Pattern of adverse drug reactions reported at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Punjab

Background: This study was undertaken to characterize the pattern of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported through spontaneous reporting system at ADR reporting unit in a tertiary care teaching hospital (Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar).Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted over one year between 1st July, 2013 and 30th June, 2014. The ADRs reported were from patients attending outpatient department (OPD) and in-patient department (IPD) of this hospital. Evaluation of the data was done for various parameters which included patient demographics, drug and ADR characteristics and outcome of the ADRs. Causality and severity assessment was done by WHO-UMC system and modified Hartwig and Siegel criteria.Results: A total of 202 ADRs which were reported over one year were evaluated. Overall ADRs were more common in females than in males (60.2% vs. 39.8%). Majority of the ADRs were reported from psychiatry department (50%). Most ADRs occurred due to antidepressant drugs (55.1%). Majority of the ADRs involved the central nervous system (25.24%). Upon causality and severity assessment, majority of the reports were rated as probable (57.42%) and mild (57.92%). None of the ADRs were severe or fatal.Conclusions: In conclusion, majority of the ADRs were reported by psychiatry department and occurred due to antidepressant drugs. Most of the ADRs were mild. This data reveals the need for regular spontaneous reporting by healthcare professionals of all specialties. This data also reveals the opportunities for interventions and policy initiatives to ensure safer use of drugs in future

An Efficient MDC based Set Partitioned Embedded Block Image Coding

In this paper, fast, efficient, simple and widely used Set Partitioned Embedded bloCK based coding is done onMultiple Descriptions of transformed image. The maximum potential of this type of coding can be exploited with discretewavelet transform (DWT) of images. Two correlated descriptions are generated from a wavelet transformed imageto ensure meaningful transmission of the image over noise prone wireless channels. These correlated descriptions areencoded by set partitioning technique through SPECK coders and transmitted over wireless channels. Quality ofreconstructed image at the decoder side depends upon the number of descriptions received. More the number ofdescriptions received at output side, more enhance the quality of reconstructed image. However, if any of the multipledescription is lost, the receive can estimate it exploiting the correlation between the descriptions. The simulationsperformed on an image on MATLAB gives decent performance and results even after half of the descriptions islost in transmissio

To study the anti-hypertensive and lipid-lowering effects of garlic as add-on therapy to amlodipine in patients of hypertension with obesity

Background: To study the anti-hypertensive and lipid-lowering effect of aged garlic extract as add-on therapy to amlodipine in patients of hypertension with obesity.Methods: A randomized, prospective, open-labelled study of 90 days duration was undertaken at department of pharmacology, SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar. Patients of hypertension with obesity attending out-patient department of Medicine, SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar and fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Patients were allocated into two groups treated with either amlodipine alone or Aged Garlic Extract (capsule in dose of 250 mg twice daily) along with amlodipine. A total of 60 patients successfully completed the study.Results: At the end of study period of 90 days, a highly significant (p0.05) between these two groups. There was a non-significant change (p>0.05) in lipid profile (serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) in patients taking only amlodipine but a significant reduction (p<0.05) in serum triglycerides, LDL and VLDL parameters of lipid profile in patients taking AGE along with amlodipine. Weight and BMI also reduced significantly (p<0.01) in patients taking AGE along with amlodipine.Conclusions: AGE has been shown to have anti-hypertensive and lipid-lowering properties suggesting that garlic can be valuable agent in patients having hypertension with obesity

Comparative analysis of epinastine vs olopatadine eye drops in moderate allergic conjunctivitis patients

Background: Allergic conjunctivitis is a perennial ocular allergic disease. It is the inflammatory response of the conjunctiva to allergens such as pollen, animal dander, and other environmental allergens. The treatment consists of avoidance of the offending antigen, topical decongestants, antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids.Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% ophthalmic solution (Patanol) and Epinastine hydrochloride 0.05% ophthalmic solution (Elestat) are two topical ant allergic agents.Methods: After taking institutional ethics committee approval, total n= 62 (33, 29) patients were enrolled. Patients were randomized and divided into two study groups (1-olopatadine, 2-epinastine). After prescribing the drug therapy (day 1), patients were asked to visit at 3,7,15 day and at 1month. At every visit, slit lamp examination was done. Changes in all sign/symptoms were recorded. For the statistical testing of the data Chi-square test is used to find the association of variable. Mann Whitney -u test is applied for the statistically analysing the two group.Results: Both the study drugs found to be equally efficacious except at few points. Only statistically marked difference was observed in papillary hyperaemia (p<0.001) at 1 month where olopatadine found to be highly effective.Conclusions: Both drugs are found to be equally effective in moderate allergic conjunctivitis. Olopatadine is found effective in palpebral hyperaemia so it can be recommended in only moderate to severe conjunctivitis

Synthesis and characterization of novel pyrazolone derivatives

The reactivity of hydrogen atoms at C-4 of pyrazolone 3 towards condensation reactions was studied by its reaction with p-anisaldehyde, malononitrile and/or ethyl acetoacetate in the presence of ammonium acetate and/or piperidine, glucose, phenyl isothiocyanate, 2-amino thiazole and aniline to afford compounds 4-6, 13, 15, 17 and 18, respectively. Reaction of amino carbonitrile 4 with ammonium thiocyanate, and formamide afforded compound 7 and pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridinylformamide, 9. Reaction of compound 7 with hydrazine hydrate gave thiocyanato-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-6-amine derivative, 8. Acetylation of amino carbonitriles 4 and 5 afforded compound 10 and 11, respectively. Reaction of compound 11 with hydrazine hydrate afforded azanediyl compound 12. The pyrazolone 19 reacted with different nitrogen nucleophiles such as hydrazine hydrate, urea, thiourea and hydroxylamine hydrochloride to afford compounds 22-25. The reactivity of pyrazolone 19 as an α,β-unsaturated compound towards several carbon nucleophiles under Michael reaction was studied by its reaction with ethyl acetoacetate, ethyl cyanoacetate, and malononitrile under different reaction conditions and pyrazolone 3 to afford compounds 26-32, respectively. Synthesis of amino carbonitriles 5, pyrazolone 19 and pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyrazole 22 were carried out under microwave irradiation. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral data

To study the antihyperglycaemic and lipid lowering effect of garlic as an adjunct to metformin in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with obesity

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiology characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia associated with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. The treatment constitutes  lifestyle management, exercise, weight control and antihyperglycaemic drugs like sulfonylureas, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, and meglitinide. Garlic has shown to have anti-hyperglycaemic and lipid lowering effects in various animal and human studies. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the antihyperglycaemic and lipid-lowering properties of Garlic in type2 diabetes patients with obesity.Methods: This was an open labelled prospective comparative study conducted on Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with obesity where a total of 60 patients divided into two groups of 30 each (of either sex) were enrolled. Group 1 was given Tab. metformin 500mg BD/TDS after meals. Group 2 was given Tab. metformin in a dose of 500mg BD/TDS after meals along with Cap. Garlic (Allium sativum) 250mg BD. Patients were routinely investigated for fasting blood sugar, HbA1c and lipid profile i.e. Serum Cholesterol, HDL-C, Triglycerides and LDL-C at the start of the study. Patients were followed up at an interval of two weeks upto 12 weeks. Data obtained at the end of the study was statistically analysed using Student’s –t test.Results: It was observed that both metformin and garlic reduced FBG and HbA1c significantly but percentage reduction in FBG was more with garlic but, change in HbA1c was not significant. Fall in total CHL, TG, LDL and an increase in HDL were more pronounced in patients treated with Garlic when given along with Metformin.Conclusions: Therefore, garlic showed better results as an antihyperglycaemic and lipid lowering agent

Determinants of Users’ Satisfaction Regarding Mobile Operators in Bangladesh: An Exploratory Factor Analysis Approach on University Students

Customer satisfaction is an important issue in current marketing field. This paper basically prepared based on 444 respondents (University Students) to understand which factors make them most satisfied toward their using cell phone operator’s service. Five major cell phone operators (Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, Airtel, and Teletalk) have been picked up along with 28 service items (Such as call charge rate, network facility, various offers, balance transfer system etc.) The study is conducted by factor analysis to identify the major factors that influencing users’ satisfaction. The study attained 7 factors as-Various Offers, Charge Rate, Digital Services, Internet Services, Recharge Facilities, Network Coverage and Customer Care Services. The study reveals that users (University Students) have more emphasis on various offers. The findings confirmed that Various Offers, Charge Rate, Digital Services, Internet Services, Recharge Facilities, Network Coverage and customer Care Services contribute strongly to generating customer satisfaction. From the study cell phone operators of Bangladesh can get a specific view about the factors that directly influence customer satisfaction especially the University students’ demands. Keywords: Users’ Satisfaction, Cell Phone Operators, Factor Analysis, Banglades

Optical Flow Approach for Real-Time Crowd Activity Identification Using Segmentation

This research introduces an optical flow approach for real-time crowd activity identification using segmentation methods. The methodology focuses on utilizing the optical flow field to analyze motion patterns within crowd scenes, thereby segmenting the scene into coherent motion regions for activity identification. Through clustering of optical flow vectors, distinct motion regions are delineated, facilitating the identification of various crowd activities such as walking, running, and gathering.Efficient algorithms for optical flow computation and segmentation are implemented to ensure real-time performance. The research is validated through implementation and testing on diverse crowd scenes, demonstrating its efficacy in accurately identifying different crowd activities in real time. Experimental results showcase the superiority of the optical flow-based segmentation method over traditional techniques in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency, thus presenting a promising solution for real-time crowd activity identification systems

Study of Fatal Firearm Cases in Allahabad Region, India

Abstract This study was done to assess the pattern of firearm injuries in Allahabad amongst medicolegal autopsies in the mortuary of Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, MotiLal Nehru Medical College, India. It was a descriptive study including fatal cases of firearm injury which underwent autopsy from 1st of January 2015 to 30th July 2016. The demographic information regarding the victims was obtained from the inquest report, person accompanying the victim, their friends and relatives. Autopsy reports were also used to gather additional information. Parameters studied included age and sex of the victim, site of firearm injury and manner of death. In our study, out of 4,445 autopsies, 63 were cases of firearm injury. From these cases, 58 were homicidal, 3 were suicidal, and 1 was accidental. The results show that the age group most commonly affected was 31-40 years (26.98%). Male to female ratio was 6.9:1. The most common targeted part of the body was the chest (61.0%)