ABSTRACT
Background: The practice and teaching in the MBBS curriculum has changed over the last few decades and most of it caters to the making of the Indian Medical Graduate (IMG) and the first contact physician of the community. The most notable change in pharmacy in modern times has been the virtual disappearance of the preparation and compounding of medicines. Pharmacy practical classes still form a part of the MCI curriculum in Pharmacology undergraduate teaching in many states of India including West Bengal. This study was undertaken to assess the attitude of students as well as teachers towards continuation of these practical classes in the curriculum and possible alternatives.Methods: Second year pharmacology students were included in the study (n=143). Along with this 10 faculty members were provided a structured and pre-tested questionnaire to be answered anonymously.Results: It was seen that 89 percent students and 100 percent faculty members wanted these practical classes to be discontinued. The most popular alternative to these classes were ADR reporting from the faculty members (90%) and demonstration of clinical effects of drugs and dosage calculation (86%) among the students.Conclusions: Given the lessening importance and relevance of the pharmacy practical classes in today’s day to day practice, a change in curriculum and examination system in Pharmacology must be considered.
ABSTRACT
Background: Snake envenomation is a common life-threatening problem encountered all-over West Bengal particularly in the rural areas. There are a large number of patients attending the Emergency unit and being admitted to the Medicine ward, some in the intensive care unit (ICU) and intensive therapy unit (ITU) of the tertiary health care facilities. The objective of this study was to assess rationality and effectiveness of management of venomous snake bite following standard protocol – Standard treatment guidelines of Government of West Bengal and National snakebite management protocol of Government of India.Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of six months (May - October 2017) duration. Data were collected from the treatment records of patients admitted with history of snake bite in the Medicine ward, ICU and ITU of tertiary care teaching hospital of rural Bengal.Results: Of the 63 venomous bite patients, most (82.5 %) were diagnosed to have features of neurotoxic envenomation. All of them (100%) received anti-snake venom (ASV). There was no incidence of anaphylactic reaction as well as any serious adverse drug reaction following ASV administration. Two patients developed acute renal failure, needed haemodialysis. Overall percentage of mortality was 3.2%.Conclusions: The survival rate in venomous snake bite is found to be high in this institution. The practice of snake bite management is found to be adherent with standard protocol. A multicentric study of longer duration is suggested to draw a firm conclusion.
ABSTRACT
Background: Individuals with epilepsy have a higher incidence of psychiatric disorders than person without epilepsy. Epidemiological studies have shown that the co-morbidity of epilepsy and depression to be high as 50%. The conventional anti-depressants are believed to lower the seizure threshold making it difficult to treat the co-morbid depression, but animal studies have shown SSRIs, a common anti-depressant, to have anti-convulsant properties. So, we propose to study the anticonvulsant effects of fluoxetine, a SSRI, in albino rats against maximal electroshock seizure and to compare against a standard antiepileptic drug phenytoin.Methods: The anticonvulsant effect of fluoxetine was observed in model of maximal electroconvulsive seizure threshold in albino rats. The animals were divided into 3 groups having 6 animals each, receiving distilled water, fluoxetine and phenytoin respectively. The drugs were given orally, and the effect was observed on day 7, 14 and 21. Tonic hind-limb extension was taken as the parameter of electroshock seizure. The effects were compared against a standard anti-seizure drug phenytoin.Results: Fluoxetine showed significant elevation of the seizure threshold following 14 days of administration (P value 0.031). The effect was comparable to phenytoin with no significant difference after 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment (P-value 0.485, 0.699 and 0.818 respectively) though phenytoin showed significant anti-seizure effect since day 7 of treatment.Conclusions: Fluoxetine showed significant anti-seizure activity against electroconvulsive seizure in albino rats.
ABSTRACT
Background: Bronchodilators and glucocorticoids have been proven to be very effective and safe in asthma treatment, which recommend the use of steroids and β2-agonist (long or short acting) as the first line of treatment in of asthma. This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of three different inhaled corticosteroids ciclesonide, budesonide, and fluticasone in bronchial asthma. Methods: A total of 30 patients with mild to moderately persistent bronchial asthma was selected as per the NAEPP classification in the expert panel report (EPR) update 2002, NHLBL USA 2003. They were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 patients each, and they were given 3 different steroid inhalers (ciclesonide or budesonide or fluticasone). Baseline and post-therapy spirometry were performed on day 1 and after 2 months and 6 months of treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: It was observed that most of the cases (43.3%) were between 26 and 35 years of age with female preponderance (56.6%). Significant symptomatic improvement was observed in all 3 groups. The percentage of improvement in mean peak expiratory flow rate was 17%, 18%, and 18% in ciclesonide, budesonide, and fluticasone group, respectively. The percentage improvement of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity after bronchodilatation was 18%, 18%, and 19% in ciclesonide, budesonide, and fluticasone group, respectively. The improvement in mean FEV1% predicted was 20%, 19%, and 21% in three groups, respectively. Conclusion: Steroid therapy along with β2-agonists showed a significant improvement in symptoms. There was no difference among the three different types of steroids.