Effects of oral lithium on the action of various C.N.S. active drugs.

Effects of prolonged lithium administration was seen on the action of various psychoactive drugs in animals. Apomorphine induced pecking in pigeons increased significantly by lithium treatment for 14 days, from 1445.3 +/- 202.5 in control to 2785.8 +/- 205.8 in Gp. B. Haloperidol-induced catalepsy score in albino rats increased significantly following chronic lithium treatment compared to control. Chlorpromazine-induced hypothermia in rabbits was immediate but transient, while in lithium treated rabbits induction of hypothermia was delayed, sustained and of greater magnitude. This action of lithium may be mediated by increasing the permeability of blood-brain barrier, or enhancing the sensitivity of alpha-adrenoceptors in brain.

Effect of oral zinc supplementation on copper and haemoglobin levels in pregnant women.

In the present study, pregnant women in different trimesters of pregnancy were randomly allocated to untreated control group (Gp A; n = 58), and zinc treated group (Gp B; n = 104). Both groups were administered ferrous sulphate 60 mg, and folic acid 5 mg, twice daily throughout the period of study. Gp B subjects were also administered 45 mg elemental zinc, in a single daily post lunch dose. Maternal blood and urine samples collected in each trimester, and at the time of delivery, and blood taken from the umbilical cord were tested for Cu levels. Maternal Hb was also estimated. In Gp A, mean serum Cu increased significantly from 117.15 +/- 2.12 micrograms/dl in I trimester to 138.57 +/- 0.92 micrograms/dl in III trimester (P < 0.001). In Gp B, serum Cu declined significantly from 115.64 +/- 1.12 micrograms/dl in I trimester to 111.10 +/- 0.99 micrograms/dl in III trimester (P < 0.001). Urinary Cu declined significantly from 47.24 +/- 2.31 micrograms/24 hrs in I trimester to 37.43 +/- 2.06 micrograms/24 hrs in III trimester (P < 0.01). Zn treatment did not alter differentially the serum Cu levels in anaemic and normohaemic subjects. Gp B cord blood serum Cu was significantly lower as compared to respective controls, significance being proportional to duration of zinc administration. Hb levels increased significantly in all subjects. Increase in Hb in Gp B was significantly higher in comparison to that in Gp A (P < 0.05). Elemental zinc when administered to pregnant women in a dose of 20-45 mg/day, causes improvement in Hb level, without leading to hypocupremia.

Zinc taste test in pregnant women and its correlation with serum zinc level.

Pregnant women in different trimesters of pregnancy were divided into control (n = 58) and study (n = 104) groups. Study group subjects were given 45 mg zinc/p.o./day as 200 mg 'zinc sulphate tablets from the day of reporting till term. Body zinc status was clinically assessed by 'zinc taste test'. Blood samples were drawn at the same time and serum zinc levels measured. Zinc taste test scores decreased with advancement of pregnancy (P < 0.05) and increased significantly following zinc administration (P < 0.05). Serum zinc level declined significantly with advancement of pregnancy (P < 0.001). Following zinc administration, serum zinc level increased significantly (P < 0.001). Accuracy of zinc taste test in individual cases ranged between 70 and 100 percent. On the whole, zinc taste test was well correlated with serum zinc level, and provides a fair idea of zinc deficiency.

A study of the effect of oral zinc supplementation during pregnancy on pregnancy outcome.

Women in different trimesters of pregnancy (Group B; n = 106) were administered 200 mg zinc sulphate (elemental Zn 45 mg) orally/day from the day of reporting till delivery. Untreated group of 62 served as control. Levels of zinc in maternal serum, umbilical cord blood serum, and urine were estimated. Pregnancy outcome was assessed in terms of incidence of prematurity, IUGR, birth weight; apgar score and gestational age. Serum zinc levels in Gp. A declined significantly from 113.00 +/- 2.80 ug/dl in I trimester to 83.78 +/- 2.20 ug/dl in III (P < 0.001). Following zinc supplementation (Gp. B) serum zinc levels increased significantly from 109.70 + 3.23 micrograms/dl to 205.40 +/- 4.47 micrograms/dl (P < 0.001). Urinary excretion of zinc in Gp. A declined significantly with increase in the period of gestation. However in Gp. B, elimination of Zn increased significantly in proportion with the serum levels (P < 0.001) cord blood serum zinc level was normal irrespective of maternal serum Zn levels. Following oral Zn supplementation, levels increased significantly from below 127.0 micrograms/dl to above 158.0 micrograms/dl in Gp. B (P < 0.001). Maternal serum and cord blood serum zinc ratios were fairly constant in Gp. A as well as in Gp. B. Birth weight of babies born with Zn supplementation was significantly higher than control and was related to duration of oral zinc supplementation (P < 0.001). Gestational age of babies in Gp. B was significantly higher than respective controls when Zn supplementation was given for more than 3 months (P < 0.01), and was related to duration of zinc therapy (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)