Genetic susceptibility to oral cancer and the expression of common fragile sites. a study of 100 patients.

The expression of bleomycin-induced fragile sites (FS) in the blood lymphocytes of 150 individuals (100 oral cancer patients and 50 age and sex matched controls) is described. FS expression frequencies in oral cancer patients were significantly higher when compared with controls. FS expression was site specific in oral cancer patients. Chromosome 5 was the most affected, with four of its FS expressing in high frequencies. Enhanced expression of FS at the centromeric region was observed in the patient group. This study emphasizes the role of FS in the genetic susceptibility to oral cancer.

Development of a rural community health care model based on Indian indigenous system of medicine.

Based on the principles of primary health care as outlined by WHO at the Alma Ata Conference in 1978, many voluntary organizations in India have been formulating, organizing and experimenting with the comprehensive rural community health Schemes. The goal is to indentify the felt needs at both individual and community levels and facilitate direct participation in decision making, develop suitable alternative, ecologically Sound indigenous models for socioeconomic well-being. In this context the Indian system of medicine has a useful and complementary role to play in the preventive and curative aspects of primary health care programmes. With the above objectives in mind the investigators undertook a brief survey of a "comprehensive rural health" project. The primary aim of this project is to develop a community health care model using innovative alternative methods using Indian indigenous system of medicine and participatory research techniques to improve rural health services of the surrounding under privileged villages. Many gaps exist in the assessment, however, a birds eye-view is presented here.

Evaluation of a lower dose schedule of intramuscular 15(S)-15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha for induction of early midtrimester abortion.

PIP: 50 physically healthy gravidas (16-45 years old; 13-20 menstrual weeks' gestation) seeking abortion were administered serial intramuscular doses of 15(S)-15-me-PGF2a at the Contraceptive Testing Unit of ICMR Medical College Hospital in Kottayam. The subjects were initially injected with 125 u gm. 0.5 ml of PG for 2 doses every 3 hours; thereafter, 250 u gm. (1 ml) were administered every 3 hours until the fetus was expelled or until the trial was considered a failure after 30 hours. 78% of the patients aborted within 30 hours of intramuscular injection of 250 u gm of PGF2a every 3 hours. Induction-to-abortion time had a mean duration of 16 hours and 10 minutes (range, 5 hours 35 minutes to 30 hours). Quantity of drug needed to induce abortion ranged from 1 ml. to 9 ml. with a mean of 4.5 ml. The patients experienced blood loss within normal limits, and no serious complications were observed. The low dose schedule proved to be beneficial for parous women, with an abortion rate of 85.40% and a mean induction-to-abortion time of 15 hours and 45 minutes. Failure rate for nulliparous women was high, 55%, and the induction-abortion time averaged more than 24 hours. The incidence of gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) was considerably less compared with other trials. It was concluded that 15(S) 15-me-PGF2a is an effective and safe method of inducing midtrimester abortion (13-16 weeks) and is especially suited for multiparous women.^ieng