ABSTRACT
Objective: To identify and evaluate the frequency, severity, mechanism and common pairs of drug-drug interactions [DDIs] in prescriptions by consultants in medicine outpatient department
Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was done by Pharmacology department of Bahria University Medical and Dental College [BUMDC] in medicine outpatient department [OPD] of a private hospital in Karachi from December 2015 to January 2016. A total of 220 prescriptions written by consultants were collected. Medications given with patient's diagnosis were recorded. Drugs were analyzed for interactions by utilizing Medscape drug interaction checker, drugs.com checker and stockley's drug interactions index. Two hundred eleven prescriptions were selected while remaining were excluded from the study because of unavailability of the prescribed drugs in the drug interaction checkers
Results: In 211 prescriptions, two common diagnoses were diabetes mellitus [28.43%] and hypertension [27.96%]. A total of 978 medications were given. Mean number of medications per prescription was 4.6. A total of 369 drug-drug interactions were identified in 211 prescriptions [175%]. They were serious 4.33%, significant 66.12% and minor 29.53%. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions were 37.94% and 51.21% respectively while 10.84% had unknown mechanism. Number wise common pairs of DDIs were Omeprazole-Losartan [S], Gabapentine- Acetaminophen [M], Losartan-Diclofenac [S]
Conclusion: The frequency of DDIs is found to be too high in prescriptions of consultants from medicine OPD of a private hospital in Karachi. Significant drug-drug interactions were more and mostly caused by Pharmacodynamic mechanism. Number wise evaluation showed three common pairs of drugs involved in interactions
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Drug Interactions , Inappropriate Prescribing , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
Objective:To identify the errors in the prescription writing of general practitioners [GPx] from different parts of Karachi
Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in the department of Pharmacology at Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, from 1st January to 30th February 2014. A total of 100 prescriptions were collected 25 each, randomly, from 04 general practitioner`s clinics [east, west, central and south districts] of Karachi. Verbal consent of the respective [GPx] was taken few days prior to collection of prescriptions. Patient's consent was taken at the time of obtaining the prescription.All prescriptions were analysed for errors in superscription, inscription, subscription, transcription, signatures and refill information
Results:A total of 473errors were identified in 100 prescriptions. 303 errors in superscription, 06 in inscription, 67 in subscription, 34 in transcription, 1 in prescriber's signature , and 62 in refill information
Conclusion: Errors in prescription writing are found to be common in the prescriptions of general practitioners. Measures should be taken to refresh the prescription writing skills of general practitioners through Continuous Medical Education Sessions [CMEs] and workshops
ABSTRACT
Diabetes has become one of the most challenging health problems of the 21st century, with increasing prevalence throughout the world. Drugs recently used for the treatment of diabetes have several adverse effects. There is an immense need to explore plant resources to develop a better oral hypoglycemic agent.More than 400 plants are found to have hypoglycemic effect like Acacia Arabia, Aeglemarmelos, Alium cepa, Alium sativum,Azadirachta indica,Caesalpinia bonducella, Coccinia indica,Eugenia jambolana,Mangifera indica, Momordica charantia and Ocimum sanctum. These are found to act by various mechanisms to produce antidiabetic effect. Moreover, various biologically active compounds with hypoglycemic effect are identified from these plants. including alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and polysaccharides. This commentary presents an overview of antidiabetic plants and their suggested hypoglycemic mechanisms
ABSTRACT
Objective: To identify the errors in the prescriptions of consultant [CPx] from different parts of Karachi
Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in the department of Pharmacology at Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, from 21st April to 23rd June 2015. A total of 100 prescriptions were collected randomly after verbal consent from four consultants from four districts of Karachi. All prescriptions were analyzed for identifying errors in Superscription,Inscription, Subscription, Transcription, Signature and Refill information. Verbal consent of the respective consultants was taken few days prior to collection of prescriptions. Patient's consent was taken at the time of obtaining the prescription
Results: A total of 562 errors were identified in 100 prescriptions of consultants.303 errors in superscription, 103 in inscription,100 in subscription, 6 in transcription, and 50 in refill information
Conclusion: Errors in prescription writing are found to be common in the prescriptions of consultants. Measures should be taken to refresh the prescription writing skills of consultants through Continuous Medical Education Sessions [CMEs] and workshops
ABSTRACT
To evaluate anti-inflammatory activity of Salvadora persicain rats. The anti-inflammatory activity of Salvadora persica was assessed in 63 albino rats of both sexes, weighing 400 gm. They were divided into three groups, A [control], B [crude drug], C [standard drug] with twenty one animals. Each group was divided into three subgroups with seven animals. Groups B and C were given crude drug and aspirin diluted in one ml of distilled water once daily orally, in doses of 300, 500, and 700 mg/kg body weight respectively, prior to induction of edema and Group A was given same volume of saline. Inflammation was induced in hind paw of rat by sub-planter injection of 0.1ml of 1% carrageenan. Paw volume was measured in terms of milliliters using plethysmometer, immediately before injection and then hourly up to 5 hours and mean was calculated. The inhibition of edema was calculated for each subgroup with respect to control group. After carrageenan injection mean paw volume of control group was 5.43 ml, while that of drug treated subgroup was 4.32 ml and standard group was 4.49 ml at the dose of 700 mg/kg body weight. Comparison of crude drug with the control was found to be statistically significant only at 700 mg/kg and was comparable with the standard drug aspirin. Salvadora persica has shown anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing the paw volume of carageenan induced edema
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To observe the effect of selection of profession on learning of medical students. It was a cross sectional questionnaire based study conducted from February 2009 till 2012 on first year medical students of Bahria University Medical and Dental College. Students were stratified into two groups on the basis of selection of profession on their own [Group A] and by compulsion as [Group B]. The responses in terms of active learning were acquired by participation in group discussions, work based learning, interaction with teachers, and peers. The frequencies of responses were analyzed and both groups compared by chi square test. Group A [Opted] comprised of 263 [71%] students as compare to 105 [29%] students in Group B [p<0.001]. Group A had 248 [94%] girls whereas 65 [62%] boys were there in group B. Participation in discussions 231 [88%] of Group A was significant as compared to 73 [70%] in group B; p=0.01. Critical reasoning in Group A students; 229 [87%], was more in comparison to 73 [70%] in Group B [p=0.04]. Interaction with teachers and peers was in Group A was identical 229[87%] vs. 65[62%] and 81[77%] in Group B respectively; p=0.0001, 0.014. Group A students were confident, explored personal attitudes, worked in group and improved by feedbacks. Majority of students predominantly the females selected medical profession on choice. This selection was reflected on learning of students and they were found to be active learners
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Background: Herbal medicine or phytotherapy is the science of using herbal remedies for the treatment of diseases. Nowadays increasing number of people are using herbal medicines because of lower level of side effects and toxicity associated with them. Pharmacologists must be knowledgeable about their safety. Present study was carried out to evaluate the cardiovascular safety of herbal cough syrup. The syrup contains Glycerrhiza glabra, Piper longum, Adhatoda vasica, Viola odorata, Hyssopus officinalis, and Alpinia galanga. All these ingredients are said to have antitussive properties without any cardiovascular toxic effects
Objective: To evaluate cardiovascular safety of herbal cough syrup
Methods: Twenty eight rabbits of either sex, weighing 670g-1200g were divided into four groups, with 7 rabbits in each group. Group I was the control group and received 0.3 ml of water, group II, III and IV received herbal syrup normal dose [0.57ml/kg], moderate dose [5ml/kg], and high dose [10ml/kg] respectively once daily, orally for a period of 45 days following which blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture, centrifuged and serum was analyzed on Vitalab eclipse automatic analyzer for cardiac and lipid profile
Results: In comparison to control group there were no significant changes in cardiac and lipid profile of all groups. Overall results did not reveal any significant toxicity
Conclusion: The Herbal Syrup is safe as an antitussive and reveals no significant cardiovascular toxicity
ABSTRACT
Dental caries is a multifactor disease, affecting people of all ages. Inorganic mineral of serum and saliva can also have protective role in dental caries. This study was carried out to evaluate and compare the possible role of salivary and serum factors like pH, adequate level of calcium, phosphate and fluoride in dental caries. A Total of 100 subjects aged 10-40 were selected. Decayed, missed and filled teeth [DMFT] were used as indices for scoring the dental caries and were distributed or divided into 4 groups on the basis of DMFT indices as 4-8 [Group I], 9-16 [Group II], 17-24 [Group III] and more than 25 [Group IV], while the control subjects had DMFT index equal to or less than 3 BH, calcium phosphate, fluoride and lactic acid were analyzed in saliva and serum. Patients of dental caries showed significantly low levels of calcium, phosphate, fluoride [P<0.001] and significantly high level of lactic acid [P<0.001] in all the groups as compared to control subjects. Prominent significant changes were observed in different groups. The salivary and serum pH, calcium, fluoride, phosphate and lactic levels were found to be significantly changed among the patients having dental caries. It can be concluded from the findings of present study that the adequate levels of calcium, phosphate and fluoride in saliva as well as serum are responsible for the significant deposition of these minerals in plaque which greatly reduces the developmental caries in the adjacent enamel