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Biomedical subjects

J Mahanta

Publications and source records attributed to J Mahanta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Molecular characterization and species identification of the Anopheles dirus and An. minimus complexes in north-east India using r-DNA ITS-2.

The sibling species composition of the Anopheles minimus and Anopheles dirus complexes is poorly known in the highly malarious north-eastern region of India where these two vector taxa are accountable for most of the malaria transmission among 30.7 million inhabitants. Prevalent members of these two complexes in this part of India were identified using sequences for the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of ribosomal DNA. Anopheles baimaii (species D) of the An. dirus complex and An. minimus s.s. (species A) of the An. minimus complex were detected in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland states. No intraspecific variation was observed in the ITS2 sequence (479bp) of An. baimaii whereas a single substitution was detected in the ITS2 sequence (372bp) of An. minimus from Nagaland state.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Correlates of alcohol consumption and tobacco use among tea industry workers of Assam.

An epidemiological study on alcohol and tobacco (smoking and nonsmoked tobacco) use was carried out in tea garden population of Assam, one of the largest agroindustries of India. A total sample of 2,264 individuals (male, 1,033; female, 1,231) aged 15 years and older was interviewed in 2002-2003 to collect information about alcohol and tobacco use using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Age-adjusted prevalence of alcohol consumption was 59.2% (male, 69.3%; female, 54%). Smoking was more common among males (13.2%) than females (2%). However, use of nonsmoked tobacco was almost as popular among female (71.9%) as among males (75.3%). More than half of the respondents (54.7%) were multiple users of alcohol and tobacco. Prevalence of alcohol consumption, nonsmoked tobacco use, and smoking among the young age group (15-24 years) was 32.2%, 52.5%, and 2.2%, respectively. Prevalence of smoking increased with age, and more than a quarter of males above 54 years were smokers. Similar age trends in the prevalence of alcohol and nonsmoked tobacco was not observed. Sociodemographic correlates, like education, occupation, and marital status, emerged as important predictors of substance uses irrespective of sex. Association of income with substance use was weak in this study, perhaps due to homogeneity of income level. Users of alcohol and tobacco were mostly illiterate, manual workers, and widows/widowers. However, smokers were more common among sedentary worker. Not withstanding the limitations of the study, the findings of the study are useful for planning interventional strategy to control alcohol and tobacco use for better health outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Health problems and disability of elderly individuals in two population groups from same geographical location.

OBJECTIVE: To compare morbidity, disability (ADL-IADL disability) along with behavioral and biological correlates of diseases and disability of two elderly population groups (tea garden workers and urban dwellers) living in same geographical location. METHODS: Two hundred and ninety three and 230 elderly from urban setting and tea garden respectively aged > 60 years were included in the study. Subjects were physical examined and activity of daily living instrumental activity of daily living (ADL-IADL) was assessed. Diagnosis of diseases was made on the basis of clinical evaluation, diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases done earlier elsewhere, available investigation reports, and electrocardiography. Hypertension was defined according to JNC-VI classification. BMI (weight/height2) was calculated. Logistic regression analysis was performed to see the impact of important background characteristics on non-communicable diseases (NCD) and disability. RESULTS: Hypertension (urban--68% and tea garden--81.4%), musculoskeletal diseases (urban--62.5% and tea garden--67.5%), COPD and other respiratory problems (urban--30.4% and tea garden--32.2%), cataract (urban 40.3% and tea garden--33%), gastro-intestinal problems (urban--13% and tea garden--6.5%) were more commonly observed health problems among community dwellings elderly across both the groups. However in contrast to urban group, serious NCDs like Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD), diabetes were yet to emerge as health problems among tea garden dwellers. Infectious morbidities, undernutrition and disability (ADL-IADL disability) were more pronounced among tea garden dwellers. Utilization of health service by tea garden elderly was very low in comparison to the urban elderly. Both tea garden men and women had very high rates of risk factors like use of non-smoked tobacco and consumption of alcohol. On the other hand, smoking and obesity was more common in urban group. Most morbidities and disabilities were associated with identifiable risk factors, such as obesity, tobacco (smoked and non-smoked) and alcohol consumption. Educational status was also found to be an important determinant of diseases and disability of elderly population. Age showed a J-shaped relationship with disability and morbidity. Sex difference in health status was also detected. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the physical dimension of health problems of elderly individuals. Social circumstances and health risk behaviours play important role in the variation of health and functional status between the two groups. Life-style modification is warranted to prevent onset of chronic diseases. To improve quality of life, rectification of poor health status through affordable health service for disease screening and better management of illness, nutritional improvement and greater health awareness are necessary particularly among low socio-economic group. Low-cost intervention like cataract surgery could make a difference in the quality of life of elderly Indian.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Tobacco and alcohol use among the youth of the agricultural tea industry in Assam, India.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess tobacco use (both smoking and non-smoked tobacco) and alcohol use among tea garden youths of Assam, India during the period 2002-2003. A total of 650 tea plantation youth age 15-24 years (255 males, 395 females) from eight randomly selected tea plantations, Dibrugarh District, Assam, were interviewed to collect information on alcohol and tobacco use using a pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire. Nearly 59% of the respondents had no formal education. Fifty-eight percent of the youth used at least one substance and 27.4% were concurrent users of both alcohol and tobacco. The smoking rate was only 2.2% (4.7% in males, 0.5% in females). However, 52.5% of the study population used non-smoked tobacco (56.9% males, 49.6% females). The prevalence of alcohol consumption was 32.2% (43.9% males, 24.6% females). A higher rate of alcohol and tobacco use was found among the respondents who had no formal education or were school dropouts. A higher rate of alcohol and tobacco use were seen among respondents in whom both parents were illiterate. Working as a manual worker in the tea industry is significantly associated (p<0.01) with higher rates of alcohol and tobacco use. We recommend a vigorous campaign against tobacco and alcohol use among tea plantation youth to reduce the health risks associated with the use of these two substances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Study of health problems and nutritional status of tea garden population of Assam.

BACKGROUND: Assam is the highest tea producer state in the country. There is scarcity of reliable information on health and nutritional status among tea garden population of Assam to enable initiating public health response to their health needs. AIMS: To describe health problems and nutritional status among tea garden population of Assam. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional survey in eight randomly selected tea gardens of Dibrugarh district of Assam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of participants were recorded. Health problems and nutritional status were assessed through medical examination, evaluation of medical records, anthropometry and laboratory investigations. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Percentage prevalence; Chi-square test was applied wherever applicable. RESULTS: Out of 4,016 participants, 1,863 were male and 2,153 were female. They were mostly illiterate and nearly 52.9% (1,197 of 2,264) of adults were manual workers in the garden. Alcohol and oral tobacco use were common. Prevalence of underweight among children was 59.9% (357 of 596) and thinness among adults was 69.9% (1,213 of 1,735). Anemia was widespread. Worm infection (65.4%, 217 of 332); skin problems; respiratory infections, including tuberculosis; filariasis were present in a significant way. Children suffered more in various diseases. Major noncommunicable diseases like hypertension, stroke were emerging in the community and were associated with modifiable risk factors like alcohol and tobacco use. CONCLUSION: Health status of the population can be ameliorated through better hygienic practices, environmental sanitation, creating health awareness, nutritional intervention and overall improvement of socioeconomic conditions of the population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Extended spectrum beta lactamase producing gram negative bacilli in a tertiary referral hospital of Assam--experience with two methods.

Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases (ESBL) are enzymes produced in some gram negative bacilli that mediate resistance to extended spectrum cephalosporins. 683 clinical isolates of Escherisia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were studied for their capacity to produce ESBL. Isolates showing resistance to at least two of the third generation cephalosporins were studied for ESBL production by Jarlier technique and combination disc methods. Out of the 457 E. Coli and 226 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated in Assam Medical College, 29.76% and 53.1% were resistant to two cephalosporins of which 29.41% and 29.16% strains showed production of ESBL. However, 6 (4.41%) and 16 (13.34%) strains additionally showed production of ESBL when tested with combination disc method. Though the Jarlier technique is popular, for detection of ESBL, yet false negative results warrants for alternative method. In the absence of molecular detection methods in routine clinical microbiology laboratory, combination disc method appears to be a better option.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2005

Malaria transmission risk by the mosquito Anopheles baimaii (formerly known as An. dirus species D) at different hours of the night in North-east India.

The risk of acquiring malaria transmitted by Anopheles baimaii Sallum & Peyton, 2005, formerly known as An. dirus species D (Sallum et al., 2005) (Diptera: Culicidae), at different hours of the night in a forest-fringed village of Assam, North-east India was assessed through all-night mosquito landing catches during 1995-2000. An estimated overall mean biting rate of 36.1 bites/person/night (95% CI = 26.2-45.8), a sporozoite rate of 1.9% (95% CI = 1.1-2.9%) and a parous rate of 58.7% (95% CI = 55.3-62.0%) were recorded. Parous and sporozoite-positive females tended to be caught mainly before midnight. The effective entomological inoculation rate was the highest (0.249 positive bites/person/night) from 21.00 to 24.00 hours, suggesting that the second quartile of the night is the most risky period for malaria transmission by An. baimaii. Considering that approximately 21% of mean inoculations take place before 21.00 hours, it appears that there is a need for appropriate protective measures during the pre-bed time period to supplement the impact of insecticide-treated nets against An. baimaii in north-east India.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of chloroquine (CQ) and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) therapy in uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Indo-Myanmar border areas.

Chloroquine (CQ) and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) are two first-line antimalarials used under the existing Indian National Drug Policy in the north-eastern region of India bordering several countries including Myanmar. Although widespread resistance to antimalarials in Plasmodium falciparum has been reported from western Myanmar, information from the Indian side of the border is scarce. We studied the therapeutic response to CQ and SP at four sites in Changlang and Lohit, two administrative districts of Arunachal Pradesh bordering Myanmar. We monitored uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients after treatment with standard regimens of CQ and SP for 28 days following the revised in-vivo protocol of the World Health Organization. A total of 236 patients, 95 in the CQ group and 141 in the SP group, participated. We recorded 23.8% early treatment failures to CQ and 14.1% to SP; late clinical failures of 14.3 and 12.6%; late parasitological failures of 10.7 and 8.1% and adequate clinical and parasitological responses of 51.2 and 65.2%, respectively. The significantly different treatment failure rates seen in Chowkham (furthest from Indo-Myanmar border) and Jairampur/Nampong (nearest to Indo-Myanmar border) for chloroquine (Cox proportion hazard ratio 9.1, P<0.0001) and SP (Cox proportion hazard ratio 7.35, P=0.001) denote a non-response gradient to the two antimalarials extending from the international border. The gradient is probably indicative of the direction of movement of the drug-resistant P. falciparum parasite. The utility of chloroquine as the first-line drug under the present National Drug Policy in these areas needs reconsideration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Perceptions of unmarried young women regarding family size, sexually transmitted diseases at residential regional institutes in northeastern India.

This study sought to assess the knowledge and attitudes of young unmarried women regarding family size and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, in three residential regional institutes of northeastern India. The data is expected to help in reinforcing various methods of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) implementation. A representative sample of 574 female students, 16-25 years of age, were interviewed by a pretested questionnaire to assess their knowledge of the determinants of family size and sexually transmitted diseases. Of the participants, 48.43% stated that the suitable age for marriage is > 18 years old for women. More than half the respondents stated that the interval between child birth should be 3-5 years. Most of the respondents (96.17%) were of the opinion that both parents are responsible for determining the number of children. Knowledge of STDs and HIV was found in 91.8% and 74.04% of respondents, respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of human paragonimiasis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Although human paragonimiasis is known to occur in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, there is no indigenous immunodiagnostic test available in India. Sputum examination for detection of eggs is less sensitive method for diagnosis of paragonimiasis and unfortunately, the eggs are not always present in the sputum of infected individuals. Due to overlapping clinical manifestations and similarities between X-ray picture in pulmonary paragonimiasis and pulmonary tuberculosis, chances of diagnostic confusion can increase. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop an ELISA test indigenously for diagnosis of paragonimiasis. METHODS: Somatic (S) and excretory-secretory (ES) antigens of adult trematodes belonging to genus Paragonimus were prepared. Serum samples were collected from 22 confirmed patients of paragonimiasis and from five groups of negative controls. The cut-off points for both types of antigens were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and efficiency of the ELISA tests were also calculated. RESULTS: IgG-ELISA test using either S or ES antigens were 100 per cent sensitive yet the utility of S antigen for diagnosis of paragonimiasis seemed to be less reliable because of low specificity (91.3%). On the other hand, ES antigen was more reliable with 100 per cent specificity as no false positive cases were recorded. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: ES antigen can be effectively used for screening large populations for paragonimiasis. In areas where both paragonimiasis and tuberculosis are endemic, suspected subjects should be screened for both the diseases because of chance of mistaken diagnosis. Correct diagnosis will avoid unnecessary costly treatment.

Antigens, Helminth↗
PubMed2005

Biodiversity of mosquitoes in Manipur State and their medical significance.

Entomological studies conducted during monsoon and post-monsoon season in Manipur State revealed the presence of fifty-five species of mosquitoes under ten genera. Out of the seventeen Anopheles species recorded, Anopheles aconitus, An. dirus and An. nivipes were recorded for the first time from the state. The present study has confirmed the existence of An. dirus, the major malaria vector in the Northeast from a selected area of the state. Among Culicines, four species viz., Aedes nigrostriatus, Malaya genurostris, Aediomyia catasticta and Toxorhynchites splendens which were not reported earlier from this state have been recorded in the present study. With the addition of these seven species of mosquitoes to the earlier record of mosquitoes so far reported from Manipur, the mosquito fauna swells up to one hundred and eleven including the major vectors of malaria of the Northeast and the potential vectors of Japanese encephalitis and dengue virus transmission in India.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Potential of Anopheles philippinensis-nivipes complex mosquitoes as malaria vector in north-east India.

Anopheles philippinensis-nivipes complex mosquitoes, captured in outdoor human landing catches and light traps in human dwellings from four different sites in Assam state and adjoining areas, were examined (n=1670) for the presence of circumsporozoite antigen (CSA) through enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), using species specific capture monoclonal antibodies, of Plasmodium falciparum and two Plasmodium vivax polymorphs (Pv 210 and VK 247). In ELISA, 28 pools were found positive for CSA that accounted for minimum sporozoite rate of 1.7% (95% CI 1.11-2.41). Twenty five percent (7/28) of the positive pools were reactive for P. falciparum and between the two polymorphs of P. vivax, VK 247 was predominant with 77% (20/26) of all P. vivax positive pools. Results were suggestive of most likely involvement of Anopheles philippinensis-nivipes complex mosquitoes in malaria transmission in north-east India.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Sociocultural diversity and substance use pattern in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

An epidemiological study on substance use was carried out to assess the prevalence and pattern of tobacco, alcohol, and opium being used commonly in ethnographic diverse population of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Representative sample of 5135 people age > or =10 years were interviewed to collect information about their habit of substance use. Over all, prevalence of substance use was 30.9% tobacco (22.8% chewers and 12.1% smokers), 30% alcohol, and 4.8% opium, which vary across location, gender, race, age, education, and occupation. Though tobacco and alcohol was commonly used among all the tribes, but high alcohol use among Tangsa and Tutsa tribes reflects strong cultural belief. Religiously, opium use was low among Christian and Hindu at lower (< 1000 m) altitude, but high among Buddhist, Indigenous, and Hindu living at higher altitude. Among males, high multivariate rate ratio of opium users was seen among the population of high altitude (9.1). Moreover, it was also high among Singpho (7.1) and Khamti (9.7) tribes living in low altitude area, which shows the strong geo-ethnographic influence. Average age at initiation of alcohol use (12.4 years) was significantly lower than tobacco (17.6 years), and opium (23.3 years) indicate social acceptability of alcohol drinking at early age. Use of multiple substances and high prevalence of opium express the alarming situation of substance misuse in the region. Besides few limitations, varied results of socio-cultural and ethnic influences recalls integrated approach to break the traditional belief associated with alcohol and drug abuse from the society.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

A cholera epidemic in a rural area of northeast India.

Sporadic cases of acute diarrhoea with high morbidity occur commonly in rural areas of northeast India, throughout the year. At times they take epidemic form and one such outbreak occurred with attack and case fatality rates of 11.6% and 0.8%, respectively, in October 2002, in a remote locality of Assam. Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor Ogawa was isolated in 63% of hospitalized acute diarrhoea patients. Ineffective antibacterial treatment, poor hygiene practices and bad peridomestic sanitation were the factors associated with the persistence and spread of the pathogen, leading to the outbreak of cholera, resistant to commonly-used antimicrobials.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Role of the prevalent Anopheles species in the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax in Assam state, north-eastern India.

In north-eastern India, Anopheles minimus, An. dirus and An. fluviatilis are considered the three major vectors of the parasites causing human malaria. The role in transmission of the other Anopheles species present in this region is not, however, very clear. To examine the vectorial role of the more common anopheline mosquitoes, the heads and thoraces of 4126 female Anopheles belonging to 16 species (collected using miniature light traps set in human dwellings in a foothill village in the Jorhat district of Assam state) were tested, in ELISA, for the circumsporozoite proteins (CSP) of Plasmodium falciparum or the VK-210 and VK-247 polymorphs of P. vivax. Sixty-five pools of head-thorax homogenates, representing 10 different species of Anopheles, were found reactive, giving an overall minimum prevalence of infection (MPI) of 1.58%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.21%-2.0%. Among the CSP-reactive pools of mosquitoes, 31% were positive only for P. falciparum, 45% only for P. vivax VK 247, 6% only for P. vivax VK 210, and 18% for both P. falciparum and P. vivax VK 247. The results indicate that not only the proven vector, An. minimus s.l. (MPI = 0.71%), but also several species of Anopheles previously considered unimportant in the epidemiology of malaria, especially An. aconitus (MPI = 3.95%), An. annularis (MPI = 5.8%), the An. hyrcanus group (MPI = 0.48%), An. kochi (MPI = 1.28%), the An. philippinensis-nivipes complex (MPI = 0.94%), and An. vagus (MPI = 3.87%), are important vectors in the foothills of Assam.

Animals↗