STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION AND ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS AMONG SOUTH INDIAN EPILEPTIC PATIENTS

Objectives: To compare the prevalence and intensity of adverse drug reactions (ADR) in patients receiving antiepileptic monotherapy and polytherapy,and to assess the pattern of depression associated with the therapy.Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted in neurology outpatient department for a time period of 6 months in a tertiary carehospital, South India. Patients diagnosed as epileptic for more than 6 months and receiving stable doses of antiepileptic drugs (AED) for 3 monthswere included in the study. Study participants receiving monotherapy and polytherapy were divided into groups. A detailed validated questionnairewas used to assess the incidence and severity of depression and ADRs among the study participants. Mann–Whitney test, Kruskal–Wallis test, andWilcoxon signed rank test were used to know the statistical significance at p<0.05.Results: Among 91 patients with epilepsy, depression was observed mainly in the study group receiving polytherapy than monotherapy. The severityof ADR observed among various study groups during the first and second visit were compared, which showed that all range of intensity scores werereported. During the second visit, the severity of ADR was high when compared to the first visit. Further incidence of ADRs with AED therapy wascompared which showed clinically significant values in all ADRs reported in both monotherapy and polytherapy.Conclusion: Our study showed, maximum ADRs were among the patients receiving polytherapy, and depression was observed in patients receivingpolytherapy. This suggests the need for safe drug practice.Keywords: Epilepsy, Anti-epileptics, Adverse drug reactions, Depression, Monotherapy, Polytherapy.Â

A brief history of learning classifier systems: from CS-1 to XCS and its variants

© 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. The direction set by Wilson’s XCS is that modern Learning Classifier Systems can be characterized by their use of rule accuracy as the utility metric for the search algorithm(s) discovering useful rules. Such searching typically takes place within the restricted space of co-active rules for efficiency. This paper gives an overview of the evolution of Learning Classifier Systems up to XCS, and then of some of the subsequent developments of Wilson’s algorithm to different types of learning

Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) intake on glycemia: A meta-analysis of clinical trials

10.1186/1475-2891-13-7Nutrition Journal131

Molecular Mining of Alleles in Water Buffalo Bubalus bubalis and Characterization of the TSPY1 and COL6A1 Genes

discovered in the process. gene in water buffalo, which localized to the Y chromosome.The MASA approach enabled us to identify several genes, including two of clinical significance, without screening an entire cDNA library. Genes identified with TGG repeats are not part of a specific family of proteins and instead are distributed randomly throughout the genome. Genes showing elevated expression in the testes and spermatozoa may prove to be potential candidates for in-depth characterization. Furthermore, their possible involvement in fertility or lack thereof would augment animal biotechnology

Promotion, prevention and protection: interventions at the population- and community-levels for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in low- and middle-income countries

Background In addition to services within the health system, interventions at the population and community levels are also important for the promotion of mental health, primary prevention of mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders, identification and case detection of MNS disorders; and to a lesser degree treatment, care and rehabilitation. This study aims to identify “best practice” and “good practice” interventions that can feasibly be delivered at these population- and community-levels in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), to aid the identification of resource efficiencies and allocation in LMICs. Methods A narrative review was conducted given the wide range of relevant interventions. Expert consensus was used to identify “best practice” at the population-level on the basis of existing quasi-experimental natural experiments and cost effectiveness, with small scale emerging and promising evidence comprising “good practice”. At the community-level, using expert consensus, the ACE (Assessing Cost-Effectiveness in Prevention Project) grading system was used to differentiate “best practice” interventions with sufficient evidence from “good practice” interventions with limited but promising evidence. ResultsAt the population-level, laws and regulations to control alcohol demand and restrict access to lethal means of suicide were considered “best practice”. Child protection laws, improved control of neurocysticercosis and mass awareness campaigns were identified as “good practice”. At the community level, socio-emotional learning programmes in schools and parenting programmes during infancy were identified as “best practice”. The following were all identified as “good practice”: Integrating mental health promotion strategies into workplace occupational health and safety policies; mental health information and awareness programmes as well as detection of MNS disorders in schools; early child enrichment/preschool educational programs and parenting programs for children aged 2–14 years; gender equity and/or economic empowerment programs for vulnerable groups; training of gatekeepers to identify people with MNS disorders in the community; and training non-specialist community members at a neighbourhood level to assist with community-based support and rehabilitation of people with mental disorders. Conclusion Interventions provided at the population- and community-levels have an important role to play in promoting mental health, preventing the onset, and protecting those with MNS disorders. The importance of inter-sectoral enga