Effect of ginger & garlic on DNA content of gastric aspirate.

DNA content of gastric aspirates was studied before and after intragastric infusions of three doses of ginger (2, 4, 6 g) and four doses of garlic (0.3, 0.75, 1.5, 3 g) on different days in volunteers. Only one dose was administered on any day. The mean changes of DNA-p/min in gastric aspirates after intragastric infusions of 2 and 4 g ginger were -1.37 +/- 2.3 and 6.74 +/- 3.06 respectively, which were not significant statistically. However, 6 g ginger given intragastrically showed a mean significant increase in DNA-p/min of 3.23 +/- 1.02 (P less than 0.05). Intragastric infusion of 0.3 g uncooked garlic showed a non-significant increase in DNA-p/min of 0.307 +/- 0.59. On the other hand, infusion of 0.75, 1.5 and 3 g of uncooked garlic each caused significant increase in DNA-p/min of 5.47 +/- 1.63 (P less than 0.01), 10.42 +/- 3.46 (P less than 0.01) and 29.26 +/- 4.55 (P less than 0.001) respectively. Infusion of 3 g of cooked garlic also showed significant increase in DNA-p/min of 21.43 +/- 4.62 (P less than 0.001). There was no significant difference between the effect of cooked and uncooked (3 g) garlic. Ginger in quantities of 6 g or more and garlic in quantities of 0.75 g or more cause a significant increase in exfoliation of gastric surface epithelial cells in human subjects.

Eosinophilic granuloma of stomach.

A case of eosinophilic granuloma presenting as a large benign gastric ulcer is reported. On operation table, the lesion was interpreted as malignant.

Non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Diagnosis of non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) is made after exclusion of other known causes of hepatitis. Parenterally spread non-a, non-B hepatitis (PNANB) and enterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis (ENANB) almost certainly appear to be two different diseases. The definite causative agents have not hitherto been identified. Much of our knowledge of NANB is based on (i) experimental studies on chimpanzees; and (ii) epidemiological studies. Parenterally spread non-A non-B hepatitis caused by whole blood transfusion and blood-product infusion has different incubation periods and may be caused by different agents. It is a mild disease clinically, and the majority of the patients are asymptomatic. It can be prevented only by judicious use of blood transfusion. Whenever possible, blood/blood products should be derived from individual volunteer donors who are anti-HBc sero-negative and have serum alanine transaminase of under 45 IU/l. Enterally-transmitted non-A non-B hepatitis is endemic in the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, North and East Africa and Latin America. Epidemic NANB is usually transmitted by water supply contaminated with feces. ENANB has a predilection for young adults. The disease is usually mild, except in pregnant women, who have a high case-fatality rate from fulminant hepatic failure. Control measures include provision of clean water supplies, safe disposal of human excreta and sound personal and food hygiene practices.