1. The binding of aluminium to serum proteins was investigated using immuno-affinity chromatography technique. Anti-transferrin coupled to CNBr-activated sepharose-4B was used. 2. 82% of the aluminium in the blood circulation was found to be transferrin bound and the remaining was ultrafiltrable. 3. Infusion of desferrioxamine leads to the elevation of plasma aluminium concentration approximately by 225 per cent. 4. It might be concluded that transferrin is the major aluminium carrier protein in the plasma and desferrioxamine may be used in the therapy of aluminium toxicity in aluminium overload patients with chronic renal failure maintained on regular hemodialysis.

1. A cross over bioavailability study was carried out with co-ttimoxazole and co-trimazine administered in a dose of 2 tab. BD and 1 tab. BD respectively for 15 doses each, in normal healthy volunteers. 2 Plasma trimethoprim concentration was higher in the co-trimoxazole treated group as compared to the co-trimazine treated group (p<0.02). 3. Serum sulfamethoxazole concentrations were higher than serum sulfadiazine concentrations in the co-trimoxazole and co-trimazine treated groups respectively. 4. The time for reaching the peak and steady state concentrations of drugs in the two treatment groups did not differ significantly for comparable drugs.

1. The acute neurobehavioral toxicity of organochlorine pesticide, aldrin, has been studied at sublethal doses. 2. A dose of 8.9 mg/kg (l/4 LD50) induced piloerection, tremors, convulsive excitement restlessness, augmented spontaneous motor activity and exploratory behavior in mice after 60 min. of i. p. administration indicating CNS stimulation. 3. Blockade of specific neurotransmitter system by pretreatment with atropine (10 mg/kg), iproniazid (100 mg/kg) alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (200 mg/kg), p-chlorophenylalanine (200 mg/kg) or thiosemicarbazide (5 mg/kg) significantly altered the neurotoxic symptoms induced by the pesticide indicating direct or indirect involvement of various neurotransmitter system in mediating CNS toxicity. 4. Conditioned avoidance response in rats was not affected by the pesticide alone or in combination with either drug.

1. Adverse reaction to chloroquia were monitored in 1030 patients (712 male and 318 female) of acute atrack of malaria. Patients were treated with four tablets of chloroquin (150 mg base) initially followed by 2 doses of 2 tablets each at 12 hrly intarvals. 2. 227 patients including 104 (32.7%) female and 123 (17.27%) males showed ADR's. 3. ADR's included GIT disturbance (17%), Tinnitus ( 1.06%), Vertigo (1.75%), skin rashes (0.68%) and one patint each had blurring of vivision, diplopia, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia and blood in tears.

1. The pscyhomotor effect of caffeine on mice was tested using the hole-board exploratory behaviour and the forced swimming test. 2. Caffeine produced a dose-dependent decrease in the exploratory behaviour and a decrease in the period of immobility respectively. 3. Nifedipine ( 1.5 mg/kg), dilazep (7.5 mg/kg) and verapamil (10 mg/kg) each antagonized the effect of caffeine (20 mg/kg) in either of the methods. 4. It can thus be concluded that effects of caffeine on psychomotor behaviour can be antagonised by either blocking calcium channels or by increasing adenosine levels at synapse.

1. Comparative evaluation of the anti-stress activity of Ocimum sanctum, Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng was carried out in albino mice and rats in different experimental models of stress. 2. All the three drugs prevented various stress induced changes in these animals to a variable degree. 3. Anti-stress unit (ASU) of activity of the plants were determined by the ED, values of different tests. Taking ASU of Osimum sanctum as 1, the relative potency of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng was 0.83 and 0.53 respectively. Thus Osimum sanctum was found to be most potent anti-stress agent followed by Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng. It had highest margin of safety also.

1. The effect of streptoxotocin-induced diabetes on adrenergic receptor activity was studied in cardiac, vascular and non-vascular smooth muscles of rat. 2. Diabetic rats showed weight loss, hyperglycemia and bradycardia. There was a reduction in weight of heart and aortic strips, but not in that of vas deferens and anococcygeus muscles. 3. Hearts from diabetic rats showed subsensitivity whereas aortic strips showed supersensitivity to noradrenaline (NA). However, vas deferens and anococcygeus did not show any change in responses to NA. 4. In experimental diabetes, changes in adrenergic receptor activity is specific to cardiac and vascular smooth muscles only.

1. Clonidine (6.25, 12.5 and 25 'g/kg) and yohimbine (0.25,0.5 and 1 mg/kg) were studied for their effects on aconitine induced cardiac arrhythmias. 2. Initial abnormal rhythm and ventricular tachycardia were induced by intravenous infusion of aconitine in rats. 3. Pretreatment with doses of clonidine and yohimbine which are selective to (( adrenoceptors failed to alter time of onset of initial arrhythmia and ventricular tachycardia, whereas quinidine (10 mg/kg) exhibited significant antiarrhythmic effect by delaying the time of onset of both the arrhythmic stages.

I. An indoor patient suffering from bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis, developed hepatotoxicity and secondary icthyosis after one month of starting antituberculous therapy. 2. On evaluation it was found that above mentioned side effects were because of rifampicin given in normal daily dosage. 3. To the best of our knowledge rifampicin induced secondary icthyosis has not been reported earlier.

1. In vitro hemolytic effect of phenol and vit A alcohol and its esters were studied on cat, rabbit and human washed RBC suspended in isotonic saline on a comparative basis. 2. Simultaneously, time and temperature dependance study and stabilizing effect of some steroids and (-tocopheryl acetate on drug induced hemolysis were investigated. 3. Vit A alcohol was the most potent hemolytic agent among the vit A preparations. With this drug hemolysis occured even at a low temperature (20ø C). 4. While cholesterol showed no inhibition of drug induced hemolysis, (-tocopheryl acetate was the most effective stabilizer.