PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Badrinath

Publications and source records attributed to S Badrinath.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Human anthrax in India: urgent need for effective prevention.

Anthrax is a zoonotic illness caused by Bacillus anthracis. Sporadic cases continue to be reported from many parts of the world. From India, both sporadic cases and outbreaks are being reported regularly. The Union Territory of Pondicherry (a former French colony) lies on the coast of Bay of Bengal, where the incidence of anthrax is on the rise with 28 cases being detected in the year 1999 and 2000 alone. So far, about 34 human cases have been encountered in this region. Recently, an increase in the number of anthrax cases has been noted in veterinary and human practice in this area. Most cases have occurred in agricultural labourers who gave history of handling animal meat or skin of infected animals. The meningitic form of the disease has a very bad prognosis. Patients with this form of disease died despite treatment with high dose penicillin. The typical bacilli were seen in the CSF in all cases of anthrax meningitis and was diagnostic of the condition. The cutaneous form of illness had a benign course and responded favourably to penicillin treatment. Awareness among clinicians and mandatory reporting of cases to public health departments along with public education will help control morbidity and mortality due to anthrax. Effective immunization of animals is the other important control measure for anthrax.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Detection of antipneumolysin in invasive childhood pneumococcal infections.

Antibody levels against pneumolysin, a virulence factor in pneumococcal infections were evaluated by a neutralization test, using crude pneumolysin. A study population of 28 hospitalised children with culture proven pneumococcal meningitis and pneumonia were tested for detection of antipneumolysin antibodies in their serum. Results were compared with age and sex matched controls who were admitted with infections other than pneumococcal. Geometric mean titer (GMT) of antipneumolysin in serum of patients with pneumococcal infections showed a significant difference when compared with controls, GMT of 196.1 and 185.2 were noted in patients with meningitis and pneumonia respectively, in contrast to a titer of 40.32 among controls. A difference of more than 4-fold antibody titers between patients and controls was considered significant. Detection of antipneumolysin in serum can therefore be considered as a useful laboratory investigation in diagnosing invasive pneumococcal infections.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1998

Medical risks for women who drink alcohol.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize for clinicians recent epidemiologic evidence regarding medical risks of alcohol use for women. METHODS: MEDLINE and PsychINFO, 1990 through 1996, were searched using key words "women" or "woman," and "alcohol." MEDLINE was also searched for other specific topics and authors from 1980 through 1996. Data were extracted and reviewed regarding levels of alcohol consumption associated with mortality, cardiovascular disease, alcohol-related liver disease, injury, osteoporosis, neurologic symptoms, psychiatric comorbidity, fetal alcohol syndrome, spontaneous abortion, infertility, menstrual symptoms, breast cancer, and gynecologic malignancies. Gender-specific data from cohort studies of general population or large clinical samples are primarily reviewed. MAIN RESULTS: Women develop many alcohol-related medical problems at lower levels of consumption than men, probably reflecting women's lower total body water, gender differences in alcohol metabolism, and effects of alcohol on postmenopausal estrogen levels. Mortality and breast cancer are increased in women who report drinking more than two drinks daily. Higher levels of alcohol consumption by women are associated with increased menstrual symptoms, hypertension, and stroke. Women who drink heavily also appear to have increased infertility and spontaneous abortion. Adverse fetal effects occur after variable amounts of alcohol consumption, making any alcohol use during pregnancy potentially harmful. CONCLUSIONS: In general, advising nonpregnant women who drink alcohol to have fewer than two drinks daily is strongly supported by the epidemiologic literature, although specific recommendations for a particular woman should depend on her medical history and risk factors.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1998

Helicobacter pylori infection and erosive gastritis.

One hundred and eleven patients were included in the study. Thirty seven had erosive gastritis, thirty four chronic gastritis and forty were controls without any gastrointestinal diseases confirmed by symptoms and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients with erosive gastritis were divided into non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users and non-users. H pylori status was determined by urease test, serology and/or histology. The prevalence of H pylori was compared between the various groups. The prevalence of H pylori infection in erosive gastritis, chronic gastritis and controls was 68%, 76% and 65%, respectively, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05), 8 out of 11 patients with erosive gastritis and NSAID use (73%) were positive for H pylori. Likewise 17/26 patients with erosive gastritis without NSAID use (65%) were positive for H pylori (P > 0.05). Body of the stomach (65%) was the commonest site for erosions compared to antrum (43%) or fundus (27%) (P < 0.02). H pylori infection does not predispose to erosive gastritis. NSAID use does not affect H pylori prevalence. Routine H pylori eradication is, therefore, not indicated in patients with erosive gastritis infection. Body of the stomach is the most predominant site for erosions.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of some antibiotics against Vibrio cholerae O139 isolates from Pondicherry.

The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Vibrio cholerae O139, Bengal, an emerging intestinal pathogen has been determined by the Kirby Bauer technique and the MIC values of some antibiotics against these strains by agar dilution technique. All the strains were susceptible to tetracycline, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and a majority was susceptible to gentamicin (95.7%) and nalidixic acid (82.9%). Only 51% were susceptible to cefotaxime and most strains were resistant to furazolidone (95.7%), ampicillin (87.3%) and co-trimoxazole (91.5%). The study shows the importance of judicious use of antibiotics in cholera cases and the need for monitoring the susceptibility status of these strains particularly because of their ability to cause extra-intestinal infections like septicaemia.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1996

Cost containment: a charge comparison of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Two matched groups of patients who underwent endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the middle one third of the patellar tendon were retrospectively reviewed to compare hospitalization charges. Group 1 had the procedure performed in the outpatient surgical center owned by our hospital, and group 2 underwent the surgical procedure in the main operating suite of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. The charges of the surgical procedure and their relation to postoperative hospitalization were reviewed. An average charge difference of $7,390 (range, $3,679 to $12,202) was obtained in the outpatient surgical center. A number of surgical and anesthetic techniques are discussed that allow major reductions in charges for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and allow outpatient surgery to be performed routinely.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1989

Studies on mycotic keratitis.

One hundred and fifty cases of corneal ulcers from the Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Madras, were investigated during 1980-1982 for the mycoflora. 68 cases (45%) were positive for fungi, comprising species of Aspergillus (36 cases), Penicillium, Fusarium (8 cases each), Curvularia (4 cases), Candida albicans and Mucor (3 cases each), Drechslera (2 cases) and Cladosporium, Cephalosporium, Pullularia, and Allescheria boydii (1 case each). Incidence of these fungi in mycotic keratitis is correlated with factors such as age, sex and occupation of the patients and is discussed in detail.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Poliomyelitis: 20 years--the Pondicherry experience.

During a 20-year period, 12,830 cases of acute poliomyelitis in children (aged 1 month-12 years) were seen in a South Indian teaching hospital (Pondicherry). Almost three-quarters (72.4%) of children were below the age of 2 years. The median age at onset of poliomyelitis shifted from 19.5 months (in the period 1968-1977) to 11 months (in the years 1978-1987). After 1981, epidemic peaks were noted every third year. 66.3% of cases had not received even a single dose of oral polio vaccine and 14.7% cases were vaccine failures (in the years 1983-1987). Provocation of poliomyelitis occurred in 66% of children and usually followed intragluteal injections associated with treatment of non-specific fevers. The overall mortality was 2.13%, the major cause of death being respiratory failure (60%). Polio virus type 1 was the major isolate among selected cases studied during 1983-1987. The risk factors identified in our study are lack of immunization and administration of intramuscular injections during the pre-paralytic phase. Ensuring early administration of multiple doses of oral polio vaccine to infants and avoiding intramuscular injections in young febrile children are important measures for the control of poliomyelitis--a continuing problem in Southern India.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Coxsackie virus and rheumatic fever. A correlative study.

Twenty-one patients of whom 13 had acute rheumatic fever and 8 had recurrence of rheumatic fever were studied for the evidence of coxsackie B viral infection using neutralisation test. A significant rise was noted in 17 cases (81%) and two cases had very high initial titre of neutralising antibodies to coxsackie B viruses type 1 to 6. Mixed infection with more than one serotype was seen in 11 cases. Coxsackie B2 was the commonest type and 14 patients had antistreptolysin 'O' anti-bodies. The high incidence of coxsackie B viral infection in rheumatic fever and the coexistent streptococcal infection and their relationship are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Hydatid disease in Pondicherry.

An analysis of hospital and laboratory records for the period of 1971-1979 revealed 45 confirmed cases of hydatid disease. The majority were young adult (21-30 years) labourers. The commonest site of lesion was lower lobe of the left lung with the liver occupying second place. A few uncommon sites of involvement were also observed. Casoni's test was positive in 48% of cases. Eosinophilia was a usual associated finding. This report shows Pondicherry to be endemic for hydatid disease.

Adolescent↗