Anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activities of thiazolidine-4-ones in rats

Background: NSAIDS are associated with side effects and research should continue for developing safer drugs. This study aims to evaluate newer thiazolidine-4-ones for their anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activities in wister rats.Methods: Five groups of wister rats, 6 in each were used. Anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activities of diclofenac (30mg/kg), nimesulide (50mg/kg), thia-1 (50mg/kg) and thia-2 (50mg/kg) are compared with control group (4% Gum Acacia). Carrageenin-induced paw edema, formaline induced acute peritonitis and cotton pellet-induced granulomatous tissue formation models were used for evaluating anti-inflammatory activity. After removing cotton pellets with granuloma on 8th day gastric ulcerogenicity was assessed by using macroscopic and microscopic scoring of ulcers.Results: Diclofenac, nimesulide and thia 2 reduced both paw edema and peritoneal exudate volume significantly (p <0.01). Wet weight of cotton pellets reduced significantly (p <0.01) by diclofenac, nimesulide and thia 2. Diclofenac (p <0.01) and thia 2 (p <0.05) reduced dry weight of cotton pellets significantly. nimesulide and thia-1 reduced it by 19.14% and 2.68% respectively and was considered statistically not significant (p>0.05). Nimesulide, thia-1 and thia-2 did not increase gastric ulcer score significantly (p >0.05). Diclofenac increased ulcer score significantly (p <0.01).Conclusions: Thia-2 demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic models. In addition to inhibition of cyclooxygenase pathway, PPAR agonistic activity may be involved in its anti-inflammatory activity. No significant ulcerogenicity was observed on comparing with nimesulide and control. Further in-vitro and in-vivo studies are recommended to confirm the results of this study.

Adverse drug reactions in hospitalized paediatric patients in a tertiary care center in Kerala, India

Background: Drug safety information about children is scarcely available. This study aims to describe the ADRs in hospitalized paediatric patients under 12 years of age in paediatrics wards of DM WIMS Hospital, Wayanad, Kerala, a tertiary care center in southern part of India.Methods: A retrospective study based on data collected as per the ongoing pharmacovigilance program of India (PvPI) was conducted for twelve months period in order to study the ADRs in hospitalized paediatric patients under 12 years of age with at least one medication prescribed. The study was conducted in paediatrics wards of DM WIMS Hospital, Wayanad. WHO-UMC scale and Naranjo´s Algorithm was used to evaluate causality, the modified Hartwig and Siegel assessment scale was used to establish severity and the Schumock and Thornton criteria was used to determine preventability.Results: Forty-two children (42) who experienced 55 ADRs were included in the study. The frequency was higher in children under 1 year of age (47.62%). Emergence of ADRs was higher in male patients (59.52%), in those used three or more medicines together (71.43%) and in those with systemic antibiotics (58.18%).Conclusions: Being the first study from Kerala in paediatric patients, it is an important contribution to drug safety profile in children from this region of India. ADRs frequency and other descriptive characteristics are provided for the enrolled children under 12 years of age. ADRs are an additional burden of morbidity and risk, particularly in those who used several medicines, including antibiotics.

Epidemiological pattern of non-fatal injuries in Iran

To present the incidence rate and distribution of non-fatal injuries in Iran. A one- year study was carried out in all 28 provinces of Iran in 2002-3. Overall, 53,6624 individuals [1,11626 households] from all provinces of the country were randomly selected for the study. In each province about 2000 households in urban and 2000 families in rural areas were included in the study. The guardians or heads of the households were interviewed by using a questionnaire that included information about any accidental injuries taken medical cares within the year prior to the date of data collection and some other demographic information. It is estimated that more than 9.2 million injuries with about 8286 deaths and 74379 hospitalizations occurred in Iran each year. The incidence rate of all types of non-fatal injuries was [444.3 per 100,000]. The top three causes of non-fatal injuries were transport accidents [237 per 100,000], falls [106.2 per 100,000] and struck by thrown, projected of falling object [69.8 per 100,000]. The non-fatal injuries were more common among males than females [8039.6 vs. 2021.7 per 100,000] and nearly equivalent among residence of urban areas compared to those from rural areas [5024.1 vs. 5075.5 per 100,000]. In Iran injuries are one of the main leading causes of diseases and hospital admissions in both rural and urban areas, and this figure for transport accidents is quite high in the world

Chronic otitis media and facial paralysis as a presenting feature of Wegener's granulomatosis

Upper airway disease, especially nasal and paranasal sinus involvement, is the most common manifestation of Wegener's granulomatosis. Chronic otitis media and facial palsy are rare but well known presenting features of Wegener's granulomatosis. We report a 40-year-old woman who presented with complaints of ear discharge, deep-seated ear pain and loss of hearing in her right ear. Early diagnosis demands heightened suspicion in a patient with otological symptoms and facial paralysis.

Prevalence of sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency in 2-5-year-old children in Tehran

To determine vitamin A status using conjunctival impression cytology [CIC] in children aged 2- 5 years, we assessed 1257 randomly selected children in urban and rural areas of Tehran. History of using supplemental vitamin A, respiratory or diarrhoeal infection in the previous 6 months, residential location, parents' education, family economic status, and child's age, sex and weight were recorded. Sub- clinical vitamin A deficiency [defined as abnormal CIC] was found in 23.6% of the sample, a rate classified as a moderate public health problem. There was a statistically significant relationship, between sex and age and abnormal CIC [P < 0.05]