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.     

Effect of sex of preceding child on birth interval

The study aim was to examine the effect on birth spacing of a prior female child's birth. The study site was a rural health center under observation by staff from the Dayanand Medical College in Ludhiana, India. The sample included 73 pregnant women who were grouped by the sex of the preceding child. The results showed that the average birth interval was significantly shorter for women with a preceding birth of a female child. The average interval in weeks was 90.73 weeks + or - 54.46 weeks for the 41 women who had a prior girl child compared to 133.68 weeks for the male child. When the female child was at a parity of one the birth interval averaged 73.36 weeks, compared to 137.2 weeks for a prior parity of one male child. At parity of two, the average birth interval was 106.2 for a prior girl child and 144.38 for a prior male child. At a parity of three, the average birth interval was 88.22 weeks for a prior girl child and 96.5 weeks for a prior male child. At a parity of four, the average birth interval was 87.66 weeks for a prior girl child and 46.0 weeks for a prior male child. The significant effect of having a prior girl child was evident only at a parity of one. The intervals at a parity of two and three were shorter for girls but not significantly different. The recommendation was that young women and women with low parity be targeted for family planning in order to lengthen the birth interval, regardless of the desire for sons.     

Enzyme studies in GM2 gangliosidiosis,and their application in prenatal diagnosis

Assay of hexosaminidase A and B enzymes in four cases with developmental regression and cherry red spot on fundus examination confirmed that three cases had Tay-Sachs disease, and one case had Sandhoff disease. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out by hexosaminidase enzyme assay in amniotic fluid and cells in one family, and chorionic villus sample in the second family. The fetus was diagnosed to be unaffected in one, and affected in the other family. Assay of hexosaminidase A and B is useful for specific diagnosis of GM₂ gangliosidosis, and for prenatal diagnosis to reduce the burden of these disorders.     

Epidemiology of chronic suppurative otitis media and deafness in a rural area and developing an intervention strategy

Of 613 children evaluated in a village in Haryana 94 (15.3%) were observed to have chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Fifty eight (61.7%) children had hearing impairment. CSOM contributed to 71.6% of the hearing impaired (58/81). On analysis of association of CSOM with literacy and socio-economic status of mothers, and age, sex, and upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in children positive correlation was observed only with URIs (P<0.001). Literacy and socio-economic status of the mothers did not correlate significantly with knowledge about treatment seeking, and ear cleaning practices, probably due to the narrow range of incomes and literacy levels. An intervention program consisting of play, demonstrations, health charts and slogans, and aural cleaning and antibiotic drops was introduced.     

A comparison of sampling and analytical methods for assessing occupational exposure to diesel exhaust in a railroad work environment

Methods of assessing occupational exposure to diesel exhaust were evaluated in a railroad work environment. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)-recommended elemental carbon and respirable combustible dust methods of sampling and analysis for assessing diesel exhaust were included in the study. A total of 215 personal and area samples were collected using both size-selective (nylon cyclone and Marple) and non-size-selective samplers. The results demonstrate that the elemental carbon method is suitable for the railroad environment and the respirable combustible dust method is not. All elemental carbon concentrations measured were below the proposed ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 0.15 mg/m3. The concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) were also found to be below their respective TLVs. There is no correlation between elemental carbon or respirable combustible dust and the oxides of nitrogen. The elemental carbon as fraction of total carbon is about 13 percent, except for onboard locomotives where it is about 24 percent. Comparison of elemental carbon and respirable combustible dust measurements showed consistent relationships for most sampling locations, with respirable combustible dust concentrations 12 to 53 times higher than the elemental carbon levels.