Cold weather and myocardial infarction.

We studied 1217 cases of myocardial infarction, admitted to Patna Medical College Hospital, Patna, during the period 1979 to 1983, and correlated the incidence of the disease with air-temperature, seasons and months. There was no monthly variation in the incidence of the disease. The seasons similarly had no influence on incidence.

Emblica officinalis reduces serum, aortic and hepatic cholesterol in rabbits.

Emblica officinalis reduced serum cholesterol (p less than 0.001), aortic cholesterol (p less than 0.001) and hepatic cholesterol (p less than 0.

Full moon and crime.

The incidence of crimes reported to three police stations in different towns (one rural, one urban, one industrial) was studied to see if it varied with the day of the lunar cycle. The period of the study covered 1978-82. The incidence of crimes committed on full moon days was much higher than on all other days, new moon days, and seventh days after the full moon and new moon.

Comparison of regimens of treatment with sodium stibogluconate in kala-azar.

One hundred and twenty six patients with kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) were allocated at random to one of two groups for treatment with sodium stibogluconate. One group was treated for 20 days; in the other group the patients were assessed after 20 days' treatment and treatment was continued if necessary. Both groups were followed up for six months.

Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of Bihar kala-azar (including post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis).

This epidemic of kala-azar in Bihar, India, started from a small block and gradually spread to almost all of North Bihar. Vaishali was the district most affected, with the highest incidence rate of 5.9 per thousand in 1978.

Kala-azar hits again.

Six hundred and ninety-two cases of kala-azar were studied, all confirmed cases. Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samsatipur and Sitamarhi were the most affected districts of Bihar. Fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly, anaemia, leucopenia and monocytes were the most commonly found features, whereas pigmentation of skin was found in only 4.

Influence of milk, yoghurt and calcium on cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits.

Five groups of rabbits were studied to determine the effect of milk, yoghurt and calcium on cholesterol-induced hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerosis. The experiment lasted for only 16 weeks. Yoghurt, calcium and milk reduced serum cholesterol levels in rabbits fed on the cholesterol diet.