Exposure to pulsed magnetic fields in the treatment of plantar ulcers in leprosy patients--a pilot, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

A pilot, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial to study the effect of exposure to pulsed magnetic fields (PMF) on the rate of healing of plantar ulcers in leprosy patients was undertaken. Twenty patients were randomly allocated to receive standard wound-care treatment (controls) and 20 others received standard treatment plus exposure to PMF (sinusoidal form, 0.95 to 1.05 Hz, amplitude +/- 2400 nano Teslas) (study group) for four weeks. Assessment of the outcome of treatment was based on the volume of ulcers, calculated from the maximal length, breadth and depth of the ulcer recorded on the day of admission, at one and two weeks and at the end of treatment. The analysis of the results was based on 15 control patients and 18 PMF patients after deletion of four patients due to irregularity in attendance and three others on account of suspected malignancy of the ulcers. In the control group, the geometric mean volumes of the ulcers were 2843 and 1478 cu mm on the day of admission and at the end of the treatment (P = 0.03); the corresponding values in the PMF group were 2428 and 337 cu mm, respectively (P < 0.001). A decrease in the volume of 40% or more was observed in 53% of control patients and 89% of PMF patients (P = 0.02); a decrease of 80% or more was observed in none of the controls and in 33% of PMF patients. These findings strongly suggest that exposure to PMF causes a significantly more rapid healing of plantar ulcers in leprosy patients.

A comparison of peak expiratory flow rates obtained with the Morgan Spirocheck and a Mini Peak Flow Meter.

To examine whether the normal Indian standards of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEF) established with the peak flow meter were applicable to PEF values obtained with the Morgan Spirocheck, a comparison was made of PEF(S) measured with the Spirocheck with PEF (M) obtained with a Mini Peak Flow Meter. Data were obtained in 92 subjects (53 males between 20 and 84 years of age and 39 females between 21 and 75 years), comprising staff of the institute, patients undergoing treatment for chronic arthritis, and the accompanying relatives. There was a highly significant correlation between the two values. The values were identical in 14 subjects; the differences between the values were within 10% in 54 subjects, and in excess of 10% in only 20 subjects. In the whole group, the mean and standard error were 363.5 +/- 14.7 and 384 +/- 15.2 lit/min for PEF (S) and PEF (M) respectively. The regression equation PEF (M) = 0.961 x PEF (S) + 34.9 will enable estimation of expected value of PEF (M) corresponding to the observed value of PEF (S) when a standard obtained with a Peak Flow Meter in used assess abnormality in a patient.

Alcoholism: newer methods of management.

Chronic alcoholics were selected from hospitals and A.A. Centres and subjected to different methods of treatment namely, psycho therapy, stereotaxic surgery, nonvolitional biofeedback, Yoga and meditation and extremely low frequency Pulsed Magnetic Field. Each group comprised a minimum of 20 subjects. All were males between the ages of 20 and 45 years. Investigations done were clinical, psychological, biochemical, neurochemical and electrophysiological. Improvement was noticed in all the patients, the degree varying with the different methods of treatment. The patients were followed up at least for a period of one year.

Influence of isolation stress on monoamine levels in discrete regions of the rat brain correlated with behaviour.

Various forms of stressful stimuli have been shown to affect brain catecholamine (CA) and indoleamine (IA) levels, although the literature contains some conflicting views. Changes in monoamine levels were also found to accompany the behavioural changes in animals. In the present study an attempt was made to correlate the behavioural changes with the monoamine level in discrete regions of rat brain after different periods of isolation stress. The results clearly indicate that not only the central norepinephrine and dopamine neurons involved in the expression of aggressive behaviour after isolation stress but also the serotoninergic neurons might take part.