ABSTRACT
Objective: This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Vitamin B complex as an add-on therapy to diclofenac in patients with primary osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, open-labeled, randomized, and comparative clinical study, a total of 130 patients of age >40 years with primary OA of knee attending orthopedics OPD were randomly allocated into two groups of 65 each, i.e., Group D and Group B. In Group D, patients received tablet diclofenac 75 mg and in Group B, patients received tablet Vitamin B complex along with diclofenac once daily for 4 weeks, respectively. Clinical assessment was done at baseline and at the end of 4 weeks and 8 weeks by the visual analog scale (VAS), WOMAC index, and Lequesne index. Results: During the intergroup comparison, it was found that Vitamin B complex as an add-on therapy to diclofenac produced statistically significant reduction in mean VAS pain score (P < 0.05). However, the difference in mean WOMAC index and Lequesne index was not statistically different at 4 and 8 weeks between the two groups (P > 0.05). Mild side effects were seen at 4 weeks, but no side effects persisted up to 8 weeks in both the groups. Conclusion: The present study suggested that Vitamin B complex as an add-on therapy was found to cause a significant reduction in pain score. It could be a promising drug in patients with OA to improve the analgesic effect, when combined can reduce the dose of diclofenac, thereby minimizing the side effects.
ABSTRACT
Background: Altered hepatic, renal and GIT function along with multiple comorbidities makes use of certaindrugs inappropriate in geriatric population. Identification and rectification of mistakes and lacunae in thecurrent prescribing pattern is crucial for ensuring appropriate and rational prescribing. Purpose: To study theprescribing pattern and medication inappropriateness in geriatric patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital.Material and Methods: Details of the prescribed drugs were obtained from the files of the 60 hospitalisedgeriatric patients and the prescribing pattern was studied. Medication inappropriateness was assessed and theinappropriate drugs were classified into various categories using Beers criteria given by American GeriatricSociety. Number of prescriptions having potential for drug interactions was also calculated. Results: Averagenumber of drugs per prescription was 7.7 with antibiotics being the most commonly prescribed drugs.49.13% were prescribed by brand names. 12.12% drugs were prescribed inappropriately and 20% prescriptionshad one or more inappropriate drug. Potential drug-drug interactions that should be avoided in older adultswere found in 11.6% prescriptions. Conclusion: A considerable fraction of the prescriptions of geriatricpatients were inappropriate and incidence of polypharmacy was very high. There is a pressing need to educatethe physicians about the mistakes in the prescribing pattern of geriatric patients and the adverse effect it canhave on the health of these patients.
ABSTRACT
Writing a prescription is a combination of science and art. Good quality prescriptions are a sign of prescriber’sexpertise. Analysis of quality of prescriptions can be carried out by various methods and by using certain toolsas well. Prescription Quality Index (PQI) is one such validated tool for analyzing the prescription quality. Thepresent study was undertaken on 2155 prescriptions to analyse the prescriptions of outdoor patients by usingPrescription Quality Index tool. Each prescription was evaluated by using questionnaire of PQI tool. The toolconsists of 22 questions, based on the answers of which a score was calculated for each prescription. Thena collective mean score for all the prescriptions was calculated. Depending upon individual scores, theprescriptions were graded in to poor, medium and high-quality prescriptions. The mean PQI score for all the2155 prescriptions was 28.94 ± 0.23. We found that 1015 (46.10 %) prescriptions were of poor quality, 46(2.13 %) were of medium quality and 1094 (50.77 %) were of good quality. The overall mean score of all theprescriptions falls in to the poor-quality prescription category according to PQI. It was concluded that therewere many lacunas that require the attention of prescribers in order to attain and maintain high standardprescription quality.
ABSTRACT
Background: The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of ketoprofen patch versus diclofenac patch as post-operative analgesic in hysterectomy patients.Methods: The study was a prospective, single blind, randomized, comparative interventional clinical study conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Sixty female patients were randomly allocated to receive either ketoprofen or diclofenac patch 1 hour prior to the hysterectomy. Pain was assessed postoperatively after an interval of every four hours for 24 hours using visual analogue scale (VAS) and verbal rating scale (VRS).Results: In ketoprofen group, mean VAS was (2.92�11) significantly low as compared to diclofenac group (3.25�14). The mean VRS score in group ketoprofen (1.62�22) was low as compared to group diclofenac (1.83�16). Safety analysis revealed no apparent serious adverse events. Inj. Paracetamol 1 gm i.v was given as rescue analgesic to the patients in whom VRS >2 and VAS >5 was noted. Data were analysed using unpaired student抯 t-test.Conclusions: Transdermal patches are very convenient to use and causes less discomfort as compared to traditional routes of drug delivery. Ketoprofen patch was found better in providing analgesia after hysterectomy as compared to diclofenac patch with lesser side effects.
ABSTRACT
Background: Antibiotics are considered to be commonly used drugs in hospital setting due to higher prevalence of infectious diseases especially in India. So, the present study was conducted to assess the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) due to antibiotics and analyze for causality of adverse drug events reported.Methods: The present retrospective and observational, study was conducted in BPS GMC for women, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, Haryana which is a 500 bedded government medical hospital situated in rural area between March 2016 to February 2019 (i.e., 3 years). Patients of either sex or age who developed ADRs by any route were included in the study.Results: 300 (38.65%) cases were reported due to antibiotics out of total 776 ADR cases. 3% cases were serious. Adults (65%) were found to be most commonly affected by ADRs. Among antibiotics, cephalosporins and penicillins (15.98%) were the major culprit to cause adverse events followed by nitroimidazoles (15.2%) and antitubercular drugs and fluoro quinolones (13.16%). The most affected organ system was skin (49.33%) followed by the gastrointestinal system (33%). As per WHO scale of causality assessment, 33.33% and 67.67% reported cases were found to probably and possibly related to adverse events respectively.Conclusions: Antibiotics are most commonly prescribed drugs so its monitoring regarding ADRs may benefit the clinicians in early identification and management of ADRs so that quality of life of patient can be safeguarded at an earliest.
ABSTRACT
Background: Writing a prescription is a combination of science and art. Good quality prescriptions are a sign of prescriber’s expertise. World Health Organization has defined certain parameters to promote rational drug use in all countries. This study was designed to assess the prescription writing practices in a government tertiary care hospital in Haryana by using WHO prescribing indicators.Methods: A total of 2155 prescriptions were evaluated. Each prescription was evaluated for average number of drugs prescribed per patient per encounter, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name, percentage of encounters with an antibiotic prescribed, percentage of encounters with an injection prescribed and percentage of medicines from Essential drug list prescribed. These indicators help us to check polypharmacy, practice of prescribing drugs by brand names, antibiotic overuse, preference of injectables and non-adherence to Essential drug list.Results: The average number of drugs prescribed per patient per encounter was calculated to be 3.25±0.24. The percentage of medicines prescribed by generic names was 35.89%. Percentage of encounters with an antibiotic prescribed was 48.21 % and with an injection prescribed was 1.85%. The percentage of medicines form NLEM was 76.36%.Conclusions: The values of WHO prescribing indicators obtained from this study show that there are some areas where the prescribers need to improve their prescribing practices.
ABSTRACT
Healthy adults were screened for 25(OH)D by Enzyme linked immunoassay method. Those found to be deficient or insufficient in vitamin D (defined as 25(OH)D <30 ng/ml) were supplemented with oral vitamin D granules 60,000 IU/week for eight weeks. Serum 25(OH)D level was 3 estimated at the end of 8 weeks. Results: A total of 100 subjects (age 20-50 years) were enrolled for the study. Baseline data and follow up data was available for 90 subjects who consumed a total of eight sachets as per the study protocol. Of these 90 subjects, 91% subjects were found to be vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/ml) , 8.89% were vitamin D insufficient and 0.11% were vitamin D sufficient. The mean plasma vitamin D 25(OH)D level was 12.43 ng/ml (±4.29) at baseline. At the end of the study, the mean 25(OH)D plasma level was noted to be 46.34 ng/ml (±13.57). The mean change from baseline was 23.91 ng/ml (±13.25). Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the urban healthy adult population. Eight weeks of vitamin D3 60,000 IU/week oral granules supplementation increased serum 25(OH) D to optimal levels.
ABSTRACT
The main objective of study is to compare the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of Zidovudine and Stavudine containing regimens. It is a prospective observational study conducted in the ART centre of a tertiary care teaching hospital in central India. The data collected were recorded on standard ADR reporting forms. Standard scales were used for assessment of ADRs. In twelve months duration total 263 patients on ART were observed for ADRs. 128 patients on Stavudine based regimen and 135 patients were on Zidovudine based regimen. Total 72 ADRs detected in 68 patients. Incidence of ADRs was more in Zidovudine based regimen. Zidovudine associated with early and mild ADRs while Stavudine associated with late and distressing ADRs. Considering the magnitude of ADR related problems, results support the discontinuation of Stavudine based regimens
ABSTRACT
Majoone Falasifa (MF) is a polyherbal sugar based semisolid preparation used in Unani medicine to treat neurological, digestive, urinary and various chronic and debilitating disorders especially in geriatric care. This Unani compound formulation contains thirteen ingredients viz; Emlica Officinalis, Matricaria Chamomillia, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, Piper Longum, Piper Nigrum, Pinus Gerardiana, Cocus Nucifera, Vitis Vinifera, Terminalia Bellirica, Orchis Latifolia, Plumbago Zeylanica, Zingiber Officinalis nd Aristolochia Indica. Though used since ancient time its microbial analysis was not carried out till date. Therefore in present study microbial analysis of Majoone Falasifa was evaluated under the accelerated testing conditions.
ABSTRACT
Sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus) is a miraculous oil seed crop which is cultivated globally for its seeds. Sunflower seeds, a nutrient dense food has been found to have a potential role in chronic inflammatory conditions, bacterial and fungal infections, cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases and even cancers. These benefits of sunflower seeds are attributed to the presence of phytosterols, unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, variety of vitamins and minerals. Various studies have demonstrated the therapeutic usefulness of sunflower seeds in multiple clinical conditions. This article is to give an overview about wide array of uses of sunflower seeds and to enlighten the therapeutic potential of cheap , accessible and easily available oil seed crop – ‘Sunflower’ in human beings.
ABSTRACT
Water bacteriology is an important component of providing safe and potable water supply. Surveillance of drinking water helps in identifying possible sources of water contamination. The present study was done in DRPGMC Tanda campus to monitor the quality of water samples. A total of 79 water samples were collected and tested over a period of two and a half years. About 33 % of these were found to be not fit for drinking. The findings of the study underscore the importance of following the steps of water purification.