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Biomedical subjects

K Basu

Publications and source records attributed to K Basu.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Women's economic roles and child survival: the case of India.

This article provides evidence that women's employment, in spite of its other benefits, probably has one crucial adverse consequence: a higher level of child mortality than is found among women who do not work. We examine various intermediate mechanisms for this relationship and conclude that a shortage of time is one of the major reasons for this negative relation between maternal employment and child survival. However, even in the area of child survival, there is one aspect which is positively affected by female employment: the disadvantage to girls in survival which is characteristic of South Asia seems to be smaller among working mothers. This is in contrast to the effect of maternal education which may often have no clear relation to the sex ratio of childhood mortality even though absolute levels of child mortality are lower for educated mothers.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of insurance coverage on the relationship between asthma hospitalizations and exposure to air pollution.

OBJECTIVE: Based on the assumption that people without health insurance have limited access to the primary care services needed to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations for asthma, the authors hypothesized that insurance is a factor in the strength of the association between hospital admissions for asthma and exposure to air pollution. They tested this hypothesis with 1991-1994 data from central Los Angeles. METHODS: The authors analyzed the effect of insurance status on the association between asthma-related hospital admissions and exposure to atmospheric particulates (PM10) and ozone (O3) using hospital discharge and air quality data for 1991-1994 for central Los Angeles. They used regression techniques with weighted moving averages (simulating distributed lag structures) to measure the effects of exposure on overall hospital admissions, admissions of uninsured patients, admissions for which MediCal (California Medicaid) was the primary payer, and admissions for which the primary payer was another government or private health insurance program. RESULTS: No associations were found between asthma admissions and O3 exposure. An estimated increase from 1991 to 1994 of 50 micrograms per cubic meter in PM10 concentrations averaged over eight days was associated with an increase of 21.0% in the number of asthma admissions. An even stronger increase--27.4%--was noted among MediCal asthma admissions. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that low family income, as indicated by MediCal coverage, is a better predictor of asthma exacerbations associated with air pollution than lack of insurance and, by implication, a better predictor of insufficient access to primary care.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early neonatal morbidity and mortality in a city based medical college nursery.

Early neonatal morbidity & mortality were studied in 7972 viable live born babies over one year period in Medical College, Calcutta. Early neonatal morbidity and mortality rate were 66.85 & 32.86 respectively. About 48% of Early neonatal deaths occurred in 1st 48 hours & 80% within first 72 hours of life. Early neonatal mortality rate per 1000 was maximum in babies born of a primi (43.03) and grand multiparous mother (103.89); maternal age less than 20 yrs. (44.15), and more than 30 yrs. (46.04) & in multiple pregnancy (142.85). It was highest in breech delivery (114.28) & with maternal disease like dribling (179), hypertension (146) & APH (116). Birth asphyxia contributed 65.26% of early neonatal deaths, followed by septicaemia (10.3%). Klebsiella was the most common (55%) organism.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Resurgence of malaria in Calcutta in 1995: a hospital based study.

A total of 405 cases of fever who were either admitted to the Hospital or attended in paediatric out patient Department or Emergency of Medical College Hospital, Calcutta between January '95 and November '95 were included in the study. Majority of cases presented with usual features of malaria like fever with chill and rigor, hepatosplenomegaly, pallor. Apart from these, complicated manifestations like shock, convulsion D.I.C and jaundice were also observed. Some unusual presentations with severe diarrhoea, dehydration and features like that of acute viral respiratory tract infection were highly confusing in terms of clinical diagnosis. P. falciparum was observed in 35.5% of cases. Overall therapeutic response to chloroquin was good, However, two patients died of cerebral Malaria. Five cases of severe malaria were caused by P. vivax however, other etiological features could not be found to attribute the severe nature of these illnesses.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Histopathological changes in gallbladder mucosa in cholelithiasis: correlation with chemical composition of gallstones.

BACKGROUND: Cholelithiasis produces diverse histopathological changes in gallbladder mucosa namely acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, glandular hyperplasia, granulomatous inflammation, cholesterosis, dysplasia, and carcinoma. Gallstones have different chemical composition. They may be cholesterol, pigment or mixed stones. The aim of this prospective study was to see if any correlation existed between the chemistry of gallstones and any particular histopathologic picture. METHODS: Between May 1997 and December 1997 we diagnosed and operated on 40 patients with cholelithiasis. Diagnosis was established by ultrasound. After operation gallstones were sent for chemical analysis to detect presence of calcium bilirubinate and cholesterol. Serial sections of gallbladder from fundus to neck were stained by haematoxylin and eosin, and studied. RESULTS: Out of 40 patients (n = 40) 29 were females and 11 were males. The mean age of our patients was 38 +/- 21 years with a median of 40 years. Median age of males was 48 years compared to 38 years for females. Twenty-eight patients had mixed stones, 8 had pigment stones and 4 had cholesterol stones. Out of 28 patients with mixed stones 14 had histological picture of chronic cholecystitis, 8 had granulomatous cholecystitis, 4 had adenomatous hyperplasia, 1 had dysplasia and 1 had carcinoma. All 8 patients having pigment gallstones had chronic cholecystitis. Out of 4 patients with cholesterol gallstones, 2 had chronic cholecystitis, 1 had adenomatous hyperplasia and 1 had cholesterosis. Gallbladder having pigment stones were devoid of Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses. CONCLUSION: Adenomatous hyperplasia and Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses were not seen in gallbladder containing pigment stones but seen in gallbladders containing mixed and cholesterol stones in our study. Cholesterol may be a more potent stimulus for glandular hyperplasia or glandular hyperplasia may responsible for formation of cholesterol rich stones.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Some clinico-epidemiological aspect of bronchiolitis among infants and young children--a hospital based study.

A hospital based prospective study was carried out from 1st October 1998 to 30th September 1999 on children with clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis in OPD and indoor patients of the Department of Paediatric Medicine, Medical College Kolkata. The objective of the study was to find out the proportional case rate and clinico epidemiological features of the disease. The effectiveness of nebulized salbutamol among bronchiolitis children was also looked into. The proportional case rate was found to be 4.65%. Low birth weight (LBW)/premature babies (51.11%) malnutrition (40%), nonimmunization (55.55%) & non breastfeeding practices (48.88%) were significant risk factors for severe bronchiolitis. Response to nebulized salbutamol was remarkably higher (70%) in 6m to 12m age group.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A clinico epidemiological study on acute viral infection of brain among children admitted in North Bengal Medical College, West Bengal.

A clinico epidemiological prospective study was carried out on acute viral infection of brain among children admitted in a rural based medical college from September '99 to Oct '01. Out of 80 cases, 8 cases (10%) of aseptic meningitis, 35 cases (43.75%) of encephalitis and 37 cases (6.25%) of meningo-encephalitis were found. Overall case fatality was 47.5% and found higher (77%) among normally nourished children in comparison to malnourished children (47.5%). Virological investigation did not isolate any known Flavivirus, Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) and Measles virus; nor any serological evidence against these viruses.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastroduodenal mucosa in peptic ulcer: endoscopic and histological assessment.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of endoscopic and histological gastroduodenitis as well as helicobacter-like organisms in patients with peptic ulcer. After diagnostic endoscopy, gastroduodenal biopsy specimens were taken from thirty patients (n = 30) with clinical and endoscopic diagnosis of peptic ulcer (duodenal ulcer = 25, gastric ulcer = 5). Endoscopic gastroduodenitis occurred in 18 patients (60%). Histological gastritis was detected in the gastric body or antrum in 25 (83%) and duodenitis in 17 (57%) patients. There was significant correlation between endoscopic and histological gastritis (p < 0.05). Helicobacter-like organisms occurred in 73% of the patients with peptic ulcer and in 88% of the antral biopsy specimens showing antral gastritis. Presence of helicobacter-like organisms was in particular associated with acute on chronic gastritis compared to chronic gastritis (p < 0.01). Moreover the patients with gastritis were found to belong to the older age group and 81.8% had blood group O +ve (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively). We conclude that presence of helicobacter-like organisms in patients with peptic ulcer is significantly associated with acute on chronic gastritis.

Adult↗