CORRELATION OF GENDER AND LEPTIN WITH ANALGESIC EFFECT OF TRAMADOL IN RATS

 Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the correlation of gender and serum leptin level with analgesic modulation of tramadol in Wistar rats.Methods: A total of 48 Wistar rats (body weight 100–150 g), 24 each male and female Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=6/group) (Group I - Control- 0.9% NaCl; 1 ml/kg/day i.p. and Group II - Tramadol 10 mg/kg/day i.p.) for each nociception model - plantar test and acetic acid induced writhing test. The treatment duration was of 5 days. Paw withdrawal latency (PWL) was assessed using plantar test and writhing movements were observed following administration of 0.8% acetic acid; 10 ml/kg i.p.Results: PWL was significantly decreased (p<0.001) and both number of writhing movements and serum leptin concentrations were significantly increased (p<0.001) in female control group compared to male control group. In tramadol treated female rats, PWL was significantly decreased (p=0.005) and both number of writhing movements and serum leptin concentrations were significantly increased (p<0.001) in comparison with the tramadol treated male rats. PWL was negatively correlated with serum leptin concentration (Pearson correlation coefficient= −0.826, two-tailed significance= 0.000), and writhing movements were positively correlated with serum leptin concentration (Pearson correlation coefficient= 0.505, two-tailed significance= 0.012).Conclusions: The present study revealed that female rats have more serum leptin concentration than male rats which could be one of the possible reasons for having more pain sensitivity to noxious stimuli in female rats compared to male rats. Tramadol treatment at the dose of 10 mg/kg for 5 days has decreased serum leptin level in rats which might be one of the additional mechanisms of tramadol to reduce pain

INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND OBESITY ON ANALGESIC MODULATION OF TRAMADOL IN RATS

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of gender and obesity on analgesic modulation of tramadol in Wistar rats.Methods: This study was carried out in two sets of experiments. In Set I experiment - 48 rats (body weight ≤150 g), 24 each male and female rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=6/group) (Group I - Control; 0.9% NaCl; 1 ml/kg/day i.p. and Group II - Tramadol 10 mg/kg/day i.p.) for each nociception model - plantar test and acetic acid-induced writhing test. The treatment duration was of 5 days. On the last day of treatment (i.e., on the 5th day), paw withdrawal latency (PWL) was assessed using plantar test, and writhing movements were observed following administration of 0.8% acetic acid; 10 ml/kg i.p. Set II experiment was repeated like Set I experiment among rest 48 high-fat diet-fed rats (body weight ≥300 g).Results: For both males and females, PWL was significantly decreased (p<0.05) in obese control groups compared to lean control groups. A number of writhing movements were significantly increased (p<0.01 for males and p<0.001 for females) in obese control groups compared to lean control groups. In tramadol-treated obese rats, PWL was significantly decreased (p<0.01 for males and p<0.05 for females), and number of writhing movements were significantly increased (p<0.01 for both males and females) in comparison with the tramadol-treated lean rats.Conclusion: The present study revealed that obese female rats experience more pain sensation to noxious stimuli compared to lean male rats and also the analgesic effect of tramadol is more pronounced in lean male rats compared to obese female rats

VERNONIA CINEREA (NEICHITTI KEERAI) REGENERATES PROXIMAL TUBULES IN CISPLATININDUCED RENAL DAMAGE IN MICE

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether Vernonia cinerea (VC) regenerates the proximal renal tubular cells in cisplatin-induced necrosis in male Swiss albino mice.Methods: The crude aqueous extract (CAE) of VC was fractionated from non-polar to polar using different solvents. Mice were injected a single dose of cisplatin (15 mg/kg) on day 1, which took 5 days to cause maximal renal damage. From day 6, CAE and all fractions were orally administered (200, 300, and 400 mg/kg) for 5 continuous days. On day 11, blood was collected to estimate urea and creatinine. Kidney was collected for histology and grading was done.Results: Cisplatin induced proximal renal tubular damage (grade 5) in corticomedullary junction, characterized by necrosis, proximal tubular dilatation, inflammation and vasodilation. Aqueous fraction (AF) did not show any regeneration; whereas, 400 mg/kg dose of CAE and butanol fraction (BF) showed a significant reduction (p<0.001) in proximal tubular damage (Grade 3) and 50–75% regeneration of proximal tubular epithelial cells.Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate the regenerative potential of Neichitti kashayam (CAE of VC) and its BF in cisplatin-induced proximal tubular damage in kidney. Further study is warranted to find out the dose regimen for complete regeneration, lead compounds, and molecular mechanism

ASSESSMENT OF PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION IN CARDIAC PATIENTS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE USE OF BETA-BLOCKERS AND STATINS

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of depression among patients with cardiovascular disease and its association with the use of β-blockers and statins.Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted at a corporate hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, for a period of 6 months. 250 cardiac patients above 16 years are included in the study. The required data are collected from the patients through direct interview using standard questionnaires and also from patients' respective case sheets. The acquired data are evaluated based on the standard questionnaires Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scales; used to diagnose the severity of depression in cardiac patients.Results: Prevalence of minor to major depressive symptoms according to BDI-II was found to be 17.2%. Prevalence of minor to major depressive symptoms according to PHQ-9 was found to be 19.2%. Among male patients, 13% showed depressive symptoms, whereas among female patients 25% showed depressive symptoms. Among the patients coadministering beta-blockers and statins, 15% were depressed according to BDI-II, and 16% were depressed according to PHQ-9 at visit. After 1 month (first follow-up), the percentage increased by 8% (for BDI-II)-12% (for PHQ-9) and remains almost the same at the second follow-up. As per BDI-II and PHQ-9 scores, the percentage of patients with minor to major depression among the patients using only beta-blockers decreased significantly from the time of visit to the second follow-up. The percentage of patients with minor to major depression among the patients using only statins increased significantly from the time of visit to second follow-up.Conclusion: Prevalence of minor to major depression according to BDI-II was found to be 17%, whereas according to PHQ-9, it was found to be 20% in patients with cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases have been more prevalent in men than in women, whereas depressive symptoms have been more prevalent in women than in men. Patients using only β-blockers showed a decrease in symptoms of depression. Whereas statins have shown to increase the chances of depression slightly which is often negligible, atorvastatin was associated with a higher level of depression when compared to rosuvastatin. Controversies still exist that statins decrease risk of depression.Â

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF KADUKKAI MAATHIRAI (TERMINALIA CHEBULA-BASED POLYHERBAL SIDDHA FORMULATION) IN ETHANOL-INDUCED LIVER DISEASE IN RATS

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Kadukkai maathirai (KM) against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.Methods: Four groups (n=6) of adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were used. Ethanol was administered in the dose of 45% v/v 15 mL/kg/body weight twice a day for 8 weeks in the study. The four groups were treated orally for 8 weeks with 2% gum acacia (control), ethanol (toxic control), ethanol + KM 72 mg/kg, and ethanol + KM 400 mg/kg, respectively. At the end of 8 weeks, blood was collected by a retro-orbital puncture for the estimation of liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]). The liver was dissected out for histopathology. Using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test, the data were analyzed.Results: There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the serum AST and ALT level in rats treated with KM 72 mg/kg as compared to toxic control. Liver parenchyma showed near normal architecture in KM 72 mg/kg-treated group as compared to ethanol-treated group which showed extensive ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes and microvesicular steatosis.Conclusion: KM, in the dose of 72 mg/kg, which is the therapeutic dosage described in Siddha additional literature, exerted hepatoprotective effect against ethanol-induced liver damage in rats

CORRELATION OF GENDER AND LEPTIN WITH ANALGESIC EFFECT OF TRAMADOL IN RATS

 Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the correlation of gender and serum leptin level with analgesic modulation of tramadol in Wistar rats.Methods: A total of 48 Wistar rats (body weight 100–150 g), 24 each male and female Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=6/group) (Group I - Control- 0.9% NaCl; 1 ml/kg/day i.p. and Group II - Tramadol 10 mg/kg/day i.p.) for each nociception model - plantar test and acetic acid induced writhing test. The treatment duration was of 5 days. Paw withdrawal latency (PWL) was assessed using plantar test and writhing movements were observed following administration of 0.8% acetic acid; 10 ml/kg i.p.Results: PWL was significantly decreased (p<0.001) and both number of writhing movements and serum leptin concentrations were significantly increased (p<0.001) in female control group compared to male control group. In tramadol treated female rats, PWL was significantly decreased (p=0.005) and both number of writhing movements and serum leptin concentrations were significantly increased (p<0.001) in comparison with the tramadol treated male rats. PWL was negatively correlated with serum leptin concentration (Pearson correlation coefficient= −0.826, two-tailed significance= 0.000), and writhing movements were positively correlated with serum leptin concentration (Pearson correlation coefficient= 0.505, two-tailed significance= 0.012).Conclusions: The present study revealed that female rats have more serum leptin concentration than male rats which could be one of the possible reasons for having more pain sensitivity to noxious stimuli in female rats compared to male rats. Tramadol treatment at the dose of 10 mg/kg for 5 days has decreased serum leptin level in rats which might be one of the additional mechanisms of tramadol to reduce pain

Using an integrated teaching approach to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes in a preclinical medical curriculum in India

Today most education institutions around the world have adopted the philosophy of outcome-based education. The emphasis in outcome-based education is achievement of outcomes; hence the curriculum should be designed in a way that it includes the components targeted specifically at achieving these outcomes. A discipline-based approach results in fragmentation of learning and lack of clinical applicability. Integrated teaching could be a solution to achieve required outcomes in a holistic way. Hence, the aim of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated teaching module. Temporal coordination of the basic sciences, along with correlation of learned topics to clinical settings, was done in the first year of the undergraduate medical program. The module was evaluated by obtaining qualitative and quantitative feedback from students. Student assessment was conducted with a test that had case vignettes and multiple-choice questions. In addition, students' change in learning approaches and self-directed learning readiness were collected. Students' perception regarding the educational environment was also obtained. Analysis of the data showed positive feedback from the students regarding the integrated teaching. Students' average score in the test was 86%. There was a significant increase in the scores for the deep approach and self-directed learning readiness in the posttest compared with the pretest. Moreover, students were found to be satisfied with the educational environment. Evaluation of integrated teaching revealed that it was well accepted by the students. Moreover, it facilitated the achievement of the students' outcomes