Anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extract of mimosa pudica whole plant in rats

Background: Mimosa pudica is a traditionally used folk medicine to treat various disorders like infections, anxiety, depression, bleeding disorders, convulsions, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular pain, asthma, snake bite etc. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Mimosa pudica whole plant (HAEMPWP) in rats.Methods: HAEMPWP was prepared using Soxhlets apparatus. Acute toxicity tests were done with HAEMPWP given orally to albino rats in increasing doses up to 3200 mg/ kg body weight. The anti-inflammatory action was evaluated by Carrageenan induced paw edema method. Thirty albino rats were grouped into five groups and each contained six rats. Group I (control group) received distilled water orally. Group II (standard) received Aspirin orally dissolved in distilled water. Groups III, IV and V received HAEMPWP in doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800mg/kg orally dissolved in distilled water. Data analysis was done by one way ANOVA and unpaired t test using SPSS 16 for windows.Results: HAEMPWP showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity as compared to control. There was no statistically significant dose dependent increase in the anti-inflammatory activity.Conclusions: HAEMPWP possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity and could be an effective treatment option for various inflammatory conditions

Drug utilization pattern in Schizophrenia

Background: Pharmacotherapy is the mainstay of treatment in schizophrenia. The economic impact of this illness is wide ranging, long lasting and huge. The emergence of newer antipsychotics has changed the prescribing pattern. Purpose of this study is to determine the prescription pattern of antipsychotic drugs and to analyse the drug utilization in patients with schizophrenia based on WHO prescribing indicators.Methods: A descriptive study was conducted for a period of 1-year duration at inpatient Department of Psychiatry of a Government Medical College in Kerala, India among 230 schizophrenic patients. The case sheets of patients meeting inclusion criteria were scrutinised to find out the antipsychotic prescription pattern and drug utilization was analysed using WHO prescribing indicators. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics.Results: Newer antipsychotics (55.2%) were prescribed slightly more in preference to older antipsychotic (44.8%) drugs. Out of the newer drugs prescribed olanzapine (20.9%) was prescribed the most followed by risperidone (18%). Haloperidol (22.9%) was the most frequently prescribed older antipsychotic. Majority (71.3%) of the patients were given more than one antipsychotics during the hospital stay. Trihexyphenidyl (27.9%) was the most frequently co-prescribed drug with antipsychotics. Average number of drugs per encounter was 4.19, 73.4% of the drugs were prescribed in their generic name, 50.4% of the encounters were with an injection prescribed. 44.4%of the drugs were prescribed from the EDL (WHO-19th edition). Average drug cost per encounter was Rs.45.43. Percentage of drug cost spent on injections was 8.44%.Conclusions: Newer antipsychotics were more prescribed for schizophrenia of which olanzapine was the commonest. Newer antipsychotics are preferred because of their propensity to cause less side effects and more efficacy. Study of pattern of drug utilization is useful for measuring the economic impact of drug use among patients thereby facilitating rational prescribing

Comparative study of the toxicity of 5-fluorouracil-adriamycin-cyclophosphamide versus adriamycin-cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel in carcinoma breast

Context: When cure is possible treatment should be undertaken despite life-threatening toxicities. Fluorouracil-Adriamycin-Cyclophosphamide (FAC) and Adriamycin-Cyclophosphamide (AC-P) are two popular regimens used in the treatment of carcinoma breast and the data regarding the toxicity profile of the AC-P regimen is scarce in the South Indian population. Aims: To study the severity of different types of toxicities seen in patients on FAC and AC-P regimens, to grade the toxicity according to the World Health Organization (WHO) toxicity grading, and to compare the same. Settings and Design: A prospective observational study, with 50 patients in each regimen, was conducted in the Department of Radiotherapy between February 2007 and July 2008. Materials and Methods: The high risk patients received the AC-P regimen and the rest received the FAC regimen. The toxicities developed were graded according to the WHO guidelines. Statistical Analysis Used: The data was analyzed using the chi square test in SPSS 16. Results: Anemia, hyperpigmentation, stomatitis, and diarrhea were significantly high (P < 0.05) in patients receiving the FAC regimen, whereas, leukopenia, myalgia, arthralgia and peripheral neuropathy were significantly high (P <0.05) in patients receiving the AC-P regimen. The Karnofsky performance status was higher in patients receiving the AC-P regimen. Conclusions: Although both the regimens had different toxicity profiles the quality of life was better for patients on the AC-P regimen

Comparative study of the toxicity of 5-fluorouracil-adriamycin-cyclophosphamide versus adriamycin-cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel in carcinoma breast

Context: When cure is possible treatment should be undertaken despite life-threatening toxicities. Fluorouracil-Adriamycin-Cyclophosphamide (FAC) and Adriamycin-Cyclophosphamide (AC-P) are two popular regimens used in the treatment of carcinoma breast and the data regarding the toxicity profile of the AC-P regimen is scarce in the South Indian population. Aims: To study the severity of different types of toxicities seen in patients on FAC and AC-P regimens, to grade the toxicity according to the World Health Organization (WHO) toxicity grading, and to compare the same. Settings and Design: A prospective observational study, with 50 patients in each regimen, was conducted in the Department of Radiotherapy between February 2007 and July 2008. Materials and Methods: The high risk patients received the AC-P regimen and the rest received the FAC regimen. The toxicities developed were graded according to the WHO guidelines. Statistical Analysis Used: The data was analyzed using the chi square test in SPSS 16. Results: Anemia, hyperpigmentation, stomatitis, and diarrhea were significantly high (P &lt; 0.05) in patients receiving the FAC regimen, whereas, leukopenia, myalgia, arthralgia and peripheral neuropathy were significantly high (P &lt;0.05) in patients receiving the AC-P regimen. The Karnofsky performance status was higher in patients receiving the AC-P regimen. Conclusions: Although both the regimens had different toxicity profiles the quality of life was better for patients on the AC-P regimen