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Thoracic spiracle length and its index was examined for their ability to discriminate two ecological variants, type form and mysorensis, of Anopheles stephensi in the adult stage. The type form is exclusively domestic in all seasons, whereas the mysorensis variant occupies the outdoor niche during monsoon and postmonsoon seasons, with spillover into domestic sites during summer ecological stress periods. A statistically significant co-relation was established between the ridge count of the egg and two adult measurements, the thoracic spiracle length, and the spiracular index. In An. stephensi type form, average spiracle length was 0.11–0.12 mm and average spiracular index was 8.09–9.23, whereas in mysorensis, the corresponding figures were 0.09–0.10 mm and 6.82–7.60. These parameters showed consistent variations in population of mosquitoes that emerged during monsoon and summer season. The thoracic lengths in both variants remained constant, and only spiracular lengths showed fluctuations in thre...

Summary The outcome and predictors of stroke rehabilitation were studied prospectively in 96 patients (mean age 81.3 +/- 5.4 years) admitted to geriatric wards from a well-defined area over one year. Of these, 32 (33%) died (median survival 11 days), 52 (54%) returned home (median hospital stay 69 days) and 12 (13%) required long-term care (median hospital stay 164 days). Deaths and discharges showed a bimodal pattern; nearly 40% of the patients died or were discharged within 2 weeks of admission. Early death correlated with level of consciousness (P = 0.02), neurological deficit (P = 0.01) and prestroke Barthel scores (P = 0.04) on admission. Patients with right- rather than left-sided hemiparesis (P = 0.02), good motor power (P = 0.002) and without sensory deficit/inattention (P = 0.002) were discharged early. Discharge home was adversely affected by poor awareness of deficit (P = 0.02), hemianopia (P = 0.03) and incontinence (P = 0.02) assessed at 2 weeks. Stroke survivors with Barthel score < 6 and Mental Test Score < 4 at 2 weeks after stroke required long-term care.

Five patients presenting with polymyalgia rheumatica-like symptoms were found to have a monoclonal gammopathy. In addition one of these patients had acute myeloblastic leukaemia, two had early myeloma and one patient had probable Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia. The association of polymyalgia rheumatica-like symptoms, monoclonal gammopathy and lymphoreticular malignancies is discussed.