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There is an increase in non-degenerative memory-related disorders in elderly people. Curcuma Longa linn. can induce cognitive improvement by reducing oxidative stress and antioxidant property. This study evaluated the effect of chronic administration of Curcuma Longa linn. on learning and memory in mice. Twenty four male swiss albino mice aged 6 to 8 weeks, weighing 25-30 g were randomized into control, standard, and test groups. Control group received 0.5% Carboxymethylcellulose; the standard group received piracetam and test group received Curcuma Longa linn. orally for 42 days (6 weeks). Water maze test and step-through passive avoidance test were used to evaluate the effect of Curcuma Longa linn. on learning and memory. 1 week of water maze training done (day 40 to 46). On day 47, spatial memory assessment was done. On day 49 retention memory assessment was done. In control, tandard, and test groups, the mean escape latency (EL) was observed to be 42.7, 30.7, and 31.3 seconds on day 43 which decreased to 11.3, 11.6, and 9.8 seconds on 46th day, respectively. The EL in all the three groups decreased from day 43 to Day 46 (p

Dyslipidemia is one of the leading causes of various cardiovascular and central nervous system disorders. Death from cardio-vascular disorders accounted for 36.3% of the 2.4 million deaths world-wide. Recognition that dyslipidemia is a risk factor has led to the development of drugs that modify cholesterol level. The intensity of therapy should be sufficient to achieve 30-40% reduction in LDL - C without side effects and low cost. The prescription order is an important therapeutic transaction between the prescriber and the patient. It has been well accepted that inadequate and irrational prescriptions could lead to serious consequences. The study was carried out by observing and analyzing data of 100 consecutive patients admitted in ICU and receiving lipid lowering agents for a period of eighteen months. From the study it is found that statins are the cornerstone of pharmacotherapy of dyslipidemias. At the same time the importance of dietary manipulations can't be ignored in management of dyslipidemias. Statins are relatively safe drugs however a few significant adverse reactions such as myalgia were also encountered during the course of the study.

CONTEXT: Mankind exhibits epilepsy as one of the common neurologic disorders. Standard drug therapy of this disease provides control of seizures in more than 80% of patients. Effective, specific treatment by Anti-Epileptic Drugs becomes absolutely essential for successful treatment in human subjects. Epilepsy especially Grand-Mal variant is typically treated with Phenytoin. Unique point about our study is focused on the estimation of serum phenytoin sodium concentration and to correlate it with some of the important biochemical markers that assess the hepatic function. AIMS: 1. It may help to assess whether the epileptic patient receiving phenytoin on an out-patient basis requires an additional dose when monitoring shows suboptimal levels. 2. Should the maintenance dose be reduced, stopped or adjusted to minimize the dose related adverse effects without sacrifice of seizure control. 3. Study also provides an estimation of out-patient compliance. 4. Rational designing of dosing regimen, prediction of future drug concentration and assessment of functional impairment due to disease may be possible. 5. Failure to provide adequate control in maximal tolerated dose by phenytoin after confirming compliance may give a clue to substitute another drug. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty seven patients suffering from grand mal epilepsy who attended the neurology OPD of Basaveshwar Teaching and General Hospital were selected for the study. Two patients received 100mg, 25 patients 200mg and 10 patients received 300mg of Dilantin Sodium (Parke Davis) capsule daily at night between 9-10pm. The period of the exposure to the drug varied from 1-5 years. Ten healthy volunteers of same age group who were not receiving any drugs were the control for the study. 10ml of blood was collected from each patient between 9-10am. 2ml of serum was extracted from each sample; serum phenytoin level was measured using UV Spectrophotometer, Bausch and Lomb 21 by the method of Dill. 5ml of blood was collected to measure the following biochemical parameters: Serum AST, Serum ALT, Serum ALP, Instrument - Ciba Corning Blood gas 288 system and other biochemical parameters are measured by Technicon-RA-XT Auto Analyser. CONCLUSION: The present study summarizes its findings in patients of grand-mal epilepsy receiving phenytoin therapy. Elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase levels in comparison to the control group. Other parameters such as serum aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were within normal limits and there was no significant correlation.

CONTEXT: Pain is an unpleasant sensation localized to a part of body. It is a subjective experience, hard to define quantitatively. Chronic pain is an affliction of millions of patients and is associated with comorbidities such as depression and anxiety. Current standard of care for pain management includes Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen and Opioid analgesics such as Pentazocine. NSAIDs are effective analgesics and are very frequently used as over- the-counter (OTC) medication. Opioids are the most potent analgesics and provide a rapid and sustained pain relief. Adjuvant analgesics include anti-depressants, anti-convulsants etc. Fluoxetine is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) used mainly as an anti-depressant. Previous studies on the efficacy of Fluoxetine for pain management have imparted us with conflicting data. Hence this present study was carried out with a view to elucidate its analgesic action and to compare it with standard drugs like Ibuprofen and Pentazocine. AIMS: The present study was conducted with the following objectives in mind: 1) To evaluate analgesic activity of Fluoxetine. 2) To compare analgesic activity of Fluoxetine with Ibuprofen and Pentazocine. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Materials: Adult albino rats, Eddy's Hot-plate, Tuberculin syringe. Drugs: Ibuprofen, Pentazocine and Fluoxetine. The study was carried out from 1st to 9th August, 2011 at the Department of Pharmacology, MR Medical College, Gulbarga. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Though Fluoxetine has significant analgesic properties as demonstrated by our study, but when compared with standard analgesics like Ibuprofen and Pentazocine, it is found lacking. From the present study it is apparent that Fluoxetine has significantly high activity in central-analgesic model i.e. Hot-plate method.

Sulfonylureas are insulin secretagogues used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The most common side effects are hypoglycemia and weight gain. Less frequent side effects are nausea, vomiting, cholestatic jaundice, agranulocytosis, generalized hypersensitivity reactions which include dermatological reactions. Dermatological reactions of sulfonylurea include photosensitivity. Drug induced photosensitivity is one of the important adverse drug reaction. Hence we would like to present here a case of sulfonylurea induced photosensitivity in an elderly diabetic male. He presented with rashes, itching, and intolerance to light and eruptions with exfoliation of skin over the sun exposed parts of the body. INTRODUCTION: Sulfonylureas are insulin secretagogues used in type 2 diabetes mellitus. They are substituted aryl sulfonylureas. They differ by substitutions at the para position on the benzene ring and at one nitrogen residue of the urea moiety. The sulfonylureas are divided into two generations. The first generation sulfonylureas (tolbutamide, tolazamide and chlorpropamide) are rarely used now. The second generation sulfonylureas are more potent and include glimepiride, glipizide and glyburide. Main side effects of sulfonylureas are hypoglycemia and weight gain. Other less common side effects are nausea, vomiting, cholestatic jaundice, agranulocytosis, generalized hypersensitivity reactions which include dermatological reactions like photosensitivity1. Photosensitivity is one of the neglected side effects of sulfonylureas and here we present a rare case of sulfonylurea induced photosensitivity. CASE REPORT: A 60 year old male patient presented with rashes, itching, and intolerance to light with exfoliation of skin over the sun exposed parts of the body. He had developed phobia for exposure to light and avoided taking pictures with camera flash. He was known diabetic on treatment with tablet glyburide 5mg (sulfonylurea) and metformin 500mg twice daily since 2 years. The patient was treated with sunscreen lotion for his skin lesions, but showed no improvement even after 2 months. Later, upon review of his drug history, it was revealed that glyburide (sulfonylurea) caused phototoxicity, and was withdrawn. The patient was put on an alternate hypoglycemic drug combination of pioglitazone 15mg and metformin 500mg twice daily. He also continued sunscreen application and sun protection. He improved gradually within 15 days and this suggests that it is a case of sulfonylurea induced phototoxicity.

Sodium Valproate is a branched chain aliphatic carboxylic acid with broad- spectrum anti-seizure activity effective in the treatment of absence, myoclonic, partial, and tonic-clonic seizures. The most common side effects are transient gastrointestinal symptoms, including anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. Liver injury may follow the inhalation, ingestion, or parenteral administration of a number of pharmacologic and chemical agents. The risk is greatest for children under two years of age and for those taking multiple medications. A rare complication in adults is a fulminant hepatitis that is frequently fatal. We would like to report a case of Sodium Valproate induced hepatitis in an elderly male who presented with dark urine, fever, generalized weakness and other symptoms suggestive of drug