Objective: Helminthiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic infestations worldwide posing a major threat to public health. The control of these nematodes has relied largely on the use of a limited number of anthelmintics. However, emerging resistance and side effects to the currently available anthelmintic drugs is a major concern and discovery of newer anthelmintics with a novel mode of action is the need of the hour. The present study is aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extract of Centella asiatica Linn. (EECA) on Indian earthworms (Pheretima posthuma). Methods: The earthworms were divided into 4 groups with 6 worms in each group. The anthelmintic activity of EECA at two different concentrations (25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml) was evaluated by assessing the time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. Albendazole was used as standard and 2% gum acacia as control. Results: Albendazole at 25 mg/ml showed the highest anthelmintic activity and had significant difference (p<0.001) with EECA at both 25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml. Conclusion: Both doses of the test drug showed anthelmintic activity but the extract at either dose was found to be less effective than the standard drug. Further studies with higher doses of the extract should be done to evaluate the anthelmintic activity in a dose-dependent manner.

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Introduction: Anticancer drugs account to high susceptibility towards Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) due to their narrow therapeutic window and increased toxicity, which makes pharmacovigilance studies essential. Aim: To determine the nature and severity of ADRs in cancer patients based on the reports received from the Department of Radiation Oncology to the Pharmacovigilance centre of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted in the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, Manipur, India on the patients who developed ADRs due to anticancer drugs during the period from January 2018 to December 2020. These ADRs were assessed for causality using World Health Organisation- Uppsala Monitoring Centre (WHO-UMC) criteria. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 and frequencies and percentages were determined for each variable. Results: A total of 913 ADRs were reported from 334 patients. Total 62.57% females developed ADRs and age group of 51-60 years (31.14%) were affected the most. Bronchogenic carcinoma (20.9%) was found to be the most common cancer and haematological system (31.11%) was mostly affected. Most common ADRs observed were alopecia (16.32%) followed by anorexia and anaemia. Carboplatin (23.21%) followed by Cisplatin, Paclitaxel, Docetaxel were the most common drugs causing different ADRs. On causality assessment, as per WHO-UMC criteria 67.25% ADRs were ‘probable’ and 32.75% were ‘possible’. Severity assessment using modified Hartwig and Siegel scale showed 56.41% ADRs as mild, 41.95% moderate and 1.64% severe reaction. Preventability assessment using Schumock-Thornton scale showed 44.69% ADRs were ‘not preventable’ whereas 41.62% ADRs were ‘definitely preventable’ and 13.69% were ‘probably preventable’. Conclusion: The use of anticancer drugs is associated with various adverse effects. However, early detection of the ADRs may help to modify the doses or the drug regimen to minimise the adverse effects.

Background and aim: Self-medication with antibiotics is one of the growing issues in developing countries. Irrational use of antibiotics leads to development of resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat in management of infectious disease which leads to morbidity and mortality. Our study is to assess the self-medication pattern of antibiotic among the people of Imphal West district of Manipur. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1980 randomly selected people from populations of Manipur during September 2020. Data was collected using modified pre-structured questionnaire. Using SPSS software version 21, descriptive data analysis was done and expressed in frequencies and percentages. Result: In the study, female participants were more than male participants and majority were from the age group 18-30 years, educated and low-income group. Azithromycin was the most commonly used antibiotics followed by amoxicillin and clavulanic acid combination. Majority of them obtained the antibiotics from local pharmacies and was mainly recommended by the pharmacists. Only 16.92% of them faced mild adverse reaction. Around 65.04% of the participant considered that self-medication with antibiotics is not a safe practice. Conclusion: This study showed that antibiotics were easily accessible and many people were not aware about the antibiotic usage and risk of developing its resistance in Imphal West. Higher authorities need to enlighten the public about the rational use of antibiotics and the dangerous effects of self-medication to overcome the antibiotic resistance.