Evaluation of antiulcer activity of diltiazem in rats

Background: The risk factors for patients with cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal diseases overlap. Majority of the patients have both problems coexistent. Thus, there is need of medicine that can be used for both the diseases.Methods: Rats weighing 150-250gm of either gender were procured for the study from central animal house. The animals were divided into 7 groups. Control group (Distilled water 2ml), diclofenac sodium (12mg/kg), diltiazem (10mg/kg), diltiazem (30mg/kg), diltiazem (60mg/kg), ranitidine (8mg/kg), ranitidine (16mg/kg). After six hours, scarification of animals was done by cervical dislocation. Size of ulcer, number of gastric ulcers, mean gastric irritancy index, ulcer index, and ulcer scoring were the parameters that were studied.Results: Diltiazem in dose of 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg showed reduction in all parameters in dose dependent manner. Diltiazem (60mg/kg) showed marked reduction in mean diameter of ulcerated surface area (0.46±0.36), number of ulcers (4.10±2.05), size of ulcers (1.07±0.48), total mucosal surface area (7.60±1.38), and total ulcerated surface area (0.263±0.3). Diltiazem (60mg/kg) showed significant reduction of the parameters as compared to other doses of Diltiazem. Also, diltiazem (60mg/kg) was comparable to Ranitidine in all the parameters. Diltiazem (60mg/kg) also showed reduction in average number of ulcers, ulcer index, mean gastric irritancy index and ulcer scoring as compared to diclofenac sodium (12mg/kg).Conclusions: Diltiazem has shown to have ulcer prevention property; this can be useful in patients having concomitant cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems

Knowledge, attitude and practice of needle stick injury and post exposure prophylaxis in undergraduate medical students

Background: Needle stick injury are the most common reason behind occupational blood exposure and most important source of exposure to another person’s blood.Methods: A cross-sectional observational questionnaire-based study of 450 undergraduate medical students which includes 100 from each years, Second year: Part I (II/I: Third Semester), Second year: Part II (II/III: Fifth Semester), Third Year (III: Seventh Semester), Fourth year (IV: Ninth Semester) MBBS and 50 Interns. The participation was voluntary and written consent was taken prior to enrollment. The objectives of study were explained, and validated questionnaire was administered to the students and collected in a single visit after 30-40 minutes.Results: The average age was 21.91±2.03 years. About 406 students were aware of disease transmitted by NSI. 189 students felt that occurrence of NSI, first person to be contacted is Medicine Physician. 208 don’t know of existence of PEP. 164 felt PEP is to be given for 4 weeks. According to 138 students PEP guidelines were proposed by NACO while 101 students felt WHO. 261 students felt that most probable chance of getting NSI was in emergency ward. 363students felt that need for NSI PEP training before clinical exposure is very important. 345 felt the need for insurance of HCWs for diseases transmitted by NSI.Conclusions: Medical students are highly vulnerable to NSI and there is need to provide adequate preventive measures, frequent training for needle stick injury and postexposure prophylaxis to all healthcare workers

Knowledge, attitude and practice of undergraduate medical students and interns towards pharmacovigilance

Background: Medicines had brought revolution in which diseases are treated and controlled. There are several examples in which using nonstandard medicines had led to death of many patients.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based study in 200 undergraduate medical students, 150 medical students and 50 interns in a tertiary care hospital. There will be 50 each from II MBBS, III MBBS, IV MBBS and Interns.Results: The mean age was 23.68+1.64 years. In the elements of Pharmacovigilance, 5 students feel it is only detection, 4 for assessment, 1 for understanding, 5 for prevention and 142 (II:22, III:41, IV:36, Intern:43) all of the above elements while 43 don’t know about the elements of Pharmacovigilance. The factors that discourage from reporting ADR, among this did not know how to report was statistically significant compared to other factors. In students view on problems faced while reporting ADR, among them unawareness of the need to report an ADR and lengthy paper work were statistically significant. (69%) feel internet is the best reference aid to gather information on ADR to new medicines while (39.5%) prefer text books.Conclusions: The learning of PV should start as early as possible in medical school and should be frequently held to increase the Knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare professionals regarding ADR’s monitoring

Pharmacoeconomic evaluation in cost of illness in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a tertiary care hospital

Background: India is expected to bear the burden of world’s greatest increase of diabetes population. This burden needs to be considered in terms of costs.Methods: Cross-sectional study was done in type 2 diabetes mellitus 100 patients that attended Medicine OPD. Prior to enrollment Institutional Ethics Committee permission was taken. Written Informed consent was taken. Demographic information related to Education, Occupation and Income was taken down. Also Information related to diagnostic tests and medications were documented. Inclusion criterion were 18-70 years of either gender diagnosed by Physicians in OPD as type 2 diabetes, willing to participate and have followed in OPD for at least one year. The Exclusion criterion was Critically ill or unconscious patients and Pregnant women. Direct and indirect costs were calculated.Results: The average age was 56.31±10.50 years. The average fasting blood glucose was 120.65±22.70mg/dl. The average cost per month for investigations was 159.74±128.06. Annual visit to OPD was 13.06±7.35. Time loss per visit was 5.62±1.29 hours and of accompanying person was 6.55±3.87 hours. There were 2 from Lower and 63 from Upper Lower socioeconomic class. There were 41 patients having diabetic complications. The indirect cost was around 5838.51 and direct cost was around 19925. Total cost per annum per patient was around 32361.27 INR.Conclusions: There is need for strategies to reduce the cost burden. There is also needed to design financial systems for diabetes related nationwide health programs

Evaluation of teaching methods in pharmacology among MBBS students

Background: Pharmacology is one of the most important subjects in medical curriculum. It is basis of medical science and the foundation of treatment. The applied aspect forms the basis of clinical rational therapeutics.Methods: A cross-sectional study among 100 undergraduate medical students was undertaken after Institutional Ethics committee permission. Questionnaire was prepared from previous studies and validated by experts. These were administered to the participants after receiving their due consent.Results: The mean age of students was 21.31±2.93 years. There were 72% females and 28% males. The average rating given for Pharmacology subject was 7.95±1.16. Females (8.38±1.24) rated Pharmacology subject more than males (7.51±1.09). 62% liked combination of LCD and Blackboard for teaching. 34% felt group discussion was the ideal Teaching learning method for learning Pharmacology. The most interesting topic was General Pharmacology (31%) and ANS (45%) was the most difficult subject to understand. The most important topic in practical’s was 25% prescription writing and least was experimental graphs (2%). Preferred source to learn Pharmacology was combination of textbook and lecture (42%). 81% students liked integrated teaching of pharmacology with other subjects. 93% felt there should be more use of audiovisual aids, 91% wanted more of clinical pharmacology and 88% wanted more of group discussions. 91% felt calculation of pharmacokinetic parameters is clinically applicable.Conclusions: There is need to develop innovative teaching learning methods and include more of clinical pharmacology in the undergraduate pharmacology subject

Evaluation of antiulcer activity of diltiazem in rats

Background: The risk factors for patients with cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal diseases overlap. Majority of the patients have both problems coexistent. Thus, there is need of medicine that can be used for both the diseases.Methods: Rats weighing 150-250gm of either gender were procured for the study from central animal house. The animals were divided into 7 groups. Control group (Distilled water 2ml), diclofenac sodium (12mg/kg), diltiazem (10mg/kg), diltiazem (30mg/kg), diltiazem (60mg/kg), ranitidine (8mg/kg), ranitidine (16mg/kg). After six hours, scarification of animals was done by cervical dislocation. Size of ulcer, number of gastric ulcers, mean gastric irritancy index, ulcer index, and ulcer scoring were the parameters that were studied.Results: Diltiazem in dose of 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg showed reduction in all parameters in dose dependent manner. Diltiazem (60mg/kg) showed marked reduction in mean diameter of ulcerated surface area (0.46±0.36), number of ulcers (4.10±2.05), size of ulcers (1.07±0.48), total mucosal surface area (7.60±1.38), and total ulcerated surface area (0.263±0.3). Diltiazem (60mg/kg) showed significant reduction of the parameters as compared to other doses of Diltiazem. Also, diltiazem (60mg/kg) was comparable to Ranitidine in all the parameters. Diltiazem (60mg/kg) also showed reduction in average number of ulcers, ulcer index, mean gastric irritancy index and ulcer scoring as compared to diclofenac sodium (12mg/kg).Conclusions: Diltiazem has shown to have ulcer prevention property; this can be useful in patients having concomitant cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems

Attitude and perception of COVID-19 vaccines in healthcare workers

Introduction: Till date, there is no particular medicine that has shown minimum impact on COVID-19 cases and mortality and prevention by vaccination remains the only option. Objective: This study aims to explore knowledge, attitude, and practices of healthcare workers (HCWs) toward COVID-19 vaccine. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study done on HCWs. Both online (Google forms) and offline, the study questionnaire was distributed. The questionnaire was validated and consisted of knowledge, attitude, and perception about COVID-19 questions. Results: A total of 300 HCWs were included in the study. A total of 144 (48%) of the HCWs were aged between 18 and 30 years. In addition, 191 (63.34%) participants were willing to take any COVID-19 vaccine while 20 (6.67%) are not sure of taking vaccine. A total of 208 (69.34%) felt that COVID-19 vaccine will limit the spread of infection to family members. Furthermore, 225 (75%) felt that family physicians' decision is important to take a decision on vaccination, whereas 199 (66.33%) avail COVID-19 information from government sources. Moreover, 264 (88%) felt that success will depend on general peoples' acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Furthermore, 77 (25.67%) said that they will not be taking COVID-19 vaccine because of side effects, 229 (76.33%) felt that vaccine safety is important, and 144 (48%) are not sure if vaccination will end the COVID 19 pandemic. Discussion: Challenges to motivate HCWs, family physician, and general population needs to be undertaken by focusing on factors like information and education, vaccine side effects, and availability of the vaccine. These all should be highlighted so that maximum population gets immunized