The use of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in depression: a narrative review of the state of evidence

Multiple lines of evidence suggest that inflammation contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. Various studies have found that patients with major depression have higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and C-reactive protein. As a consequence of above findings this narrative literature review was done to look for the role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors in the patients of depression. A web based search was done using the keywords like antidepressants, anti-inflammatory treatment, celecoxib, depression, neuro inflammation in well recognized databases like PubMed, Google scholar from the year 2006 to 2019 to come out with data that matches our inclusion criteria that have been pooled and critically analyzed. Although the exact mechanism remains to become elucidated the results suggest that COX-2 have beneficial role in treatment of depression and it may be used as an adjunct to the anti-depressant treatment as it may hasten the response to current treatment without any serious side effects

Cost comparison of commonly used antidepressant drugs with drug price control order in India

Background: Price of a drug is an important factor for compliance to the treatment. So, to overcome the high prices of drugs, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under government of India has issued Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) list containing commonly used drugs. Pharmaceutical companies can be punished if they keep their prices higher than the ceiling price mentioned in the DPCO. To find out the price variations of commonly used antidepressant drugs included in DPCO list of 29th April 2019.Methods: A list of all oral antidepressant drugs included in DPCO of 29th April 2019 and available in Indian market was procured from medguide India. Analysis of number of total brands following as well as not following DPCO ceiling price was done.Results: Author found 17 formulations of four antidepressant drugs included in DPCO. Total 556 brands found out of which 84.6% were following the DPCO and 15.4% of brands prices were higher than the ceiling price of DPCO.Conclusions: Though large number of companies are following the DPCO but still strict regulation is needed to further increase the compliance of guidelines

NETRA - A Parallel Architecture for Integrated Vision Systems II: Algorithms and Performance Evaluation

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratoryNational Aeronautics and Space Administration / NASA NAG-1-61

NETRA - A Parallel Architecture for Integrated Vision Systems I: Architecture and Organization

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratoryNational Aeronautics and Space Administration / NASA-NAG-1-61

Technology for Improving Street Dog Welfare and Capturing Data in Digital Format during Street Dog Sterilisation Programmes

Street dogs survive on food handouts provided by individuals, or the wider community yet typically receive limited to no veterinary care. They can also carry a variety of zoonotic diseases such as rabies, posing a significant risk to human and dog population health. Dog sterilization is one of the most humane and effective methods available to control street dog populations. Dog sterilization programs, particularly those operating at a large-scale, often face a variety of challenges including limited resources, staffing, and less-than-ideal facilities. Record keeping is often a challenge as well, which can complicate the return of a sterilized dog to their location of capture. Street dogs are territorial, and the return of a dog to an incorrect location is fraught with various welfare issues, as well as an increased risk of postoperative complications, including death. Humane Society International developed a mobile phone-based application called ‘HSIApps’ drawing on years of field experience and data collection in street dog location recording, as well as clinical and postoperative treatment. HSIApps facilitates the return of dogs back to their exact captured location, which ensures dog welfare, and generates reports of a variety of useful data variables to maximize the efficacy and reliability of sterilization programs

EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis/block

Refractory chronic abdominal pain as a result of inoperable pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis poses a formidable challenge and can be effectively relieved with celiac axis block or celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN). Percutaneous celiac plexus block (CPB) or computed tomography (CT)-guidance using anterior or posterior approaches has some limitations. However, endoultrasound (EUS)-guided CPB has evolved itself as an effective and safe procedure for management of refractory abdominal pain. The EUS offers advantages, which include accurate anatomic imaging, real-time monitoring of injection, and anterior approach, which avoids neurologic complications. The CPN can be combined with staging and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of a malignancy in the same session. The present review discusses anatomic details of celiac axis block, procedure-related details, complications, contraindications, comparison to other modalities, and results of various studies and author’s experience of EUS guided CPB/neurolysis

A study on Epidemiology and Symptomatology and Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) in Pre-dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease patients

Introduction: Longitudinal studies have established that Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) occur more frequently and are the leading cause of death in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Dyslipidemia has been established as an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of CVD in CKD patients. Objectives: Present study was aimed to evaluate (in CKD patients), Demography along with Symptomatology and Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) in Pre-dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease patients (Study cases). Methods: Present Cross-sectional study, conducted in Department of Medicine, R.D. Gardi Medical College and CRG hospital, Ujjain, M.P. from 1 st January 2015 to 31st July 2016. We studied 115 pre-dialysis CKDcases and 100 age & sex matched controls. CKD was diagnosed as per 2012 KDOQI Criteria. Result: In CKD cases, maximum 23.47% cases belonged to fifth decade. Mean age was 48.99 ± 16.74. Male to Female ratio was1.21: 1. In the present study of 115 Study cases, pallor was present in ninety five (82.6%) cases, followed by facial puffiness in eighty eight (76.5%) cases, pedal oedema in eighty two (71.3%) cases and oliguria in eighty (69.5%) cases. Hypertension was evident in eighty seven (75.6%) cases. The mean Serum Creatinine, Urea, Total Protein, albumin, Potassium, Phosphorus value were increased in Study group as compared to control group. The mean Serum Calcium value was decreased in Study group as compared to control group

A case of non-contiguous gastric and esophageal iatrogenic perforations managed by self-expanding metal stent placement

We describe a case of iatrogenic gastric perforation after sleeve gastrectomy procedure as bariatric surgery. Initially, a covered self-expanding metal stent placement (SEMS) was attempted outside, but it resulted in second iatrogenic perforation at lower esophagus. He improved gradually with drainage, antibiotics, and SEMS placement

Role of endoscopic ultrasound in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a well-established diagnostic and therapeutic modality for adults. It is extremely helpful for a broad range of diagnostic indications including upper gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, submucosal lesions, pancreatic lesions (masses, cystic lesions), chronic pancreatitis, etiological workup of recurrent acute pancreatitis, common bile duct evaluation (calculi versus tumor), gallbladder lesions/microliths, and rectal malignancy; well-established therapeutic roles include fine-needle aspiration of lesions/lymph nodes, pancreatic fluid collection drainage, pancreatic duct drainage, biliary drainage, gallbladder drainage, pelvic abscess drainage, celiac plexus block, or neurolysis. Some recent studies have reported the use of EUS in the pediatric population. EUS is safe and easy to perform in the pediatric population also. However, there is paucity of data on use of EUS in pediatric population. In contrast with its regular therapeutic use in adults, EUS is not commonly performed in children for therapeutic reasons and most of the data are available on diagnostic use only. All of studies have shown that EUS is safe and a useful modality with a positive impact on management in majority of study population. EUS is very useful in pediatric population for the evaluation of upper GI tract submucosal lesions or rectal masses, pancreaticobiliary disorders, characterization of esophageal strictures, and for evaluation of enteric duplication cysts. The advent of miniprobe that can be passed through conventional endoscopes has increased the applicability of EUS in infants and children. Although there are limited data regarding use of EUS in pediatric population, it appears to be a very promising diagnostic and therapeutic tool