Posted by admin on May 31, 2025 in |
Fungal infections constituted a major chunk of secondary infections in COVID-19 due to immunosuppresion and rampant use of steroids. Invasive Aspergillosis, Candidemia and COVID associated mucormycois (CAM) post second wave in India among COVID-19 patients was a challenging experience for the clinicians. Increased burden of fungal infections led to a tremendous increase in the sample load of the mycology laboratories across the country. This retrospective study was planned to observe the types of fungal infections reported during COVID-19 pandemic and study the impact of COVID-19 on the sample burden in the mycology laboratory of our tertiary care hospital. Samples received from admitted patients in mycology laboratory were processed using standard procedures. The data was collected and analysed in terms of change in the sample numbers, sample types received during pre and post COVID years (Year 2019 to Year 2022) and also the types of fungal infections reported during pandemic. Total number of samples received in the year 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 were 656, 396, 940 and 1276 respectively...
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Posted by admin on May 31, 2025 in |
The skin acts as a protective barrier shielding our body from external aggression. This fact hinders the entry of substances into the various layers of the skin. One of the skin components involved in this defense function is keratin. Keratin is a fibrous structural protein very resistant to proteolysis but susceptible to be hydrolyzed by keratinases; however, the mechanisms of keratinolysis is still unsolved. This article aims to provide further knowledge about the interaction between keratinase and skin. Skin samples were exposed to different concentrations of keratinase, 1000 U, 5000 U and 10000 U, and they are compared with control group. It was observed the formation of intercellular fissures in all the dilutions of keratinase. Transdermal absorption tests were used to verify the amount of sodium ascorbate as an active ingredient that is deposited and penetrates through the skin. It was observed that pretreatment with keratinase 5000 U induced a significant deposition (p < 0.05), resulting in ninefold greater retention of sodium ascorbate compared to the control group. It...
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Posted by admin on May 31, 2025 in |
Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has severely impacted individuals with epilepsy, increasing their risk of seizure exacerbation and medication dependence. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated antiepileptic drug (AED) prescribing management and adverse drug reactions in patients at a tertiary care hospital from September 2020 to September 2022 influenced by COVID-19 Pandemic. Results: This study enrolled 1272 participants, comprising two groups: Group 1 (636 patients) with both epilepsy and COVID-19 (61.3% males, 38.7% females) and Group 2 (636 patients) with COVID-19 and no epilepsy history (63.4% males, 36.6% females). The COVID-19 pandemic exerted a profound impact on the mental well-being of epilepsy patients, manifesting as heightened anxiety (68.3%), depression (47.2%), and sleep disruptions (29.6%). These psychological issues were more prevalent in epilepsy patients compared to non-epilepsy patients. Most patients were 51-60 years old (17.92%) or 41-50 years old (16.50%). 59.2% had epilepsy for over five years. Conclusion: This research underscores the detrimental effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on epileptic patients’ quality of life, necessitating tailored treatment approaches and enhanced patient care....
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2025 in |
Introduction: Cutaneous Adverse drug reactions presenting as urticaria are the most frequent local and systemic adverse reactions (ADR). Urticaria is a skin disorder resulting from the vascular reaction of the skin characterized by erythema and wheal formation due to a localized increase of vascular permeability. It affects up to 20 % of the population at some point during their life and can be acute or chronic. Acute Urticaria can be etiologically due to infection, drugs, and food; and usually resolves within ≤ 6 weeks. Itching and rash are diagnosed clinically due to either type I hypersensitivity (IgE dependent) or type III hypersensitivity Immune complex. Material and Methodology: This 5-year retrospective observational study was conducted at Pt. JNM Medical College associated with DR. BRAM Hospital. All Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) were analyzed from the Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Centre (AMC) database under PvPI between 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2022, and all Drug induced Urticaria were included. Results: Of the total 1425 ICSRs, 53(3.7%) reactions were identified as...
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2025 in |
In Latin America, Chagas is one of the most prevalent diseases, and current chemotherapy with benznidazole and nifurtimox is ineffective in chronic phase. Therefore, the development of new drugs, especially for the chronic stage of the infection, is urgently needed. Performing an in-vitro anti-trypanosome assay, we analyzed 114 plant species from Salvadoran flora, resulting in 34 active plants against epimastigote of Trypanosoma cruzi belonging mainly to the botanical families Piperaceae, Asteraceae, Salicaceae, Annonaceae, and Acanthaceae. Thus, nine of them showed prominent activity between 91.18 to 98.94% of viability suppression at 100 µg/mL (Annona holosericea, Calea urticifolia, Eremosis leiocarpa, Peperomia pseudoalpina, Piper amalago, Piper martensianum, Casearia corymbosa, Piparea dentata and Solanum nudum), highlighting C. corymbosa, P. pseudoalpina and P. martensianum as the most promising species as sources of natural compounds useful for the treatment of Chagas disease. P. speudoalpina and P. martensianum do not have reports of their phytochemical composition or biological...
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