Background: Diabetes mellitus is a global public health problem, with its prevalence escalating each decade. Serum uric acid is said to have a strong correlation with diabetes and might contribute to its risk. The present study aimed to compare the levels of serum uric acid in diabetic, pre-diabetic, and non-diabetic patients visiting a tertiary care center. Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 patients visiting medicine OPD of Universal College of Medical Sciences. Of them, 182 were diabetics, 48 were pre-diabetics, and 90 were non-diabetics. Serum uric acid, fasting blood glucose, post-prandial blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin levels were measured. Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square test and Spearman’s correlation were performed for analysis. Finally, a multiple linear regression analysis was done to adjust for the confounding effects of various parameters. At a 95% confidence level, a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Unadjusted serum uric acid levels were significantly different among non-diabetics, pre-diabetes and diabetes group. Serum uric acid levels also correlated positively but weakly with all the glycemic parameters (p < 0.001). However, after adjusting for the confounders like age, sex, diet, BMI, smoking, alcoholism, and hypertension, serum uric acid levels did not vary significantly among the study groups. There was no significant association of serum uric acid with glycemic parameters. Conclusions: Serum uric acid levels did not vary significantly among the diabetic, pre-diabetic, and non-diabetic individuals. Different modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors need to be considered in hyperuricemia in diabetic patients.

The global pandemic situation caused by rare viral pneumonia occurs in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, which we now recognize as COVID-19. The molecular docking was used to identify potential phytoconstituents of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> and reference drug hydroxychloroquine on SARS-CoV-2 main protein by using AutoDock 4.2.6 and Auto dock Vina. All the physicochemical and bioactive parameters (ADME, toxicity study, receptor interaction, PASS analysis, drug-likeness) were determined using different online validated software. The binding energy of all SAR-CoV-2 proteins with selected phytoconstituents of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> were found to be beta carotene, vitamin E; myricetin, quercetin showed the highest binding affinity with all interacting proteins comparable with other drugs and reference drug hydroxychloroquine as an order: beta carotene > myricetin > quercetin > vitamin E> hydroxychloroquine>quinic acid. The MD simulation analysis of viral protein (6MOJ) with beta carotene, vitamin E and myricetin demonstrated strong stability at 300 K. All three complexes exhibit persistent RMSDs value (0.25 – 1.5 Å) of protein side-chain Cα atoms during the 3 ns MD simulation time scale. The minor changes of all three ligands with 2 different viral proteins increasing the compactness of ligands with protein in radius of gyration suggested the strong structural activity of ligands and the least fluctuation during the MD simulation (31.2, 30.0 and 31.2), respectively. In the present study revealed that all the active constituents of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> show good binding affinity, but beta carotene and myricetin have an excellent affinity with SARS-CoV-2 proteins respectively.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative pain management is essential for early mobilization and rehabilitation to enhance recovery and to reduce morbidity. Ketorolac and pethidine are two most common analgesics used in the postoperative setting for pain management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients (n=60) of age group 18-60 years who undergone various surgical procedures were divided randomly into two groups (T1 and T2). T1 group received inj. ketorolac 5 mg/kg IM and T2 group received pethidine 1.5 mg/kg IM body weight respectively on 6 hourly basis for 48 hours postoperatively. Patients were assessed in the recovery room for pain according to Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) and Sedation Score after 1, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 hours of drug administration. Analgesic efficacy was measured using VAS and VRS. Safety of the drugs was assessed by using Sedation Score. RESULTS: Ketorolac showed equianalgesic effect as pethidine estimated by VAS score at 18th  and 48th  hour. In other periods of observation, pethidine exhibited better analgesic effects than ketorolac. However, ketorolac shows less incidence of sedation compared to pethidine. CONCLUSION: This study showed that postoperative pain during the first 48 hours can be relieved by either ketorolac or pethidine. Ketorolac appeared safer than pethidine while pethidine appeared more effective analgesic than ketorolac in the management of postoperative pain.

Background and Objectives: Self-medication can cause significant challenges for the individuals and community, especially in women during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-medication among the pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary care center of Nepal. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 225 pregnant women were evaluated for the prevalence of self-medication during pregnancy. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis of data. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of self-medication, in pregnant women was 41.3%. The leading illness/ symptoms which led to self-medication among pregnant women attending clinic were to relieve headaches 29 (31.2%), cough 21 (22.6%), vomiting 13 (14%), treat fever 11 (11.8%), urinary tract infections 11 (11.8%) and drugs commonly reported for self-medication were paracetamol (30.10%), cough remedies (19.30%), antiemetics (16.13%), analgesics (10.75%). Conclusion: Prevalence of self-medication among pregnant women is high in Nepal. This is a threat to the safety of the developing foetus and the pregnant woman. Therefore, it seems necessary to provide public trainings for all women of reproductive age and train them about the dangers and side effects of self-medication.