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Biomedical subjects

R M Bhatt

Publications and source records attributed to R M Bhatt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

The burden of malaria in Ahmedabad city, India: a retrospective analysis of reported cases and deaths.

Owing to the paucity of accurate information on the burden of malaria in urban India, a retrospective, epidemiological study was carried out in Ahmedabad city, which has a population of about 3 million. Surveillance data for the years 1965-1998 showed a gradual resurgence of malaria between 1967 to 1976, followed by waves of low and high incidences. Plasmodium vivax always predominated but the proportion of cases attributed to P. falciparum increased markedly from 1983. When the surveillance data and health records of the major public and private health facilities in the city were analysed, for the period between 1991 and 1998, P. vivax was found to account for 69% of all malaria cases and P. falciparum for the other 31%. The incidence of infection with each Plasmodium species showed seasonal variation, with that of P. vivax increasing from January to September but then declining as the incidence of P. falciparum increased. The age-specific differences seen in incidence were not statistically significant (P=0.7). The annual numbers of malaria-attributable deaths were strongly correlated with the incidence of P. falciparum (r=0.88). The malaria incidence detected (37431 cases, representing a mean annual incidence of 12.2 cases/1000) was nine times greater than that officially reported (4119 cases, or 1.3 cases/1000 each year). Similarly, the annual malaria-attributable mortality detected (22 deaths/million) was far higher than that officially notified (0.3 death/million). The results of the retrospective analysis not only provide a more accurate, baseline estimate of the burden of malaria in an urban area of India but also clearly indicate the need for a much more efficient health-information system, for recording and managing malaria in such a setting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Activity of a crude extract formulation in experimental hepatic amoebiasis and in immunomodulation studies.

The activity of a crude extract formulation was evaluated in experimental amoebic liver abscess in golden hamsters and in immunomodulation studies. The formulation comprises the following five plants-Boerhavia diffusa, Tinospora cordifolia, Berberis aristata, Terminalia chebula and Zingiber officinale. The formulation had a maximum cure rate of 73% at a dose of 800 mg/kg/day in hepatic amoebiasis reducing the average degree of infection (ADI) to 1.3 as compared to 4.2 for sham-treated controls. In immunomodulation studies humoral immunity was enhanced as evidenced by the haemagglutination titre. The T-cell counts remained unaffected in the animals treated with the formulation but cell-mediated immune response was stimulated as observed in the leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) tests.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1996

Studies on Plasmodium vivax relapse pattern in Kheda district, Gujarat.

Relapse pattern in P. vivax malaria was studied in five villages of Nadiad taluka, Kheda district, Gujarat. P. vivax cases treated with 600 mg chloroquine and in combination with 50 mg pyrimethamine (adult dose) yielded 28.31 and 27.73% relapse rate respectively. While relapse rate of 5.78% was observed with five day course of 75 mg primaquine (15 mg/day) administered as radical treatment. Relapse rate in 5-10 yr of age group was comparatively more than other age groups. There was no noticeable difference in relapse rates among male and female. The short-term relapse with a lag period of 2-3 months was significantly higher in this area. The longest relapse with an interval of 17 months was found in one case treated with chloroquine along with pyrimethamine. However, primaquine regimen prevented consecutive relapses. Primaquine has been found adequate to prevent relapse in more than 90% vivax cases, while efficacy of chloroquine-pyrimethamine and chloroquine alone was almost comparable. A high proportion of relapse may be minimized, if 5-days radical treatment is given at appropriate time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Biting rhythms of some anophelines in central Gujarat.

A total of 41,552 anophelines comprising 16 species were collected during 70 all-night bovine-bait collection carried out in six villages of Kheda district, Gujarat. Anopheles subpictus, An. varuna, An. culicifacies, An. stephensi and An. vagus had unimodal biting rhythms. Most feeding occurred during the early night with occasional increase during pre-dawn/dawn hours. An. pallidus exhibited bimodal biting rhythm with two well-defined peaks. An. turkhudi, An. tessellatus, An. fluviatilis, An. aconitus, An. annularis; An. barbirostris and An. nigerrimus had multimodal biting rhythms or were arthymic. An. culicifacies, An. varuna, An. aconitus and An. tessellatus exhibited a marked seasonal shift in feeding activities with most biting occurring at dusk in colder months and late at night during warmer months.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The antiamoebic effect of a crude drug formulation of herbal extracts against Entamoeba histolytica in vitro and in vivo.

The antiamoebic effect of a crude drug formulation against Entamoeba histolytica was studied. In the traditional system of medicine in India, the formulation has been prescribed for intestinal disorders. It comprises of five medicinal herbs, namely, Boerhavia diffusa, Berberis aristata, Tinospora cordifolia, Terminalia chebula and Zingiber officinale. The dried and pulverized plants were extracted in ethanol together and individually. In vitro amoebicidal activity was studied to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of all the constituent extracts as well as the whole formulation. The formulation had a MIC of 1000 micrograms/ml as compared with 10 micrograms/ml for metronidazole. In experimental caecal amoebiasis in rats the formulation had a curative rate of 89% with the average degree of infection (ADI) reduced to 0.4 in a group dosed with 500 mg/kg per day as compared with ADI of 3.8 for the sham-treated control group of rats. Metronidazole had a cure rate of 89% (ADI = 0.4) at a dose of 100 mg/kg per day and cured the infection completely (ADI = 0) when the dosage was doubled to 200 mg/kg per day. There were varying degrees of inhibition of the following enzyme activities of crude extracts of axenically cultured amoebae: DNase, RNase, aldolase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, alpha-amylase and protease.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1995

Prophylactic therapy of Salmonella typhi septicemia in mice with a traditionally prescribed crude drug formulation.

A crude drug formulation comprised of eight medicinal herb extracts was studied for in vitro and in vivo effect against Salmonella typhi. The formulation displayed inhibitory action against the test organism in vitro. Subsequently mice were challenged with a virulent strain of Salmonella typhi (Ty2) and the protective effect of the formulation was evaluated with post-infective, pre-infective, single and multiple dose schedules, administered either orally or subcutaneously. A schedule that included multiple divided doses prophylactically administered had a significant therapeutic effect.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

Epidemiological observations on malaria in villages of Buhari PHC, Surat, Gujarat.

Investigations were carried out in the villages of Buhari PHC, Surat district, Gujarat to determine factors responsible for high prevalence of P. falciparum. The area is well-known for sugarcane cultivation, industrialization and frequent movement of labourers. The slide positivity rate (44.24%) and P. falciparum infections (95.37%) were significantly high. The children of 5-9 yrs of age group suffered maximum from malaria. The infection in children was found associated with splenomegaly also. High falciparum infection (82.35%) was found in labourers camping near villages out of which 90% afebrile cases were reported which were silent carriers and source of transmission. Chloroquine was effective in 75% cases despite of existence of resistant falciparum strain. Among seven anopheline species encountered, An. culicifacies was predominant and found breeding in most of the breeding sites. The status of the insecticide spray and its receptivity among the community were poor. The investigation led to the conclusion that adequate measures are required to deal with migratory labourers, improper insecticide coverage, poor surveillance and mass ignorance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Biology of malaria vectors in central Gujarat.

Biology of malaria vectors were studied in Kheda district of central Gujarat in order to understand the vector behaviour in the wake of ecological changes. Anopheles culicifacies and An. stephensi were mainly endophilic whereas An. fluviatilis exhibited marked exophily. All the three vectors were predominantly zoophilic. Peak biting activity period of An. culicifacies varied with season though biting continued in varying magnitudes throughout the night. An. stephensi and An. fluviatilis were arhythmic in their biting activity. Survival of all the three vectors was maximum during cold season owing to longer gonotrophic cycle which also yielded higher estimates for expected infective life. Instability of malaria in this area was probably due to low estimates of expected infective life for the three vectors. A wide range of breeding habitat preferences by An. culicifacies was observed whereas An. fluviatilis and An. stephensi showed restricted distribution.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Observations on mosquito breeding in wells and its control.

Studies on mosquito breeding in wells revealed the dominance of An. stephensi among the malaria vectors, whereas Cx. quinquefasciatus was most abundant in disused wells and was present in wells of all depths. None of the anopheline species was encountered when well depth up to water level exceeded 12 m. Larval breeding was effectively controlled through the introduction of larvivorous fish Poecilia reticulata and expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads in comparison to untreated control wells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Primary benign vesical teratoma. A case report.

Primary benign vesical teratomas are rare. Most of the cases reported are paravesical teratomas rupturing into the bladder. A case of primary benign vesical teratoma suspected preoperatively and later confirmed at histopathology is reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Frequency of ABO blood groups, sickle-cell haemoglobin, G-6-PD deficiency and their relation with malaria in scheduled castes and scheduled tribes of Kheda District, Gujarat.

Frequency of sickle cell in Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe populations was found to be 1.5 and 14.9% respectively, whereas G-6-PD deficiency was 5.9 and 4.2% respectively. Blood group B was dominant in both the communities. A significantly lower frequency of P. falciparum malaria was observed among sicklers.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1992

An epidemiological study of G-6-PD deficiency, sickle cell haemoglobin, and ABO blood groups in relation to malaria incidence in Muslim and Christian communities of Kheda, Gujarat, (India).

783 blood samples for the study of distribution of ABO blood groups and sickle cell haemoglobin in relation to malaria, from both the sexes of Muslim and Christian populations of Kheda district were screened. 414 blood samples from male individuals were screened for G-6-PD deficiency. High frequency of G-6-PD deficiency was observed in Christians (5.9%) and low in Muslim (1.8%) population, whereas sickle cell haemoglobin in Muslim population was 1.5% and absent in Christians. Blood group B was dominant in both the communities. Significant association of ABO polymorphs with P. falciparum and total malaria cases was observed.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1992

Intradomestic mosquito breeding sources and their management.

Seven mosquito species were found to breed in intradomestic breeding sources. An. stephensi and An. subpictus bred in almost all types of containers. Among the culicines, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti were predominant. Larval breeding was controlled through source reduction or introduction of larvivorous fish Poecilia reticulata. Health education helped in acceptance of the programme by the community. Intradomestic breeding positivity was 2-6% and 16-31% in experimental and control areas respectively.

Aedes↗
PubMed1992

Sensitivity of mosquito-pathogenic bacterial strains to various antibodies.

Four strains of Bacillus sphaericus, 1593, 2362, 9001 and 9002, B. thuringiensis H-14 and B. thuringiensis neoleonensis were tested for sensitivity against 18 antibiotics. The results revealed that all the four strains of B. sphaericus are resistant to colistin, nalidixic acid, polymyxin B and streptomycin. However, B. thuringiensis H-14 was resistant to 9 antibiotics, viz. ampicillin, cephalexin, carbenicillin, co-trimoxazole, colistin, cloxacillin, penicillin, nitrofurantoin and polymyxin B whereas B. thuringiensis neoleonensis was found to be resistant to 8 antibiotics. These results may help in isolation of potential and resistant mosquito pathogenic bacteria.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Gujarat model of health management information system with reference to malaria.

The Gujarat model of health management and information system has been developed with the objective of reducing the work load of health workers at all levels pertaining to record keeping and report preparation for enhancing the quality of health services, as well as for better implementation and timely monitoring of health programmes. Pro formas currently in use under various health programmes have been reorganized and updated. For monitoring malaria, the total number of registers has been reduced from seven to one, reporting forms from 23 to six and the number of columns in reporting forms from 493 to 59. The model is expected to save the working time of laboratory technicians (15%) and multi-purpose health supervisors (5%) at PHC level and of all workers (100%) engaged in report preparation at district, state and national levels. The data generated by using this model are expected to be of high quality and accuracy and should lead to more rational planning.

Humans↗