the incidence of HEV in pregnant females was not significantly different from non-pregnant females. The prevalence of HAV, HCV and HDV were very low in the study. An increased incidence of FHF was noted among HEV infected pregnant females, while infection with an agent other than A-E was commonly associated with FHF among non-pregnant females.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in central India.

The study group screened for anti-HCV comprised 789 subjects of hepatitis, renal failure, thalassaemia and healthy voluntary blood donors coming from Central India during July 1992 to November 1995. The prevalence of HCV was low (4.85%) among 103 patients of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) while it was higher (25.64%) among 117 patients of chronic liver disease (CLD) with the highest rate of 31.57 percent in 57 patients of cirrhosis. The anti-HCV positivity among 101 patients with hepatic failure was around 10 percent. High risk groups such as chronic renal failure (CRF) patients mainly on haemodialysis and thalassaemics receiving multiple blood transfusions showed the prevalence of anti-HCV in 41.9 and 25.45 percent respectively. Only 1.78 percent of the 280 voluntary blood donors showed positivity for anti-HCV. Comparison of the data on HCV in the present study with data from other parts of India showed a wide variation in the different centers. The higher prevalence of HCV among CRF patients and thalassaemics indicates the need for screening of the blood units for anti-HCV before transfusion to these high risk patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Clinical and enzyme studies in Gaucher disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and biochemical spectrum of Gaucher disease. DESIGN: Assay of beta glucosidase enzyme in leucocytes in patients with splenomegaly, and in chorionic villi for prenatal diagnosis. SETTING: Hospital-based. SUBJECTS: Of 13 cases of Gaucher disease, aged 1-6 years, 9 were identified at Delhi and 4 at Bombay. RESULTS: The enzyme beta-glucosidase was 0.65 nmol/h/mg of protein or less in all the cases in Delhi, and 2.5 nmol/h/mg of protein or less in Bombay. All cases except one belonged to type 1 (hepatosplenomegaly), while one case was of type 2 (neuronopathic). Prenatal diagnosis was carried out in one family and the fetus was found to be affected. CONCLUSION: In children with hepatosplenomegaly and increased acid phosphatase, assay of beta-glucosidase enzyme confirms the diagnosis of Gaucher disease. Diagnosis of the disease is important because enzyme replacement therapy is available and prenatal diagnosis is possible.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Noradrenaline biosynthesis and metabolism during development and recovery from pacing-induced heart failure in the dog.

We have modified an assay utilizing ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection to measure dihydroxyphenylalanine and dyhydroxyphenylglycol simultaneously with noradrenaline. We measured these agents at control, 1 and 3 weeks following the onset of rapid ventricular pacing, as well as 4 weeks after the cessation of a 3-week period of pacing. Our findings were as follows. Plasma noradrenaline increased significantly at 1 week and increased further after 3 weeks of pacing (control, 202 +/- 16; 1 week, 528 +/- 62; 3 weeks, 750 +/- 139 pg.mL-1). Plasma dihydroxyphenylalanine did not change throughout, while plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol was significantly elevated at 3 weeks (513 +/- 48 vs. 388 +/- 35 pg.mL-1 for the control). Four weeks after discontinuation of pacing, all parameters did not differ from the control. These results imply that during the development of heart failure, the rise in circulating noradrenaline does not reflect simply an increase in catecholamine synthesis, but that there are more dynamic changes associated with noradrenaline spill-over, uptake, and metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Computed tomography of the abdomen in advanced seminoma: response to treatment.

Thirty-three patients with advanced seminoma of the testis underwent serial computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen before, during and after chemotherapy. The immediate post-chemotherapy CT examination showed significant regression in 29 patients and complete resolution in the remaining four (mean regression 70%). Continued CT follow-up at 1 and 2 years revealed further regression of residual masses without further treatment. We recommend that in this group of patients follow-up CT is carried out immediately after chemotherapy and at 1 year. Provided a satisfactory response is observed no further CT assessment is required unless there is clinical suspicion of relapse.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1978

Comparative clinical evaluation of two salts of quinidine using 24-hour Holter monitor recordings.

In 13 patients admitted to a coronary care unit, antiarrhythmic efficacy and safety of quinidine gluconate in a nonmatrix formulation were compared to placebo and quinidine sulfate. Both quinidine preparations were effective in reducing the number and severity of ventricular and supraventricular extrasystoles when compared to placebo. Except for a few cases in which quinidine gluconate was significantly more effective, both quinidine preparations appear to have similar clinical antiarrhythmic efficacy and duration of action. A 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring device and electrocardioscanner were utilized in this research. No major unexpected adverse effects were observed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of anti-delta antibodies in central India.

A total of 238 sera samples from cases of hepatitis, renal failure, thalassaemia, healthy health care workers (HCWs) & asymptomatic HBsAG carriers coming from central India from July 1992 to June 1998, were screened for anti-delta antibodies. Among 238 subjects, 206 were reactive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) while 32 were HBsAg non-reactive. The prevalence of anti-delta antibodies was low (1.9%) among 54 patients of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) while it was higher (5.7%) among 52 patients of chronic liver disease (CLD). The anti-delta antibodies positivity among 34 patients with hepatic failure was around 15% and all of them were FHF patients. Among multitransfused subjects such as chronic renal failure (CRF) the prevalence of anti-delta antibodies was low (2.3%). None of the apparently healthy HBsAg reactive HCWs and asymptomatic HBV carriers were reactive for anti-delta antibodies. Similarly anti-delta antibodies could not be detected in HBsAg negative viral hepatitis patients. There is a wide variation in the prevalence of anti-delta antibodies in different parts of India. However, overall prevalence of anti-delta antibodies appears to be lower in the Indian population in comparision to western countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A infection in India: changing pattern.

OBJECTIVE: Recent changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and the availability of effective vaccines have renewed interest in this infection. We determined the age-related prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in India and looked for differences by known risk factors for HAV infection. METHODS: In this prospective study, serum samples obtained from 1612 subjects aged 1 to 60 at six centers in five cities (Calcutta, Cochin, Indore, Jaipur and Patna) during the period February to August 1998 were tested for anti-HAV antibodies. Demographic and socio-economic information was obtained by questionnaire. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence rate was 65.9%, varying from 26.2% to 85.3% in various cities; there was no difference between males and females. Seropositivity increased with age from 52.2% in the 1-5 year age group to 80.8% in those aged 16 years or more. Seroprevalence rates were significantly lower in those aged 1-5 years compared with other age groups (p<0.0001). There was no difference in seroprevalence between those with monthly family income Rs 5001. Multivariate analysis showed that anti-HAV seroprevalence varied significantly by source of water supply, being highest when the supply was municipal. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate an epidemiological pattern of intermediate endemicity. This finding has public health implications as it indicates that a significant proportion of the Indian adolescent and adult population is at risk of HAV infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A study of knowledge, attitude and practice of leprosy among doctors of Bhopal, India.

A study of knowledge, attitude and practice of leprosy among doctors of Bhopal has found that junior doctors had more exposure to leprology compared to all other groups. Medical college doctors had better knowledge of leprology compared to non-medical college doctors. Knowledge and attitude about leprosy among doctors were influenced by qualification, age, cultural and environmental factors. A strong association was observed between knowledge and attitude about leprosy of doctors and their practice of treating leprosy cases.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗