Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

About: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal is a education organization based out in Manipal, Karnataka, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Diabetes mellitus. The organization has 7034 authors who have published 8488 publications receiving 103415 citations.

Prevalence of menopausal symptoms and quality of life after menopause in women from South India.

Abstract: Objectives: This study was carried out to establish the age at onset of menopause and the prevalence of menopause and menopausal symptoms in South Indian women. Materials and methods: Three hundred and fifty-two postmenopausal women attending the outpatient clinics of obstetrics and gynaecology department of Dr TMA Pai Hospital, a tertiary care Hospital in South India, were included in the study. The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire was used in the study. Data were presented as percentages for qualitative variable. Results: The mean age at menopause was 48.7 years. Most frequent menopausal symptoms were aching in muscle and joints,feeling tired, poor memory, lower backache and difficulty in sleeping. The vasomotor and sexual domains were less frequently complained when compared to physical and psychological domains. Conclusion: The age at onset of menopause in southern Karnataka (India) is 48.7 years which is four years more than the mean menopause age for Indian women. This could be attributed to better socioeconomic and health-care facility in this region

Plasma glucose levels in term infants who are appropriate size for gestation and exclusively breast fed

Abstract: Aim: To evaluate the plasma glucose levels in normal, term infants who were appropriate size for gestational age (AGA) and exclusively breast fed, and to assess the influence of parity of the mother, mode of delivery, and time of feed on the glucose levels. Method: A total of 200 healthy, term, AGA infants were longitudinally evaluated at 3, 6, 24, and 72 hours of life. Plasma glucose was estimated from heel prick capillary samples. The influence of mode of delivery, parity, and interval between feeds on plasma glucose was analysed. Results: There was no significant difference between the plasma glucose levels of the cohorts at any of the sampling time points. Parity, mode of delivery, and time since the last feed did not affect plasma glucose. Satisfactory glucose levels were maintained even when infants remained unfed up to 6 hours of age. Infants with plasma glucose concentrations less than 2.2 mmol/l at 3 hours of age were more likely to have low sugar concentration (< 2.5 mmol/l) at 72 hours (RR = 6.55, 95% confidence interval 3.93 to 10.92). Conclusions: A term, breast fed infant may have its own distinct plasma glucose levels, showing no significant variation between 3 and 72 hours of age. Plasma glucose levels are satisfactorily maintained in normal term infants without resort to prelacteal feeds. Mode of delivery, parity of the mother, and interval between feeds did not influence plasma glucose. Biochemical thresholds for hypoglycaemia do not seem to be of practical importance in asymptomatic, normal, term, breast fed infants.

Biodegradable injectable implant systems for long term drug delivery using poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid copolymers.

Abstract: Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG), is one of the most widely employed biodegradable synthetic polymers for sustained-release preparations. In the present work, PLG (50:50) copolymer has been used to deliver diclofenac sodium in the form of microspheres and in situ gel-forming systems, both of which can be injected subcutaneously. The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies in the adjuvant-induced arthritic rats showed that the microspheres offered steady therapeutic levels of the drug in the plasma for about 16 days following a single subcutaneous injection. However, the in situ gel-forming system provided a significantly higher maximum plasma concentration and increased inhibition of inflammation, maintained for about 10 days. Injectable microspheres and in situ gel-forming implant systems of PLG (50:50) copolymer may therefore be considered as prospective implantable controlled-release dosage forms to deliver drugs in long-term therapy of chronic ailments.

Molds in onychomycosis.

Abstract: Background. Onychomycosis is a major cause of nail dystrophy. The causative organisms in onychomycosis are dermatophytes, Candida and molds. A variety of molds have been isolated from nails. Methods: Nail scrapings and clippings were collected from 100 cases and inoculated on slants containing SDA with cycloheximide 0.5 mg/mL, chloramphenicol 0.05 mg/mL, and SDA with chloramphenicol 0.05 mg/mL. Results: The culture positivity rate for molds was 22%. The predominant mold isolates were Aspergillus species (86.4%, Fusarium oxysporum (4.5%), Curvularia species (4.5%) and Penicillium species (4.5%). Conclusion: Primary invasion of nails by molds can cause onychomycosis.