The submental island flap for reconstruction of facial defects.

The procedure of facial resurfacing dictates that there should be an excellent colour and texture match between the facial and the transposed skin. Cervical flaps e.g. platysma flap are commonly used for reconstruction of facial defects but, with disadvantages like limited mobility, unacceptable donor site and unpredictable outcomes. The submental island flap is a new addition to the armamentorium of the Plastic Surgeon. It is an axial pattern flap based on the submental branch of facial artery and the submental tributary of common facial vein. We report the use of this flap for the reconstruction of postexcisional facial defects in two patients having basal cell carcinoma and recurrent parotid tumour. In both patients, the flap provided an excellent colour and texture match. Other advantages of this flap are inconspicuous donor site, wide arc of rotation, simple dissection and a reliable pedicle.

Serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of rifampicin at two dose levels in children with tuberculous meningitis.

Twenty patients of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in age group of 6 months to 10 years included in the study were divided into two groups of 10 patients each. Rifampicin was administered in dosage of 10 mg and 7.5 mg/kg bw to each patient of groups I and II respectively. Drug concentrations in serum and CSF of these patients were measured by a microbiological tube dilution method using a strain of Sarcina lutea. In group I mean serum and CSF concentration was 3.84 micrograms/ml and 0.178 microgram/ml respectively, while in group II it was 2.16 micrograms/ml and 0.206 microgram/ml respectively. These concentrations were many times higher than the MIC against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mean percentage penetration of rifampicin in CSF was 5 and 10% in group I and II respectively. We recommend similar studies in large number of children before advocating the therapy with low dose of rifampicin in TBM.

Mental morbidity in industrial workers of khetri copper complex.

There is dearth of researches pertaining to prevalence of mental morbidity in Industrial setups, particularly in our country.They are important as psychological ill health of workers may adversely effect the productivity in developing country like India.Khetri Copper Complex in Rajasthan was selected for present study. Aims were to determine the period prevalence of mental morbidity among workers and role of sociodemographic, psychological variables in such disorders. 330 workers were randomly selected from various departments. Each worker was given specially designed proforma and Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire. Workers scoring 12 or more were given "A standardised psychiatric interview schedule" suspected cases were examined by senior consultants to assign them diagnostic categories (I.C.D.-9).Period Prevalence in this study was 186.66/1000. As regards diagnostic categories, 75% were neurotic and 12.5% psychotics. Role of socio demographic, psychological and psychiatric variables in the development of these disorders has been discussed.Findings of this study are in expected direction and results obtained can be easily explained in terms of formulations given by other researchers in this field.Recommendation and plans for further research are discussed.

An evaluation of apomorphine action on doapminergic receptors.

The controversial literature reports leave open a question whether apomorphine (APO) and dopamine (DA) share a common receptor? After careful evlauation of the arguments, both for and against, about direct action of APO on DA receptor we propose that rigid molecules like APO hold trans-cisoid conformation and preferably interact with the pre-synaptic DA receptors while ADTN (2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrxonaphthalene) incorporates trans-transcoid conformation and primarily acts on post-synpatic DA receptors. Dopamine, by virtue of its molecular flexibility, can act on both the receptors.