Objectives:Continuous availability of affordable medicines in appropriate formulations is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality in children. Odisha an eastern Indian state records very high mortality of children. The study aims at documenting the availability and prices paid for purchasing essential child-specific medicines.Materials and Methods:The survey of 34 essential medicines was conducted in six randomly selected districts of Odisha. Data were collected from medicine outlets of the public, private, and other sector (Nongovernmental Organization [NGO]/mission sectors) of six randomly selected districts, using WHO/Health Action International medicine price collection methodology. For each medicine surveyed, data were collected on the highest and lowest-priced formulations available in each facility.Results:Both public sector and other sector health facilities procure only one brand of medicines, mean percentage availability of medicines being 17% and 21.8%, respectively. In the private sector, the mean percentage availability of the high and lowest-priced medicines for a particular drug product was 10.8% and 38.5%, respectively. The public sector procurement price is 48% lower than international reference prices. In the private sector, high-priced, and low-priced products are sold at 1.83 and 1.46 times the international reference price, respectively. Substantial price variation was observed for some medicines across individual outlets. Medicines were found to cost 2.08 times their international reference price in NGO/mission sector facilities.Conclusions:The availability of children's medicines in public sector facilities of Odisha state is poor. Medicines for children cost relatively high in both private and NGO sectors compared to the international reference price. The availability medicines should be improved on an urgent basis to improve access of medicines for children of Odisha.

Background: Food’s high in calories, salt, and fats are known as junk foods. Excessive intake of junk foods can result in a range of health problems. Purpose: The goal of this study is to learn more about teenage fast-food intake in Odisha, especially among those aged 15 to 25, and how it affects their health. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of teens was undertaken using 60 adolescents of both sexes as the study's sample. The questionnaire was divided into two parts: the first was for socio-demographic information, and the second was for junk food intake patterns and determining variables, as well as their impact on health. MS Excel was used to analyse the data. A statistically significant value was defined as P 0.05. Results: The findings revealed that more females (72.0 percent) than boys consumed fast food, and nearly half of participants (25.0 percent) consumed fast food as a substitute for a main meal, and more than half of participants (75.0 percent) consumed soft drink every day. Furthermore, a higher proportion of participants (58.0 percent) had urinary tract infection, which could be linked to the fact that chips and soft drink were the most appealing food items among participants. Keywords : Nutrition; Fast Food; Junk Foods; Consumption; Teenagers.

This study aims to study the effect of cromakalim on experimentally induced convulsion in albino rats using maximal electro-shock (MES) & pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced seizure models. For this study 100 albino rats of either sex weighing 100 to 150 grams were divided into 10 equal groups, 5 groups were used for each model. Rats of group 1 in both models received placebo (0.5ml of distilled water) intraperitoneally (ip), while groups 2,3 and 4 of both the models were administered three doses of cromakalim, i.e. 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg ip respectively. Rats of group 5 received phenytoin 40 mg/kg ip in the MES model and ethosuximide 100mg/kg ip in PTZ model, which served as positive controls respectively. In MES model, 150mAmp current was administered by electro-convulsiometer through ear electrodes to rats and presence of hind limb extension was recorded as the end-point, at different time intervals. In the second model, PTZ was administered at the dose of 60mg/kg ip, 60mins after cromakalim/ control drug pre-treatment. Onset and duration of clonic convulsion was recorded. In MES induced seizure model, cromakalim at the doses of 0.5 and 1 mg produced significant protective effect which was comparable to phenytoin 40mg/kg. In PTZ induced seizure model, cromakalim pretreatment in the dose of 0.25mg increased onset time, decreased duration of convulsion in 70% of animals, while the doses of 0.5 and 1 mg/kg had significant anticonvulsant activity comparable to ethosuximide 100mg/kg. Cromakalim possesses significant anticonvulsant property both on electroshock and chemoshock induced seizure models.

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Background: In Multi drug resistant falciparum malaria anti-malarial combinations are frequently used i.e. Quinine and IV Artesunate. Quinine is associated with electrocardiographic disturbances. Artesunate in high dose produce QTC prolongation in animal models, so the electrocardiogram (ECG) is thoroughly studied.Methods: Severe falciparum malaria cases 15 to 60 years were randomly allocated into 3 treatment regimens i.e. Artesunate, Quinine alone and their combination. Electrocardiographic recordings were taken periodically in 3 groups and compared statistically.Results: The mean QTC interval is significantly prolonged in combination treatment group from 0.40+0.02 to 0.49+0.09 (P<0.05) ECG disturbance (44%). QTC prolongation was commonest (i.e. 27%) with electrolyte imbalance could produce life threatening cardiac arrhythmia (Polymorphic VT with Sr K+ 2.9). Artesunate alone was list prone (i.e. only 6%) Quinine though has comparatively more (i.e. 25%) but there is no life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia in artesunate and Quinine.