Publications by authors named "Shalini Ramachandra"

Background: Gulf War Illness is a multi-symptom condition affecting veterans of the 1990 to 1991 Gulf War, which often presents with comorbid hypertension. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of the low glutamate diet, as well as an acute challenge of monosodium glutamate (MSG)/placebo, on resting heart rate, blood oxygenation level, and blood pressure (BP) in this population.

Methods: These data were measured at 4 time points: baseline, after 1 month on the low glutamate diet, and during each challenge week, where subjects were randomized into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover challenge with MSG/placebo over 3 days each week.

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To investigate the efficacy of mobile health (mHealth) intervention strategies that delivered either personalized, culturally, and linguistically tailored cell phone voice messages or text messages related to breast cancer and prevention, compared to the control group, to determine which strategy is more likely to increase breast cancer knowledge and screening mammography among low-income Latina immigrants. This randomized controlled trial assigned 256 Latina immigrants 40 years of age or older to one of three groups: an automated cell phone voice message group, an automated text message group, or the control group (mail). The mHealth intervention employed a comprehensive approach that included breast cancer and prevention education and free mammography screening.

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Our research objective was to determine which environmental and social factors were predictive of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case and death rates in New York City (NYC), the original epicenter of the pandemic in the US, and any differential impacts among the boroughs. Data from various sources on the demographic, health, and environmental characteristics for NYC zip codes, neighborhoods, and boroughs were analyzed along with NYC government's reported case and death rates by zip code. At the time of analysis, the Bronx had the highest COVID-19 case and death rates, while Manhattan had the lowest rates.

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Aim: To examine the effects of the low glutamate diet on inflammatory cytokines in veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI).

Main Methods: Forty veterans with GWI were recruited from across the country. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected at baseline and after one month on the low glutamate diet.

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Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a multisymptom disorder including widespread chronic pain, fatigue and gastrointestinal problems. The objective of this study was to examine the low glutamate diet as a treatment for GWI. Forty veterans with GWI were recruited from across the US.

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