Posted by admin on Jul 1, 2012 in |
ABSTRACT Study objective: To investigate the use of antihypertensive drugs in hypertensive patients and to identify whether such pattern of prescription is appropriate in accordance with international guidelines for management of hypertension. Methods: This was a prospective analysis. A prescription based survey among patients with established hypertension was conducted at the Medicine Out-Patient Department of University Teaching Hospital in South Delhi, India. Data were collected from patients’ medical records as well as patients’ interviews. Results: A total of 192 hypertensive patients fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the study analysis. Combination therapy was used more commonly than monotherapy (54.6% vs 45.4). Among the monotherapy category, the various classes of drugs used were as follows: beta- blockers (28.8%), diuretics (24.1%), calcium channel blockers (21.8%), ACE inhibitors (18.4%), angiotensin II receptor blockers (5.7%) and α 1- blocker (1.1%). With respect to overall utilization pattern, diuretics (42.2%) were the most frequently prescribed class, beta- blockers (41.2%) ranked second followed by calcium channel blockers (39.1%), ACE inhibitors (26.0%), angiotensin II receptor blockers (23.4%)...
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Posted by admin on Jul 1, 2012 in |
The completion of genome sequences of pathogenic bacteria and the completion of human genome project has provided lot amount of data that can be utilized to design vaccines and drug targets. Recently adopting strategies for drug designing is based on comparative genomics approach, it gives a set of genes that are likely to be essential to the pathogen but absent in the host. By performing homology searches and structural modeling we can determine which of these proteins can function as the most effective surface epitope. This provides novel targets for functional inhibitors will result in discovery of novel therapeutic compounds active against bacteria. In this study, we used proteins that are potential target for Clostridium botulinum, this include, MATE efflux family protein, ComEC/Rec2 family protein, formate/nitrite transporter family protein. Physico-chemical characterization interprets properties such as pI, EC, AI, GRAVY and instability index and provides data about these proteins and their properties. Prediction of patterns, disulfide bridges and secondary structure were performed for functional characterization. Three dimensional structures for these...
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Posted by admin on Jul 1, 2012 in |
Growth disturbances are a major clinical feature of thalassemic patients. Regular blood transfusions and iron-chelation therapy greatly contribute to the quality and longevity of thalassemic patients. The main objective of present study was to compare the current growth of Thalassemia major patients, taking into accounts the iron overload, transfusion and iron chelation therapy, therefore we planned this study. The present study was conducted on 63 Thalassemic patients were enrolled in this study from June 2008 to October 2008. These subjects were categorised into two groups: 36 children (<10 years) and 27 adolescents (>10 years). Enrolled subjects were examined for various anthropometric parameters as height, weight and body mass index. Venous blood samples were obtained for estimating serum ferritin. Family history (carrier status of father, mother or siblings), age of diagnosis, age of first blood transfusion, frequency of blood transfusion and details of chelation therapy were recorded during the study Serum Ferritin level was very significantly elevated in the adolescents when compared to children because the number of transfusion increases...
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Posted by admin on Jul 1, 2012 in |
There is a continuous and urgent need to discover new antimicrobial compounds with diverse chemical structures and novel mechanisms of action because there has been an alarming increase in the incidence of new and re-emerging infectious diseases. In recent years, drug resistance to human pathogenic bacteria has been commonly reported from all over the world. In the present scenario of emergence of multiple drug resistance to human pathogenic organisms, this has necessitated a search for new antimicrobial substances from other sources including plants. In the present study aqueous- ethanol extract of ten plants each belonging to different families was evaluated for antibacterial activity against medically important bacteria viz. S. aureus (MTCC 3160), B. subtilis (MTCC441), E. coli (MTCC40), K. pneumoniae (MTCC3384), P.mirabilis (MTCC425), P.aeruginosa (MTCC741). The in vitro anti-bacterial activity was performed by agar disc diffusion and agar well diffusion method. P. mirabilis was the most resistant bacterium while S. aureus was the most susceptible bacteria. Amongst the plant species studied, Terminalia chebula showed best antibacterial...
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Posted by admin on Jul 1, 2012 in |
Context: The present investigation provides proof for the effectiveness of Arecanut extract as an anti-inflammatory agent. Arecanut extract is a natural plant product mimic of peroxidase. Objective: To explore the Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of Areca catechu L in carrageenan, dextran and formalin induced inflammation models in Swiss albino mice, by injection into the interdigital area, through the subplantar region of the paw. To explore the antioxidant effects of Arecanut extract on the in-vitro system. Method: Treatment with aqueous extract at 250 mg/kg.bwt and 500 mg/kg.body weight and untreated group was started orally 1 hour prior to the subplantar injection of carrageenan. The paw volume was measured using vernier calipers, before and one hour after carrageenan injection. Similarly in the case of dextran, initial readings were taken on the first day, prior to Formalin administration. Day one readings were taken one hour post formalin administration. This was taken during seven consecutive days challenge period. The drug aqueous arecanut extract at 200mg/kg.bwt, 500 mg/kg.bwt produced reduction in inflammation of...
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