A study of 10 cases of velopharyngeal incompetence treated by flap pharyngoplasty

Velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) is a condition of incomplete closure of V.P. port area, normally formed by velum and posterior pharyngeal watt. The condition primarily results in various types of speech defects, which form- the main complaint of the patient. We have studied 10 cases of VPI due to various causes and the speech improvement obtained by flap pharyngoplasty procedures. The results have been evaluated with a follow-up of six months. Highly encouraging results only indicate a more frequent need to undertake such surgery without any hesitation if the ENT surgeon is familiar with and has an adequate exposure to this simple and effective procedure.     

Picotamide inhibition of excess in vitro thromboxane B2 release by colorectal mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with increased mucosal release of eicosanoids. Among these, thromboxane A2 has been proposed as a possible inflammatory mediator; its suppression may be a useful therapeutic option. METHODS: Using a tissue incubation technique, we compared release of immunoreactive thromboxane B2 by colonic biopsies from patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and controls, and assessed the inhibitory effect of picotamide, a thromboxane synthesis inhibitor-receptor antagonist, which has been widely used in Italy for management of ischaemic heart and cerebrovascular disease. RESULTS: Increased amounts of thromboxane B2 were released from biopsies from patients with active ulcerative colitis (median 238 pg/20 min/mg wet weight (interquartile range 147- 325), n = 12) and active Crohn's disease (252 (174-450), 6) compared with those from patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis (95 (61- 140), 12) or Crohn's disease (105 (57-201), 13), or controls (136 (64- 206), 8). Incubation with picotamide at concentrations between 100 microM and 1 mM reduced thromboxane B2 release (IC50 890 microM). CONCLUSION: Since increased thromboxane A2 production may have pathogenetic importance, thromboxane synthesis inhibitor-receptor antagonists such as picotamide merit therapeutic trial in the management of inflammatory bowel disease.     

Oral clonidine pretreatment for haemodynamic stability during craniotomy.

We have studied the effect of clonidine pretreatment on cardiovascular responses to various stimuli during craniotomy. Fifty-eight patients (ASA Class I-II), scheduled for supratentorial surgery, were randomly given either oral clonidine, mean dose 3.6 micrograms/kg (n = 28), or oral diazepam, 0.2 mg/kg (n = 30), ninety to one hundred minutes before surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with nitrous oxide:oxygen, pentazocine and halothane. Pancuronium was used as a neuromuscular blocker. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were recorded before and after several stimuli. In the clonidine group hypertensive response was significantly less on laryngoscopy (6.5% increases versus 11.2% in the diazepam group), intubation (9.2% versus 16.5%), Mayfield clamp application (14.5% versus 29.91%) and after skin infiltration with lignocaine-adrenaline solution (2.95% versus 5.42%). Heart rate response to laryngoscopy, intubation and skin infiltration was also significantly attenuated in the clonidine group. The sleep dose of thiopentone was smaller in patients pretreated with clonidine. Patients in the diazepam group required more medical intervention. No adverse effect occurred in any patient.     

Microbiological study of vaginal discharge associated with the use of CuT 200.

A microbiological study of the vaginal discharge was conducted on 75 women attending family planning outdoors. In 24 out of 25 symptomatic CuT 200 users suffering from non-specific vaginitis, Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated from 19 cases (79%). The difference in the recovery rate of Gardnerella vaginalis was highly significant between symptomatic CuT 200 users and non-users (p less than 0.001) and that between symptomatic and asymptomatic CuT 200 users (p less than 0.05). But the difference between asymptomatic CuT 200 users and non-users was not statistically significant. The presence of clue cells on direct Gram's staining of vaginal discharge is significantly (p less than 0.05) related to the recovery of Gardnerella vaginalis on culture.     

Intensification of measles vaccination coverage

Better coverage of susceptibles with measles vaccine has clear demonstratable impact on disease incidence. Education and strong motivation of implementors and community at large and improvement in other managerial and administrative support actions for the programme are considered essential to boost up measles immunisation coverage. It is therefore, expected that with well planned and sustained implementation of country wide campaign of measles immunisation, the disease can be brought under control. This needs strong will, determination and urgency for well planned and sustained actions if we have to achieve desired goal--"IMMUNISATION FOR ALL BY 1990". The efforts required for achieving the targets are discussed in this paper.     

Biochemical and immunological characterization of deoxythymidine kinase of thymidine kinaseless HeLa cells biochemically transformed by herpes simplex virus type.

Thymidine kinase (TK) from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) biochemically transformed HeLa cells, purified by affinity chromatography, has been characterized with respect to its electrophoretic mobility, molecular weight, activation energy, substrate specificity, and immunological specificity. TK purified from HSV-1-transformed HeLa cells has the same electrophoretic mobility as TK purified from HeLa cells lytically infected with HSV-1. The sedimentation velocity of purified TK from transformed cells was similar to that previously reported for the lytic enzyme, and its molecular weight was estimated to be 70,000. The activation energy of purified transformed-cell TK was 18.3 kcal/mol. Antiserum prepared against purified HSV-1 TK, although it showed some cross-reactivity, preferentially neutralized homologous TK. The transformed-cell TK antiserum also neutralized the deoxycytidine kinase activity of HSV-1-infected cell extracts but had no effect on deoxycytidine kinase activity of HSV-2-infected cell extract. These results further support the notion that TK acquired by HeLa cells transformed by HSV-1 is of viral and not of cellular origin.