DETECTION OF HIV INFECTION IN MEN SUFFERING FROM SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN NORTH EAST REGION.

In a prospective study, 715 men in the age group 18-45 years with various sexually transmitted diseases (STD) from Jan 1993 to June 1996 were examined for presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Majority (86%) were young adults in the age group of 21-35 years. Five hundred and fifty eight (78.

A STUDY ON TREATMENT OF CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC URTICARIA WITH CETIRIZINE.

In a prospective study a comparison has been made between the clinical efficacy and safety of cetirizine, a third generation H1 receptor antagonist with chlorpheniramine and cyprohepatadine, the most widely used antithistamines in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria. One hundred and five patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria were studied where the effects of chlorpheniramine, 4 mg and cyproheptadine, 4 mg administered twice daily were compared with cetirizine, 10 mg given once daily for 4 weeks or earlier till the relief of symptoms and regression of lesions. Local therapy consisted of calamine lotion in all cases.

BORDERLINE TUBERCULOID LEPROSY: CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF MULTIDRUG THERAPY.

Efficacy of multi-drug therapy as per WHO recommendation in 125 fresh cases of borderline tuberculoid (BT) leprosy was evaluated. There were 116 (92.8%) male and 9 (7.

USE OF AMOXICILLIN AND CLAVULANIC ACID (AUGMENTIN) IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN AND SOFT TISSUE INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN.

The efficacy and safety of amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, a combination of antibiotics potentially effective against beta-lactamase producing bacteria, was compared with that of amoxicillin, erythromycin and co-trimoxazole in an open label, randomized trial in 200 children with mild to severe skin and soft tissue infections. The majority (47%) had impetigo. Fifty (25%) children had mild pyodermas, 56 (28%) had moderate and 94 (47%) children had severe pyodermas.

A combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in the treatment of pyoderma in children.

The efficacy and safety of amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid was compared with that of amoxicillin, erythromycin and co-trimoxazole in an open label, randomized trial in 50 children in each group (total 200) with mild to severe pyodermas. Majority (47%) had impetigo. Fifty (25%) children had mild pyoderma, 56 (28%) had moderate and 94 (47%) children had severe pyoderma.

AZATHIOPRINE INDUCED BONE MARROW SUPPRESSION IN LIVE RELATED RENAL ALLOGRAFT RECIPIENTS.

Over a follow-up period of 6 years, 4 out of 31 live related renal allograft recipients (12.9%) developed azathioprine induced bone marrow suppression. Presentation in 3 patients was with fever and 2 patients also had associated graft dysfunction.

VIRAL ENCEPHALITIS PRESENTING AS CATATONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA (A Case Report).

A rare case of viral encephalitis in an 18 year old recruit who presented with signs of catatonic schizophrenia is reported.

EMOTIONAL FACTORS IN DUODENAL ULCER.

Anxiety and depression levels in 25 duodenal ulcer patients were compared with equal numbers of age and sex matched normal controls, hospitalised patients with nonpsychosomatic medical illnesses and inpatients with neurosis. Sinha's anxiety scale and Hamilton's rating scale for depression were used to measure the levels of anxiety and depression respectively. Patients with duodenal ulcer were significantly more anxious and depressed as compared to normal subjects and patients with medical illnesses.

Urinary incontinence in acute psychosis.

A prospective two year study of consecutive admissions (n=984) to a psychiatry ward revealed that the incidence of temporary urinary incontinence in psychiatric patients without delirium or dementia was 1.63% (n=l6). When compared with controls (n=64) the incontinent patients were more often psychotic, gave a history of childhood enuresis and a past history of temporary incontinence during psychosis.

AUSTRALIA ANTIGEN (HBsAG) IN INSTITUTIONALISED SCHIZOPHRENICS.

In a study of sixty institutionalist Schizophrenic patients, sixty chronic schizophrenic outpatients and an equal number of age and sex matched normal controls from the same regional background, the prevalence of HBsAG was six, one and zero respectively. Institutionalized schizophrenic patients are a high risk group for hepatitis B virus infection.

Cardiogenic shock with imipramine.

A 35 years old physically healthy individual, being treated far depression with imipramine and electroplexy, developed cardiogenic shock which was managed successfully with inotropic support. The case is presented to highlight a rare and potentially fatal side effect of tricyclic anti-depressants.