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Background: Cinnamon is one of the best known spices used as an herbal medicine. Cinnamaldehyde (CNM) the volatile oil, which was present in the essential oil of the bark, is the important constituents of cinnamon. Cinnamon has been investigated for its various effects like peptic ulcer protection, antioxidant property, inhibition of tau aggregation, anti-inflammatory activity, effect on cardiovascular system, anti-nociceptive activity, hepato-protective effects, hypolipidemic and antidiabetic activites. The present study was aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of CNM per se and its interaction with diazepam in swiss albino mice.Methods: Anxiolytic activity was evaluated by elevated plus maze method. A group of 36 healthy mice of either sex weighing 20-30 grams were divided at random into six groups (n=6). CNM and diazepam were dissolved in tween twenty 20% to maintain uniformity of the solvent and given orally. Group I was given twenty 20% (10 ml/kg, p.o.), group II diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.), group III diazepam (1 mg/kg, p.o.), group IV cinnamaldehyde (100 mg/kg, p.o.), group V cinnamaldehyde (200 mg/kg, p.o.), group VI cinnamaldehyde and diazepam (100 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg, p.o.).Results: Cinnamaldehyde per se showed no anxiolytic effect at any dose (p<0.05). The standard drug diazepam has shown significant anxiolytic activity on elevated plus maze. Whereas combination of diazepam 0.5 mg/kg and cinnamaldehyde 100 mg/kg showed significant increase in the time spent in open arms as compared to all groups (p<0.05).Conclusions: CNM per se did not show any effect on anxiety but enhanced the action of diazepam when co-administered.
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Background: This study was performed to prospectively investigate the diagnostic reliability of the daily use of ACR-TIRADS classification system, in differentiating between a benign and a malignant lesion.Methods: In this prospective observational study, 50 patients with thyroid nodules underwent ultrasound examination and fine needle aspiration. The ultrasound studies were evaluated according to the ACR-TIRADS greyscale characteristics of composition, echogenicity, margins, shape, and echogenic foci. Each feature in a particular USG characteristic was scored and ACR-TIRADS categorization done from 1 to 5. This was compared to FNAC/histopathology findings and risk of malignancy was calculated for each feature and ACR-TIRADS category.Results: Of the 50 nodules included in the study, 38 were found to be benign and 12 were found to be malignant. Risk of malignancy for all ultrasound features showed an increasing trend with higher scored feature. Risk of malignancy for various features were as follows: Composition-cystic (0%), spongiform (0%), solid-cystic (0%) and solid (36%); echogenicity-anechoic(0%), hyperechoic (4%), isoechoic (11%), hypoechoic (47%) and markedly hypoechoic (100%); shape-wider-than-tall (21%) and taller-than-wide (66%); margins-smooth (18%), illdefined (0%), lobulated/irregular (38%) and extrathyroid extension (100%); echogenic foci-none (13%), large comet-tail artefacts (0%), macrocalcification (42%), rim calcification (50%) and punctate echogenic foci (50%). Amongst ACR-TIRADS(TR) categories TR1, TR2 and TR3 had 0% risk while TR4 had 30% and TR5 had 56% risk of malignancy with p value of 0.001.Conclusions: ACR-TIRADS is a high specific, accurate classification system for categorizing the thyroid nodules based on ultrasound features, for assessing the risk of malignancy.
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Background: Depression is a worldwide illness in the current population. Low levels of L-methylfolate are linked to depression. Present study evaluates the anti-depressive activity of acute and chronic administration of L-methylfolate per se in forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) and its interaction with escitalopram in albino mice.Methods: For this 30 swiss albino mice were divided randomly into five groups (n=6) as group I (control,10ml/Kg, p.o) - 2% suspension of gum acacia, group II - escitalopram suspension (10mg/kg, p.o), group III- L-methylfolate suspension (3mg/kg, p.o), group IV- L-methylfolate (3mg/kg, p.o) plus escitalopram (5mg/kg, p.o), group V- L-methylfolate(3mg/kg, p.o) plus escitalopram(10mg/kg, p.o), for forced swimming test. In tail suspension test again, mice were divided in five groups as above except that the dose of L-methylfolate was reduced to 1.25mg/kg. The pharmacologically validated models forced swimming test and tail suspension test were performed in mice to evaluate acute and chronic antidepressant activity of L-methylfolate and its combination with escitalopram respectively, after performing an acute toxicity study.Results: L-methylfolate and L-methylfolate plus escitalopram (10mg/Kg and 5mg/Kg, p.o) showed acute and chronic antidepressant activity in albino mice in FST and TST respectively. In human L-methylfolate is only active form of folic acid that readily crosses the blood brain barrier and utilized by the CNS. It regulates the bioavailability of critical cofactor BH4, required by enzymes synthesizing monoamines whose deficiency leads to depression.Conclusions: Hence, this study suggests antidepresant activity of L-methylfolate per se and as adjuvant with escitalopram when initiated from initiation of antidepressant therapy. Also, L-methylfolate opens the possibility of reducing the dose of antidepressant when used as adjuvant.
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Background: This study aims to evaluate the per se effect of piperine and its interaction with ondansetron on haloperidol induced catalepsy in swiss albino mice.Methods: The piperine crystals were separated from crude extract of Piper nigrum. Catalepsy was induced by haloperidol (1mg/kg, i.p.). Control group received 2% gum acacia (10ml/kg), standard group ondansetron (0.5mg/kg), test group piperine (10mg/kg) and combination group ondansetron plus piperine (0.5mg/kg + 10mg/kg), per oral, respectively. In acute study, drugs were administered only once, one hour prior to the haloperidol administration. Whereas in chronic study, catalepsy was determined on the seventh day of treatment.Results: In acute study, from 60 min onwards after haloperidol administration, ondansetron and ondansetron plus piperine group resulted in significantly lower cataleptic scores than the control treated group. On the other hand, 120 min onwards ondansetron group showed significantly lower cataleptic scores (24.62) as compared to the ondansetron plus piperine group (31.50). In the chronic study, from 60 min onwards, ondansetron and the ondansetron plus piperine resulted in significantly lower cataleptic scores than the control treated group. Also the combination of ondansetron plus piperine was more significantly protective compared to ondansetron alone (P <0.05).Conclusions: Piperine has the potential to be used as a bioenhancer when combined with other drugs which would reduce the dose of drugs and thereby adverse effects. It may act probably by enhancing the bioavailability as well as by inhibiting the metabolic pathways of other drugs.
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Background: Hemolytic disorders are one of the prime reasons for frequent blood transfusions which involves lots of costs and sufferings to the patient. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of water soluble extract of Aloe vera on rabbit erythrocytes in varying concentrations of NaCl from 0.9% (isotonic) to 0.15% (hypotonic).Methods: Aqueous extract of Aloe vera (AVE) 200mg/kg was orally administered to rabbits in the test group while control group was given 1ml of distilled water (DW). Blood was withdrawn from rabbits, centrifuged and suspension in 1ml of normal saline was made. 20 microliter of red blood cells suspension from both control and test groups was added to normal saline of varying concentrations from 0.9% to 0.15% NaCl which were quantitatively analysed for hemolysis by UV spectrophotometer. Data was analysed by unpaired t test and P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The difference in percentage of hemolysis in both test and control groups was not statistically significant. Therefore, acute administration of water soluble extract of Aloe vera (200mg/kg) did not have protective effect on rabbit erythrocytes against hypotonic solution of normal saline.Conclusions: Aloe vera might be useful for the treatment of oxidative stress-related human disorders by virtue of its antioxidant activity and may have a role in prevention of hemolysis which needs to be explored by further studies.
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Background: Pharmacovigilance knowledge and training in post graduate student doctors is key factor for proper implementation of PvPI. Often the dentists and physiotherapists who are also one of the main stakeholders for ADR reporting are neglected for training and knowledge regarding pharmacovigilance. This study was planned to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of pharmacovigilance in post graduate students in tertiary care centre in Indore.Methods: It was a single point cross sectional questionnaire-based study conducted in a tertiary care Institute MGM Medical College and M.Y. Hospital in the state of Madhya Pradesh at Indore. It was conducted among post graduate student doctors from dentistry and physiotherapy. Total of 55 questionnaires were distributed, 50 of them were returned back and were analysed.Results: Overall knowledge level was average. 90% knew about ADR while 80% were aware about PVPI. 10% knew about local AMC at Indore while only 04% knew global centre for Pharmacovigilance is at Sweden Uppsala. 88% thought Med watch as global database for ADR against only 12% knew its Vigibase. 90% thought ADR reporting is necessary. 96% thought it should be included in UG curriculum. 98% had not reported any ADR till date while 84% had not seen an ADR form.Conclusions: Post graduate doctors are the prime candidates to impart the importance of pharmacovigilance. The study strongly suggested that there was a great need to create awareness and impart training among the post graduate doctors to improve the reporting of ADRs.
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Background: Pharmacovigilance knowledge and awareness in post graduate student doctors is key factor for proper implementation of PvPI. This study was planned to evaluate the knowledge &awareness of pharmacovigilance in post graduate students in tertiary care centre in Indore.Methods: It was a single point cross sectional questionnaire-based study conducted in a tertiary care Institute MGM Medical College & M.Y. Hospital in the state of Madhya Pradesh at Indore. It was conducted among post graduate student doctors from various clinical departments. Total of 150 questionnaires were distributed, 115 of them were returned back and were analysed.Results: Overall knowledge level was satisfactory. 91.30% knew about ADR while 95% were aware about PVPI. 13% knew about local AMC at Indore while only 4.34% knew global centre for Pharmacovigilance is at Sweden Uppsala. 86.95% thought Med watch as global database for ADR against only 13% knew its Vigibase. 96.50% thought ADR reporting is necessary. 97.40% thought it should be included in UG curriculum. 95.65% had not reported any ADR till date while 86.95% had not seen an ADR form.Conclusions: Post graduate doctors are the prime candidates to impart the importance of pharmacovigilance. The study strongly suggested that there was a great need to create awareness among the post graduate doctors to improve the reporting of ADRs.