Low Back Pain (LBP) is a common human condition with 60-80% of the world population experiencing pain at some point of time in their life. 1 Low back pain is second only to the common cold as the most frequent reason for visiting a physician and is most common chronic pain syndrome in individual countries. 2 Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal symptom that may be either acute or chronic. It may be caused by a variety of diseases & disorders that affect the lumbar spine. The most frustrating aspect in the treatment of low back pain is that there is "no magic bullets". 3 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most frequently prescribed medications worldwide and are widely used for patients with low back pain. 4 Flupirtine maleate is a non-opioid drug without antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties which is approved by European Medical Agency for acute & chronic pain especially of musculoskeletal origin. 5 It has ABSTRACT Background: Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal symptom caused by a variety of disorders that affect the lumbar spine. The most frustrating aspect in the treatment of low back pain is that there is "no magic bullets". The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of flupirtine versus piroxicam in patients with back pain. Methods: This was prospective, open labeled, randomized, comparative clinical study conducted by the Departments Orthopedics and Pharmacology, BMC&H, Chitradurga. Study was conducted on 60 patients of either sex, aged above 18 years with low back pain. Assessments were done for Finger-to-Floor Distance (FFD), lumbar pain, Lasegue's sign, tenderness of vertebral muscles, pain & sensory disturbance in lower limbs and response to therapy for efficacy. Parametric data was analyzed by t-test and proportions were compared using Chi-square test. Results: 74 patients were randomized to 2 groups of 37 each. Group I patients received flupirtine maleate 100 mg twice daily and Group II patients received piroxicam 20 mg twice daily for 14 days. 30 patients in each group completed the study and were analysed. On intergroup comparison, there was no statistical difference (p>0.05) in the efficacy parameters of finger-to-floor distance (FFD), lumbar pain, Lasegue's sign, tenderness of vertebral muscles, sensory disturbance in lower limbs, VAS scores & global assessment of response to therapy. 13.3% in flupirtine group and 16.6% in piroxicam group reported adverse events. Conclusions: Both flupiritine and piroxicam were equally effective but flupirtine was better tolerated than piroxicam.

No abstract

Eclipta Alba has been used in traditional and folklore medicine to treat Hyperlipidemia and hepatic disorders. The present study was aimed to investigate the Antihyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective potentials of Eclipta Alba in high-fat diet -induced Albino rats and to determine the underlying mechanism.  A total of 30 adult albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 165–215 g were utilized. Animals were treated with high-fat diet for 8 weeks followed by post-treatment of E. Alba for 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks, respectively. After 12 h of fasting on the last day of the experiment, serum blood samples were collected in EDTA vials and processed for biochemical analysis.  A significant decrease in levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides was noted on animals treated with E. alba compared to high-fat diet animals. Treatment of hypercholesterolemic rats with E. Alba showed a marked decrease of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very LDL cholesterol concentrations compared to the hypercholesterolemic rats. High-fat diet feeding worsened the levels of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase enzymes, whereas the same markers were significantly improved by supplementation with E. alba compared to the normal group.  E. alba acts as an antihyperlipidemic agent in hyperlipidemic conditions and helps for better health.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is considered to be a major cause of death among the infectious diseases prevalent in India. Differentiation of M. tuberculosis from Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) is very important in the management of the disease. Recently, Standard Diagnostics (SD Yongin Korea) developed a simple and rapid assay using a mouse monoclonal anti-MPT64 antibody to discriminate between M. tuberculosis and NTM by Immunochromatography. These tests were found to have good sensitivity and specificity. METHOD: 200 sputum samples were processed and inoculated on conventional Lowenstein Jensen culture medium. The Mycobacterial isolates were subjected to biochemical tests (Niacin test and Nitrate reduction test) and Immunochromatographic assay. The isolates were also tested by Polymerase chain reaction. H37 RV strain was used as a positive control. RESULT: The culture isolates showed positive in 47 (23.5%) cases. 44 isolates were positive and 3 were negative by both biochemical tests and immunochromatographic assay. Similar results were obtained by PCR. The sensitivity and specificity of Immunochromatography test when compared to biochemical tests and PCR was 100%. Positive predictive value and Negative predictive values were 100%. CONCLUSION: Immunochromatographic assay showed comparable results with biochemical tests and this assay can be used as an alternative to biochemical tests for the confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which avoids use of hazardous chemicals (Cyanogen bromide).

Background and aims: To use Web 2.0 tools for learning human histology by First year MBBS students and thus make them aware of the features of these tools. To assess, by way of a feedback, the utility of the web 2.0 tools as instruments for self- directed learning. Materials and Methods:A questionnaire based longitudinal study was administered to sixty students. Their knowledge level about Web 2.0 tools, Self directed learning and Competency based learning were assessed. Then they were asked to participate in online discussions using Web 2.0 tools. Opinion regarding the utility of these Web 2.0 tools was collected using pre-validated questionnaires. Results: Awareness of Web 2.0 tools and Self-Directed Learning [SDL] was low. Even though students found the Web 2.0 tools to be good instruments for learning of that material which was not taught in routine classes, several students preferred their learning to be guided by teachers. Conclusion: Web 2.0 tools are good instruments for Self Directed Learning which leads to better development of competencies required of a professional doctor. Web 2.0 tools need to be integrated into our current curriculum to be fully utilised. These tools are yet to find acceptance by the students.