Endoscopic management of pleural effusion caused by a pancreatic pleural fistula.

Pancreatic-pleural fistula (PPF) is a rare sequela of pancreatitis. High degree of clinical suspicion is required to diagnose a PPF. Confirmation is done by high amylase content in pleural fluid analysis. Here, we present two cases with varied presentation of PPF. A 43-year-old man presented with acute on chronic pancreatitis with bilateral (predominantly right) pleural effusion. Another 57-year-old man, previously diagnosed with chronic calcific pancreatitis, presented with left pleural effusion. Both cases were effectively managed with endoscopic pancreatic duct stenting.

Accumulation pattern of pesticides in tropical fresh waters.

High-performance liquid chromatography has been used to study the persistence of commonly used organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides-carbaryl, carbendazim, carbofuran, dimethoate, malathion and methyl parathion in river water in the presence of bottom sediment in laboratory aquaria. The fate of pesticides in water and sediment in pre- and post-monsoon water from three sources has been compared. It has been established that rapid degradation occurs once the pesticide leaches into sediment from water. Degradation was at a much faster rate in post-monsoon water and sediment. It was found that pH and organic matter content affect rate of decay.

Degradation of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides in soils--HPLC determination.

Best conditions suited for the extraction and trace analysis of dimethoate, malathion, methyl-parathion, carbaryl, carbendazim and carbofuran in soils, using HPLC, were established. This was followed by studies related to persistence of residues in different soils. Half-life and time taken for 95% dissipation were determined in each case. Higher pH, moderate moisture and high calcium carbonate content aided degradation while organic matter increased persistence.

Simultaneous determination of a mixture of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides by high performance liquid chromatography.

A simple HPLC procedure has been developed for the simultaneous determination of a mixture of standard carbaryl, carbofuran, carbendazim, dimethoate, malathion and methyl parathion from a spiked agricultural soil sample. The pesticide mixture has been extracted using methanol-water. A concave gradient elution with acetonitrile-phosphate buffer for 15 min followed by linear elution for 5 min, using a wavelength of 224 nm for detection, has been found to resolve the mixture efficiently.

Pulmonary damage caused by fluoride in rabbits during experimental fluorosis.

The effect of fluoride on lung tissue was assessed in rabbits during experimental fluorosis. Sodium fluoride as 5, 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day was injected subcutaneously for 100 days into rabbits of both sexes. The control animals were given 1 cc distilled water/kg body weight/day for the same period. Histological studies showed alveolar hemorrhage, necrosis of alveolar epithelium and bronchiolitis, followed by progressive exudation of oedema fluid, congestion, and hyperplasia of alveolar cell nuclei in treated animals. In animals of the 50 mg fluoride group, lung parenchyma had a distorted appearance with loss of alveolar architecture. The structural manifestations in pulmonary tissue were more progressive with the subsequent increase in the dosage of fluoride.

A survey of osteoporosis using the calcaneum as an index.

Two hundred radiographs of the calcaneum and 200 radiographs of the femoral neck from 100 persons were compared. A system of calcaneal grading, different from that earlier reported, was evolved which correlated significantly with the Singh Index. We found that resorption of secondary tensile and compressive trabeculae occurred before resorption of the primary trabeculae. Interruption of primary compressive trabeculae, which was previously described, is an inconstant feature. Our system using six grades is easier to correlate with the Singh Index. We found that osteoporosis increased progressively with age and was three times more common in females than males.

A survey of osteoporosis using the calcaneum as an index.

Two hundred radiographs of the calcaneum and 200 radiographs of the femoral neck from 100 persons were compared. A system of calcaneal grading, different from that earlier reported (8), was evolved which correlated significantly with the Singh Index (18). We found that resorption of secondary tensile and compressive trabeculae occurred before resorption of the primary trabeculae. Interruption of primary compressive trabeculae, which was previously described (8), is an inconstant feature. Our system using six grades is easier to correlate with the Singh Index. We found that osteoporosis increased progressively with age and was three times more common in females than males.

Identification of personal height from the somatometry of the hand in Punjabi males.

The present study is based on a sample of 100 normal healthy Punjabi males from Patiala, Punjab, India. Each subject has been studied for three anthropometric measurements: stature, hand length and hand breadth. The data have been subjected to statistical computation for the statistical constants like mean values, standard deviation, standard error of mean, test of significance (test of normal deviates) and regressions. The data have been studied for somatometry pertaining to height, hand length and hand breadth. Bilateral symmetry in both the measurements, hand length and hand breadth, indicate insignificant variations. Regression equations have been computed and regression lines have been drawn for the estimation of stature from somatometry of hand.