Study of self drug administration among second professional medical students

Background: Self-medication is very common in our day to day life which is an unhealthy and risky practice. Present study was done to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice among second professional medical students.Methods: A questionnaire related to self-medication with consent was prepared and distributed among the students of second professional. Data was collected and analysed the results expressed as counts and percentages.Results: Total 100 students participated in the study for taking self-medication and was no need to visit the doctor for minor illness. In maximum students, source of information of the drugs used for self-medication pharmacological based and learning process in the college. The source of drug was medical store. Most of the students took self-medication for loose motion and headache followed by cough, cold and fever. Out of total 100 students most of the students took paracetamol tablet as self-medication.Conclusions: This study showed that second professional medical students after studying pharmacological books they do not use any wrong medicine as self-medication. High level of awareness of second professional students has minimized self medication.

Efficacy and safety of a centrally acting analgesic flupirtine in primary knee osteoarthritis in comparison to tramadol: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, degenerative joint disorder responsible for considerable morbidity, particularly in old age. Flupirtine, a new centrally acting analgesic, is devoid of the adverse effects of NSAIDs and opioid analgesics. In this study author compared the effectiveness and safety of flupirtine with tramadol in knee OA.Methods: An open label, randomized, controlled trial was done with patients of primary knee OA of both sexes, age >50 years. Patients were recruited from Rheumatology OPD of SSKM Hospital. A minimum WOMAC score of 35 was essential for recruitment. Patients with serious comorbidities were excluded. They were treated orally with either flupirtine (100mg thrice daily) or tramadol (50mg thrice daily) for 12 weeks.Results: Ninety patients were recruited and data of 42 on flupirtine and 41 on tramadol were analysed. There was significant improvement in pain, stiffness and physical function compared to baseline in both the groups. However, there was no significant difference between groups at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Responder rate (50% reduction in pain score from baseline) was 66.67% with flupirtine and 48.78% with tramadol (p = 0.122). Flupirtine caused 4 adverse events compared to 16 with tramadol. However, both the drugs were well-tolerated.Conclusions: The effectiveness of flupirtine in knee OA is comparable to tramadol, while causing minimal adverse effects. Long-term benefits need to be explored.

Hypoglycemic Effect of Strychnos Potatorum Linn were Compared with Glipizide on Male Diabetic Rats.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of Strychnos Potatorum Linn (S.P. Linn) on streptozotocin induced male diabetic rats. Method: Male albino rats (150-200 gm) were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) at a fixed dose of 40 mg/kg body weight. Animals were then given either the test drug or the standard control drug i.e. glipizide orally and the effects on fasting blood glucose level, body weight, food and water intake were recorded and compared with the standard drug. Results: The test drug S. P. Linn reduces blood sugar significantly in STZ induced diabetic male rats which is comparable to that of glipizied. Conclusion: S.P. Linn has antidiabetic action as it significantly reduces blood sugar level in male diabetic rats.

Level of Auto Antibody Against Oxidized LDL in Myocardial Infracted Patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of auto antibody against oxidized LDL in myocardial infracted (MI) patients and normal healthy subjects of West Bengal (India) and to establish it to be also a cofactor for MI. Patients and Methodology : This study was carried out on 285 patients with MI as well as 75 healthy volunteers of comparable age and gender as control group. Blood was collected immediately after admission of the patients. Auto antibody against oxidized LDL, Nitric Oxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in all groups. Results : Mean serum level of auto antibody against oxidized LDL, MDA, total Cholesterol and LDL Cholesterol levels (118 ± 9.0, 7.4 ± 1.3, 233 ± 30, and 145 ± 38) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in MI patients when compared with control subject. The mean serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) and HDL, cholesterol were significantly (p<0.05) lower as compared to control group. Conclusion : Significantly high level of auto antibody against oxidized LDL associated with high level of MDA, total cholesterol and decreased level of NO and HDL cholesterol appear to be the factors responsible for the increase risk of coronary artery disease i.e., myocardial infarction in the population of West Bengal, India.

Morphometric and Macroscopic Observations of Human Placenta in Eclampsia.

Objective: To assess some macroscopic changes in the placentas of eclamptic mothers in a tertiary care setting of eastern India. Design: Cross-sectional observational type of study. Methods: 44 placentas from 15 normotensive and 29 eclamptic mothers were collected after delivery at term and studied for area, weight and volume. Foetal surface was studied for insertion of umbilical cord, insertion of membranes and subchorionic fibrosis. Maternal surface was studied for retroplacental blood clot, calcification and infarct. Necessary statistical tests were done. Result: Statistically significant differences were observed in placental area, weight and volume between normotensive and eclamptic mothers. These showed that placental area, weight and volume were more in the former group with some exceptions. Subchorionic fibrosis, retroplacental blood clot, calcification and infarct were also more in placentas of eclamptic mothers. Conclusion: Eclampsia adversely affects the foetus through its harmful effects on placenta. The study agrees well with the findings of other investigators.

Montelukast Induced Hypertriglyceridemia.

Montelukast a LT4 receptor antagonist is a prophylactic agent used in chronic asthma, to improve asthma control and reduce the frequency of asthma exacerbation. Advantage of Montelukast is, it is well tolerated in both adult and children upto 6 years of age. Suspected adverse effect reported to U.K, CSM follow the launch of Montelukast are anaphylaxis, angioedema, urticaria, chest pain, vertigo, athralgia, fever. Further suspected side effects are nightmare, palpitation, and sweating and Churg Strauss syndrome. Hypertriglyceridemia associated with this agent is rarely found in any published medical report or literature. This is a case of a male patient who was suffering from chronic asthma since childhood, developed allergic rhinitis since November´10. He developed hypertriglyceridemia and associated lipid profile abnormality after taking Montelukast and was also receiving salbutamol inhalation since childhood. His lipid profile before Montelukast administration was normal. Routine investigation done 4 months following drug intake shows serum triglyceride to be 732mg/dl.Montelukast was immediately withdrawn, but salbutamol was continued The triglyceride level reaches near the base line 4 months following drug withdrawal. This case highlights a rare case of Montelukast induced hypertriglyceridemia. Physician should be vigilant of the fact that Montelukast can induce hypertriglyceridemia following therapy with it.