Awareness of adverse drug reactions reporting among doctors in a tertiary care centre

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADR) are more commonly observed during treatment course in a substantial number of patients. Though we have a functioning pharmacovigilance programme in India, we have only fewer number of adverse drug reactions being reported indicating lack of awareness, the unsure attitude and reluctance in reporting adverse drug reactions.Methods: We conducted a cross sectional pretested questionnaire based study for a period of six months. 600 questionnaires were distributed. 521 responded back to the questionnaire of which 29.6% were interns, 56.8% were junior residents, 5.2% doctors were senior residents, and 8.4% were Assistant professors. Awareness on ADR reporting, ADRs encountered in practice, common causative drugs for ADR, and awareness on the functions of Pharmacovigilance programme of India were assessed.Results: 44.9% were not aware of the pharmacovigilance programme; 59.5% of the study population were not aware of the voluntary reporting of ADRs. 100% of the doctors who participated actively in the study responded that have not reported any ADR so far under pharmacovigilance programme of India. 88.1% of the doctors who participated in the study were willing to undergo a training on ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance.Conclusions: This study concludes that serious measures have to be taken to educate the doctors on ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance. By means of involving pharmacovigilance as a part of the undergraduate programme and by organising regular workshops, group discussion and continuous medical education, we can improve the awareness among doctors regarding ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance

Analgesic activity of aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius in Swiss albino mice

Background: Pain is defined as an unpleasant feeling caused by intense or damaging stimuli. Amorphophallus paeoniifolius known as “Elephant foot yam” is a highly potential tropical tuber crop of Araceae family. The tubers are used as antihaemorrhoidal, haemostatic, expectorant, appetizer, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac and rejuvenating agent. Diclofenac, a COX inhibitor is used as analgesic widely. Analgesic activity of alcoholic extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius has been proved in previous animal studies.Methods: Swiss Albino mice of either sex (20-30g) were procured from the central animal house of KFMS&R, Coimbatore. Animals were maintained under controlled temperature and light conditions with food and water ad libitum. Mice were kept in the department to get acclimatized. 24 mice were divided into 4 groups (n=6). Drugs were given orally after 12 hours of fasting. Group I was the control received normal saline, Group II received standard-diclofenac (25mg/kg). Group III and Group IV received aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg respectively.Results: The latency period of Group IV (aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius 400mg/kg) was significant (p<0.01) compared to Group I (controls) and Group II (standard) was significant (p<0.001) when compared to Group IV (aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius 400mg/kg) by hot plate method. In acetic acid induced writhing when compared to control, the percentage inhibition of aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius was 43.65% at 200mg/kg, 46.09% at 400mg/kg and that of the standard was 54.39%.Conclusions: It was concluded that aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius has analgesic activity due to peripheral and central inhibition of prostaglandins synthesis. The extract may have phytoconstituents which inhibit COX enzyme peripherally or act on central opioid receptors(µreceptors) for producing analgesia. It can be used as an add-on drug there by reducing side effects by conventional analgesics

Awareness Of Safety Measures In Chemistry Laboratory And Interest In Chemistry Practical Among Xi Standard Students

The purpose of the present investigation was to study the relationship among safety measures in a chemistry laboratory and interest in chemistry practical with reference to some selected variables like gender, area of residence, and medium of instruction. There exists a positive relationship between these two variables safety measures in a chemistry laboratory and interest in chemistry practical

Hydrogen bonding and tautomeric equilibria in Schiff bases derived from 2-amino pyridines: electronic spectral evidence for substituent effects

Schiff bases of the type C6H3(R)(OH) CH = NC5H3N(Y)[where R = H, 3-OCH3, 5,6-benzo, 3-CHO-5-CH3,5-CI, 5-Br, 5-CH3, 4-CH3, 3-nitro and 5-nitro and Y=H, 3-CH3 4-CH3, 5-CH3, 6-CH3, 4,6-demethyl and 5-CI) have now been, synthesised and evidence sought for the electronic interaction between the substituents R (in the benzene ring) and Y (in the pyridine ring) in the molecule. The effects of substituents R and Y on the strength of hydrogen bond between OH and CH = N, is coupled to keloenamine &#x21CC; phenoliminc equilibrium. The groups which increase the acidity of the phenolic hydroxyl and the, basicity of the azomethine nitrogen facilitate quinonoid structures with characteristic visible absorption bands in the region 400-600 nm. In those compounds where R = 5,6-benzo, the intensity and the energy of band ~400 nm show a correlation with the electron releasing tendency of Y. Thus there appears an electronic communication between the substituents R and Y causing deviations from the generally accepted model for schiff base structures

Physicochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of citrus peel essential oils

Essential oils are produced as secondary metabolites of aromatic plants and can be extracted from leaves, seeds or fruit peel of the plants. Citrus peel is a rich source of limonene which is antimicrobial in nature. The present study aimed to deal with the physicochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of citrus peel essential oil from Citrus reticulate (mandarin orange), Citrus limetta (mosambi) and Citrus limon (lemon).  The lemon peel oil had lower peroxide value (1.6 meq/kg of sample), saponification value (112.2 mg KOH/g of oil) and higher iodine value (116 gI2/100g oil) when compared with orange and mosambi peel essential oil. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity of citrus peel essential oil was measured  and the result indicated that the total antioxidant activity of lemon peel oil was 89.2 % Radical Scavenging activity (RSA). The antifungal activity was assessed by agar dilution method, whereas the antibacterial property was assessed by the agar diffusion method. Lemon peel oil recorded better antimicrobial properties with minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.3% against Aspergillus flavus MTCC 277, 0.2% for Penicillium  MTCC 1995 and Fusarium oxysporum MTCC 284. Likewise, the minimum inhibitory concentration of lemon peel oil against Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96 was 0.3%; Salmonella enterica MTCC 733 and Erwinia sp MTCC 2760 was 0.5%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 1688 and Escherichia coli MTCC 443 was 0.7%. This comparative study showed that lemon peel oil had better physicochemical and antioxidant property. Lemon peel oil can be used as a preservative in the food system as it exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activity

AN LC- MS/MS METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF OMEPRAZOLE ON PROTON PUMP INHIBITOR IN HUMAN PLASMA

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic method coupled with tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) was developed for the quantification of omeprazole in human plasma. Lansoprazole was used as internal standard with plasma samples, extracted using 10mM ammonium acetate. A centrifuged upper layer was then evaporated and reconstituted with Acetonitrile: mobile phase buffer 70:30%v/v. The reconstructed samples were injected into a C18 column purospher star 5µ. The mobile phase was composed of ACN: mobile phase buffer (5mm ammonium bicarbonate buffer) in the ratio of 70:30%v/v with flow rate 1.0mL/min. The mass spectrometer was operated using positive ion mode and turbo electro spray ionisation. Nitrogen was used as the nebulizer, curtain, collision and auxiliary gases. Using MS/MS with multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode, omeprazole was detected without severe interferences from plasma matrix. Detection of omeprazole in human plasma was accurate and precision. This method has been successfully applied to the study of omeprazole in human specimensKeywords: Proton pump inhibitor, omeprazole, lansoprazole, LC-MS/MS, liquid liquid  extractio

Generation of Groundwater Quality Index Map: A Case Study

Reliance on groundwater has been rapidly increasing, especially in the arid and semiarid regions, resulting in its overexploitation leading to deterioration of quality. Kurmapalli Vagu basin of Andhra Pradesh, a semi-critical region with respect to the stage of groundwater development is a good example. Its monitoring and assessment is imperative for devising preventive measures against health hazards. Groundwater samples from twenty five locations were collected and analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters in terms of Water Quality Index (WQI) to determine its suitability for drinking purposes. Seven locations were found to have WQI value within the limits. High values of WQI were mostly due to high content of Fluorides. WQI Contour map was generated to study spatial distribution of quality of groundwater. Suitable remedial measures and groundwater augmenting structures are proposed in the study area to improve the quality of groundwater. Keywords: Groundwater, WQI, Fluorosis, Groundwater augmenting structures

A case of valproate induced non-hepatic hyperammonemic encephalopathy

Sodium valproate is a broad spectrum anticonvulsant. Valproate induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy with normal liver function is a serious, but less common entity

Assessment of Neuropharmacological Profile of Ethanolic Extract of Lawsonia Inermis Flowers

On preliminary basis neuropharmacological profile of ethanolic extract of flowers of Lawsonia inermis was carried out. For assessing the activity of flowers on central nervous system locomotor activity using actophotometer, muscle relaxant activity using rotarod apparatus, pentobarbital-induced hypnosis and anticonvulsant activity by maximal electroshock test was performed.&nbsp; Ethanolic extract of flowers of Lawsonia inermis decreased the motor activity by 48.63 % and showed 49.03% noteworthy muscle relaxation along with 127.73% potentiation of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and 66.67% decreased the duration of tonic hind leg extension of seizures activity. &nbsp;The results conclude that the extract of flowers of Lawsonia inermis has significant central nervous system depressant activity. Further investigations are, however, necessary to explore mechanism(s) of action involved in these pharmacological activities