A study of effects of acid activated saw dust on the removal of different dissolved tannery dyes (acid dye) from aqueous solutions.

The effectiveness of acid activated sawdust in absorbing D-Brown EGP and Lurazol Brown PM dyes from aqueous solutions was studied as a function of agitation time and initial dye concentration. The experimental data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm and found that adsorption process follows both the isotherms. The values of Langmuir and Freundlich constants indicate favorable and beneficial adsorption. Saw dust is an excellent low cost adsorbent of colored organic anions and may have significant potential as a color removal from tannery wastewater.

Abuse liability of buprenorphine--a study among experienced drug users.

Six male post-detoxified opiate dependent subjects were evaluated for abuse liability of buprenorphine (0.6 mg), morphine (16 mg), pentazocine (30 mg) and distilled water (placebo) intramuscular injection in a single blind cross-over random order. Subjective states, drug discrimination, drug linking, sedation and euphoria were assessed at pre-injection, 30 min and 4 hrs post-injection. Buprenorphine caused significant euphoria and was identified as heroin. On all parameters, buprenorphine resembled morphine rather than pentazocine and placebo. The data suggest that abuse liability of buprenorphine is similar to morphine i.e. moderate rather than low.

Immunoglobulin profile in schizophrenia.

The present study was conducted on 40 new consecutive schizophrenic patients admitted in the psychiatry ward. The diagnosis of schizophrenia was done by Research Diagnosis Criteria (RDC). Serum immunoglobulins were were estimated in schizophrenic patients and were age and sex matched with 40 healthy individuals, comprising the control group. The IgG and IgA mean levels of schizophrenic patients were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the normal healthy individuals. There were however no significant differences between the schizophrenic patients and control group regarding total proteins, albumin and globulin levels. In subtypes of schinophrenia based on phenomenology only, paranoid group scored significantly higher (p < 0.01) IgG and IgA mean values than other types of Schizophrenia (catatonic, disorganised and undifferentiated).

Clinical profile of trichotillomania.

Twenty-four cases of trichotillomania attending psychiatry outpatient department and child guidance clinic at Kalawati Saran Children's and Smt Sucheta Kriplani Hospitals over a period of 2 years from July, 1985 to November 1987 were studied. Females (66.7%) outnumbered the males (33.3%). Majority of cases belonged to age group 6-10 years (54.2%) and nuclear family (68.5%). Nail-biting (25.0%) was the commonest associated neurotic trait, followed by enuresis (20.9%), temper-tantrum (12.5%), etc. A past history of hysterical fits and neurotic depression was found in 3 cases (12.5%) and 2 cases (8.3%) respectively. Family history of neurosis was seen in mothers and fathers of 20.9% and 12.5% cases respectively. Trichobezoars and trichophytobezoars were found in 6 cases (25.0%) and 3 cases (12.5%) respectively. Majority of patients of trichobezoars presented with vague complaints like heaviness in the stomach (55.6%), inability to gain weight (44.4%), etc, while 22.2% cases were asymptomatic and detected only on screening.

Enuresis: an analysis of 82 cases.

Of 400 children over the age of four years, 82 (20.5%) were found to be enuretics. Enuresis was found to be statistically higher (p less than 0.001) in lower social class and between the age group 3 to 5 years. Enuresis was found to be significantly more among boys as compared to girls (p less than 0.001). Various stress factors (e.g. negligence, overprotection, strictness of parents etc) and other associated habit disorders (e.g. fear reactions, nailbiting, temper-tantrums etc) were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in enuretics as compared to control group. The group who was put on combined drug (imipramine) and psychological treatment showed a better long term response than the patients who were put only on drug or psychological treatment (p less than 0.001).

Breath holding spells: an analysis of 50 cases.

Of 50 preschool children having breath holding spells (M:F::3:1) (BHS), 80.0% were less than 18 months of age (mean age 16 +/- 5 mo). More children came from a lower social class (70.0%) and a nuclear family (64.0%). Seventy four per cent cases had onset of BHS within 12 months of age (mean 9.6 mo) and the commonest frequency was 1 to 3 spells per week (56.0%). Cyanosis and tonic-clonic spasms were seen in 96.0 and 84.0% cases, respectively. Anger and frustration were the common triggering factors in 90.0% cases. No ante-, peri- and postnatal factors were significantly associated with the study group as compared to the control cases. The mean scores on Behaviour Screening Questionnaire measuring child's habits related to feeding, toilet and sleep were not significantly different in the study and control groups but the difference was significant (p less than 0.05) for behaviour measuring child's social habits. Parental attitudes, measured on Attitude Screening Questionnaires, were also not significantly different in the study and control groups. Mean hemoglobin and percentage transferrin saturation were significantly lower in the study group as compared to the controls (p less than 0.001). There was a significant decrease in severity and frequency of spells with oral iron therapy.

Hypopigmented lesions in early leprosy--a clinical and histological study.

26 Patients of leprosy presenting with hypopigmented lesions were divided on morphological grounds into 3 Sub groups, Group I (9 patients) with well-defined single patch with moderate to complete sensory loss; Group II (8 patients) with single ill-defined lesion having partial sensory loss; and Group III (9 patients) having multiple hypo-pigmented patches with mild to moderate sensory loss. Epidermal atrophy was a conspicuous histological finding in all groups. Only patients in Group I showed epitheloid cells in dermal infiltrate with erosion of epidermis in one case. This group may be labelled as maculoanesthetic leprosy. Patients in Group II and III showed mononuclear cell infiltrate in dermis, around neurovascular bundles and appendages. They were histologically consistent with indeterminate leprosy. Follow-up biopsy after six to eight months of treatment showed healing of the lesion of reduction in the infiltrate in most cases.

Immunoglobulin profile in acute psychiatric disorders.

In a prospective study of 80 new female patients with acute psychiatric disorders (40 each with schizophrenia and major affective disorder), elevated (P less than 0.001) serum concentrations of IgG and IgA were found in comparison to healthy control groups matched for age and sex. In schizophrenic patients the mean levels of IgG (1682.76 mg/dl) and IgA (321.12 mg/dl) were found to be significantly more as compared to those in the control group (IgG-1213.18 mg/dl and IgA - 210.14 mg/dl). Patients with paranoid schizophrenia had significantly high mean serum levels of IgG (1896.86 mg/dl) and IgA (376.16 mg/dl) in comparison to other subtypes of schizophrenia (i.e., catatonic, disorganized and undifferentiated). Mean serum concentrations of IgG and IgA in major affective disorder - mania (IgG 1526.36 mg/dl and IgA 382.16 mg/dl) and major depressive episode (IgG 2008.12 mg/dl and IgA 536.72 mg/dl) were found to be significantly higher as compared to those in the control group (IgG-920.21 mg/dl and IgA - 232.12 mg/dl).