A STUDY ON THE PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF ANTIMICOBIAL DRUGS IN PATIENTS ATTENDING THE EAR, NOSE, THROAT DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the prescription pattern of antimicrobial drugs in the department of ear, nose, throat (ENT) of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Guwahati. Methods: The present study was conducted in the department of ENT after getting approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee (No MC/190/2007/Pt – 11 December -18/18). It was a prospective observational study for a period of 6 months. Prescriptions were collected from the outdoor and indoor patients of ENT. Results: In the present study, the majority of the patients were male (64.1%). Mostly, the patients belonged to the age group of 31–60 years (52%). Pharyngitis (20.8%) was the most commonly encountered disease which was reported followed by ear discharge (16.2%) and acute suppurative otitis media (15.8%). Total number of antimicrobial drugs prescribed for 240 patients was 303, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid being the most common (66%). About 89.4% of the drugs were included in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 2019. Majority of the patients were prescribed only one drug. Conclusion: The drug prescribed commonly for ENT infections was amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination. Around 71.6% of drugs were prescribed by their brand names. Intervention is needed to promote the use of generic drugs as these drugs are with the same composition and provide the same therapeutic benefit at reasonable price

Drug utilization pattern in ICU in a tertiary health care institution

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the current prescription pattern of drug utilization so as to find out drug use indicators such as utilization of drugs per prescription that can reflect possibilities of drug interaction and patient compliance and to suggest measures for rational prescriptions in patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit for various medical and surgical indications.Methods: It was a retrospective, observational hospital based study which was done for 1 year after obtaining permission from the Institutional Human Ethics Committee. The prescriptions of both genders and of any age groups suffering from any medical or surgical indication who were admitted in Intensive Care Unit were included. The parameters assessed were demographic profile of the patient, most common diagnosis, number of days of ICU stay, ICU outcome, number of drugs/prescription, most common group and route of drugs.Results: Data collected from 560 prescriptions were analyzed using appropriate statistical method and 66% patients were male. Most common age group was 41-60(40%). Cerebrovascular accident (22.9%) was the most common diagnosis followed by septicaemia (20.7%). Average no. of days of ICU stay was 6.22 days/patient. ICU mortality rate was 58.6% which was the most common outcome. At an average 15.8 drugs were prescribed per patient. Antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors were the most commonly prescribed drugs in 100% prescriptions, ceftriaxone (37.1%) being the most common antibiotic. Most common route of drug administration was intravenous route (65%).Conclusions: Prescribing guideline is required to reduce the prevalent poly-pharmacy and to promote appropriate use of antimicrobials based on the culture and sensitivity report

STUDY OF THE ANTICONVULSANT POTENTIAL OF LEAVES OF CLITORIA TERNATEA LINN. IN PENTYLENETETRAZOLE AND MAXIMUM ELECTROSHOCK SEIZURE INDUCED-CONVULSIONS IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

ABSTRACTObjectives: To study the anticonvulsant potential of leaves of Clitoria ternatea Linn. in maximal electroshock seizure (MES) and pentylenetetrazole(PTZ)-induced convulsion in experimental animals.Methods: The anticonvulsant potential of the ethanolic extracts of C. ternatea Linn. (EECT) was tested in the MES and PTZ models, seizures wereinduced, respectively, by delivering electroshock of 50 mA for 0.2 s via a pair of transauricular electrodes using an electro-convulsiometer and byinjecting 80 mg/kg intraperitoneally PTZ. For MES model, parameters measured were the duration of hindlimb tonic extension (HLTE), total recoverytime, and percentage protection. For the PTZ model, parameters measured were the duration of time taken for the onset of clonic convulsions, durationof clonic convulsions, percentage reduction of clonic phase, and the mortality percentage.Results and Observation: The EECT at both the test doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) reduced the duration of HLTE and total recovery time, andincreased the percentage protection from MES-induced convulsions, suggesting a dose-dependent anticonvulsant effect of EECT on MES-inducedseizures. The extract also produced a dose-dependent anticonvulsant effect on PTZ-induced seizures in albino mice as suggested by prolongation ofthe latency of clonic convulsion, reduction in the duration of convulsion and seizure score.Conclusion: The present study concludes that the EECT leaves have an anticonvulsant effect on PTZ and MES-induced convulsion in albino mice.Keywords: Antiepileptic, Clitoria ternatea Linn., Ethanolic extract, Maximal electroshock, Pentylenetetrazole, Seizure score

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANTI-NOCICEPTIVE ACTIVITY OF CURCUMA LONGA LINN. WITH THAT OF IBUPROFEN IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the analgesic activities of Curcuma longa Linn. in the experimental animals. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, after getting approval from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (No MC/68F/2009/MAR-19/02). Healthy rodents weighing between 150 and 200 g were selected and randomly divided into five groups, each group consisting of six animals. Tail-flick analgesiometer was used to assess the analgesic activity of C. longa Linn. and ibuprofen in the experimental animals. Appropriate statistical analyses like Student’s t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean reaction time (s) was prolonged on gradually increasing the dose of C. longa Linn. from 200 to 400 mg/kg. At 400 mg/kg dose C. longa Linn. produced similar analgesic activity as compared to ibuprofen (30 mg/kg). Conclusion: From the study, it can be concluded that curcumin has the capacity to attenuate pain, and when administered in high doses, may produce similar activity as other conventional NSAID’s

IMPACT OF ACNE VULGARIS ON A PERSON’S QUALITY OF LIFE AND IT’S CORRELATION WITH THE CLINICAL SEVERITY PRE AND POST-DRUG THERAPY

Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the therapeutic efficacy of drugs used in acne vulgaris by measuring the severity of acne using the Global Acne Grading System score (GAGS) and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) questionnaire score pre and post-drug therapy. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology after getting approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee (No MC/190/2007/Pt1/MAR-2019/PG/123) dated 10/04/2019. It was an observational study for a period of 1 y. 172 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into 4 grades depending on their clinical manifestation. The severity of acne vulgaris and the quality of life were measured using the GAGS scale and the CADI questionnaire, respectively at the first visit and at the follow-up visit in all the grades of acne vulgaris. A correlation was done between the GAGS and the CADI score at the follow-up visit in all grades of acne. Results: It was observed that the GAGS score and the CADI score was significantly improved at the F/U visit (p<0.05) as compared to baseline in all the 4 grades of acne. A correlation between GAGS score and QoL using CADI scale was done using Pearson Parametric Correlation Test. In none of the groups, the correlation was significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: We can conclude from our study that following treatment with drugs, the clinical severity of acne decreased and there was also a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients

ANTI-DEPRESSANT EFFECT OF CEFTRIAXONE IN FORCED SWIMMING TEST AND IN TAIL SUSPENSION TEST IN MICE

Objective: Depression is a major psychiatric disorder affecting nearly 350 million people worldwide and imposes a substantial health burden on the society. Ceftriaxone has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in animals. It has also undergone trials as a treatment option for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This study was therefore undertaken to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of ceftriaxone in mice.Methods: Ceftriaxone was administered at three different doses (0.130, 0.195 and 0.260g/kg) to Swiss albino mice of either sex by intra peritoneal (i. p.) route. The period of immobility in control and drug-treated mice were recorded in forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The antidepressant effect of ceftriaxone indicated by the decrease in duration of immobility was compared to that of fluoxetine (0.020 g/kg, i. p.).Results: Ceftriaxone decreased the duration of immobility in mice. It showed a significant dose-dependent antidepressant effect. The antidepressant effect of 0.260g/kg of ceftriaxone was comparable to that of fluoxetine in the TST but not in the FST.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate antidepressant activity of Ceftriaxone. The study shows that ceftriaxone has additional action on the central nervous system other than neuroprotection. Ceftriaxone therapy in cases of encephalomeningitis and in various cases of hemorrhages in the brain can, therefore, prevent the development of depression in futur