An epidemiological study of 177 cases of human rabies

Of the 177 rabies patients admitted to various hospitals in Amritsar city, 80.8% were males and 31.1% were children under the age of 15 years. Incidence was found to be gradually increasing in urban areas, although 68.2% were still found in rural areas. History of second or third degree bites existed in all the cases. Dogs were the source of exposure in 97.3% of cases and they were all suspected of having rabies. 49.1% of cases had bites on the lower extremities and 70.8% were on uncovered parts of the body. The incubation period was observed to be between 30 and 120 days in 61.8% of cases; 90.0% of the patients developed the disease within six months of exposure. Short incubation periods were observed in a majority of the patients bitten on more than one part of the body, head, neck and face or bitten on uncovered parts. Hydrophobia and death occurred in 100% of cases and 93.4% of patients died within five days. Post-exposure injections were reported in 10.2% of cases and these showed no definite incubation period pattern.

A mechanism for rich-medium inhibition of the repair of daughter-strand gaps in the deoxyribonucleic acid of UV-irradiated Escherichia coli K12 uvrA

Ultraviolet-irradiated Escherichia coli K12 uvrA(B,C) cells show higher survival if plated on minimal growth medium (MM) rather than on rich growth medium (RM). This phenomenon has been referred to as 'minimal medium recovery' (MMR). UV-irradiated (4 J/m2) uvrA cells showed a similar rate of protein synthesis, whether incubated in MM or RM, however, they showed a severe depression in DNA synthesis when incubated in MM that lasted for about 30 min, and the normal rate of DNA synthesis was not reestablished until about 60 min after irradiation. When a sample of these same cells was switched to RM immediately after UV-irradiation, there was only a slight slowing of DNA synthesis, and the normal rate of synthesis was reestablished by 60 min. An additional mmrA mutation or growth retardation by valine blocked both this extra DNA synthesis in RM, and the inhibitory effect of RM on survival. These findings suggest that the absence of a marked delay in DNA synthesis observed in RM may be responsible for the inhibitory effect of RM on the survival of UV-irradiated excision-deficient cells. Two hypotheses, which are not mutually exclusive, are proposed and supported by data to explain why a fast rate of DNA synthesis after UV-irradiation partially inhibits postreplication repair and enhances cell lethality.

Contact Dermatitis To Bidi

A 29 year old male developed dermatitis on the adjoining surfaces of the right index and the middle fingers, the site for holding cigarette/ bidi. Patch test with the tobacco of the bidi was positive.

Contact Dermatitis to Metals in Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)

Metal dermatitis accounted for 13% of the total contact dermatitis cases and about 0.17% of the total outpatient attendance. Nickel was the commonest sensitizer (34.90%). Cobalt, copper, aluminum and iron sensitivity was seen in 13.6%, 6.8%, 2.3% and 4.5% cases respectively. There was a complete absence of chromate sensitivity.

Changes in the biochemical composition of semen following danazol plus testosterone enanthate administration to the langur monkey

Changes in the biochemical composition of semen, which reflect the accessory sex organ functions, following danazol (100 mg/day; orally) plus testosterone enanthate (50 mg/month; i.m.) administration have been investigated in langur monkey. The levels of acid phosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase and glycerylphosphorylcholine in the semen decreased significantly; whereas fructose, citric acid, magnesium and semen volume did not show any significant changes. A gradual decrease in the motility and count of spermatozoa was observed. At 60 days of treatment all animals became azoospermic. No drug related hematological changes were observed. The combination therapy impaired the epididymal and prostatic functions along with suppression of spermatogenesis.

Superficial Mycoses in Simla

A clinico-mycological study of 114 cases of dermatophytosis is presented.Tinea pedis 38.6%) is the commonest clinical type found in this region. A relatively high prevalence of tinea unguium (23.7%) was', observed. T rubrum was the commonest isolate (46.2%). An unusual finding was the isolation of T.Schoenleni in four cases of tinea pedis. The factors responsiblefor high prevalence of tinea pedis and tinea unguium are discussed.

Structural and functional changes in epididymis following danazol plus testosterone enanthate administration in rabbit

Danazol in combination with testosterone enanthate was administered to adult male rabbits to assess the structural and functional activity of epididymis. Seminal, biochemical and histological studies were made throughout the experiment. Sperm motility and count decreased markedly and at the end of treatment 75% of the animals became azoospermic. Seminal plasma GPC levels decreased significantly at 45 through 75 days of treatment. At 30 days of drug exposure, phospholipid, protein and sialic acid concentrations in caput epididymides were significantly low. Epididymal weight, phospholipid and protein contents markedly dropped in all segments of epididymides after 60 days of treatment. A reduction in epithelial and stereocilia height (caput and cauda), and lumen diameter (caput and corpus) was observed. Increase in intertubular stroma was evident. Lumen was devoid of spermatozoa at 60 days of treatment. All the changes were restored to normal 75 days after cessation of treatment. The combination therapy impaired the structural and functional integrity of the epididymis.

Erythema Chronicum Migrans in Simla, Himachal Pradesh

Seven cases of erythema chronicum migrans are presented. An unusal case with acute course, purpurice and bullous reaction is highlighted. A terminology of acute erythema migrans is suggested for such cases. No organism or vector could be isolated.

Mebendazole in the Treaiment of Larva Migrans

Two cases of larva migrans which were treated with mebendazole are presented. The drug was found very effective in this condition and was well tolerated.

Contraception with danazol plus testosterone enanthate in the rabbit. I. Effects on vas deferens

Effects of danazol plus testosterone enanthate on rabbit vas deferens are investigated. Seminal, biochemical tissue and histological studies were performed. Sperm motility was markedly impaired with the advancement of treatment. At the end of treatment 75 per cent of the animals became azoospermic. Seminal fructose did not change, whereas citric acid showed a progressive non-significant increase. Phosholipid and protein contents of vas deferens decreased during drug exposure. No appreciable changes were observed in sialic acid concentration. Citric acid and fructose in ampullae reduced following 60 days of treatment. Vas deferens lumen was devoid of spermatozoa. The combination therapy impaired the secretory activity of vas deferens reversibly.

New mutation (mmrA1) in Escherichia coli K-12 that affects minimal medium recovery and postreplication repair after UV irradiation

After UV irradiation, Escherichia coli uvrA mutant cells show higher survival on minimal than on rich growth medium, i.e., they show minimal-medium recovery. This effect of rich growth medium on survival is not observed in a uvrA mutant carrying an mmrA1 mutation, and the uvrA mmrA strain showed the same survival rate on minimal and rich growth media as the uvrA strain did on minimal medium plates. The mmrA1 mutation was isolated as a hidden mutation from a uvrA polA mutant strain and shown to map at 84.3 min on the E. coli K-12 linkage map. In contrast to the uvrA strain, the repair of DNA daughter strand gaps was not inhibited in the uvrA mmrA strain by rich growth medium after irradiation. However, the uvrA and uvrA mmrA strains were similar in their ability to repair DNA when compared in minimal medium. These data are consistent with the idea that the mmr gene product is not involved directly in the repair of UV radiation-induced DNA damage, but rather allows rich growth medium to inhibit a portion of postreplication repair.

Oculodentodlgital Dysplasia with Cutaneous Keratotic Papules

A case of oculodentodigital dysplasia is described with, some unusual findings like cutaneous keratotic papules , and Duane's retraction syndrome, which have not been documented earlier.

Severe Lichen Sclerosus Producing Peno Scrotal Fusion

A case of lichen sclerosis et atrophicus of scrotum and pubic region is reported which showed partial fusion of shaft to scrotum.

Roles of the relA(+) gene and of 4-thiouridine in near-ultraviolet (344 nm) radiation inhibition of induced synthesis of tryptophanase in Escherichia coli B/r

Near-ultraviolet radiation (near UV; 300-380 nm) is known to inhibit the induced synthesis of tryptophanase by tryptophan in Escherichia coli, showing an action spectrum similar to that for near-UV-induced growth delay. The present work shows that a relA mutant of E. coli B/r exhibits 50% as much monochromatic near-UV (334 nm) inhibition of tryptophanase induction as the wild type, and tht a mutant lacking 4-thiouridine, an unusual nucleoside in tRNA, exhibits greater than 10% as much inhibition of tryptophanase induction. These findings indicate that 4-thiouridine is almost the sole chromophore for this effect in E. coli B/r, but that only 50% of the effect operates by a mechanism utilizing the relA(+) gene product; growth delay appears not to be primarily involved.

Localised Cutaneous Sporotrichosis of Face - a Case Report From India

A case of localized cutaneous sporottichosis of face has been reported. This is the first case of this type from India and the first of sporotrichosis reported from Himachal Pradesh.North India.

Ecology of Early Syphilis Patients: A Study of Eighty Cases

Eighty early syphilis patients were studied in detail regarding theirage, sourceof infection, occupation, education, marital status, income and previous venereal infection. Incidence of sexually transmitted disease was 27% of which 26.6% cases had early syphilis. Male to female incidence was 10.4:1. In males, 27.4% and 30.2% were in the teenage and young adult (2024 years) groups respectively. Among males 60.3% were unmarried, while 32.8% were married. Widowers and divorcees constituted the rest. Prostitutes and homesexuals were the major sources of infection in 45.2% and 27.4% males respectively. 52% were from low socio-economic class, 26% from middle income group while no patient was from high socioeconomic status. 21.9% were from no income group. 63.2% were labourers, 17.8% unemployed and 4.2% students. 60.5 % were illiterate and 15.3 % cases had other associated sexually transmitted diseases. 32.8% had history of past venereal infection. Among females 4 (57- I%) acquired infection from their husbands: 1 (14.3%) had middle school education, 2 (28.6%) had other associated STD and none had history of past venereal infection.

Donovanosls in North India

Out of 365 patients, who attended S T D clinic of Lok Nayak J P Hospital, New Delhi during the period July 1975 to November 1977, 126 (3.5 percent) were suffering from donovanosis. 84 percent of the patients with the disease were aged between 20 and 40 years. Majority of the patients (92.9%) had lesions on genitalia while inguinal regions were involved in 12.7% only. Increasing magnitude of the disease in Delhi and surrounding states of North India is highlighted.

Heterogeneity of failure of visual acuity in Graves' disease

The eye manifestations of Graves' disease are usually mild and self-limiting. Occasionally they follow a progressive course leading to visual loss and total blindness. The ocular manifestations bear no relationship to the metabolic state and may appear before, during or after onset of thyrotoxicosis. Characteristically they become evident at about the time of onset of hypermetabolism. Various factors responsible for the failure of visual acuity are discussed with case illustrations.

Microbiology of cutaneous tuberculosis

Detailed bacteriological characteristics including drug sensitivity of 12 mycobacteria isolated from 51 cases of different types of cutaneous tuberculosis were studied; no mycobacterium could be isolated from remaining 39 cases. Nine were identified as M. tuberculosis and 3 as 'anonymous' mycobacteria. Acquired resistance to one or more than one drug (streptomycin, isoniazid, PAS and thiacetazone) was observed in 3 out of 9 strains of M. tuberculosis. All the 'anonymous' strains were resistant to all the drugs except ethionamide and ethambutol.

Fluorinated quinazolones III: synthesis and CNS depressant activity of fluorinated quinazolone derivatives

The synthesis of 2-allylthio-3-(4'-fluorophenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrafluoro-4-quinazolone, 2-n-propylthio-3-(4'-fluorophenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrafluoro-4-quinazolone, 3-(4'-bromophenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrafluoro-2,4-quinazolinedithione, and seven fluorinated 2-alkyl/phenyl-3-aryl-4(3H)-quinazolones is described. The synthesized compounds were screened for CNS depressant activity using pentobarbital sleeping time, pentylenetetrazol convulsions, and condition avoidance test as the parameters. Most of the screened compounds exhibited significant depressant activity.