Introduction:The objective was to compare antiplatelet effect of lycopene with aspirin and to study effect of combination of the two on platelet aggregation in vitro, using platelets from healthy volunteers.Materials and Methods:Platelets were harvested; platelet count of platelet-rich plasma adjusted to 2.5 Χ 105/μL. Aspirin (140 μmol/L) and lycopene (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 μmol/L) were studied in vitro against adenosine-5’- diphosphate (ADP) (2.5 μM/L) and collagenResults:All the concentrations of lycopene (4–12 μmol/L) exhibited reduction in maximum platelet aggregation induced by aggregating agents ADP and collagen (P < 0.01 vs. vehicle) and were comparable with aspirin. Lycopene at concentration 10 μmol/L showed maximum platelet inhibition (47.05% ± 19.56%) against ADP, whereas lycopene at concentration 8 μmol/L showed maximum platelet inhibition (54.26% ± 30.71%) against collagen. Four μmol/L of lycopene combined with 140 μmol/L and 70 μmol/L aspirin showed greater inhibition of platelets as compared to aspirin 140 μmol/L alone, against both ADP and collagen.Conclusion:The study favorably compares lycopene and aspirin with respect to their antiplatelet activities against ADP and collagen. Lycopene can be considered as a potential target for modifying the thrombotic and pro-inflammatory events associated with platelet activation.

Background:Ayurvedic literature claims that Boerhavia diffusa possesses rejuvenative properties especially related to the urinary system.Objective:To evaluate effect of aqueous extract of root of Boerhavia diffusa in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.Materials and Methods:Study was conducted in two parts, using 40 rats in each part. Rats were equally divided into five groups for each part. Group 1: Normal control, Group 2: Disease control and Groups 3, 4, and 5: α-lipoic acid (ALA) and 200 and 400 mg/kg of B. diffusa, respectively. All groups, except Group 1, concomitantly received gentamicin 150 mg/kg/day for 10 days. Parameters measured in part I were blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, kidney malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels, kidney injury on histopathology; in part II, paraaminohippurate (PAH) clearance.Statistical Analysis:Mean ± SD of body weight, creatinine, BUN, MDA, GSH and PAH clearance were compared using parametric tests. Median histopathology scores were compared using Kruskal–Wallis test. ‘P’ value of < 0.05 was considered significant.Results:High dose of gentamicin caused significant elevation in BUN, serum creatinine and kidney MDA, fall in kidney GSH and histopathological damage in disease control group as compared with normal control (P < 0.05). Treatment with B. diffusa prevented changes in above parameters, comparable to ALA. Effects of both doses of B. diffusa were significantly better than disease control (P < 0.05).B. diffusa did not show significant improvement in PAH clearance, which was reduced due to gentamicin damage.Conclusion:B. diffusa exerted protection against structural and functional damage induced by gentamicin possibly due to its antioxidant properties.

Objective:The aim of this study is to assess the impact of case based teaching (CBT) on learning rational prescribing and to compare CBT with the traditional method of teaching (TRD).Materials and Methods:Second year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students (n = 179) were administered a pre-test and randomly divided into groups to receive CBT (n = 96) and TRD (n = 83). CBT group was further sub-divided into CBT1 and CBT2. Both these groups were taught two topics each by CBT and TRD during tutorials; however, the topics were switched with respect to method of teaching. The post-test comprised of three therapeutic problems of which two were related, and one was not related to the tutorial topics. Marks obtained in the post-test were graded and analysed using Fischer's exact test.Results:In the post-test, the therapeutic problems on diabetes mellitus and peptic ulcer were attempted by 85.41% students from CBT and 73.49% from TRD group. CBT group obtained more marks for these problems (4.23 ± 0.94; P < 0.001) than the TRD (3.32 ± 0.92) group. Also, more students in the CBT obtained grade 3 (P < 0.001) and fewer obtained grade 1 (P < 0.01), compared to the TRD group. When the grades of the two CBT groups were compared, it was found that fewer students in CBT 2 had obtained grade 1 and those scoring higher grades were comparable between the two groups. For the therapeutic problem on malaria, 7.29% students from CBT and 18.07% from TRD received 0 grade (P < 0.05). More students received ≥ 2 grade in CBT group (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Use of CBT during tutorials is better than TRD and facilitates learning of rational pharmacotherapy.

Background: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence and pattern of adverse drug reaction (ADRs), causality, severity and preventability of ADRs.Methods: Data was collected and analyzed with the information such as patients’ demographic details, associated co-morbid conditions and detailed drug related information gathered from ADR reporting forms. World Health Organization (WHO) scale was used for assessing causality, modified Hartwig scale was used for assessing severity and modified Schumock and Thorntons scale were used for assessing preventability of ADRs. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: Total 154 ADRs were reported in a period of one year (August 2016- July 2017). Out of 154 ADRs analyzed, 120 (77.9%) were in adults, 33 (21.4%) pediatric and 01 (0.7%) in geriatric patients. The most common ADR recorded was cutaneous reactions (43.5%) and the most common causative class of drugs for the same was found to be antimicrobials (46.7%) followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (15.6%). Causality assessment scale indicated 68.8% ADRs possible and 24% ADRs as probable. Severity assessment revealed that 45.5 % were mild, 50.6% moderate and 3.9% ADRs severe. Preventability assessment showed 84.4% of the cases were probably non-preventable.Conclusions: In this study it was found that, most of the ADRs were of possible category with mild to moderate severity and majority being non-preventable. Antimicrobial drugs being the most common offending drug class causing ADRs. Strategies targeting appropriate and cautious use of this class of drugs may benefit in reducing the number of ADRs and therefore the cost involved in the treatment.

Background: MBBS students lack training in research ethics which is crucial when they enter clinical practice and venture into clinical research in future. This study was planned to implement an educational module to build concepts in research ethics Objective: To assess the change in the knowledge and attitude of medical students towards research ethics. Methods: The study was initiated after obtaining institutional ethics committee approval. It was an interventional study, conducted on 2nd MBBS students (N=130) subjected to an educational program which comprised of three modules viz., theme lectures, educational visits and small group case based learning. A prevalidated questionnaire(35 items), was administered at baseline and at the end of 3 modules, to assess the change in the knowledge gained and in the attitude towards ethics in animal and human research. Feedback was obtained from students and faculty to assess the outcome of this program. Results: On analyzing the knowledge gained post intervention in 130 students, it was observed that in the post test for the items on ethics committee- need and composition, principles of research ethics was answered correctly by more number of students, which was statistically significant. The statistically significant positive change was observed for attitude of these students towards both animal and human research ethics. Case based discussions provided better understanding of ethical practices and its importance in conducting research as responded by majority students and faculty. Conclusions: Educational program on research ethics enhanced learning and brought about the positive attitudinal change. Majority students’ and faculty appreciated the program and considered it as relevant for undergraduate training.