The effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on experimental depression in mice

Background: Depressive disorder is a prevalent psychiatric disorder, which affects 21% of the world population. Many drugs which are available as effective antidepressants produce various side effects like sedation weight gain postural hypotension etc., so there is need to develop novel compounds with minimized side effects. Hence this study was aimed to investigate the antidepressant activity of DHA, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in albino mice.Methods: Animals were divided into four groups, consisting six mice in each group. Out of these, group I served as control (2% gum acacia), group II and III received test drug in two different doses 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg respectively and group IV received fluoxetine (20mg/kg) as standard drug. To determine the antidepressant-like activity, we used forced swim test and tail suspension test in mice. These methods are based on the observation that a mouse show alternating agitation and immobility; the immobility is indicative of a state of depression.Results: DHA produced significant antidepressant effect at all the doses, as indicated by reduction in immobility times as compared to control in both FST and TST. (P?0.05) The efficacy of DHA at dose of 300 mg/kg was comparable with that of fluoxetine. DHA at 200mg/kg dose showed significantly less antidepressant activity compared to fluoxetine. (P?0.05).Conclusions: The result specifies that compared to two doses of DHA (200mg/kg and 300mg/kg), higher dose of DHA found as an effective dose for treating depression produced due to stress.

Evaluate Clinical Impact of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Phenytoin Monotherapy in Patient of Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizures

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common serious disorders of the brain, affecting about 50 million people worldwide, 80% of the burden of epilepsy is in the developing world. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is one of the major arms to maximize efficacy and minimize risk of overdosing. AIM: To compare clinical outcome between monitored and unmonitored dose of Phenytoin in patient of generalized tonic clonic seizure. Methods: Comparative study of 40 patients on phenytoin with therapeutic drug monitoring verses 40 patients on phenytoin without therapeutic drug monitoring of Generalized tonic clonic seizure were undertaken. For therapeutic drug monitoring, early morning sample (before taking morning dose) was collected, centrifuged, plasma separated and after that therapeutic level are monitored using HPLC. Sampling was done twice a month for one month than once a month for third and sixth month; samples were also taken abruptly in case of poor or no response to therapy, any adverse effect if noted or if any patient taking other medication in between. Evaluation of Efficacy is done by mean Seizure frequency reduction and comparison of side effect profile of the two groups. Results: Statistically significant difference is seen in TDM and non-TDM Group at 3 and 6 months; with percent reduction of mean seizure frequency 85.44% in TDM group compared to 43.81% in non- TDM group. Conclusions: The results of this comparative evaluation after the collection of data and its analysis confirms clinical impact of therapeutic drug monitoring of phenytoin monotherapy in patients of generalized tonic clonic seizures.

Fixed drug eruption due to paracetamol.

Fixed drug eruption is a common type of drug eruption seen in dermatology OPD’s. Usually it is seen with sulphonamides, salicylates, tetracyclines, oxyphenbutazones, dapsone, barbiturates, phenolphthalein, morphine, codeine, quinine, phenacetin, erythromycin, griseofulvin, mebendazole etc. We hereby report a case of fixed drug eruption due to single dose of oral paracetamol in an otherwise healthy male after one hour of consuming it. A provisional diagnosis of Paracetamol induced fixed drug eruption was made. Paracetamol was stopped and patient advised never to take Paracetamol in future. Patient was managed with prednisolone 10mg /day, cetirizine 10 mg/day, and amoxicillin 500 mg twice a day and mometasone + fusidic acid cream to be applied over the lesions.

Dental Anaesthesia : An Overview.

Dentists have been the founder of anaesthesia because of their day to day experience of pain while doing their job. Due to high morbidity and mortality, general anaesthesia never won the heart and trust of the dentist. Although several local anaesthetic agents were used in dental practice but they could not last long due to toxic side effects. A new chapter was written in dental anaesthesia with the invention of wonder drug “Lidocaine” and till date it remains the most popular drug amongst the dental fraternity for the majority of the dental procedures. Recently due to safe new drugs, techniques and advanced monitoring the concept of general anaesthesia for dental surgeries has reemerged and is being used with minimal morbidity and mortality at several centers. In the present review article after obtaining the literature from PUB MED/MEDLINE, books and print journals we have discussed in detail the drugs, techniques, complications along with their management, and new development in dental anaesthesia.

Third generation cephalosporin-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates: an emerging threat.

Background: Newer generation cephalosporin-resistance among Klebsiella pneumoniae organisms has increased recently. Present study is undertaken to find incidence, antimicrobial susceptibility and prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) in K. pneumoniae isolates in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: Prospective study was carried out between June to December 2011. Samples of pus, blood, urine, cerebro-spinal fluid, stool, peritoneal, pleural and synovial fluid were collected from indoor and outdoor patients for isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of K. pneumoniae in the department of microbiology, G.R. Medical College Gwalior, M.P. Ceftazidime resistant K. pneumoniae were subjected to Phenotypic Confirmatory Disc Diffusion Test (PCDDT) and Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) for detection of ESBL. Results: Out of 2480 samples collected a total of 530 K. pneumoniae were isolated and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility. Antibiotic sensitivity to imipenem, cefoperazone, amikacin and ofloxacin were 82, 74, 73 and 72% respectively whereas sensitivity to ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone cefotaxime, ceftazidime ranged between 47-50%. K. pneumoniae were found to be resistant to ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, doxycycline and gentamicin, by 91, 82, 54 and 50% respectively. Among third generation cephalosporins K. pneumoniae were least sensitive (47%) to ceftazidime. About 33 and 32% of the ceftazidime resistant strains were found to be ESBL positive by PCDDT and DDST respectively. Conclusions: This study has shown that prevalence of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae is the most important reason for increased resistance to third generation cephalosporins. There is need to carry out tests for detection of ESBL producing bacteria routinely.

Anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of methanol extract of aegle marmelos leaves in mice.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos (AM) leaves as well as its interaction with conventional anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs using elevated plus maze and tail suspension test in mice. Albino mice were treated with AM (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg, po), imipramine (20 mg/kg, po), fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, po), and combination of sub-effective dose of AM with imipramine or fluoxetine. Effects were observed on (a) time spent on (b) number of entries into (c) number of stretch attend postures (d) number of head dips in arms of elevated plus maze and on duration of immobility in tail suspension test. Effects of pretreatment with prazosin (0.062 mg/kg, po), haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg, po) and baclofen (10 mg/kg, po) were also studied on AM induced decrease in duration of immobility. Effects of AM (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg po) were observed on locomotor activity using photoactometer. Results showed that AM significantly (P<0.05) and dose dependently increased proportionate time spent on and number of entries into open arms while decreased number of stretch attend postures and head dips in closed arms. Dose dependent and significant (P<0.05) anti-immobility effect was found in mice treated with AM. Combination of AM (75 mg/kg, po) with imipramine (5 mg/ kg, po) or fluoxetine (5 mg/kg, po) also produced significant (P<0.05) anxiolytic and antidepressant activity. Antidepressant activity of AM (150 mg/kg, po) was significantly (P<0.05) decreased by prazosin, haloperidol and baclofen. Methanol extract showed insignificant (P>0.05) effect on locomotor activity of mice. It is concluded that AM possess potential anxiolytic and antidepressant activities and it enhances the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of imipramine and fluoxetine.