Evaluation of Lichtenstein's technique of inguinal hernia repair under local analgesia

Lichtenstein's technique of inguinal hernia repair under local analgesia using polypropylene mesh has been evaluated in 52 cases. The evaluation was done particularly with regard to infective complications, any incidence of the mesh remoal and recurrence. The follow-up period was 2 - 3 years. After usual herniotomy, a piece of polypropylene mesh was used to reinforce the posterior wall of inguinal canal, making a neo-internal ring for spermatic cord and fixing the mesh inferiorly to the shelving part of the inguinal ligament and superiorly to the conjoint muscle and tendon. After a follow-up of 2-3 years, mesh was not required to be removed from any patient or no report of recurrence took place in any case.     

Effect of short-term Psychiatric Intervention in Cancer Patients

A total of 50 patients undergoing cancer treatment at Malignant Disease Treatment Centre were included in the present study aimed at evaluating the psychological status of cancer patients. All patients filled a specially designed proforma and the following psychological questionnaires : General Health Questionnaire, Carroll Rating Scale for Depression, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, PGI General Well-being Scale and Quality of Life Scale. Analysis of the results showed that 22 (44%) of the cancer patients had psychiatric disorders and this number had reduced to 12 (24%) after therapy. The difference was statistically significant. Psychiatric treatment also resulted in a statistically significant reduction in level of depression as measured by Carroll Rating Scale for depression. Short term psychiatric treatment was found to be very useful in treating psychiatric morbidity and depression in cancer patients.Key Words: Cancer, Depression, Psychiatric morbidity     

Effect of Cryopreservation on Semen Sample

There are varied indications of preserving a semen sample for utilization at a later day. However, the freeze-thaw cycle is bound to impart deleterious effect on the fertilizing potential of the sample. 60 semen samples divided into three groups were preserved in this study. On subsequent thawing, after three months it was seen that the yield varied between 66% to 72%. The post thaw percent yield bears a linear relationship with the pre-freeze quality. 5 pregnancies were achieved in the study testifying the preservation of fertilizing ability of the thawed samples. Sub normal semen samples which might be otherwise acceptable in a therapeutic insemination, do not withstand freezing.Key Words: Cryopreservation, Semen     

Clinical and cytopathologic correlation in chronic inflammations of the orbit and ocular adnexa: a review of 55 cases

Fine-needle aspiration cytology has been used for the diagnosis of neoplastic lesions of the orbit and ocular adnexa with some success. However, inflammatory conditions have not received much attention. This is a retrospective study of fine-needle aspirations of chronic inflammations of the orbit and ocular adnexa over a 15-year period from January 1988 through December 2002. Clinical records and stained smears were reviewed. There were 55 chronic inflammations, presenting as masses, cysts, abscesses, discharging sinuses and dermal plaques and nodules. Forty-two were granulomatous inflammations comprising chalazion (18), tuberculosis (5), Cysticercus cellulosae (3), ruptured epidermal cysts (2), actinomycosis (1) and leprosy (13). Thirteen patients had chronic non-specific inflammations. Fine-needle aspiration cytology is a useful diagnostic procedure in chronic inflammations of the ocular adnexa. Specific diagnosis is possible in many granulomatous inflammations, allowing appropriate, individualized therapy to be initiated.     

Application of oxidants to the spectrophotometric determination of amlodipine besylate in pharmaceutical formulations

Three new spectrophotometric methods for the determination of amlodipine besylate have been proposed. The first two methods, i.e. A and B, are based on the oxidation of the drug with Fe(III) and the estimation of Fe(II) produced after chelation with either 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridyl at 500 and 515 nm, respectively. The Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration ranges of 2-10 and 4-14 microg ml(-1) with molar absorptivity of 2.9 x 10(4) and 2.7 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1) for methods A and B, respectively. The third procedure depends on the interaction of amlodipine besylate with ammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate, which resulted in the formation of molybdenum blue (lambda(max) 825 nm). The linear dynamic range and the molar absorptivity values were found to be 15-59 microg ml(-1) and 1.8 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1), respectively. The results of the proposed procedures were validated statistically and compared with those obtained by the reference method. The proposed methods were applied successfully to the determination of amlodipine besylate in commercial tablets.     

The anabolic androgenic steroid oxandrolone in the treatment of wasting and catabolic disorders: review of efficacy and safety

There has been increasing interest in the development of effective agents that can be safely used to promote anabolism in the clinical setting for patients with chronic wasting conditions as well as in the prevention and treatment of frailty associated with loss of muscle tissue in aging (sarcopenia).One such agent is the anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) oxandrolone, which has been used in such clinical situations as HIV-related muscle wasting, severe burn injury, trauma following major surgery, neuromuscular disorders and alcoholic hepatitis for over 30 years. In the US, oxandrolone is the only AAS that is US FDA-approved for restitution of weight loss after severe trauma, major surgery or infections, malnutrition due to alcoholic cirrhosis, and Duchenne's or Becker's muscular dystrophy.Our review of the use of oxandrolone in the treatment of catabolic disorders, HIV and AIDS-related wasting, neuromuscular and other disorders provides strong evidence of its clinical efficacy. Improvements in body composition, muscle strength and function, status of underlying disease or recovery from acute catabolic injury and nutritional status are significant in the vast majority of well designed trials. However, oxandrolone has not yet been studied in sarcopenia.Unlike other orally administered C17alpha-alkylated AASs, the novel chemical configuration of oxandrolone confers a resistance to liver metabolism as well as marked anabolic activity. In addition, oxandrolone appears not to exhibit the serious hepatotoxic effects (jaundice, cholestatic hepatitis, peliosis hepatis, hyperplasias and neoplasms) attributed to the C17alpha-alkylated AASs. Oxandrolone is reported to be generally well tolerated and the most commonly documented adverse effects are transient elevations in transaminase levels and reductions in high density lipoprotein cholesterol level.However, optimal risk:benefit ratios for oxandrolone and other agents in its class will need to be refined before widespread clinical acceptance of AASs as a therapeutic option in sarcopenia and other chronic wasting conditions.