Incidence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in diabetes and cancer patients.

Two hundred and thirty isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were obtained from samples of patients having diabetes (75%), cancer (20%), and both diabetes and cancer (5%) who were admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Western India from January to December 2006. These isolates were tested for susceptibility to antipseudomonal drugs and considered to be resistant to carbapenem when the zone of inhibition around imipenem and meropenem discs was < or =13 mm. Of these 230 isolates, 26% were found to be carbapenem resistant. The rapid dissemination of carbapenem resistance is worrisome and calls for the implementation of surveillance studies as well as judicious use of antibiotics.

Indigenous free radical scavenger MAK 4 and 5 in angina pectoris. Is it only a placebo?

Thirty patients were evaluated to study the effect of Maharishi Amrit Kalsh (MAK) 4 & 5 on Angina pectoris. The mean angina frequency per month was 8.87. Twelve lead ECG, computerized TMT and echo studies were done initially, at 6 months, and after 2 years in all cases. Ten grams of MAK 4 paste was given daily in two divided doses, each followed by a MAK 5 tablet, for six months. Vasodilator and antihypertensive drugs were continued on ethical grounds. Twenty-four patients (80%) out of the total 30 reported a significant improvement after 6 months of therapy. The mean angina frequency per month improved from 8.87 to 3.03. All patients reported a sense of well being. Five out of 11 hypertensive patients reported a fall in systolic blood pressure. Lipid profile showed a rise in HDL which was statistically insignificant. Improved exercise tolerance was observed in 10 cases (33.33%) after 6 months of therapy and this effect was sustained even at 2 years. ECG and echo studies were inconclusive. No side effects or drug interactions were seen. This beneficial effect observed is probably as a result of free radical scavenging property of MAK on 'Reactive Oxygen Species' or an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation; or by its inhibitory action on platelet aggregation or all these in synergism.

Portal hypertension therapy with oral propranolol. A short-term study.

Thirty patients were evaluated in a blind fashion to study the effect of oral propranolol on portal hypertension of varied aetiology. The dose of oral propranolol (administered to 15 patients) was adjusted to reduce the resting heart rate by approximately 25%. Splenic pulp pressure served as the parameter for portal pressure. A matched group of 15 control subjects on placebo was also studied. The mean portal pressure in the propranolol group fell from 3.49 to 2.69 kPa saline (P less than 0.001) as compared to the control group where the mean pressure increased from 3.57 to 3.63 kPa saline. The propranolol group showed improvement in clinical symptomatology with a significant reduction in body weight and abdominal girth in patients with ascites. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.78; p less than 0.007) was obtained between the fall in portal pressure and the initial levels. Thus, oral propranolol proved useful in the conservative management of portal hypertension of varied aetiology.