Vitamin B12 and folate during pregnancy and offspring motor, mental and social development at 2 years of age.

Insufficiency of vitamin B12 (B12) and folate during pregnancy can result in low concentrations in the fetus and have adverse effects on brain development. We investigated the relationship between maternal B12 and folate nutrition during pregnancy and offspring motor, mental and social development at two years of age (2 y). Mothers (n = 123) and their offspring (62 girls, 61 boys) from rural and middle-class urban communities in and around Pune city were followed through pregnancy up to 2 y. Maternal B12 and folate concentrations were measured at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation. At 2 y, the Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants was used to determine motor and mental developmental quotients and the Vineland Social Maturity Scale for the social developmental quotient. Overall, 62% of the mothers had low B12 levels (<150 pmol/l) and one mother was folate deficient during pregnancy. Maternal B12 at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation was associated with offspring B12 at 2 y (r = 0.29, r = 0.32, P < 0.001), but folate was not associated with offspring folate. At 2 y, motor development was associated with maternal folate at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation. Mental and social development quotients were associated positively with head circumference and negatively with birth weight. In addition, pregnancy B12 and folate were positively associated with mental and social development quotients. Maternal B12 and folate during intrauterine life may favorably influence brain development and function. Pregnancy provides a window of opportunity to enhance fetal psychomotor (motor and mental) development.

Pharmacokinetic study of 11-Keto beta-Boswellic acid.

INTRODUCTION: Boswellia serrata has been used in traditional medicine for treatment of inflammatory diseases since antiquity. However human kinetic studies are lacking for this. Hence to better elucidate its effects in humans and determine its optimal dosing, this study was planned. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve healthy adult men volunteers were given capsule Wok Vel containing 333 mg of Boswellia Serrata Extract, orally, after a seven days washout period. Venous blood samples were drawn through indwelling canula from each volunteer prior to drug administration and at 30, 60, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 300, 360, 480, 600, 720, 840 minutes after drug administration. Plasma obtained after centrifuge was analyzed to measure concentration of 11-Keto beta-Boswellic Acid (KBA) by HPLC. Various kinetic parameters were then calculated from the plasma concentrations. RESULTS: The results are expressed as mean +/- Standard Error of Mean. The peak plasma levels (2.72 x 10(-3) +/- 0.18 micromoles/ml) of BSE were reached at 4.5 +/- 0.55 h. The concentration declined with a mean elimination half life of 5.97 +/- 0.95 h. The apparent volume of distribution averaged 142.87 +/- 22.78 L and the plasma clearance was 296.10 +/- 24.09 ml/min. The AUC(0-infinity) was 27.33 x 10(-3) +/- 1.99 micromoles/ml h. CONCLUSION: Elimination half life of nearly six hours suggests that the drug needs to be given orally at the interval of six hours. The plasma concentration will attain the steady state after approximately 30 hours. BSE is a safe drug and well tolerated on oral administration. No adverse effects were seen with this drug when administered as single dose in 333 mg.

Comparative bioavailability study of clonazepam after oral administration of two tablet formulations.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the bioavailability of clonazepam from two brands of 2 mg tablet formulations--Epitril and reference brand. METHODS: A two-way randomised cross-over bioavailability study was carried out in 12 healthy male volunteers. Coded plasma samples were analysed for levels of clonazepam by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. RESULTS: The mean Cmax, Tmax t1/2 beta and AUC (0-48) for Epitril were: 16.31 +/- 3.07 ng/mL, 1.63 +/- 0.48 h, 46.97 +/- 12.26 h and 207.70 +/- 57.07 ng/ml.h; for reference brand were 19.75 +/- 5.95 ng/mL, 1.42 +/- 0.29 h, 46.88 +/- 11.29 h and 215.70 +/- 50.89 ng/ml.h respectively. These were comparable and the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Based on above pharmacokinetic parameters, Epitril was bioequivalent to reference brand.

Family welfare and MCH programme: rural Nasik district 1984-85.

PIP: This is a report on an evaluation survey of the family welfare and maternal and child health program conducted in the rural district of Nasik, Maharashtra, India, in 1984-1985. It is the last but one in a planned series of evaluation surveys to be carried out by the Population Research Centre at the Gokhale Institute, Pune, and covered just under 2,000 households. The survey objectives and methodology are first described. Sections are included on contraceptive prevalence, motivation and satisfaction levels among acceptors, comparisons with non-acceptors, the impact of family planning on fertility, and maternal and child health care. The authors conclude that the desire of most families for two sons, the absence of birth spacing, and a lack of health consciousness make a significant decline in fertility from its present level of about 32 per 1,000 unlikely.^ieng

Family planning behaviour in Maharashtra.

PIP: Trends in family planning behavior in the state of Maharashtra, India, are reviewed. Comparisons are made between estimates of contraceptive prevalence emanating from official government sources and estimates based on a series of surveys undertaken by the Population Research Centre at the Gokhale Institute, Pune. The authors suggest that some program data may be distorted by the need to meet program targets. They also conclude that although sterilization is the contraceptive method of choice, the goal of the government to lower the net reproduction rate to one by the year 1991 in Maharashtra is unlikely to be achieved, given current family size norms and most families' desire for two sons.^ieng

Place of IUD in the contraception-kit of India.

PIP: When India began its IUD program in 1965 the number of acceptors, th eir youth, and their low parity compared favorably with acceptors in Korea and Taiwan, but by 1972 only a negligible percentage were covered by IUDs and India as a whole had almost discontinued the program. The problem seemed to be the poor screening of initial acceptors with many more women being included than should have been and the poor follow-up. South Korea and Taiwan have organized programs of individual attention, which India lacked. Up until 12 months the retention rates among Indian women were similar to those of South Korea and Taiwan, but after 12 months the problems of bleeding, for which they were not prepared, and pain took their toll. It was assumed that women with problems would go back to a clinic for help, but rural Indian women are used to taking care of themselves and they removed the "bloody" device themselves. This bleeding raised panic among the masses. IUD programs must allow for individual follow-up and in that sense cannot be mass programs. 60% of those who discontinued shifted to another contraceptive method, sometimes producing a baby in the meantime. Sterilization was the most common new method. 40% used no contraception. 2100 insertions in rural Maharashtra state prevented 468 births with a retention of 3087 years in all. IUD use does not significantly lower the birthrate, even in countries like Korea. However, IUD users tend to stay with the method longer, but they are more likely to use another method when they discontinue, and the IUD can be adopted early in the reproductive years. However, acceptors must be warned about possible side effects and better follow-up must be an integral part of the program.^ieng