Evaluation of anticonvulsant activity of angiotensin receptor antagonists in an animal model

Background: Epilepsy is common chronic disorder in clinical practice and there was some studies which shows brain renin angiotensin system may be involved in upregulation of seizures hence present study was planned to investigate whether angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonists possess anticonvulsant activity in experimental animals.Methods: The anticonvulsant activity of angiotensin receptor antagonists, losartan (50 mg/kg), telmisartan (30 mg/kg) and candesartan (20 mg/kg), were administered intraperitoneally to the mice and evaluated by using maximum electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazol induced seizures (PTZ) seizure methods. The standard was taken as phenytoin for MES and diazepam for PTZ method. Motor impairment of performance was assessed by the inverted screen test and spontaneous motor activity with digital actophotometer.Results: Losartan demonstrated the anticonvulsant efficacy in MES and PTZ models. Telmisartan and candesartan have anticonvulsant activity in MES induced seizures, but did not show protection against pentylenetetrazol induced seizures. Losartan at dose 50 mg/kg prolonged the mean latency to convulsion (p<0.01) and mean number of convulsions also significantly reduced (p<0.05) convulsions in the mice. Telmisartan and candesartan at dose 30 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg respectively showed significant prolongation in mean latency to convulsion (p<0.05). None of the test drugs i.e. angiotensin receptor antagonists showed significant motor impairment.Conclusions: Angiotensin receptor antagonists: losartan, telmisartan and candesartan had showed anticonvulsant activity in PTZ and MES seizure methods. The exact mechanism of action of their anticonvulsant action not precisely known and hence there is more studies need to test it in various other animal anticonvulsant models

Drug utilization pattern in geriatric out patient in tertiary care hospital

Background: Inappropriate drug prescribing is a global problem affecting the healthcare system. Aim and objective of the study was to study the drug utilization pattern in geriatric patient at rural tertiary care hospital.Methods: This was a cross- sectional observational study involving 600 geriatric outpatient. This study was carried out from Nov 2015 to May 2016. The data were collected using predesigned proforma specially designed for this purpose. Relevant information was obtained by analyzing prescription for World Health Organization (WHO) core drug indicators.Results: Total number 600 prescriptions analyzed at the end of six months were from general medicine department. The mean age of the patients was 63.9 years in which male (61.33%) outnumber the female. Total number 2598 drugs were prescribed to 600 patients for different diseases. The mean number of drugs per prescription were 4.33, drugs were prescribed by generic name 26.42%. drugs were prescribed from WHO essential drug list86.33. The type of formulations used were tablets and capsules in 88.5%, syrups in 5%, injections 3.5 % and inhalers 2%. Drug for Cardiovascular diseases were the most common (29.66) followed gastrointestinal (16.67), vitamins and minerals (14.66). Analgesic and NSAIDS (14.13) also prescribed commonly. Antimicrobial drugs prescribed in (7.46%) and common antibiotic prescribed were Amoxicillin ciprofloxacin and metronidazole.Conclusions: This study also effectively provides very useful baseline data also demonstrates the prescribing patterns of drugs in the geriatric patients

ANALGESIC PROPERTY OF ANGIOTENSIN AT1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST: CANDESARTAN IN RATS AND MICE

  Objective: The objective was to evaluate analgesic activity of candesartan in graded dose in tail flick method in rats and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice.Methods: Wistar Albino rats of either sex weighing 200-250 g or Swiss Albino mice of either sex weighing 20-25 g. Analgesic activity of candesartan (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg.) was evaluated in graded dose and compared with tramadol (10 mg/kg) and aspirin (100 mg/kg) using tail flick response method and acetic acid-induced writhing of analgesia. Study was conducted after approval from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, which is an approved body by Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals letter no. 78 dated October 18, 2012.Results: In the present study, oral administration of candesartan showed analgesic activity at high dose compared to the control and less analgesic activity as compared to the standard in analgesic methods. In tail-flick method, after 30-90 minutes of drug administration, tail flick latency of candesartan (15 mg/kg) was significant (p&lt;0.05) compared with control but less than that of tramadol and aspirin. In acetic acid induced writhing method, the analgesic activity of candesartan was significant only at high dose (15 mg/kg) compared to the control.Conclusion: Candesartan possesses analgesic activity only at high dose. However, further studies need to be carried out to see underlying mechanism candesartan in analgesia and to know the extent of analgesia.Keywords: Acetic acid induced writhing method, Angiotensin II receptor blockers, Candesartan, Tail flick metho

A Review of Different Approaches for Improving Curcumin Bioavailability

The creation and development of herbal nanoparticles have moved to the forefront of nanoformulation research. Curcumin is the most essential bioactive component of curcuma longa, a plant that has been utilized in traditional medicine for centuries. This chemical contains therapeutic properties that can be utilized to prevent and treat a wide range of ailments. Curcumin has proven therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of a range of human ailments, however, it has a limited bioavailability, which appears to be due to poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid systemic clearance. As a result, nanotechnology is a revolutionary concept that can be used to curcumin solubility, stability, and bioavailability issues. This review examines contemporary developments in chemical and pharmaceutical technologies, as well as the utilization of innovative materials for medical applications. Keywords: Curcumin, Nanotechnology, Nanoformulation, Bioavailabilit

Meet the Board of ChemistryOpen: Sheshanath V. Bhosale

Abstract Sheshanath V. Bhosale received his PhD from Freie University Berlin (Germany) in supramolecular chemistry under the supervision of Prof. J. H. Fuhrhop in 2004. He then pursued his postdoctoral studies with Prof. S. Matile at University of Geneva (Switzerland) under the auspices of a Roche Foundation Fellowship. This was followed by a stay at Monash University (Australia) for 5 years as an ARC‐APD Fellow. He worked at RMIT University, Melbourne (Australia) for 6 years as ARC‐Future Fellowship. Currently, Prof. Bhosale is working at the Department of Chemistry, Goa University (India) as a UGC‐FRP Professor, His research interests lie in the design and synthesis of π‐functional materials, especially small molecules, for sensing, biomaterials, and supramolecular chemistry applications. So far, Prof. Bhosale has produced 185 research articles and his work has been cited more than 4400 times, giving him an h‐index of 32. He currently serves as an active Editorial Board member for ChemistryOpen

Medication errors, what healthcare providers think? A Knowledge, Attitude and Practice survey.

Objective: Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare providers about Medication errors. Â&nbsp; Method: It was a KAP survey conducted with the help of specially designed and pre-validated questionnaire. Doctors', nurses' and pharmacists' awareness and perception about Medication errors were assessed. KAP survey questionnaire was analyzed and their question-wise percentage value was calculated. Data was analysed with One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnets post-hoc test and descriptive statistics were applied whenever necessary. Â&nbsp; Results: Response rate amongst healthcare providers was satisfactory. Doctors' knowledge and practice were significantly higher compared to the nurses and the pharmacists. Their perception when analysed, revealed that most of the participants consider medication error as an important problem which can be prevented. There is a difference of opinions as regards to the liability for legal punishment to the personnels responsible for such incidences, thus considering it as a crime. Â&nbsp; Conclusion: There is awareness regarding Medication errors, yet certain circumstances which significantly contribute in occurrence of these events need to be overcome. Regardless of the availability of few solutions, as this area of practice is least approached, further research is warranted in various interventions to deal with the same. Key words: Awareness, Doctors, Medication errors, Nurses, Pharmacists