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The female population comprises 48.66% of our total population, of which 10.30% are above the age of 49, many of whom are post-menopausal. Menopause is associated with bone-loss and its consequences. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), particularly replacement of estrogen, prevents bone-loss. We undertook this prospective case-controlled study to find out whether or not HRT is beneficial to our women. A total of 106 patients were studied, amongst them 60 were cases and 46 were controls. The women in the first group were given either conjugated equine estrogen alone (surgical menopause group) or conjugated equine estrogen plus cyclical progesterone (natural menopause group). Results showed that there was 4.29% increase in bone mineral density in women who received hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This increase was 5.23% in early and 3.56% in late menopause group. Women with natural menopause gained more bone mass (4.22%) than women with surgical menopause (3.9%). Our results also showed that women who denied HRT (controls) lost bone mass (5.26%), the loss was more in those with surgical menopause (6.24%) than those with natural menopause (4.87%). Therefore it can be concluded that post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy prevents bone-loss. However, to evaluate the beneficial effect of long-term HRT, further studies with larger samples are recommended.

Mycotoxin-producing fungi were isolated from contaminated grains of rice, pulses and oilseeds sold in the local markets of Calcutta for human consumption. It was found that aflatoxin B1 was produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, aflatoxin G1 by A. flavus, ochratoxin by Aspergillus ochraceous, sterigmatocystin by Aspergillus japonicus and citrinin by Penicillium citrinum. Aflatoxin B1 (333-10,416 micrograms/kg) was produced by Aspergillus spp. in rice, pulses and oilseeds.

One hundred and sixty-three consecutive pregnant women with > 32 weeks gestation, undergoing non stress test (NST) and amniotic fluid index (AFI) determination were divided into six groups according to the amniotic fluid index and the nature of decelerations of foetal heart rate. Foetuses with antepartum decelerations had statistically significantly increased incidence of intrapartum decelerations, caesarean section due to intrapartum foetal distress, cord complications and small for gestational age infants. More so with decreased amniotic fluid index (p < 0.001). Low 5 minute apgar score was also significantly increased (p < 0.05). Prediction of foetal compromise might be done by spontaneous decelerations in reactive non-stress tests and with an amniotic fluid index < or = 5 cm.

This prospective cross sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Northern India. The objective of the study was to investigate the utility of recording certain fetal biophysical variables at or near term in high risk pregnancy for predicting the fetal outcome. A fetal biophysical profile score was used for predicting the outcome. The scoring system utilized following variables: non stress test, fetal breathing movement, fetal movement, fetal tone and amniotic fluid volume. One hundred and fifty four pregnant women attending a high risk pregnancy clinic were consecutively included in the study. At a cut off score < or = 4, sensitivity of the scoring system was 12.5% and specificity 99.23%. At score < or = 8, corresponding figures were 70.83% and 91.53%. As compared to each individual variable, the positive predictive value for abnormal perinatal outcome improved considerably after combining all the variables. The negative predictive value for normal perinatal outcome did not improve. Though biophysical profile scoring is used as a valuable adjunct in caring high risk fetuses, a simple and more practical screening test should be sought for. The cost-benefit analysis of such tests should also be performed.

An attempt to transfer genes from droughttolerant Diplotaxis harra, a wild relative of Brassica species, to an elite oil-yielding cultivar, B-85, of mustard (Brassica juncea) was made through protoplast fusion, as the two plant systems are sexually incompatible. By following the standard protocol for PEG-mediated protoplast fusion followed by high pH, high Ca(++), DMSO treatment and appropriate cell-culture technique, 16 presumptive somatic hybrid plants could be regenerated. Chromosomal analysis of four such somatic hybrids revealed that three of them were asymmetric. Analysis of morphological characters, meiotic chromosomes, and esterase isoenzyme pattern revealed that all the somatic hybrids were different from each other. Furthermore four chromosomes of each genome could undergo homoeologous pairing at meiosis indicating the possibilities for genetic recombination and chromosomal rearrangements. Irregular distribution of chromosomes at anaphase-II at meiosis has been a consistent feature of these plants. Eventually, pollen of all the somatic hybrids showed complete infertility preventing the recovery of any selfed seed. Nevertheless, ovule fertility of one somatic hybrid was not totally impaired as it had set some seeds upon backcrossing with the B. juncea parent. The esterase isoenzyme banding pattern of 24 individual progeny plants of this backcross provided evidence for their recombinant nature. It was thus confirmed that a transfer of genetic traits from Diplotaxis harra to B. juncea had indeed taken place. Furthermore, it was conceptualised that a transfer of alien genes through the protoplast-fusion technique is primarily possible in situations where meiotic pairing of the chromosomes of the two participating genomes generates recombinant gametocytes which can pass through subsequent filial generations.

C reactive protein (CRP) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) were measured in synovial fluid and serum of 72 patients (29 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 17 with osteoarthritis, 11 with crystal synovitis, seven with undifferentiated arthritis, and eight with seronegative arthritis). The synovial fluid:serum (SF:S) ratios were compared with those calculated from the SF:S ratios of transferrin, caeruloplasmin, and alpha 2 macroglobulin, using the binomial test within groups and the Mann-Whitney test between groups. In RA synovial fluid CRP concentrations were lower than expected and IgG concentrations higher than expected. In osteoarthritis CRP concentrations were higher than expected. In seronegative arthritis IgG concentrations were raised. The ratio of CRP:IgG was depressed in RA. These findings are consistent with a role for CRP in the inflammatory process of RA, while the CRP:IgG ratio may be of value in the differential diagnosis of joint disease.

TSH and prolactin secretory patterns in thyroid disease have generally been reported as concordant. We studied TSH and prolactin responses to TRH infusion (500 mug) in euthyroid individuals previously treated for thyrotoxicosis with 131I or antithyroid drugs. The 131I-treated group (seven men, twenty women) had been clinically and biochemically euthyroid (normal serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels) for 6 months to 4-5 years (kappa +/- SD = 17-1 +/- 4-1 months). Based on maximal TSH increment (deltaTSH), three patient groups were identified: Group 1 [normal deltaTSH, n = 6]: delta prolactin was normal in two, blunted in one and exaggerated in three. Group 2 (exaggerated TSH response, n = 8): delta prolactin was normal in two, blunted in one and exaggerated in five. Group 3 (TSH nonresponders, n = 13): delta prolactin was normal in five, blunted in three, and exaggerated in five. Eleven patients (three men, eight women) were studied after 6 months antithyroid-drug treatment. All were clinically and biochemically euthyroid. All but one showed a blunted TRH-TSH response. All three men showed an exaggerated delta prolactin as did four of eight women. Three women showed a blunted delta prolactin and in one, delta prolactin was normal. Thus, TRH-induced TSH and prolactin response patterns in treated thyrotoxicosis are not uniformly concordant, and, while a blunted or absent TSH response commonly persists long after euthyroidism has been restored, this is most frequently accompanied by a normal or exaggerated prolactin response.