Evaluation of drug promotional brochures in a tertiary teaching hospital of Kannur, India

Background: Pharmaceutical industries worldwide are heavily involved in aggressive drug promotions. WHO has framed guidelines for ethical drug promotion in 1988. The transparency of pharmaceutical advertisements is important because decision of the physician is likely to be influenced by the claims made by the pharmaceutical companies in the promotional drug brochures and pharmaceutical industries treat their marketing material as “educational material” for doctors. Authors did this study to analyze the information given on drug promotional brochures by the drug companies using ethical criteria of drug promotion by WHO 1988 and to verify the authenticity of the claims given by the pharmaceutical companies in drug promotional brochures.Methods: Cross sectional study extending from 1/8/2012 to 31/7/2013. 612 drug promotional brochures satisfied our inclusion criteria. Drug brochures were analyzed with WHO ethical criteria 1988 and further categorizing the data into type of claims, number and source of references. Validity of journal articles were checked by using a validity measure developed by Cardarelli.Results: Total 612 brochures satisfied inclusion criteria. INN was mentioned in 93.8% of collected brochures. Brand name was mentioned in 100% brochures. Content of active ingredients was mentioned in 92% of brochures. Name of the other ingredients known to cause problem 28.4% of brochures. Dosage form or regimen was mentioned in 23.2% of brochures. Approved therapeutic use mentioned in 65.7% brochures. Side effects and major adverse drug reactions were mentioned in 31.4% brochures. Precautions and contraindications and warnings were mentioned in 30.4% drug promotional brochures. Drug interactions were mentioned in 26.5% brochures. Name and address was mentioned by 69.1% brochures. There were 1144 claims and 739 references. Efficacy claims were 84.88% of the total claims. Main source of reference was from journal articles (74.1%) and among them 49.65% were randomized control trials. Only 47.94 % of the journal references were valid.Conclusions: Brochures were lacking in vital information which included contraindication, warning, precaution, name of the other ingredients known to cause problem hence companies were found violating WHO ethical criteria. Claims were not well supported with references. Less than half of the given journal references were only valid. This study highlights the need of healthcare professionals to remain cautious about promotional material presented by pharmaceutical representatives

Attenuation of anxiety on acute administration of aqueous extract of Terminalia belerica fruit pulp in Swiss albino mice

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the attenuation of anxiety on acute administration of aqueous extract of Terminalia belerica fruit pulp (AETBFP) by using elevated plus maze test and dark and light arena models.Methods: Thirty Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups, Group I received vehicle (1% Gum acacia suspension, 3ml/kg, orally), Group II received standard drug Diazepam (1mg/kg, orally) and Group III, IV and V received AETBFP 9, 18 and 36 mg/kg, orally respectively. In elevated plus maze test, the mouse was placed on the central platform facing towards open arm. The percentage of time spent and frequency of entries and number of rears in open arm was counted for a period of 5 min. In dark and light arena, the time spent, number of entries and number of rears in light arena was counted for a period of 5 min. The mean±SEM values were calculated for each group. The data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s multiple comparison tests; p< 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: Significant (p<0.05) reduction in anxiety was noted in experimental animals when given at a dose of AETBFP (36mg/kg), where number of entries and duration of stay in open arm and light arena increased in elevated plus maze and light and dark arena respectively when compared with control animals.Conclusions: Our study reveals that AETBFP at a dose of 36mg/kg has significant attenuation of anxiety in Swiss albino mice

POTENT AND EFFICACIOUS DIURETIC ACTIVITY WITH POTASSIUM SPARING EFFECT OF TERMINALIA BELERICA FRUIT PULP AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

ABSTRACTObjective: Diuretics are commonly used in edematous conditions, but they carry a high risk of adverse effects which varies from electrolyte imbalanceto fatal hypokalemia which is a matter of concern. Many herbal drugs possess diuretic effect used as folklore medicine for various ailments found tobe safer. Hence, our present study aim to evaluate potency and efficacy of Terminalia belerica fruit pulp aqueous extract (TBFPAE) in Wistar albinorats as a diuretic.Methods: Wistar albino rats weighing 200â€250 g of either sex were divided into five groups containing six animals each. Sodium chloride solution(0.9%) was given to all the animals as a priming dose. Group I received normal saline (20 ml/kg, orally) which served as control, Group II servedas standard and received frusemide (10 mg/kg, orally), whereas Groups III, IV, and V received TBFPAE in the dose of 9, 18, and 36 mg/kg orally,respectively, and were placed individually in metabolic cage. The urine volume and electrolyte concentrations of Na+, K in the urine weredetermined at the end of 5th hr.Results: Our study revealed that TBFPAE possesses diuretic effect with a significant potassiumâ€sparing effect comparable to frusemide in the doseof 9, 18, and 36 mg/kg in Wistar albino rats.Conclusion: TBFPAE possesses diuretic effect with a significant potassiumâ€sparing effect comparable to frusemide in the dose of 9, 18, and 36 mg/kgin Wistar albino rats comparable to frusemide.Keywords: Aqueous extract, Diuretic activity, Fruit pulp, Potassiumâ€sparing effect, Terminalia belerica.+, and Clâˆ

A Feasibility Study on Using Gfrp Composites Bar in Rc Flexural Member

Steel reinforcements are commonly used for Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams all around the world to take flexural tension. But, the durability of the structure is reduced due to reinforcement steel corrosion. Avoiding reinforcement corrosion and finding alternative material to take flexural tension is the contemporary research work in the field of structural engineering. In the present study, RC beams are reinforced with Glass Fibre Reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites bar at tension zone and flexural test was carried out to determine the bending moment resistance of the beam. GFRP bars were prepared in the industry with the help of pultruded U-section box formwork. GFRP bars were coated with sand using epoxy resin to increase the bond between bars and the RC beam. Three GFRP reinforced concrete beam specimens of size 700 mm × 200 mm × 200 mm were prepared. Also, same size of normal steel reinforced cement concrete beam member was prepared. After 28 days curing, three point bending test was carried out for all the four beams. Flexural capacity of beams with GFRP bars were compared with RC beam with steel bars. The results revealed that the flexural capacity of RC beams with GFRP bars is more than that of RC beam with steel bars. Also, theoretical analysis was carried out to determine the flexural strength of RC beam with steel and GFRP bars and compared with experimental results

Dissection of Mobility Model Routing Protocols in MANET on QoS Criterion

Essential difficulties in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET) are routing selection and Quality of Service(QoS) support. Several different approaches have been described in the literature, and a number of performance simulations have been produced, in an attempt to tackle this challenging problem. In this study, we take a close look at the relative merits of several popular routing protocols. In this research, we looked into how changing QoS parameters in tandem with routing protocol choices affected network throughput. Typical measures for measuring network efficiency include average throughput, packet delivery ratio (PDR), average delay, and power usage. NS-3 is used to run the simulations

Case Report: Variant Origin of an Arterial Trunk from Axillary Artery Continuing as Profunda Brachii Artery- A Unique Arterial Variation in the Axilla and its Clinical Implications

Background: Axillary artery is known to show different variations mostly in its branching pattern. Similarly, the origin of profunda brachii is often encountered with abnormality. Therefore, when the vascular variations in the upper limb persist, mostly it is confined to its branching pattern followed by its variant origin. But, among all the reported variations of profunda brachii, its variant origin from the 3rd part of the axillary artery with common trunk for the branches of axillary artery is unique.Case Details: We report here an anomalous origin of profunda brachii as continuation of an arterial trunk arising from 3rd part of the axillary artery. This common trunk at its commencement passed between 2 roots of median nerve and gave branches of 3rd part of axillary artery before it continued as profunda brachii artery. The further course and branching pattern of profunda brachii were normal.Conclusion: Since the axillary artery is next choice of artery for arterial canulation in cardiopulmonary bypass procedures, prior knowledge of existence of such variation in its branching pattern helps in avoiding possible diagnostic or interventional therapeutic errors.Keywords: axillary artery, common trunk, profunda brachii, vascular variatio

Skills of different mesoscale models over Indian region during monsoon season: Forecast errors

Performance of four mesoscale models namely, the MM5, ETA, RSM and WRF, run at NCMRWF for short range weather forecasting has been examined during monsoon-2006. Evaluation is carried out based upon comparisons between observations and day-1 and day-3 forecasts of wind, temperature, speci.c humidity, geopotential height, rainfall, systematic errors, root mean square errors and specific events like the monsoon depressions. It is very difficult to address the question of which model performs best over the Indian region? An honest answer is 'none'. Perhaps an ensemble approach would be the best. However, if we must make a final verdict, it can be stated that in general, (i) the WRF is able to produce best All India rainfall prediction compared to observations in the day-1 forecast and, the MM5 is able to produce best All India rainfall forecasts in day-3, but ETA and RSM are able to depict the best distribution of rainfall maxima along the west coast of India, (ii) the MM5 is able to produce least RMSE of wind and geopotential fields at most of the time, and (iii) the RSM is able to produce least errors in the day-1 forecasts of the tracks, while the ETA model produces least errors in the day-3 forecasts

Quality of life of alcohol dependent patients attending a deaddiction centre in Kannur district

Background: Quality of life (QOL) is individuals' perceptions of their position in life. QOL of alcohol dependent patients is an area that has received relatively less attention compared to other alcohol related problems.Methods: A deaddiction centre based cross sectional study was done on 370 individuals using a predesigned questionnaire during the period of 2012-2013. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 17. Spearman’s rank correlation test was used to find association between the study variables.Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 38.08±8.46 years. The mean duration of drinking was 12.62±7.47 years. The overall score of the QOL and the perceived health in alcohol dependent patients was 3.19±0.89 and 3.01±0.98 respectively. The mean of the transformed scores of physical, psychological, social and environmental domains are 69.12±12.82, 57.84±12.81, 58.52±17.05, 68.62±10.23 respectively. Statistical analysis of age with physical, environmental and social domains showed a significant negative correlation; literacy status with QOL, perceived health, physical, psychological, social and environmental domains showed a significant positive correlation; socio economic status with QOL and psychological domain showed a significant positive correlation; duration of drinking with QOL, perceived health, physical and psychological domain showed a significant negative correlation.Conclusions: Harm from alcohol use is a major public health problem. Reducing the level of social and health harms from alcohol requires preparation and planning