Name: Dr. Hemalatha R, MBBS; MD
Scientist E
Contact:  
Phone: +91-40-27197297
E-mail: rhemalatha@ninindia.org; hemalatha_nin@yahoo.co.in
 

Brief Profile:

A gold medalist from NTR Uiversity of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh in MD, Dr. Hemalatha has extensive research experience of more than 20 years in the field of Nutrition Infection and Immunity with more than 10 years experience in pediatric nutrition with special reference to zinc and child health. Dr. Hemalatha received Young Scientist Award from the Nutrition Society of India (NSI) in 1990 for her work carried out on  Assessment of mild zinc deficiency in children.

Presently working on 5 clinical research projects and 2 basic studies using animal models. The clinical research includes a clinical trial (Effect of Probiotics on Reproductive Tract Infections, immunity, HIV infectivity- extramural funded), a multicentric study on HIV, STIs and behavior in high risk population (IBBA-extramural), and a study on probiotics and obesity. Other 2 studies are collaborative hospital based projects on children and pregnant women. Of the 2 basic studies, one is a PhD work on leptin and Immune responses in obesity and in the second study (GTP-funded) animal model is being developed for studying immunomodulatory and efficacy studies of new drugs. Apart from this, she is part of interdisciplinary collaborative work related to Preclinical Immunotoxicology and Allergenicity studies.

 
 

List of Publications:

  1. Brahmam G.N.V, Venkaiah Kodali, Hemalatha R, Harikumar Rachakulla, Srinivasan Kallam, Ramesh S Paranjape, Mohan D Gupte, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan, Anjalee Kohli, Ramesh .B.M. Sexual practices, HIV and STIs among self-identified men who have sex with men in four high HIV prevalence states of India. AIDS. 22 (5); S45, 2008

  2. Hemalatha R, Ramalaxmi BA, SSYH Quadri, VV Annapurna, N Balakrishna and B Sesikeran. Intrauterine growth restriction in term women with Histologic chorioamnionitis Research Journal of Obstetric and Gynecoloy 1 (1),; 18-24, 2008

  3. Hemalatha R. The possible beneficial role of probiotics in sexually transmitted infections. Published in Nutrition in Disease Management Ed Dr.Sarath Gopalan.  Update series 33 January 2007.

  4. Yasodhara P, Raghunath M, Sreeramulu D, Venu L, Hemalatha R, Prasanna Krishna T. Local Immunity In Indian Women with Bacterial Vaginosis. Journal of Reproductive Immunology. 70: 133-141; 2006

  5. Singotamu L, Hemalatha R, Madhusudhanachary P and Seshacharyulu Cytokines and Micronutrients in Plasmodium vivax Infection.  Journal of Medical Sciences. 6(6): 962-967; 2006

  6. Hemalatha R, Y.Kodandhapani  and N.Balakrishna.  Vitamin A  and   Th1          Response in children  with Acute  Respiratory  Infections. Journal of  Biological    Sciences. 6(5) 881 – 886; 2006

  7. P.Bhaskaram, R-Hemalatha, B.Narayan Goud. Expression of messenger ribonucleic acid and production of cytokines in children with malnutrition. Nutr Res;23: 367-376, 2003.

  8. Hemalatha R, Bhaskaram P, Balakrishna N and Saraswathi I. Association of tumour necrosis factor alpha and malnutrition with outcome in children with acute bacterial meningitis. Indian J Med Res.,; 115 : 55-58, 2002.

  9. Anand T, T.A.Nara Raj, R. Hemalatha, L. Venkateshwar Rao and Gita Sharma. Asymptomatic human rotavirus serotypes 3 among infants at Hyderabad, India. Indian J Medical Microbiology.; 18(1) : 37-39, 2000.

  10. Hemalatha R, Vijayalakshmi P, Gyaneshwari, Rama Rao MV, Ramani A. Multidrug resistant Salmonella typhi in Hyderabad. Indian J Med Microbiol.; 17(1): 39-41,1999.

  11. Bhaskaram P, Nair KM, Hemalatha P, Neehta Murthy. Poornima Nair. Systemic and mucosal immune response to polio vaccination with additional dose in new born period. J Trop Pediatr.; 43(4): 232-234,1997.

  12. Hemalatha P, Bhaskaram P, Ajeya Kumar P, Khan MM, Islam MA. Zinc status of breast fed and fomula-fed infants of different gestational ages. J Trop Pediatr.; 43(1): 52-54,1997.
  13. Bhaskaram P, Hemalatha P. Zinc status of Indian children. ICMR Bull.; 25(2): 13-17,1995.

  14. Bhaskaram P, Hemalatha P. Zinc status of Indian children. Indian J Med Res.; 102(5): 210-215, 1995.

  15. Islam Aminul, Hemalatha P, Bhaskaram P, Ajeya Kumar P. Leukocyte and plasma zinc in maternal and cord blood : Their relationship to period of gestation and birth weight. Nutr Res.; 14(3): 353-360,1994.

  16. Bhaskaram P, Hemalatha P. Is zinc deficiency in children a nutritional problem. Nutrition News.; 15(2): 1-4,1994.

  17. Bhaskaram P, Hemalatha P, Visweswara Rao K. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination in malnourished child population. Pediatr Digest.; 2: 13-15,1993.

  18. Hemalatha P, Bhaskaram P, Kham MM. Role of Zinc supplementation in the rehabilitation of severely malnourished children. Eur J Clin Nutr.; 47(6): 395-399,1993.

  19. Hemalatha P, Bhaskaram P, Quadri SSYH, Ajeya Kumar P. Assessment of mild zinc deficiency in children. Nutr Res.; 13(2): 115-122,1993.

  20. Bhaskaram P, Hemalatha P, Visweswara Rao K. BCG vaccination in malnourished child population. Indian Pediatr; 29(1): 39-44, 1992.

  21. Bhaskaram P, Hemalatha P, Islam Aminul. Zinc status in breast fed infants. Lancet.; 340 (8832): 1416-1417,1992.

  22. Bhaskaram P, Hemalatha P, Visweswara Rao K. BCG vaccination in malnourished child population (Accepted). Indian Pediatr. 1991

  23. Vijayakumar M, Bhaskaram P, Hemalatha P. Malnutrition and Childhood Tuberculosis. J Trop Pediatr.;  36(6) : 294-298,1990.

Review

The possible beneficial role of probiotics in sexually transmitted infections. Hemalatha R.  Nutrition in Disease Management.  Update Series 33 January 2007.

ABSTRACTS

  1. Probiotics as a Nutritional Tool. R Hemalatha and B Sesikeran. Proceedings of the First   India Probiotic Symposium organized by ICMR. (30th Nov 2007).

  2. Use of Lactobacilli as Potential Microbicide for HIV infection. R Hemalatha.  Proceedings of  International Conference on Molecular and Cellular Biology and Therapeutics of HIV & Associated Viral Infections. Pp.38-43, 2007.

  3. Bhaskaram P and Hemalatha R. Cellular immune functions in children with iron deficiency anaemia. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 17th ICN.: 45 (Suppl.1), p.286,2001.

  4. Bhaskaram P and Hemalatha R. Cellular basis for immuno suppression in malnutrition. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 17th ICN. : 45 (Suppl.1), p.46, 2001

  5. Hemalatha P, Bhaskaram P, Quadry SSYH. Assessment of zinc status in children using serum thymulin  activity. Paper presented during 23rd Annual meeting of nutrition society of India. Sliver Jubilee Celebrations, Dec 1-3, 1990, Hyderabad, NIN. P. 36, 1990.

BOOKS/MONOGRAPHS

  1. Revised the 5th Edition of ICMR Special Report Series No.41, “Nutrition for Mother and Child” written by PS Venkatachalam and LM Rebello (2001).

  2.   Nutrition and Infection. R Hemalatha. 3rd Edition of Text Book of Human Nutrition. Eds. Mahtab S Bamji, Kamala Krishnaswamy and GNV Brahmam.

REPORTS

  1. Integrated Behavioural and Biological Assessment round 1 National Interim Summary Report : 2007

  2. Safety and Impact of administering vitamin A along with polio vaccine on National Immunisation Days in the State of Orissa. NIN-WHO-UNICEF and Micronutrient Initiative : 2002

Popular Articles

  1. Healthy Bacteria. The Hindu, Sunday Magazine: page 6; 1st March 2008.

  2. Health Benefits of Probiotics. In Touch,  Heinz Nutrition Foundation India,10(2) ;2008

  3. Probiotics and Fermented foods in India. R Hemalatha. Nutrition, 38(2) 3-11, April 2007

  4. Brown rice and its nutrient benefits. Reader’s digest, March 2007 

  5. Neelam and Hemalatha R. Some frequently asked questions on milk. Nutrition, 35(2) : 27-29, 2001.

  6. Hemalatha, R. Ageing & Immunity. Nutrition, , p.7-12, Oct. 1999.

  7. Vijayalakshmi K & Hemalatha R. Those offending foods (1). Health Action, , pp.25-26, 1999(10).

  8. Vijayalakshmi K & Hemalatha R. Those offending foods (2). Health Action, p.50-56,1999(11).

  9. Hemalatha, R. Diet therapy in phenylketoneuria. Nutrition, (2): 11-18, Aug. 1999.

  10. Bhaskaram P, Hemalatha P. Is zinc deficiency in children a nutritional problem. Nutrition News.; 15(2): 1-4,1994.

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