A study on knowledge, beliefs and attitude towards leprosy in students of Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding leprosy in school students of Jaipur district. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2010 to February 2011 on 1199 students (rural and urban) studying in class 10th and above. The findings of this study showed fair knowledge in students about cause, signs and symptoms of leprosy but less knowledge about prevention and treatment of the disease. Myths and beliefs were more prevalent in rural students as compared to urban ones. Both the groups showed positive attitude toward leprosy with 30-50% students showing neutral approach but negative reaction was more in rural students. In conclusion the study highlights to emphasize on health education in students and improving knowledge to develop positive attitude towards leprosy.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of some novel bis-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles and bis-4-thiazolidinone derivatives from terephthalic dihydrazide.

A novel series of 1,4-bis(6-(substituted phenyl)-[1,2,4]-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (5a-b) and 4-bis(substituted phenyl)-4-thiazolidinone derivatives (7a-c) have been synthesized from terephthalic dihydrazide (1) through multistep reaction sequence. 1,4-Bis(5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2yl) benzene derivatives (2a-f) and bis-substituted terephthalohydrazide (6a-e) were also synthesized from terephthalic dihydrazide by cyclization with various aromatic acids and aldehydes. Terephthalic dihydrazide (1) was obtained from poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste from reaction with hydrazine hydrate in good yield (86%). All the synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activities against various bacteria and fungi strains. Several of these compounds showed potential antibacterial activity.

Recycling of waste PET into useful textile auxiliaries.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste fibers were initially depolymerized using a glycolysis route in the presence of sodium sulfate as a catalyst, which is a commonly used chemical and ecofriendly as compared to heavy metal catalysts. Good yield of the pure monomer bis(2-hydroxyethylene terephthalate) (BHET) was obtained. Further, to attempt its reuse, the purified BHET was converted to different fatty amide derivatives to obtain quaternary ammonium compounds that have a potential for use as softener in the textile finishing process. The products were characterized by infrared spectroscopy. Application of these synthesized compounds was carried out on cotton fabric; they were evaluated for performance and were found to give good results. The chemicals used during depolymerization and reuse of PET are inexpensive and comparatively less harmful to the environment, and thus offer advantages in the chemical recycling of polyester waste fibers.

Comparison of Pb(II) uptake by coir and dye loaded coir fibres in a fixed bed column.

The possibility of adsorbing Pb(II) from solution using coir, a cheap lignocellulosic fibre, was assessed in a fixed bed column. The coir fibres were also chemically modified by covalent loading of a reactive dye, C.I. Reactive Orange 13, and used as adsorbent. Column adsorption studies were carried out at different initial Pb(II) concentrations and it was observed that the breakthrough time decreased with increase in the initial Pb(II) concentration. The column packed with dye loaded coir fibres was operated for longer duration than the one packed with unmodified coir fibres. The total Pb(II) adsorbed was also higher in a column packed with dye loaded coir fibres. The desorption level in the fixed bed column packed with coir fibres was of the order of 85%, whereas the one packed with dye loaded coir fibres was more than 90%. Both the columns were regenerated and used upto five cycles.

Adsorption of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) on modified jute fibres.

The potential of a lignocellulosic fibre, jute, was assessed for adsorption of heavy metal ions like Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) from their aqueous solutions. The fibre was also used as adsorbent after chemically modifying it by two different techniques viz, loading of a dye with specific structure, C.I. Reactive Orange 13, and oxidising with hydrogen peroxide. Both the modified jute fibres gave higher metal ion adsorption. Thus, the dye loaded jute fibres showed metal ion uptake values of 8.4, 5.26 and 5.95 mg/g for Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II), respectively, while the corresponding values for oxidised jute fibres were 7.73, 5.57 and 8.02 mg/g, as against 4.23, 3.37 and 3.55 mg/g for unmodified jute fibres. Adsorption isotherm models indicated best fit for Langmuir model for the modified jute fibres. The adsorption values decreased with lowering of pH. The desorption efficiency, regenerative and reuse capacity of these adsorbents were also assessed for three successive adsorption-desorption cycles. The adsorptive capacity was retained only when the caustic soda regeneration is carried out as an intermediate step after desorption. Possible mechanism has been given.

Aetiology of non-gonococcal urethritis: a possible relation to other infections.

Chlamydia trachomatis can be identified in up to 60% of cases of nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) and the aetiology of most of the remainder is obscure. This paper reports a role for other genitourinary (GU) infections such as candidiasis, warts and herpes simplex, in the causation of NGU. One hundred and ten men fulfilled the entry criteria which included the probability that their contacts would attend the department. Fifty-four of the 110 men had GU infections other than NGU; 56 had no other infections. NGU was detected in 31 (57%) of cases with other GU infections and 8 (26%) were chlamydiae-positive: in contrast NGU was found in only 10 (18%) of those with none of the other infections and 3 (30%) were chlamydiae-positive. Chlamydiae-negative NGU was, therefore, more common in those with other GU infections. Forty-five (86%) of 52 contacts of 41 patients with NGU had various GU infections such as candidosis and anaerobic vaginosis, in contrast with other GU infections in only 7 (23%) of 30 contacts of men with no other GU infections. Other GU infections in patients and their contacts appeared significantly related to the presence of chlamydiae-negative NGU.

Ciprofloxacin for treating urethral gonorrhoea in men.

The effectiveness of a single oral dose of ciprofloxacin in eradicating urethral gonorrhoea was assessed in 18 men who received 250 mg and 26 men who were given 100 mg. All patients, including two infected with beta lactamase (penicillinase) producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG), were cured. The drug had no effect on infection with Chlamydia trachomatis or on the incidence of post gonococcal urethritis. Ciprofloxacin may be useful in patients hypersensitive to penicillins and cephalosporins, and the drug may also be useful in urethral gonorrhoea caused by PPNG strains.

A direct titrimetric method for the microdetermination of some phenothiazine derivatives in pharmaceutical preparations.

A micro method has been developed for the determination of some phenothiazine derivatives in pure form and in pharmaceutical preparations, 1-5 mg of sample being titrated directly with 0.02M N-bromosuccinimide, with Methyl Red as indicator. The error does not exceed +/-1%.

Drugs causing fixed drug eruptions.

30 cases of fixed drug eruptions were investigated for their causative drugs. The clinical picture of the cases was classical. The results were confirmed by provocation tests. Analgesics and tetracyclines were found to be the most common offenders. Oxyphenbutazone was the nest in the list.

Evaluation of clofazimine in vitiligo.

20 patients with vitiligo were treated with 100 mg of clofazimine daily. Half of these cases were exposed to sunlight and the remaining cases were given no sun exposure. After 3 months of therapy, repigmentation of lesions was seen in 2 cases only, 1 in each group. Sun exposure had no beneficial effect.

Grading of the Whealing Response in Cases with Cold Urticaria.

Seven cases having cold urticaria and showing whealing response to the cryo-stimulation test were tested again after adjusting the temperature of the exposure surface at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 degree C. to determine the maximum temperature capable of producing a wheal in the patient (CTW). It was 25 degree C. in 2 patients and 20 degree C. in 3. In the remaining 2 patients, whealing at the test site was absent with 30 degree C., incomplete with 25 degree C. and complete with 20 degree C. On repeating the CTW in 5 patients within 7 days, it was found to be the same.

Cannabis psychosis and paranoid schizophrenia.

The initial clinical symptoms of 25 consecutive cases of cannabis psychosis of the paranoid type and 25 consecutive cases of paranoid schizophrenia were studied and compared, in order to delineate features that would enable a differentiation of the two conditions. It was observed that the patients with cannabis psychosis substantially differed in terms of behavioral manifestations. Most of these patients were violent and panicky and demonstrated bizzare behavior, but they possessed some insight into the nature of their illness. Schizophrenic patients manifested these disturbances and characteristics less frequently. Subjects with cannabis psychosis showed rapid ideation and flight of ideas, whereas the characteristic schizophrenic thought-disorder was found mostly in schizophrenic patients.

A critical study of family planning work in Kalyanpur.

PIP: A study of family planning work in Kalynapur during 1968-1969 focuses on: 1) the characteristics of vasectomy and loop acceptors in terms of socioeconomic factors such as religion, caste, age, occupation, economic status, educational status, and number of children alive; and 2) the motivational factors among vasectomy and loop acceptors. 100 cases, 50 of each, were selected from registers at family planning clinics for interview. Distribution by religion and caste of acceptors was in proportion to area distribution. A majority of vasectomy accepto rs are in the 30-36 age group and loop acceptors 26-30 age group. Accep tance of either method is more favored by laborers and by those with a low income. A majority of acceptors have 4-6 children. The illiterate contribute the majority of cases for either method. Motivational factors such as economic, faimily strife and worries, health, child care, family size limitation, spacing and money incentive all have an effect on the acceptance of vasectomy and loop, although limiting family size and economic considerations were dominant.^ieng