Comparative study of centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside in Albino mice

Background: Skeletal muscle relaxants are a heterogeneous group of drugs. As a group, they are structurally and pharmacologically diverse. Skeletal muscle relaxants are usually used as adjunct therapy when initial therapy fails. They are commonly used to treat fibromyalgia, low back pain, neck pain, tension head ache, myofascial pain and muscle spasm.Methods: There were 28 mice were randomly divided into seven groups, each group consists of 4 mice. Group 1(Control): Mice were treated with normal saline and placed on rotating rod with a speed of 18 rpm (ideal speed). Group 2 (Standard-S1): Mice were treated with Nitrazepam at the dose of 2mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 3 (Standard-S2): Mice were treated with Nitrazepam at the dose of 3mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 4 (Standard-S3): Mice were treated with Nitrazepam at the dose of 4mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 5 (Test-T1): Mice were treated with Thiocolchicoside at the dose of 2mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 6 (Test-T2): Mice were treated with Thiocolchicoside at the dose of 3mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 7 (Test-T3): Mice were treated with Thiocolchicoside at the dose of 4mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod.Results: In this model inter drug comparisons were carried out with nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside. It was found that both nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside produced central muscle relaxant effect when assessed by rotarod. On iter drug comparision of nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside it was found that by increasing concentration of drug, increased the muscle relaxant property.Conclusions: When assessed by rotarod, it was found that both nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside demonstrated muscle relaxant property but with increased doses of thiocolchicoside produced more muscle relaxant property than the increase in doses of nitrazepam

Comparative study of effectiveness of computer based knowledge in teaching versus conventional teaching perception in pharmacology among second year MBBS undergraduate medical students at Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, India

Background: Medical education has been asserted as one of the most challenging, demanding, and stressful fields of study, as medical students are expected to acquire diverse competencies such as academic, clinical, and interpersonal skills. Pharmacology is rapidly evolving and expanding conquering many diseases in its stride. The survey-based study we aim to grasp the MBBS students’ opinion regarding the teaching practices in pharmacology. Aim was to Study and compare the Effectiveness of Computer Based Teaching Versus Conventional Teaching Perception About Pharmacology Among Second Year MBBS Undergraduate Medical Students.Methods: A comparative study was conducted at Department of Pharmacology, Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Nellimarla, Vizianagaram, Andhrapradesh. Two hundred second year MBBS medical students (n = 200) were divided into two groups.Results: In this study results shows P value and statistical significance the two-tailed P value is less than 0.0001 by conventional criteria, this difference is considered to be extremely statistically significant. Confidence interval the mean of Pre-test score minus Post test score equals -3.1900 and 95% confidence interval of this difference from -3.4503 to -2.9297.Conclusions: The importance of pharmacology in clinical decision making is well understood by the majority of students and they aim to act in that behest. Also, we find that computer based learning is a new and important tool coming up in the arsenal of the pharmacology teacher

Effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on 25-hydroxy vitamin d levels in newly diagnosed South Indian dyslipidemic subjects: A randomized, open-label, single center study

Background: Statins are one of the mainstay treatment modality for the people suffering from dyslipidemia. Statins reduce the cholesterol bio-synthesis by ß-hydroxy-ß-methyl glutaryl Co-A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibition which is rate-limiting enzyme. It also affects the Vit-D levels as metabolism of cholecalciferol and cholesterol are interrelated. Objectives: Effect of atorvastatin/ rosuvastatin on 25-hydroxy Vitamin-D (25OHD) concentrations among subjects with newly diagnosed dyslipidemia. Materials and Methods: Prospective randomized, open-label, parallel group study. Lipid and 25OHD levels are measured at baseline and end of 6 months after statin treatment. One group received atorvastatin and another study group received rosuvastatin for 6 months. Results: Mean 25OHD concentrations are 32.0±4.7, 31.7±4.8 and 32.9±4.9 in the control, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin groups respectively. Both atorvastatin and rosuvastatin groups, except TGs, all the lipid parameters and 25OHD has showed significant difference (<0.001) from baseline to end-line repeated parameters. All the study participants were well tolerated and no one discontinued the drug due to drug-related adverse reactions. Conclusion: Participants with atorvastatin treated group showed significant reduction in 25OHD concentrations. In addition, 25OHD concentrations are dependent on statin efficacy