Pharmacoeconomic study of antipsychotic drugs in India

Background: Schizophrenia is a disorder of relatively high point prevalence, low incidence and high disability. It accounts for nearly 1.5-3% of total national expenditure on health care. There is a gross variation in the cost of various branded and generic versions of antipsychotics available in India. This can lead to decreased patient compliance. The present study was undertaken to highlight this variation in the cost of various preparations of antipsychotics (branded and generic) available in India.Methods: Cost ratio and Percentage variation in cost of various antipsychotics available were calculated by standard formulae and analysed.Results: There is a very high variation in the cost of various antipsychotics available in India. The highest variation in cost ratio was seen with risperidone 2mg, 3mg and olanzapine 10mg, while the highest percentage cost variation was seen with risperidone 3mg, 4mg, 1mg; olanzapine 2.5mg, 5mg, 50mg, 100mg; levosulpiride 25mg and chlorpromazine 20mg. The lowest percentage cost variation was seen with Flupenthixol 3mg and Amisulpiride 300mg.Conclusions: There is a definite need to further strengthen the Drug Price Regulatory Mechanisms with regard to antipsychotics available in India in order to improve the patient compliance and thus cure rates of this burdensome and costly illness

Technology Integration (Task 20) Aeroservoelastic Modeling and Design Studies

The HSCT Flight Controls Group has developed longitudinal control laws, utilizing PTC aeroelastic flexible models to minimize aeroservoelastic interaction effects, for a number of flight conditions. The control law design process resulted in a higher order controller and utilized a large number of sensors distributed along the body for minimizing the flexibility effects. Processes were developed to implement these higher order control laws for performing the dynamic gust loads and flutter analyses. The processes and its validation were documented in Reference 2, for selected flight condition. The analytical results for additional flight conditions are presented in this document for further validation

Monoclonal antibodies to mycobacterial DNA gyrase A inhibit DNA supercoiling activity

DNA gyrase is an essential type II topoisomerase found in bacteria. We have previously characterized DNA gyrase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis. In this study, several monoclonal antibodies were generated against the gyrase A subunit (GyrA) of M. smegmatis. Three, MsGyrA:C3, MsGyrA:H11 and MsGyrA:E9, were further analyzed for their interaction with the enzyme. The monoclonal antibodies showed high degree of cross-reactivity with both fast-growing and slow-growing mycobacteria. In contrast, none recognized Escherichia coli GyrA. All the three monoclonal antibodies were of IgG1 isotype falling into two distinct types with respect to epitope recognition and interaction with the enzyme. MsGyrA:C3 and MsGyrA:H11 IgG, and their respective Fab fragments, inhibited the DNA supercoiling activity catalyzed by mycobacterial DNA gyrase. The epitope for the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies appeared to involve the region towards the N-terminus (residues 351-415) of the enzyme in a conformation-dependent manner. These monoclonal antibodies would serve as valuable tools for structure-function analysis and immunocytological studies of mycobacterial DNA gyrase. In addition, they would be useful for designing peptide inhibitors against DNA gyrase

Structural heterogeneity in DNA gyrases from Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

GyraseA (GyrA) subunit of DNA gyrase from mycobacteria has certain characteristics distinct from that of E. coli. Polyclonal antibodies produced against M. tuberculosis GyrA recognized GyrA from different slow and fast growing mycobacterial species and also from several Gram-positive bacteria. However, these antibodies did not cross-react with E. coli GyrA and the enzyme from other Gram-negative bacteria. The results from the present study together with multiple alignment, pairwise comparison and biochemical properties support the idea of the occurrence of two subclasses of gyrases in the bacterial kingdom, emphasizing the importance of the enzyme as a molecular target for the development of novel therapeutics

A Mycobacterium smegmatis gyrase B specific monoclonal antibody reveals association of gyrase A and B subunits in the cell

DNA gyrase is a unique topoisomerase, which plays important roles in macromolecular events like DNA replication, transcription and genetic recombination. In this study a high affinity monoclonal antibody to the gyrase B (GyrB) subunit of Mycobacterium smegmatis was characterized, which did not cross-react with either the Escherichia coli GyrB subunit or with GyrB subunits from other mycobacterial species. The antibody recognized an epitope in the N-terminus, novobiocin-binding domain of GyrB. Immunoprecipitation of gyrase from M. smegmatis cell lysate revealed an association, mediated by ionic interactions, of gyrase A and GyrB subunits in the cell. This antibody is a valuable tool for structure-function analysis and immunocytological studies of mycobacterial DNA gyrase

Cluster radioactivity in superheavy nuclei 299-306122

Cluster radioactivity is an intermediate between alpha decay and spontaneous fission. It is also an exotic decay obtained in superheavy nuclei. When a cluster decay is detected in superheavy nuclei, the daughter nuclei is having near or equal to doubly magic nuclei. We have investigated cluster decay of isotopes of He, Li, Be, Ne, N, Mg, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar and Ca in the superhaevy nuclei region 299-306122. We have also compared the logarithmic half-lives of cluster decay with that of other models such as Univ [1], NRDX [2], UDL [3] and Horoi [4]. From this study it is concluded that  cluster decay of 4He, 22Ne, 26Mg, 28Si 30Si, 34S, 40Ca and 46Ca are having shorter logarithmic half-lives compared to exotic cluster decay modes

Rural Load Management Using Information Technology

The mismatch between the generation and demand for electrical power is increasing at an alarming rate. This is mainly due shortage of conventional resources, use of appropriate technology for alternate energy sources and lack of awareness about energy conservation. Power supply to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers is a difficult task to the utilities controlled by the government. In rural India, irrigation pump sets are the major loads. The technical aptitude, attitude and co operation of the consumers helps a lot in energy management. The strategic power supply is affected if the consumers are not complying with the norms. A strategy is framed to provide power to domestic appliances around the clock and agricultural consumers on time division basis. But the local technicians play a corruptive role to violate this which is leading to overloading/failure of the distribution transformers frequently. Here, an attempt is made to devise a method to overcome the problem of agricultural consumers who are getting power on time division basis. A control unit is installed at each distribution station to automatically monitor and control the power supply to domestic and agricultural consumers as per the pre defined schedule. This paper explains the use of electronics and information technology in rural areas for better management of the power supply and consumption. The unauthorized connection leading to failure of distribution transformers is also taken care

A study on cutaneous adverse drug reactions at district Mc. Gann teaching hospital, Shimoga institute of medical sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India

Background: Adverse drug reactions very often manifest in the form of cutaneous reactions. Majority of new drugs are developed by western countries and releases the drug worldwide after testing on small number of patients. Safety profile of such drugs may not be relevant in our country due to varied factors. Pharmacovigilance in the form of post-marketing surveillance helps to establish the accurate safety profile of drugs. The objective of this study was to study the various cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs), frequency, type, severity and preventability of CADRs and to evaluate the drugs causing the CADRs.Methods: A total of 52 patients were recruited for this study which was conducted in the dermatology OPD department from November 2015 to April 2016, demographic details, causality, severity, preventability were analysed by using standard scales.Results: 52 patients with CADRs were included in the study during the 6 months study period. Results were presented in the form of number and percentage. Most common age group with CADRs was 40- 60 years; the most common suspected drug group causing CADRs was antimicrobials 46.15%. According to Naranjos scale 67.30% of CADRs were probably caused by drugs. Schumoch and Thornton scale showed that 63.46% of CADRs in the study were definitely preventable.Conclusions: Wide variety of drugs causes CADRs. Awareness among clinicians is required for active reporting of CADRs. Patients need to be educated for the cautious use of drugs causing ADRs to prevent the same

A study on prescription analysis and utilization of antibiotics in geriatric in-patients admitted in Shimoga institute of medical sciences tertiary care hospital, Shimoga, Karnataka, India

Background: Geriatrics is concerned with population aged 60 and above. Elderly suffer from various problems of the old age and hence prone to suffer from various adverse effects due to multiple drug use. In this regard rational use of drugs assumes importance. Hence the present study was conducted to study the rationality of prescriptions and utilization of antibiotics in the geriatric age group.Methods: 126 inpatient prescriptions were chosen and analysed for their rationality according to WHO core drug use indicators. The prescriptions were chosen randomly during the months of July to November 2013 from inpatients at district Mcgann teaching hospital. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data.Results: 97% of total drugs prescribed were from essential drug list (EDL). Cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed group of antibiotics. Respiratory diseases were the maximum cause of admission to the hospital followed by cardiovascular diseases. Prescription by brand name was 57.93% while generic drug prescription was 40.65% of total drugs prescribed. 7.81% of total drugs were prescribed as fixed drug combination average of 6.25 drugs were prescribed per person and 1.39% of prescriptions were illegible.Conclusions: Most of drugs prescribed were from WHO model list of essential drugs which conforms to WHO rational drug use. Also prescription by generic name has to be emphasized to promote rationality of prescriptions. Antibiotic prescriptions should be preceded by microbiological testing wherever indicated and illegible prescriptions should be prevented at all costs. Adherence to guidelines regarding drug use in the elderly can help in rational drug use in elderly