Changes in body size, shape and nutritional status of Middle-Class Bengali boys of Kolkata, India, 1982–2002

Growth changes over time among school-aged boys in Kolkata, India, have been investigated using two surveys: 1982--1983 (n=816) and 1999--2002 (n=1187). The two surveys were implemented according to highly similar protocols which strongly adds to the reliability and accuracy of the results of the study. Age-specific average height, weight and BMI all increased during these two decades (by respectively, 3.2cm, 6.1kg and 2.1kg/m2), while relative sitting height and sitting height-subischial leg length ratio decreased for almost all ages between 7.0 and 16.0 years. Moreover, the prevalence of stunting and thinness declined (stunting from 11.2% to 4.9%, p<0.01, thinness from 50.5% to 22%, p<0.01), while the prevalence of overweight increased (from 4.7% to 17.2%, p<0.01). Through analysis of variance, the relationships between various socio-economic factors and anthropometric traits are analyzed. Factors strongly related with positive changes in anthropometric traits are maternal education and family expenditure.     

A study on the adult body dimensions of the oraons of eastern India: Sedente-migrant comparison

The present study deals with the effect of migration on the adult body dimensions among the Oraons of Estern India. The study was conducted on the 232 sedente Oraon of both sexes from Gumla district, Bihar, India and their 230 migrant counter-parts of both sexes from the tea gardens in Duars are, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India. The results show that the migrants are lighter and slightly shorter.     

Body Mass Index and Chronic Energy Deficiency Among Urban Bengalee Male Slum Dwellers of Kolkata, India: Relationship with Family Income

A cross-sectional study of 191 adult (>18 years) Bengalee male slum dwellers of Kolkata, India, was undertaken to study the relationships of family income with body mass index (BMI) and chronic energy deficiency (CED). Results revealed that the mean height, weight, and BMI of the subjects were 162.2 cm, 54.0 kg, and 20.5 kg/m², respectively. The overall frequency of CED (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²) was 33.5%. Based on the World Health Organization classification, the prevalence of CED among this population was high (20–39%) and thus the situation is serious. Overall, monthly family income (MFI) was significantly positively correlated (r = 0.18, p < 0.05) with BMI. Linear regression analyses showed that MFI had significant impact (p < 0.05) on BMI. The percent variation in BMI explained by MFI was 2.6%. Subjects belonging to the lowest family income group (FIG) had the lowest mean BMI (19.5 kg/m²) and the highest rate of CED (46.6%) while those in the highest FIG had the largest mean BMI (21.4 kg/m²) and lowest rate of CED (23.1%). There was a significant FIG difference (F = 2.965, p < 0.05) in mean BMI. Moreover, there existed FIG differences (χ ² = 7.54, p < 0.06) in CED rates. In conclusion, this study provided strong evidence that FIG was significantly associated with BMI and the presence of CED. The rate of CED was high, indicating a serious situation. These findings may have severe public health implications. It is recommended that immediate nutritional intervention programs be initiated among this population along with serious efforts to increase their family income.     

Platelet MAO-B Activity and Serotonin Content in Patients with Dementia: Effect of Age,Medication, and Disease

This study aimed at determining the effect of drug therapy, age and type of dementia on biological markers. Both platelet monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) activity and serotonin content of 57 demented patients and 20 control subjects were determined. Platelet MAO-B activity was measured using [¹⁴C]tyramine as substrate. Serotonin content was determined by HPLC-EC method. Increased platelet serotonin content and platelet count was found in patients with dementia compared to controls. A positive correlation was experienced between platelet MAO-B activity, platelet serotonin content and age. Platelet MAO-B activity was higher in the haloperidol treated group, compared with patients treated with anxyolitics. The main original finding of the present study is that platelet serotonin content is increased in demented patients with delusions compared to dementia without complications (p = 0.006). It seems, that platelet MAO-B activity is influenced mainly by drug therapy, while serotonin content rather reflects clinical characteristics in dementia.     

HIV infection in India: Epidemiology, molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis

The year 1986 saw first case of HIV infection as well as first report of AIDS case in India. Since then the epidemic has spread throughout the country. In the recent years there is evidence of epidemic being stabilized with decrease in new infections reported from some parts of the country. The absolute number of HIV infections in the country is expected to be close to 2.5 million and National AIDS Control Programme, phase III is geared to contain the epidemic. HIV viruses circulating in India predominantly belong to HIV-1 subtype C. However, there have been occasional reports of HIV-1 subtype A and B. Matter of concern is reports of A/C and B/C mosaic viruses that are being reported from different parts of the country. The data on HIV drug resistance from India is rather limited. Most of the studies have shown that the virus strains from drug naïve patients do not show significant level of drug resistance mutations. The few immunological studies in Indian patients show that the Indian HIV infected patients show both HIV-specific CTL responses as well as neutralizing antibody response. Mapping of CTL epitopes showed that while Indian patients identify same regions of Gag antigen as recognized by South African subtype C infected patients, some regions are uniquely recognized by Indian patients. There are very few studies on host genetic factors in India in context with HIV infection. However there are evidences reported of association of host genetic factors such as HLA types and haplotypes and HIV disease.     

Status of airborne spores and pollen in a coir factory in Kerala,India

The prevalence of airborne fungal spores and pollen grains in the indoor and outdoor environments of a coir factory in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, India was studied using the Burkard Personal Sampler and the Andersen 2-stage Sampler for 2 years (September 1997 to August 1999). The concentration of pollen grains was remarkably lower than that of fungal spores (ratio of 1:28). There was no large difference in the concentrations and types of fungal spores between the indoor and outdoor environments, with 26 spore types found to be present indoors and 27 types outdoors; of these, 22 were common to both the environments. Aspergillus/Penicillium, Cladosporium, ‘other basidiospores’ and ascospores were the dominant spore types. The total spore concentration was highest in February and lowest in September, and it was significantly higher in 1998–1999 than in 1997–1998. Twenty viable colony-forming types were isolated from inside the coir factory. The most dominant viable fungi isolated were Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. The total pollen concentration was higher in the outdoor environment of the coir factory than indoors, with 15 and 17 pollen types, respectively. Grass and Cocos nucifera pollen types were dominant. The dominant spore and pollen types trapped in the two environments of the coir factory are reportedly allergenic and, consequently, workers are at risk of catching respiratory/allergic diseases.     

Introduction: Exploring the Relationships Among Aging,Ethnicity, and Family Dementia Caregiving

Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry -     

Researching Dementia in Imperial Germany: Alois Alzheimer and the Economies of Psychiatric Practice

In the writings of Alois Alzheimer and many of his contemporaries, complaints abounded about psychiatric hospitals not only failing to appreciate the importance of senile dementia, but also inhibiting scientific research into the nature and causes of the disorder. This article exploits these discontents in order to examine what Alzheimer and others thought to be optimal conditions for psychiatric research on dementia. It first analyzes the various institutional contexts in which Alzheimer worked during his career (especially in Frankfurt and Munich). It then traces some of the administrative and diagnostic practices that were deployed to enhance the conditions for his clinical and pathoanatomic research. Finally, it reflects on the implications of these practices for psychiatric care and patient experience.     

Indoor and outdoor aeromycological survey in Burdwan, West Bengal, India

A comparative survey of airborne fungal spores in fiveindoor and five outdoor environments in Burdwan, WestBengal, India, was carried out for a period of twoyears using rotorod samplers and sedimentation plates(culture plate). A total of 29 spore types wereidentified, of which three were Phycomycetous (Mucor, Rhizopus, Syncephalastrum), one Ascomycetous(Chaetomium), one Basidiomycetous (Ganoderma) and the remainder were Fungi Imperfecti. The results revealed lowest count during summer andmaximum during the rainy season. Aspergilluswas quite abundant in all the environments surveyed. The predominance of Aspergillus, Curvularia,Alternaria, Cladosporium, Drechslera, Fusarium in allthe surveyed environments has been attributed to theirability to grow in various substrata. The occurrenceof Cladosporium in the winter months suggestthat it is sensitive to high temperature. Allspore types were common in both environmentsexcept Bispora, Cercospora, Papularia, Spegazzinia, Trichothecium in the outdoor sites. Acorrelation has been made between the volumetriccomposition of airspora and the incidence of seasonalmold allergy.     

Rhinosporidiosis in Delhi, North India: Case Series from a Non-endemic Area and Mini-review

We report three cases of rhinosporidiosis from migrant population of Delhi. Three male patients had sino-nasopharyngeal, nasopharyngeal and nasal rhinosporidiosis, respectively. One patient gave a history of bathing in stagnant water. The diagnosis was made by clinical presentation and microscopic observation of characteristic sporangia of Rhinosporidium seebri in mycological and histopathological investigations. All the patients were successfully treated with complete surgical excision of lesions and cauterization of base. There were no recurrences.     

Action of estrogens in the aging brain: Dementia and cognitive aging

Background

Menopause is associated with sharp declines in concentrations of circulating estrogens. This change in hormone milieu has the potential to affect brain functions relevant to dementia and cognitive aging.

Scope of review

Focused review of published results of randomized clinical trials of estrogen-containing hormone therapy for Alzheimer's disease treatment and dementia prevention, observational research on cognition across the menopause transition, and observational research on the association of hormone therapy and Alzheimer's disease risk.

Major conclusions

Clinical trial evidence supports conclusions that estrogen therapy does not improve dementia symptoms in women with Alzheimer's disease and that estrogen-containing hormone therapy initiated after about age 65 years increases dementia risk. Hormone therapy begun in this older postmenopausal group does not ameliorate cognitive aging. Cognitive outcomes of midlife hormone exposures are less well studied. There is no strong indication of short-term cognitive benefit of hormone use after natural menopause, but clinical trial data are sparse. Little research addresses midlife estrogen use after surgical menopause; limited clinical trial data imply short-term benefit of prompt initiation at the time of oophorectomy. Whether exogenous estrogen exposures in the early postmenopause affect Alzheimer risk or cognitive aging much later in life is unanswered by available data. Observational results raise the possibility of long-term cognitive benefit, but bias is a concern in interpreting these findings.

General significance

Estrogen-containing hormone therapy should not be initiated after age 65 to prevent dementia or remediate cognitive aging. Further research is needed to understand short-term and long-term cognitive effects of estrogen exposures closer to the age of menopause.     

Survey of aerospora by Rotorod Sampler in Lucknow, India: qualitative and quantitative assessment

The monitoring of airborne pollen and fungal spores ofLucknow has been achieved using a Rotorod Sampler. 43types of pollen and 40 types of fungal spores havebeen recorded over a period of one year(January–December, 1997). Pollen and fungal sporecalendars have been constructed. Quantification of theaerospora will help in further understanding aeroallergens and the diagnosis and treatment ofvarious respiratory diseases.     

Biological Affinities Between Migrant and Parental Populations in Punjab, India

In the present study, we have examined biological affinities between parental population, migrants from Pakistan after 1947 and non-Punjabi migrants from other states of India in Punjab. About 500 adult individuals of both sexes from 300 families among three groups were measured for 16 anthropometric and physiometric variables. Analysis of both univariate and multivariate suggests an overall significant migration effect in almost all variables especially anthropometric measurements between both sexes. The higher discrimination has been found in migrants from other states of India with reference to anthropometric traits as compared to other two populations. This is because of more genetic heterogeneity as would be expected from many states and many ethnicities of migrants. It was also found that the other two populations are more or less qualitatively similar, which reflects common ethnohistorical or geographic affiliations. However, overall, women showed a greater migration effect than men.     

Strangler fig-host associations in roadside and deciduous forest sites, South India

Abstract. Understanding the regeneration niche of animal-dispersed epiphytes is important in understanding forest community structure, maintenance of species richness in plant communities, animal movements and distributions, and in managing plant and animal communities for conservation. Strangler figs are particularly interesting for studying epiphyte-host relations because they are hemiepiphytes, implying that strangler and host can potentially belong to the same species and either fuse together or strangle each other, and because all stranglers have many-seeded, animal-dispersed fruit, providing many opportunities for seed dispersal to other stranglers. A study was conducted at a roadside and at a forest site in Karnataka State, south India, to determine factors influencing host choice of strangler figs. Stranglers were found more frequently at the roadside site than at the forest site. At the roadside site, stranglers were found much more abundantly on Ficus hosts than on non-Ficus hosts, whereas at the forest site, stranglers were found more abundantly on non- Ficus hosts. Host tree species with animal-dispersed fruit bore significantly more stranglers than those with mechanically dispersed fruit. More stranglers were found on hosts in large d.b.h. size classes (>80 cm d.b.h.) than on those in small d.b.h. classes. Prior studies of strangler-host relations have never found stranglers growing on other stranglers. The results of this study suggest that stranglers are fully capable of regenerating on other stranglers, including conspecifics, but these regeneration events are not observed in forests because of relatively low strangler seed rain, due to lack of clumping of strangler hosts, and low insolation in these habitats.     

White Saris and Sweet Mangoes: Aging, Gender, and Body in North India

White Saris and Sweet Mangoes: Aging, Gender, and Body in North India. Sarah Lamb. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000. 306 pp.     

Randomized,DIM Light Controlled,Crossover test of Morning Bright Light Therapy for Rest-Activity Rhythm Disorders in Patients with Vascular Dementia and Dementia of Alzheimer's type

The authors compared the therapeutic effect of morning bright and dim light exposure on rest-activity (R-A) rhythm disorders in patients with vascular dementia (VD) and patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT). Participants in this study were 12 patients with VD (M/F = 5/7; average age = 81 years) and 10 patients with DAT (M/F = 4/6; average age = 78 years). They were exposed to 2 weeks of bright light (BL; 5000-8000 lux) and 2 weeks of dim light (DL; 300 lux) in the morning (09:00-11:00) in a randomized crossover design in which the 2-week treatment period took place between pretreatment (1 week) and posttreatment (1 week) periods. Continuous R-A monitoring was performed at 1-minute intervals throughout the study using an actigraph around the nondominant wrist. The BL exposure for 2 weeks induced a significant reduction in both nighttime activity and percentages of nighttime activity to total activity compared with the pretreatment period, as well as compared with the DL condition in the VD group, but not in the DAT group. These findings support the assumption that the therapeutic efficacies of morning BL exposure are prominent in VD patients and are mainly due to its photic effect rather than nonphotic effects such as the intensification of social interaction accompanying light therapy. (Chronobiology International, 15(6), 647-654, 1998)     

Human disturbance and forest diversity in the Tansa Valley, India

We assessed the diversity of woody plants at 15 forested sites in the Tansa Valley of Thane District, in Maharashtra, India. The fewest species (11) were seen at a degraded mangrove site near the river mouth, and the greatest number (150) in the rich semi-evergreen forest on Tungar Hill. For all sites there were 141 tree, 25 shrub and 15 liana species, a total of 181 species. Excluding the mangrove site, which had no species in common with the other 14 sites, we analyzed the species distributions in detail. These sites ranged in area from 4 to 30 km² each, had woody floras of 89 ± 6 species, and varied in intensity of human impact. Despite a history of exploitation and substantial reduction in biomass from firewood collecting, set fires and illicit tree felling, considerable plant diversity remains in the area. We found a modest increase in species richness in transects away from two villages. We observed the exploitation of the forest by the principal users, primarily of the Warli Tribe. They exploited a wide variety of forest resources (92 species), for medicines, foods, construction materials, household goods, manure and other purposes. They collected 15 items for sale. By far the single most important item collected was firewood, which dramatically reduced forest biomass within 2 km of villages. The species distributions in these forest remnants are strongly nested, mostly due to varying degrees of disturbance at individual sites. The high species diversity on Tungar Hill is most likely a relict of the earlier character of forests throughout much of the valley. It merits the highest priorities for preservation, as a refuge for Western Ghat species at the northern limits of their distributions.     

Private and Public Eugenics: Genetic Testing and Screening in India

Epidemiologists and geneticists claim that genetics has an increasing role to play in public health policies and programs in the future. Within this perspective, genetic testing and screening are instrumental in avoiding the birth of children with serious, costly or untreatable disorders. This paper discusses genetic testing and screening within the framework of eugenics in the health care context of India. Observations are based on literature review and empirical research using qualitative methods. I distinguish ‘private’ from ‘public’ eugenics. I refer to the practice of prenatal diagnosis as an aspect of private eugenics, when the initiative to test comes from the pregnant woman herself. Public eugenics involves testing initiated by the state or medical profession through (more or less) obligatory testing programmes. To illustrate these concepts I discuss the management of thalassaemia, which I see as an example of private eugenics that is moving into the sphere of public eugenics. I then discuss the recently launched newborn screening programme as an example of public eugenics. I use Foucault’s concepts of power and governmentality to explore the thin line separating individual choice and overt or covert coercion, and between private and public eugenics. We can expect that the use of genetic testing technology will have serious and far-reaching implications for cultural perceptions regarding health and disease and women’s experience of pregnancy, besides creating new ethical dilemmas and new professional and parental responsibilities. Therefore, culturally sensitive health literacy programmes to empower the public and sensitise professionals need attention.

No Aging in India: Alzheimer's, the Bad Family, and Other Modern Things

No Aging in India: Alzheimer's, the Bad Family, and Other Modern Things. Lawrence Cohen. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998. xxv. 367 pp.     

White Saris and Sweet Mangoes: Aging, Gender, and the Body in North India

White Saris and Sweet Mangoes: Aging, Gender, and the Body in North India. Sarah Lamb. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000. xvii. 306 pp.