The preliminary phytochemical investigation was performed on methanolic and hydroalcoholic extract of Datura fastuosa (syn: Datura metel) revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, carbohydrates, amino acids and phenolic compounds, while, phytochemical analysis of Datura stramonium showed that it contained alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, phenols and glycosides.The previous pharmacological studies of Datura fastuosa showed that it possessed antimicrobial insecticidal, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, neurological, wound healing, reproductive and antispasmodic, while Datura stramonium exerted Antiepileptic, Anti-asthmatic, analgesic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, insecticidal, repellent and organophosphate protective effects.The current review highlights the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Datura fastuosa and Datura stramonium.
Candida species have emerged as successful pathogens in both invasive and mucosal infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Additionally, there is increasing resistance of Candida species to antifungal agents, and this has greatly contributed to the high morbidity and mortality amongst affected patients. In Zambia, little is known about the distribution of Candida species and their antifungal susceptibility patterns from patients with candidiasis. Speciation of Candida species is important as knowledge of the infecting species is important for guiding therapy. The objective of this study was, therefore, to characterise Candida species isolated from different clinical specimens at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. This was a laboratory-based cross-sectional study involving the identification of 96 Candida species obtained from various clinical specimens, and determination of their antifungal susceptibility patterns. Identification of the isolates was achieved by the use of the API 20C AUX kit, followed by DNA sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer region of the ribosomal DNA, whilst the agar-based E-test, using fluconazole, amphotericin B, flucytosine, and caspofungin, was used for antifungal susceptibility testing. Data obtained showed that Candida albicans were the predominant species (66.7%), followed by C. lusitaniae (12.2%), C. glabrata (6.7%), C. tropicalis (5.6%), C. parapsilosis (3.3%), C. quilliermondii (3.3%), C. pelliculosa (1.1%) and C. keyr (1.1%). Most of the Candida species exhibited high levels of resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin B, but were sensitive to caspofungin and flucytosine. C. albicans was resistant to fluconazole (18.3%,) with an MIC90 of 256 g/ml and amphotericin B (10%) with MIC90 of 1.5µg/ml. C. glabrata was the most resistant species against amphotericin B (66.6%) with an MIC90 of 2µg/ml. The antifungal susceptibility testing further revealed that C. albicans and most of the non-albicans species exhibited multi-drug resistance to all the antifungal agents tested. Therefore, species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing are recommended for infection control and treatment guidance of the Candida infection.
Herbal medicine is the oldest form of medicine known to mankind.It was the mainstay of many early civilizations and still the most widely practiced form of medicine in the world today.The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4 billion people, 80 percent of the world population, presently use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care [1].Plants generally produce many secondary metabolites which are bio-synthetically derived from primary metabolites and constitute an important source of many pharmaceutical drugs .Ficus religiosa contained tannins, phenols, saponins, sugars,
1 Chronic Renal Failure Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 2 MD, Internist, The director of Continued Medical Education, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 3 Assistant professor, Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran. *Corresponding author: Farshid Padyab, Chronic Renal Failure Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Dr_padyab@yahoo.com
-Background: Viral infections are global public health problem. Shortage of information about Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and HIV/AIDS prevalence in Afghanistan is very clear. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and risk factors associated with HBV, HCV and HIV infection among adult population of Kabul city. Methods and Materials: A province based cross-sectional survey among adult population (25-70 years) of Kabul city was conducted in November, 2015 using a WHO STEP wise tool. A total of 1174 adult citizens in Kabul city were included in the study. Demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors were collected by face to face questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and rapid tests were used to find the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections. Data management was done using Epi info v.7 and SPSS v.20. Results: The overall prevalence of HBV using HBsAg and Anti-HCV rapid tests were 3 % (35/1174) and 1.1% (13/1374) respectively. Only two individuals were positive for HIV infection out 100 samples under confirmatory test. Of total 1174 records females constituted almost half 599 (51%) with overall mean age of 38.6±12.2 years. Females were slightly more in all age groups. Approximately half of the respondents (49.6%) were illiterates while the proportion of illiteracy was more in all age groups. Two third of the study subjects were married (77.5%) and 60% of women were housewives. Risky behaviors such as tattooing, hospitalizations, history of jaundice, living with hepatitis patients and undergoing dental procedures were common among positive subjects. Conclusion: A prevalence rate of 3%, 1.1% for HBsAg and anti-HCV and two cases of HIV infection apparently represents a trigger point for action in Kabul city. Public awareness and health education regarding risk factors for viral hepatitis and encouragement for vaccination is recommended. National program for blood borne viral diseases are an axis for focus of government and donors.
Background:-Majorityof skin diseases are not life threatening, but the psychological effects of relativelyminor skin abnormalities can often cause more distress to the patients than other more serious medical disorders.As medical knowledge expands, family physicians face an ever-increasing challenge in diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders.Objectives:To assess knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) among primary health care providers (PHCP) in Abha City regarding Common dermatological problems and correlate their level of knowledge and practice gap with their background characteristics. Subjects and Methods:Across-sectional study was conducted included all primary health care providers (GPs and Family physicians) in Abha city.A validated selfadministered questionnaire was utilized for data collection.It included questions about socio-demographic characteristics of the participants as well as questions to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding common dermatological problems. Results:The study included 105 primary healthcare physicians with a response rate of 84.7%.Forty percent of them were in the age group 31-40 years whereas 30.5% were in the age group 31-30 years.Almost two-thirds of them (65.7%) were males.More than half of them (59%) were non-Saudi.More than two thirds (69.5%) of primary healthcare physicians had insufficient knowledge regarding common dermatological disorders whereas 21.9% of them had good knowledge and only 4.8% had excellent knowledge.Attending training courses was significantly associated with sufficient knowledge, p=0.003.Lack of guidelines, training, educational materials and time and place were the commonest reported barriers that PHC physicians` face regarding management of dermatological disorders.Conclusions: More than two-thirds of primary health care providers had insufficient knowledge regarding management of common skin disorders.More than half of the PHC physicians strongly agreed that they should have a role in the managing of common dermatological disorders.The commonly reported barriers for that are lack of guidelines and training in dermatology. I.
Açai berries (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) have a high natural microbial load that can compromise the quality of their products. In this study, test microorganisms were inoculated on raw açai berries in drip trials, with five strains of Salmonella spp. and E. coli, separately. Açai berries sanitizing processes were: i) chlorination with 200 mg.L -1 for a period of 15 min; ii) blanching at 80 °C for 10 s (regional legislation); iii) blanching at 90 °C for 10 s; iv) aqueous ozonation at 4 mg.L -1 for 5 min; and v) washing with distilled water for 15 min as control treatment. Thermal treatment at 90 °C 10 s achieved the highest efficiency in reducing counts of E.coli (3.0 ± 0.8 log CFU.mL -1 ). In Salmonella spp., all sanitizing treatments were similar and better than simple washing with water. Thus, blanching of açai berries at 90 °C 10 s, with immediate cooling with chlorinated water (50 mg.L -1 ), is an alternative process for sanitization for açai berries, considering the application of good manufacturing practices.
There are a growing number of drugs and vast literature coming through every day.Clinicians are hard pressed to keep up with all the recent advents due to shortage of time, however, for safe and efficacious use of medicines, unbiased, up to date and objective information about the drugs is essential.Medicines are now considered as active substances.Information obtained from manufacturers is liable to be biased, and in the present day of therapeutic and information explosion, a quick referral to a pharmacopoeia or formularies is hardly sufficient for adequate information on the vast number of drugs and dosage forms available in the market in all the different brand names.The lack of adequate drug information due to limited availability of current literature, and poor documentation and dissemination of the little available information leads to an unbiased and current drug references which were not available in most clinical facilities and to officials and committees developing drug lists and making procurement decisions.The irrational use of drugsare still in evidence as use of expired drugs, irrational combination of drugs, and overuse of antibiotics, Vitamins, herbal remedies, brand prescribing, retail shop prescribing and unethical dispensing.Such irrational practices, combined with lack of patientinformation on proper handling and use of drugs can lead to wastage of medicine as well as other serious consequences like adverse drug reactions and drug interactions. .In view of the above mentioned facts, fully active, unbiased and objective drug information services are the need of the hour and it is the objective of this study to determine the various drug information services available in present day sceneario. I. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Drug informationKnowledge of facts through reading, study, or practical experience on chemical substance that is used in Diagnosis, Prevention and treatment of a disease.It covers all types of information including objective and subjective information as well as information gathered by scientific observation or practical experience [1].Drug information service (DIS) is the service that encompasses the activities of specially trained individuals to provide accurate, unbiased, factual information, primarily in response to patient-oriented drug problems received from various members of the healthcare team [2].In the past, the number of drugs available was less and thus, the need for drug information was limited.But now, the scenario has come a long way with new modes of therapy and vast number of drug products being available.It is not humanly possible to remember such vast information on drugs.There has also been a great explosion in the number of biomedical journals published each year.Hence, it is very important to retrieve specific unbiased information [3].A clinical pharmacist is professionally trained and legally competent to provide drug information, which is also a key component of his/her daily activities.In India, the concept of rational drug use is yet a long way to go.Lack of unbiased drug information and lack of time are some of the factors that makes the physicians unable to update their knowledge about drugs which have resulted in an increasing demand for independent and unbiased information about drugs for better patient care [4,5].It is important, to periodically evaluate the mode of functioning and quality of the services provided by the center, [6] so that necessary modifications can be made for better functioning.The drug information center is a part of the department of pharmacy practice, and is internationally recognized.The centre should well equipped with trained staff and a library consisting of textbooks, National and International journals, computer and Internet facilities along with electronic databases such as IDIS and MICROMEDEX.The centre should be managed by the faculty members and postgraduate students of the pharmacy practice department.The service should be provided between 8 A.M and 6 P.M on all days except Sundays and public holidays.The drug information centre caters to the needs of all health care professionals working in various departments of the hospital.Drug information services can be accessed by telephone, intranet, direct access, and also during ward rounds.Drug information request forms are also available on-line, which are to be duly filled and submitted for further processing of answer.The drug information queries are evaluated and answers are provided according to the modified systematic approach.The drug information requests and answers are documented and maintained in the drug information documentation files of the department.Assessment and evaluation of drug information services were carried out in three steps.
A simple, fast, and sensitive HPLC method with UV detection has been developed for the quantitation of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in raw material and pharmaceutical formulation (suspension).Cromatographic conditions were: Symmetry-C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, id; particle size 5 µm), 40 ˚C, 100 µL injection volume and UV detection at 200 nm.The flow rate was 1 ml/min using acetonitrile -phosphoric acid (pH 3.0; 0.15mM) (48:52) as mobile phase.The method was validated according to international guidelines (ICH guidelines) for specificity, linearity, LOD, LOQ, precision, accuracy, and robustness.The HPLC-UV method was found to be suitable for the quality control of UDCA raw material and pharmaceutical formulation.
The aim of the paper was the evaluation of the modifications of the retinal nerve fiber layer for the patients with primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus. Material and method: a prospective study that included a number of 25 patients. The study group was made up of 17 patients: 12 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and diabetes mellitus and 5 patients with ocular hypertension (OH) and diabetes mellitus. The control group included 8 patients without glaucoma. All the patients with an accurate diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma and intraocular hypertension that were medically and/or surgically treated or not, associated with diabetes mellitus, were included in the study. The patients with other types of glaucoma (closed angle, pigmentary, cortisone related, pseudoexfoliative), the ones without an accurate diagnosis of glaucoma or without associated diabetes mellitus were excluded. The control group was made up of subjects without a glaucoma diagnosis or clinical elements related to glaucoma, without surgical interventions in their medical records. All participants were evaluated with CIRRUS HD-OCT.
Previous studies showed that Dalbergia sissoo exerted antimicrobial, neural, cardiac, antioxidant, antiparasitic,antidiabetic,anti-inflammatory,analgesic, Osteogenic, dermatological, gastrointestinal, reproductive and many other effects. The current review highlights the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of
The effect of an Ayurvedic formulation promoted for treatment of vitiligovis-a-visTolenorm ointment in triggering the genetic memory of the skin on exposure to sun was studied using Mexameter.Findings suggest that Tolenorm ointment elicit faster release of melanosomes to keratinocytes and simultaneously protecting the skin from sun damage.Irrespective of the extent of sun exposure,Tolenorm ointment triggers pigmentogenesis within 5 minutes indicating its rapid absorption.Details of the study are presented in the article.
“Fatsiflogin” is an original, nonsteroidal para-medical preparation from the leaves of Fatsia japonica with anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Fatsioside D (tetraosid of hederagenin) as one of the major compound of “Fatsiflogin”, was selected as a chemical markerfor the quantitative validation. The objective of this study is to develop a simple and reliable HPLC method for the determination of Fatsiosid D for quality control studies of “Fatsiflogin”. FatsiosideD was purified by preparative HPLC and the structure of the compound was determined by NMR. HPLC separation was performed on an intertsil prep-ODS C18 column, with a solvent system water-acetonitrile. The UV detection is performed at 205 nm. The proposed HPLC method is linear in the range studied (r 2 > 0.999) for all the analytes. The method is precise with intraand inter-day variations of less than 3.34%. The mean recoveries of the analytes range from 99.68 to 100.29%. The method is successfully applied to the quantification of Fatsioside D. The results indicated that developed HPLC method could be used for the quality control of “Fatsiflogin”.
Objective: To study on utilization pattern of pulmonary inhalers in inpatient, Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, Bangalore, India.Methods: The proper inhalation technique was assed using the questionnaires there were 11 steps for MDI and 12 steps for MDI + spacer each correct technique carried a score of 1 and wrong technic carried 0.The adherence to the inhaler technique was assed using the formula correct dose/incorrect dose*100 and the reasons for non-adherence was also noted.The therapeutic inappropriateness of prescribed inhalers and antiasthmatic drugs is determined with standard guidelines.The cost involved in use of inhalers in therapeutic inappropriateness also considered.Results: In our study population about 10.8% asthmatics and 20% COPD patients were prescribed with budesonide MDI.About 10% asthmatics and 9.1 COPD patients were prescribed with budesonide MDI+spacer.About 4.1% asthmatics and 2.5% coped patients were prescribed with salbutamol MDI.About 17% asthmatics and 10% copd patients were prescribed with mdi ipratropium and 8% asthmatics and 12.5% coped patients were prescribed with ipratropium MDI+spacer.When the knowledge regarding the usage of inhalers was assed using standard questionnaire which had 11 steps for MDI and 12 steps for MDI+spacer each questionnaire had scoring of 0 representing not performing the step, 1 representing following the step the scores were high after pharmacist intervention when compared to before pharmacist intervention Conclusion: The present results highlight the need for pharmacist interventions aimed at improving adherence to inhalers in coped and asthmatic patients.
Objective: To assess antibiotic utilization pattern in surgery and pediatric and to explore reasons for the nonadherence.Methods: A prospective clinical record review was done on 180 patients admitted in the Medicine, Surgery, and Paediatrics.The antibiotic prescription will be assessed whether it is according to hospital antibiotic policy and in case of violation the reason for it will be noted down.The incidence and cause for the nosocomial infection will be noted down.Apart from these antibiotic categories, cost of antibiotic therapy from medical bills and the cost for the antibiotics will be calculated.Results: In our study population out of 180 patients 110 were male and 70 were female and in paediatric population16% were male and 1 3.5%.In surgery department highest number i.e. 12.5% male and 9.5% females are in the age group 31-40 years.2% males and 2.5% females were in the age Group of 81-90.Various classes of antibiotics like penicillin's, macrolides, cephalosporin's and fluoroquinolones were prescribed. of which13% males, 7% females were prescribed with penicillin's which were highest among monotherapy.Among combination therapy 14% of males were prescribed and 7 % females with penicillin which were highest.There were various combination drugs prescribed which are specific to the disease out of which ampicillin+gentamicin+metronidazole (5%) and ampicillin+gentamicin+cefotaxime+amikacin (5%). Conclusion:In appropriate use of antibiotics is detected due to lack of culture sensitivity test which has to make mandatory in the hospital before antibiotic prescription.Less cost effective antibiotic treatment should be prescribed.Polypharmacy was seen in a large extent were patients were put on 4-5 antibiotics which has to be avoided by using broad spectrum antibiotics and fixed dose antibiotics suitably.The drug interactions with antibiotics should be also minimized.
A simple, isocraticRP HPLC-UV method was developed for the simultaneous determination of chlorhexidine (CHD) and p-Chloroaniline (pCA) inchlorhexidine mouth rinses.An excellent separation obtainedbyC18 column (200mm × 4.6 mm, 3μm).Mobile phasewas acetate buffer:methanol in a 45:55 ratio,flowrate was 1.0 ml/min.Both ingredient and an impuritywere detected at 254 nm,injection volume was 20µl and the analysis temperature was room temperature.Resolution4.7,retentiontimes was3.1minand 5.7 min for pCAand CHD respectively.The proposed method was testedforsystem suitability, linearity, range, precision, accuracy, specificity, robustness, detection and quantification limits.The linearity range was40-160µg/ml forCHD and0.3-1.2 µg/ml forpCA.The correlation coefficient of the regression line was 1.000 for both components.Method robustness was tested under nine different conditions using sampleswith a known content.For CHD, the mean of the nine assays was 99.95% andthe RSD was 0.16%.ForpCA, the mean of the nine assays was 99.98% and the RSD was 0.24%.The results show that this is a simple method that can be applied to the analysis of Chlorhexidineproductswith satisfactory degrees of accuracy and precision.Due to the selected optimized conditions, this method can be used with the minimum requirements of an isocratic HPLC system.
This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of seed extract of Aframomum melegueta on water and feed intake in albino rats. The aqueous seed extract of Aframomum melegueta was administered (p.o) to the animals for 28 days and water and food given 7hrs daily. The animals were divided into four groups of six rats both of the males and females comprising of control groups, 200, 400 and 600mg/kg extract. There was a gradual increase in food intake which affected their body weights dose dependently. Water consumption by all the treated groups from both male and female increased significantly (P≤0.05) when compared with the control groups. The reason could be that there was alteration in the hypothalamus which is a centre that controls appetite and thirst. Conclusively, it induced Polydypsia which represents a compensatory mechanism that maintains total body fluids within normal limits and therefore could be used safely for the management of diseases.
As a pathology that requires lifelong treatment, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) causes significant increase in direct (pharmacotherapy) and indirect costs (associated with partial or complete disability of patients with POAG). The work presents the results of pharmacoeconomic "budget impact" analysis of antiglaucoma medicines (AGMs), recommended for inclusion in the formulary (FL) and insurance (IL) lists of pharmaceutical servicing patients with POAG on the basis of results obtained from previous studies. The "budget impact" analysis is an important part of integrated pharmacoeconomic evaluation of the health care system with the results needed by public funding bodies, namely for compensation of costs for pharmacotherapy to patients and approval of documents for refunding. The results of pharmacoeconomic study of POAG treatment with medications, recommended for inclusion in FL and IL, allowed to indicate the POAG treatment regimens, which help not only save costs in context of perspective of budget impact, but also provide significant advantage in achievement of target intraocular pressure (IOP) (characterized by the lowest "cost-efficacy" rate); POAG pharmacotherapy regimens is considered cost-effective, which, requiring additional costs nevertheless provides greater efficacy in lowering IOP; dominant schemes, switching to which requires additional costs.
