Karnataka

The use of bronchodilators has been increasing for the past few decades. Study was planned to evaluate the rational use of bronchodilator drugs by analyzing the appropriateness of the prescription. A prospective observational study was conducted in all the patients who were prescribed with bronchodilators in the pediatric ward. The demographic data and the bronchodilator prescribed were recorded in the data entry format. In the study population of 133 wheezing associated with lower respiratory tract infection was the most predominant disorder found in 35.3% children.  Of the 133 pediatric patients, the major prescription was for SABA (Short Acting Bronchodilators) (99.2%). Of which the major prescription was for salbutamol (63.2%). Most of the children with asthma were prescribed with combination therapy of salbutamol and ipratropium (81.3%). In WALRI (Wheezing Associated Lower Respiratory Tract Infection), patient were prescribed with salbutamol (40.4%) and. In acute bronchiolitis, the major prescription was found to be salbutamol and ipratropium combination (70.3%). In 52.6% of the prescriptions bronchodilator were given by nebulization and oral route, 31.6% were given by nebulization. In 95.5% of patient antibiotics were prescribed along with bronchodilators, followed by mucolytic 55.6% .Other concurrent prescriptions were with steroids (38.3%). It was found that 77.4% of pediatric patients not received any oxygen supplementation. The study found over use of antibiotics, sedatives and mucolytics and under use of steroids. Bronchodilator use was optimal but evaluation of therapy was not done commonly. The study highlighted the need for a local protocol and continuing staff and parent education.

Cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases are currently responsible for two thirds of global mortality. Hypertension is a consistent and independent risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases and stroke. The prevalence of hypertension has increased in urban communities as well as in rural people. There is a strong correlation between changing lifestyle factors and increase in hypertension. Accurate and decisive data about hypertension prevalence and its risk factors is essential for scheming strategies for its effective regulation and prevention. A Community based cross-sectional study was carried out in rural community to monitor prevalence, risk factors, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in rural population. A total of 627 subjects (males n=369 and females n=258) participated in the study (age > 18 years). The participant’s blood pressure was measured and they were asked to answer a pretested questionnaire. As per the JNC VII report, hypertension was defined. Analysis of data was done using chi square test. The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 49.12% (males: 57.18% and female: 37.50%). About 1/4th of the hypertensive population did not knew about their health status. 60-79 year age group had the highest prevalence of hypertension (49.02%). Bivariate analysis of data was indicative of significant relationship between hypertension with that of age, gender, literacy, body mass index (BMI), physical inactivity, and smoking and alcohol consumption. Hence the prevalence of hypertension was found to be highly prevalent in rural community. We also realized the importance of clinical pharmacist and other health care professional’s involvement in monitoring of health problems reporting possible drug related problems, measuring therapeutic compliance and counselling on lifestyle modification in rural populations.

The RP-HPLC method development is to define a quality of the product and its process impurities to consistently deliver the intended quality of the drug substance. All the methods which are published are developed through knowledge base, traditional systematic scientific approach. The established method development for Nilotinib hydrochloride was through the vision of “Quality-by-Design” (QbD) approach to estimate the analytical target profile of the target analyte. The robustness of the method has been achieved with an emphasis on establishing the ‘design space’ of the method through the statistical model to ensure the establishment and use of knowledge on the subject. The proposed chromatographic method as Zorbax SB Phenyl (150mmX4.6mmX3.5µm) column thermo stated 45°C using 15 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) with pH-3.5 and Acetonitrile for the gradient elution with the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection was carried out with the VWD/PDA detector at 240nm. The established design space has been validated against the critical quality attributes (CQA) of the method within the regulatory framework.

Steroids are widely prescribed and used by practitioners due to powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions. So, care should be exercised in the rational selection of steroids1. Hence this study was aimed to evaluate the utilization of corticosteroids with the secondary objective to assess co-prescription with corticosteroids, the nature and severity of adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions, with an intention to prevent the inappropriate use of corticosteroids. A prospective observational study was carried out in 215 In-patient from various departments of the hospital during 6 months period and subjected to statistical analysis. Out of 215 In-patients, 145 were male and 70 were female, in which most of the patients (22.7%) belongs to age group of 51-60 years. The major complaints were respiratory tract disorders (about 48%) and most of the patients (82%) were prescribed single corticosteroids as monotherapy (42.3%, budesonide) in same or different dosage forms. The commonly used route of administration was inhalation (48%) and is co-prescribed with antibiotics (19.5%). The average number of drugs prescribed was 7.16 drugs per prescription. The mean duration of corticosteroids use was 3.20 ± 1.98 days. The incidence of drug interactions observed were higher (78.6%), with most of them were moderate interactions. The ADR observed with study population were few and minor. The study concluded that, the prescription of corticosteroids is found to be rational except for drug interactions and dosage regimen. Hence the involvement of clinical pharmacists in clinical practice helps to increase proper usage of corticosteroids and optimum outcome.

In the present study, an attempt was made to prepare and evaluate matrix tablets of Ondansetron HCl using HPMC, EC and Eudragit for Sustained release of Ondansetron HCl. The matrix tablets were prepared by wet granulation method. All the formulations are evaluated for the Hardness, Friability, Weight variation, Drug Content, In-Vitro Drug Release. The weight variation and drug contents of all the tablets were found to be uniform with the low SD values. The FTIR study indicated that the drug is stable in the formulations. The prepared matrix tablets were capable of releasing the drug for 12 hours depending upon the formulation variables. The tablets prepared with HPMC and Eudragit combination have shown higher drug release Drug release mechanism followed non-Fickian transport from both the polymers matrices. The drug released from the formulation is depends on the concentration of the polymers.

Peptic ulcer and Depression are managed by co-administering number of drugs for long duration. Hence, drug-drug interactions which are important cause of antagonistic drug reaction and may lead to amplified risk of hospitalization and amplified care cost. The study was piloted to find the impact of pantoprazole which is generally used for primary peptic ulcer disease in humans on the pharmacokinetic and antidepressant activity of fluoxetine. The influence of pantoprazole on pharmacokinetic parameters of fluoxetine was studied in healthy male albino rabbits. The effect of pantoprazole on antidepressant activity was studied using four animal models. The serum concentration of fluoxetine was estimated by HPLC. And the antidepressant activity was studied using despair swim test, compulsive gnawing test, serotonin syndrome and tail suspension test. After treating with pantoprazole for 7 days the concentration of serum fluoxetine was significantly decreased at 2nd, 4th, 8th, 16th and 24th hour. Pantoprazole treatment for one week exhibited significantly changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters like AUC, AUMC, t1/2 and Cmax of fluoxetine in healthy albino rabbits. The immobility time significantly decreases after pantoprazole treatment for one week by despair swim and tail suspension test in rats and mice respectively. Compulsive gnawing test and serotonin syndrome also shows decrease in the effect after pantoprazole treatment. When both drugs are co-administered together dose of fluoxetine should be increased. Key words: Depression; Fluoxetine; Pantoprazole; Drug-drug interaction; Tail Suspension test; Despair Swim Test.

The purpose of the study was to prepare and evaluate liposomes containing Artemether, a lipophilic drug having short half life of 2-3hrs after oral administration. Thin film hydration method was used for the preparation of artemether-encapsulated conventional and PEGylated liposomal suspensions using various drug: lipid ratio and their characteristics, such as particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release were investigated. The drug encapsulation efficiency of PEGylated liposomes was high when compared to conventional liposomes. The average particle size of both conventional and PEGylated liposomes was obtained in nanometers with PDI ranging from 0-0.356. Zeta potential of conventional liposomes was found to be more negative when compared to PEGylated liposomes. In-vitro drug diffusion studies was carried for period of 16 hrs where PEGylated liposomal formulation showed more sustained release compared to conventional liposomes. The conventional and PEGylated liposomal formulations followed zero order and Higuchi kinetics respectively. The artemether containing liposomes were successfully formulated and evaluated.

Development of amphiphilic drug-lipid complexes is a potential approach for improving delivery of the drugs by increasing solubility, release profile and oral bioavailability. Rutin, a polyphenolic flavonoid, shows several biological effects like capillary protectant, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, cardio-protective, anti-thrombotic and neuroprotective, but its use is limited due to its low aqueous solubility. To overcome this limitation, phospholipid complex of Rutin was developed to improve its aqueous solubility for better absorption through the gastrointestinal tract and this might result in improved bioavailability. The Rutin phytosomes prepared by solvent evaporation method using different ratios of Rutin and Soybean phosphatidylcholine (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3) was evaluated for percentage yield, compatibility studies by infra-red spectroscopy, particle size, poly dispersity index, zeta potential, drug content and were found to be within the acceptable range. Surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy, solubility studies, in-vitro drug release and stability studies also were carried out. The phospholipid complex of Rutin was found to be fluffy and porous with rough surface. The water solubility of Rutin was improved from 0.058mg/ml to 0.475 mg/ml in the prepared Phytosomes. The in-vitro drug release studies showed that there is no drug release from pure drug and F1 formulation up to 120min in acidic buffer pH 1.2; while in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 showed releases about 49.3% and 92.85% respectively, which indicates the significant enhancement of dissolution of Rutin phytosomes compared to pure drug. Stability studies suggested that the formulations were stable. In this study, Phytosomes could be successfully tailored for Rutin with improved dissolution characteristics which is promising for lowering the influence of exogenous factors and increasing drug delivery.

Two series of substituted phenothiazine derivatives were synthesized in order to obtain better antimicrobial agents.  The titled compounds 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f and 3g, 3h, 3i, 3j were obtained by using o-chlorobenzoic acid and m-dichlorobenzene as starting material respectively. These compounds were synthesized according to Ullmann and Mannich base reaction. The structures of all these compounds were confirmed by spectral analysis. The titled compounds were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Except 3e all compounds have shown good antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. However, all these compounds have shown good antifungal activity against A. niger. The compound 3g has shown greater antifungal activity than the standard.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis should be appropriate to reduce the risk of postoperative surgical infections. Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are responsible for Increased Mortality and Morbidity rate during surgical operations which lead to major complications. The inappropriate and overuse of antibiotics effects the cost and efficacy of drugs which leads to the resistant bacteria. To assess the pattern of antibiotic usage in surgical in-patients and for Postoperative wound infections. The present study is a prospective observational study done for a period of six months in Basaweshwara Medical College and Research Centre, Chitradurga in surgical ward. A Total of 162 patients were enrolled into the study. Among them, Surgical Site Infection (SSIs) was found in 37 (22.8%) patients and patients without SSIs are 125 (77.2%). The patients with age group 25-60 years were 104 (64.2%) in which SSIs are more (23).According to the study male patients underwent more surgeries (107 (66%)) in which 21 (56.8%) are with SSIs. Infection rate were more in males when compare to females in the study. A total of 265 antibiotics were used among 162 patients in which third generation cephalosporins are more preferred. The study concludes that there is a proper need to control the use of antibiotics appropriately. The inappropriate use leads to economic burden and resistance. SSIs may decrease the quality of life of the patients. Hence minimization of SSI is also very important in the developing countries by maintaining infection control plans by suitable organizations which makes an impact on the infections