Hydrogeochemistry of boron in borewell water of Durgapur coal mine area, District Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India.

Two formations, Barakar and Talchir belonging to Lower Gondwana sequence form aquifer in Durgapur area. Groundwater of these formations sampled for boron investigation in two seasons, Post-monsoon and Pre-monsoon. The water quality differed from aquifer to aquifer, mainly with respect to conductivity and B contents. Talchir groundwater shows greater conductivity and greater B content than Barakar groundwater. The maximum concentration of B was found in Talchir pre-monsoon groundwater. Greater B in Talchir groundwater is attributed to glacio-marine environment of sediment deposition. The correlation of B with major ions also varies. It shows positive correlation with conductivity, Na, HCO3 and SO4 in Barakar groundwater and with SO4 in Talchir groundwater. Seasonal variation in concentration of B exists but not appreciable.

Modified calcaneal index: a new screening tool for osteoporosis based on plain radiographs of the calcaneum.

PURPOSES: To assess osteoporosis using plain radiography of the calcaneum by studying the performance characteristics of the modified calcaneal index through inter- and intra-observer agreement. To study the correlation of the modified calcaneal index to quantitative ultrasound of the calcaneus and bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck and distal radius. METHODS: Lateral calcaneal radiographs of 252 women who participated in a clinical trial for osteoporosis were reviewed. The BMD of the hip and distal radius was measured and the calcanea were assessed using ultrasound. The calcaneal radiographs were graded by 3 clinicians according to a previously described 5-grade calcaneal index. A modified 3-grade calcaneal index was then developed. RESULTS: The highest scores of intra- and inter-observer reliability of the modified calcaneal index were 0.45 and 0.40, respectively, which were higher than those of the 5-grade calcaneal index. The correlation of the modified calcaneal index with other measures was significant (hip BMD, r=0.31; distal radius BMD, r=0.28; calcaneal speed of sound, r=0.20; broadband ultrasound attenuation, r=0.36) [p<0.005]. There were significant differences in hip BMD, distal radial BMD, calcaneal speed of sound, and broadband ultrasound attenuation between the 3 grades of the modified calcaneal index (Kruskal-Wallis 1-way ANOVA; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The modified calcaneal index can be used to measure bone structure and skeletal strength and is a suitable screening tool for osteoporosis in places where advanced approaches to bone-status assessment are not available.

An atypical presentation of tuberculosis of the spine.

We present a retrospective analysis of 684 patients operated on for a herniated lumbar intervertebral disc. Of the 87 patients with a failed back syndrome, 12 were confirmed to have tuberculous infection of the same disc interval. These patients responded satisfactorily to bracing and a short course of anti-tubercular chemotherapy. Histopathological confirmation of the disease was obtained by CT guided biopsy, and only a few of the patients required repeat surgery. This study highlights one of the atypical presentations of tuberculosis of the spine as a herniated lumbar intervertebral disc and a cause of a failed back syndrome. Advanced imaging techniques such as MRI and CT scans are helpful in the early detection of such conditions.

Hydroxy-urea bearing albumin microspheres--preparation, characterization and evaluation.

Hydroxy-urea bearing albumin microspheres were prepared using the polymer dispersion method. Glycerol was used successfully in place of water as an internal phase of w/o emulsion, to prepare HSA based albumin microspheres. Silicone coated magnetite of nanometeric size was incorporated in the drug bearing microspheres. The process variables which could affect the physical characteristics with respect to in vitro and in vivo performance of the prepared microspheres were studied. The in vitro release of the drug from the microspheres followed a linear relationship when commulative per cent drug release was plotted against square root of time. Microspheres of average size 1-4 microns were studied for in vivo distribution and localization. It was established that 67 per cent of the drug enveloped in magnetic albumin microspheres could be localized in a rat tail target segment, on applying an external magnetic field of strength 8000 Oe. A remarkable stabilization of hydroxy urea in the prepared microspheres was recorded when t10% drug degradation was compared with the albumin microspheres prepared by a conventional emulsion polymerization method using water as an internal phase.

Nail dirt--a niche for carcinogenic fungi.

Nail dirt was analysed for the very first time for toxicogenic fungi. During the study it was found that nail dirt carries a substantial number of toxicogenic fungi. These fungi were tested qualitatively and quantitatively for the production of aflatoxins.

Typhoid enteric perforation.

A review of 344 patients with typhoid perforation of the intestine is presented. Patients with enteric perforations should be treated with antibiotics, by fluid and electrolyte replacement and blood transfusion. Surgery is necessary to close the perforated gut and drain the contaminated peritoneum with the minimum surgical interference which will achieve these objectives. Although better conservative management has significantly reduced the mortality of typhoid perforation, early limited surgery is most important if good results are to be obtained.

Use of compressed air in a continuous flow anaesthetic machine.

Anaesthesia was given from a Boyle's apparatus to 100 patients, using compressed air as the carrier gas.

Fournier's gangrene: a report of 5 cases.

A report of 5 cases of infective gangrene of the genitalia and adjacent tissues occuring within a 1 1/4-year period is presented. Of these, 4 cases occurred within 5 months. All the patients were adult males. During the same period no similar pathology was observed in any female or child. Such a large number of cases occuring in so short a time is intriguing but we are unable to explain it. The treatment in all cases was with general supportive drugs, blood transfusion when needed and specific antibiotics. Local excision of the dead tissues and dressing with hydrogen peroxide and eusol gave satisfactory results.

A case of congenital bifid sternum.

A case of bifid sternum is reported, which illustrates that it is sometimes not possible to repair the sternal defect either by approximation of the sternal bars or by a large autogenous cartilage graft from the ninth, tenth and eleventh ribs. In such cases, the only alternative is to take a graft from the mother.