IMPACT OF PATIENT COUNSELING ON HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE IN ASTHMA AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE PATIENTS

Objective: This study evaluated the impact of clinical pharmacist-led intervention in health knowledge and medication adherence of Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Methods: Questionnaires were designed to assess Health knowledge for Asthma and COPD separately. Medication adherence was measured by using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8. Pre-counseling patient responses were recorded. Patient counseling was given regarding the disease condition, medications, and medication use at baseline visit. Patient responses were re-measured upon follow-up visit. The data extracted were tabulated, statistically analyzed and the results were obtained. Results: A total of 141 patients completed the study. Before counseling, the mean (±standard deviation) of knowledge and adherence levels were found to be 8.51±3.36 and 5.01±2.11, respectively. After counseling, they increased up to 12.72±2.16 for knowledge (p<0.0001) and 6.60±1.35 (p<0.0001) for medication adherence. The majority of subjects had about 11–30% increase in knowledge as well as medication adherence. Male patients were more adherent to their medication regime than females. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the positive impact of education and counseling provided by a clinical pharmacist in achieving better therapeutic outcomes – through improvement in medication adherence and health knowledge. In conclusion, continuous education programs and patient counseling should be conducted for chronic diseases to reiterate the importance of medication adherence and, in turn, prevent recurrences, arrest disease progression, minimize hospitalization, and ultimately improve quality of life

INVESTIGATION OF THE NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF LINAGLIPTIN AND CELIPROLOL IN RESERPINE-INDUCED OROFACIAL DYSKINESIA AND ROTENONE-INDUCED NEURODEGENERATION IN RATS

Objective: Linagliptin, an anti-diabetic agent, proven to play an important role in regulating neuronal plasticity and reduce apoptosis and neuroinflammation by activating downstream AMPK/Sirt 1 pathway, which protects mitochondrial function and suppresses intracellular ROS accumulation and shows antioxidant action. Celiprolol, a β-1selective adrenoceptor blocker used as an anti-hypertensive agent, possesses a direct scavenging activity on oxygen radicals with antioxidant properties. The current study was designed to investigate the combined neuroprotective effect of linagliptin and celiprolol. Methods: Wistar rats of either sex were divided into different groups (n = 6). Eight groups each for Reserpine induced orofacial dyskinesia model and Rotenone induced neurodegeneration model to mimic Parkinson’s like conditions and treated or not with different doses of linagliptin and celiprolol. 24 h after the last dose, animals were subjected to behavioral, biochemical and histopathological evaluations. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Bonferroni multiple comparison test. Results: Reserpine treatment increased VCMs, tongue protrusion and decreased locomotor activity. Rotenone treatment decreases the motor activity and exploratory ability of the animals. Reserpine as well as rotenone treatments decrease catalase, GSH, SOD and increase the LPO levels as compared to sham group animals. Reserpine and rotenone also showed the presence of ghost cells and vacuolated cytoplasm. Linagliptin and celiprolol alone as well as in combination normalized the behavioral, biochemical and histopathological complications. Conclusion: Linagliptin and Celiprolol showed neuroprotection by antioxidant activity as well as improved reserpine and rotenone-induced behavioral deficits. Both drugs have tenacious potential and can be used clinically with some further investigations

EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF SYMPLOCOS RACEMOSA BARK AGAINST HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Objective: To investigate in vitro anticancer activity of different extracts of bark of Symplocos racemosa against hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods: Different successive extracts of Symplocos racemosa bark were prepared using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water and were tested in vitro for cytotoxicity using (3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay in rat normal liver cells (BRL-3A) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B) cells.Results: Ethyl acetate and chloroform extract of Symplocos racemosa exhibited cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B) cells in vitro with IC50 value (µg/ml) of 63.45 and 75.55 respectively and not affected the normal liver (BRL-3A) cells.Conclusion: Symplocos racemosa bark extracts showed potential cytotoxic effects on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The anticancer activity exhibited by ethyl acetate and chloroform extract might be due to presence of phenolics and flavonoid constituents present in the bark. Ethyl acetate extract can further be explored for possible cytotoxic activity using in vivo models of liver cancer.Â

Experimental observation of extreme multistability in an electronic system of two coupled R\"{o}ssler oscillators

We report the first experimental observation of extreme multistability in a controlled laboratory investigation. Extreme multistability arises when infinitely many attractors coexist for the same set of system parameters. The behavior was predicted earlier on theoretical grounds, supported by numerical studies of models of two coupled identical or nearly identical systems. We construct and couple two analog circuits based on a modified coupled R\"{o}ssler system and demonstrate the occurrence of extreme multistability through a controlled switching to different attractor states purely through a change in initial conditions for a fixed set of system parameters. Numerical studies of the coupled model equations are in agreement with our experimental findings.Comment: to be published in Phys. Rev.

Open appendicectomy stump: invaginate or not to invaginate?

Acute appendicitis remains the most common abdominal surgical emergency. Appendicectomy is the standard treatment of acute appendicitis, which performed by open or laparoscopic approach. During open method, after removal of appendix, stump simple ligation or simple ligation and invagination. A prospective randomized study conducted at Smt SCL General Hospital, Smt NHL municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad between October 2009 to September 2011 to evaluate the necessity of appendicular stump invagination during appendicectomy. A total 110 patients were studied and randomized into two group, Group I stump simple ligation, transfixation and invagination and Group II stump simple ligation and transfixation only. There was no statically significant difference in the rate of postoperative complication and post operative hospital stay between the two groups. The mean operating time was significantly shorter in group without invagination. The rate of postoperative paralytic ileus was more in group I. We conclude that simple ligation of the appendicular stump during appendicectomy is safe, simple and shortens operating time

Impact Monitoring of the National Scale Up of Zinc Treatment for Childhood Diarrhea in Bangladesh: Repeat Ecologic Surveys

Charles Larson and colleagues find that 23 months into a national campaign to scale up zinc treatment for diarrhea in children under age 5 years, only 10% of children with diarrhea in rural areas and 20%–25% in urban/municipal areas were getting the treatment

Experimental Investigations of Alpha Particle Irradiation of Natural Nickel

Attempts have been made to measure the activity in irradiated natural Ni material induced by α-particles in the energy range 10-40 MeV followed by stack foil activation technique. Activity induced has been determined through the cross-sections obtained from various reactions for 58Ni(α, p)61Cu, 58Ni(α,  pn)60Cu, 60Ni(α, p2n)61Cu, 60Ni(α, n)63Zn, 60Ni(α, 2n)62Zn,61Ni(α, 3n)62Zn and 61Ni(α, 2n)63Zn in α+natNi interaction at different beam energies has been found to vary from 10-26 microns

Experimental Investigations of Alpha Particle Irradiation of Natural Nickel

386-390Attempts have been made to measure the activity in irradiated natural Ni material induced by α-particles in the energy range 10-40 MeV followed by stack foil activation technique. Activity induced has been determined through the cross-sections obtained from various reactions for 58Ni(α, p)61Cu, 58Ni(α,  pn)60Cu, 60Ni(α, p2n)61Cu, 60Ni(α, n)63Zn, 60Ni(α, 2n)62Zn,61Ni (α, 3n)62Zn and 61Ni(α, 2n)63Zn in α+natNi interaction at different beam energies has been found to vary from 10-26 microns