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Summary: This study is a comparative analysis of the biochemical, hormonal, and mineral compositions of follicular fluid in preovulatory and cystic follicles of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). In total, reproductive tracts from 215 buffalo along with intact ovaries were collected randomly from an abattoir. The incidence of cystic conditions found in this study was 3.72% (8/215), involving the right ovary in 62.5% of instances and the left ovary in 37.5% of instances during the non-breeding season. Follicular fluid was aspirated from preovulatory follicles (12–15 mm diameter, oestrogen-active, follicular phase or stage IV corpus luteum on one of the two ovaries, n = 10) and cystic follicles (at least 20 mm diameter, no corpus luteum on any one of the two ovaries, n = 8). The follicular fluid samples were assayed for biochemical components (uric acid, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, total protein, glucose, ascorbic acid, and alkaline phosphatase), hormones (progesterone, estradiol, and insulin), and minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and cobalt). Cystic follicles had greater (P < 0.05) concentrations of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, progesterone, copper, zinc, and cobalt, and lesser (P < 0.05) concentrations of uric acid, glucose, ascorbic acid, estradiol, insulin, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus compared with preovulatory follicles. These results indicated the marked differences in follicular fluid composition between preovulatory and cystic follicles in buffalo. Some of the changes were indicative of oxidative stress and disturbed steroidogenesis, two important mechanisms shown to be associated with cystic ovarian disease in various species. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether these differences are directly or indirectly involved in the formation of cystic follicles or are mere manifestations of the condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Monitoring anthelmintic resistance in strongyle nematodes by the faecal egg count reduction test and a commercial larval development assay on an organized sheep farm in the semi-arid area of Rajasthan revealed the emergence of resistance to benzimidazoles and rafoxanide and a potential risk of the development of levamisole/tetramisole resistance. A benzimidazole/levamisole combination, avermectins and closantel were each found to be efficacious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which examined the critical incidents in a teaching hospital in a developing country from August 1997 to December 31, 1999. Methodology; Results of the study; Discussion.

Studies the self-assessed oral health status of ethnic minority residents in South London, England. Key issues of interest; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications on dentistry and oral epidemiology.

The aim of this study was to investigate the views of General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) regarding their provision of dental treatment for medically compromised children. A questionnaire to assess confidence, experience and willingness to treat eight specific groups of medically compromised children was sent to 524 GDPs. Information is based on 271 completed questionnaires. The median number of children treated by GDPs in each of the eight groups over the previous 5 years was 0–2. Eighty percent of respondents stated that they would value further training in the provision of dental care for medically compromised children. Confidence was highest in providing dental treatment for children with three conditions: congenital heart disease (37% very confident), diabetes (39% very confident) and epilepsy (41% very confident). These were also the conditions that the GDPs reported as presenting most frequently in the dental surgery. GDPs reported least confidence in providing dental care for children with haemophilia (12% very confident) and organ transplants (14% very confident). Only 30% of GDPs wanted to be routinely involved with the provision of dental care for medically compromised children. The results indicate that medically compromised children may have problems accessing dental care and expertise. A system of integrated medical and specialised dental care is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the association of nausea reduction after the postoperative period to application of cricoid pressure during induction of anesthesia. Standardization of the peri-operative anesthetic technique; Difference of the result after administration of cricoid; Irrelevance of cricoid pressure application to alteration of post operative nausea or vomiting.

The influence of the quality and quantity of diets on the disposition kinetics of albendazole were studied in sheep in two different experiments. The plasma concentration profiles of albendazole sulphoxide and albendazole sulphone were measured following intraruminal administration of albendazole at 5.0 mg/kg body weight in weaner sheep offered three different diets: 100% green Sorghum spp., 100% dry mature Cenchrus ciliaris hay and a 50:50 mix of these two diets. The peak plasma concentrations and the availability of the albendazole metabolites, as measured by the area under the concentration–time curve, were significantly higher (p<0.01) in the animals offered exclusively dry fodder compared to other diets. Changing the diet from dry to green fodder resulted in a significantly lower systemic availability of the drug metabolites. It is suggested that a decreased transit time of the digesta in the bowel on the green diet, with its high water content, limited the systemic availability of the drug by reducing the time available for gastrointestinal absorption. An experiment on the influence of different levels of pretreatment fasting on the pharmacokinetics of albendazole revealed significantly higher (p<0.05) plasma concentrations of the anthelmintically active sulphoxide metabolite from 12 h onwards following administration of the drug in animals subjected to 24 h of pretreatment fasting compared to other groups with pretreatment fasting of 8, 12 or 18 h. The area under the concentration–time curve and the minimum residence time of the drug metabolites were significantly greater (p<0.05) in animals that had been fasted for 24 h. It is suggested that fasting induces a decrease in the flow of digesta through the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants and prolongs the duration of dissolution of the drug, resulting in enhancement of the absorption of albendazole and of the systemic availability of its metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacokinetics of albendazole was studied in sheep following single oral and intraruminal administration at nematocidal dose rates. The disposition curves of its metabolites indicated increased uptake of the drug in sheep following intraruminal as compared to oral dosing (p<0.05). The increased bioavailability of benzimidazole anthelmintics given by the intraruminal route could be exploited for optimizing the use of anthelmintic for sustained parasite control in small ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strategic use of single therapeutic doses of closantel, tetramisole or sustained low-level administration of albendazole in feed pellets in controlling naturally acquired parasitic gastroenteritis in sheep was investigated on a farm in semi-arid Rajasthan, India. A total of 303 5- to 6-month-old sheep were divided into three groups. Two groups were dosed with single therapeutic doses of closantel and tetramisole and the third group was given a low-level medication with albendazole through feed pellets for 30 days. Faecal egg counts revealed significantly lower counts (p<0.001) in the group treated with closantel compared to the other two groups. The faecal egg counts in the group receiving sustained low-level albendazole rose after withdrawal of the medication but remained significantly lower than those in the group treated with tetramisole up to 7 weeks after treatment (p<0.05). On the other hand, in the group treated with tetramisole, the mean faecal egg count rose from 3 weeks after treatment and remained continuously higher than those in any other group up to 12 weeks after treatment. The closantel-treated group gained more body weight but the first six-monthly greasy fleece yield was greater in the group treated with medicated pellets. During the first 3 months of the experiment, three animals in the group treated with tetramisole died of parasitic gastroenteritis. Following sustained low-level administration of albendazole in feed pellets, the plasma disposition curve of both the sulphoxide and sulphone metabolites reached its plateau level by day 5 and remained almost constant thereafter. The comparative cost-effectiveness of the three treatment regimes during the first 3 months of treatment was best for the group treated with closantel followed by the group treated with medicated feed pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat ( T. aestivum) cvs. Kalyansona and Kundan grown under atmospheric (CA) and elevated CO2 concentrations (650±50 cm3 m-3 - CE) in open top chambers were examined for net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal limitation ( l s) of P N, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) activity, and saccharide content of the leaves. The P N values of both CA- and CE-grown plants compared at the same CO2 concentration showed a down regulation under CE at the post-anthesis stage. The negative acclimation of P N appeared to be due to both stomatal and mesophyll components, and the RuBPC activity got also adjusted. There was a decrease in activation state of RuBPC under CE. In connection with this, an increased accumulation of saccharides in wheat leaf under CE was observed. Kalyansona, owing to its larger sink potential in terms of the number of grains, showed a greater enhancement under CE in both post-ear emergence dry matter production and grain yield. Under CE, this cultivar also showed a lower down regulation of P N than Kundan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several correspondence in medicine. Suggestions on blood transfusion practice in avoidance of AIDS virus transmission; Arguments on the introduction of death certificate of infant mortality; Use of modified alkaline diuresis in the treatment of salicylate poisoning.

Studies inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactive ion etching of silicon carbide. Etch rates as a function of substrate bias voltage, ICP coil power and chamber pressure; Anisotropioc etch profiles obtained; Effects of the addition of oxygen on the etch rate.

A two year study of cases of chronic suppurative otitis media admitted in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital from January 1991 to December 1992 was done. 112 patients of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) were admitted during this two year period, out of which 100 patients (89.3%) presented with different types of complications and only 12 patients (10.7%) presented with no complications. Factors associated with the late presentation of the disorder, including poor socioeconomic conditions and lack of hospital facilities, are identified. Measures to prevent the rate of conmplications and hearing loss in children are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An abstract of the article "The accuracy of saline-infusion sonohysterography guided biopsy versus endometrial office biopsy in diagnosing endometrial pathology" by F.A. Khan and colleagues is presented.