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Biomedical subjects

N Balakrishna

Publications and source records attributed to N Balakrishna.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Comparative evaluation of calf, thigh and arm circumferences in detecting low birth weight infants--Part II.

In an earlier study usefulness and validity of calf circumference in the identification of low birth weight (LBW) infants was reported. To evolve a simple indicator in identifying LBW in community, comparative evaluation of three simple measurements, i.e., circumferences of calf (CC), thigh (TC) and arm (AC) was done with respect to their sensitivity and specificity. Though all the three measurements showed a high degree of correlation with the birth weight, calf circumference tended to be most sensitive in identifying almost 95% of LBW infants. Having established the superiority of CC, a two color tape demarcating LBW zone from normal birth weight using 10 cm CC as cut off point was tested by two independent investigators and two ANMs. It was observed that only 5% of cases were misclassified either as LBW or normal weight by the tape with hardly any inter individual variation. Measurement of calf circumference being simple and easy even in the hands of paramedics, it would be used as indicator of LBW and neonatal mortality in the community.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1991

Usefulness of calf circumference as a measure for screening low birth weight infants.

Usefulness of calf circumference (CC) for screening low birth weight (LBW) was assessed in comparison with other anthropometric measurements, crown heel and crown rump lengths (CHL, CRL), Chest (Ch C), head (HC) and arm (AC) circumferences in 256 infants within 24 hours of birth. Calf circumference showed highest degree of correlation (r = 0.83) with birth weight followed by arm and chest circumference and crown heel length. Step down multiple linear regression analysis of birth weight showed highest R2 value with combination of calf, arm and crown heel length (82.1%). Addition of other measurements did not improve the predictive value of the model. Sensitivity of these parameters in screening LBW infants (less than 2500 g) showed 95.7% critical limit for calf followed by 82.6% with arm circumference and 72.5% with crown heel length. False positive responses were similar (18-20%) with all the three parameters. Calf circumference being highly sensitive and easy to measure, is useful in screening most of the low birth weight infants in the communities where weighing scales are not available or cannot be used by peripheral workers.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1990

Discriminant function analysis: a case study of some socioeconomic constraints on child nutrition.

Discriminant function analysis was used to understand the combination of socioeconomic variables in various forms of malnutrition in preschool children. Data available (1976) from two sets viz., 4000 children of rural and urban areas of Hyderabad (in south India) and 215 children of urban and rural areas of Jaipur (in north India) were used for the study. The prevalence rates of various forms of malnutrition in children were different by variations in socioeconomic status and sex (P less than 0.05). Discriminant function analysis of all socioeconomic indicators showed that educational levels and occupational status of parents and percaput income were most important for differentiation of children who were normals and undernourished. Occupational status of the father and the child's calorie intake or duration of lactation improved the differentiation of normals from those who were under-nourished. Higher prevalence of malnutrition in female children than in the male children was found due to variations in per capita income and levels of maternal education. Closely associated best set of factors could be traced using the discriminant function analysis.

Child Nutrition Disorders↗
PubMed1989

Use of body mass index for assessing the growth status of infants.

Growth status of infants measured by weight and height was assessed from birth to 12 months in a randomly selected community from the urban slums of Hyderabad City. Mean birth weight was 2.82 kg. Weight/height indicator of body mass index (BMI) showed a progressive increase till 4th month, followed by more or less a constant figure with a mean value of 1.50 in longitudinal, semi-longitudinal and cross sectional data till one year. Critical limit for BMI at birth for given weight of 2.5 kg was 1.20 and subsequently increased to 1.35. BMI was well correlated with weight and weight for height (%) and least correlated with height. Children with height of 90% or above and birth weight of above 2.5 kg were observed with better growth and better maintenance of weight for height (%) and BMI till 6 months.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Suitability of CANSCORE for the assessment of the nutritional status of newborns.

The suitability of Clinical Assessment of Nutritional Status Score (CANSCORE) for the assessment of foetal malnutrition among 372 local Hyderabad newborns was studied. Details of length, weight and body mass index (BMI) at birth were related to total CANSCORE which consisted of scores ranging from 1 to 4 based on the grades of clinical status of hair, cheeks, buttocks, chest, legs, back, neck, arms and skin of anterior abdominal wall. The correlation coefficients of CANSCORE with the length, weight and BMI of newborns indicated that score of hair was least correlated with nutritional status. Normal newborns were found to have the lowest prevalence of foetal malnutrition. In those with retarded measurements of length and weight or BMI, the prevalence of foetal malnutrition was higher. The newborns with retardation of both length and BMI had higher prevalence of foetal malnutrition. The feasibility of the suggested limits of CANSCORE for the foetal malnutrition was assessed. Values of 24 for total CANSCORE and of 22 for "Modified CANSCORE" (score excluding hair as a parameter) were found appropriate for the assessment of foetal malnutrition. Modified CANSCORE is a simple, rapid and quantifiable method for the assessment of foetal malnutrition in term newborns.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of dose and formulation on iron tolerance in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: The National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme (NNAPP) in India was launched in 1971. However, anaemia continues to be a major public health problem. Partial coverage of the population, inadequate dose of the iron supplement, defective absorption due to intestinal infestations and problems with formulation have been recognized as factors responsible for its failure. Therefore, the bioavailability of iron from different formulations containing 60 mg of elemental iron and of tablets with varying doses of elemental iron was undertaken. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen women were randomly allotted to receive different formulations and doses of iron and then undergo iron tolerance tests. They received ferrous sulphate tablets containing 60 mg, 120 mg and 180 mg of elemental iron; formulations containing 60 mg of elemental iron as pure ferrous sulphate salt, ferrous fumarate tablets, ferrous fumarate syrup, excipients added to pure ferrous sulphate salts, powdered ferrous sulphate tablets, iron tablets distributed by the NNAPP and pure ferrous salt in gelatin capsules. RESULTS: The data obtained from 32 subjects were excluded because of non-compliance, intolerance of the medication and lack of results of blood tests. Data from the remaining 83 subjects indicated that increasing the dose of elemental iron from 60 mg to 180 mg improved the bioavailability of iron, but was associated with unacceptable side-effects. Also, liquid formulations of iron had a better bioavailability, with ferrous fumarate syrup and gelatin capsules being the most superior. CONCLUSION: Providing the iron formulation with a high bioavailability should enable the NNAPP to be more successful in decreasing the prevalence of anaemia.

Anemia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Post-vaccination scenario of measles: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Routine vaccination against measles was introduced in India during 1985-86 through the Universal Immunization Programme. Its effect on the current prevalence of measles is not known. METHODS: Information on the total number of patients admitted and deaths due to measles from January 1982 to December 1997 were obtained from the records of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hyderabad, the only infectious diseases hospital in the city. Details on age, sex, number of complications, duration of hospital stay, vaccination status and information on vitamin A administration in the hospital were collected from the case records. RESULTS: A total of 20,926 cases of measles were admitted from 1982 to 1997. There was a 69% reduction in hospital admissions from the pre-vaccination to the post-vaccination period, and deaths due to measles decreased by 90%. Over the years, a rise in the age of children admitted with measles was observed. Boys were admitted more frequently to the hospital (p < 0.001) than girls. All the children showed one or more complications. From 1992 onwards, vitamin A was administered to 45.4% of the children admitted. CONCLUSION: A significant reduction was observed in the number of cases admitted to the hospital as well as deaths due to measles. Apart from the effect of the vaccination programme, this could also be due to increased awareness and availability of better health care facilities in the hospital and peripheral health clinics. Administration of vitamin A to children with measles as recommended by the World Health Organization needs to be implemented. A significant increase in the number of older children (> 5 years) with no significant reduction in the infants affected by measles indicates inadequate vaccine coverage and accumulation of susceptible older children.

Adolescent↗