The experience of the intensive respiratory care in 930 cases treated from 1983 for 4 years and in 404 cases over the next 2 years is reported. The background operational problems are stressed. Those between age 10 and 50 years did significantly better (p less than 0.05). The survival over the first 4 years in IPPR cases was 16.3% and in non IPPR group 71.8%; over the next 2 years, the former group, survival was 32.4 and 36.3%. The survival in asthmatic patients was high (76%). In cases with organophosphorus poisoning (without IPPR), survival was 81% while in IPPR group it was 29%. In 1988, the results in this group were better due to more aggressive management. In autopsy data on 85 cases, infection was not a major feature in those dying within 24 hours. The survival in COPD cases showed significant relation to age (p less than 0.05), initial arterial pO2 below 60 mm (p less than 0.01) and arterial pH below 7.3 (p less than 0.01). In cases with pneumonia (also asthma) younger cases did better (p less than 0.05) as also those with pneumonia and initial pO2 above 60 mm (p less than 0.01) and pH above 7.3 (p less than 0.001). When pneumonia was community acquired, survival (64.8%) was better than when it was hospital acquired (24%; p less than 0.01). Only the need for IPPR affected survival in trauma group. The major cause of death was infection with Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Staphylococci and other gram--ve organisms. It is concluded that with proper planning and training, the IRCU does provide a useful mode of treatment in selected patients with respiratory problems.

Visual reaction time and auditory reaction time (VRT and ART) were measured in 25 right hemiplegics and 25 left hemiplegics in the age group of 40-60 years. There was a significant prolongation of VRT and ART in both the right and left hemiplegics as compared to normals of the same age group. ART following mono-aural stimulation i.e. sound input into the right and left ear separately, was also studied in the subjects. Mono-aural stimulation revealed a prolongation of the ART on contralateral stimulation (i.e. auditory stimulation on the side, opposite to the brain damage) as compared to ipsilateral stimulation (auditory stimulation on the side of brain damage) in the right and left hemiplegics.

Twenty-two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were investigated to study the incidence and immunochemical nature of circulating immune complexes. In 68.18% of patients, the immune complexes were detected as cryoglobulins. A significantly high value of serum IgG and IgA (1980.64 +/- 1031.53 and 283.81 +/- 131.02 mg% respectively) were observed in these patients compared to those in normal (1097.04 +/- 298.10 and 200.93 +/- 89.96 mg% respectively). The patients also had significantly low levels of serum complement fraction C3 (61.35 +/- 22.64 mg%). Correlation of these parameters could help in understanding of the role of immunochemical factors in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Eight hundred and forty male patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic for urethritis were investigated. Out of them, 31.6% had gonococcal urethritis, 16.1% suffered from nongonococcal urethritis due to Ureaplasma urealyticum and in 12.6%, both the organisms were present. Though 14.62% strains of N. Gonorrhoeae were resistant to penicillin, all the strains were sensitive to spectinomycin; while all Ureaplasma strains were sensitive to tetracyclines. As the treatment differs for these two organisms, it is necessary to identify the correct etiological agent.

Two hundred strains of coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) isolated from various clinical specimens (116) and healthy hospital personnel (84) were investigated for the production of beta-lactamases by means of three iodometric techniques and correlated with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of penicillin-G by agar dilution technique and disc diffusion technique. One hundred and fifty (75.0%) of the 200 strains tested produced beta-lactamases. Seventy two per cent of the CNS were found to be beta-lactamase positive by the starch paper technique which was the most sensitive one in our study. The MIC values of penicillin against CNS ranged from less than or equal to 1.25 to greater than or equal to 2000 units. The present study indicated the higher prevalence of beta-lactamase producers with increased penicillin resistance among CNS strains isolated from healthy carriers and hospitalised patients.

Sixteen patients with an old transcervical femoral fracture were treated with the quadratus femoris muscle pedicle bone graft with supplementary autografting. The result was a good functional hip in 14 cases.

One hundred and eighty five consecutive prostate specimens were studied. The predominant lesion noted was benign prostatic hyperplasia (B.P.H.) (92.97%). The incidence of carcinoma was low, (7.02%). Conditions which can mimic and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of carcinoma, like basal cell hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia and atrophy associated hyperplasia were noted in 10, 4 and 3 cases of B.P.H. respectively. None of these cases showed evidence of carcinoma. Corpora amylacea were noted in 38.91% of the cases of B.P.H. and were conspicuously absent in cases of carcinoma. Chronic prostatitis was frequently encountered (58%) and metaplastic changes were seen in 11% of the cases.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the lipid profiles of various laboratory animals to that of human beings. The human subjects and animals included in the study were from three age groups based on key physiological states. A record of the usual dietary constituents and their daily consumption was maintained. The results indicated that the lipid profile of pigs and dogs bears similarity to that of human beings. Results also revealed that lipid profile was labile in the second group of these animals indicating that this age is suitable to bring about the required changes to produce a hyperlipidemic animal.

A prospective study was undertaken to compare the patterns of psychiatric referrals in two general hospitals in Bombay viz. the King Edward Memorial Hospital (64 cases) and the Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre (62 cases). It was observed that depressive symptoms were the most common presenting symptoms in these patients attending either of the hospitals. Similarly, the commonest diagnoses were depression and organic mental disorder. Attempted suicide with organophosphorous compounds was the commonest reason for hospitalization at K.E.M. Hospital (p less than 0.001). A significant number of these patients were females (p less than 0.05). The psychiatric referrals at Jaslok had been hospitalized mainly for suspected medical or neurological illness (p less than 0.001). These patients belonged to higher economic strata and hence had a better paying capacity compared to patients at KEM hospital, a significant number of whom were unemployed (p less than 0.001). The duration of pre-referred illness of patients and their stay at Jaslok hospital were longer as compared to those at KEM Hospital (p less than 0.01). The number of non-relevant special investigations carried out on patients in Jaslok was more (p less than 0.01). Further analysis of diagnoses revealed that a significant number of patients at KEM Hospital were admitted as primary psychiatric illness (p less than 0.05).

A case of patient developing epithelial ovarian cancer 15 years after carcinoma of cervix treated successfully with radiotherapy, is reported. The patient has shown good initial response to chemotherapy and surgery.