Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2018 in |
Objective: To determine the incidence, characteristics, predictors and cost associated with the management of adverse drug interactions (ADIs) in elderly population. Methods: The prospective, intensive and interventional study included all patients taking at least two medications who were elderly admitted to medicine or surgery wards of a tertiary care hospital and were followed untill discharge. ADIs were identified using standard references. Results: A total of 1992 drug-drug interactions were detected from 659 patients over the nine month study period. Incidence of Drug-Drug Interactions (DDI) and ADI was 59.05% and 7.34% respectively. About 5.9% of DDIs resulted in adverse reactions. Of the total Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) detected, 31.5% (89 ADIs in 82 patients) of ADRs were due to DDIs. Pharmacodynamic interactions accounted for 73.5% of DDIs. There was significant association between occurrence of ADIs with three or more diagnosed diseases, three or more chronic diseases, administration of >10 medications and >7 days of hospital stay. The total direct cost associated with the management of ADIs was INR 15, 638/-...
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2018 in |
4-androstene-3, 17-dione (4-AD) and androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) are pharmaceutically important steroid intermediates produced by steroid biotransformation. Non-pathogenic mutants of saprophytic Mycobacterium have been used for production of 4-AD and ADD. Being an intracellular process, the substrate entry is the rate limiting step for 4-AD and ADD production. This biotransformation is also limited by hydrophobic nature of sterol substrates. Uniform dispersion of sterol substrates in aqueous biotransformation medium is desired for efficient 4-AD and ADD production. Tween 80, a non ionic detergent is a promising agent to improve dispersion of hydrophobic substrates. In this study, besides the biotransformation, effects of tween 80 on growth, aggregation, cell wall fluidity and mycolic acid contents of Mycobacterium sp. NRRL B-3805 were estimated. Presence of 20g/L tween 80 led to 380 % increase in biomass. No toxic effect on biomass accumulation was evident at any of the tested concentrations (0.31 to 20g/l). In presence of 1.24 g/L tween 80, biotransformation was shifted towards ADD, resulting in 121 % more ADD production. The ratio of 4...
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2018 in |
Objective: To evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of aqueous extract of Eupatorium birmanicum DC. leave (EB) alone and in combination with ethosuximide against seizure induced by PTZ in albino mice. Method: Aqueous extract of EB leaves was prepared using Soxhlet apparatus. The albino mice were fed with EB at 3 doses (200, 400 & 800 mg/kg). One hour after feeding, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) was given at a dose of 60 mg/kg, s.c. after dissolving in distilled water, at the nape of the neck at a volume of 5 ml/kg to produce convulsion. The animals were observed for upto 30 mins after the PTZ challenge for onset of myoclonic spasm and clonic convulsion. The time of onset of myoclonic spasm and clonic convulsion were noted in seconds. Sub-anticonvulsant dose of ethosuximide was also determined and the effect of its combination with the most effective dose of EB tested. Results: The aqueous extract of Eupatorium birmanicum at doses 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800 mg/kg significantly (p<0.001) increased the latency of onset of myoclonic spasm...
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2018 in |
The genus Rhododendron has been widely used in traditional medicine. Rhododendron ponticum L. (R. ponticum) contains grayanotoxins with diterpene qualities. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of R. ponticum L. extract on glioma in a rat glioma cell line (F98) and to calculate the amounts of grayanotoxins I and III. Rhododendrons were gathered from the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey during the common flowering period. Their flowers were dried under suitable conditions, extracted with distilled water and lyophilized. The amounts of grayanotoxin I and III in the common rhododendron extract were determined by the chromatographic method. The cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities of different concentrations of the R. ponticum L. extract in mitochondrial (MTT) and lysosomal (Neutral red) assays was evaluated in glioma F98 cell lines. It was determined that the R. ponticum L. extract with a grayanotoxin I amount of 55.75 μg/kg and a grayanotoxin III amount of 7.4 μg/kg had a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect. IC50 was found to be...
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Posted by admin on Apr 30, 2018 in |
Herbal plants are effective in the treatment of various diseases. More or less they are unscientifically and improperly used. These plants deserve detailed studies in the light of modern medicine. Having detailed investigation and documentation of herbal plants used in local health traditions and after that doing pharmacological evaluation of these plants and their taxonomical classification can lead to the development of valuable plant drugs for many diseases. In the present study, the renal effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Portulaca oleracea (whole plant) were evaluated by performing the kidney function tests. Firstly the hydro-alcoholic extract of the plant was made. Rats were made diabetic by a single dose of 120 mg/kg b.w. After observing them for 72 hours, the blood glucose levels were checked. The rats having blood glucose levels above 200 mg/dl were taken for the study. The extract was first subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. The doses taken were 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of many plant constituents. The effect of the...
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