We have successfully deflated "obstinate" Foley's urinary catheter balloons in 15 cases in the last six months with the help of a simple bedside procedure using an angiographic guide-wire.

Twenty-nine acute schizophrenic patients were treated under double-blind conditions for six weeks with either centbutindole in a dose range of 3 mg/day to 4.5 mg/day or trifluoperazine in the dose range of 15 mg/day to 22.5 mg/day. Both drugs produced a significant improvement in initial psychopathology. No significant differences were demonstrated between the two treatment conditions.

The use of atropine sulphate in the paediatric age group as a premedicant orally in a dosage of 0.02 mg/kg body weight 70 minutes prior to surgery was found to be as effective as atropine sulphate given intramuscularly 35 minutes prior to surgery in a dosage of 0.01 mg/kg body weight. This avoids the unpleasant memory of needle prick; The duration of effect as studied in the normal healthy children not subjected to surgery was found to be 2 1/2-3 hours.

Fifty four isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were studied in a period of 6 months. Maximum isolates were from burns cases and environmental sampling from burns ward also grew the same organism, indicating their role as nosocomial pathogen. Acinetobacter may initially be mistaken for Neisseria species. As the organisms show multidrug resistance to commonly used antibiotics their correct identification is important.

The serum levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were determined by single radial immuno-diffusion technique in 104 male patients of acute viral hepatitis. HBsAg was detected by counterimmuno-electrophoresis (CIEP) and 51% were HBsAg + ve. IgA, IgG and IgM levels were found to be higher than normal levels. Mean IgA and IgG levels were same in HBsAg + ve and HBsAg--ve patients. Mean IgM levels were however, higher in HBsAg--ve patients.

Sputum and bleed samples were analysed from 330 cases of bronchial asthmatics and 50 normal persons without features of bronchial asthma. The prevalence of aspergilli and antibodies to different Aspergillus species were detected using cultural methods and serological technique like agar gel double diffusion (DD), counter-immuno-electrophoresis (CIEP) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Out of total 6.06% yielded Aspergillus species in sputum specimens repeatedly. Precipitins against Aspergillus species were detected in 7.88% of cases by DD and CIEP. ELISA test showed 20% of cases to be having antibodies to A. fumigatus. Allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis can be detected in the early course of the disease in bronchial asthmatics using highly sensitive technique like ELISA.

The immunoprofile of 60 adult patients of pulmonary tuberculosis was studied and compared with 22 normal controls. The immunological parameters studied were serum protein electrophoresis, serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM), delayed hypersensitivity by Mantoux test, and T-cell % estimation. The mean total serum proteins and serum albumin were significantly lower, whereas mean beta and gamma globulins were elevated. Mean serum IgG and serum IgA showed a significant rise, whereas the T-cell % was significantly reduced when compared to controls. The significance of these findings is discussed.

In 49 patients of chronic bronchitis with acute exacerbation, serum antibody titres were estimated against the respective pathogen isolated and cultured from sputum of individual patients. Antibody titres to Klebsiella and Staphylococcus coagulase positive organisms were found in 28 and 25 patients respectively. Paired serum samples from 21 patients showed rising antibody titres in 17 of them, whereas the antibody titres fell in the remaining 4 patients. Notably, only 2 patients demonstrated a four fold rise or fall in the antibody titres. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Low renal threshold for glucose during pregnancy renders glycosuria less specific for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Screening for gestational diabetes was done by utilising random plasma glucose (RPG). RPG was done at the first antenatal visit. In 12,623 patients who registered for antenatal care at the N.W.M. Hospital, 1371 patients had a RPG more than 100 mg%. An oral glucose tolerance test was advised in these patients. The pick-up rate of gestational diabetes correlated with RPG level. Thirty-six cases of gestational diabetes were picked up. The pick up rate is significantly higher as compared to that which would have been detected utilising conventional screening criteria.

The aim of the study was to find out the incidence of mycoplasma in female genital tract infections. Out of 225 patients mycoplasma was isolated in 52.88%. The isolated strains were confirmed by fluorescent antibody technique (FAT).

Twenty-nine patients of recalcitrant nonunion of long bones were treated by pulsed electromagnetic fields in an attempt to bring about osteogenesis. The pulse used was rectangular, equal mark space wave in the astable, continuous mode operating at a frequency of 40 Hertz. The success rate was 82.5%. The result was not dependent on the age, sex, time of nonunion or the presence of infection. However, the results were uniformly poor when infection and fracture instability were coexistent in the same patient.

An adult woman developed meningitis caused by Group-G streptococci. The organism was successfully isolated both from blood and cerebrospinal fluid of the patient. The woman succumbed to infection despite an appropriate antibiotic therapy.

With meticulous surgical technique, bleeding following vaginal hysterectomy and colporrhaphy is an unusual complication. With exteriorization of the stumps, any such haemorrhage is revealed in the form of vaginal bleeding. Two unusual cases of perivesical and broad ligament hematoma are presented and the possible role of vaginal packing in the development of such bleeding is discussed.

The term ossifying lipoma is used to describe a rare case of lipoma when its mature adipose tissue shows foci of chondrification and ossification. We are presenting here, a case report of a large sized ossifying lipoma in the anteromedial compartment of the left thigh of a 55 year old farmer.

Two patients presented with history of suicidal acid ingestion. Both the patients developed strictures exclusively in the stomach without involvement of the oesophagus, after a period of 12 weeks. The mechanism of this involvement is presented. The literature on this subject is briefly reviewed.