The wound healing property of ethanolic extract of Michelia champaca flowers in diabetic rats

Background: The plant Michelia champaca (MC) is widely used in the treatment of inflammation, constipation, dysmenorrhea, ulcers, wounds, fever, and cough. The aim was to evaluate the wound healing property of ethanolic extract of MCflowers in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.Methods: Wound healing activity was assessed by incision and excision wound models. Five groups of n=6 rats and n=14 rats were used for incision and excision wound models, respectively. Group I rats, non-diabetic control and Group II rats diabetic control, received 1 ml of 0.5% caboxymethylcellolose, which was used to prepare a suspension of ethanolic extracts of MC. Group III, IV and V rats were given MC extract the suspension of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg respectively. Parameters observed were breaking strength of incision wound and wound contraction, epithelialization, hydroxyproline content of excision wound respectively. Results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test.Results: Breaking strength, rate of wound contraction and hydroxyproline content were significantly increased, and the period of epithelialization was significantly reduced in Group IV and V rats respectively.Conclusion: Oral administration of ethanolic extract of MC promotes wound healing in diabetic rats. Hence, further study in humans is suggested

Efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of levocetrizine and ebastine in allergic rhinitis: a comparative study

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a ubiquitous aliment affecting a large population of individuals. The mainstay of treatment includes antihistamines and topical steroids. With a large assortment available, the choice of the drugs needs to be non-random and evidenced based. Hence this study was undertaken to compare Levocetrezine and Ebastine in terms of efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness in treatment of allergic rhinitis.Methods: Newly diagnosed patients with allergic rhinitis were categorized into two groups and treated with Levocetrizine 5mg and Ebastine 20mg per day respectively. Severity of the symptoms at the commencement and at the end of second and the fourth weeks of therapy were assessed using a four-point Likert scale and assigning a Total Nasal Symptoms Score (TNSS). The primary efficacy measure was mean change from baseline TNSS at each follow up visit. Change in TNSS was compared using Independent sample test. Adverse effects in both the groups were compared using Chi square test. Cost effectiveness was inferred by calculation of the Average Cost Effectiveness Ratio.Results: A total of 159 patients 84 from Levocetrizine group (L group) and 75 from the Ebastine group (E group) were available for study. At the end of second week, the E group showed a better reduction in TNSS(p-0.04). However, both the groups showed similar reduction in TNSS at the concluding visit (p-value of 0.09). The incidence of adverse effects was significantly higher in the L than in E. Levocetrezine was found to be more cost effective than Ebastine.Conclusions: Levocterezine and Ebastine are equally efficacious in treatment of allergic rhinitis. Hence treatment will have to be personalized to the individual patients based on other factors such as adverse drug effects and cost effectiveness

Drug prescribing pattern in ulcerative colitis in a tertiary care hospital: an observational study

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of colon and rectum of uncertain etiology. The clinical course of UC is marked by exacerbations and remissions. Furthermore there is limited data available on the management of ulcerative colitis from India. Hence, the present study was undertaken to study the drug prescribing pattern in ulcerative colitis.Methods: A retrospective case record based observational study was done at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2010. Patients diagnosed to have UC during our study period based on clinical, endoscopic and histopathological evidence were included in the study. SPSS 17 software package was used for statistical calculations. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data.Results: The total number of patients diagnosed to have UC during our study period was 83.The peak incidence of disease was in the age group of 30-39 years and it was more common in males. The prescription rate of aminosalicylates, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants were 96.3, 54.3, and 18.5% respectively. Mesalamine, prednisolone, and azathioprine were the commonly prescribed drugs in each class. The commonly prescribed treatment regimen was combination of aminosalicylates with glucocorticoids (43.2%).Conclusions: Ulcerative colitis was more common in males. Aminosalicylates were the commonly prescribed drugs and a combination of aminosalicylate and steroid was frequently used regimen in our study

A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF CLINICAL PROFILE AND DRUG PRESCRIBING PATTERN IN OSTEOPOROSIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: To study the clinical profile and prescription pattern of drugs in the treatment of osteoporosis in a tertiary care centre in Karnataka, India.Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out in a multi-speciality tertiary care hospital in Karnataka. Information was collected from case record forms of 100 patients of osteoporosis during a 12 mo tenure regarding various signs and symptoms they presented with and treatment provided.Results: Majority of the subjects were females (90%). Low back ache was the most common presenting symptom. There was an increase in mean calcium (8.84±8.32 mg/dL) and phosphorus levels (2.45±1.83 mg/dL) as compared to baseline at the follow up visit. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation were the most commonly prescribed medications followed by analgesics, calcitonin and bisphosphonates. A total of 77 adverse reactions were reported, gastritis being the commonest one.Conclusion: Vitamin D and Calcium supplements were more commonly prescribed than specific anti osteoporotic medications.Â

Evaluation of the effectiveness of Eladi Keram for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomised controlled pilot study

Introduction: Acne is a multifactorial and common skin disease which can significantly affect the quality of life of sufferers. In this study, a topical herbal preparation traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine was evaluated as a treatment for individuals with acne on their shoulders and backs. Methods: Study participants were randomly assigned either to treatment (Eladi Keram) or vehicle control (coconut oil) groups under double blind conditions and instructed on its daily home application. Standardised lesion counting and acne grading were conducted in accordance with US Food and Drug Administration guidelines and with reference to the Leeds Acne Grading Technique. Participants were assessed for severity of the condition at commencement and on day 28 of treatment. Results: The treatment group showed improvements of 42% (p < 0.005) on the Investigators Global Assessment scale, a 60% (p < 0.05) reduction in inflammatory lesions, a 59% (p < 0.05) reduction in non-inflammatory lesions, and a 59% (p < 0.005) reduction in combined lesion count. The control group showed no statistically significant changes for these criteria. Conclusion: This study is the first reported clinical evaluation of Eladi Keram as a treatment for acne and findings suggest that it could be effective in reducing inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions, warranting further investigation by means of a larger scale clinical trial

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Evaluation of practice of self-medication among medical students in a teaching hospital

Abstract Objective: Self-medication is common among medical students , this may lead to irrational usage of drugs. The objective of this study was to evaluate prevalence of self -medication among medical undergraduate students. Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire based study conducted among undergraduate medical students of Srinivas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mukka, Mangalore. Data was analysed using SPSS version 16 and presented as percentages. Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 95.37 % (227) out of 238 students in the last one year. The usual indications for selfmedication were fever followed by common cold; analgesics and antipyretics were commonly used class of drugs. A significant number of students 62.2% opined self-medication as acceptable practice. Conclusion: The present study shows practice of self-medication found to be high among medical students may be due to their exposure on knowledge of drugs and diseases. Hence there is a need to create awareness among students regarding ills of self-medication practice

Antiovulatory and abortifacient effects of Areca catechu (betel nut) in female rats

Objectives: To study the antiovulatory and abortifacient effects of ethanolic extract of Areca catechu in female rats. Materials and Methods : For antiovulatory effect, ethanolic extract of A. catechu at 100 and 300 mg/kg doses was administered orally for 15 days. Vaginal smears were examined daily microscopically for estrus cycle. Rats were sacrificed on 16 th day. Ovarian weight, cholesterol estimation, and histopathological studies were done. Abortifacient activity was studied in rats at 100 and 300 mg/kg doses administered orally from 6 th to 15 th day of pregnancy. Rats were laparotomised on 19 th day. The number of implantation sites and live fetuses were observed in both horns of the uterus. Results : The extract of A. catechu showed a significant decrease in the duration of estrus at 100 mg/kg (P = 0.015) and 300 mg/kg doses (P = 0.002) as compared with control. Metestrus phase was also significantly reduced at 100 mg/kg (P = 0.024) and 300 mg/kg doses (P = 0.002). There was a significant increase in proestrus (P < 0.001) phase. However, diestrus phase was unchanged. Histopathological study of the ovaries showed mainly primordial, primary, and secondary follicles in the test groups as compared to control. There was also a significant (P = 0.002) decrease in ovarian weight and a significant (P = 0.021) increase in ovarian cholesterol level at 100 mg/kg dose. In the study to evaluate abortifacient effect, the mean percentage of abortion with 100 and 300 mg/kg doses were 75.5% and 72.22%, respectively, which was significantly (P = 0.008 and P = 0.006, respectively) increased when compared with control. Conclusion : The ethanolic extract of A. catechu at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg has antiovulatory and abortifacient effects