Pattern of drug utilization and factors influencing long term blood sugar control among diabetics in a tertiary care hospital- an observational study

Background: To study the Pattern of drug prescribing, utilization, analyse effectives of different therapies and factors influencing medication failure and adherence to treatment among diabetics.Methods: The clinical study was conducted in JJM Medical College and Karuna Trust, Davangere, Karnataka. The patients with diabetes as diagnosed by consultant physician were observed for the pattern of blood glucose control. The fasting blood glucose of the patients were recorded at the end of 1st month, 6th month and 12th month of their treatment period. The study period was from June 2012 till August 2014. The study was conducted after institutional ethical clearance and informed consent was taken from all the patients. The pattern of drugs prescribed for the patients were also analysed. The pattern of control among patients with co morbidities were also analysed using paired sample t test.Results: The results showed that the prescribed drugs were able to control the blood glucose levels of the patients. The percentage of patients with FBS in controlled, mild to moderate control and uncontrolled group were 21%, 33.3% and 45.5% in early treatment period and 36%, 40.9%, and 22.7% after one year treatment period (Significant p value). The pattern of drug utilization showed that the most commonly used drugs were the combination of pioglitazone+glimipride+metformin (19%), combination of glibenclamide+ metformin (18%), only insulin (9%), combination of glimipride+metformin (8%) and combination of gliclazide+metformin (5%).Conclusions: The results show that the intervention by the consultant physician was successful in controlling the blood sugar levels and the reasons for failure of treatment and adherence to treatment were helpful for further treatment of patients. Further such studies in a larger sample will help the consultants in their treatment methods

Safety evaluation of chromium picolinate in experimental rats

Background: Chromium, an essential trace mineral plays an important role in the metabolism of carbohydrate, fat and proteins. Chromium picolinate (Cr.Pic) is used in alternative medicine to treat chromium deficiency. Though Cr.Pic is increasingly used to treat diabetes and obesity, studies on its safety profile is limited.Methods: Acute toxicity study was conducted by oral administration of Cr.Pic (2000 mg/kg body weight). The animals were maintained another 14 days with once a day observation. For sub-chronic studies, test groups were treated with Cr.Pic 10 mg/kg/day for 90 days. Tests for hepatic and renal function were conducted. Effect of Cr.Pic on behavioural changes and motor co-ordination was done on every week. Histopathological studies were conducted on day 90 at the end of the experiment.Results: Acute toxicity study of Cr.Pic showed no signs of toxicity and mortality. Absence of any behavioural alteration or mortality during the period of 14 days indicates that Cr.Pic has no latent effect. Similar results were obtained with sub-chronic studies suggesting safety of Cr.Pic. Cr.Pic treated groups showed no changes in learning and motor co-ordination compared to the untreated group. No gross histopathological changes were seen in any group indicating safety of Cr.Pic.Conclusions: The present study conferred safety profile of Cr.Pic from normal results obtained in hepatic function, renal function, behavioural and histopathological studies, suggesting its safety

International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences RESEARCH ARTICLE PHARMACOLOGY EVALUATION OF ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE ALONE AND WITH PHENYTOIN AGAINST EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED CONVULSIONS IN ALBINO RATS

The objective of the study was to find the effect of oral magnesium oxide supplementation alone and with standard anticonvulsive doses of phenytoin in the animal models of maximal electroshock seizures (MES) induced seizures. Healthy male albino rats (n=42) were divided into 6 groups, each group including seven animals. Magnesium oxide (Mgo) supplementation is given orally in the dose ( 500 mg/kg/day) for 10 days for all groups except for group A(control). On day 10, responses to MES (180 mA for 0.2 s) were tested 1hr after pre-administration of phenytoin orally in different doses(100,200,400 mg/kg). In Combination studies in group B,C and D the time taken for recovery was better in low dose magnesium and phenytoin combination (group B). Compared to magnesium alone group (group F) all the combination groups (group B,C and D) were better in controlling THLE (Tonic Hind Limb Extension).Study also shows that Magnesium may help in faster recovery from seizure activity. Hence, we may reduce the standard dose of each drug and related adverse effects. This article can be downloaded from www.ijpbs.ne