Potential anti-seizure activity of atorvastatin in rat models of seizure

Background: Atorvastatin belongs to the class of Hypolipidemic statins. Increasing evidence indicates that statins are neuroprotective in several conditions, including stroke, cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain injury. However, only scanty and controversial reports are available on anticonvulsant action of statins. The present study therefore aims at exploring the influence of atorvastatin on seizures as compared to standard anticonvulsants phenytoin and sodium valproate in Wistar rats.Methods: Rats were divided into 8 groups (n=6), each treated intraperitoneally (i.p) with atorvastatin, phenytoin or sodium valproate in their therapeutic equivalent doses. Their effects were evaluated on seizures induced by maximum electroshock seizure (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Hind limb extension (HLE) in MES model, number of seizures, duration of seizure, number of myoclonic jerks and time for onset as well as recovery from seizures in PTZ model were monitored. Statistical analysis was done using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test for significance.Results: Atorvastatin failed to protect rats against HLE in MES seizure model. However, atorvastatin significantly prolonged seizure onset time (p<0.0547), decreased seizure number (p<0.0082), seizure duration (p<0.0547) and recovery time (p<0.0040) in PTZ model indicating its potential antiepileptic activity in PTZ model.Conclusions: Atorvastatin exhibited protection against seizures only in PTZ seizure model. Hence, it could possess anti absence seizure activity. This needs to be established with further systematic animal and clinical studies

The study of causes, mode of delivery in intrauterine fetal death and associated complications

Background: Intra uterine fetal death (IUFD) is defined as the baby born with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks of gestation. It is important to diagnose the cause in order to avoid further recurrence and to treat any maternal associated factors. The aim of the present study was to calculate incidence of IUFD in our hospital and know the causes, mode of delivery, associated complications. So we can take measures to prevent them in future.Methods: The retrospective study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Kanachur Medical College, Mangalore from January 2017 to January 2020. The women with confirmed diagnosis of IUFD on Ultrasound and beyond 28 weeks of gestation were included in the study.Results: In the study period, total 2026 patients delivered, of which 40 cases were IUFD, hence our incidence rate was 19.74 per 1000 population. 62.5% cases were multigravida. 15% had previous history of abortions while 5% previously had IUFD. In 37.5% cases, the cause was unknown, followed by 22.5% having pregnancy induced hypertension. Anemia contributed to 17.5% and placental causes in 12.5%. 10% of the women had PPH. One patient had sepsis, followed by acute renal failure and later died of multi organ failure.Conclusions: All the causes are not preventable, many of them can be identified early in pregnancy and thus IUFD can be prevented. All the high risk pregnancies should undergo antenatal fetal surveillance and should have frequent ante natal visits to reduce IUFD rates

A KAP study of pharmacovigilance among junior residents and interns of a tertiary care hospital

Background: Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other possible drug-related problems. An “adverse drug reaction” is any noxious, unintended and undesired effect of a drug, which occurs at a dose used in humans for prophylaxis, diagnosis, therapy or modification of physiological functions. Reporting of adverse events and adverse drug reactions is the commonest method utilized for generating safety data. Lack of awareness about Pharmacovigilance is one of the most important causes of such under-reporting. Spontaneous reporting system is considered the main mechanism of pharmacovigilance study for gathering information about ADRs. Hence this study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Pharmacovigilance among junior residents and interns in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 134 doctors using pre-validated 20 item questionnaire with details of participant’s information followed by questions regarding knowledge, attitude and prescribing practice of pharmacovigilance was used as a tool, administrated to all the resident doctors and the collected data was analysed.Results: Our study revealed that knowledge about pharmacovigilance was not adequate to JRs and INTs. Survey results revealed that the knowledge of pharmacovigilance among doctors 63 (88.73%) JR and 49 (77.78%) INTs had a knowledge score of less than 50%. This shows that only few doctors are aware about the pharmacovigilance programme. The assessment of questionnaire based on attitude regarding pharmacovigilance shows that 21 (29.58%) JR and 17 (26.98%) of INTs had attitude score of 70% and above. The attitude score was less compared to the knowledge score of JRs and INTs. 52 JR and 58 INTs stated that they have not been trained on how to report ADRs and basic orientation about pharmacovigilance which hinders the process of practicing pharmacovigilance. Conclusions: For the success of Pharmacovigilance programmes only knowledge and attitude regarding Pharmacovigilance is not enough as is evident from our study. Success of Pharmacovigilance programmes depend also upon the effective practice of Pharmacovigilance by healthcare professionals

Cancer awareness among females of urban slums in their reproductive age group

Background: Cancer is major public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. The prevalence of cancer is increasing in developing world due to increase in life expectancy, increased urbanization and adoption of western life styles. Thus, the present study was carried out to assess the extent of awareness towards cancer among women of urban slums in their reproductive age group. Methods:Community based cross sectional study was carried outby interviewing women of reproductive age group residing in urban slums using pre-designed and pre-tested proforma to assess awareness towards cancer. Descriptive statistics was applied to assess the awareness level and the association between two attributes was calculated bychi-square test. Results: A total of 182 women were interviewed. Out of which 39.56% were in 20-24 years age group. 46.15% were housewives and most of them belonged to middle class families. Though the knowledge regarding cancer, especially about modes of transmission, symptoms and laboratory diagnosis was found satisfactory but was accompanied by misconceptions. 71.43% women were aware about its prevention, mostly by changing life styles and by getting screening done at regular intervals. Conclusion: Thus, impetus has to be laid upon screening regarding cancer during reproductive age group and enlightenment of the women about cancer screening centres available at the hospitals, so as to heighten the knowledge of facilities for a better reproductive life

Rapid detection of Ganoderma lucidum and assessment of inhibition effect of various control measures by immunoassay and PCR

Molecular and immunological methods have been applied for detecting the Ganoderma disease of coconut. Polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) raised against basidiocarp protein of Ganoderma were used for detection. For polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, the primer generated from the internal transcribed spacer region one (ITS 1) of ribosomal DNA gene of Ganoderma, which produced a PCR product of 167 bp in size is used for early detection. Ganoderma disease in apparently healthy palms in two coconut gardens was tested by ELISA test using basidiocarp protein antiserum. Field trials were laid out in these early-diagnosed palms for the management of the disease. Based on the ELISA results,Pseudomonas fluorescens + Trichoderma viride with chitin amended treatments arrested the multiplication of the pathogen and showed below the infection level of optical density (O.D) within six months. Integrated disease management (IDM) and fungicide tridemorph treated palms showed below infection level (O.D value) within seven months and T. harzianum and P. fluorescens + T. viride treatedpalms showed below infection level (OD value) of the disease in eighth months

Bounded Search for de Novo Identification of Degenerate Cis-Regulatory Elements

The identification of statistically overrepresented sequences in the upstream regions of coregulated genes should theoretically permit the identification of potential cis-regulatory elements. However, in practice many cis-regulatory elements are highly degenerate, precluding the use of an exhaustive word-counting strategy for their identification. While numerous methods exist for inferring base distributions using a position weight matrix, recent studies suggest that the independence assumptions inherent in the model, as well as the inability to reach a global optimum, limit this approach