Aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Melothria maderasptana and the leaves of Osbeckia octandra have been compared with (+)-3-cyanidanol with regard to their abilities to alleviate carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver dysfunction in albino rats by comparing the abilities of these drugs to protect the liver against CCl4-mediated alterations in the liver histopathology and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alkaline amino-transferase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase. In both pretreatment and post-treatment (administration of drugs before or after CCl4 treatment) experiments, the most marked rate of recovery of the liver was exhibited by the group of rats treated with Melothria maderaspatana extract. Although the protection offered by (+)-3-cyanidanol and Osbeckia octandra appears to be comparable in post-treatment, Osbeckia was significantly more effective in pre-treatment. From the overall results obtained it appears that the aqueous extracts of Melothria maderaspatana and Osbeckia octandra are both as potent or in some instances (in pretreatment experiments) more potent than (+)-3-cyanidanol. Of the two plants tested under the present experimental conditions used, Melothria maderaspatana appears to be marginally more effective than Osbeckia octandra in protecting the liver against CCl4-induced alterations.

SUMMARY Jejunal fluid and mucosal tissue were obtained simultaneously from the same jejunal site in a group of 29 children by a modified biopsy procedure. Lactase, maltase, and sucrase activities were measured in both fluid and mucosal specimens using the same analytical method. The fluid enzyme activities showed highly significant positive correlations with the same enzyme activity in the relevant tissue samples. Relative concentrations of disaccharidase enzymes represented by sucrase: lactase activity ratios also showed a highly significant positive correlation between fluid and tissue. This Materials and methodsPatients. Jejunal fluid and mucosal biopsy specimens were collected from 29 children aged 10 months to 14 years (mean 5.9 years, median 5 years) all of whom had gastrointestinal symptoms necessitating this diagnostic procedure. The appearances of the mucosal biopsy specimens on inspection by light microscopy enabled us to divide the children into 3 histological categories-normal mucosal structure, mild enteropathy, and sub-total villous atrophy (STVA).Biopsy procedure. The small intestinal biopsy was done by a conventional procedure with the following modification. The tubing of the biopsy capsule ran through a 12 FG oroduodenal tube with 7 to 10 additional holes cut in the distal end to facilitate inflow of fluid. The resulting increased rigidity gave the additional advantages of making the tube easier to advance and more resistant to biting. The progress of the capsule was followed by fluoroscopy and when it was correctly positioned at the duodenojejunal flexure gentle suction was applied to the oroduodenal tube until an adequate sample of fluid was obtained. The biopsy specimen was then taken in the usual way.Specimen preparation. Jejunal fluid and biopsy tissue were prepared in the following manner.

Cases of baby battering have not been reported in Sri Lanka since 1811. Three such cases are reported in this paper. Their ages varied from 3 months to 1 year 4 months. In one case the assailant appeared to be the elder sister aged 4 years. In the other two cases the assailant appeared to be one of the parents. As in the other reported cases, all three children have been well cared for. The predominant lesions were skin bruises, fractures of limb bones and epiphyseal dislocations. The machinery available to the medical practitioner after confirmation of the diagnosis are discussed. The reasons for the lack of awareness of medical officers and its uncommonness due to the extended family system in Sri Lanka are also discussed. The stresses and strains imposed by rapid development and progressive urbanization of the villages are also discussed. It is envisaged that with the present trend of modernization in Sri Lanka there will be a greater number of Battered Baby Syndromes.