Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
Gout and arthritis are prevalent and debilitating inflammatory disorders that primarily affect the joints, leading to intense pain, swelling, stiffness, and restricted mobility. These conditions significantly impair the quality of life and often require long-term management. While conventional pharmacological treatments such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and urate-lowering agents offer symptomatic relief, they are often associated with adverse effects, high costs, and limited efficacy in certain patient populations. Consequently, there is increasing interest in the potential of medicinal plants with anti-gout and anti-arthritic properties as alternative or complementary treatments. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and critical evaluation of a wide range of medicinal plants that have shown potential in mitigating the symptoms of gout and arthritis. The review focuses on identifying key phytochemicals and understanding their mechanisms of action, which include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, immunomodulatory, and uric acid-lowering effects. By synthesizing contemporary scientific findings, this review emphasizes the therapeutic relevance, safety profile, and clinical applicability of medicinal plants, thereby presenting them as promising adjuncts or alternatives...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
Background: Drug–drug interactions (DDI’s) are a common yet often preventable cause of adverse drug events, particularly in settings involving polypharmacy. Awareness and vigilance among prescribers are essential to minimize therapeutic failures and patient harm. Despite their clinical significance, knowledge and practices surrounding DDIs remain suboptimal in many healthcare environments. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge and attitude of modern medical practitioners in a tertiary care center in Kerala regarding DDI’s, and to identify the factors associated with their knowledge levels. Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 consenting medical professionals including interns, residents, and consultants, and was selected through simple random sampling. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire assessing knowledge and attitude was administered to collect the responses and scoring systems were assigned to assess these parameters regarding drug-drug interactions. Results: Among respondents, even though 84% were aware of DDI’s, only 6% demonstrated good knowledge. 50% and 44% had average and poor knowledge respectively. Good knowledge was significantly associated with higher qualifications, practice duration, government college background, CME...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
Introduction: As compared to healthy weight subjects, obese individuals are more susceptible to respiratory infections and obese patients with respiratory disease have higher hospitalization rates. This cross-sectional study was conducted to observe the effect of obesity on pulmonary function tests in otherwise healthy adults. Materials and Methods: Study comprised of 180 subjects in the age group of 18-65 years divided into 3 groups: Group I comprising 60 normal subjects with body mass index (BMI) between 18.5-24.9 Kg/m2, Group II comprising 60 overweight subjects with BMI between 25-29.9 Kg/m2, and, Group III comprising 60 obese subjects with BMI ≥ 30 Kg/m2. It was carried out in Department of Physiology, Government Medical College, Patiala from December 2020 to November 2022. The pulmonary function tests were recorded by spirometry using body box plethysmograph. Results: All respiratory parameters exhibited statistically significant decrease in obese groups as compared to normal and overweight groups. Lung volumes showed significant differences in relation to BMI. FVC, FEV1 and FEV3 showed significant decrease in relation to BMI with...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
There are various screening methods which are used to evaluate antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic agents for treating various infections. These methods include both traditional observational methods and advanced techniques. For antibacterial and antifungal agents, the focus is on high-throughput methods that assess bacterial and fungal growth and viability. Antiviral screening methods involve testing compounds that inhibit viral replication and infection, employing cell culture systems and cytopathic effect assays. The review details susceptibility testing methods for parasitic infestations, tailored to specific parasites. For Plasmodium species, assays like radioactive hypoxanthine incorporation and SYBR Green staining are used to determine drug efficacy. Leishmania and Trypanosoma species are assessed through colorimetric assays and flow cytometry for intracellular amastigotes. Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium are evaluated using image-based high-throughput screens and ATP content-based bioluminescence assays. Schistosoma species are tested using automated methods like impedance-based mobility measurement and fluorescence assays. Filarial parasites are screened for drug efficacy using traditional motility observation and advanced software like WormAssay. These screening methods are critical for identifying effective...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
Introduction: Demographic trends have shown an increase in geriatric population. On growing older, they will become dependent on family or informal caregivers. Caregiver stress is experienced when chronic life strains and coping mechanisms challenge the capacity of an informal caregiver. Objective: The study is aimed to assess the caregiver stress and associated factors among informal caregivers. Methodology: The study was conducted among 180 subjects in Padianallur area. Multistage sampling method was done. Study tool comprised of questionnaire on Sociodemographic details, co-morbid conditions, Barthel index and caregiver stress scale. Statistics: Data were exported to SPSS version 16 and analysed. Results: Female Caregivers accompanying the elderly patients were highly stressed than males (48%, 29%, p=0.037). Caregivers in the age group of 60 years and above were experiencing high level of stress (61.1%, p=0.001). Caregivers of care recipients aged 70 years and above were highly stressed (62%, p=0.002). Care providers with co – morbid conditions were suffering high level of stress (60.2%, p< 0.001). Caregivers of severely to total dependent recipients were...
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