PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Mahanta

Publications and source records attributed to J Mahanta.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Epidemiological importance of younger age group during malaria epidemic in PHC Tamulpur, Assam.

An investigation of a malaria epidemic was carried out in Tamulpur Primary Health Centre, district Nalbari, Assam during April 1995. The analysis revealed that children between 3 and 12 years of age who were treated and who recovered clinically from fever during the epidemic were instrumental in the progression of the epidemic by acting as Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte reservoirs. Special efforts are required for treatment of children below 12 years during an epidemic.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1998

Tobacco use in Mizoram, India: sociodemographic differences in pattern.

A study on tobacco use was carried out in Aizawl district of Mizoram, India, to assess the prevalence and pattern of tobacco use. An area served by two Sub-health Centers representing town and village population were selected for a household survey. 375 people (age 10 years and above) were interviewed about their habits of taking tobacco. Use of tobacco was high among males (56.6%) and females (45.7%), but the high prevalence of smoking among males (42.3%) and chewing among females (27.9%) indicates the existence of sex differences in tobacco use pattern. Age and occupation had significant association with tobacco use but influence of education was very low and its association was not significant. Mean age for start of tobacco chewing and smoking for males and females varied significantly. However, the mean age of start for adolescent and young age (10-29 years) tobacco users was 17.2 years (SD +/- 2.3). Though there are some limitations to this study, these findings revealed differential patterns of tobacco use which is valuable information for prevention effort.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Distribution of potential dengue vectors in major townships along the national highways and trunk roads of northeast India.

Surveys were conducted in some townships along the national highways and trunk roads of northeast India to detect breeding of Aedes mosquitos in used/waste tire dumps piled outdoors by the tire repairing shops during summer season of 1996-1997. The breeding of both the potential vectors of dengue, viz. Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus were detected, prevalence rate being in the range of 30.0-88.0 (CI = container index value). The preponderance of Ae. aegypti was considerably much higher than that of Ae. albopictus and all the urban and semiurban areas coming up along the side of the roads were observed to be infested with Ae. aegypti. With respect to transmission of dengue, this study clearly indicates that waste tire dumps in every urban agglomeration should receive primary attention in view of their relative contribution to the abundance and dispersal of these vector mosquitos.

Aedes↗
PubMed1998

Long-term effect of diethylcarbamazine citrate on microfilaraemia status in treated individuals.

Follow up of microfilaraemic individuals infected with Wuchereria bancrofti at five years after treatment was carried out in a tea workers population. Diethylcarbamazine citrate in the dose schedule of 72 mg/kg body weight given in equal daily doses over a period of 21 days cleared 51.6 per cent microfilaraemic individuals five year post-treatment. Eighty five subjects were successfully followed and among these, 10 (11.8%) showed increase in mf counts, 31 (36.4%) showed reduction but remained microfilaraemic and 44 (51.8%) became amicrofilaraemic. The age and sex of the host had no significant effect on the clearance of mf. Persistence of a relatively stable low number of mf in treated individuals is more likely due to survival of one or more female worms after the therapy or due to reinfection which could not be ruled out in the present study. Overall, findings indicated that diethylcarbamazine citrate appeared to give a long-term benefit to treated individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Incrimination of Schistosoma spindale as a causative agent of farmer's dermatitis in Assam with a note on liver pathology in mice.

Cercarial dermatitis of paddy field workers in Assam is very common. However, it is not known which species of animal schistosomes, is its causative agent in Assam. Studies in two dermatitis affected villages of Dibrugarh district revealed that cercariae of Schistosoma spindale were involved in its aetiology. Indoplanorbis exustus was the only snail species found infected with apharyngeate brevifurcate schistosome cercarie. Experimental infection of the laboratory animals with the dermatitis causing schistosome cercariae revealed that duckling and chicken were refractory to infection. However, Swiss albino mice were successfully infected. The number of adult flukes per infected mice ranged from 6-321 (mean intensity = 68.1; S.D. = +/- 112.96). Histopathological study of infected mice liver revealed that there was mild inflammation of infected portal triads towards the presence of male flukes in the intra hepatic portal vessels. Kuppffer cells showed hyperplasia and contained large amounts of black pigment. No eggs or egg granulomas were detected in the liver parenchyma. There was no evidence of thrombophlebitis, septal fibrosis or pipe stem fibrosis.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1998

Aetiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A review.

The present overview is based on recent available information on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from various parts of the world including India. The available data suggests that NPC is a rare tumour in most parts of the world. But the incidence is higher in China and South East Asia and also among the Chinese wherever they have migrated. NPC is also relatively higher especially among the mongoloid group of the people in the North Eastern Region of India as compared to other parts of the country. The distinct geographical and ethnic distribution of NPC have stimulated much research to find out its etiology. The results suggest that Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) infection and genetic susceptibility are the constant aetiological factors for the higher incidence of NPC among various ethnic groups while other factors such as ingestants and inhalants may depend on the distinct dietary practices and living environment adopted by various ethnic groups in different geographical region of the world.

Asian People↗
PubMed1997

Biting behaviour and biting rhythm of potential Japanese encephalitis vectors in Assam.

Studies on biting behaviour and biting cycles of medically important mosquitoes were carried out in Madhupur village and Tarajan tea estate of upper Assam. Collections were made off human baits outdoors and indoors and off cattle bait outdoors from August 1991 to July 1992. Human bait collections were performed using the 'stationary direct bait' technique. A total of 9,072 adult host seeking female mosquitoes representing 26 species and 5 genera were collected off baits of which 36.9% were collected off human baits and the rest from cattle. All mosquitoes were primarily zoophilic, although significant numbers were collected biting man outdoors. Biting preferences of important Japanese encephalitis (JE) vectors for man and cattle were studied using outdoor man:outdoor cattle ratio (attraction ratio = AR). Culex quinquefasciatus was attracted towards human baits the most (AR = 8.1:1), followed by Cx. bitaeniorhynchus (AR = 1.6:1) and Mansonia annulifera (AR = 1.3.1). The hourly biting activity of important JE vectors throughout the night on two bait types was also studied using three point moving averages. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was used to compare and classify mosquitoes on the basis of their similarity in biting rhythms.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Human distomatosis due to Fasciola hepatica infection in Assam, India.

A seven year old girl in a rural area of Upper Assam was found to be infected with Fasciola hepatica. The girl gave history of eating watercress. Besides the presence of eggs in the stools, her liver was enlarged and tender. Liver function tests revealed hepato-biliary involvement with increase in serum AKP and ALT. Ultrasonography revealed presence of adult fluke in gall bladder, and a marginal thickening of gall bladder wall. However, the echo pattern of her liver parenchyma was normal. The case is reported for its public health significance and is a maiden report from north eastern India.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Seasonal prevalence of Anopheles dirus and malaria transmission in a forest fringed village of Assam, India.

Seasonal abundance of Anopheles dirus (s.l.) and malaria prevalence in an isolated forest fringed village was monitored at monthly intervals during August 1995 to July 1996. An. dirus was the only vector species detected during the study period. Its density pattern showed distinct seasonality with the peak occurring in the month of July and very low number during cool dry months. Positive correlation (r = 0.721) was found between the density of An. dirus and the amount of rainfall occurring two weeks prior to the collections. Overall sporozoite rate of 1.6% and parous rate of 64.7% were found in the study. Malaria transmission closely followed the density pattern of An. dirus and was seasonal with slide positivity rate and P. falciparum percentage of 47 and 83% respectively. Mean malaria prevalence was higher (p < 0.05) in females.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Breeding and day resting habitats of Anopheles dirus in Assam, India.

Longitudinal surveys at monthly frequency were carried out during 1995-1996 in a forest fringed village of district Dibrugarh, Assam to decipher the breeding and day resting habitats of Anopheles dirus. It regularly bred in small, shallow, rain filled, transient, shady or partly shady puddles/ground pools in the rainy months and in the perinneal streams in the adjoining forest of the village during dry months. In pools, the degree of interspecific association (0.238 +/- 0.174) and index of association (0.428) of An. dirus breeding was highest with Aedes caecus. An. dirus was completely exophilic and rested during day time in the forest mostly on tree trunks upto the height of 4-5 feet from the ground in dark moist niches avoiding direct sun light.

Animals↗