Sodium and potassium excretion in normotensive and hypertensive population in Kashmir.

One hundred thirty five hypertensive patients and equal number of age and sex matched healthy controls were taken up for studying the relationship of 24 hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion, sodium-potassium molar ratio and body mass index (BMI) with blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive population in Kashmir. There was statistically significant elevated 24 hour urinary sodium excretion (p < .001), increased Na+-K+ molar ratio, significantly higher BMI in hypertensive population as compared to controls whereas there was a lower 24 hour urinary excretion of potassium (p > .20) in patients with hypertension. Thus sodium and potassium excretion, Na+-K+ molar ratio and body mass index has direct bearing in perpetuation or causation of hypertension in Kashmir which may be related to intake of salt tea.

Pulmonary function profile in chronic congestive heart failure and the effect of ipratropium bromide.

Twenty-five symptomatic patients of chronic heart failure were subjected to spirometry to detect abnormalities of pulmonary function and to assess the effect of ipratropium bromide in reversing or minimising these abnormalities. All the patients exhibited abnormal pulmonary function manifesting as obstructive (15/25) or restrictive (10/25) ventilatory defect. There was overall improvement in lung functions with ipratropium bromide especially in those with obstructive ventilatory defects and mostly comprised of smokers. Forced expiratory volume in one second increased by 47.7 percent (p < 0.02), forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity ratio by 14.1 percent (p < 0.001) and maximal voluntary ventilation by 40.6 percent (p < 0.05) in these patients. It is concluded that ipratropium bromide can prove as a promising adjunctive therapeutic intervention in improving quality of life in patients of chronic congestive heart failure who are incapacitated by dyspnoea and have clearly documented ventilatory defects.

Ressecçäo do escafóide associada à "artrodese dos quatro cantos" no tratamento de artrose da borda radial do carpo: estudos preliminares de cinco anos / Scaphoid resection using the four-corner arthrodesis technique in the treatment of arthrosis of the radial border of the carpus: a five case preliminary study

Os autores apresentam resultados preliminares de utilizaçao da "artrodese dos quatro cantos" (AQC) - artrodese semilunar-capitato-piramidal-hemato- no tratamento da artrose degenerativa da borda radial do carpo. Foram operados cinco pacientes no período de novembro de 1995 a agosto de 1997, sendo dois do sexo masculino e três do feminino, com idades entre 28 e 64 anos. O tempo de seguimento médio foi de 24 semanas. Foram analisados consolidaçao, correçao da instabilidade e restabelecimento do índice carpal, amplitude de movimento, força de preensao, dor e satisfaçao do paciente. O alívio da dor, em detrimento da perda de mobilidade articular, e a manutençao ou aumento da força de preensao, foram os principais resultados deste procedimento.