Evaluation of factors contributing to excessive nitrate accumulation in fodder crops leading to ill-health in dairy animals.

A study was conducted to estimate nitrate content in commonly used fodder crops, viz., berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum), bajra (Pennisetum glaucum), maize (Zea mays), oats (Avena sativa), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) and toriya (Brassica napus), collected from the fields of different villages of Punjab and farms of the university, and to evaluate the factors associated with nitrate accumulation in these crops. The nitrate level was highest in sorghum on dry matter basis, followed by oats and toriya, berseem, maize and bajra. The nitrate content was also determined in fodder samples harvested from young and mature stages and in different parts of plants. The stem part of forages had higher content than leaves; however, concentrations were low in mature crops as compared to immature ones. The environmental and soil factors associated with it are discussed and correlated with the experimental findings.

Effect of felodipine on the serum lipid profile of patients with hypertension.

Forty patients suffering from mild to moderate degree of hypertension were put on felodipine. Their lipid profile was analysed before the start of their therapy and consecutively at two and four months after starting felodipine. There was a statistically significant fall in the levels of serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides and serum total lipids; though no appreciable variation was observed in HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. At baseline there were a few patients who had higher than the normal range of the serum lipid profile. Analysis of these patients showed a highly significant fall in the levels of serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum LDL-cholesterol and serum total lipids i.e. felodipine modified the lipid profiles of hypertensive patients in a positive way.

Sarcoidosis.

Two cases of cutaneous sarcoidosis with itchy lesions are reported. Both patients had systemic involvement and were successfully treated with glucocorticoids.

Pulmonary function changes in patients with psoriasis on methotrexate therapy.

Methotrexate is known to induce pulmonary fibrosis. The present study was undertaken to assess pulmonary toxicity, if any, in psoriasis patients on methotrexate therapy and correlate the dose and duration of the treatment with any changes in pulmonary function. Ten patients who had taken methotrexate for one year and ten patients receiving methotrexate were included in the present study. Detailed lung function studies including arterial blood gas analysis were carried out. In both groups, the only pulmonary function abnormalities detected were FEF200-1200, FEF25-75%, residual volume (RV), and RV/TLC%, which showed a decline after six months of treatment. However, this was not significant. No changes were detected in the arterial blood gas values following methotrexate therapy. Therefore, the present study did not find any significant deterioration of lung functions in psoriasis patients on methotrexate therapy.

IgG subclasses in pemphigus vulgaris.

Direct immunofluorescence in perilesional skin of 13 pemphigus patients is studied for IgG subclasses. IgG1 and lgG4 were predominant subclasses deposited. No correlation of subclasses of IgG with clinical parameters were found.

Psychiatric profile of patients with neurodermatitis.

Fifty patients of neurodermatitis attending the dermatology clinic of a general hospital were screened for psychiatric morbidity. Fifty patients suffering from tinea from the same clinic were taken as a control group (age, sex and socio-economic class matched). A majority of neurodermatitis patients were between 21-30 years of age-group (52%), males (84%), married (90%), literate up to primary (42%) and belonged to socio-economic class V (44%). The common sites of neurodermatitis were legs (28%), arms (16%), scrotum (12%) or multiple sites (36%). The duration of symptoms ranged from 1 month to 2 years (average duration was 6 months). The study group also showed significantly higher occupational and psychosexual problems (p < 0.001). The neurodermatitis patients scored significantly higher on N-2 scale and Hamilton rating scale for depression.