The cytokines e.g. IFN-, IL-2, IFN-, G-CSF, GM-CSF and TNF have made tremendous impact in Clinical Medicine (Internal Medicine as well as Laboratory Medicine) either as the potential therapeutic agents or because they can be usefully quantitated in various clinical situations. The therapeutic impacts of cytokines have been felt mainly in the areas of cancer, infectious diseases, blood disorders, rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. However, the occurrence of potentially dangerous complications demands that highly trained and well informed physicians and nursing staffs should be available in centres where cytokines are to be introduced either as therapy or as clinical trial. The medical research and therapy with cytokines have enormous implications in Laboratory Medicine in terms of trained manpower, equipments and costs for commercially available assay kits including efficiency and accuracy of the assay results. The cytokine assay should therefore be based in laboratories where professionally trained immunologists and technical staffs are available, and where the results can be put ethically to further usage as research data, and where improvements in the efficacy and accuracy of the assay results are under routine surveillance. To bring these fruits of advance medical research in 'cytokines' to the developing countries, the authorities concerned should make provisions now for professionally trained manpower (physician and nursing staff, clinical immunologists and medical technologists) and technology (assay kits and equipments) in their national health service planning. This will facilitate the introduction of cytokines in clinical medicine in the third world countries in the very near future.

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Immune status of 1756 persons was evaluated using immunologic level 1 and 2 tests. The extent of immunologic effects of antimony is dependent on the level of antimony exposure received by the body. At low levels of antimony exposure compensatory activation of some immune parameters is noted. The continual exposure to high antimony levels induces immune deficiency states which in their first stages are characterized by impairment of T cell immunoregulatory function. Based on the degree of immunodeficiency manifestations, subjects were divided into a primary risk and an increased risk group for immunodeficiency. 23.49% of workers were included in the primary risk group and 3.62% - in the increased risk group. The main clinical signs of immunodeficiency were infectious and allergic syndromes. Characteristics of immune parameters in workers of both risk groups show an imbalance of immune indices, low level of adaptation, evidence of sustained immune deficits and development of secondary immunodeficiency. A relationship of immune parameters to the length of service at the antimony integrated plants was found. There was a compensatory activation of immune function during the first 5 years of work. This was followed by successive stages of slight, moderate and severe degree of immunodeficiency after 5-7, 10-12 and 15 or more years of service at the plant, respectively.

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The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of topical forms of Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) which are widely used in the treatment of rheumatological diseases. NSAIDs are presented to the market in the form of tablets, suppositories, injectable and topical forms. The usage of these tablets, suppositories and injectable forms frequently produce some side effects, especially concerning the gastrointestinal system. The aim of topical application of the same drugs is to decrease these complications. From the results of this study we conclude that topical forms of NSAID can safely and effectively be used to reduce the complications of prolonged application of these pharmaceuticals.

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The communities were distinct types ranging from halophytes to xerophytes with disturbed nature. Six plant communities (Suaeda, Haloxylon, Lasiurus, Prosopis, Aerva and Senna) were found in studying area. On the basis of Importance Value Index (IVI) Suaeda fruticosa was the leading dominant species followed by Lasiurus hirsutus and Haloxylon recurvum, respectively. Out of thirty six species, only five species attained highest constancy class III as compared to rest of the species. All the communities were heterogeneous due to the absence of certain frequencies classes. Species diversity and community maturity index was low. As far as the density size classes are concerned, highest number of individuals belonged to class VII. Suaeda fruticosa showed better representation in all the classes. The soil of the study area was sandy and alkaline in nature. The soil had an appreciable amount of calcium carbonate with moderate percentage of maximum water holding capacity and high alkaline earth carbonate, soil Ec and chloride. It was observed that certain edaphic and anthropogenic activity were responsible for variation in the composition and structure of the vegetation.

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