Diffusion of coronavirus and awareness among the people of western India: Analyses the role of print media

Introduction: Media is considered the most powerful platform to create awareness in human society. It plays an important role in spreading public awareness and disseminating information about pandemic diseases such as coronavirus. A survey through a questionnaire was used and the descriptive analysis of questions as asked to the people on COVID 19 published by the leading newspapers of Rajasthan, western India was done to analyze the role print media played in spreading awareness about Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Materials and Methods: The objectives used both quantitative and qualitative methodology. In the quantitative method, a self-structured questionnaire was circulated among the various professionals. A descriptive method of secondary sources was also used to measure the effect of articles and advisements on the people published in the newspapers. Results: A total of 106 various professionals participated in the study. The research reveals that 56 percent of males and 43 percent of females are part of this research; more than 80 percent of respondents belong to the age group of fewer than 40 years. Among the active respondents, 91 percent are said to read the newspaper regularly. The study also shows that 96 percent of respondents are read articles, news, columns related to COVID-19 and particular about Coronavirus. Nearly 91 percent of respondents are in favor that media coverage of COVID-19 has improved their knowledge of Coronavirus. Around 93 percent of respondents agree that media spreading awareness among the people on Coronavirus through newspaper published articles, news, and advisements. The study exhibits that 95 percent of respondents expressed their views that print media has played an active role in disseminating the government directives on Coronavirus and almost 97 percent of the respondents are opined that print media will play a more effective role in spreading awareness on coronavirus. Conclusion: The respondents expressed that print media has played a vital role in spreading awareness on the pandemic of coronavirus disease. The newspaper spread awareness among the people on coronavirus through newspaper published articles, news and advisements. The newspaper also published a variety of queries and doubts as asked by the people to Doctors on coronvirus

Health Communication in Media: An Analytical Study of Coverage of World Blood Donor Day in Leading National Dailies from Jaipur

As we know Print media is known for its credibility. It is believed that whatever is published in newspapers is true and authentic. Newspapers have a wide reach and huge readership and it can be said that campaigning with mass media like newspapers are associated with many benefits. Firstly it can reach a large number of people.  Secondly, it is considered to be a credible source of information. Thirdly through the newspapers the readers can be reminded about the issues at hand their beliefs reinforced on regular basis. Newspapers have a large readership throughout the world. They can contribute maximally to health education awareness of people by publishing articles on health related issues. Global daily circulation of newspaper was 5.19 million having a readership of 2.3 billion in 2010. This was 20% more than the internet users worldwide. In the age of internet still newspapers are relevant and represent 8% of total media consumption time (https://www.journalism.org/fact-sheet/newspapers/). In India Registered newspapers are 82,237 and Hindi language newspapers are leading the race followed by English and other regional languages. Thus, we can say that Newspapers are very important tool to disseminate health education among people and it can bring change in society. (http://rni.nic.in/

Evaluation of anti-psychotic effect of nimodipine using methylphenidate as a model to induce psychosis in albino mice

Background: Schizophrenia is a functional psychotic disorder currently treated by typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs. A large group of patients remain resistant to therapy. Nimodipine has been found effective for treating resistant bipolar mood disorder which is linked genetically with schizophrenia and has a high overlap of neurotransmitters in the etiopathology. Previous studies to evaluate nimodipine’s antipsychotic activity have shown inconsistent results. Methylphenidate, a CNS stimulant like amphetamine, has been shown to induce stereotypy in animals and can be proposed as an alternative model for psychosis.Methods: Methylphenidate 5 mg/kg was given intraperitoneally to induce psychosis in swiss albino mice (n=6). Nimodipine was given alone in doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg by i.p route and in combination with haloperidol 0.1 mg/kg and effects were compared with haloperidol 0.2mg/kg. Activity of nimodipine was also assessed on the haloperidol induced catalepsy test. Statistical analysis was done with ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s test using SPSS v. 20.0.Results: Methylphenidate successfully induced characteristic stereotypy behaviour in mice similar to amphetamine. Both nimodipine 5 mg/kg and haloperidol 0.2 mg/kg showed significant reduction in stereotypy behaviour with no statistical difference between the two; result with nimodipine were only slightly inferior to haloperidol. Nimodipine 5 mg/kg with haloperidol 0.1 mg/kg showed significantly better activity than haloperidol in standard dose of 0.2 mg/kg. Nimodipine did not show significant activity on the haloperidol induced catalepsy test.Conclusions: Methylphenidate has potential to be used as an alternative model for inducing psychosis in animals and nimodipine shows promising results for use as adjuvant antipsychotic drug

Phytochemicals and therapeutic potentials of Barleria lupulina

A well-known herb Barleria lupulina is traditionally used as a medicinal and decorative plant. The various parts of this plant are reported to contain a range of phytoconstituents, including terpenes and terpenoidal compounds, iridoid glucosides, iridoid diglucosides, phenylpropanoid glucosides, and phenylethanoid glucosides. Antibacterial, antiarthritic, CNS depressive, anti-osteoporotic, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects are present in isolated components and extract of B. lupulina. This in-depth analysis covers the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological use, and mechanism of action of B. lupulina