Quantitative Assessment and Predicting the Effects of Soil Pollutants on Herbaceous Biomass Production in Reserved Forests

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Heavy metal concentrations in surface soils of Reserved Forests (RFs) have a significant impact on...     

Effects of acute administration of d-amphetamine and haloperidol on procedural learning in man

The effects of an indirect dopamine-agonist, d-amphetamine, and a non-selective dopamine receptor antagonist, haloperidol, were investigated in normal male volunteers using a between-subjects double-blind design in a procedural learning task, thought mainly to involve unconscious/automatic learning. The results showed: (1) d-amphetamine facilitated response speed, whereas haloperidol inhibited it, in comparison to placebo; (2) the linear increase in procedural learning corresponded with pharmacological manipulation of degree of dopaminergic activity, i.e. subjects given haloperidol showed the least, and subjects given d-amphetamine the greatest, procedural learning. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to investigation of abnormalities of procedural learning processes in schizophrenia. Received: 28 June 1996/Final version: 2 October 1996     

Bacteriological study of drinking water during epidemic of cholera in Delhi

Sixty drinking water samples collected from various sources in different areas of Delhi during epidemic of cholera and gastroenteritis were analysed for bacteriological standards. Only 27 (45 per cent) samples were found to be satisfactory for human consumption. Remaining thirty-three (55 per cent) samples showed presence of coliform organisms with MPN value ranging from 10 to 1800+ per 100 ml. Among these positive samples, 31 (93.9 per cent) samples contained faecal coli. Twenty out of thirty (66.6 per cent) Hand pump, 9 out of 21 (42.8 per cent) Taps 2 out of 4 (50 per cent) Tube well and 2 out of 5 (40 per cent) of miscellaneous sources showed contamination with coliform organisms.     

Evaluation of specialized laparoscopic suturing and tying devices.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic suturing and tying constitute advanced minimally invasive surgery skills. Developing proficiency in the standard methods with needle drivers is often an arduous process. Recent advances in laparoscopic instrumentations has allowed for easier methods of suturing and tying. This study investigated the hypothesis that the use of a specialized suturing device and a specialized tying device allows inexperienced medical students to suture and tie laparoscopically. METHODS: Preclinical medical students who had not received any training in open or laparoscopic surgery were included in this investigation. Each student was given a 5-minute demonstration of a specialized suturing device and a specialized tying device. The medical students were not allowed to deploy either device before actual use. After the demonstration, each student was given the device to use in a porcine model. Times were recorded and a subjective grade was given for each student. RESULTS: Twenty medical students were involved in this study. All medical students were able to complete the task of suturing and tying. The average time to suture was 104.6 seconds and the average time to tying was 31.2 seconds. The average subjective performance grade was 90 (out of 100). CONCLUSION: Specialized devices are easy to learn and use for laparoscopic suturing and tying with minimal instruction even for inexperienced medical students. Even surgeons who are not well versed in laparoscopic surgery should be able to suture and tie with certain laparoscopic instruments.     

Zero-Order Release Formulation of Oxprenolol Hydrochloride with Swelling and Erosion Control

Zero-order release of oxprenolol hydrochloride was obtained by controlling the swelling and erosion of the matrix. This formulation involves only mixing of drug, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na CMC) at the ratio of 1:0.4:1.6, respectively, and compressing the mixture directly into tablets. The in vitro release pattern from this optimized matrix tablet was reproducible. Accelerated stability studies revealed that the optimized formulation remains stable for an approximately 2-year shelf life. This sustained-release (SR) tablet was evaluated in dogs, and for comparison a conventional (CV) formulation was also given at the same dose level. Plasma oxprenolol levels were monitored by a sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Significant differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters, i.e., lower C _max, higher values of t _max, MRT, AUC, and plasma concentration at 24 hr, and nearly constant plasma levels over 12 hr, indicated that the SR matrix tablet is superior to the CV rapid-releasing formulation. The in vitro release parameters and in vivo pharmacokinetics correlated well.     

Diagnosis of fetal hydronephrosis in utero using ultrasound

Detection of fetal hydronephrosis in utero, subsequent investigation, and surgical treatment is described. With the increasing use of ultrasound for obstetrical problems and greater experience with fetal sonography, more urologic abnormalities will be diagnosed prenatally.     

Oral intra vascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia in the floor of the mouth.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is an unusual vascular lesion of proliferating endothelial cells. It is more frequently seen in the extremities, particularly in the fingers. Oral IPEH has been reported with the common sites being lip, tongue, and buccal mucosa. In this article, we present a case of oral IPEH of the floor of the mouth, an unusual location, presenting in a 9-month-old male. The histogenesis, histologic features, and ultrastructural features are also reviewed. A misdiagnosis of angiosarcoma can be made in a case of IPEH due to similar histopathologic features. It is imperative to rule out this error by an elaborate histopathologic evaluation ofthese lesions.     

Protection of mouse oesophageal mucosa against gamma rays injury.

The alterations in the oesophageal epithelium were studied in mice after a single whole-body exposure to 7.5 Gy of Co-60 gamma rays in presence or absence of 2-mercaptopropionyl glycine. The epithelium showed an increase in the thickness which reached a maximum on the third day and then decreased gradually up to seventh day after irradiation in the non-drug treated group. In the 2-mercaptopropionyl glycine treated animals the epithelial thickness remained in the normal range except on the day 7 when it was significantly lower than normal. The total cell population registered a steady decline from one to seven days post-irradiation in both groups, but the number of cells was more in the 2-mercaptopropionyl glycine treated group. The number of pycnotic nuclei showed an inverse relationship to the total cell population, it increased continuously up to seven days in both the protected and non-protected groups. However, pycnotic nuclei were significantly lower in the protected group on days 3, 5 and 7 in non-protected group.