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Biomedical subjects

M B Raghu

Publications and source records attributed to M B Raghu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Immunogenicity and safety of hepatitis B vaccine (Shanvac-B) using a novel pre-filled single use injection device Uniject in Indian subjects.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B is a major public health problem, which has now been controlled to some extent by vaccination especially with the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, which has been proven to be safe and efficacious since its introduction in the 1990s. But problems of unsafe injection practices still persist. Now newer delivery devices like uniject are available for making vaccination very safe. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the Hepatitis-B (Shanvac-B) vaccine in Uniject pre-filled device administered to healthy adults and infants at 0, 1, 2 months schedule. METHODS: A total of 122 healthy subjects (62 adults and 60 infants) were administered three doses of the recombinant Hepatitis-B vaccine using Uniject pre-filled device. Blood samples for antibody titer estimation were taken before vaccination and 4-6 weeks after third dose. Subjects, parents or guardians were given diary cards to record any adverse reactions. RESULTS: Protective immune responses to the vaccine were seen in 96.4% of adults and 100% of infants who completed the study. The Geometric Mean Titers (GMT) in adults and infants were 518.5 and 385.41 mIU/ml respectively. Mild fever, itching, and swelling at injection site were the most common side effects observed. CONCLUSION: The safety and immunogenicity of the Hepatitis B Vaccine in the novel pre-filled device Uniject was effectively demonstrated in the present study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Oral rehydration for diarrhoeal diseases in children.

Electrolyte disturbances and response to oral electrolyte therapy were studied in 88 children with mild to moderate dehydration due to acute gastroenteritis. A solution with a sodium concentration of 50 mmol/litre was tested in a group of 60 children and results obtained with those in a group of 28 children taking a standard oral solution with a concentration of 90 mmol/litre. Adequate hydration was accomplished in both groups and none of them received intravenous fluids. Neither group received additional water or other fluid in the first 24 hours. There was a significant rise in sodium concentration with both solutions and none of the children developed hypernatraemia. A significant rise in potassium is observed in children with clinical kwashiorkor when hydrated with the low sodium solution.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Drug therapy of acute diarrhoea in children--actual practice and recommendations.

Forty eight private medical practitioners and fifty six pharmacists were interviewed, using a prepared questionnaire in each group, in an attempt to evaluate the awareness and practice in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children among private medical practitioners and the role of pharmacists in the dispensing of drugs for diarrhoea in children. 83% of the doctors prescribed an antibacterial agent, 56% prescribed loperamide, 19% of them prescribed diphenoxylate plus atropine while 31% prescribed an absorbent in children for the treatment of acute diarrhoea. Of fifty six pharmacists interviewed, 30 of them sold diphenoxylate on their own and 26 of them honoured a doctor's prescription of the same. 80% of pharmacists interviewed dispensed loperamide, more than 50% of them dispensed an antibacterial agent while 14% dispensed a binding agent such as pectin or kaolin for the treatment of acute diarrhoea without a valid prescription from a doctor. We recommend that the pharmaceuticals prominently display the harmful effects in children of drugs such as the antimotility drugs and immediately withdraw from the market, all pediatric preparations of the same.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Awareness of and attitude towards oral rehydration therapy.

Forty eight Medical practitioners, 56 pharmacists and 55 mothers of children with diarrhoea were interviewed, using a prepared questionnaire, in an attempt to evaluate in each group, the awareness of and attitude towards oral rehydration therapy. 69% of mothers interviewed were aware of oral rehydration therapy, but only 66% among them practised it. 48% of mothers interviewed, received advice regarding oral rehydration therapy from medical personnel and health care providers. It was found that the ORS preparations not conforming to WHO formulation were the most widely stocked and used and the most widely sold. 9% of pharmacists advocated only glucose as a treatment for diarrhoea on their own. 60% of doctors advised and prescribed ORS preparation not conforming to WHO formulation, 44% of medical practitioners were not sure of the exact method of dilution and preparation of the commercially available preparations. The study has shown that there is more to be done towards realising the total success of ORT. We recommend that ORS preparations not conforming to WHO formulation be withdrawn from the market and further that the responsibility of their manufacture be undertaken by governmental agencies.

Administration, Oral↗