Current Issue : October-December Volume : 2017 Issue Number : 4 Articles : 9 Articles
World Health Organization defines pharmacovigilance as the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other medicine-related problems. In an effort to strengthen the pharmacovigilance in India, government has initiated pharmacovigilance programme of India. Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reaction is globally practiced it under pharmacovigilance programme. But the major drawback of this system is underreporting. In this context the present survey was conducted, to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of spontaneous ADR reporting among doctors in a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among doctors in a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. The completed questionnaire information was recorded using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Office 2007). The data was analyzed simple ratios, proportions, Chi-square tests were ever needed. In this study 60% of study subjects have awareness regarding pharmacovigilance, 65% have ADR reporting is a professional obligation, 73% knows about existence of pharmacovigilance programme in India. 95% felt that reporting of adverse drug reaction is necessary, 92% subjects say pharmacovigilance should be taught to health care professionals, 75% subjects opinion is that ADR monitoring center should be established in every hospital. 6% experienced adverse drug reactions in their patients only 20% reported ADR only 40% are trained on how to report ADR. The findings of the study suggest a huge scope for improving the awareness and knowledge about pharmacovigilance among the undergraduate students and health care professionals. Regular training on basic principles of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting, easy accessibility ADR reporting forms, establishing a network of doctors for ADR reporting. For this, there is a need for continuous educational initiatives like CME and it should also be included in their curriculum as part of their study....
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogenous autoimmune disease that may involve many different organs and display a variable clinical course. The diagnosis of SLE is based on characteristic clinical findings of the skin, joints, kidneys and central nervous system, as well as on serological parameters such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), in particular antibodies to DNA. The various clinical symptoms do not always occur simultaneously and may develop at any stage of the disease. In the early stages, physicians from various disciplines often propose several differential diagnosis, or identify only one aspect of the disease without recognizing the symptoms as part of SLE. Fever, fatigue and arthralgia are the most frequently occurring nonspecific symptoms at disease onset; additional joint swelling or a \"Discoid rash\" particularly in women of childbearing age should prompt consideration of SLE. Here we present a rare and unique case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus seen in 21 years female patient....
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the main line of the treatment to prevent seizure recurrence, influencing all aspects of women's experiences of having a child: from preconception, pregnancy and labour, to the postnatal stage and infant care. Major malformations, like congenital heart disease, neural tube defects, urogenital defects and cleft lips or palates, occur in about 3-7% of women with epilepsy who take antiepileptic drugs. GTCSs can cause maternal or fetal hypoxia and acidosis; in addition, GTCSs have been associated with fetal intracranial hemorrhages, miscarriages and stillbirths. The mono therapy was PB, MPB, VPA, CBZ, PHT and polytherapy was VPA+ PB, VPA+ MPB and VPA+ CBZ. Infants with cardiac malformation due to PB, VPA; infants with defect of oral cleft due to PB, MPA; hypospadias due to VPA, marginally with PB; porencephalopathy, multiple cysts, anomalies of brain due to VPA; microstomia, microcheilia and congenital anomalies of face due to VPA; circulatory system associated between left superior vena cava and other anomalies of circulatory system is due to PB. AED polytherapy confers a higher risk of major malformations and neuro developmental delay than does AED monotherapy regimens....
Herbal drugs have been widely used all over the world since ancient times and have been recognized by physicians and patients for their better therapeutic value as they have fewer adverse effects as compared with modern medicines. The development of novel drug delivery system (NDDS) is of considerable importance to overcome various constraints like poor bioavailability, in-vivo stability, aqueous insolubility, intestinal absorption and unspecific site of action. This article summarizes various nanoparticulate preparation methods that have been studied for the delivery of herbal medicines and which are gaining more attention for improved therapeutic response. DDS of herbal drugs have a potential application for improving the activity and countering the problems related to herbal medicines. Hence, application of nanocarriers as an NDDS in the traditional herbal medicine system is important to treat more chronic diseases like infectious endocarditis....
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is growing in prevalence globally with 171 million people in the year 2000, while it is estimated to rise to 366 million by the year 2030.The dynamics of physiological and behavioral risk factors of diabetes in rural India is poorly understood. Early detection and treatment reduce the complications of diabetes. Using data from study site in a tertiary care hospital, this study aims at identification of risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus. A total of 323 patients of either sex with the inclusion criteria of past history as well as newly diagnosed cases of diabetes were enrolled in a prospective study. The results revealed that presence of non modifiable risk factors like advancing age and modifiable risk factors like physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidaemia for the development of diabetes mellitus. In conclusion it is evident from our study that there is an emerging trend of development of diabetes associated with advancing age, Physical activity and other modifiable risk factors....
Polypharmacy is nothing but multiple use or administration of medications for therapeutic effect or unnecessary use of drugs. It is more frequent in elderly people who are suffering with chronic diseases. Problems related to polypharmacy is more related to older patients compared to younger people where the older people are at more risk for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, heart problems, arthritis etc. for multiple diseases these people are using multiple drugs for their symptomatic relief. Unnecessary use of drugs will affect the quality of life especially in older people and it is a major health issue affecting the patient in terms of quality and as well it will enhance the health expenditures. Now a day’s physicians plays a major role in prescribing too many medications for single disease condition and polypharmacy increases the risk of developing side effects, adverse effects and interactions and It is major problem existing in the health care system where the physician, clinical pharmacists and patients are all responsible for it. However it is a preventable problem by increasing the awareness among the patients and health care professionals by reducing the number of medications to be taken, reducing the doses, preventing the interactions and improving the patients quality of life and reducing the medication cost to the patient....
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of female infertility affecting 6-8% of women worldwide. PCIO has challenged clinicians for many years. PCOS can be schematically divided into three components, i.e. hyper androgenic, anovulatory and dysmetabolic. No one is specific for the syndrome. It is characterized with high level of androgens in the body and also having too much insulin in the body acne and hirsutism. Women with PCOS have also found to have low grade inflammation, contributing to insulin resistance. There is growing interest in herbal remedies or allopathic medication to cure the PCOS. There is a need to chance the life style management, diet to control the PCOS levels. The natural remedies including phytoestrogenic and non-estrogenic herbs such as liquorice, honey, ginseng, black cohosh, etc. The present review discusses with the hormonal changes in PCOS and natural remedies to treat PCOS....
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Pharmabridge International Exposure Program is providing opportunity for faculty to exchange technical skills and experience of pharmacy practice and pharmacy education from their education systems of developing countries and gain knowledge from advanced countries like USA, Canada and Australia etc. by undergoing exposure. Under this program the authors were able to compare pharmacy practices in India, the US, Canada and Australia. The present review comprises comparing and contrasting the Indian and American pharmacy practice in clinical and community level, key insights of pros and cons of Indian pharmacy practice and ideas for enhancing the significance of pharmacist role in health care system. The main objective of this article is to make recommendations to improve pharmacy practice in India. During Pharmabridge program, pharmacy practice in USA was observed in various perspectives like, clinical pharmacist role in health care, practice of pharmacist in community level and class room education to Pharm. D students. After observations made these were compared and contrasted with Indian pharmacy practice, role of pharmacist. The authors highlight potential expansion in the training and function of pharmacists in India. In United States, pharmaceutical care and medication management is functioning effectively through pharmacist. In contrast, in India, most students and pharmacists alike have never heard of medication management. Senior Professors of Indian health care organizations are currently discussing a medication management project in Saxony. With adequate training and acceptance of new roles, pharmacists in India would be able to correct prescription errors, prevent over dosages, teach patients about contraindications and side effects and answer queries about illness and treatment. The Indian health care system is undergoing a significant transformation in both the finance and delivery of health care services. The aspiration of high quality, cost-effective and accessible health care for patients is yet to achieve in India through inter professional practice. The pharmacy profession has been making attempts, consistently and strongly, in the past three decades, to imbue the sellers in the medical shops with professional values and transform the medical shops into community pharmacies. The time is right for expanding the training and role function of pharmacists....
Assessment influences many aspects of medical education. It influences the learning behaviour too. It quantifies the learning outcomes also. Hence, assessment methods have to be updated and kept valid at all times. Keeping these in mind, this study was started to analyse the current summative assessment of Pharmacology course for medical students. Question papers of the past five years (2012-17), used for summative assessment of II MBBS Pharmacology students were collected. Each question was analysed individually by three qualified Pharmacology faculty. The cognitive domain (as per Bloom’s taxonomy) assessed by each question was determined. Marks allotted to each question were tabulated. Total weightages assigned to different cognitive domains were analysed. Three hundred questions were taken up for analysis of difficulty levels, classified as level I, level II and level III. Classification of drugs, prototype drugs and expected questions were classified as level I questions. Questions on individual drugs and slightly difficult questions were classified as level II. Questions on fine print paragraphs, questions belonging to higher order thinking skills, unexpected questions and questions not usually asked in summative exams were classified as level III. Recall-based questions comprised of 76.5% of the assessment. Comprehension testing questions comprised of 12% of the assessment. Remaining cognitive domains (application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation) comprised of the weightage of less than 6% each. Regarding the difficulty levels, sixty one percent of questions belonged to level I category. Thirty six percent of questions belonged to level II category. Three percent of questions belonged to level III category. Blueprints of question papers must specify coverage of topics, difficulty levels, distribution of marks and cognitive domains to be assessed. Subject experts have to identify and earmark different levels of contents keeping in mind the priorities of the learning objectives and also the difficulties of learners....
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