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To identify the medications that medical students, interns and casualty medical officers are likely to prescribe when treating an adult patient with anaphylaxis, and to ascertain the dose and route of administration of adrenaline they would use. Design: A questionnaire study survey. Setting: Kasturba medical college hospital, Manipal (Udupi District) and public health centers of Udupi district, Karnataka. Subjects: Data collected from 39 second year medical students, 35 interns and 35 casualty medical officers. Main outcome measure: To determine the percentage of use of adrenaline for the treatment of anaphylaxis in the correct dose, strength and route. Results: Majority (73 .3%) of participants correctly opted to use adrenaline. Only 9 participants have written the correct dose, route and concentration of adrenaline. 41.28% and 66.05% participants preferred to use antihistamines and corticosteroids respectively. Conclusion: This study has shown that confusion exists regarding the correct route of administration and dose of adrenaline to be used when treating anaphylaxis. This confusion applied to medical students, interns and medical officers. Therefore doctors must be made aware of the guidelines to treat anaphylaxis effectively.

Drug-resistant epilepsy is a commonly devastating condition, affects more than 50 million people globally. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increased risk of neurological disorders, and a potential association between epilepsy and subsequent T2DM has emerged. Inhibiting sodium-glucose linked transporters, which are differentially expressed in the brain, has been shown to reduce epileptic episode activity. This study aimed to evaluate the anticonvulsive effect of empagliflozin in rats with seizures induced by maximal electric shock (MES) and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Generalized tonic‒clonic seizures were induced in the rats using an electroconvulsive meter, and pentylenetetrazol was injected to induce absence seizures. The duration of all the stages of seizure and Racine stage scoring (RSS) were performed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and histopathological analysis in the brain tissues were determined. A significant (p <0.01) decrease in the duration of tonic hind limb extension, a significant decrease in the levels of prooxidants such as MDA and NO, and an increase in the levels of antioxidants such as GSH were observed in the low dose 10 mg/kg and high dose 20 mg/kg empagliflozin groups compared to the disease control group. Histopathological analysis revealed a greater number of healthy neurons with few dark-stained cells in the treatment groups, suggesting the neuroprotective effect of empagliflozin. In conclusion, results of the present study, showed that empagliflozin modulates epileptic activity. Empagliflozin has a potential role in the management of epilepsy in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed wound healing in diabetes mellitus (DM) is due to the overlapping phases of the healing process. The prolonged inflammation and altered levels of inflammatory cytokines lead to deformed cell proliferation. Photobiomodulation alleviates the expression of inflammatory cytokines and promotes tissue repair, thereby restoring the wound healing process. To find out the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the healing dynamics of diabetic wounds with particular emphasis on interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumour necrosis factor-α. Scientific databases searched using keywords of the population: DM, intervention: PBMT, and outcomes: inflammatory cytokines. We have included five preclinical studies in the present systematic review for qualitative analysis. These studies evaluated the effect of PBMT at different wavelengths, dosage, and time on wound healing in DM. The systematic review concludes that PBMT regulates inflammatory cytokines levels, enhances cell proliferation, and migration, thereby improving the wound healing properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Hasitha. Manohar, Shalini. Adiga, Joseph. Thomas, Ajitha. Sharma Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the adverse drug reaction (ADR) profile of microtubule-damaging antineoplastic drugs (taxanes and [...]

Byline: Vijayalakshmi, Shalini. Adiga, Priyanka. Bhat, Abhishek. Chaturvedi, K. Bairy, Shobha. Kamath Objective: Memory loss is universal and is the first symptom to manifest in majority of the patients suffering [...]

Objectives: Little is known about supplement users and their dietary behavior in India. This study was conducted with the following objectives: 1. To determine the usage of dietary supplements in health sciences students. 2. To determine their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding micronutrients. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional, questionnaire based study conducted at a University in south India, which included second year students pursuing medical, dental and nursing courses. Data was analysed using SPSS version 19. Results: The commonest reasons for consuming supplements were to maintain good health (136, 40.1%) and ensure adequate nutrition (125, 36.9%). The respondents' opinions about dietary supplements were generally between 'unsure' and 'agree'. Medical students scored the highest percentage (44.84%) in their knowledge about micronutrients as compared to nursing (43.17%) and dental (37.8%). There was a significant difference between the scores of medical and dental students (p=0.005) while the scoring of students of medical and nursing did not vary significantly. There was no significant difference between the scoring percentage of males and females in medical and dental groups while in the nursing group female students scored a better percentage as compared to males (p=0.036). Conclusion: Although, the usage of dietary supplements in health sciences students is high, there is a dearth of knowledge, especially regarding role of micronutrients in health and disease. Hence, it is crucial this information must be highlighted in the health sciences curriculum with the objective of producing well-informed professionals who can later on have a positive impact on the health of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Memory loss is universal and is the first symptom to manifest in majority of the patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. This study is designed to investigate the effect of Ferula asafoetida linn. (F. foetida) extract on learning and memory in rats. Materials and Methods: Learning and memory were evaluated using elevated plus maze and passive avoidance paradigm after the oral administration of two doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) of F. foetida aqueous extract with rivastigmine as positive control. Brain cholinesterase activity, serum thiols and cholesterol were also estimated. Results: Extract produced significant improvement in memory score i.e. step through latency at 400 mg/kg dose in passive avoidance model (P< 0.05) and dose-dependent improvement of transfer latency in elevated plus maze model (P< 0.001). Dose-dependent inhibition of brain cholinesterase (P< 0.001) and significant improvement in antioxidant levels (P< 0.05) were also noted. Conclusions: Memory enhancing potential of F. foetida can be attributed to acetylcholinesterase inhibiting and antioxidant properties. Hence, dietary usage of F. foetida is beneficial and can also be employed as an adjuvant to existing anti-dementia therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report case of a 12-year-old girl who had undergone surgical correction for Lenke's Type 1A right-sided adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in the spine unit of our hospital. Postoperatively, secondary suturing was required due to wound dehiscence. After the secondary suturing, an aerosol spray dressing in the form of polyvinyl polymer 2.52% w/w + benzocaine 0.36% w/w + cetrimide 0.50% w/w + propellant solvent 100% w/w was applied topically on the day of discharge. On the same day at home, the patient developed a hypersensitivity reaction in the form of erythema, rash, and blebs at the site of application along the suture line and adjacent areas. It was diagnosed as a hypersensitivity reaction to the aerosol dressing spray. The patient was started on tablet prednisolone 10 mg TID tapered over a period of 9 days with topical fusidic acid and Betnesol® ointment. She recovered in about 10-12 days and had uneventful further followups in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of formoterol, montelukast and acebrophylline when used in combination with budesonide in patients with bronchial asthma and to determine their role in the improvement of the quality of life of patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 75 patients were divided into 3 groups based on treatment given - formoterol 6 meg/ puff + budesonide 100 meg/puff combination inhaler, 2 puffs twice daily; oral montelukast 10 mg once daily + budesonide 100 meg/puff, 2 puffs twice daily and oral acebrophylline 100 mg twice daily + budesonide 100 meg/puff, 2 puffs twice daily. The patients were followed-up for 4 wk after initiating treatment. Spirometry values-forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), before and after treatment were recorded. The quality of life was assessed before and after treatment using Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). Analysis was done using repeated measures ANOVA followed by Bonferroni's post-hoc test. Results: As compared to baseline values, FEV1, PEFR and Quality of Life showed significant improvement in all 3 groups after 4 wk of treatment (p-value < 0.01). Three patients in acebrophylline-treated group reported gastric irritation while no adverse effects were reported in the other groups. Conclusion: Formoterol, montelukast or acebrophylline combined with inhaled corticosteroids have similar efficacy in the treatment of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug induced alopecia may range from a barely detectable shedding to an irreversible baldness. Alopecia associated with valproate is a dose-dependent and reversible side effect. We hereby report, three cases of alopecia that occurred in patients who received sodium valproate for various neurological conditions. In all three cases, long term exposure of valproate therapy led to the development of alopecia which eventually resolved after dose reduction or discontinuation. The Naranjo's causality assessment scale indicated valproate as the probable cause of the alopecia in all our patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]