Organophosphate poisoning in pregnancy.

Organophosphate poisoning during pregnancy is rarely reported in the literature. In our retrospective study, we report the outcome of 21 cases of organophosphate poisoning during pregnancy. All patients received atropine injection until the tracheobronchial tree is cleared of the secretions and most secretions were dried. In addition, ventilatory care was needed in five women. Two patients (9.52%) died of the organophosphorus poisoning during the acute stage of poisoning and three patients were lost to follow-up. One woman had a spontaneous abortion. The remaining 15 women had no significant complication during pregnancy or labour and delivery. There was no congenital abnormality and no neurological deficit in any baby. However, long-term follow-up of neonates was lacking in our study population.

Public-private mix for TB care in India: Concept, evolution, progress.

To achieve "Universal access to TB care and treatment for all", Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has taken steps to reach the unreached by synergizing the efforts of all partners and stakeholders. RNTCP is engaging with private sector partners in major cities of India with primary focus on notification through innovative partnership mechanisms. The manuscript details the concept behind the public-private mix for TB Care in RNTCP, its evolution and progress over the decades in India.

Randomized clinical trial of norfloxacin for shigellosis.

In a randomized clinical trial, norfloxacin was compared with nalidixic acid in the treatment of acute invasive diarrhea, with particular reference to shigellosis in adults. Of 104 patients studied, 40 were positive for Shigella in stool cultures, of which 22 received norfloxacin and 18 received nalidixic acid. The patients in these two groups were comparable on admission. In the treatment of culture-positive shigellosis cases, the responses to therapy with both drugs were similar, except that the duration of fever, anorexia, and abdominal pain were less in those who received norfloxacin. Norfloxacin appeared to be superior to nalidixic acid in the treatment of shigellosis cases caused by Shigella strains resistant to nalidixic acid.

Clinical profile of acute diarrhoea cases infected with the new epidemic strain of Vibrio cholerae O139: designation of the disease as cholera.

A total of 113 patients suffering from acute watery diarrhoea caused by the novel epidemic strain of Vibrio cholerae non-O1, currently assigned to a new serogroup O139, were investigated in order to determine the clinical presentation of the new epidemic strain causing outbreaks of cholera-like infection in the Indian subcontinent. Estimations of electrolyte concentration in serum and stool were also performed in a representative number of the above cases. The clinical features and blood and stool biochemical parameters of V. cholerae serogroup O139 diarrhoeal patients were indistinguishable from those in typical cholera, except for 44.3% cases infected by O139 had abdominal cramps. In view of the above, we propose to designate the disease caused by V. cholerae O139 as cholera.

Food habits & anthropometry of two tribes of Rajmahal hills, Bihar.

A dietary survey was conducted between August 1986 and July 1987, to investigate the various food ingredients consumed by two tribes (the Santals and the Pahariyas) residing in the villages of Rajmahal hills, of Bihar. A total of 651 families of two tribes of Sahibganj (Pakur and Rajmahal sub-divisions) and Godda districts were surveyed. Agriculture and forest products were the principal sources of income and food. Only about 12.6 per cent of the Pahariyas and 28.2 per cent Santals could afford regular meals every day for the whole year. Maize, rice, dry jawar powder and Ghangara were the staple foods of these tribes. Pulses and milk found no place in the diet of the Pahariyas. About 4.3 per cent Mals, 2.9 per cent Kumarbhags and 1.8 per cent Saurias and 7.2 per cent Santals ate fish/meat regularly. Toddy and locally distilled wines were regularly consumed by both the tribes. The amount of cereals, roots/tubers and toddy consumed by the Pahariyas was greater than that by the Santals (cereals: 82 and 64.6 per cent of the total food consumed by the Pahariyas and the Santals respectively). Similar amounts of leafy vegetables (5.1% in Santals and 4.8 to 6.8% among the Pahariyas) was consumed by these tribes. Slightly, higher quantity of non-leafy vegetables was consumed by the Santals (4.4%) than the Pahariyas (2.3% to 3.6%). Mean body weight, height, chest circumference, arm circumference and skinfold thickness etc., of the Pahariyas were significantly lower than those of the Santals.

A pilot study on neuroepidemiology in urban Bengal.

A pilot survey was undertaken in an urban district population of West Bengal, to study the magnitude of problems of Neurological disorders in the Community. The study was performed by Professionals, headed by a Neurologist, using accepted WHO protocol (1981) for neuroepidemiological survey. Point prevalence rate was found to be 75 per 1000. Sensitivity and specificity of the case study came out to be 98.97% and 99.6% respectively.

Role of L-thyroxine, hydrocortisone and progesterone in regulation of blood volume in a fresh-water air-breathing fish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.).

Effect of hormones on the blood volume of Clarias batrachus were ascertained and it was observed L-thyroxine and progesterone decrease, while hydrocortisone increases the total and relative blood volumes. The ratio of plasma to corpuscular volume is increased by the intraperitoneal injection of L-thyroxine, hydrocortisone and progesterone (higher dose only), thus indicating the regulation of blood volume under the complex control of homeostasis.

Vibrio cholerae O139 in Calcutta.

Vibrio cholerae O139 was recovered from 28 of 79 children with acute watery diarrhoea. Clinically, they presented with watery diarrhoea (100%), vomiting (79%), abdominal cramps (61%), anorexia (61%), dehydration (100%), and absence of fever. Both clinical and blood biochemical parameters of these cases were similar to the illness caused by the new strain in adults. Hypoglycaemia was seen in 40% of those screened.

Efficacy of norfloxacin and doxycycline for treatment of vibrio cholerae 0139 infection.

An open randomised controlled clinical trial with 160 adults with acute watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration compared the efficacy of varying regimens of norfloxacin and doxycycline for the treatment of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae 0139 Bengal. Data were analysed for the 111 patients who were faeces culture positive for V. cholerae 0139. In addition to rehydration therapy, 28 patients received 300 mg of doxycycline as a single dose on admission, 26 patients received norfloxacin 400 mg bd for three days, 28 patients received a single dose of 800 mg of norfloxacin and 29 patients received no antibiotic (control group). Patients in the three treatment groups and control group had comparable characteristics on admission. All three treatment groups had reduced stool output, duration of diarrhoea and fluid intake compared with the control group. Multidose norfloxacin treatment significantly reduced stool output, duration of diarrhoea and fluid requirement compared with the other regimens.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme in organs of air-breathing fish.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was measured in tissue homogenates from the African lungfish and six species of air-breathing teleosts (Heteropneustes fossilis, Clarias batrachus, Channa gachua, Anabas testudineus, Notopterus chitala, and Monopterus cuchia) using a standard spectrophotometric assay. In most species, the highest levels of ACE activity were found in the respiratory organs (gills and/or accessory respiratory organs). ACE was also found in heart and kidney tissues from most species and occasionally in liver. Converting enzyme was not found in skin or skeletal muscle from any species and only in blood from H. fossilis and brain from C. batrachus. Captopril, a potent inhibitor of mammalian ACE, inhibited enzymatic activity from all tissues except C. gachua heart and liver and A. testudineus heart. As fish make the transition from aquatic to aerial respiration the gill microcirculation is usually reduced in size and the accessory respiratory organs become elaborated and occupy a more central position in the vascular tree. The presence of ACE in accessory respiratory organs of air-breathing fish appears to greatly enhance the metabolic efficiency of this enzyme on circulating substrates.