ABSTRACT
Background:To study the prescription behavior of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) by physicians, gynecologists, and alternative medicine practitioners (AMPs). Materials and Methods?Close-ended questionnaire-based cross-section study was performed between 1st September 2012 and 28th February 2014 in three groups of responders, i.e., AMP, general medical practitioners (GMPs), and obstetricians and gynecologists (ObGy). A stratified random cluster sample was used. Data of 400 subjects in all three groups were obtained using both univariate and multi-variate sophisticated statistical analyses for analyzing attitude and practices and were recorded on an ordinal scale using appropriate non-parametric test. Results?Of the 1,237 subjects surveyed, 400 completed questionnaires were received from each of the three groups viz; AMPs, GMPs, and ObGy. Remaining 37 incomplete questionnaires were not included in the final analysis. Conclusion?There are equal misconceptions regarding OCPs among users and prescribing physicians. Preference for OCPs in married and unmarried women is also equally low. OCP usage and their prescription practices can be improved by removing potential barriers, developing public–private partnership, and training promoters.
ABSTRACT
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated arthropathy, so for the treatment disease modifying antirheumatoid drugs are required. In this study we are evaluating the immunomodulatory property of Boswellia serrata extract (BSE) as an alternative medicine.Methods: Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA), 0.1ml was injected intradermally in the footpad of left hind paw in 36 Wistar rats to induce RA. Animals were divided into 6 groups. BSE in the doses of 45mg/kg, 90mg/kg and 180mg/kg was administered and cyclophosphamide as standard drug. Various parameters as body weight, paw thickness, ankle diameter, paw volume, arthritis index, TNF- ? and histopathological changes were analyzed.Results: Marked reduction in paw thickness, ankle diameter, paw volume, arthritis index and an improved body weight was found in high dose BSE (180mg/kg) group but the effect was lesser than standard drug Cyclophosphamide.Conclusions: BSE has significant potential as an alternative medicine for treatment of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.