Monitoring of adverse drug reactions to antidepressant drugs in a teaching hospital

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are considered among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Adverse drug reactions are important determinants of non-adherence to antidepressant treatment, but their assessment is complicated by overlap with depressive symptoms and lack of reliable self-report measures The present study was therefore undertaken to monitor the ADRs of the antidepressant in the psychiatric outpatient unit of Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, IndiaMethods: Study was conducted from December 2012 to November 2013, the   patients on antidepressant drugs from psychiatry out- patient department (OPD) of Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences were considered for analysis. The patients were diagnosed by consultant psychiatrist. Data was collected in standard questionnaire format. All patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorder as per ICD 10 criteria and receiving treatment with antidepressant were included. Assessment of causality and severity of recorded adverse events was done using WHO assessment scale and modified Siegel and Hartwig Scale respectively.Results: In our study 74 adverse drug reactions(ADRs) were seen among 52 cases, total 263 cases were screened.CNS and Anticholinergic side effects were most common adverse drug reactions noted. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) and Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the drugs causing maximum ADRs. Assessment of causality and severity of recorded adverse events showed possible to probable and mild to moderate severity respectively.Conclusions: CNS and Anticholinergic side effects were most common adverse drug reactions noted. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) were most commonly prescribed drugs followed by Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) and Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) accounted for most of ADRs (87.8%). Assessment of causality of recorded adverse events showed no certain cause and assessment of severity of recorded adverse events showed no severe cases

Knowledge, attitude and practice of research ethics among medical faculty in a teaching hospital

Background: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of medical faculty regarding research ethics and research ethics committees (RECs).Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in ESIC medical colleges in Bangalore among faculty using a validated questionnaire. Questions were designed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of medical faculty regarding research ethics and research ethics committees. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.Results: Majority (76%) of faculty had not undergone training in research ethics. Less than half of the participants answered correctly to a question on guidelines in research ethics, 60% responded correctly to question on research involving children. Majority responded correctly to question on role of a research ethics committee and confidentiality, informed consent and to question on composition of Institutional Ethics Committee. 68% taught that ethical review of research by an ethics committee would delay research. >90% were favourable towards research ethics training. Faculty held attitudes regarding certain research ethics practices that were not optimal, 96% believed that it is okay to fabricate data, 68% taught that if no surrogate is available to give informed consent for vulnerable groups, they could still be included.Conclusions: We conclude that among the medical faculties participating in our study, there is acceptance of RECs and training in research ethics, while there are knowledge gaps in research ethics guidelines, research involving children. There is need to train researchers and students to make them aware about various aspects of research

Evaluation of anti - inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of leaves of hibiscus sabdariffa in albino rats

Background: Inflammation continues to be an area of great interest for research, probably due to the non-availability of a safer and more effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. This has led to increase in demand for natural products with anti-inflammatory activity having fewer side effects. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin are used in the treatment of inflammation, fever and pain. However, NSAIDs cause gastric damage as a major adverse reaction. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract H. sabdariffa Linn was studied using carrageenan and formalin for acute and chronic inflammation respectively in albino rats.Methods: In this study, anti-inflammatory activity of H. sabdariffa was studied and compared with standard drug, indomethacin. Aqueous extract of leaves of H. sabdariffa (200mg/kg or 400mg/kg) and indomethacin (25mg/kg) were used to separate groups of rats and paw edema was measured by plethysmometer and compared with control group.Results: H. sabdariffa did not show any significant reduction of paw edema (P >0.05) in both the models of inflammation i.e. carrageenan induced acute model and formalin induced chronic model of inflammation.Conclusions: H. sabdariffa didn’t show any significant anti-inflammatory activity