Birth weight pattern in the only referral teaching hospital in Manipur.

Birth weight is an important determinant for child development and survival. Birth weight has been reported to be increasing with the passing years. There is no such accurate documentation from the state of Manipur. This cross sectional study has been attempted to see the birth weight pattern in the largest referral hospital in Manipur. Birth weights of four reference years in the last 15 years have been extracted from the records and analysed. There were 19478 singleton deliveries in the four reference years. The mean birth weight showed a gradual increase in these years. There was a gain of 88.9 g in 2000 since 1986 in term deliveries. There were significant differences in the mean birth weights among the four years, even after stratifying for gestation. However, there was no significant decrease in the percentage of low birth weight babies in these years. Low birth weight showed significant association with parity, age of the mother, booking status, haemoglobin level, and literacy of the mother. Since there was no significant decrease in low birth weight babies in spite of increasing birth weight, there is a need for continued and committed effort to realize the goals of RCH.

Radiorespirometric testing of antibiotic sensitivity in urinary tract infections: concise communication.

A radiometric method, based on inhibition of 14CO2 release from bacterial metabolism of C-14-labeled glucose, was applied to test the susceptibility of urinary organisms to antibiotics. The testing was also carried out by the routine disc diffusion method after isolation of the organisms. Results of susceptibility to antibiotics could be obtained within 2 to 4 hr by the radiometric technique, compared with the 48 hr required for the disc method.

Identification of vasopressor constituents of amniotic fluid in pregnancy toxaemia.

The vasopressor activity of human amniotic fluid was assessed in 46 primigravidas during the third trimester of pregnancy. The subjects included 20 normal and 26 cases of pregnancy toxaemia. For identification of the vasopressor activity of the amniotic fluid, blood pressure measurements were made in the intact rat, and the smooth muscle contraction of the rat ascending colon preparation was determined in vitro. The samples of amniotic fluid showing vasopressor activity were lyophilized and subjected to gel filtration using Sephadex G-100. The various fractions thus obtained were monitored at 280 nm and the pressor activity was re-estimated. It was observed that most of the pressor activity of the amniotic fluid of the toxaemic patients was capable of causing contraction of the rat colon as well as a significant rise in the systolic blood pressure of the intact rat. Furthermore, this activity was found to be heat-labile and was completely blocked by cinnarizine. Fractionation of the amniotic fluid showing vasopressor activity by gel filtration further substantiated the findings reported above. On the basis of these results it was concluded that the pressor activity of the amniotic fluid was due to the presence of an angiotensin II-like substance. Its concentration was found to be higher in the toxaemic group than in normotensive subjects.

Thyroid hormones and [14C] glucose metabolism in bacteria.

The effects of triiodothyronine and thyroxine on metabolism and growth of bacteria were studied. It was observed that over a certain range of concentration thyroxine and triiodothyronine produced increase in 14CO2 release from [14C]-labeled glucose and also stimulated bacteria growth.