Prevalence and awareness of text neck syndrome and text thumb syndrome in young adult population

Background: The term "text neck" can be defined as repetitive strain injury and pain due to excessive viewing and texting on a smartphone for a prolonged duration. Long-term untreated text neck results in inflammation of ligaments and muscles, which can lead to permanent arthritic changes. Many smart phone users experience thumb/wrist pain, but some people who develop pain are smart phone addicts. The present study checks the prevalence and awareness of text neck and thumb text syndrome in young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 volunteers between 18-25 years age who have been using mobile phone in the last 5 years. A structured questionnaire was created, validated, and used for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to assess responses received from participants. The prevalence of text neck syndrome and thumb text syndrome has been established. Results: About 50.3% of the participants were unaware of text neck syndrome and 57.1% of text thumb syndrome. Maximum mobile phone usage included texting and calls. About 45.2% of the participants use their right thumb and index finger to text. 33% of people have a head forward posture when using mobile phones. An analysis of pain, discomfort, and duration during mobile phone use was done and will be presented at a forum. Conclusion: The prevalence of text neck and thumb text syndrome in the young adult population indicates the need to plan future pain management strategies and increase user awarenes

Retrospective comparative evaluation of airway management with different techniques of fiberoptic intubation in patients undergoing surgery for temporomandibular joint ankylosis

Background: Temporomandibular fusion has devastating effects on the growth and development of an individual's jaws. Thus, surgical modality is seen as a last resort to its correction. Surgical management of temporomandibular ankylosis cases presents significant challenges to an anesthetist in maintaining airway patency. Thus, this retrospective study evaluated the techniques for combating airway management challenges, emphasizing developing an institutional protocol that effectively minimizes errors. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the RUHS College of Dental Sciences and attached to the RUHS College of Medical Sciences, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, for a period of three years. The records of 94 patients who had undergone surgical correction of TMJ ankylosis and were intubated with fiberoptic intubation were compiled. The cases were divided into groups, Group General anesthesia (GA) and Group Regional anesthesia (RA), and analyzed for demographics, successful intubation, and complications. Results: In Group GA, 98 % of cases were successfully intubated. Patient movements were 0 in Group GA and 25% in Group RA. Coughing was present in 1.61% of cases of group GA and 98.38% of Group RA. Epistaxis occurred in 35% of cases, and 29% of cases suffered from sore throat after extubation in Group GA. Conclusion: The anesthetist dilemma of intubating awake or anesthetized always exists. However, a careful preoperative evaluation and assessment of the patient for mask ventilation helps in the successful anesthetic management of temporomandibular joint ankylosis cases. For the anticipated difficult airway awake, fiberoptic intubation is still the ‘gold standard’ technique

Assessment of psychosocial morbidity among medical interns during COVID-19 pandemic in Chennai district, Tamil Nadu – a cross-sectional study

Background: Medical interns develop apprehensions about the vulnerability of their exposure to infection while treating COVID-19 patients, which may further affect their work patterns and efficiency. Studies have shown that the outbreak of infectious diseases would result in mental health issues. Because of this, our study aims to assess psychosocial factors such as anxiety, depression, stress, relationships with peers, and changes in personal roles among medical interns at a private medical college. Methodology: This cross-sectional was conducted among 248 medical interns using a simple random sampling method. Depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using a standardized 21-item depression, anxiety, and stress questionnaire (DASS– 21). A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to acquire information regarding the study participants' socio-demographic data and social elements. Results: The overall prevalence of Depression [58%], Anxiety [70%], and Stress [44%] were found among the 248 study participants. Around [70.6%] of the study participants reported that their social life had been affected. The prevalence of various factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed. Conclusion: This study reports higher levels of psychosocial distress among the study participants. Adequate knowledge about the pandemic and stress management measures will be the top priority among these budding medicos during such unfavorable pandemic situations

Correlational study of Vitamin-D deficiency levels and its severity of community-acquired pneumonia in patients admitted into a tertiary care hospital

Background: Recent studies have emphasized that people who have low levels of Vitamin D are more prone to the development of infectious diseases, particularly of a community-acquired nature, which has differential morbidity and mortality. Aims & objectives: The present study aimed to determine the correlation between different levels of vitamin D deficiency and severity and outcomes in patients diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia. Methods: In this study, the serum level of Vitamin D of 100 consecutively admitted community-acquired pneumonia patients was measured. Depending on the level of Vitamin D deficiency, patients diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were assessed for severity of illness by CURB-65 score. Results & Discussion: In the study population, out of 100 patients, 82% of the study sample had deficient serum vitamin D levels. In the study sample, 41 patients with higher deficiency levels of serum Vitamin D have severe illness and scored high on CURB- 65, which is in the range of three to four on the scale. 59 patients with low deficiency levels of serum Vitamin D had low scores of one or two on the CURB-65. On severity assessment in patients with severe deficiency of Vitamin D, the mean length of hospital admission was 12.30±8.47 days compared to patients with mild deficiency of Vitamin D, where the average hospital stay was 8.58±4.04 days. Conclusion: As the severity of deficiency of Vitamin D increases, the frequency of CAP increases, and it is also observed that a severe degree of deficiency is associated with severe illness and prolonged hospital stay

Evaluation of toxicity studies of Sesbania grandiflora leaves extracts in Wistar albino rats

Objective: Sesbania grandiflora is a well-known medicinal plant belonging to the family Fabaceae, and it is used to treat several disorders. The current investigation aims to analyze the negative consequences of short and long-term administration of hydroalcoholic extract of S. grandiflora leaf in experimental animals.  Materials and Methods:  Acute and subacute toxicity were the two phases in which the entire examination was completed. In phase first, acute toxicity was performed at the dose of (2000, mg/kg) and adverse effect was recorded. However, in sub-acute toxicity the effect of different doses of (1000, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg) were studied for twenty-eight days. Animals were euthanized on the last day of the investigation, and selected internal body organs and samples of the blood were taken from each animal for histological, biochemical, and haematological analysis.  Results:  The result of the current investigation showed that the LD50 of S. grandiflora was observed more than 2000 mg/kg, Furthermore, experimental animals did not experience any mortality or alterations in their behavioral patterns when S. grandiflora was administered repeatedly at 1000, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg or in a single dose of 2000 mg/kg.   Besides this, S. grandiflora also did not significantly modify any of the biochemical or haematological markers, or the histological analyses of selected organs. Conclusion: The results of the above research revealed that the orally administration of S. grandiflora extract did not exhibit any apparent harmful effects in experimental animals. Hence, S. grandiflora could be regarded as a safe and can be used for the therapeutic purpose in human being

Evaluation of the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective properties of bael fruit extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity in rats

Background: Bael is well-known for its antibacterial properties. Aqueous fruit extracts have also been shown to have hepatoprotective properties; the nephroprotective and hepatoprotective properties of Ethanolic extracts have not yet been tested. Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities of Bael against CCl4-induced toxicity in rats. Methods: Two dosages of Bael's Ethanolic extract (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) were compared with 100 mg/kg of silymarin. Histopathologic alterations of the liver and kidney, as well as biochemical blood parameters such as bilirubin, urea, uric acid, total protein and creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), were examined and assessed. Results: Bael was more successful in lowering high levels of urea, creatinine, ALT, AST, and ALP when he used a 200 mg/kg/day methanol extract. According to the histopathologic assessment, Bael lessened the CCl4-induced hepatic and renal necrosis. The more significant dose resulted in reductions in AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, and bilirubin of 45,25, 52,36, and 16%, respectively. Ethanolic extract 200 mg/kg/day also shows a reduction in elevated levels of Creatinine, Urea, Uric Acid, and Total Protein by 57%, 52%, 34%, and 9%, respectively. Conclusion: There were established hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of the Bael fruit methanol extract, with 200 mg/kg/day being the most beneficial dose. This provides scientific proof that medicinal herbs like Bael can be used to treat renal and liver diseases

Assessment of hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of Vitis vinifera leaf extract on carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity in rats

Background: Vitis vinifera is known for its antimicrobial activity; however, the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extracts of aerial parts has also been reported, but the nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extracts have not yet been evaluated. Objective: To evaluate Vitis vinifera's hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities against CCl4-induced toxicity in rats. Methods: Two doses of ethanolic extract of Vitis vinifera (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) were evaluated and compared with silymarin 100 mg/kg. Biochemical blood parameters like aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), bilirubin, urea, uric acid, total protein and creatinine, and histopathologic changes of liver and kidney were studied and evaluated. Results: Vitis vinifera reduced the elevated blood levels of ALT, AST, ALP, urea, and creatinine, with the ethanol extract to 200 mg/kg/day being more effective. The histopathologic evaluation suggested that Vitis vinifera decreased hepatic and renal necrosis induced by CCl4. The more significant dose resulted in reductions in AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, and bilirubin of 54, 27, 56, 36, and 17%, respectively. Ethanolic extract 200 mg/kg/day also shows a reduction in elevated levels of Creatinine, Urea, Uric Acid, and Total Protein by 61%, 58%, 29%, and 9%, respectively. Conclusion: Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities of ethanol extract of Vitis vinifera were demonstrated, with ethanol extract to 200 mg/kg/day being the most effective. This presents scientific evidence for using medicinal plants such as Vitis vinifera in managing liver and kidney disorders

Exploring the potential of carbocisteine loaded microparticulate system by using ccd model for the treatment of respiratory infections

Background: Multi-particulate drug delivery systems (microbeads) deliver drugs over an extended period, distributing them evenly throughout the gastrointestinal tract and minimizing local irritation. Microbeads are small, solid, free-flowing particulate carriers that contain drug particles that have been dispersed and are either crystalline in solution. Aim: The present work explores the potential of the carbocisteine-loaded floating microparticulate drug delivery system. Methodology: Floating microbeads were prepared using the ionotropic gelation method and optimized using Central Composite Design. Result and discussion: Floating microbeads of prepared carbocisteine were evaluated for the FTIR study, which reveals no interaction between the drug and other excipients. Buoyancy time, drug content, particle size, and % drug release were also characterized; it found that drug release was 90.24 %, up to 17 hours, 250 to 220 µm, and drug content 96.67%, respectively, for the optimized batch. An accelerated stability study was performed, showing that the formulation was stable. Floating microparticulate drugs were prepared, and batch B-3 was optimized based on in-vitro buoyancy and release patterns. The floating ability of the beads was observed visually for 10 to 17 hr, and an increase in polymer concentration decreased the swelling of the beads. Conclusion: The results obtained from the formulation batch B-3 show good results for all the parameters tested. Floating microbeads could be the best possible approach to deliver drugs with the benefit of reduced dosing frequenc

Formulation, development, and characterization of loratadine emulgel

Background: This study was to develop loratadine (LTD) emulgels to treat localized skin allergy. Method: Initially oil-in-water emulsion was prepared by 3 different types of surfactants & finally gelling agent carbopol 940 was incorporated into emulsion to produce emulgel (i.e., standard conventional method). Results: The developed formulations were characterized using various parameters including particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficacy (EE), pH, extrusion efficacy, physical stability, in-vitro drug release studies, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). PS, EE, PDI, ZP and In-vitro studies ranges between 186.25 ± 6.42 mm (LE-F4) to 395.24 ± 8.64 mm (LE-F1), 62.38 ± 0.36 % (LE-F2) to 76.48 ± 0.69 % (LE-F4), 0.276 ± 0.02 (LE-F4) to 0.652 ± 0.02 (LE-F1), 16.45 ± 2.13 mV (LE-F1) to 29.46 ± 2.78 mV (LE-F3) and 21.90 ± 0.3 % (LE-F1) to 68.30±0.9 % (LE-F4) respectively. Conclusion: Based on all physicochemical properties, LE-F4 formulation was considered to be optimized with minimum PS (186.25±6.42 nm), PDI (0.276±0.02), satisfactory positive surface charge (23.15 ± 1.89 mV) and maximum EE (76.48±0.69 %). FTIR studies were confirmed that there is no physical interaction between drug and excipients and SEM studies revealed that vesicle size was spherical with smooth texture. A significantly greater rate of drug release (i.e., 68.30 ± 0.90%) was seen in the LTD emulgels that were made with cationic surfactant (i.e., LE-F4) and found to be good spreadability and extrudability

Optimizing irbesartan spherical agglomerates through principal component analysis and experimental design

Background: This study explores the amalgamation of crystallization and agglomeration through spherical crystallization, aiming to develop the spherical crystals of Irbesartan with improved micromeritic properties. The main objective is to use spherical crystallization techniques to improve the micromeritic characteristics of Irbesartan, which has poor flow and compressibility because of its crystal habit. Methodology: A solvent change approach was utilized to synthesize spherical agglomerates of Irbesartan. Several system parameters, including the amount of bridging liquid, the rate of stirring, and the concentration of the polymer, were tuned to enhance the particle size distribution and mechanical qualities. SEM, GC, PXRD, DSC, and FTIR analyses characterised the spherical crystals. Result and Discussion: The study demonstrated that spherical crystallization significantly enhanced Irbesartan's micromeritic properties. The angle of repose of optimized agglomerates was reduced by around 52%, indicating improved considerably flowability of irbesartan. The sphericity of the crystals was validated by SEM examination (shape factor: 0.996), and the solvent levels were found to be within allowable bounds by GC analysis. PXRD data showed no polymorphism alterations, and DSC/FTIR analyses confirmed that the excipients and drug were compatible. Conclusion: This process provides a feasible alternative to classic granulation and agglomeration procedures, resulting in better flow, compressibility, and spherical crystals. It streamlines the Irbesartan formulation, improving efficiency and uniformity, reducing manufacturing costs, higher tablet consistency, and enhancing patient compliance