Bonding through the mask

The appearance of healthcare professionals and their interaction with patients has always been the scaffolding of the relationship between the caregiver and patient. The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged this with its need for masking and distancing. The duty bound frontline worker in the midst of the personal crisis brought about by this pandemic has undergone hitherto unknown experiences described here.

The analgesic and acute anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Paederia foetida (EEPF) on experimental animal models.

Objective:To study the analgesic and acute anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Paederia foetida (EEPF) on experimental animal models. Materials and Methods: Fresh leaves were collected, air-dried, powdered, and percolated in 95% ethanol. Acute toxicity test was done according to OECD guidelines. Healthy albino rats (150-200 gm) of either sex were taken and divided into five groups with six animals in each group for central analgesic activity by tail flick method. Peripheral analgesic activity by 1% glacial acetic acid induced writhing test by taking albino mice (20-30 gm) of either sex which were divided into three groups with six animals in each. EEPF was used in a dose of 500 mg/kg bodyweight subcutaneously for tail-flick method and orally for writhing test. In tail-flick method the basal reaction time was taken and a cut-off period of 10 sec was observed. Reaction time were recorded at predrug, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes after administration of drug . The standard drug used for central analgesic activity was pethidine 5 mg/kg bw, naloxone 1mg/kg as antagonist and naloxone 1mg/kg bw with 500mg/kg bw of EEPF to study the central mechanism of action. The standard drug used for peripheral analgesic activity was aspirin 100mg/kg bw orally. A control group was maintained in all the models. For anti-inflammatory study, three groups of animals of either sex (n = 6), weighing 150-200g of the species Rattus norvegicus were taken for the study. Group A was taken as control (Normal salie, 10 mL/kg body weight), Group B as test group (EEPF 500 mg/kg body weight), and Group C as standard (Aspirin 100 mg/kg body weight). The animals were studied for acute inflammation by Carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. Statistical analysis was done by one-way analysis of variance followed by multiple comparison tests. Results: EEPF significantly increased the reaction time in tail-flick method (p<0.05) whereas the combination of naloxone and EEPF decreased the reaction time indicating that naloxone inhibits the analgesic effect of EEPF. In 1% glacial acetic acid induced writhing EEPF reduced writhing significantly In acute inflammation, there was significant inhibition of paw edema in Groups B, C in comparison with Group A (P < 0.05). Conclusion:The ethanolic extract of Paederia foetida has significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity.

Clinical evaluation of halofantrine in acute malaria.

Fifty patients suffering from acute malaria were treated with 'Halofantrine Hydrochloride'. They were observed for 4 weeks. Clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters were assessed for evaluation of halofantrine in acute malaria, with special reference to its effectiveness, tolerability and side effects.