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.     

Awareness of warning symptoms and risk factors of stroke in the general population and in survivors stroke.

Awareness among the general population of the risk factors and warning symptoms of stroke is essential for preventative purposes and for immediate effective treatment. The aim of the present study was to assess the awareness, among the general population and stroke survivors, of the risk factors and warning symptoms of stroke, to develop an educational strategy for its prevention and immediate effective treatment. Six hundred and sixty stroke patients (370 male, 290 female) and 4000 people from the general population who accompanied the patients (2800 male, 1200 female) were interviewed, using three sets of questionnaires, on the risk factors and warning symptoms of stroke. Poor knowledge or awareness of the risk factors and warning symptoms of stroke was found in both groups. Both groups suggested educational programs for stroke using printed information, audiovisual programs and community survey programs using simple and understandable information for the prevention and immediate effective treatment of stroke. Poor awareness of stroke contributes to a delay in the arrival of patients in hospital emergency departments for immediate effective treatment. Multifaceted programs regarding stroke, including printed information, audiovisual programs and stroke service programs, are advocated by both patients and the general population to improve stoke treatment and prevention.     

Oral mifepristone 600 mg and vaginal gemeprost for mid-trimester induction of abortion: An open multicenter study

This open multicenter study was performed in 20 hospital gynecological units in the UK. The effects of 600 mg oral mifepristone as pretreatment to vaginal prostaglandin induction of second second trimester abortion was studied in 267 women.

The primary efficacy variable was the abortion induction interval, defined as the time taken to expel the fetus from the time of administration of the first prostaglandin pessary. Induction was commenced 36 to 48 hours following mifepristone intake.

The mean abortion induction interval was 7 h. A total of 81.9% of women aborted within 12 h. There was a significant relationship between abortion induction interval and age of gestation, and a significant inverse relationship between abortion induction interval and parity.

Vomiting, pelvic pain, and nausea were the most frequently reported adverse events. Two patients required transfusion and one patient with a uterine scar from a previous cesarean section suffered a ruptured uterus and hysterotomy.     

构建玻片蛋白质芯片的实验研究

目的:探讨玻片蛋白质芯片的构建方法及其中间操作条件的选择与优化。方法:利用生物芯片点样仪将超微量蛋白质点到经特殊处理的玻璃片表面,然后选用不同的化学试剂对玻片背景进行封闭;再用荧光素标记的蛋白质与点样蛋白杂交;最后用生物芯片分析仪扫描成像并进行分析,比较不同条件下芯片的显示效果。结果:蛋白质样品与片基稳定结合,并保持原活性状态;封闭试剂选用酪蛋白或明胶效果较佳;点样探针与其特异蛋白质抗体可稳定结合,结合效果与点样蛋白浓度在一定范围内呈正相关;在1.6 cm×1.6 cm的玻璃片面积上,构建了36×36=1269点的蛋白质芯片。结论:本实验条件下,蛋白质抗原或抗体可以稳定地固定于经过处理的玻璃片表面.制成免疫型蛋白芯片,并可通过随后的抗原抗体反应与荧光素标记的相应抗体或抗原结合,用生物芯片分析仪可对其荧光信号进行检测分析。     

Genotoxic effect of smoke-dried meat extract in Swiss albino mice using sperm head shape abnormality test.

The genotoxic effect of an extract of smoke-dried meat was assayed by employing in vivo sperm head shape abnormality. A significant dose responsive mutagenic effect was observed using the sperm head shape abnormality test. The result indicates that higher doses i.e., 100 and 200 mg/kg body wt. of smoke meat extract, significantly induced sperm head shape abnormality as compared to lower doses i.e., 20 mg/kg body wt. and control.     

Observation on serum prolactin in hepatic cirrhosis.

Serum prolactin assays in patients of hepatic cirrhosis were analysed. Patients with cirrhosis had higher values of serum prolactin (27.2 +/- 5.1 ng/ml in males and 38.4 +/- 4.1 ng/ml in females) as compared to control subjects (p less than 0.05). Majority of patients of cirrhosis with suspected portal-systemic encephalopathy had significantly higher serum prolactin than those without encephalopathy (p less than 0.05). Significantly higher values of serum prolactin on admission had positive correlation with mortality (p less than 0.01). Clinico-biochemical severity of hepatic dysfunction was directly correlated with level of serum prolactin. The present study reveals the possibility of diagnostic and prognostic values of serum prolactin in cirrhosis, specially in clinical/sub-clinical subsets of portal-systemic encephalopathy.