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Biomedical subjects

M Puri

Publications and source records attributed to M Puri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Sexual behavior and perceived risk of HIV/AIDS among young migrant factory workers in Nepal.

PURPOSE: To analyze the sexual behavior, perceived risk of contracting STIs and HIV/AIDS, and protective behaviors of migrant workers aged 14-19 years in carpet and garment factories in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. A common assumption in Nepal is that young migrant workers experience an increase in vulnerability. Moving away from the social controls of family and community, they become exposed to a mixed-gender environment and therefore might initiate sex earlier or have more casual encounters than might otherwise be the case. METHODS: The analysis is based on a representative sample survey of 1050 factory workers. Information was also obtained from 23 in-depth case histories. Both bivarite and multivariate techniques were applied to identify the factors associated with involvement in risky sexual behavior. RESULTS: Despite religious and cultural restrictions, one in five boys and one in eight unmarried girls reported experience of sexual intercourse. Early sexual experimentation, multiple partners, and low and irregular use of condoms are not uncommon. Instances of sexual exploitation by factory owners or managers were documented but were rare. Most nonregular sex partners were described as friends from the same factory or community. Despite high-risk behavior, relatively few young people considered themselves to be at risk of getting STIs or HIV/AIDS. Information on the possible consequences of unsafe sex is inadequate. CONCLUSION: Programs aimed at promotion of safer sex practices and life skill training that facilitates communication and utilization of sexual health services should target vulnerable migrant young people.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2005

Texture analysis of foot sole soft tissue images in diabetic neuropathy using wavelet transform.

The paper presents a new method of characterisation of texture changes in foot sole soft tissue ultrasound (US) images, as observed to occur in diabetic subjects, using wavelet transforms. US images of the soft tissue subcutaneous layer were taken with a 7.5 MHz linear transducer probe placed parallel to the skin surface. The foot sole hardness was characterised by Shore level. A 2D discrete wavelet transform was performed on the US images to extract features that encode the internal state of the foot sole soft tissue. The global energy feature computed at the output of each wavelet channel was found to achieve excellent delineation between the normal and the diabetic groups. An important finding was a strong correlation, in the order of 0.84 and above, between the feature values that reflect changes in the internal arrangement of the tissue, and the externally measurable hardening of the skin, characterised by the Shore levels, with the latter known to be high for diabetics. A comparison drawn between diabetic ulcer and non-ulcer groups established a change in the order of 122-311% in the textural parameter, as influenced by a corresponding 66.7-200% change in the respective Shore values. Thus US examination of foot sole soft tissue and its texture analysis may serve as sources of valuable information regarding the internal changes taking place with progressive hardening of the soft tissue and thereby help the clinician in taking appropriate preventive measures.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Profile of Indian women requesting reversal of sterilisation.

This is a prospective clinical study carried out on 96 tubectomised women referred for microsurgical reversal to the Pandit BDS Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak and LHMC and SSKH, New Delhi. It was concluded that in developing countries high perinatal and child mortality rates are responsible for increased demands for reversal of sterilisation. Proper pre-operative counselling, age of the women, assessment of marital stability, family size and age of children are important before advocating sterilisation as a method of contraception.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Production, purification, and characterization of the debittering enzyme naringinase.

This review discusses the debittering enzyme naringinase and its essential role in the commercial processing of citrus fruit juice. Applications of this enzyme in other areas are identified. Characterization of the enzyme is detailed and its immobilized preparations are discussed. Production of microbial naringinase by fermentation is described.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

The puzzling association between smoking and hypertension during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to examine the association between maternal smoking and hypertension during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We used data from the Collaborative Perinatal Project, a large prospective cohort study that collected detailed information on blood pressure, proteinuria, smoking, and placental morphologic and histologic characteristics. A total of 9651 healthy primigravid women without chronic hypertension who had been enrolled in the study at the first or second trimester (average 18 weeks' gestation) and had had >/=3 prenatal visits were included. Gestational hypertension was defined as diastolic blood pressure >/=90 mm Hg on 2 occasions from 24 weeks' gestation to 2 weeks post partum. Preeclampsia was defined as gestational hypertension plus >/=2 urine samples containing >/=1+ protein according to dipstick measurement during the same gestational period. RESULTS: After we controlled for prepregnancy body mass, age, socioeconomic status, and race, both past smoking and smoking during pregnancy were associated in a dose-response pattern with reduced risks of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. For women who smoked >/=10 cigarettes/d the relative risks with respect to women who had never smoked were 0.6 (95% confidence interval, 0.4-0.9) for gestational hypertension and 0.5 (95% confidence interval, 0.4-0.7) for preeclampsia. This protective effect was observed both for mild and severe gestational hypertension and for preeclampsia. The more and the longer a woman had smoked previously, the lower was her risk of development of hypertension during pregnancy. This association could not be explained by confounding factors, by changes in placental morphologic or histopathologic characteristics, by maternal net weight gain, or by elevated liver enzyme bioactivity. CONCLUSION: Smoking is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension during pregnancy. The protective effect appears to continue even after cessation of smoking. Further basic research on this issue is warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Influence of intraumbilical oxytocin on the third stage of labour.

In this study the effect of intraumbilical oxytocin on duration and amount of blood loss in third stage of labour was studied. Pregnant women were randomized into 2 groups of 50 each. Group I was managed actively with 10 units of oxytocin diluted in 20 ml saline given through umbilical vein immediately after cord claming and Group II managed traditionally with oxytocin infusion 10 units in 250 ml of dexrose saline at rate of 125 ml/hr given after delivery of baby. In the study group there was a statistically significant decrease in duration of third stage of labour <1.48 min vs 3.27 min>, fall in haemoglobin <1.2 g/dl vs 1.96 g/dl> and fall in haematocrit <3.88% Vs 7.20%<. It was concluded that intraumbilical oxytocin appears to be a useful, safe and practical method for active management of third stage.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Depression in general clinical practice--a diagnostic problem.

The study was conducted on 100 patients suffering from depression with the aim to highlight the common manifestations of depression in people belonging to a developing country like India, and to apprise the general practitioners and medical specialists of various disciplines, of various manifestations of depression to help early detection and timely treatment of the problem. It was observed that depression had varied manifestations like depressed mood, anxiety, somatic features, insomnia, lack of interest, paranoid ideas, obsessions, etc. Although 100% of patients had depressed mood but only 22% actually complained of it. Most patients often selectively highlighted somatic manifestations and overtly suppressed the mood component, thereby posing a diagnostic problem to the physician.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A comparative evaluation of clinical examination, pelvic ultrasound and laparoscopy in the diagnosis of pelvic masses.

This is a prospective study conducted on one hundred female patients with pelvic masses. The diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination alone and in conjunction with ultrasonic examination was comparable (p > 0.05). However diagnostic accuracy of 92% with laparoscopy was statistically significant as compared to 68% of clinical examination (p < 0.001) and 76% of ultrasonic examination (p < 0.05).

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1991

An immunoenzymatic dot-ELISA for the detection of Giardia lamblia antigen in stool eluates of clinical cases of giardiasis.

A dot-ELISA technique for the detection of G. lamblia specific antigen in stool eluates of clinical cases of giardiasis was developed and evaluated employing monospecific antibodies to a G. lamblia specific coproantigen with a molecular mass of 66 kDa. The assay detected 22 (91.7%) of the 24 microscopically confirmed cases of giardiasis while none of the stool eluates from 20 patients with gastrointestinal parasites other than G. lamblia and 20 apparently healthy subjects had any detectable levels of G. lamblia-specific coproantigen. Of the 25 stool eluates from clinically suspected cases of giardiasis, 13 (52%) were found to contain G. lamblia-specific coproantigen. A 3-month-follow up of five of such cases where stool eluates has antigen detected by dot-ELISA assay, revealed the presence of G. lamblia cysts on repeated stool examinations. All the clinically suspected cases with detectable levels of G. lamblia-specific coproantigen by dot-ELISA were relieved of their clinical symptoms following metronidazole therapy. Single stool eluate examination by dot-ELISA was found to be sufficient to confirm the diagnosis. The dot-ELISA is an easy, rapid, sensitive and specific procedure for confirming the diagnosis of suspected cases of giardiasis. It should be a valuable diagnostic aid under field conditions as well as in the laboratory.

Animals↗