Bengali Girls Research Articles

Adiposity level, fat distribution and age at menarche in Bengali girls from Kolkata, India

Adiposity level, fat distribution and age at menarche in Bengali girls from Kolkata, India

Postfeminist Micro-Politics in Shobha De’s Novel Second Thoughts

The novel Second Thoughts deals with the story of a young middle class Bengali girl who marries a Bombay based foreign returned Bengali Boy. The story depicts the disillusionment of a married woman and an explosive tale of love and betrayal that exposes the hollowness of human relationship especially within arranged marriages. This chapter deals with the concept of Micro-Politics which is a significant dogma of postfeminism. Micro-Politics believes that there has been drastic change in the position of women in basic social relationships, within the families, workplace and other public spheres. Postfeministic notion of micro-politics is intended to provide insight into the complicated nexus of relationship and also to rethink this same concept in terms of postfeminism.

Incidentally detected pancake kidney: a case report

BackgroundCongenital anomalies of the urinary system are very common and have extremely varied presentation. Among them, the most rarely found structural anomaly is the pancake kidney. When both kidneys are fused along their medial surfaces to form a round-shaped single renal mass, it is termed as pancake kidney. In this case report, a pancake kidney was incidentally detected in a girl. The majority of individuals who have pancake kidney are usually asymptomatic but surgeons should be aware of coexisting malformation of other organs and its potential risk of developing malignancy.Case presentationA 12-year-old Bengali girl presented to our out-patient department with mild, dull aching, lower abdominal pain and dysuria. She had no history of fever, hematuria, menstrual abnormality, pelvic inflammatory disease, or trauma. Urine examination showed traces of albumin and 10–12 pus cells/high-power field. She had normal kidney function test but a digital X-ray of her kidney, ureter, and bladder region failed to demonstrate bilateral renal tissue shadows. Ultrasonography of her whole abdomen showed normal intra-abdominal organs except for empty bilateral renal fossa. A multi-detector computed tomography scan of her whole abdomen revealed one round-shaped mass measuring approximately 9 cm (vertical) × 10 cm (horizontal) in the pelvic cavity. That mass was finally identified as a pancake kidney. She was prescribed antibiotics based on urine culture and sensitivity test that cured her symptoms. She was advised to follow-up regularly in our out-patient department to evaluate her kidney function and to rule out any neoplastic change.ConclusionsThis condition can be managed conservatively, if the individual remains asymptomatic, by regular monitoring of renal function. Surgeons should remain alert for the development of infections, any obstructive manifestations leading to calculus formation, and any malignant changes. The individual should be careful in avoiding trauma to low-lying pelvic kidney. Extensive surgeries should be avoided and only selective procedures should be done so that the patient may lead a normal lifestyle.

The relationship among the age at menarche, anthropometric characteristics, and socio-economic factors in Bengali girls from Kolkata, India.

The aim of the study was to measure the causal effect of selected socio-economic factors and anthropometrical characteristics on the menarche occurrence. The sample consisted of 2195 Bengali girls (aged 7-21) from middle-class families, from Kolkata city, India. The age at menarche was recorded from the retrospective data and status quo method. The causal effect of anthropometric and socio-economic variables on menarche occurrence was estimated by the nonparametrical analysis of survival probability (survival random forest). In the examined cohort menarche occurred, on average, at 11.8 years of age. The probability of menarche occurrence amplified with the increasing values of factors such as body mass index, height-for-age z-scores, number of family members, household rooms, and toilets, but decreased when expenditures increased. The relation maintained a similar pattern of causal effect with girls' age. A complex pattern of relationship among sexual development, physique, and socio-economic characteristics was defined. The tendency toward early menarche, along with the observed causal relationships indicate that the analyzed sample is nearing the characteristics and standards of living noted in other middle and even high-income countries in the world.

A Comparative Study on Fat Pattern between Tribal and Non-tribal Girls of Tripura, North-East India

ObjectiveTo examine the body composition including fat patterning among 744 school going Chakma tribal and non- tribal Bengali girls (366 Chakma tribal and 378 Bengali girls), aged 6-12y from North, Unokoti, Dhalai and South District of Tripura.MethodsThe subjects were selected using cluster-random sampling method. The anthropometric measurements of height, weight, triceps and subscapular skinfold were recorded. The body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. The measurements were used to estimate percent body fat (PBF) and fat-free mass (FFM) from skinfolds. Fat mass (FM) and FFM were each divided by height squared to produce the fat-mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Body composition was assessed using FM, FFM, FMI and FFMI.ResultsAge-specific mean values of FM ranged from 2.65-6.75 kg (tribal) and 1.92-6.45 kg (non-tribal). Age-specific mean values of FFM ranged from 17.19-29.61 kg for tribals and 15.41-28.44 kg for non-tribals respectively. PBF of tribals was significantly (p < 0.01) higher (except 10 y) than non-tribals. FFM and PBF significantly (p < 0.01) related with all anthropometric variables.ConclusionsThis study suggested a clear evidence of ethnic variation in fat patterning; Chakma tribal girls showing a greater subcutaneous adiposity in comparison with Bengali girls. These results are important for future investigations in clinical and epidemiological studies to identify the risk of lower or higher adiposity and body composition.

Acute cerebellar ataxia in a 3-year-old Bengali girl: a novel presentation of scrub typhus in pediatric age group

Scrub typhus is known to cause local and systemic vasculitic response in almost all the systems of the body. In central nervous system it most commonly causes meningitis and encephalitis although several other atypical presentations have been documented. We present a case of a 3 years old child presenting with fever and isolated acute cerebellitis. Serum showed IgM antibodies to scrub typhus by ELISA. MRI scan of brain also corroborated with clinical findings. Patient showed rapid response to doxycycline therapy.

Megaencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts in a young Bengali girl

Megaencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts in a young Bengali girl

Relative fat distribution in relation to menarcheal status among Bengalee Hindu girls of West Bengal, India

Background:Menarche seems be related to the relative distribution rather than the total amount of body fat. Previous studies showed that the ratio between lower-body vs. upper-body fat was associated with the timing of menarche.Aim:To compare the relative distribution of subcutaneous fat among Bengali Hindu pre- and post-menarcheal girls.Materials and Methods:The participants were 234 Bengali Hindu girls aged 11-14 years: 111 pre-menarcheal and 123 post-menarcheal girls, randomly selected from a secondary school from a suburb of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Triceps, abdominal, sub-scapular, and calf skinfolds were measured. For each skinfold site, ratio was calculated as follows: Log (one skinfold/sum of skinfolds). Principal components (PC) analysis was performed to derive components which express the maximum contrast among the log of ratios. T-test was employed to assess differences between individual scores of components between pre- and post-menarcheal girls.Results:The three identified PC suggested extremities-trunk, lower trunk-upper trunk, and an upper extremity-lower extremity contrasts, respectively. Scores for second and third components showed significant differences between pre- and post-menarcheal groups of girls.Conclusion:The attainment of menarche by Bengali girls aged 11-14 years was associated with characteristically more relative subcutaneous fat distribution in the upper trunk and in the lower limbs, in contrast to lower trunk and upper limbs, respectively.

Christian Missionaries and Female Education in Bengal during East India Company’s Rule: a Discourse between Christianised Colonial Domination versus Women Emancipation

The paper shows the role of distinct western missionaries who were bringing Christianity in Colonised India as a path of female education, which implanted ‗values of reformations', and ‗individual's right' among the natives. These missionaries under the banner of ‗Civilising Mission of White Men' instructed some modernizing process to the females of India within the framework of the ‗Acceptance of Imperial British Rule'. In particular, I examined the role of distinguished devotees and private organizations of European Missionaries engaged in imparting female education in Bengal. Other hand, I have tried to assess the way of responses of Bengali girls and women to the ‗New Education', which they received at the hands of missionary schoolmasters and schoolmistresses that produced an indigenous debate about Christian domination versus women emancipation. A very rich and suggestive literature is now appearing which examines the impact of modern schooling on Indian women and delineates ideological responses, particularly within Indian nationalist discourse. Finally, an attempt has been made to critically analyse the ideology and motives of the European women missionaries, and their limitation to the advancement of female education in Bengal.

Burkitt's Lymphoma in a 5 year old Bengali Girl: A Case Report

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a rare monoclonal proliferation of B-lymphocytes and is classified as a poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma. This tumor was first noted in Africans. The cause of this tumor is debatable, but strong evidence implicates Epstein-Barr virus in its development. This tumor predominantly affects children and is probably the fastest growing tumor in humans, with exuberant proliferation. It is a very rare malignancy accounting for only 0.76% of solid malignant tumors among Indian children. A case of BL of the right hemimandible in a 5-year-old Bengali girl is reported. Key words: Burkitt's lymphoma; Immunohistochemistry; Chemotherapy. DOI: 10.3126/jnps.v31i1.3903J Nep Paedtr Soc 2010;31(1):61-63

Variation in the Age at Menarche of the Assamese and Bengali Girls of Guwahati, Assam

Data on age at menarche have been collected using status quo method among 230 Assamese girls and 223 Bengali girls of Guwahati (Assam) attending School. The median age, estimated by probits, is 12....

Growth and nutritional status of Bengali adolescent girls

Assessment of the growth and nutritional status among healthy Bengali adolescent schoolgirls at peri-urban area. In this cross sectional study, sample consists of 527 school going adolescent girls, aged 10 to 18 years. The sample of the present study was collected from a peri-urban area (Duttapukur) of north 24 parganas district of West Bengal, India. Standard anthropometric measurements including linear, curvilinear and skinfold thickness were collected from each subject. Percentile curves and nutritional indices were used to determine the growth and nutritional status respectively. The nature of distance curves and percentile curves of the body measurements showed a high rate of increase in 10-11 years of age group corresponding to an earlier adolescent growth spurt than average Indian girls. The adolescent girls in the current study were found to be significantly (p<0.0001) taller than Indian girls and heavier than both Indian and urban Bengali girls but slightly shorter than urban Bengali girls. They are significantly (p<0.0001) shorter and lighter than American girls, which also corresponded to 50(th) percentile curves. Age specific nutritional assessment shows different grades of malnutrition among them. Gomez's classification indicates about 60 % to 70 % adolescent girls show either moderate to mild malnutrition during their growth period. Both the indices of Waterlow's classification show least percentage of least malnutrition among the girls. The growth pattern and nutritional status observed among adolescent girls in peri-urban situation show heterogeneity with respect to some anthropometric traits and in conformity with the growth pattern and nutritional status of urban girls.

JUMPING ON SHADOWS: CATCHING THE UNCONSCIOUS IN THE CLASSROOM

This article discusses case material from a psychoanalytically informed ethnographic research project where the author had a dual role as a teaching practitioner and researcher in an infant school. It suggests that practitioner researchers can deepen a concern with reflexivity in the research process by transferring elements of the practice of the psychoanalytic clinician — specifically, attention to ‘counter‐transference’ — to their research practice. The article reviews the concept of counter‐transference. It suggests that working out the difference between transference and counter‐transference may be connected unconsciously to working out the distinctions between ego and superego. The article then goes on to provide an illustration of the way in which the author attempted to use her own counter‐transference to inform her research into young children's learning, specifically in relation to her experience of being a teacher. The discussion connects this to the teacher's transferential place as a parental and ‘superego’ figure for pupils. Observational extracts are drawn from the case study of ‘Lutfa’, a Bengali girl placed at the lower end of the ability group range. The article concludes by suggesting that attention to counter‐transference dynamics as a form of reflexivity can provide the practitioner‐researcher with valuable information about the research subjects and about dynamics in the setting, particularly the participants' relationships to ‘superego’ figures.

Erupted maxillary conical mesiodens in deciduous dentition in a Bengali girl - A case report

Mesiodens is a midline supernumerary tooth commonly seen in the maxillary arch. It is the most significant dental anomaly affecting permanent dentition mainly and primary dentition rarely. It may occur as an isolated dental anomalous condition or may be associated with a syndrome. Many theories have been promulgated to explain its etiology. But an exact etiology is still obscure. Incidence of mesiodens in children varies from 0.15 to 3.8%. Boys are affected more (2:1) than girls. Morphologically, mesiodens may be of three types: the most commonly seen is conical, while tuberculate and supplementary types.

Bengali girls in sport: A socio‐economic study of Kabadi

(2004). Bengali girls in sport: A socio‐economic study of Kabadi. The International Journal of the History of Sport: Vol. 21, Sport in South Asian Society, pp. 467-477.

Relationship between menarcheal age and nutritional anthropometry in urban girls of the Howrah District, West Bengal, India

The present paper deals with the menarche and nutritional anthropometry among Bengali girls aged 9 to 16 years (n = 645) living in the city of Howrah (West Bengal, India). The result show that within the same socioeconomic group early menarche girls were heavier and taller than the late menarche girls. There is a significant difference between not attained menarche (NAM) and attained menarche (AM) girls aged 12 and 13 years for height and for 12 to 14 years in case of weight.

Maximal Aerobic Capacity of Bengali Girl Athletes of Different Sports Activities.

The maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) and related cardiorespiratory parameters were determined on 67 Bengalee (Indian) girl athletes having nine different sports activities. VO2max was determined with a bicycle ergometer. The highest value for VO2maxl.min-1 was obtained by javelin throwers (1.95), being followed by pentathletes (1.92) and long-distance runners (1.90), whereas the lowest value was achieved by handballers (1.45). When VO2max was expressed in ml.kg-1.min-1, the long-distance runners registered the highest mean value (43.0), which was significantly higher than that of basketballers (34.9), handball players (36.2), badminton players (34.4), and swimmers (36.0). For this measurement, the sprinters (40.0), pentathletes (40.3), javelin throwers (40.0), and jumpers (39.4) did not differ significantly with each other, but each of the groups was significantly superior to basketballers, handballers, badminton players, and swimmers. No significant difference was also found amongst the latter groups. VO2maxl.min-1 was found to be significantly correlated with all the physical characteristics. It was predicted on the basis of age, height, weight, and body surface area using stepwise regression method.

Differential ethnic bias in Bengali and white children

Summary In a sociometric study, Bengali and white children aged seven to 11 years were shown classroom seating plans with facial photographs of children arranged around tables. Children were asked which table they would (a) choose; and (b) not choose to sit at on the basis of each of ten friendship‐type criteria. For the high‐contrast condition tables showed all Bengali or all white faces, while for the medium‐contrast condition table groups were three Bengali and one white or three white and one Bengali. Ethnic bias was clear both for boys and girls in their preference choices; however, for rejection choices there was no ethnic bias. Remarkably, Bengali girls showed no ethnic bias in either their preference or their rejection choices.

Ossification centres at the elbow joint in Bengali girls.

313 healthy school girls from 6 to 16 years of age from middle income Bengali families were selected for a radiological study of norms of skeletal maturity at the elbow joint. The age of appearance and fusion of the four centres of the epiphyses at the lower end of the humerus and the centres for the head of the radius and top of the ulnar olecranon is reported. The 11th birthday seems to be an important landmark in growth when fusion commences at a rapid pace. By the thirteenth birthday the acceleration in growth is nearly complete. The skeletal maturity of the three long bones around the elbow joint was completed by the 16th birthday.