Ototoxicity by aminoglycosides a clinical study in an Apex Hospital

To study the drugs causing ototoxicity, their likely mechanism and developing rational approach for prevention and management of this therapeutic problem. Patients attending OPO and IPD with any evidence of drug-induced ototoxicity were included in the study and they were further evaluated by detailed history of drug exposure to find out drug responsible for ototoxicity and then local and audiometric examination of ear was done to find out the type and extent of hearing impairment the relevant drugs produced. 100 patients of ototoxicity caused by various aminoglycosides were studied and observed that Streptomycin is the commonest aminoglycoside and tinnitus is the commonest manifestation of aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity. Aminogtycoside causes initial high frequency hearing loss which in severe cases also involves normal speech frequencies, a significant hearing loss had already been established in most of the patients before the hearing impairment became apparent to patients or even to prescribing physician, so these drugs should be avoided where possible or preventive measures must be applied at least in high risk individuals

Prevention of postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions in rats by alcoholic extract of piper longum an experimental study

Postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion formation is a common clinical occurrence, a major cause of morbidity and an occasional cause of mortality. This study was designed to evaluate the role of alcoholic extract of Piper longum in the prevention of Acetic Acid induced intraperitoneal adhesions in rats. Intraperitoneal injections of Piper longum extract, 10 mg/100 mg b.w. [Test Group], showed a potent activity comparable to Betamethasone 1 ml/100 gm b.w. [Standard Group] and grades of adhesions were confined to 0, 1 and 2 in these two groups as compared to grades 3 and 4 in rats in which Normal Saline was used [as control]. Mononuclear cell infiltration, fibroblastic proliferation and mesothelial thickening were mostly mild to moderate in the test group and the standard group as compared to the control group in which it was severe. This study suggests that alcoholic extract of Piper longum has a potent activity in the prevention of Acetic Acid induced intraperitoneal adhesions in rats

Drug induced hearing impairmenta - pilotstudy

The aim of the study is to observe the drugs causing hearing impairment, their likely mechanism and developing rational approach for prevention and management of this therapeutic problem. Patients attending OPD and IPD with any evidence of drug induced ototoxicity were included in the study and they were further evaluated by detailed history of drug exposure and local and audiometric examination of ear to find out the type and extent of hearing impairment and drugs responsible for ototoxicity. 120 patients of ototoxicity caused by various drugs and of varying degrees were included in the study and we observed that aminoglycosides are the most common cause and tinnitus is the most common manifestation of ototoxicity. Hearing impairment is initially of high frequency which in severe cases also included abnormal speech frequencies.A significant hearing loss had already established in most of the patients before the hearing impairment became apparent to patients or even prescribing physician, so these drugs should be avoided where possible or preventive measures must be applied at least in high risk individuals

experimental study of zinc in diabetes mellitus

Present study was conducted to observe the changes in body weight, physical endurance and levels of zinc in serum and tissues in experimentally induced diabetes in rats. Oral zinc sulfate supplementation was done in three different doses [50 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 300mg/kg] to see if zinc supplementation has any effect on the above parameters. After 7 days of alloxan treatment, rats having blood sugar levels of more than 350 mg/dl were selected for the present study. Serum zinc level in diabetic rats was significantly low as compared to control. Brain zinc level of diabetic rats was significantly low, whereas kidney and liver zinc levels in diabetic rats were significantly high. Swimming time and body weight were significantly decreased in diabetic rats as compared to control rats. On oral zinc supplementation serum zinc levels of diabetic groups II and III rats increased significantly from 4th week as compared to the control and diabetic group I rats. Brain zinc level of diabetic group III rats was found to be increased significantly as compared to diabetic groups I and II, whereas kidney zinc level of diabetic group III was significantly low as compared to diabetic groups I and II, but no significant change was noted in liver zinc level. Gain in body weight with improved physical endurance was observed along with elevated serum zinc levels in experimental diabetic rats