EVALUATION OF BURN WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF TOPICAL REGULAR INSULIN IN NON-DIABETIC AND STREPTOZOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: The role of insulin in the regulation of energy metabolism, protein synthesis, cell differentiation and growth suggests that this hormone could also play an essential role in regulation of wound healing. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of topical insulin administration on burn wound healing in both non-diabetic and streptozocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Methods: Wound healing activity was assessed by burn-wound model. This study was conducted using six groups of Wistar strain adult rats of either sex (n = 6). First three groups were non-diabetic (ND) rats and the other three had diabetic (D) rats: (i) ND control (sterile water); (ii) ND standard (silver sulfadiazine cream); (iii) ND test (topical Insulin); (iv) D control (sterile water); (v) D standard (silver sulfadiazine cream); (vi) D test (topical insulin). Wound healing was assessed by wound contraction rate and complete epithelialization time. Results: There was significant (p<0.05) delay in wound healing in diabetic rats when compared to normal rats. It was found that topical insulin administration enhanced burn wound healing by shortening the time needed for complete epithelialization in the non-diabetic and diabetic group. Conclusion: This study revealed that topical insulin application to partial thickness burn wounds accelerates wound healing in rats with or without acute diabetes

Students’ attitude toward didactic lecture versus problem-based learning in pharmacology: a questionnaire based study

Background: The study was conducted to assess student attitude toward learning by didactic lectures versus problem-based learning (PBL).Methods: A questionnaire containing 11 statements was distributed to the students. Statements ranged from general information on lectures and PBL to benefits of lecture-based learning (LBL) over PBL and vice versa. The students were asked to score each individual statement. The median total scores and median with inter-quartile range of individual statements was calculated. A comparison between questions that support LBL or PBL was performed. Student t-test was employed to compare the mean scores of different groups.Results: Two hundred and seven students participated in this questionnaire study. The individual median total score was 42 when compared with possible total score of 55. There was a statistically significant (p<0.05) difference between the total score (mean±standard deviation) for the questions related to LBL (3.2391±0.05120) and those related to PBL (4.0640±0.05688).Conclusion: The score for PBL was significantly higher than LBL showing that students liked PBL more than LBL

Adverse drug reactions and cost effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and neurotropic drugs in patients with low back pain

Background: The objective was to evaluate the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and cost effectiveness of different classes of drugs in therapy of low back pain.Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out over a period of 12 months (November 2012 to November 2013) in which a total of 300 patients with low back pain were enrolled and divided equally into three groups – Group 1 (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]), Group 2 (NSAIDs ± muscle relaxant), and Group 3 (NSAIDs ± muscle relaxant ± neurotropic drugs). Any ADR developed after the initiation of treatment at 3 weeks and 6 weeks was noted. Prescription cost per day was also calculated.Results: There was a male predominance in the study population with a mean age of 39.76±9.40 years. A total of 262 ADRs were noted among which most were seen in Group 3 (119 ADRs). Gastritis was the most common ADR in Group 1. Drowsiness was the most common ADR in Group 2 (30%) and 3 (46%). Prescription cost per day was highest in Group 3 (30.28±11.24 Indian Rupee [INR]) followed by Group 2 (25.92±8.66 INR) and Group 1 (12.22±3.38 INR).Conclusion: Patient on combination of three drugs (NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and neurotropic agents) had maximum ADRs and their prescription cost per day was highest among the three groups

Modulation of Serotonin Transporter Function during Fetal Development Causes Dilated Heart Cardiomyopathy and Lifelong Behavioral Abnormalities

BACKGROUND: Women are at great risk for mood and anxiety disorders during their childbearing years and may become pregnant while taking antidepressant drugs. In the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently prescribed drugs, while it is largely unknown whether this medication affects the development of the central nervous system of the fetus. The possible effects are the product of placental transfer efficiency, time of administration and dose of the respective SSRI. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In order to attain this information we have setup a study in which these parameters were measured and the consequences in terms of physiology and behavior are mapped. The placental transfer of fluoxetine and fluvoxamine, two commonly used SSRIs, was similar between mouse and human, indicating that the fetal exposure of these SSRIs in mice is comparable with the human situation. Fluvoxamine displayed a relatively low placental transfer, while fluoxetine showed a relatively high placental transfer. Using clinical doses of fluoxetine the mortality of the offspring increased dramatically, whereas the mortality was unaffected after fluvoxamine exposure. The majority of the fluoxetine-exposed offspring died postnatally of severe heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy. Molecular analysis of fluoxetine-exposed offspring showed long-term alterations in serotonin transporter levels in the raphe nucleus. Furthermore, prenatal fluoxetine exposure resulted in depressive- and anxiety-related behavior in adult mice. In contrast, fluvoxamine-exposed mice did not show alterations in behavior and serotonin transporter levels. Decreasing the dose of fluoxetine resulted in higher survival rates and less dramatic effects on the long-term behavior in the offspring. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that prenatal fluoxetine exposure affects fetal development, resulting in cardiomyopathy and a higher vulnerability to affective disorders in a dose-dependent manner

Fluoxetine during Development Reverses the Effects of Prenatal Stress on Depressive-Like Behavior and Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Adolescence

Depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period is a growing health problem, which affects up to 20% of women. Currently, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) medications are commonly used for treatment of maternal depression. Unfortunately, there is very little research on the long-term effect of maternal depression and perinatal SSRI exposure on offspring development. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the role of exposure to fluoxetine during development on affective-like behaviors and hippocampal neurogenesis in adolescent offspring in a rodent model of maternal depression. To do this, gestationally stressed and non-stressed Sprague-Dawley rat dams were treated with either fluoxetine (5 mg/kg/day) or vehicle beginning on postnatal day 1 (P1). Adolescent male and female offspring were divided into 4 groups: 1) prenatal stress+fluoxetine exposure, 2) prenatal stress+vehicle, 3) fluoxetine exposure alone, and 4) vehicle alone. Adolescent offspring were assessed for anxiety-like behavior using the Open Field Test and depressive-like behavior using the Forced Swim Test. Brains were analyzed for endogenous markers of hippocampal neurogenesis via immunohistochemistry. Results demonstrate that maternal fluoxetine exposure reverses the reduction in immobility evident in prenatally stressed adolescent offspring. In addition, maternal fluoxetine exposure reverses the decrease in hippocampal cell proliferation and neurogenesis in maternally stressed adolescent offspring. This research provides important evidence on the long-term effect of fluoxetine exposure during development in a model of maternal adversity

Izloženost štakora niskim razinama olova tijekom fetalnog i ranoga postnatalnog razvoja šteti učenju pasivnim izbjegavanjem kazne kasnije u odrasloj dobi

This follow-up study investigated the effects of low-level lead exposure during prenatal and early postnatal period on learning and memory in rats immediately after exposure has ceased at weaning and later in their adulthood. Male Wistar-derived rats were exposed to lead (as 0.2 % lead acetate solution) through their mothers during pregnancy and lactation until they were weaned. Mothers of control rats were given tap water during pregnancy and lactation. All pups were weaned on tap water at 21 days of age and were followed up until 120 days old. Low-level lead exposure did not affect their body weight at any time during the experiment. Blood lead in the exposed rats was significantly higher on postnatal day 22 and dropped to control values by day 120. Passive avoidance test showed impaired memory retention in the exposed rats on postnatal days 25 and 120. This suggests that exposure to low-lead levels during foetal and early postnatal development of brain tissue can cause memory impairment that lasts into adulthood.Cilj je ovoga prospektivnog istraživanja bio utvrditi kako izloženost niskim razinama olova tijekom gestacije i ranoga postnatalnog razvoja utječe na učenje i pamćenje u štakora odmah nakon prestanka izloženosti (odbijanjem od sise) te kasnije u odrasloj dobi. Mužjaci štakora izloženi su olovu u obliku 0,2 %-tne otopine olovova acetata preko majke tijekom gestacije te za cijeloga trajanja laktacije sve do odbijanja od sise. Sve to vrijeme majke kontrolnih štakora dobivale su vodu iz pipe. Svi su štakorčići odbijeni od sise 21 dan nakon okota i otada piju vodu iz pipe. Praćeni su do 120. dana života. Izloženost niskim razinama olova nije dovela do razlika u tjelesnoj težini između izloženih i kontrolnih štakorčića. Razine olova u krvi bile su značajno više u izloženih štakora 22 dana od okota, da bi do 120. dana pale na razinu u kontrolnih štakora. Test pasivnoga izbjegavanja pokazao je oštećenje pamćenja u izloženih štakora 25. i 120. dana nakon okota. To potvrđuje da izloženost niskim razinama olova tijekom fetalnoga i ranoga postnatalnog razvoja moždanog tkiva može dovesti to oštećenja u pamćenju koje traje sve do odrasle dobi

The effect of sodium valproate on the biochemical parameters of reproductive function in male albino Wistar rats

Objective: To assess the effects of sodium valproate on intratesticular testosterone and lactic dehydrogenase level in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats (12 weeks old) were treated with sodium valproate and sacrificed at the end of the 2 nd , 4 th , 5 th , 7 th , 10 th and 15 th week, after the last exposure to sodium valproate. The testes were removed, weighed and processed for biochemical analysis. Results: The intratesticular testosterone level was significantly (P< 0.001) reduced in 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg treated rats. The intratesticular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was significantly (P< 0.001) increased by valproate in a time dependent manner. Conclusion: Valproate causes reversible change in intratesticular testosterone and LDH level