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Biomedical subjects

S S Verma

Publications and source records attributed to S S Verma.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Regression models in physiological research.

Regression models play a significant role for appropriate interpretations of complex phenomena of biomedical sciences. In the present paper an attempt has been made to critically review the applications of regression models in physiological research pertaining to the solutions of various defence oriented problems of indirect estimation of human endurances, fitness, physical work capacity, energy expenditure at different work rates, body density and lean body mass from body measurements at high altitude, ventilatory 'norms' for wider age groups from physical characteristics, heat output and index finger temperature from ambient temperature, leg muscle volume and fat free mass from X-ray radiographs and stature, total body volume from anthropometric measurements, thermoregulatory efficiency at different environmental situations etc. These regression models are of practical significance for screening personnel in defence services, mines, industrial work, sports and the like.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

Prediction of birth weight from simple anthropometric measurements in Indian male and female new born babies.

An attempt has been made in this paper to select suitable combination of predictors of birth weight from three anthropometric measurements (viz. length, head and chest circumferences) taken at birth of Indian male and female new born babies. The best combination of predictors was selected by examining the separate effects of each of the three concomitant variables on birth weight using the technique of multivariate regression analysis. The combination of head and chest circumferences was found to be the most appropriate for estimation of birth weight in view of the simplicity and non-invasiveness of measuring these two body circumferences. Keeping in view of the high multiple correlations, nomograms have been constructed to predict birth weights from head and chest circumferences in male and female new born babies. These nomograms will serve well as a simple and quick methods for predicting birth weight from head and chest circumferences in Indian male and female new born babies whenever the Direct weighing at birth is not feasible.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1998

Fit of Ehrenberg's equation to height & weight of young healthy Indian males.

Height-weight relationship in young healthy Indian males (16-21 yr) has been established for different states of India as well as for the combined data of all the states. It was observed that these relationships have large deviations of the intercepts and slopes from the intercept (a = 0.4) and slope (b = 0.8) of the Ehrenberg's equation. The results of the present study show that Ehrenberg's equation may not be applicable for young healthy Indian males aged 16-21 yr.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Efficacy of pentoxifylline with aspirin in the treatment of frostbite in rats.

The efficacy of pentoxifylline--a haemorrheologic agent along with aspirin--an analgesic agent was evaluated in the amelioration of the tissue damage due to experimentally induced frostbite in 5 groups (20 each) of rats with body weights ranging between 175 and 200 g. Frostbite was produced experimentally in the hind limbs by exposing the animals to -15 +/- 1 degrees C for 1 h using the harness technique, with simultaneous recording of rectal and environmental temperatures. The degree of tissue damage was assessed on the basis of tissue necrosis after 15 days. Administration of pentoxifylline (40 mg/kg bw) 30 min before and 30 min after the cold exposure followed by two doses of the same daily for the next 5 days along with aspirin (5 mg/kg bw) twice daily for the same duration only after cold exposure, resulted in significant improvement in the degree of tissue preservation. The findings of this preliminary study have brought to light the potential usefulness of these drugs in the treatment of frostbite. The combined pharmacological properties of these two drugs might have altered the haemorrheologic status of blood and produced the curative beneficial effect in improving tissue survival following experimentally induced frostbite in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Prediction of maximal aerobic power in healthy Indian males 21-58 years of age.

An attempt has been made in this paper to predict maximal aerobic power (VO2max) in healthy Indian males by three important physical characteristics (viz. age, height and body weight) using the technique of multivariate regression analysis for a wide age group ranging from 21 to 58 years. It has been observed that these characteristics can contribute significantly to the prediction of maximal aerobic power. Three combinations of predictors of two predictors at a time have also been tried to predict maximal aerobic power. Out of these three combinations, the combination of age and body weight has the maximum multiple correlation (R = 0.536, P < 0.001) for a group of 146 subjects of healthy Indian males. A nomogram has been constructed to predict VO2max from age and body weight in order to make the developed multiple linear regression equation of more practical utility to the biomedical scientists who may not be well acquainted with the statistical computational work.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

High altitude effects on human taste intensity and hedonics.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted on human volunteers taken to 3500 m altitude for a period of 3 wk. METHODS: Subjects rated four compounds representing sweet, salty, sour and bitter taste, and the hedonic matrix in terms of taste threshold, taste intensity, and taste hedonicity were recorded using category scale. Blood sugar levels were estimated weekly. RESULTS: An increase in the taste thresholds for glucose and sodium chloride was shown while quinine sulphate and citric acid thresholds recorded a decrease. The taste intensity ratings showed a linear relationship with increasing logarithmic molar concentrations of each solution, as compared with taste hedonicity which showed an inverted 'U' type function. The blood picture did not reveal any change in the blood sugar level. All the parameters recorded at high altitude (HA) showed a tendency to return to basal values after reinduction to sea level. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that HA hypoxic stress brings about changes in the hedonic responses, primarily an increased palatibility for sweetness; we speculate that the mechanism may be anorexia-linked nutritional stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Height-weight relationship in young healthy males of some hilly areas of India.

The relationships between height and weight in young healthy males (16-21 years) of hilly areas of Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal were established. It has been observed that the intercepts and slopes of the height-weight relationships of this group of subjects deviate to a high degree from those of Ehrenberg's law-like relationship. It is therefore concluded that Ehrenberg's law-like relationship of the form: log w = 0.8 h + 0.4 may not hold good for the data on height (h) in metres and weight (w) in kilograms for young healthy males of hilly areas of India. The results of the present study are in agreement with our earlier studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Head and chest circumferences as predictors of low birth weight in Indian babies.

This study attempts to select predictors for indirect estimation of low birth weight from three important anthropometric measurements (viz. body length, head and chest circumferences) taken at birth. The data of 422 Indian low birth weight babies have been used to select the best combination of predictors by examining the separate effect of each of the three concomitant variables on birth weight using the technique of multivariate regression analysis. The combination of head and chest circumferences was found to be the best combination of predictors for estimation of birth weight in view of the simplicity and non-invasiveness of measuring these two body circumferences. A nomogram has also been constructed to predict low birth weight from head and chest circumferences. This nomogram will serve as a simple and quick procedure for predicting low birth weight from head and chest circumferences whenever the direct weighing at birth is not feasible.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1996

Effect of vitamin C in modulating the hypothermic influence on nerve conduction.

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different degrees of hypothermia on nerve conduction and the possible beneficial effect of vitamin C in the amelioration of the impairment in nerve conduction due to hypothermia. Sixty male Wistar rats, 225-250 g, were randomly divided into two equal groups of untreated controls and vitamin C treated experimental groups. Sciatic nerve conduction and nerve temperature (Tn) were recorded at different degrees of hypothermia by step-wise lowering of rectal temperature (Tr) from 38 to 20 degrees C. A regression analysis showed a positive linear relationship of Tr with nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and with Tn in both groups (p < 0.001). There was also a positive linear relationship between Tn and NCV in both groups: control, p < 0.001; experimental, p < 0.05. Comparisons between the regression equations of Tr with NCV, Tr with Tn, and Tn with NCV showed significant differences between the two groups (p < 0.001). There was no significant relationship between Tr and the amplitude of the action potential. Vitamin C may have a protective effect against the impairment of NCV due to hypothermia.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Prediction of maximal aerobic power in man: a nomographic approach.

Direct estimation of maximal aerobic power is an intricate procedure and requires the facility of a well-equipped laboratory. Attempts have been made, therefore, to develop linear and nonlinear regression equations for its indirect assessment, but many biomedical scientists have difficulty in using these statistically based equations. Bearing this in mind, this paper constructs two nomograms for predicting maximal aerobic power. The first nomogram, based on cardiorespiratory strains, is more precise but requires the facility of an equipped laboratory owing to the involvement of some physiological variables; the second nomogram, based on the two variables body weight and time for a 3.2 km run, does not require any laboratory facility for prediction of maximal aerobic power. Both nomograms have limited validity. The first is most reliable in the range 1.83-3.28 l.min-1; the second is best in the range 1.76-3.06 l.min-1 of maximal aerobic power.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1993

Phase II study of weekly edatrexate as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: a National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group study.

PURPOSE: The National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) Clinical Trials Group conducted a phase II study to assess the efficacy and toxicity of edatrexate, a folate antagonist, in 35 patients with metastatic breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The planned dose of edatrexate was 80 mg/m2/wk administered intravenously as first-line therapy. Prior adjuvant chemotherapy was allowed provided at least 12 months had elapsed from the completion of treatment to the development of recurrence. RESULTS: Mucositis was the dose-limiting toxicity in 34 assessable patients, resulting in a mean delivered dose-intensity of 57 mg/m2/wk. Other toxicities included myelosuppression, rash, pneumonitis, and increased AST. Side effects were generally mild to moderate. The complete plus partial remission rate (13 patients; 41%) was impressive. CONCLUSION: Edatrexate is an active agent against metastatic breast cancer, with acceptable toxicity. A lower than planned delivered dose-intensity was mainly due to mucositis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Experimental studies on the treatment of frostbite in rats.

The effect of treatment by high dose of vitamin C, rapid rewarming by 37 degrees C water alone and with vitamin C, rapid rewarming by 37 degrees C decoction of Indian black tea alone and with vitamin C for experimentally produced frostbite was evaluated in 6 groups (25 each) of rats. Frostbite was produced experimentally in the hind limbs by exposing the animals at -15 degrees C for 1h using the harness technique. The degree of injury was assessed and classified on the basis of tissue necrosis at the end of 15 days. Administration of high dose of vitamin C for prolonged period and rapid rewarming at 37 degrees C water bath immediately after cold exposure apparently reduced the tissue damage. High dose of vitamin C therapy preceded by rapid rewarming in plain water showed additional benefit. Rapid rewarming in decoction of Indian tea resulted in identical beneficial effect. The degree of tissue preservation was highest with rapid rewarming in tea decoction followed by high dose of vitamin C.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Height-weight relationship in young healthy Indian girls.

The relationship between height and weight in young healthy Indian girls (8--18 years) was developed. It is concluded that the relationship of the form:log w = 0.98 h + 0.14 holds good to the data on height h (in metres) and weight w (in kilograms) for this group of subjects, the logarithm is taken to the base 10. The results of the present study show that Ehrenberg's equation of the form : log w = 0.8 h + 0.4 may not be extended upto the age of 18 years in young healthy Indian girls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Height-weight relationship in young healthy Indian males.

Height-weight relationship in young healthy Indian males (19-22 yrs.) has been established. It is concluded that the relationship of the form: log w = 1.18 + 0.35 h fits well to the data on height h (in metres) and weight w (in kilograms) for this group of subjects, the logarithm is taken to the base 10. The results of the present study show that Ehrenberg's equation of the form: log w = 0.8 h + 0.4 cannot be extended beyond the age of 18 years in young healthy Indian males.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Some simple multiple linear regression equations for estimation of maximal aerobic power in healthy Indian males.

An attempt has been made to evolve some simple multiple linear regression equations for the prediction of VO2 max from body weight, time for 3.2 km run and exercise dyspnoeic index ( DIstd Ex%). The predictor variables have been selected by examining the product moment correlations of body weight, relative body weight indices, time for 3.2 km run, chest expansion, height, and DIstd Ex% with VO2 max, based on data collected on 320 healthy Indian males (17-22 years). It has been observed that body weight, time for 3.2 km run and DIstd Ex% attained maximum correlations with VO2 max. Thus, two regression equations with two and three predictor variables have been established in this paper to predict VO2 max. The first regression equation yielded a multiple correlation of 0.608 (P less than 0.001) with a standard error of 0.214 1 X min-1. In this equation, body weight and time for 3.2 km run were considered as significant predictors. To increase the precision of this equation, another multiple linear regression equation based on body weight, time for 3.2 km run and DIstd Ex% as predictors has been developed. This equation yielded a multiple correlation of 0.658 (P less than 0.001) with a standard error of 0.204 1 X min-1. Applications of these regression equations will be of practical importance to biomedical scientists engaged in the development of a simple procedure for indirect assessment of VO2 max, and may serve well as preliminary screening procedures for personnel selection.

Adolescent↗