Assessment of some pulmonary parameters and cardiorespiratory fitness status in Nepalese medical students.

Some pulmonary function tests along with cardio respiratory fitness test were performed to assess the health status of the young (19-21 years) non-smokers Nepalese medical students. Results revealed that the vital capacity was 3.46 liters and 2.40 liters among the boys and girls respectively. PEFR was found to be 597.98 l/min among the boys and 456.53 l/min among the girls. Likewise, VO2 max among the boys and girls were 54.32 ml/kg/min and 44.88 ml/kg/min respectively. It was evident from the result that the health status of the Nepalese medical students ill the present study group was fairly well. It might be due to their health awareness, balanced-nutritious diet and the habits of occasional physical exercise.

Alteration of blood pressure among the donors in a blood donation camp.

Anxiety can alter the cardiovascular parameters. In the present study, among the normotensive donors, the effect of anxiety on alteration of blood pressure and heart rate was assessed. Blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded in the volunteers just before blood donation and the results were compared with the blood pressure and heart rate recorded previously (one week before the camp) in the same population. There was a rise of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure with a significant increase in pulse rate just before blood donation. As the donors had previous experience of blood donation; the mental stress just before blood donation can be regarded as known stress -- which caused increase in norepinephrine secretion leading to peripheral vasoconstrictions and rise in diastolic blood pressure. Anxiety through sympathetic stimulation increased the heart rate, cardiac output and systolic blood pressure.

Cross-sectional study of consumption, compliance and awareness about antibiotic utilisation amongst the urban community in Kolkata.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted upon 500 respondents, comprising of 250 adults and 250 children who did consume antibiotics in the previous three months. Data were analysed to determine the patterns of utilisation, compliance and awareness regarding antibiotic medication amongst a selected urban population at Kolkata. Antibiotic consumption without prescription was evident amongst 41.2% of adults in comparison to that of 8.4% in children (P < 0.01). Compliance to daily dosage was observed in 40.8% of adults in comparison to 82.8% in children (P < 0.01). Awareness pattern regarding antibiotics were reported to have been more in the children group (16.4%) while compared to the adults (8%). The knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance remained more or less similar in both the groups. The study concludes that high over the counter (OTC) sale and inadequate compliance to antibitotic medication needs further intervention approach towards information, education and communication (IEC) to all concerned.

Multiple myeloma presenting as acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is a very uncommon presenting feature of multiple myeloma. We report an elderly non-alcoholic man presenting with acute abdominal pain and rapidly progressing renal failure. Investigations revealed lytic lesions in the vertebrae and skull, M band on urine electrophoresis, and radiological and biochemical evidence of acute pancreatitis. The patient died despite conservative management of the pancreatitis.

Chemical analysis of sound and carious enamel of permanent tooth.

Enamel consists mainly of inorganic material (96%) and only a small amount of organic substance and water (4%). The inorganic material is similar to apatite. The originally found apatite mineral remains basically unchanged except at the surface in contact with the oral tissues, where diffusion processes operate. Enamel reflects the trace element environment present in the tissue fluids at the time of tissue development. These are variations of types and concentration of inorganic elements found in permanent and deciduous enamel. Variations are also seen in sound and carious enamel.

A comparative study of 5'nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase in human placenta during development.

Activities and a few properties of alkaline phosphatase and 5′-nucleotidase were compared in the developing human placenta. Both the enzymes were mostly membrane-bound and displayed similar developmental patterns with the highest activities at 24/26 weeks of the placenta. L-Phenylalanine, L-tryptophan and L-leucine were inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase, whereas they had no effect on the 5′-nucleotidase. Alkaline phosphatase from a late stage of gestation appeared to be almost heat-stable. An appreciable part of 5′-nucleotidase was also resistant to heat inactivation and this fraction varied with gestational age of the tissue. For both the enzymes, Vmax changed without altering Km values with periods of gestation. Ca2+ , Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions stimulated the alkaline phosphatase activity and Hg2+ , Zn2+ , Cu2+ ,Ni2+ were inhibitory. 5′-Nucleotidase was not activated by any of these cations. EDTA and Concanavalin A inhibited both the enzymes, although the extent of inhibition was different and also varied with gestation.