A Prospective, Observational Study of the Spontaneous Reporting Patterns of Adverse Drug Reactions in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Objectives: To analyse the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported from clinical departments of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A prospective, observational study to analyse the reported ADRs to the pharmacovigilance unit, Department of Pharmacology, East Point College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, between 2019 and 2021. Institutional Ethics Committee approval was taken before doing the study. The data pertaining to various parameters were recorded in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) approved ADR reporting form and were analysed with respect to each reported data using descriptive statistics and expressed as numbers and percentages using Microsoft Excel. Results: Overall, 114 ADRs were reported during the study duration, and ADRs were most commonly reported amongst females (69) and 31–45 years (27.2%) age group. Causality assessment was done using the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre (WHO-UMC) scale, which showed 75 (66%) probable and 39 (34%) possible ADRs. The highest number of ADRs were reported by Medicine department (48.2%), emergency and intensive care unit (ICU) (16.6%) followed by Dermatology department (9.6%). The majority of them were due to antimicrobial agents (53.5%). The most commonly affected organ system was found to be dermatological (68.4%) followed by the body as a whole (15.7%) and gastrointestinal system (8.7%). The presentations of ADRs were diverse; itching and rashes (34 cases) were most commonly reported. Conclusion: This study gives an overall understanding of the current situation and trends in ADRs and their reporting status by health professionals in a tertiary care hospital, which would help to strengthen the pharmacovigilance activities at all levels of health care.

A study on physiological taste threshold in hyperthyroidism

Background: Taste is the perception produced when a substance in the mouth reacts chemically with taste receptors located on taste buds in the oral cavity. The five basic taste modalities are sweet, salt, sour, bitter, and umami. Disorders of taste can result from various diseases and use of various drugs. Hyperthyroidism is one among them which affects the taste sensation and threshold. Aim and Objectives: The study was conducted to assess the physiological taste threshold for the five primary taste modalities in hyperthyroid patients and to compare their taste thresholds with that of the normal healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Investigations were carried out in 30 hyperthyroid patients aged between 20 and 50 years and in age, sex, and anthropometrically matched control groups of 30, who were apparently healthy. The statistical analysis was done by student’s t-test. Results: There is no difference in the physiological threshold of the all the basic tastes but salt. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in the taste threshold for salt taste can be seen in hyperthyroid patients compared to that of controls. Conclusion: The threshold for salt taste was altered in hyperthyroidism, which can be detected by proper screening. Taste dysfunction leads to reduced food intake and poor nutrition. Proper treatment and counseling can help them to get back their normal taste threshold along with normal thyroid status.

A prospective, questionnaire-based study to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of rational use of antibiotics among clinical practitioners in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Irrational antibacterial usage leads to emergence of antibiotic resistance. Hence, to ensure rational prescription regular clinical audits are essential in tertiary care hospitals. Aim and Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and perception of clinician抯 on rational use of antibiotics in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: The prospective, questionnaire-based study was conducted on clinicians in a tertiary care hospital, after getting approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee to obtain information on rational antibiotic usage and was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The study included 100 clinicians. 95% were aware about Rational antibiotic usage, the ingredients, adverse effects, interactions, contraindications, and cost of the drugs they prescribe and they were also analyzing the culture and sensitivity report before prescription of antibiotics, but only 48% of them were prescribing antibiotics from National List of Essential Medicines, 35% were influenced by patient demands. Around 80% agreed with the usefulness of the feedback given by fellow colleagues on antibiotic decisions. Though 98% of them were aware of the hazards of antibiotic resistance only 68% knew about antibiogram and having antibiotic policy at the workplace. In practice, 95% were showing special interest in proper antibiotic usage, 82% knew the new antibiotics available and 91% were providing proper counseling to patients. 95% suggested the need for training on rational use of medicines and antibiotic policy post MBBS. Conclusion: The clinicians recognized the importance of rational antibiotic use in preventing its resistance thus reducing health care burden on the patients.

Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield and Yield Components in Segregating (F4) Generation of Lablab Bean (Lababperpureus L. Sweet).

The genotypic correlation coefficients were slightly higher than phenotypic coefficients. Seed yield per plant was highly significant and positively correlated with number of pods per plant, primary branches per plant, hundred seed weight, days to maturity and number of peduncles per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level, whereas it was significantly and positively correlated with days to first flowering at genotypic level only. Path analysis revealed that, number of pods per plant, hundred seed weight and number of primary branches recorded the highest direct effects in desirable direction. Their association with seed yield was also significant and positive indicating true and perfect association between these traits. Therefore direct selection for these characters would help in isolating high yielding genotypes.

Health Status of Elderly Persons in Rural Area of India.

Introduction : The population in developing countries is increasing day by day due to the development of medical science and availability of medical facilities at their door steps. This results in an increasing numbers of elderly persons which contributes to 7% of India’s population. Elderly are vulnerable to long term diseases of insidious onset such as cardiovascular illness, CVA, cancers, diabetes, musculoskeletal and mental illnesses. Hence the study was conducted to assessing the health status and morbidity pattern among the rural elderly. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 6 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in India among elderly persons who were 60 years and above .One PHC which was selected by random sampling method among six PHCs. 20% of all elderly persons from all the villages in selected PHC by systematic random sampling which formed the study sample (494).All these peoples were examined clinically & necessary information was collected from them. Results: Commonest morbidity observed among the elderly people was depression (31.4 %) followed by musculoskeletal disorder (25.5 %), hypertension (24.1 %), gastrointestinal problems (11.5 %), diabetes mellitus (5.9 %), & neurological problems (4.7 %). Conclusion: This study has highlighted that the elderly suffers from multiple morbidities, which they often attribute to ageing. It requires the strengthening of geriatric health care services in accordance with the common existing problems in the community.

Progressive systemic sclerosis in childhood: a report of three cases.

Systemic sclerosis is unusual in childhood. We describe three children who presented with diffuse hidebound skin associated with gastrointestinal and pulmonary abnormalities. Cardiac and renal dysfunctions, which are often encountered in these patients, were notably absent in our cases.

Molybdenum, xanthine oxidase and riboflavin levels in tamoxifen treated postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

40 cases postmenopausal women with breast cancer constituted the study group and 20 sex and age matched formed the control group. The study group of untreated patients showed nonsignificant decrease in molybdenum but significant decrease in blood xanthine oxidase and riboflavin levels. Tamoxifen treated patients showed nonsignificant increase in molybdenum, after 3 months, significant increase after 6 months and significant increase in xanthine oxidase and riboflavin levels. Thus tamoxifen when given in breast cancer helps in amelioration of the diseased condition.

Influence of Coccinia indica on certain enzymes in glycolytic and lipolytic pathway in human diabetes.

Dried extract of C Indica in doses of 500 mgm/kg body weight were administered orally to 30 diabetic patients for six weeks. Blood samples were collected 15 minutes after administration of 10 IU heparin for estimation of LPL, before and after treatment with C. Indica Non heparinised samples were utilized for estimation for G-6-p (ase), LDH and blood sugar. Severity of disease were assessed by the findings of blood sugar level. Mild diabetes had no effect on LPL, LDH and G-6-P (ase). But, reduced activity of enzyme LPL and raised level of G-6-P (ase) and LDH in plasma of severe diabetics were found to be highly significant (p < 0.001). The alteration in these parameters in untreated diabetics were restored after treatment with C. indica Hence, it can be postulated that the ingredients present in the extract of C. indica, act like insulin, correcting the elevated enzymes G-6-p (ase), LDH in glycolytic pathway and restore the LPL activity in lypolytic pathway with the control of hyperglycemia in diabetes.

Evidence for high prevalence & rapid transmission of HIV among individuals attending STD clinics in Pune, India.

Prevalence and incidence of HIV-1 infection among persons attending two STD clinics in Pune between May 1993 and October 1995 are reported. On screening 5321 persons, the overall prevalence of HIV-1 infection was found to be 21.2 per cent, being higher in females (32.3%) than in males (19.3%). Analysis of behavioural and biological factors showed that old age, sex work, lifetime number of sexual partners, receptive anal sex, lack of circumcision, genital diseases and lack of formal education were related to a higher HIV-1 seroprevalence. The observed incidence rate of 10.2 per cent per year was very high, much higher in women than in men (14.2% and 9.5% per year respectively) and over three times higher among the sex workers. Females in sex work, males having recent contacts with female sex workers (FSWs) and living away from the family and persons with previous or present genital diseases had a higher risk of seroconversion. Condom usage was shown to have a protective effect in seroprevalence and seroincidence analysis. With limited available resources and lack of a suitable vaccine or a drug, long-term prevention policy of creating awareness in the community must be supplemented by strengthening STD control measures and promotion of condom use and safe sex. Factors related to availability and utilization of condoms must be carefully investigated.