Objective: To compare the anti-inflammatory effects of berberine and dexamethasone in ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs. Methods: This experimental controlled study was conducted in April, 2016 at Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. Twenty- four healthy guinea pigs were selected for study. Six of these were assigned randomly in each group; normal control, ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized, berberine treated and dexamethasone treated groups. Airway inflammation was induced on day 0 and 14 by OVA injections via peritoneal route and by inhalation on 25th, 26th and 27th day in each group excluding the normal control. Berberine (1.8 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (20 mg/kg) were introduced via peritoneal route 30 minutes earlier to each trial in berberine treated and dexamethasone treated groups respectively. Results: Total leukocyte count (TLC) in blood sample of berberine treated group (9990±1346 mm3) and dexamethasone treated group (9054±1432 mm3) was significantly low than OVA sensitized group (14261±3151 mm3). TLC of broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in berberine treated group (384±26 mm3) and dexamethasone treated group (306±86) mm3 was significantly low than OVA sensitized group (598±110 mm3). Eosinophil percentage in blood of berberine treated (21.50±3.08) and dexamethasone treated (13.33±5.65) groups were significantly low than OVA sensitized group (30.33±6.74), while eosinophil percentage in BAL fluid was 26.00±6.69 and 21.00±7.46 in berberine treated and dexamethasone treated groups respectively with significant difference from OVA sensitized group value of 40.00±7.79. Conclusion: Berberine and dexamethasone both had reduced TLC and eosinophil percentage in both blood and BAL fluid as compared to OVA sensitized group but berberine is less effective than dexamethasone. Keywords: berberine, dexamethasone, asthma, airway inflammation How to cite: Zaidi T.S., Kausar R., Malik M., Sarfraz J., Shafiq A., Chiragh S. Comparison of berberine and dexamethasone on blood and bronchial inflammatory cells of ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs. Esculapio 202;17(01):34-38

Background: Medicines play a crucial role in the healthcare delivery of a hospital. The appropriate use of medicines gives us assessment of the quality of health services being provided in a particular region. Aim: To evaluate the prescribing practices and antibiotic utilization patterns so that the extent of irrational use can be assessed by comparing them with published ideal values set by WHO. Study design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: Teaching Hospital of Faisalabad: Independent University Hospital (IUH), from Jan 2018 to June/July 2018. Methodology: 200 cases were selected through systematic random sampling from medicine/surgery wards and pharmacy registers. The standard World Health Organization prescribing indicators and AWaRe categorization of antibiotics were used to assess the prescribing practices of physicians/surgeons. Published ideal standards for each of the indicators were compared with study findings to identify extent of irrational drug use. Results: Most of the facility indicators were met with. The Drug and Therapeutic Committee (DTC) was functional. The Standard treatment guideline booklets (STGs) and Essential Drugs List (EDL) of the hospital were available. 88% of the key drugs listed in EDL were available in stock. The expenditure on antibiotics compared to total medicines was 17%. Regarding prescribing indicators: the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 6 (optimal value 1.6–1.8). Average no of antibiotic per prescription amounted to almost 1 (0.925). % prescriptions with an antibiotic amounted to 72% (optimal value 20-26.8%).72% antibiotics were prescribed from the EDL formulary of the hospital (optimal value 100%). Conclusion: Regarding compliance with prescribing indicators and AWaRe categorization of antibiotics by WHO, significant deviation was observed. Education and training of physicians according to WHO parameters is required to ensure rational prescribing. Keywords: Prescription pattern, WHO Prescribing Indicators, AWaRe Categorization