Prevalence of self-medication practices in the Maharashtra population: a cross-sectional study

Background: Self-medication is a significant issue in public health, with varying global prevalence. It is one of the major causes of the emergence of antibiotic resistance in India. The study's objective was to identify the pattern, cause, and adverse events of self-medication in Maharashtra's urban and rural areas. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a pre-populated questionnaire; including information on age (18-85 years), non-prescription and prescription medication use. Age, gender, past medical and medication history, social history, and self-medication pattern, frequency, reason, source of information, and adverse events noticed as a result of self-medication are all sociodemographic questions on the questionnaire. A percentage analysis was used to examine the data. Results: Study states that out of 400 sample, 76% of the individuals self-medicate, with painkillers (49.4%), antacids (23.7%), antibiotics (15.3%), being the most often used drugs for ailments like headache, fever, bodily pain, and acidity. The top most medications taken for self-medication are paracetamol (53.1%), pantoprazole (30.43%), ondansetron (13.62%), and azithromycin (12.46%); 66.07% usage of prescription drugs as self-medication was found. The most frequent causes of self-medication were discovered to be mild illnesses, the easy accessibility of medications, and chemist recommendations, 8% of those surveyed had adverse events, and sources of information were chemists, past prescriptions, family members, and acquaintances. Conclusions: In Maharashtra, self-medication is a prevalent practice that primarily utilizes over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. As a result, consumers should be made aware of the hazards of antibiotic resistance and other pharmaceuticals

Marine turtle conservation programs in villages of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra

Maharashtra is active in sea turtle conservation and its citizen actions with support of forest department are highly commendable particularly in some regions of southern Maharashtra. During the surveys conducted at Harne and Kolthare villages of Ratnagiri in March 2019 it was observed that local volunteers known as “Kasav Mitra” identified by Forest Department, in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra are undertaking beach patrolling and relocating the eggs to secured enclosures for multiple reasons such as the egg sites being too close to tide water level, beaches open to public that can result in eggs being unknowingly crushed by beachgoers, or dug up by dogs or targeted poaching

Multiple carcasses of Olive Ridleys along Malvan Beach

The Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Maharashtra government along with NGOs are undertaking several efforts in conservation of sea turtles along the coast. There is a state sponsored incentive program of `500 for locating and sharing information with forest officials. Malvan coast in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra is known for turtle and fisheries interactions. Occasional turtle nestings can be seen between November to April

Preliminary Pharmacological Screening of Ethanolic Extract of Aristoochia indica on Nephrolithiasis Rat

The effect of ethanolic extract of Aristolochia indica was studied on experimentally induced nepharolithatic and urolithuasis in rats. Oxalate urolithiasis was produced by the addition of 0.75% ethylene glycol in the diet for a period for 30 days. Ethylene glycol treatment resulted in a significant increase in the levels of calcium and oxalate. Treatment of ethanolic extract of Aristolochia indica 100mg/kg body weight for 30 days revealed a dose –related effect in the reduction of lithogenic substances, following glycolic acid induced urolithiasis. Simultaneous oral treatment with at a dose of ethanolic extract of Aristolochia indica 100mg/kg for 30 days significantly reversed the ethylene glycol induced nepharolithiasis and urolithiasis. Presumably by preventing the urinary supersaturation of lithogenic substances. Especially of oxalate and calcium. These observation indicate that ethanolic extract of Aristolochia indica can play an important role in the prevention of disorders associated with kidney stone formation

EFFECT OF LOWER ETHANOL GASOLINE BLENDS ON PERFORMANCE AND EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SINGLE CYLINDER SI ENGINE

Alcohols, basically ethanol is considered as a leading alternative fuel for automotive application because of its ability to reduce the air pollution and cost of the fuel. This paper investigates the effect of lower ethanol gasoline blends (up to 20% by volume) on performance and emission characteristics of the single cylinder four stroke SI engine. Tests were carried out for power, torque, fuel consumption and brake mean effective pressure, while exhaust emissions were analyzed for CO, CO2, and HC by using different ethanol gasoline blends on volume basis at wide open throttle and variable engine speed from 4000 to 8000 rpm. Results were compared with the pure gasoline. It showed that as the ethanol content increases the power, torque, fuel consumption, brake mean effective pressure and CO2 emission while reduces HC and CO emission

DEVELOPMENT OF SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC AND FLUOROMETRIC METHODS FOR ESTIMATION OF DARUNAVIR USING QBD APPROACH

Objective: The main objective of the present study is to develop newer simple, precise spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods of estimation for Darunavir using coupling agent O-pthaladehyde.Methods: The experimental work was designed for both spectroscopic and fluorometric method development and validation. The method is based on formation complex of Darunavir with O-pthaladehyde. QbD approach was applied by varying different parameters. These parameters were designed into Ishikawa diagram.Results: The complex Darunavir-Phthalaldehyde in methanol with 0.1 N HCl showed linearity for both spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods. The calibration curve by spectrophotometry is linear in concentration range of 2-22 µg/ml with regression coefficient (R2) = 0.998 at 355 nm and for fluorometry it is linear in concentration range of 0.5-5.0 ng/ml with regression coefficient (R2) = 0.999. This method was found to be rugged and robust in different testing criteria with % RSD less than 2. The limit of detection and limit of quantification was found to be 0.2 μg/ml and 0.8 μg/ml for a spectrophotometric method and 0.12 μg/ml and 0.43 μg/ml for fluorometric method respectively.Conclusion: Both methods were found to be precise with % RSD of less than 2. The % recovery of the spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods was found to be 101.04 %, 98.15 % respectively. In this way, the results of all validation parameter were within the limits as per International Conference on Harmonization guideline.Â

A short note on Magnetized Black-hole in Non-linear Electrodynamics

We have analyzed the thermodynamic properties of magnetized black-hole in the background of non-linear electrodynamics with two parameters $\beta$ and $\gamma$. We have studied the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy, Hawking temperature, specific heats in two-dimesional surface plots as a function of event horizon ($r_{+}$) and $\gamma$. We showed the variation profiles of the above thermodynamic parameters for $\gamma$ [$0 \rightarrow 1$]. We identified regions of parameters for the possible phase-transitions and the stability of the black-holes.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure

Nearly Static Magnetized Kerr Black-hole in Non-linear Electrodynamics

We have analyzed the thermodynamics of slowly rotating magnetized Kerr black-hole, with typical spin parameter $a\le 0.1$ (nearly static) in the background of non-linear electrodynamics. In particular we have studied the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy, Hawking temperature, angular momentum, specific heats and identified regions of parameters for possible phase-transitions. It turns out that once the stability lost the black-hole never come back to its original stable position.Comment: 9pages, 12 figure

Current pattern of adverse drug reactions to anti-retroviral therapy in an antiretroviral therapy centre attached to a government medical college of Maharashtra, India: a retrospective study

Background: Antiretroviral drug therapy (ART) has brought a ray of hope to people living with HIV/AIDS. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can often cause significant morbidity among individuals on ART, occasionally leading to mortality. The present study was conducted to assess the nature, causality, severity of ADRs to ART, and to identify risk factors for ADRs in HIV-positive patients receiving ART in India.Methods: A total of 109 patients reported with ADRs to ART during July 2015-December 2015 were randomly included in a retrospective observational study conducted at an ART center attached to a government medical college of Maharashtra. Causality and severity assessment of ADRs was done by using Naranjo’s ADR Causality scale and Modified Hartwig and Siegel scale respectively. The data was computed using MS Excel and descriptive results were expressed as counts and percentages. The study was approved by Institutional Ethics Committee.Results: Among 109 patients, females (60.55%) had higher prevalence of ADRs than males (39.45%). A total of 132 ADRs were reported. Anemia (76.52%) was the commonest ADR reported followed by skin rash (11.36%) and raised renal function tests (6.06%). Zidovudine + Lamivudine + Nevirapine (ZLN) were the commonest ART regimen causing anemia as ADR.Conclusions: Reporting of ADRs is a very inefficient system in detecting drug-related conditions, leading to underestimation of the burden due to ADRs in India. A well-structured, efficient pharmacovigilance systems, which assesses and monitor safety profile and impact of antiretroviral medicines is very much needed at present in India

Occurrence of Disease Causing Organisms Including Bacteriophages in Indigenous Fermented Milk Products

Abstract: The objective of this investigation is to focus on such microbial changes, which are a consequence of unhygienic practices during production, incomplete fermentation and poor storage conditions. In India different fermented products are prepared from milk. These products are mostly intended primarily to conserve the nutritional values of milk. However, since most of these products are flavored and sweetened, these are mostly consumed during festival seasons. Like milk these products not only provide nutrients, but also are excellent media for the growth of microorganisms. Microbial growth is seen in the results, which involves successive changes with enteric or food related factors leading to incidence of food poisoning and deterioration of product. Isolation of coliphages is an indication of presence of other phages which could be aetiology of certain improper fermentation due to lack of proper inoculum