Biomedical subjects

Suma Nair

Publications and source records attributed to Suma Nair.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Comparison of observed skeleton retention of strontium in average indian adult with the value predicted by the ICRP biokinetic model.

The daily dietary intake of strontium and its content in skeleton, for an Indian adult population group were estimated by experimentally measuring its concentration in total cooked diet and autopsy skeleton samples using radiochemical neutron activation analysis. The data on daily dietary intake of strontium were used to compute its contents in skeleton using ICRP Publication 67 biokinetic model for strontium. The theoretically computed value of strontium (213.8 mg) compared favourably with the measured values (GM 181.2 mg) in an urban population group living in Mumbai representing an average Indian adult (Reference Indian Man).

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Acceptability and effectiveness of a breast health awareness programme for rural women in India.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer being one of the leading cancers among women in developing countries, prevention or identification of the disease at an early stage is of paramount importance in saving as well as improving the quality of life. Breast health awareness appears to be a pragmatic method for this. OBJECTIVE: To determine the acceptability and effectiveness of an educational intervention programme on breast health awareness for rural women by trained female health workers. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Community based non-randomised educational intervention study carried out over a period of 1 year. Three hundred and sixty rural women in the age group 30--59 years were randomly selected (and age-wise stratified), from a coastal village in Southern India. METHODS: Women were educated on breast health and breast self-examination by specifically trained health workers and their awareness and proficiency levels were evaluated at the end of 1 and 3 months post-intervention. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: This was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 10. RESULTS: Following the educational intervention, a significant increase in overall awareness regarding breast cancer (z=-15.807; P< 0.001) as well as in the performance of self-examination of the breast 321/342 (93%) was observed. Forgetfulness or being too busy appeared to be the two most frequently perceived barriers. CONCLUSION: This study clearly shows that a community oriented educational intervention programme emphasizing on proper technique can bring about the desirable behavioural change among women.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Comparison of observed lung retention and urinary excretion of thorium workers and members of the public in India with the values predicted by the ICRP biokinetic model.

The daily intake of natural Th and its contents in lungs, skeleton and liver of an Indian adult population group were estimated using radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) technique. These data on daily intake (through inhalation and ingestion) were used to compute Th contents in lungs and other systemic organs such as skeleton and liver using the new human respiratory tract model (HRTM) and the new biokinetic model of Th. The theoretically computed Th contents in lungs, skeleton and liver of an average Indian adult are 2.56, 4.00 and 0.17 microg, respectively which are comparable with the corresponding experimentally measured values of 4.31, 3.45 and 0.14 microg in an urban population group living in Mumbai. The measured lung contents of Th in a group of five occupational workers were used to compute their total body Th contents and the corresponding daily urinary excretions. The computed total body contents and daily urinary excretions of Th in the five subjects compared favourably with their measured values. These studies, thus, validate the new biokinetic model of Th in natural as well as in occupational exposures in Indian conditions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Validating the analytical methodologies for determining some important trace elements in food consumed in India.

This paper reports on the development, standardization, and application of instrumental as well as radiochemical neutron activation analysis (INAA and RNAA) techniques for determining the concentrations of iron, zinc, cobalt, cesium, strontium, selenium, thorium, and calcium in food consumed in India. Based on the analysis of 20 diet samples, prepared as per the data on dietary intake patterns of an adult in four provinces of India and that of an average adult Indian, the geometric mean (GM) intake of various elements for the reference Indian man was estimated to be 15.9 (10.7-34.4) mg for iron, 8.6 (5.1-15.6) mg for zinc, 17.0 (8.3-31.4) micrograms for cobalt, 4.76 (2.8-11.8) micrograms for cesium, 1.46 (0.79-2.96) mg for strontium, 52.4 (35.0-130.8) micrograms for selenium, 0.75 (0.44-1.75) micrograms for thorium, and 0.35 (0.17-0.67) mg for calcium. A comparison of the daily dietary intakes of these trace elements by the reference Indian man was made with that of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) reference man and also with the world average compiled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). When compared with the ICRP reference man data, the daily dietary intakes of all the eight elements by the reference Indian man were considerably lower by factors ranging from 1.4 for strontium to as much as 18.0 for cobalt. However, when compared with the world average, daily dietary intakes by the reference Indian man were comparable for iron and lower by factors 1.2 to 1.9 for zinc, selenium, and calcium.

Diet↗