University of Madras

About: University of Madras is a education organization based out in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Ring (chemistry) & Lipid peroxidation. The organization has 8496 authors who have published 11369 publications receiving 211152 citations. The organization is also known as: Madras University & University of Chennai.

High HIV prevalence and risk behaviors in men who have sex with men in Chennai, India.

Abstract: Objective: To estimate HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevalence and behavioral risk characteristics of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chennai, India. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based random sample survey was conducted in 2001. Randomly selected residents of 30 slums in Chennai were interviewed for behavioral risk factors through face-to-face interviews. Sera and urine were examined for syphilis, HIV-1, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations between MSM status and HIV infection and to identify risk characteristics of MSM. Results: Of 774 men, 46 reported (5.9%) sex with other men. MSM were more likely to be seropositive for HIV (odds ratio [OR] = 8.57; 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 1.83, 40.23) and were more likely to have a history of STD (OR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.18, 6.02) than non-MSM. Men who used illicit drugs in past 3 months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.01; 95% CI: 1.92, 8.41), ever exchanged money for sex (AOR = 3.93; 95% CI: 1.97, 7.84), or were ever tested for HIV (AOR = 3.72; 95% Cl: 1.34, 10.34) were significantly more likely to report sex with men. Conclusions: MSM in Chennai slums are at high risk for HIV. HIV prevention strategies aimed at changing unsafe drug and sexual practices should target the general population of men, with specific attention to areas with high rates of MSM.

Assessing community resilience to climate-related disasters in Chennai, India

Abstract: This article compares the resilience of two communities in Chennai, India, to climate-related disasters. The selected communities have similar exposure to natural hazards (cyclones and river-based floods due to their close proximity to the sea. Both areas are predominantly residential. Results from a household survey, assessing the physical, social and economic resilience of individuals through a Climate-related Disaster Community Resilience Framework (CDCRF), reveal that people living in the vicinity of rivers and canals are at higher risk from impacts (damages on house, diseases) of floods compared to others. However, despite their experience to past flood-related disasters, they have not been able to enhance their coping capacity due to their limited adaptive capacity. Thus, their resilience is limited to absorb, manage and bounce back future climate-related disasters (particularly floods). In collaboration with other stakeholders, mainly the Corporation of Chennai (Municipality), community-driven participatory solutions are concluded to have beneficial effect in enhancing the resilience of communities to climate-related disasters.

Studies on the protective role of vitamin C and E against polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor 1254)—induced oxidative damage in Leydig cells

Abstract: Free radical production and lipid peroxidation are potentially important mediators in testicular physiology and toxicology. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are global environmental contaminants th...

Oral Acute and Subacute Toxicity Studies with Kalpaamruthaa, a Modified Indigenous Preparation, on Rats

Abstract: Kalpaamruthaa (KA), a modified indigenous Siddha formulation constitutes Semecarpus anacardium nut milk extract, Emblica officinalis and honey. KA is evaluated for its behavioral and toxicological effects and also its consequence on biochemical and histological variations. Acute and subacute toxicity studies with KA were done on Wistar Albino rats. During acute toxicity study (72 hr), there were no any adverse effects found in the general behavior and mortality at any dose level given (50–2000 mg/kg b.wt.). In subacute toxicity study (30 days) KA (50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt.) did not cause any changes in hematological and biochemical parameters with the exception of a transient rise in hemoglobin, leukocyte count, free fatty acid, plasma and urine creatinine and a significant decrease in blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid levels. The changes observed are significant only at the highest dosage of 500 mg/kg b.wt. Further, histopathological examination of vital organs showed normal architecture suggesting no morphological disturbances; it can be considered that KA is safe and non toxic.