One of the characteristics that distinguish anticancer agents from other drugs is the frequency and severity of side effects at therapeutic doses. Most cytotoxic drugs target rapidly multiplying cells and the putative targets are the nucleic acids and their precursors, which are rapidly synthesised during cell division. Many solid tumours have a lower growth fraction than the normal bone marrow, gastro intestinal lining, reticuloendothelial system and gonads. Drugs affect these tissues in a dose dependant manner and there is individual susceptibility also. So toxicities are more frequently associated with these tissues. The side effects may be acute or chronic, self-limited, permanent, mild or potentially life threatening. Management of these side effects is of utmost importance because they affect the treatment, tolerability and overall quality of life. This paper gives an overview of different toxicities of anticancer drugs and its management. [Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol 2012; 1(1.000): 2-12

Context: Antibiotic prescribing by physicians has gained due importance across the globe, mainly because of an increase in antibiotic usage, prevalence of infections, and drug resistances. Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the prescribing pattern of antibiotics, their adherence to essential medicines list, disease conditions for which they were prescribed, and their adverse effects. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional prospective study was carried out in six inpatients departments (Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Medicine, and Pediatrics) of a 550-bed tertiary care hospital in Trivandrum, India for two months (July-August 2012). Institutional Research and Ethics Committee clearance were obtained prior to the study. Materials and Methods: The data were collected in a predesigned performa from the medical case sheets, drug charts, and laboratory investigations of 100 in-patients. The enrolled patients were observed from admission till discharge. Descriptive statistics were applied to the collected data and analyzed using Microsoft Excel software. Results: The mean duration of hospitalization among the study population was 5.48 (±4.28) days. Of the 410 medicines prescribed, antibiotics contributed 151 (36.8%). They were mostly indicated for respiratory infections, and the most common antibiotic was Beta-lactams (91 (60.2%). Interestingly, 89 antibiotics (60%) were administered as injections. About 70 (46%) of the antibiotics were prescribed without any combinations. The adherences to World Health Organization's essential medicines list were 122 (81%). A total of seven adverse drug reactions were reported in the current study. Of which, none were serious, and five (70%) were cutaneous reactions. Conclusions: Of the 100 patients analyzed from six in-patient departments, it was observed that the hospital physicians prescribed antibiotics more rationally with no banned drugs and less newer drugs. Rational prescribing of antibiotics would help avoid polypharmacy and prevent drug resistances.

Background: Antibiotics are prescribed frequently and there is always an overuse with a risk of resistance and increasing costs. Rational drug prescribing is essential for minimizing the health care costs and for reducing the resistance. The implementation of a strict antibiotic policy by all the health care institutes is being made mandatory nowadays. An improving awareness among the prescribers which can be created through educational interventions, can promote the rational use of antibiotics. Hence, we considered it worthwhile to study the knowledge, attitude and the perception of the practitioners towards a rational antibiotic use. Materials and Methods:All the registered practitioners who were working in the hospital setting and were willing to give written informed consents, were enrolled in the study. All the participants who were enrolled in the study during a one month period, had to fill up a predesigned, structured and validated questionnaire which was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and the perception among physicians towards the rational use of antibiotics.Results: About 65% of the participants who provided complete information in the questionnaire, were included in analysis. Among them, more than 50 % agreed on the existence of an essential drug list, on the knowledge about new antibiotics and on prescribing antibiotics rationally and on the interpretation of the culture and the sensitivity results. A majority strongly agreed that they ensured that their patients completed the course, that they provided counselling and that they took special interest in the proper use of antibiotics. There was a consensus on the overuse, issues of resistance, and on the input from fellow colleagues. Conclusion:The participants in our study had knowledge about the rational use of antibiotics, an attitude to prescribe drugs as per the essential drug list and a perception that antibiotics were being overused and that rational drug prescribing had an important role in the antibiotic resistance.

Objectives:To study the prevalence of obesity among high school students of age 15-17 years and identify the associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving the measurement of height and weight and calculation of body mass index among high school students of Kottukal and Pallichal localities of Trivandrum districts in Kerala, South India. A study questionnaire was administered among the participants and their parents to understand the relationship of food intake, parental obesity, and physical activity to obesity. Results: Of the 560 students enrolled, 49 (8.75%) were overweight and 27 (4.82%) were obese. With this, the prevalence of obese is computed as 4.8%. The parental obesity posed a significant risk factor among the study population. Conclusion: Creating awareness among adults and school-goers on the negative health effects of obesity, the key for maintaining good health.

Curriculum, the crux of the whole educational process has its impact on health professional programs as well as healthcare need of the society. It is intended to bring about changes in learners in four domains. Curriculum design is a complex process which needs meticulous planning and extensive conceptual frameworks. Several categories of adult learning theories link intricately with curriculum development. There is increasing relevance and accountability to curricular development for the medical educators.Module, a subunit of curriculum, is deliberated according to the curricular frame work selected. The steps in curriculum development can be applied to develop a module. Module can provide quality learning experience for facilitator and student alike. The various models of Curriculum evaluation are used in modules also.All medical educators need to undergo a systematic and skilled training in curriculum design and module development to fulfil their responsibility of imparting quality education. ARTICLE HISTORY