Chemical composition and bioactivity of methanolic extract obtained from Lepista sordida

The present study aimed at the evaluation of chemical composition and bioactive potential of methanolic extract obtained from Lepista sordida in terms of antioxidative and antimicrobial efficacy. The macrofungus is recognized for its high nutritional value and medicinal properties. However, to the best of our knowledge bioactivity of its methanolic extract is yet to be explored. In this investigation, quantitative analysis of mycochemicals revealed the extract contained significant amount of phenolic compounds such as phenols and flavonoids. Ascorbic acid was found in higher amount than β carotene and lycopene which were present in vestigial amounts. A phenolic profile was also determined using high performance liquid chromatography that further confirmed the presence of 10 phenolic constituents in the extract. Furthermore, the extract was subjected for determining antioxidant potential in different in-vitro assays. The findings showed remarkable 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ABTS radical scavenging ability which was evident by low EC50 values, 330 µg/mL and 30 µg/mL respectively. The extract also demonstrated good chelating and reducing ability, an important marker of antioxidant compounds. Antimicrobial screening displayed positive results against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Altogether, the observations recommend therapeutic application of this mycotaxon on a commercial basis

Rationality of utilization of antimicrobial agents in medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital

Background: Patients admitted to intensive care unit receive multiple medications of different pharmacological classes due to various life threatening ailments. This study was conducted to assess the patterns of usage of antimicrobial agents in medical ICU of a tertiary care hospital and to suggest necessary modifications in prescribing patterns to achieve rational therapeutic practices.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out at ICU of the tertiary care hospital for 6 months. From the inpatient case record of ICU relevant data on prescription of each patient was collected. The demographic status, disease data and the utilization of different antimicrobial drug classes and individual drugs were analysed.Results: Of 753 patients admitted in the medical ICU during the study period, 640 consecutive patients were included for analysis. Male to female ratio was 1.45. Mean age was 63.32±17.93 years. Extensive poly-pharmacy (100%) and drugs with non-generic name (73%) noticed among the prescriptions.Average number of drugs per prescription was 12.1±2.13. Penicillins (51.87%) and cephalosporins (45.78%) were most commonly used antimicrobial drug classes. Piperacillin (37.03%), ceftriaxone (33.28%) and levofloxacin (22.5%) were commonly used antimicrobial drugs. A total of 181 prescriptions contained two and 138 contained three antimicrobial drugs. Piperacillin+tazobactam(37.03%) was the most common fixed dose combination noticed.Conclusions: Overall extensive poly-pharmacy and drugs with non-generic name noticed among the prescriptions. Few interventional programs should be aimed at control of infections, rational antimicrobial drug prescription to minimize adverse drug events, emergence of bacterial resistance and attenuating unnecessary cost

Evaluation of pharmacology teaching-learning methods in a government medical college

Background: Pharmacology is a major subject in medical science and always changing, so according to it pharmacologists also need to reform their teaching method. Students’ opinion in this evaluation of teaching is a good option.Methods: A questionnaire based study was conducted in Burdwan Medical College on 230 students of two batches.Results: One forty eight students thought that the subject was interesting. Twenty eight percent students opined that Pharmacology class was not interesting. Students found interest mostly in prescription writing, drug interaction and therapeutic problems in practical section. Though 53.4% found pharmacy was less interest. They suggested some reforms in teaching, 61.3% voted for introduction of audio-visual aid and 74.3% response on clinical demonstration in hospital ward. According to 82.6% students, there should be more problem solving exercise during teaching pharmacology; giving hand-out before everyday class, class in clinical setting and more emphasis on clinical pharmacology were also needed. MCQ exam only (31%) and written viva both (51%) were good ways of evaluation according to them.Conclusions: This study helps in knowing students’ opinion and preferences in curriculum to make it more interesting and aids to modify the undergraduate Pharmacology teaching pattern

Socio-economics: a propensity of self-medication among OPD patients of a teaching hospital

Background: Use of over the counter (OTC) drug is very much common in India. Not only medical professionals or educated urban population but also it is common in rural area and low educated person. This study was done to assess the extent of knowledge and practices of OTC drugs among OPD patients of a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A questionnaire based study was conducted among 1680 Medicine OPD (outpatient department) patients.Results: Among the participants, 62% patients taking OTC drugs at least once in their life. Most common symptoms for self-medication were fever (89%), cough and cold (78%), headache (67%), pain (53%), diarrhea (10%), vomiting (10%), indigestion (20%). Antipyretics (65%), analgesics (35%) among NSAIDs which were common used as OTC drugs. Others drugs were antacids (50%), cough and cold preparations (50%), Vitamins (30%), antiemetics (5%).Conclusions: Awareness is necessary to use drugs rationally with proper prescription and know about harmful effects of OTC drugs

Polymerase Chain Reaction in Intraocular Inflammation

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique involving enzymatic amplification of nucleic acid sequences in repeated cycles of denaturation, oligonucleotide annealing and DNA polymerase extension. It is a powerful molecular biologic tool that allows the rapid production of analytic quantities of DNA from small amounts of starting material. PCR can be performed on nearly any ocular specimen or biopsy. For diagnosis of uveitis, the obtained sample is usually an anterior chamber paracentesis or vitreous tap. PCR potentially is more sensitive than culture for detection of many organisms. By utilizing a secondary detection system in concert with the initial PCR reaction, perfect specificity can be assured. The initial application of PCR diagnostics to ophthalmic disease was in the detection of viral uveitis. PCR has also been implicated in studies of noninfectious uveitis. The most common application is HLA typing. A universal bacterial PCR can be very helpful for the diagnosis of bacterial endophthalmitis at an early stage of the disease

Free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts of Astraeus hygrometricus (Pers.) Morg.

The present study was aimed to evaluate free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory potential of extracts of Astraeus hygrometricus - a tropical wild edible mushroom. Free radical scavenging potential of crude, boiled and ethanolic extracts was studied using different in vitro antioxidant models. The anti-inflammatory activity of the potential extract was evaluated in carrageenan and dextran induced acute and formalin induced chronic inflammatory model in mice. Among all the extracts, ethanolic extract possesses significant in vitro superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities. The IC50 values of ethanolic extracts of A. hygrometricus represented 357.95, 81.2 and 87.96 μg/ml respectively. Furthermore, the ethanolic extract showed remarkable anti-inflammatory activity in all models comparable to the standard reference drug diclofenac. The results suggest that anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract of A. hygrometricus is possibly attributed to its free radical scavenging properties.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Functional Foods: Potential Activity For Controlling Heart Disease

In modern communities, functional foods are very much acceptable to health-conscious people. Functional foods are considered healthy foods. Chronic diseases like Heart-related issues develop due to the intake of excessive quantities of fat, refined sugar, salt, and cholesterol-rich foods. However functional foods are involved to facilitate heart distress. Intake of active food ingredients like micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), dietary fibre, antioxidants, and probiotic foods improve cardiovascular disorder therefore upgrading physical and mental well-being. Authors have demonstrated that aged people suffer chronic distress in general therefore it can be prevented by functional foods. functional foods are more relevant than synthetic drugs or pharmaceuticals. So, heart-related issues are torn down by the consumption of functional foods in adequate quantity. Functional foods which have good quantity of bioactive compounds, nutraceutical attributes these are fruits and vegetables, green tea, turmeric, onion, spirulina, soyabean, oats and barley, probiotics and prebiotics, extra virgin olive oil and so on, have capability to mitigate intricate difficulties of cardiovascular disease. Precisely, the motive of this review is the advantageous effect of functional foods in preventing the manifestations of heart disorders around the globe. This review article highlights functional foods' potential activity to control heart disorders

Rapid Microwave Synthesis of Indium Filled Skutterudites: An energy efficient route to high performance thermoelectric materials

Filled skutterudites are promising thermoelectric materials due to reduced thermal conductivity upon inserting a guest atom or 'rattler' into the CoSb₃ structure. By using an indium rattler dimensionless Figure of Merit (ZT) values > 1 at 650 K have been reported. The conventional synthesis of these compounds typically takes several days (~ 3 days) to obtain the final well-sintered material for property measurements. We report here a microwave-assisted synthesis method that reduces the initial calcination time from two days to two minutes. This route significantly reduces the time needed to produce materials suitable for property and device testing