Early haemodialysis in acute tubular necrosis.

The study was conducted in 35 cases of acute tubular necrosis of varied aetiology. Cases were divided in 2 groups, Group A--17 cases treated conservatively and Group B--18 cases managed by early haemodialysis. Criteria for early haemodialysis were blood urea < 120 mg% and serum creatinine < 7 mg%. Before starting therapy both the groups had comparable biochemical and renal parameters (p > 0.05). Overall mortality was lower in Group B as compared to Group A (22.2% Vs 29.4). Complication events such as uraemic encephalopathy, pulmonary oedema, haematemesis and malena, thrombophlebitis and vomiting were significantly lower in Group B (p < 0.05). Hospital stay was also significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Group B (18 +/- 2.5 days Vs 28 +/- 3 days), this can reduce the cost of treatment also.

Changes in the blood lipid profile after administration of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) leaves in the normal albino rabbits.

Administration of fresh leaves of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) mixed as 1 g and 2 g in 100 gms of diet given for four weeks, brought about significant changes in the lipid profile of normal albino rabbits. This resulted in significant lowering in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid and LDL-cholesterol levels and significant increase in the HDL-cholesterol and total faecal sterol contents.

Psychopathology of delayed resumption of sexual activity after myocardial infarction.

A total of 300 male cases of myocardial infarction were analyzed to evaluate the effect of myocardial infarction on sexual activity with particular stress on resumption of sexual activity and to determine the factors in cases of delayed resumption. Sexual activity decreased with age and correlated negatively to total sexual activity. 26 per cent cases developed one or other symptoms which occurred during all the phases of sexual activity but were more marked during resolution phase. Sexual activity returned to normal within six months only in 11.33 per cent cases and in the remaining cases resumption was delayed. In 27.8 per cent cases phobia of marked exertion involved in sex act, created by physicians in 12.7 per cent was the factor responsible for the delayed resumption. Quality of sexual activity decreased in 39 per cent cases and it was due to change in position from Male on top to male on bottom position in 31 per cent cases. Counselling for sexual rehabilitation has been discussed.

Retinal hemorrhages in newborn--fetal causative factors.

Two hundred and eight alive newborns examined within 2 hours of birth showed 37.50% incidence of retinal hemorrhage (RH). Out of these, 38.59% were full term and 29.17% were preterm. Head circumference had a significant correlation (p less than 0.05) with retinal hemorrhage, while sex of the newborn, birth weight, gestational age and fetal distress showed no significant correlation. Birth injuries especially ocular and periocular injuries showed a significantly higher incidence of retinal hemorrhage (83.33%).

A clinico-bacteriological profile of leprosy in children.

Clinico-bacteriological profile of 106 leprosy patients below 15 years of age was studied. Majority of the patients were males and fell in the 10-15 years age group (p less than 0.01). Nearly 89% had not received any prior treatment because of financial constraints. Seventy per cent gave a positive history of contact with adult patients who were mainly of the lepromatous variety (p less than 0.01). Skin lesions were present in 103 cases, mainly on the exposed areas and their number was found to increase significantly with advancing age (p less than 0.01). These lesions were hypopigmented patches in 71% of the children and erythematous in the rest. Cutaneous sensations were affected in most of the patients while nerve thickening was observed in 45. Positivity of the skin smears increased significantly as the number of skin lesions per patient increased (p less than 0.05). With advancing age, the disease moved from the tuberculoid end of the spectrum towards the lepromatous end (p less than 0.01).

Urinary aspartate transaminase (AST) activity and detection of its inhibitors in normal urine.

Urinary aspartate-transaminase activity in the whole urine was found to be mean +/- S.D. = 8.46 +/- 0.69 l.U/l when measured immediately after urine collection. About 50% loss in enzyme activity was observed after 18 hours dialysis. An overall 176% increase in enzyme activity followed by Sephadex G-25 (fine) whole urine fractionation and a highly significant (P less than .001) partial inhibition by earlier Sephadex fractions and maximum inhibition by earlier Sephadex fractions and maximum inhibition of enzyme by fraction 7 have suggested the presence of both high and low molecular weight urinary inhibitors of aspartate-transaminase. Urea and ammonia presence and inhibitor activity in fraction 6 to 8 bear a close parallelism; both the substances produced 31% inhibition of partially purified goat liver GOT at concentrations approximating normal human urine. Therefore, low enzyme activity and its substantial loss in the whole urine and during dialysis may be due to the concomitant inhibitory effects of urea, ammonia and unidentified nature of high molecular weight substance(s). The present method may be effective in separating inhibitors and overcoming the disadvantages of dialysis in determining true urinary aspartate-transaminase activity.