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Biomedical subjects

N Mathur

Publications and source records attributed to N Mathur.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

The clinical and biochemical study of pesticide sprayers.

Clinical, haematological and biochemical studies of 34 subjects, occupationally exposed to different types of pesticides, were conducted. The findings have been compared with those observed in 14 control subjects. Inhibition of cholinesterase activity was observed in the exposed group. Serum alkaline phosphatase was also found to be raised. Radiological examination revealed pneumonitic patches in the chest skiagrams of three exposed subjects. Paraesthesia with hyporeflexia was also found in 8.8% of exposed subjects. The findings suggest that exposure to multiple pesticides over many years affects the normal functioning of different organ systems and may produce characteristic clinical effects.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1991

An investigation of metal concentrations in blood of industrial workers.

Pigments may contain chromates of zinc and lead, dioxide of manganese, oxides of copper and cobalt, and sulphides of cadmium. Workers engaged in the production of colored glass articles are exposed to fumes and dusts from these pigments. Exposure to these metals through inhalation may lead to a high concentration of these metals in blood. Correlations between biometric characteristics of workers and the blood levels of metals, and between blood levels of different metals were explored. Blood copper and chromium were correlated with occupational history. Significant correlations between blood levels of lead, copper, chromium and manganese were also observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Ventilatory dysfunction in glass bangle workers.

The pulmonary function status of 73 glass bangle workers suffering from chronic bronchitis having varied exposures to pulmonary toxicants in the work environment was evaluated in 1984. The findings were compared with those observed in 220 asymptomatic glass bangle workers and 88 unexposed controls. There was a higher prevalence (45.2%) of ventilatory dysfunction in the chronic bronchitic cases as compared to 19% in the asymptomatic workers and 2.3% in controls, respectively. The relative risk of airway obstruction was 8.3 and 19.6 times higher in the asymptomatic and chronic bronchitic workers respectively as compared to the controls (p less than 0.001). The prevalence of obstructive impairment among the smokers and non-smokers in the exposed workers was not statistically significant. However, age greater than 30 was found to be significantly associated with bronchial obstruction in chronic bronchitic cases. The relative risk of duration of exposure was found to be 1.86 in the asymptomatic workers exposed for more than 10 years (p less than 0.05) while it was 1.62 in workers with chronic bronchitis. The occupational and environmental factors responsible for the high prevalence of chronic bronchitis and associated ventilatory dysfunction in relatively young glass bangle workers are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Biochemical and histopathological changes following dermal exposure to paraphenylene diamine in guinea pigs.

The guinea pigs were dermally exposed to paraphenylene diamine (PPD) at a dose level of 0.1 ml day-1 of a 1.0% (w/v) solution of PPD for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days. The absorption of PPD and its effects on lipid peroxidation, glutathione, histamine and several enzymes were assessed in skin and serum. Histopathological changes in liver, kidney and skin were examined also. The findings of the study indicated that PPD exposure resulted in significantly increased levels of lipid peroxidation and histamine contents in skin. The activity of enzymes increased significantly in skin and serum. PPD exposure also showed degenerative changes in liver and hyperkeratosis together with infiltration of cells in the dermis. Biochemical defects and histopathological changes in skin and serum correlated with the duration of exposure.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1990

Cardiac stress in glass bangle workers.

The cardiac cost of work and recovery pulse rates were evaluated in 38 glass bangle workers (mean age 27.8 years, SD 3.4) exposed to radiant heat (46.2 degrees C, SD 5.1) and high ambient temperature (38.2 degrees C, SD 3.4) for a mean period of 11.0 years, SD 3.5 in the glass bangle industry. A reference group of 15 controls (mean age 27.0 years, SD 3.5 unexposed to occupational heat stress served as a comparison. The results showed that the pulse rate increased from a mean basal value of 80.0 beats.min-1, SD 2.7 to 113.2 beats.min-1, SD 11.4 in the exposed workers while in the controls the increase was negligible. Thus the cardiac cost of work was found to be 33.2 beats.min-1, SD 11.1 in the exposed group which was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than 7.8 beats.min-1, SD 4.2 observed in the control group. Among the exposed workers, 'belanias', who were engaged in the strenuous job of manually rotating the iron roller in the Belan furnace so that the molten glass could be wound in a spiral form, showed the maximum increase in the pulse rate (42.0 beats.min-1, SD 7.5) over the work-shift followed by 'muthias' (31.1 beats.min-1, SD 4.0) who were engaged in removing the glass spirals from the Belan furnace. However, wireman ('tarkashs'), who were engaged in the highly skilled job of making very fine threads of molten glass with the help of an iron roller, showed the smallest increase (19.5 beats.min-1, SD 3.4) in pulse rate over the work-shift.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A global comparison of predicting equations on spirometry in the male population.

A multiple regression model considering dependent variables like vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and age and height as independent variables for the adult male population, which includes whites of European descent and non-whites was reviewed to evaluate the role of lung function status following standardization of age and height. Non-whites showed 0.19 litre decline in VC per decade of life as compared to 0.24 litres observed in the whites of European descent. Mean VC increased 0.05 litres per centimetre in non-whites and whites. The variation in the constant term in the regression equation determined the difference between the racial groups. Like VC, FEV1 showed ethnic differences similar to those of VC. However, the magnitude of the variation in the predicted values of FEV1 was found to be less than that observed in VC. When related to VC, FEV1 showed little difference between most European populations, New Guyanaese, Indians, Negroes, Africans and Chinese because FEV1/FVC ratio had a very narrow range between 77 and 80%.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Pulmonary function study in female grinders exposed to agate dust.

This paper reports a cross-sectional study of a non-smoking population of silica exposed female workers compared with a group of healthy non-exposed females. The exposed group is divided into cohorts according to the presence or absence of pneumoconiosis in either simple or complex form. The study revealed statistically significant difference in pulmonary function between each of the pneumoconiosis group and the controls and healthy exposed workers. Furthermore, there was statistically significant difference between the values of pulmonary function parameters of the healthy exposed group and the controls. The most important observation of the study is that almost equal decrement of pulmonary function values was observed in the diseased groups and in the healthy exposed group compared to the decrement seen between the latter group and the control group. VC and FVC showed a mean fall of 11.0 and 11.5% in the healthy exposed group as compared to those observed in the unexposed controls (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05) while in the pneumoconiosis group VC and FVC showed 16.9 and 18.2% decrease as compared with the values obtained in the healthy grinders (p less than 0.01). Similarly FEV1 showed almost same decrease in the healthy (17.9%) and diseased (20.7%) exposed groups (p less than 0.001). However, FEV0.75 and MVV parameters showed greater decrement (25.4 and 33.7%) in the pneumoconiosis group as compared to 15.7 and 18.5% observed in the healthy exposed workers. The important observation made in this study is that potential pulmonary debilitation may occur in pneumoconiosis before, or in the absence of, any radiologic findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Orthopaedic industrial injuries.

A study of 600 consecutive cases of industrial injuries, who came from power using mechanised industries at Jaipur was undertaken to determine the incidence, pattern and causes of industrial injuries. The study revealed that there were fewer injuries in the 18 to 25 years age group than in those over the age of 36. Most of the injuries involved the upper limbs (66.2%), of which nearly 41% resulted from entrapment of hands in machines and were serious. This reflected the lack of adequate safety measures where it is most required.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1990

Effect of chronic cadmium exposure on locomotor behaviour of rats.

Growing male rats were exposed to cadmium (Cd, 100 micrograms/kg, ip) for 51 days and the effect on the different components of locomotor behaviour was assessed on days 38, 46 and 51 of Cd exposure. Significant decrease in distance travelled, stereotypic time and movements, ambulatory time and vertical movements were observed in Cd-exposed rats, whereas the time of rest was increased. The number of entries into the inner as well as the outer squares and the total time spent in the inner squares of the floor area were significantly reduced. Results indicate that Cd exposure results in a general depression in all aspects of motor behaviour leading to decrease in gross locomotor activity. The involvement of an exaggerated emotional reactivity in the behavioural expression of the Cd-treated animals is also emphasized.

Acetates↗
PubMed1989

Study of respiratory impairment among pesticide sprayers in Mango plantations.

Pulmonary function studies were conducted on 489 pesticide workers engaged in spraying operations on mango plantations. These workers were exposed to a variety of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides. A reference group consisting of 208 controls, belonging to the same socioeconomic stratum, was taken from the same area for purposes of comparison. The results of the study showed 36.5 and 41.5% prevalence of respiratory impairment in the exposed workers and in the controls, respectively. The most common pulmonary impairment among the exposed subjects (18.8%) and controls (16.9%) was of the restrictive type, followed by mixed ventilatory defect. Bronchial obstruction affected 2.5 and 3.7% of the exposed and control populations, respectively. In a comparison of the prevalence of total respiratory impairment in the pesticide workers and the controls, the nonsmokers did not show any significant difference in this study. The prevalence rate of respiratory impairment showed an increasing trend in different exposure groups (p less than 0.05), thereby clearly indicating a dose effect. The study revealed that occupational exposure to pesticides had a direct bearing on the respiratory impairment identified in the exposed workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Cardio-respiratory studies on glass bangle workers.

Cardio-respiratory functions were recorded in 18 glass bangle workers (Belanias) who worked near the belan furnace continuously for 2 h. The workers were exposed to high ambient temperature (tDB 38.2 degrees C +/- 3.4 degrees C) and thermal radiation (tG 46.2 degrees C +/- 5.1 degrees C) during their work. The physiological responses recorded after the work spell at 1 (R1) 3 (R3) and 5 (R5) minute intervals exhibited incomplete recovery. The oral temperature remained significantly high (0.74 degrees F +/- 0.27 degrees F) even at R5 and never reached pre-work value. Similarly the heart rate values remained very high (26.4 +/- 5.4 beats/min) at R1, (10.7 +/- 3.9 beats/min) at R3 and (4.01 +/- 2.4 beats/min) at R5 periods during recovery, thereby showing that heart rate did not regain the pre-work status. The incomplete recovery in heart rate revealed cardiac stress in the exposed workers. Besides the cardiac stress, the cardiac cost of the work under the prevailing hot conditions in the glass bangle industry was very high, adding further to circulatory strain in these workers. Almost all the exposed workers were found to have hyperventilation syndrome characterized by increased respiratory frequency and tidal volume resulting in ventilatory stress induced by physical and physiological heat.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1989

Thermal stress and physiological strain of children exposed to hot environments in a glass bangle factory.

A group of 19 male children (mean age 12.1 years SEM 1.6 years) occupationally exposed to an excessively hot environment for an average duration of 2.5 years SEM 1.7 years in the glass bangle factory in Firozabad, India, were studied to evaluate the physiological strain induced by the thermal radiation (mean radiant temperature 46.2 degrees SEM 5.1 degrees C) and high ambient temperature (38.2 degrees SEM 3.4 degrees C) prevailing in the factory. Over a work-shift the mean increase in oral temperature was 0.90 degrees C in the exposed children, in comparison with the 0.40 degrees C increase recorded in the control children (p less than 0.05). The maximum increase in oral temperature was recorded in 'gulliwalas' (0.90 degrees C) and the minimum in 'battiwalas' (0.80 degrees C). The mean peak value of oral temperature (37.5 degrees C) was observed at 1600 hours. A significant increase in the pulse rate (25.9 beats.min-1) during the work-shift was observed in the exposed children in comparison with a mean increase of 9.4 beats.min-1 in the control group. Ventilatory studies showed pulmonary hyperventilation in the exposed workers. The increase in pulmonary ventilation was in the form of an increase in tidal volume and respiratory frequency induced by high environmental temperatures and thermal radiation. The cardio-respiratory responses showed physiological strain induced by the high ambient temperature and radiant heat prevailing in the glass bangle factory.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Protein A protects mice from depletion of biotransformation enzymes and mortality induced by Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin.

Changes in hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase enzyme levels (aniline hydroxylase, aminopyrine demethylase, glutathione S-transferase), glutathione content, total sulphydryl content, and plasma enzyme levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were studied in male Swiss albino mice exposed to Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin (50-150 micrograms per mouse, LC50 141.82 micrograms). Animals exposed to the same dose of endotoxin but pretreated with protein A of Staphylococcus aureus (5 micrograms/per mouse) protected the animals from both mortality and depletion of biotransformation enzymes.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1989

A study of the prevalence of ventilatory obstruction in textile workers exposed to cotton dust.

A study was conducted in a cotton spinning mill to assess the prevalence of respiratory impairment in 189 asymptomatic workers and 133 byssinotics drawn from various sections of the plant exposed to airborne cotton dust in the work environment. Eight-four healthy controls belonging to the same socioeconomic status and ethnic group having never been exposed to cotton dust or any other pollutant was also studied for the purpose of comparison. Of the 189 asymptomatic workers, 13 (6.8%) suffered from bronchial obstruction whereas only 2 (2.3%) among the control showed obstructive pulmonary impairment. The byssinotics showed a significantly higher prevalence (15.7%) of bronchial obstruction than that (6.8%) observed among the asymptomatic cotton workers (P less than 0.005). Byssinotics (grade II) showed significantly higher prevalence (31.5%) of bronchial obstruction than that (9.4%) observed in acute byssinotics (grade I). The effect of smoking on the prevalence of bronchial obstruction in the asymptomatic and byssinotics was quite discernible as smokers showed significantly higher prevalence than that observed among the nonsmokers (P less than 0.05). The asymptomatic cotton workers and those with different grades of byssinosis having more than 10 years of exposure showed significantly higher prevalence of bronchial obstruction than that observed in the group with less than 10 years of exposure (P less than 0.005). The healthy cotton workers and byssinotics engaged in the preparatory section (card, blow, and waste plant rooms) showed an insignificant higher prevalence of bronchial obstruction (11.3 and 24.4%, respectively) than among those who worked in the spinning, reeling, and winding sections of the mill. The mechanism responsible for causing ventilatory obstruction in the textile workers is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Respiratory health effects from occupational exposure to wood dust in sawmills.

Spirometric lung functions were recorded for 109 workers (mean age 26.4 +/- 8.2 yr) occupationally exposed (mean exposure 8.9 +/- 7.7 yr) to soft wood dust in local sawmills along with 88 unexposed controls (mean age 28.7 +/- 9.9 yr) belonging to the same socioeconomic status to assess the prevalence of respiratory impairment in the exposed population. The results of the study showed a significantly higher prevalence of overall respiratory impairment in the exposed group even after standardizing for smoking habits (p less than 0.001). The adjusted rate for respiratory impairment in the exposed group was 29.4% as compared to 2.2% observed in the unexposed controls. The pattern of respiratory abnormality observed in the sawmill workers was predominantly the restrictive type (28.4%), indicating lower levels of forced vital capacity (FVC) in the exposed group; while in the control group, there were none with lung restriction The prevalence of airflow limitation, however, was similar in the exposed workers (1.8%) and controls (2.2%), thereby, indicating that bronchial obstruction was independent of wood dust exposure. It is concluded that the dust exposure in sawmills is associated mainly with restrictive type of pulmonary impairment in the exposed workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Medico-economic implications of industrial hand injuries in India.

625 five consecutive cases of industrial hand injuries attending the Employee's State Insurance Hospital, Jaipur, have been studied from 1983 to October 1986. The incidence of injuries was 36 per 10,000 workers per year. 47% were due to entrapment of the hand in active machines, 25% occurred during lifting and transportation of heavy objects and 12% while handling tools. The injuries resulted in residual deficit in 55% of cases and were serious enough to require absence from work of more than four weeks in 48% of cases. On an average 35 days were lost per injured worker. The average economic loss per injured worker was Rs. 6900 (approximately pounds 275) for workers in the wage-range of Rs. 5400 to 19,200 (pounds 216 to pounds 768) per annum.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1988

Estrogen induced effects on mouse testis and epididymal spermatozoa.

The effects of estradiol benzoate (E2B) at a dose of 200 micrograms/kg body weight/day for 7 and 15 days were investigated on epididymal sperm parameters and morphology of testis in adult mice. The data revealed a decline in cauda epididymal sperm count and percentage motility with duration of estrogen administration. The decreased sperm motility was correlated with reduced sperm enzymes as evidenced by biochemical and cytochemical studies. The depletion of cauda epididymal sperm population in treated mice was related to inhibition of spermatogenic activity in testis as compared to control. Thus, the estrogen treatment to mice manifests maturational changes in epididymal spermatozoa as a result of androgen deprivation.

Acid Phosphatase↗