PHARMACOVIGILANCE OF RADIOGRAPHIC CONTRAST-INDUCED ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF SOUTH INDIA

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the nature and incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to radiographic contrast media (oral and intravenous) reported during a 1½ years' period in a tertiary care hospital in South India.Methods: The study was an observational prospective study of ADRs to radiographic contrast media (oral and intravenous) observed during a period of 1½ years from July 2014 to October 2015 in Department of Radio Diagnosis at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet. The observations were analyzed for demographic profile, frequency, severity, causality, and temporal relationship of contrast administration to the occurrence of ADRs.Results: A total of 33 ADRs were observed for oral and intravenous radiographic contrast media administered for radiographic study for the above-mentioned period. It included 17 (51.5%) males and 16 (48.5%) females. Among the 33 ADRs, 19 (57%) were for oral and intravenous radiographic contrast and 14 (42%) for intravenous radiographic contrast alone. The most frequent ADRs were vomiting and nausea 16 (48%), skin rashes 9 (27%), and thrombophlebitis 9 (27%). As per Naranjo's algorithm and WHO causality assessment, all reactions are probable except in one patient who received intravenous contrast administration was possible. According to the Hartwig severity scale, 23 (69%) reactions were mild, 7 (21%) reactions were moderate, and 3 (9%) reactions were severe. There was no fatality observed. Adverse events required immediate treatment in 22 (66%). Most of the reactions, i.e., 21 (63%) appeared immediately after contrast administration. 12 (36%) reactions appeared within next 30 minutes after contrast administration.Conclusion: The common adverse reactions to radiographic contrast were mild in severity such as nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, and giddiness. Most of the reactions occur immediately after administration of contrast. The causality of majority of the ADRs is probable. Pharmacovigilance is an important tool in detection, reporting and thereby preventing ADRs due to radiographic contrast media

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID

Objective: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the antioxidant effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA is a collective term for a group of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid with conjugated double bond system. CLA is found in milk products and ruminant meat. CLA has been proved to be having many health benefits, one of them one being antioxidant effect.Methods: Various methods are used to find out the antioxidant effect of CLA. They are 1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay, hydroxy radical scavenging assay, nitrous oxide radical scavenging assay, reducing power method, and phosphomolybdenum antioxidant assay. All these methods were done to test the antioxidant activity of CLA.Results: Standards error of mean calculated for all the tests. Statistical analysis done using one-way analysis of variance between the groups and SPSS software version 20 is used. p<0.05 is considered statistically significant. All the tests are statistically significant.Conclusion: As p values for all the tests came significant, and it was concluded that CLA has got antioxidant property. CLA could protect membranes composed of 1-palmitoyl 2-linoleoyl phosphatidylcholine from oxidative modification under conditions of metal ion-dependent or -independent oxidative stress. Finally, it was concluded that CLA has got potential health benefits such as weight reduction, antiaging, and antioxidative properties

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANTI-ANGIOGENIC ACTIVITIES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AND ITS THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL IN ANGIOGENESIS-DEPENDENT DISORDERS

AbstractIntroductionAngiogenesis, the process of new vessel growth from pre-existing capillaries is involved in physiological and pathological process such as embryonic development, wound healing, diabetic retinopathy ,chronic inflammation, tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and cancer and anti VEGF factor agents are found to be effective . VEGF inhibitors from plant sources show promising result recently. So this study is designed to evaluate and compare the VEGF inhibitory effect of the herbs Osimum Sanctum, Andrographis paniculata, Syzygium cumini and Ginkgo biloba by using in vivo models.Methods: Both Corneal neovascularization assay and Chick Chorioallantoic membrane assays were used for evaluation. The induced neovascularization was compared with control and extract treated groups.Results: The acute and repeated dose toxicity tests showed that the extracts are safe on oral administration. And also the results showed significant antiangiogenic effect of individual extract and their combination in both in vivo models. However the combination of the extract showed excellent result (p <0.001) by reducing neovascularization in both modelsConclusion: The above results suggested that combination of the above extracts have promising future in the management of angiogenesis dependent disorders.Key words: Osimum Sanctum, Andrographis paniculata, Syzygium cumini, Ginkgo biloba,   Angiogenesis, chorioallantoic membrane, angiogenesis dependent disorders