The forgotten millions.

Millions of chronic mentally sick are living in this country without proper care. Human rights of most of these patients both for treatment and for leading a life of dignity have been seriously abrogated. This oration discusses the extent of the problem & reviews the won\ done in this area in India and abroad.

Active platelet 5-ht uptake in depressives treated with impramine and ect.

Several studies have reported decreased platelet 5-HT uptake in patients of major depression. The present study was undertaken with the aim to study the active platelet 5-HT uptake in depressed patients and effect of treatment with imipramine/ECT on platelet 5-HT uptake in these patients. 30 patients of major depression and equal number of age and sex-matched controls were included in the study.

Ect and platelet 5ht uptake in major depression.

Several studies have reported decreased platelet 5-HT uptake in patients of major depression. The mechanism of antidepressant action of ECT is not clear. The present work was undertaken with the aim to study the active platelet 5-HT uptake and the effect of ECT on it in patients of major depression.

Quantification of behaviour in social colonies of rhesus monkey.

It is necessary to use experimental animals with behavioural, physiological and disease susceptibility pattern similar to man so that the results have a clinical predictive value. For such studies the non-human primate is the animal of choice. Rhesus monkey is a good choice for this purpose but information about its behaviour is fragmentary.

Pithedulosides A-G, oleanane glycosides from Pithecellobium dulce.

Seven saponins named pithedulosides A-G were isolated from the seeds of Pithecellobium dulce. Their structures were established through spectral analyses as echinocystic acid 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, echinocystic acid and oleanolic acid 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl- (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosides and 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl -(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosides, oleanolic acid 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosy-(1-->2)-alpha-L- arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta- D-glucopyranoside, and 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6) -[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)]--beta-D-glucopyranoside.

An open clinical trial with clozapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenics.

In an open trial, drug-resistant schizophrenics were treated with clozapine for sixteen weeks. The patients were rated on BPRS, PANSS, Side effects scale and Global Impression Scale at weeks 0. 9 and 16.

Indian psychiatrists' attitudes towards electroconvulsive therapy.

A questionnaire on ECT, tapping attitudes, usage and experience, was mailed to all medical members of the Indian Psychiatric Society whose addresses were known; 263 (28.8%) of 913 psychiatrists responded. This paper describes Indian psychiatrists attitudes towards ECT.

A comparative study of side-effects of lithium, carbamazepine and haloperidol in acute mania.

In an open trial on manic patients, side-effects of carbamazepine, lithium and haloperidol were evaluated weekly over a 4-week period. The total side-effects with the three drugs were not significantly different, but the rate of amelioration of the same was best for lithium and least for haloperidol. It was indicative that lithium was better tolerated drug than the other two.

Under fives mortality in the urban slums of Lucknow.

The main objective of this study was to elicit proportional cause specific mortality in the underfives in the urban slums of Lucknow in North India. The families with under five mortality in the 28 randomly selected slums in 1993 were located from the records of the slum health workers and verbal autopsy was conducted to assign a cause of death. There were 71 deaths among 2796 children.

A study of peripheral nerve function in neonates and infants.

Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, H-reflex and F-response have been studied in the age group showing maximum changes i.e. neonates and infants.

Substituted quinazolinones and their anti-inflammatory activity.

6-Substituted-2-alkyl-3-(4-aminobenzene sulphonamido)quinazolin-4-(3H) ones (1a-b) were converted either to 2-methyl 3-[(N-aminoacylbenzoate)benzenes sulphonamido]quinazolin-4 (3H) ones (2a-c) or to 6-substituted-2-alkyl-3-(N-arylidene benzene sulphonamido)-quinazolin-4- (3H) ones (3a-h). 3 on reduction, yielded 6-substituted-2-alkyl-3-(N-arylmethyl sulphonamido)-quinazolin-4(3H)ones (4a-l). Reaction of 3a-h with thioglycolic acid afforded 2-alkyl-3-[4'-(5'-arylthiazolidin-3'-one)benzene sulphonamido]quinazolin-4(3H)ones (5a-h).

Comparative tissue toxicity evaluation of four endodontic sealers.

The tissue toxicity of zinc oxide-eugenol, Tubli seal, Sealapex, and Endoflas F.S. was investigated by injecting them into the subcutaneous connective tissue of the dorsal surface of rats and studying the tissue response histologically.

A double blind placebo controlled trial of ginkgo biloba extract in acute cerebral ischaemia.

A double blind placebo controlled trial was conducted in 55 patients of acute ischaemic stroke. Twenty one and twenty six patients were randomly allotted in group A and group B respectively. In group A, the patients received 40 mg Ginkgo biloba extract at 6 hourly intervals along with routine management.

Factors influencing the initiation, continuation and cessation of smoking.

Smoking is complexely related to various aspects of life style. A survey conducted among 573 teachers of Lucknow University to identify the various factors influencing the smoking habit revealed that friends played a significant role in initiation of smoking and its continuation. Significantly higher proportion of current smokers used only filter cigarettes.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 1,2,4-triazine and its congeners.

3-[Mercapto]-n-propanoxy/methyl-ethanoxy branched chain in 5,6-Diphenyl- 1,2,4-triazine were condensed with O-phenylene diamine or O- aminophenol or o-aminothiophenol. The carboxylic groups of the synthesized compounds were cyclised to yield imidazoles, oxazoles and thiazoles. They were screened for their anti-inflammatory response in albino rats against carrageenin induced paw oedema.

Beneficial effects of long-term metoprolol therapy on cardiac haemodynamics in patients with mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm--a randomised clinical trial.

We conducted a placebo controlled randomised clinical trial to evaluate the effects of 6 months therapy with metoprolol on resting and exercise haemodynamics in 31 patients with isolated mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm. Twenty six of them (placebo n = 13, metoprolol n = 13) completed the study protocol. Their mean age was 23.

Outcome in relation to Apgar score in term neonates.

Sixty four asphyxiated term babies (Apgar score of 6 or less at 5 minutes) and 90 non-asphyxiated term babies (controls) were studied. Of these, 40 cases and 48 controls could be followed up. Mortality and neurodevelopmental outcome were studied in both the cases and controls.

Microfilaria in bronchial aspirate.

A 65-year-old female was evaluated for suspected bronchogenic carcinoma. The chest x-ray revealed a left parahilar opacity with a raised left dome of diaphragm. Fiberbronchoscopy showed an oedematous and hyperemic left main bronchus but no growth was visualised.