ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE REGARDING ANTIBIOTIC USE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the public knowledge and attitude toward antibiotic use in a general population visiting thetertiary care hospital.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey conducted for a period of 6-month December-2013 to May-2014. Knowledge scoring was given basedon the percentage of correct responses. Data were collected using a self-prepared questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Associationof respondent's knowledge score with sex, age group, educational level, and income was analyzed by Chi-square test.Results: The results of our study showed that the level of knowledge on antibiotics use was poor in 117 (65%) of the study population who had given<50% correct response. The current study showed that there was a significant difference in knowledge between education level groups (p≤0.0001).The other responses regarding knowledge are 27.2% accepted that antibiotics are indicated for relieving pain and inflammation, 45% of participantsthought that antibiotics are the drugs indicated to reduce fever. About 76.6% of respondents had administered antibiotics without a doctor'sprescription, 44% of respondents used antibiotics with their friends and family member's suggestions. 48% of respondents keep antibiotics stockat home for future use and 79.4% of respondents keep leftover antibiotics for personal future use, 31% share their antibiotics with family memberswhen they are sick and 34% of respondents use leftover antibiotics for a respiratory illness.Conclusion: Patients, as well as healthcare professionals, have a major role to play in attaining rational antibiotic use. Antibiotic awareness campaignsand patient counseling should promote specific messages to public members from the high risk†groups, to fill up the knowledge and attitude gaps.Keywords: Antibiotic use, Self-medication, Attitude, Miss-use, Awareness, Microbial resistance

Pattern of extra pulmonary tuberculosis among urban population with special reference to CBNAAT as a diagnostic tool: a retrospective study at a tertiary care hospital of Odisha, India

Background: Diagnosis of Extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) is a challenge. Authors wanted to assess the sites of extra-pulmonary involvement during 2013-2017 in a tertiary care hospital cum medical college. Authors also wanted to evaluate the role of Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) in diagnosis of EPTB and compare its efficacy with AFB Culture.Methods: Total 470 EPTB cases diagnosed between 2013 and 2017 from 840 TB treatment records maintained in designated microscopy centre. Specific samples from appropriate sites were taken up for smear for AFB, CBNAAT and AFB culture.Results: There was incremental detection and registration in both TB and EPTB cases from 96 and 50 cases in 2013 to 246 and 150 cases in 2017 respectively. Among the total 470 EPTB cases in 2013-2017 (55.9%), lymph node followed by pleura and abdomen were the organs having maximum involvement. Bone involvement was more witnessed in adult male than children (p <0.05). There was male preponderance. CBNAAT results were 100 % sensitive and 87.5% specific. Lymph node samples and pus elsewhere in the body had much better diagnostic yield than serous effusions.Conclusions: Awareness and availability of diagnostic services in tertiary care institutions has lead to increased reporting of EPTB under RNTCP services. CBNAAT can be also be utilized as a point of care testing for lymph node aspirate and pus specimen

Evaluation of the Anxiolytic Activity of NR-ANX-C (a Polyherbal Formulation) in Ethanol Withdrawal-Induced Anxiety Behavior in Rats

The present study investigates the anxiolytic activity of NR-ANX-C, a standardized polyherbal formulation containing the extracts of Withania somnifera, Ocimum sanctum, Camellia sinensis, Triphala, and Shilajit in ethanol withdrawal- (EW-) induced anxiety behavior in rats. Ethanol dependence in rats was produced by substitution of drinking water with 7.5% v/v alcohol for 10 days. Then, ethanol withdrawal was induced by replacing alcohol with drinking water, 12 hours prior to experimentation. After confirming induction of withdrawal symptoms in the alcohol deprived animals, the anxiolytic activity of the test compound in graded doses (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) was compared to the standard drug alprazolam (0.08 mg/kg) in the elevated plus maze and bright and dark arena paradigms. In our study, single and repeated dose administration of NR-ANX-C reduced EW-induced anxiety in a dose-dependent manner. Even though the anxiolytic activity was not significant at lower doses, NR-ANX-C at the highest dose tested (40 mg/kg) produced significant anxiolytic activity that was comparable to the standard drug alprazolam. Based on our findings we believe that NR-ANX-C has the potential to be used as an alternative to benzodiazepines in the treatment of EW-induced anxiety

Oxidative refolding of lysozyme in trifluoroethanol (TFE) and ethylene glycol: interfering role of preexisting α-helical structure and intermolecular hydrophobic interactions

The oxidative refolding of equilibrium intermediates of lysozyme stabilized in trifluoroethanol (TFE) and ethylene glycol was monitored. Equilibrium intermediates of disulfide reduced lysozyme in TFE are known to contain considerable amounts of &#945;-helical structure and resemble the early intermediate in the oxidative refolding of lysozyme. We find that the intermediates in TFE do not proceed to folding; they form aggregates. However, interestingly, intermediates in ethylene glycol refold to the native state with improved folding yield. Secondary structure of these intermediates was monitored by far-UV circular dichroism. Our results indicate that formation of &#945;-helical structure prior to oxidative refolding does not help the process in the case of lysozyme. Interfering with intermolecular hydrophobic interactions in the unfolded state is more productive

Ameliorative Effect of Ginger on Blood Glucose Levels and Cardiac TCA Cycle Enzymes Activity in STZ Induced Diabetic Rat

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ginger administration on altered blood glucose levels, cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes (TCA cycle enzymes) activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. The study divided Wistar strain rats into five groups: normal control, ginger treated, diabetic control, diabetic plus ginger treated, and diabetic plus glibenclamide treated groups. The diabetic group had significantly elevated blood glucose levels, which were significantly lowered by ginger administration. The cytosolic enzyme G6PDH activity was significantly (P&lt;0.001) decreased along with a significant increase in the LDH activity in diabetic rats heart tissue. The activities of SDH, MDH, GDH in the heart tissue of diabetic rats were significantly decreased, but the daily oral treatment of ginger to diabetic rats for thirty days reversed the above changes in a significant (P&lt;0.001) manner. The study demonstrated that an ethanolic extract of ginger could lower blood glucose levels, improve enzyme activities and body weight in diabetic rats. This suggests that ginger extracts could be used as a cardio-protective supplement to reverse diabetic-induced complications

Glow discharge plasma nitriding of low alloy steel

Present study concerns with the effect of plasma nitriding on hardness of low alloy steel. Plasma nitriding had been performed at elevated temperature of 500 C which improved the hardness to 1200 Hv. The case depth was found to be 80 mm. With the variation of time the case depth also varied. The plot of the square of the case depth vs. nitriding time and the corresponding line drawn by a linear regression and extrapolation passes almost through the origin. From the plot the nitrogen diffusion co-efficient calculated to be 2.23 10 13 m2/s. The structural and morphological studies have been made by following the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and EDS analyses. XRD revealed the presence of a-Fe, c0 and e phases

Marine Fish Calendar. 1. Mangalore

The fish landing data in Mangalore for the gears such as purse seiners, drift gill net and trawlers during the period of 1981 to 1987 is provided for the major fish species of the families, Carangidae, Carcharhinidae and Sphyrnidae, Chirocentridae, Cynoglossidae, Engraulidae, Leiognathidae, Mullidae, Nemipteridae, Nomeidae, Platycephalidae, Priacanthidae, Sciaenidae, Scombridae, Sphyraenidae, Stromateidae, Synodontidae, Tachysuridae and Trichiuridae

Tensile testing of cellulose based natural fibers for structural composite applications

A series of tensile tests were conducted on a Lloyd LRX tensile testing machine for numerous natural fibers deemed potential candidates for development in composite applications. The tensile tests were conducted on the fibers jute, kenaf, flax, abaca, sisal, hemp, and coir for samples exposed to moisture conditions of (1) room temperature and humidity, (2) 65% moisture content, (3) 90% moisture content, and (4) soaked fiber. These seven fibers were then tested for the four conditions and the mechanical properties of tensile strength, tensile strain to failure, and Young's modulus were calculated for the results. These results were then compared and verified with those from the literature, with some of the fibers showing distinctly promising potential. Additionally, a study on the effect of alkalization using 3% NaOH solution was carried out on flax, kenaf, abaca, and sisal to observe impact that this common fiber pre-treatment process has on fiber mechanical properties. The result of the investigation indicated that over treatment of natural fibers using NaOH could have a negative effect on the base fiber properties. It is consequently apparent that a treatment time of less than 10 min is sufficient to remove hemicelluloses and to give the optimum effect

SCREENING OF DRUG RELATED PROBLEMS IN HIV PATIENTS RECEIVING ANTI RETROVIRAL THERAPY

Aim: The main aim of the study is prospective screening of drug related problems in ART receiving patients at RIMS Kadapa. Objectives: The key objectives of the study include To identify various drug related problems using various domains as per PCNE (Pharmaceutical care network Europe). To identify the most common ART regimen causing DRP. Methodology: A prospective observational study conducted for a period of six months november2015-april 2016. The data was collected by using Patient Data Collection Form, PCNE classification V5.01, Drug interaction form, ADR form. The collected data was analysed for age and gender distribution, distribution of patients based on co morbidities, patients with and without DRPs based on type of ART regimen used, distribution of problems, causes for different problems, interventions suggested for different problems then outcome of interventions were calculated. Results: A total of 125 patients 104 members experienced DRPs with ART regimens, which accounts 63(60.57%) males and 41(39.42%) females. Out of 104 patients 59 members experienced DRPs with ZLN regimen. In those patients the main DRPs were adverse drug reactions, drug use problems and drug interactions. The main causes for those problems were Pharmacokinetic problems incl. Ageing/ deterioration in organ function and interactions (C1.4), manifest side effect no other cause (C1.8) as per PCNE scheme V5.01. The various interventions suggested for those problems were Patient (medication) counselling (I2.1), Instructions for use changed to......(I3.4), new drug started(I3.6). the outcomes for suggested interventions were problems( Rashes, muscle pain, vomiting, nausea, headache, cough, abdominal pain.....etc.) totally solved(O1.0) and problems (Neutropenia, anaemia, hyper pigmentation of skin &amp; nails, ear impairment, severe anaemia, finger paralysis, blurred vision.....etc.) were partially solved(O2.0). Conclusion: Our study concludes adverse drug reactions with ART are high in problems domain as per PCNE, which can be decreased by identifying DRPs in early stages of drug therapy, prescribing other drugs cautiously in HIV patients. Majority of DRPs can be decreased by improving patient-physician relationships and patient-pharmacist relationships. For better outcomes patient counselling can be considered as a better interventional tool which will improve adherence and decrease DRPs in HIV patients. Keywords: Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe, Drug related problems, Anti retro viral therapyÂ