ABSTRACT
Water samples were collected from eight different sites for two successive years in order to analyze the various Physico-chemical parameters of river water. The assessment of water quality has been made by calculating water quality Index (WQI) for physico-chemical parameters of different sites. The values of water quality index of river water at all eight sites are found to be above standard value which is a clear indication of severely polluted water.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: PUVA therapy is reported to be effective in lichen planus. However, PUVASOL therapy is more easily available in India. AIM: To carry out a three way open comparison of oral PUVASOL therapy with oral metronidazole and with the conventional oral antihistamine plus topical steroid therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-five cases of lichen planus were studied for 12 weeks with three different modalities: 1. Oral metronidazole and topical emollient cream, 2. Oral PUVASOL and topical emollient cream, and 3. Oral cetirizine and topical betamethasone dipropionate cream. Lesions were assessed before starting the treatment and after every 4 weeks. RESULTS: Seventy patients completed the trial. Statistical analysis showed that therapy 1 was less effective than 2 and 3, which were found to be equally effective. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that PUVASOL therapy is a useful alternative to conventional therapy in lichen planus in our country where sunlight is available in plenty.
ABSTRACT
Cysticercus cellulosae antigen has been frequently used to detect antibodies for immunodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis. We have, for the first time, used membrane extract of cysticercus fasciolaris, the larval stage of Taenia taeniaeformis, in ELISA, with successful results. IgM and IgG antibodies against cysticercus were measured in serum from cases of neurocysticercosis (217), normal and diseased controls (89). 203 sera from cases of neurocysticercosis were positive for either or both IgG and IgM antibodies while 157/217 cases showed IgM and 158/217 showed IgG antibodies. Ten controls showed false postivity in IgG ELISA. Eight of these cases also had IgM antibodies. The test had an overall sensitivity of 93.54% and a specificity of 84.2% with a positive predictive value of 93.54% and a negative predictive value of 84.2%. Cysticercus fasciolaris can be conveniently produced in the experimental laboratory host, Rattus rattus, and would be of practical value in the immunodiagnosis of cysticercosis in humans.