Analysis of spontaneously reported adverse drug reactions to pharmacovigilance cell of a tertiary care hospital

Background: The objective of the study was to study the clinical patterns, causality and severity of adverse drug reactions in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: Total 131 ADR forms were collected from January 2012 to December 2012 and evaluated. Patient抯 characteristics, ADR and drug characteristics, causality, severity and preventability of collected ADR were analyzed.Results: Total 131 ADR forms were evaluated. Male patient experiencing ADR were more (73, 55.7%) than female (58, 44.2%). Adult patients (12-60 years) experienced 110 (84%) ADR followed by pediatric patients (< 12 years) 11 (8.4%) and geriatric patients (>60 years) 10 (7.63%). Antimicrobial were the most common group of drugs responsible for ADR followed by NSAIDs and antipsychotic group.Conclusions: Present study shows lack of awareness among health care professionals for reporting of an ADR. Training and collaboration of health care professionals are needed for improvement in ADR reporting. Appropriate feedback from ADR reporting will help in selection of drug and promotes safer use of drugs.

Anti-Urolithiatic Effect of Cow Urine Ark on Ethylene Glycol-Induced Renal Calculi

Purpose To investigate the anti-urolithiatic effect of cow urine ark (medicinal distilled cow urine) on ethylene glycol (EG) induced renal calculi. Materials and Methods 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups. Group I animals served as vehicle control and received distilled water for 28 days. Group II to VI animals received 1% v/v EG in distilled water for 28 days. Group II served as EG control. Group III and IV (preventive groups) received cow urine ark orally for 28 days in doses of 1 mL/kg and 2 mL/kg, respectively. Group V and VI (treatment groups) received 1 mL/kg and 2 mL/kg cow urine ark orally, respectively from 15th to 28th days. 24-hour urine samples were collected on day 0 and 28. Urine volume and oxalate levels were measured. On day 28, blood was collected for biochemical parameters. Animals were sacrificed and kidneys were harvested, weighed and histopathologically evaluated for calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals. To calculate the percentage of inhibition of mineralization, simultaneous flow static in-vitro model was used. Results EG significantly increased urine oxalate, serum creatinine, blood urea level; kidney weight and CaOx deposits. Provision of cow urine ark resulted in significantly lower levels of urine oxalate, serum creatinine, blood urea and CaOx depositions as compared to Group II. (p value < 0.05) It also significantly restored kidney weight. (p value < 0.05) Cow urine ark inhibited 40% and 35% crystallization of CaOx and calcium phosphate, respectively. Conclusion Cow urine ark is effective in prevention and treatment of EG induced urolithiasis in Wistar rats. .

Hepatotoxicity studies of nimesulide in litters of rat.

Abstract : Present study was carried out to evaluate hepatotoxicity of nimesulide by single dose and seven days administration in sub therapeutic, therapeutic and supra therapeutic doses in litters of rat. Single dose and seven days administration hepatotoxicity studies of nimesulide were carried out in litters of rat of either sex. They were further subdivided into sub therapeutic (20 mg/kg), therapeutic (30 mg/kg) and supra therapeutic (100 mg/kg) groups. Effect of nimesulide on liver functions were analysed by serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and histopathological examination of liver through scoring system. Histopathological changes in liver were observed in therapeutic and supra therapeutic doses in single dose groups and sub therapeutic, therapeutic and supra therapeutic doses in seven days groups. In single dose of nimesulide in litters, there were significant increases in biochemical parameters (p< 0.05) in supratherapeutic doses. However, in seven days studies of nimesulide in litters, there were significant increases in biochemical parameters (p< 0.05) in therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses. The present study indicates that nimesulide causes significant hepatotoxicity in litters of rat.

Health status of elderly population in rural area of Varanasi district.

In order to assess the health problems of the elderly people and its relationship with advancement of age, a field based cross sectional study was carried out in two selected villages in the rural field practices area in Varanasi district. 88.8 % were found to suffer from one or more illness at the time of study. This resulted in the morbidity load of 1.93 illnesses per person. The morbidity was directly proportional to the age. The most common morbidity was arthritis with overall prevalence of 57.08% followed by cataract (48.33%), hypertension (11.25%). But the prevalence of old age related morbidities increased with advancing age (p<0.008). Compared to married people higher percentage of widow / widower (91.5%) suffered from old age related morbidities (p<0.01).

Comparative study of beta-adrenoceptor blocking efficacy of two formulations of esmolol in vivo and in vitro.

The objective of the present study was to compare the cardiovascular beta-blocking activity of two different formulations of esmolol. Spontaneously beating guinea-pig isolated atria and the heart rate and blood pressure of anaesthetized cat were employed in the study to compare the beta-blocking efficacy of the two formulations of esmolol using isoprenaline as an agonist. In guinea-pig isolated atria the standard esmolol formulation (Brevibloc) reduced basal atrial rate more significantly than the indigenously formulated esmolol (test formulation). Both the formulations produced similar parallel rightward shift of cumulative concentration response curves of isoprenaline with closely comparable pA2 values. In anaesthetized cats, only indigenous esmolol formulation significantly decreased basal heart rate. Both the formulations did not modify the basal blood pressure and isoprenaline-induced fall in blood pressure, despite significantly blocking isoprenaline-induced tachycardia. It is suggested that both the formulations produced similar degree of beta-1 adrenoceptor blocking activity.

Characterization of drowning by diatom test.

Examination by the diatom test, of different organs of corpses of individuals who died of drowning revealed the presence of frustules in all the visceral organs. Diatom load of different organs was found to be positively related with breadth/diameter of the frustule. Relatively larger diatoms were encountered in the lungs, heart and kidneys as compared to the other organs. Smaller diatoms up to 10 mu diameter were found in the brain, and bone marrow samples. However, diatoms were also recovered from the lungs, heart and kidneys of corpses of individuals in whom the cause of death was not drowning. Brain and bone marrow were considered reliable samples for executing the diatom test.