Non-medical drug use among interns and house-officers

Self-administered questionnaire was given to a sample of 105 interns and house officers working in Govt. Medical College, Jammu. Questionnaire was designed to obtain information about socio-demographic characteristics, the frequency of non-medical drug use during the last one year and to enquire about "reasons" for drug intake. It was found that drugs commonly used were alcohol, tobacco, tranquillizers, amphetamines, cannabis. Most of the subjects used the same for 'company', festivity or curiosity.

Effect of ketamine hydrochloride on the activity of Na+-K+ ATPase in the synaptosomal fraction of rat brain

Ketamine produced a significant reduction in synaptosomal Na+-K+ ATPase activity both in vivo as well as in vitro. The in vitro inhibition was non-competitive. The observed inhibition of this enzyme may play a significant role in the neurotransmitter events at synapses.

Use of girth measurements for estimating body volume and body density in Indian girls aged 10-19 years

Mean values and standard deviations of total body volume, body density, height, weight, and a battery of 20 girth measurements of 200 Punjabi girls aged 10-19 years are presented. Selective stepwise multiple regression equations for predicting total body volume and body density from girth measurements are also given for different age groups. Hip girth was the most commonly selected measurement at the first step in most age groups and the values of 'r' between hip girth and total body volume ranged between 0.86-0.96 in different age groups. The values of multiple 'R' between total body volume and a combination of first four selected girth measurements varied from 0.96-0.99 in different age groups. The values of multiple 'R' between body density and a combination of four girth measurements selected up to fourth step ranged between 0.73-0.92 in different age groups.

Claisen rearrangement of allyloxyanthraquinones

Allyloxyanthraquinones showed unusual behaviour during the Claisen rearrangement. Thus, 1-allyloxyanthraquinone 9 rearranged very readily in the presence of benzylamine while 2-allyloxyanthraquinone 13 refused to do rearrangement even under very drastic conditions. On the other hand, 1,2-diallyloxyanthraquinone rearranged with the loss of the 2-allyloxy group as the result of a retro-ene reaction which has not been previously observed while 1,4-di(2′-chloro-2′-propenyloxy)anthraquinone 18 rearranged to give, as a major product, the unsymmetrically substituted anthraquinone 19 which is useful in the synthesis of anthracycline aglycones.

Systemic involvement in tuberculoid leprosy--pathogenesis of leprosy

Occurrence of leprous pathology/bacilli in the internal organs in cases of polar tuberculoid leprosy, support the systemic nature and haematagenous transmission and spread of the disease process. Pathogenesis of leprosy has been postulated.

The incidence of complications during pregnancy after treatment of hyperprolactinemia with bromocriptine in patients with radiologically evident pituitary tumors

The course of pregnancy achieved after bromocriptine therapy is described in nine patients with radiologically evident prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors. In six patients no complications occurred. No changes in sellar size or secondary endocrine deficiencies developed. In three patients, however, complications developed between the 22nd and 24th weeks of pregnancy. Despite prior external pituitary irradiation, one patient developed transient bitemporal hemianopsia and one patient had apoplexy of the pituitary tumor with transient paresis of the left abducens nerve. A third patient developed parasellar expansion of the pituitary tumor with bone destruction and paresis of the right abducens and oculomotor nerves. After transsphenoidal surgery the paresis of both nerves disappeared. Microscopically, the tissue removed at surgery was a chromophobe adenoma with focal fibrosis and calcifications without recent hemorrhages. In the course of more than 100 pregnancies achieved in The Netherlands after bromocriptine therapy, five patients reportedly developed complications of the pituitary tumor. At present, patients in whom complications can be expected cannot be predicted by the size or configuration of the sella turicica or the magnitude of elevation of the plasma prolactin level. In two patients external pituitary irradiation did not prevent complications during pregnancy.

Microbial transaminase activities and their relationship with bovine rumen metabolites

Two each adult male crossbred cattle and murrah buffalo were fed a diet of alfalfa hay, chopped wheat straw, and concentrate mixture. Total rumen transaminase activity of cattle was higher than that of buffalo. Rumen protozoal fractions showed higher total transaminase activity than bacterial fractions in both ruminant species. Besides generally studied glutamate oxalacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase, a large number of other microbial transaminases also have been detected in the rumen of both the ruminant species. Bacterial fractions of rumen liquor were devoid of transaminases utilizing tryptophan, threonine, and lysine as their substrates. Ruminal ammonia and nonprotein nitrogen were correlated positively with microbial transaminases in both species. Transamination reactions may be important for assimilation of ruminal ammonia to cellular proteins.

Influence of virus infection on the leaf protein yield

Influence of cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) and common bean mosaic virus (CBMV) infection on the yield of extractable leaf protein of cowpea cvs. Pusa Phaguni, Pusa Barsati, and Yard Long was studied. An increase as well as decrease in the yield of leaf protein concentrate (LPC), due to virus infection, has been observed. CPMV infection increased LPC yield in all the cowpea cvs., but CBMV decreased it in cys. Pusa Phaguni and Yard Long. Variation in percentage of extractable nitrogen and protein in LPC was also notices. However, total N and protein in leaf and LPC were increased due to virus infection, but total sugar and starch decreased.

Estimation of body fat and lean body mass from anthropometric dimensions in adult Indian women

Mean values and standard deviations of body fat and lean body mass of 65 young Indian women aged 20-25 years were 9.00 kg, SD 6.14 and 36.02 kg, SD 3.99 respectively. Body fat per cent was 18.72 SD 10.48. On selective stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, the measurements selected for predicting body fat % were maximum thigh girth, chest diameter, height up to gluteal furrow and shoulder diameter, all four together giving a multiple correlation coefficient of 0.88. For predicting lean body mass, the measurements selected were stature, upper arm length, lower thigh girth and chest diameter, all four together giving a multiple correlation coefficient of 0.84.

Mycobacterium leprae in the striated muscle of tuberculoid leprosy patients

Striated muscle specimens from 24 untreated proved cases of tuberculoid leprosy and five healthy normal individuals were studied histopathologically for the evidence of leprous pathology. Atrophy or damage to the muscle fibre was not observed in any patient. Nineteen (79.16%) cases showed evidence of leprosy in striated muscles. Seventeen (70.83%) cases showed scanty histiocytic infiltrate between the muscle fibres. Thirteen (54.16%) cases had acid fast bacilli mostly inside the muscle. There was no correlation between the location of the bacilli and that of the histiocytes; in two cases, acid fast bacilli were seen without the histocyte. The bacilli were solidly staining and were lying singly in the undamaged muscle. There was no evidence of tuberculosis and, in the Control group, none showed any AFB or infiltrate. The presence of lepra bacilli did not depend upon the location of the muscle. Two of the muscle specimens not underneath the cutaneous lesions also had acid fast bacilli. 21.05% of these cases also showed simultaneous involvement of liver and lymph nodes. These are strong evidences of systemic nature of disease in tuberculoid leprosy as well.

Anthraquinones in the biosynthesis of sterigmatocystin by Aspergillus versicolor

14C-labeled averufin, versiconal hemiacetal acetate, and versicolorin A were efficiently converted to sterigmatocystin by Aspergillus versicolor, thus providing experimental evidence that these anthraquinones are biosynthetic precursors of sterigmatocystin, a xanthone.

Bone-marrow in tuberculoid leprosy

Twenty-four untreated patients of proved tuberculoid leprosy and five healthy controls were investigated for the involvement of bone-marrow. The cytology was essentially normal and no acid-fast bacilli was seen in the bone-marrow smears.

Anthropometric determination of body volume, body density and segmental volume in adult Indian women

Body density, total body volume, leg volume and arm volume of 65 young Indian women 20-25 years were measured experimentally. In addition, a series of 61 anthropometric measurements were also taken on each subject. Correlations of leg volume with total body volume and body density were 0.91 and -0.73 respectively and of arm volume with total body volume and body density were 0.84 and -0.66 respectively. Hip girth alone showed a very high positive correlation (r = 0.94) with body volume and on selective stepwise multiple regression analysis, a combination of even four anthropometric measurements, namely, hip girth, lower thigh girth, ankle girth and shoulder diameter gave an extremely high positive multiple correlation coefficient (R = 0.98) with body volume. Selective stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was conducted also to estimate leg volume, arm volume and body density and stepwise regression equations up to 4th step for estimating each parameter are given.

Nerve allografts and histocompatibility in dogs

The histocompatibility requirements for successful frozen nerve allografts were studied in 46 dogs. Major canine histocompatibility (DLA) differences appeared to be of vital importance for nerve regeneration and function, as judged by histological and electromyographic performance 7 to 9 months after grafting. Minor histocompatibility differences did not appear to lead to rejection of the frozen nerve allografts. Graft irradiation did not improve the acceptability of frozen DLA-mismatched grafts. The effect of DLA matching was much more pronounced in allografts 7 cm long than in allografts 4 cm long. The results indicate the need for a bank of frozen human histocompatible (HLA) nerve allografts, and a study of the effect of partial or complete HLA matching on their survival.

Role of tissue typing on preserved nerve allografts in dogs

Histocompatibility seems to play an important role in the regeneration of nerve allografts. Compatible tissue typed nerve allografts behave more like autografts and are, therefore, more readily accepted by the host tissue without producing evident tissue rejection. The influence of histocompatibility difference becomes more marked if the graft is longer than 30-40 mm. Irradiation as a means of reducing the immune reaction of the nerve allografts does not seem to have any beneficial effect along with tissue typing. Preservation of nerve grafts at - 70°C does not have any untoward effect.

Plasma cortisol in glaucoma

Plasma cortisol level and intraocular tension were determined diurnally in 40 normal and 40 glaucomatous patients at 8 AM and 8 PM. It was observed that (1) plasma cortisol level was higher in glaucomatous patients at both the periods; (2) the diurnal variation in plasma cortisol was parallel to diurnal variation in intraocular tension in both glaucomatous and normal persons; and (3) the diurnal variation in plasma cortisol level also was more marked in glaucomatous patients as compared to normal persons.

Short colon malformation with imperforate anus

Ten cases of a rare high anorectal malformation associated with short colon are presented. The significance of a large gas fluid level (occupying more than half of the abdominal cavity on invertogram) is stressed for pre-operative diagnosis. Terminal colostomy or ileostomy with disconnection of colo-vesical/colo-vaginal fistula has been considered the only adequate therapy. Associated congenital malformations have been responsible for high mortality in these patients.

Mutagenicity of fungal metabolites related to aflatoxin biosynthesis

Fungal metabolites identified as the intermediates in aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway were screened for their mutagenic activity to Salmonella typhimurium TA98. Norsolorinic acid, averufin, and versiconal acetate were found to possess questionable mutagenic activity, but versicolorin A, and sterigmatocystin were significant mutagens relative to aflatoxin B1. The mutagenic activity appears to be related to the bisfuran and not the anthraquinone moiety of the molecule, even though the latter is a key structure of such potent carcinogenic mycotoxin as luteoskyrin.

Prolactin content of the pituitary gland in response to hypertonic saline medium, antithyroid drugs, methallibure and thyroxine in a freshwater teleost Heteropneustes fossilis

Variations in the prolactin content of the pituitary gland in response to different treatments were studied in a freshwater catfish, H. fossilis. One week of saline (1% NaCl medium) treatment reduced the pituitary prolactin content but enhanced the serum prolactin level showing release of prolactin from the pituitary gland. Two weeks of saline treatment reduced pituitary as well as serum prolactin content presumably a result of reduced prolactin synthesis in the pituitary gland. This reduction of synthetic activity in this species is probably due to a drop in prolactin requirement. All the antithyroid durgs tested as well as L-thyroxine decreased the pituitary prolactin content. Methallibure administration induced the release of prolactin from the pituitary as evidenced by the lowered prolactin level in this gland and a simultaneous increase in the prolactin content of the serum.