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BACKGROUND The development of more effective and safer drugs for the optimal treatment of schizophrenia has become quite essential in the present era. We find limited literature directly comparing the efficacy of the two 'atypical' antipsychotics, i.e. olanzapine and iloperidone. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study participants were persons diagnosed with schizophrenia between the age of 18-65 years who were randomised to treatment with olanzapine or iloperidone and analysed for symptoms on the basis of Positive and Negative Symptom Scores (PANSS) at 4 and 8 weeks. Statistical Analysis-Mean changes in the PANSS were analysed by paired and independent t-tests. RESULTS There was statistically significant and similar reduction in clinical symptoms at eight weeks in both olanzapine (PANSS score of 92.22 (±17.03) at baseline to 78.63 (±15.30) at 8 weeks; p<0.001) and iloperidone (PANSS score of 93.75 (±19.70) at baseline to 74.88 (±30.52) at 8 weeks; p<0.001) groups (p<0.001). Olanzapine showed significantly higher reduction (p<0.01) in PANSS as compared to iloperidone at four weeks particularly in the PANSS negative symptom score. The two groups did not differ in the treatment completion rates. CONCLUSION Though both the study drugs significantly improve the symptoms in schizophrenia, but olanzapine seems to cause an early amelioration of negative symptoms as compared to iloperidone.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is highly infectious when compared with human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), even minute quantity of infected blood as little as 0.0001 ml can transmit infection. A number of the routine therapeutic, diagnostic, prophylactic invasive procedures can spread HBV infection. The study was planned to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in health care workers, voluntary blood donors, and patients with liver disorders.Methods: The study was a cross sectional study carried out among 90 subjects during a period of one year in Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla. These 90 subjects consisted of 30 patients with liver disorder, 30 health care workers and 30 voluntary blood donors. The blood samples were collected and sent for detection of HBsAg by ELISA.Results: Majority of the subjects 47 (52.2%) belonged to the age group of 21-30 years. Among voluntary blood donors, 90% were males. 64.4% of the subjects belonged to urban areas. 50% of the rural subjects were having liver disorders. Liver disorder was more common (71.5%) among heterosexual high risk behaviour subjects compared to only 25.7% with no high risk behaviour. Seropositivity was found highest among patients with liver disorder (66.7%) followed by health care workers (20%). Overall, the seropositivity was 28.9%.Conclusions: Patients with liver disorders especially chronic hepatitis were mostly seropositive. Among health care workers, being a doctor was a significant risk factor for acquiring hepatitis B infection. Thus, it is advised that all health care workers should be immunized for hepatitis B.