BIOCOMPONENTS AND BIOPROSPECTS OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF TERMITOMYCES HEIMII

Objective: The objective was to select, set up and initiate the health screening services in the community pharmacy, to design and develop patientdata collection form and patient identity card, to implement health screening services in a selected community pharmacy and to evaluate the healthscreening services data.Methods: The study was a prospective, investigational and community interventional study, conducted for a period of 10 months from May 2008 toFebruary 2009.Results: A total of 98 patients and 24 customers under risk factors were screened during the study. Out of which 58 (59.18%) patients were diabeticwith hypertensive, 26 (26.53%) were hypertensive and 14 (14.28%) were diabetic. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure, random blood sugarand body mass index values of the screened patients reveals the need for the provision of health screening services in the community pharmacy by apharmacist. Various demographic factors such as age, gender, occupation, economic status, educational background, periodic check-up showed equalimpact of pharmacist involvement and need to provide these services in the community pharmacy.Conclusion: This study suggest that there is ample scientific evidence showing that certain risk factors pre-dispose individuals to development ofdiabetes and hypertension, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that community screening is a cost effective approach to reduce the morbidity andmortality associated with these diseases in healthy individuals. Community screening programs may provide a means to enhance public awarenessregarding seriousness of diabetes and hypertension and its complications.Keywords: Health screening services, Community pharmacy, Diabetes, Hypertension.Â

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

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

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

Role of prophylactic midurethral sling in preventing post-operative stress urinary incontinence following repair of anterior vaginal wall prolapse

Objective: This study was conducted to find whether, among women without preoperative stress incontinence who underwent surgery for repair of anterior vaginal wall prolapse, the placement of a prophylactic midurethral mesh along with the prolapse correction surgery helped to reduce the incidence of post-operative stress urinary incontinence (POSUI). Materials & Methods: 145 women with anterior vaginal compartment prolapse were randomly assigned to receive either suitable corrective surgery for prolapse or corrective surgery along with concurrent placement of a prophylactic midurethral sling by a transobturator Prolene tape. The primary endpoint was urinary incontinence at three months and twelve months post surgery. Secondary outcomes included expected and unexpected adverse events. Results: At three months follow up the symptoms of urinary incontinence and/or positive cough test did not differ significantly between the two groups. But at twelve months, both the symptoms of urinary incontinence (9.59% versus 23.61%, p = 0.025, 95% CI = -25.93% to -2.11%, CMLE OR =0.346) and positive cough test (8.22% versus 25%, p = 0.007, 95% CI = -28.60% to -4.96%, CMLE OR = 0.271) were significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group. Expected and unexpected adverse events during operation and through the first year after surgery were comparable in both groups Conclusion: Placement of a midurethral sling by a Prolene mesh at the time of prolapse repair surgery significantly reduces the incidence of POSUI in women who were continent preoperatively. For this, the transobturator tape method is safe and effective with a low rate of complications

Air pollution from household solid fuel combustion in India: an overview of exposure and health related information to inform health research priorities

Environmental and occupational risk factors contribute to nearly 40% of the national burden of disease in India, with air pollution in the indoor and outdoor environment ranking amongst leading risk factors. It is now recognized that the health burden from air pollution exposures that primarily occur in the rural indoors, from pollutants released during the incomplete combustion of solid fuels in households, may rival or even exceed the burden attributable to urban outdoor exposures. Few environmental epidemiological efforts have been devoted to this setting, however. We provide an overview of important available information on exposures and health effects related to household solid fuel use in India, with a view to inform health research priorities for household air pollution and facilitate being able to address air pollution within an integrated rural–urban framework in the future