Study of attempted suicide in the catchment area of Mamatha general hospital, Khammam, India

Background: Persons with psychiatric co- morbidity have markedly high risk of suicide attempts.Aim To study the socio-demographic variables, role of life events and prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis in suicideattempters. The present study has been undertaken with an intention to have deeper insight in to the mental health ofsuicide attempters.Methods A semi structured interview consisting of socio-demographic details, a proforma to document suicide attemptdata, Presumptive Stressful Life Event scale (PSLE) to know the desirable or undesirable life events. Mini InternationalNeuropsychiatric Interview plus (MINI Plus) was used to assess the psychiatric abnormality. Data was statisticallyanalyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences - Version 10 (SPSS -10).Results: Suicide attempters experience peaking of stressful events in the early months before the attempt. Most commondiagnoses were depression, personality disorders, followed by alcohol dependence and anxiety disorders.Conclusion: Suicide attempters are more among the groups of young age, female gender, rural background, married,belonging to nuclear family and low socio economic class. Majority of the suicide attempters are suffering with psychiatric illness.

Efficacy of pirimiphos-methyl (50% EC), as a larvicide for the control of Culex quinquefasciatus.

Background & objectives: Pirimiphos-methyl, an organophosphorus insecticide is known to overcome resistance mechanisms of mosquitoes to other organophosphates. Information on the duration of efficacy of pirimiphos-methyl (50% emulsifiable concentrate) for the control of immatures of Culex quinquefasciatus, the vector of bancroftian filariasis, is scanty and hence site specific field trials are necessary to determine the field dosage. Pirimiphos-methyl (50% EC) was tested for its efficacy in cesspits and drains against the immatures of Cx. quinquefasciatus at Puducherry, an endemic area for filariasis, south India. Methods: In cesspits, Pirimiphos-methyl (50% EC) was tested at the dosage of 25, 50, 100 and 200 g(ai)/ ha and in drains at 50, 100 and 200 g(ai)/ha. Immature density during pre-treatment and post-treatment periods was recorded and the efficacy was determined by calculating percentage reduction in larval and pupal densities for a period of about one month. Results: In cesspits, application of the insecticide at 25 and 50 g(ai)/ha reduced the density of larvae by >80 per cent for 2-4 days only, whereas at 100 and 200 g(ai)/ha, the efficacy lasted for 7-8 days. More than 80 per cent reduction was observed in pupal density for 4 days at 50 g(ai)/ha and for 10-12 days at 100 and 200 g(ai)/ha respectively. In drains treated with 50 g (ai)/ha, >80 per cent reduction in larval density was recorded up to 3rd day post-treatment. The efficacy showing >80 per cent reduction in larval density lasted for 12-13 days and the same in pupal density lasted for 10-12 days at 100 and 200 g(ai)/ha. Interpretation & conclusions: At the dosages of 100 and 200 g(ai)/ha, pirimiphos-methyl (50% EC) showed no difference in the control of larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus in cesspits and drains. Pirimiphosmethyl may be applied at the field dosage of 100 g (ai)/ha at 10 day-intervals in the larval habitats of Cx. quinquefasciatus to achieve >80 per cent reduction in immature density.

Evaluation of the effects of photooxidized Echis carinatus venom on learning, memory and stress

Snake venoms are a mixture of complex proteins, which have many physical and pharmacological properties. Photochemical detoxification has been suggested to generate photooxidized Echis carinatus venom product (POECVP). Antigenically-active photooxidized species of Echis carinatus venom could be obtained by exposing the venom to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the presence of methylene blue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of POECVP on learning, memory and stress in rats. Detoxification of the photooxidized venom was evident since the POECVP-treated group had longer survival time than the group of mice treated with Echis carinatus venom product (ECVP) following intraperitoneal and intracerebral injections. Photooxidized Echis carinatus venom product showed antidepressant activity by prolonging sleep onset and shortening the duration of pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis in mice. In single and chronic dose studies with rats, we observed that POECVP significantly decreased the time needed to reach food in T-maze, shortened transfer latency in elevated plus-maze, and decreased immobility time in forced swim test. We concluded that although there is a possibility of employing POECVP in the treatment of depressive and chronic degenerative illnesses as a nonherbal and nonsynthetic alternative for patients not responding to the available therapy, further investigation is still needed.(AU)

Field evaluation of Spicbiomoss, a biolarvicidal formulation of Bacillus sphaericus against immatures of Culex quinquefasciatus & Anopheles species.

Spicbiomoss, an aqueous suspension formulation of Bacillus sphaericus was evaluated for its efficacy against immatures of Culex quinquefasciatus at the application rate of 120 l/ha in cement tanks, cesspits and drains in Pondicherry and in drains in Kochi, Kerala. The formulation was also tested against anophelines (Anopheles fluviatilis and An. culicifacies) breeding in stream pools in Malkangiri district, Orissa. In cement tanks and cesspits more than 80 per cent reduction in immature density was observed for a period of 6-13 days (mean 9.8 +/- 1.25 days) and 3-8 days (mean 5.2 +/- 0.7 days) respectively. The same level of reduction was found to last for 1-4 days (mean 2.2 +/- 0.52 days) in drains in Pondicherry and 2-9 days (mean 4.8 +/- 1.17 days) in Kochi. In bunded stream pools 40-79 per cent reduction in immature density of Anopheles was obtained for an average period of 1-7 (mean 3.83 +/- 0.98) days. There was no improvement in the efficacy of the formulation against anophelines even at the higher application rate (240 l/ha). Thus, Spicbiomoss can be used against Cx. quinquefasciatus in an integrated vector management programme.

Antispermatogenic and androgenic activities of various extracts of Hibiscus rosa sinesis in albino mice.

The benzene chloroform and alcoholic extracts of the flowers of H.r.sinensis were administered (i.p.) at two different dose levels of 125 and 250 mg/kg body weight to adult male albino mice for 20 days. The results have shown decrease in the spermatogenic elements of testis and epididymal sperm count. High content of testicular cholesterol may be due to lowered androgen synthesis. The increase in the weight of accessory reproductive organs indicates the androgenicity of the plant extract itself, which is proved in the present study by testing the benzene extract in immature mice.

Brackish water mosquito problem of Vypeen Island, Cochin, Kerala.

A preliminary study has shown that the marshy terrain and brackish water bodies associated with mangrove forests contributed profuse breeding of mosquitos in Vypeen island, causing a severe menace to the island population. A total of 14 species belonging to four genera viz, Aedes, Anopheles, Armigeres and Culex was recorded from different habitats. Culex sitiens was found to be the predominant mosquito in all the perennial breeding habitats. The extent of different habitats in the production of mosquitos, and its possible abatement, using environmental and/or biocontrol methods are discussed.

Evaluation of Bacillus sphaericus formulations against the vector of bancroftian filariasis.

Three different formulations of Bacillus sphaericus viz, Spherimos, Vectobac and Spherifix, were evaluated for their efficacy and residual activity against Culex quinquefasciatus breeding in polluted disused wells. Spherimos, a flowable concentrate formulation, exerted 96-100% control when treated at the dosage of 10 l/ha for 17 days, whereas the effective residual activity lasted up to 67 days at 15 l/ha. In the case of Vectolex, a granular formulation, the residual activity lasted up to 56 days with the dosage of 30 l/ha and up to 66-77 days with higher dosages of 45 and 60 l/ha. The residual activity of Spherifix, a floating controlled release formulation, lasted up to 67 days with a dosage of 10 kg/ha.