New Spectrophotometric Method for Simultaneous determination of Metoprolol Tartarate and Hydrochlorthiazide in Tablets.

The present work describes a two-wavelength method for simultaneous determination of metoprolol and hydrochlorthiazide in fixed dose combination tablet. The wavelengths selected for method were 257.8 nm, 282.9 nm and 315.0 nm. The absorbance difference at first two wavelengths was used for determination of metoprolol and the latter was used for determination of hydrochlorthiazide. The recovery value for the drugs from the tablet matrix was found to be 100.55% (metoprolol) and 99.97% (comparison with standard) and 98.09% (E1%, 1cm) for hydrochlorthiazide. The method has an advantage that hydrochlorthiazide can be estimated in combination, as there is no interference of metoprolol at 315.0 nm. The method was evaluated statistically for its accuracy and precision.

Self-awareness of depression and life events in three groups of patients: Psychotic depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and chronic medical illness in North India.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common experience across cultures although not all languages have words describing depression. AIM: To identify patients' perception and awareness of depression as an illness. METHODS: Sixty psychiatric patients (each with depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD]) were compared with 30 medical patients with chronic physical illness and assessed on levels of awareness of depression in relation to life events. RESULTS: Life events were more in patients with OCD compared to other two groups. All the three groups of patients had major depression. CONCLUSION: Absence of help-seeking for depression in patients with OCD and physical illness possibly indicate low level of awareness of depression in these patients. The findings are discussed in context of clinical practice.

Psychological aspects of infertility due to various causes--prospective study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty infertile couples (30 each among unexplained infertility, anovulation, tubal factor, and male factor groups) and 30 fertile couples as controls were evaluated for psychological assessment by different psychological test instruments. Initial evaluation was done at recruitment, followed by reassessment at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months during the infertility work-up, and at the end when the specific diagnosis and the management and prognosis were disclosed. RESULTS: Psychological components were found to play a significant role in infertility of unknown etiology, especially in the male partner. They affected the personality and social behavior of the male partner and caused anxiety, but led to depression in the female partner. In cases of organically caused infertility, partners were worried about the other's reaction. Anxiety was significantly greater in the partner with the fertility problem than in the other partner. Life events were significant in the partner in whom the fertility problem was detected. Periodic psychological assessment was not affected by infertility work-up on the male partner in any of the groups, whereas anovulation and tubal factor infertility showed a significant psychological effect on the female partner at the end of work-up. Depression and anxiety in the female partner were evident soon after the investigation started.

The need for clinical evaluation and semen analysis of infertile men.

OBJECTIVE: Although many men in Third World countries are reluctant to participate in an infertility work-up, we collected data from a group of husbands of females attending our infertility clinic. We intend to present these results as motivation for other men to realize the importance of an evaluation when they are involved in a barren marriage. STUDY METHODS: A detailed history was taken, and physical and urogenital examination was carried out on 400 male partners of women attending the infertility clinic of PGIMER Chandigarh. Semen analysis was interpreted as normal or abnormal according to the WHO manual. RESULTS: Age of the male partners of 400 infertile couples and their duration of infertility correlated with the pregnancy rate. Fifty percent of the men with a past history of infection, medical or surgical problems had abnormal semen analysis. The presence of urogenital abnormalities had a significant correlation with low sperm count and low motility. Social problems related to alcohol and smoking produced low pregnancy rates. CONCLUSION: A detailed history, examination and work-up of male partners of infertility couples is as important as in the female partner. Counseling and treatment may improve pregnancy rates.

Bulimic disorders and sociocentric values in north India.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown low rates of eating disorders in some developing countries. We set out to investigate the prevalence of bulimia in an all-female college population in north India and relate it to sociocentrism of the culture. METHODS: A total of 504 students in an all-girls private college in an industrial town in north India completed the Hindi translation of the Bulimia Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE). A random sample of 50 students, irrespective of their scores, were interviewed using the DSM-III-R interview for eating disorders; they were also asked about qualitative aspects of their relationship with the family and their own views of their identity. RESULTS: There was no effect of age, social class, religion or height on the distribution of BITE scores. Three key factors emerged; these were related to the constructs of compulsive activity, impulsivity/sociocentric avoidance and associated attitudinal responses and depressive thinking with features of helplessness and feelings of failure. Acculturation was not related to BITE scores. Virtually all interviewees had sociocentric views of theirselves. CONCLUSIONS: Sociocentrism and impulsivity account for a significant amount of the variance. The role of sociocentrism in influencing patterns of eating deserves to be studied further.

Is hysterosalpingography an important tool in modern gynecological practice?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of hysterosalpingography (HSG) in diagnosing tubal patency and peritubal adhesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: HSG was followed whenever possible by diagnostic laparoscopy with chromopertubation to give the final prognosis in cases of infertility. RESULTS: Normal HSG findings were obtained in 669 women, and abnormal ones in 306. No significant correlation was found between age of patient, duration, type of infertility, and HSG findings. Tubal blockage was seen in 89.2% and uterine factor in 9.4% of cases. Peritubal adhesions were suggestive in 12.75% of cases. On laparoscopy, done in about half of these women, findings were in agreement with HSG in 59.87% of cases. Follow-up was carried out whether the woman conceived, had a laparotomy, or required further investigations. CONCLUSION: Although somewhat insensitive, the high specificity of hysterosalpingography makes it very helpful for ruling out tubal disease, even where endoscopic evaluation is available.

Depression in North India comparison of symptoms and life events with ocher patient groups.

Cross-cultural studies of depression have raised interesting issues in terms of symptoms and diagnosis in patients seeking treatment. To understand the symptom patterns of depression in a clinic population in north India, we studied 75 consecutive patients diagnosed as suffering from depression. They were asked to describe their symptoms, life events in the year before the onset of depression, and family history. Sleep disturbances, low mood and irritability were common symptoms. Suicidal intent was reported by 54% of the sample, and guilt by 56%. Study of family history and life events suggests that in those with a negative family history, the onset of depression was more likely to be related to a significant life event the commonest being family conjunct. The symptoms of this patient group are compared with the symptoms of depression reported from clinical samples in south India, Bombay and the West. North Indian samples have low rates of delusions, whereas Bombay samples reveal low levels of hypochondriasis, agitation, guilt and suicidal thoughts. The roles of cultural factors, family responsibilities and expectations are discussed in relation to depression across cultures. These findings also have implications for the clinical management of patients from the North Indian diaspora presenting with depression.

Copper levels & reactive oxygen species in uterine flushings in copper intrauterine contraceptive device users.

Copper levels were estimated in the uterine flushings in 15 copper 'T' 200 device acceptors. There was a statistically significant difference in the preinsertion and one week post insertion values (P < 0.001). This also corresponded to a high level of generation of reactive oxygen species. The levels of reactive oxygen species were similar to preinsertion values at 4 and 12 wk. The copper values declined over the 3 months but were still higher at 12 wk as compared to preinsertion levels and this difference was statistically significant. Hence addition of copper to the intrauterine device besides enhancing the contraceptive efficacy, perhaps also plays an important role in microbicidal activity and helps in overcoming the infection introduced at the time of insertion.

Levels of copper and zinc in depression.

The study was undertaken to estimate plasma copper and zinc in thirty-five depressed patients. Two blood samples were drawn from each patient, one before starting treatment and the second after recovery from depression. The results were compared with the thirty-five normal healthy individuals. The mean plasma copper in controls, depressed patients and in patients after recovery were 106.82, 122.14 and 104.22 micrograms/dl, respectively. The copper levels in patients when depressed were significantly higher as compared to controls and after recovery from depression. The mean plasma zinc levels in controls, depressed patients and after recovery were 115.80, 107.62 and 125.68 micrograms/dl, respectively. No significant difference could be obtained between control and depressed patients. However, the values were significantly higher in recovered patients compared to patients with depression.

Self-limiting acrodermatitis enteropathica. A follow-up study of three interrelated families.

A variant of acrodermatitis enteropathica is described that has its onset before weaning and clears when the child starts its normal solid diet. A pedigree with three interrelated families is reported where 10 children were afflicted with this variant. They had symptoms of hypozincemia for a brief period during infancy. At the time of this study, they were symptom-free and their serum zinc levels were found to be within normal limits. The term "self-limiting acrodermatitis enteropathica" is proposed for the variant. In one lactating mother, the mammary zinc secretion was determined and was found to be deficient and unresponsive to oral zinc supplements. The possible mode of inheritance is also discussed.

Drug abuse among non-student youth labour.

257 non-student youth (age range 15-24 years) have been studied on socio-demographic variables, extent and frequency of drug abuse. Results of the study have been discussed.

Drug abuse among rickshaw pullers in industrial town of ludhiana.

250 rickshaw pullers have born studied on socio-demographic factor, the extent of life use, recent use, current use and the frequency of use or various drugs, and motivating factors for consuming these drugs. The results of present work have been discussed.

Inheritance of seed yield and quality traits in peas (Pisum sativum L.).

A half diallel analysis involving nine cultivars showed that additive as well as non-additive gene effects were important for the inheritance of seed yield per plant, 100-seed weights, protein content and potassium per cent. For remaining traits non-additive genetic components were important. Overdominance was observed for all traits except for 100-seed weight, which expressed partial dominance. Parents PMR-T10, EC21857, EC109182, T163 and EC109189 were good general combiners for seed yield, seed weight and quality traits. In general there was a good relationship between per se performance and the gca effects of the parents for all traits. Cross combinations such as LMR8 x EC109182,LMR8 x PMR-T10,LMR8 x EC21857,PMRT10 x EC21857 and P23 x EC21857 were found promising. The seed yield was positively correlated with other quality traits. Protein had a positive correlation with methionine and phosphorus. All the values of correlation co-efficients were non-significant except for yield with potassium, 100-seed weight and protein with methionine, indicating that yield and quality attributes can be improved simultaneously by simple selection procedures.

A new flavone glycoside from seeds of Daucus carota.

Phytochemical examination of seeds of Daucus carota L. resulted in the isolation of apigenin -4'-O-beta-D-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside and a new flavone glycoside which was characterised as apigenin-7-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-O-beta-D-mannopyranoside.

Hamartoma of nasopharynx.

The extreme rarity of nasal and nasopharyngeal hamartoma, and its possible confusion in early diagnosis, prompted us to undertake a brief review of hamartomatous masses in E.N.T. practice along with this case report.