An institutional outbreak of leptospirosis in Chennai, South India.

The emergence of an outbreak of leptospirosis in a nurses' hostel in Chennai presented a challenge to identify and control the source of the outbreak. Sixty-nine residents and staff members were interviewed to assess exposure factors. Blood samples from the acute and convalescent patients were tested with the Microscopic Agglutination Test using the serovars prevalent in Chennai. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was conducted on serum and water samples. Based on preliminary investigation, control measures with standard hygienic measures were instituted. The attack rate was 35%. The epidemic curve suggested continuous or intermittent exposure to infection over a five-week period. Twenty residents (three asymptomatic) developed laboratory confirmed Leptospira icterohemorrhagiae. Residents collected water from an underground storage tank that was filled twice weekly from a mobile water tanker with a bucket on a rope, and the tank was usually left open. PCR tests confirmed the presence of leptospires from this water. Other control measures included cleaning the large backyard with its many stray dogs and rats, chlorinating water supplies, boiling drinking water and health education. No further cases occurred twelve days after implementing control measures. Access to clean water, not only for drinking but also for bathing, brushing and washing is essential to prevent water-borne outbreaks.

Study of doshic involvement in apasmara (epilepsy) and its utility.

68 cases of epilepsy are studied here for assessing the doshic dominance to understand prognosis with a view to supplement the treatment with some doshahara compounds or drugs. Most of the cases studied or vata or pitta dominant cases, thereby, requiring vatahara or pittahara treatment.

Constitutional study of cancer patients - its prognostic and therapeutic scope.

28 patients undergoing treatment for Cancer and 57 normal adults are studied for their Prakriti (constitution and temperature) to find out whether there is any difference in the prakriti pattern of Cancer patients when compared with that of normal volunteers. Pitta dominance is found in the prakriti pattern of Cancer patients followed by Kapha dominance. The prognostic therapeutic utility and scope of the knowledge of prakriti patterns are also discussed in this paper.

Treatment of tropical eosinophilia with an ayurvedic compound - a clinical trial.

The effect of an Ayurvedic preparation consisting of Swasakutara, Curcuma longa (Haridra) and Withania somnifera (Asvagandha) is accessed in 12 patients of tropical eosinphilia. The modern control drug Hetrazan is used in another batch of 11 patients for comparison. The Ayurvedic compound causes complete relief of most of the clinical signs and symptoms associated with the disease and reduces E.S.R. significantly. However the drug has no effect on the level of circulating eosinophils.

Clinical study of ac-4-an ayurvedic compound preparation as an oral contraceptive.

In this paper the contraceptive effect of Ayush AC-4 an ayurvedic compound preparation is assessed. Totally 281 volunteers have been enrolled in the study. Tho menstrual cycles covered by the women ranged from 1-30. Tho result is moderately satisfactory. No toxic symptoms or severe aide-effects were noticed. The authors say that in tho light of the results obtained in this study, it may be desirable and feasible to make this compound preparation acceptablo like the other oral contraceptives.