An electrocochleographic study of the effects of lignocaine on patients with tinnitus

Twenty patients complaining of tinnitus were investigated by extra tympanic electrocochleography (ECochG). Baseline ECochG recordings were carried out, followed by sequential recording after injections first of saline, as a control, and then after lignocaine in the dosage 1.5 mg/kg body weight. Significant improvement in the tinnitus was seen in 13 patients after lignocaine compared with only 3 patients after saline. A statistically significant reduction in the amplitude of the action potential was seen after the lignocaine injection. Our results confirm the views of Melding et al.⁷ that the effect of lignocaine is on the neuronal activity of the auditory pathway.     

Relationship of oxypurine release to contractile failure in dinitrophenol-treated rat skeletal muscle

The efflux of hypoxanthine and uric acid from skeletal muscle has been noted to follow exercise and metabolic stress both in vivo and in vitro. Since the action of xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine generates free radicals with potential damaging effect on the muscle membranes, an in vitro model was used to study the relationship of metabolic stress, oxypurine release and muscle contraction. When rat epitrochlearis muscle was exposed to the mitochondrial uncoupler dinitrophenol at 37 ^oC, lactate release was pronounced and hypoxanthine and uric acid appeared in the incubating medium. The twitch tension, in response to supramaximal stimulation, was reduced to less than 5 % of the initial value. When the same experiment was repeated at 27 ^oC, hypoxanthine and uric acid formation was inhibited, although lactate release indicated that metabolic stress was still present. Twitch tension was relatively preserved (57% of the initial value). The lower temperature did not alter the decrease in ATP and phosphocreatine levels in the muscle which is produced by dinitrophenol. There was an inverse relationship between oxypurine release and twitch tension in individual muscles (r = 0.80, P < 0.01 for hypoxanthine and r= 0.95, P < 0.0002 for uric acid). Xanthine dehydrogenase/ xanthine oxidase was detected in muscle and between 16 and 22% of the activity was in the oxidase form.     

Pattern of Changes in Gammaglutamyl Transpeptidase in Chronic Alcoholics

Serum Gammaglutamyl transpeptidase (YGT) was measured by autoanalyzerin 15 hospitalized chronic alcoholics (M=13; F=2) on admissionand at weekly intervals during their treatment. The patientsabstained from drinking totally. YGT showed a 37% reductionduring the first week, 40% during the second on the averageand reduction continued over the next 3–4 weeks towardsnormal. The present status of YGT in the diagnosis of alcoholicliver disease (ALD) has been briefly reviewed. YGT has beenfound to be a reliable biochemical marker to monitor progress,hepatic recovery, treatment, claimed abstinence and also fordetecting early alcoholics.     

Effect of vasectomy on humoral and cell-mediated immunity in monkeys with experimentally induced atherosclerosis

The development of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and circulating immune complexes following vasectomy were studied in rhesus monkeys fed a high cholesterol (atherogenic) diet. Four groups of monkeys were studied: (i) sham-vasectomized males fed a normal stock diet, (ii) sham-vasectomized males fed an atherogenic diet, (iii) vasectomized males fed a normal stock diet, and (iv) vasectomized males fed an atherogenic diet. Monkeys were observed for a period of 1.5 years. Sperm agglutinins and immobilizins in serum were detected in 100 and 60%, respectively, of vasectomized monkeys fed stock diet. In contrast, 60% of vasectomized monkeys fed an atherogenic diet showed agglutinins in their sera and only 20% exhibited immobilizins. The sensitization of lymphocytes by seminal plasma antigens was of a lower order in vasectomized monkeys fed an atherogenic diet as compared to those maintained on a stock diet. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were present in both the groups of vasectomized monkeys but the level was higher in animals fed an atherogenic diet. The aortic atherosclerosis score was increased significantly in vasectomized monkeys fed an atherogenic diet, whereas the coronary atherosclerosis score was increased both in vasectomized males and in animals fed an atherogenic diet.     

Acute and Chronic Changes in Pulmonary Functions among Indian Textile Workers

An epidemiological study was carried out in three textile millsof Ahmedabad. A total of 214 cotton dust exposed and 184 controlsubjects were examined for pulmonary function tests. Pulmonaryfunction tests included forced vital capacity and forced expiratoryvolume in one second. The pulmonary function tests were carriedout before starting the shift and after 7 hours of exposureon a vitalograph spirometer. The study shows that among thecotton dust exposed workers byssinotics behave distinctly andshow the maximum acute and chronic changes in pulmonary functions.It seems that the effect of cotton dust exposure on the byssinoticsubjects is more predominant than the effect of smoking. Requests for reprints should be addressed to: J. R. Parikh, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad-380016, India