No abstract

Background: Emergency contraception is applied to prevent pregnancy after 72-120 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse. Emergency contraceptive (EC) pill is used to reduce unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion. EC pill is available as OTC in India since 2005. As EC pill highly used among adolescents we carried out to this study among college students. Methods: The study was conducted among female college students. A pre-validated questionnaire was used as tool for the study. It contains consent form and questions knowledge and attitude regarding EC pill. Results: We divided students into group A (medical, paramedical and pharmacy colleges) and group B (nonmedical colleges like science, arts and engineering). In group A 470 and group B 280 students were participated. Knowledge about appropriate time of taking EC pill (within 72 hours after sexual intercourse) was 44% in group A which is significant than 15% in group B. Knowledge about brand name, availability cost and side effects were more in group A than group B. Electronic media was the most common source of information mentioned by both the groups. Attitude regarding advice to use of EC pill to other was more in group A than group B. Conclusions: Knowledge about use of EC pill was higher in group A than group B. Attitude was not positive regarding availability of EC pill as OTC. So education about EC pill among young population is necessary. [Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol 2012; 1(2.000): 77-84

Objective: The goal of study is to identify drug and antimicrobial utilization in ICUs by using daily defined dose. Material and Methods: Study was conducted at tertiary care teaching hospital. 100 patients in each medical, surgical and neurosurgical ICU were included. The data were recorded in preformed Case Record Form (CRF). Drugs were classified using the anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification system and drug utilization was measured as Daily Defined Dose (DDD)/100 bed days. Data were analyzed by Z and x 2 test. Results: DDD/100 bed days of inotropes was 51.44 in medical ICU which was significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to surgical and neurosurgical ICU while DDD/100 bed days of gastrointestinal drugs was 44.52, 38.57 and analgesics was 34.5, 34.41 in surgical and neurosurgical ICU respectively which was significantly (p<0.05) higher as compared to medical ICU. More than two antimicrobials were prescribed in above 70% patients in all ICU. DDD/100 bed days of cephalosporin was 20.76 in medical ICU which was significantly(p<0.05) higher compared to surgical and neurosurgical ICU. DDD/100 bed days of aminoglycosides was 16.01, 17.65 and nitroimidazole was 10.3, 8.4 in surgical and neurosurgical ICU respectively which was significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to medical ICU. Among restricted antimicrobials according to antimicrobial policy of hospital. DDD/100 bed days of piperacillin+tazobactam and cefoperazone+sulbactam were significantly (p<0.05) higher in medical ICU. Levoflxoacin and vancomycin were highly sensitive antimicrobials followed by beta lactam antimicrobials with beta lactamase inhibitors in all ICUs. Conclusion: Polypharmacy was observed in ICU and antimicrobials widely prescribed in ICUs. Sensitivity of beta lactam along with beta lacatamase inhibitors was high.

Ward bed charge, ICU bed charge, ventilator charge accounted more than one third cost of direct medical cost in all the patients. Cost of drug therapy was one fourth of direct medical cost. Antimicrobials cost accounted 33% of cost of drug therapy.

Background: Steroid, bronchodilator and the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast have demonstrated efficacy in children with mild persistent asthma, but comparative long-term studies in adult patient with moderate persistent asthma is needed. A randomized and prospective study was undertaken to find out the efficacy of montelukast as add on to β 2 -agonist and inhaled corticosteroids in patients of moderate persistent asthma. Methods: This was a continuous, longitudinal, prospective study carried out at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Newly diagnosed patients of moderate persistent asthma attending the chest out patient department (OPD) were enrolled. Group I was treated with salbutamol 200 mcg rotacap SOS and formoterol 6 mcg + budesonide 400 mcg rotacap BD. In addition to these medicines group II also received montelukast 10 mg OD. The patients were followed up every two months. Clinical examination and pulmonary function tests (PFT) were carried out at baseline and during each visit. Unpaired 't' test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Comparison of clinical symptoms revealed a better improvement in group II as compare to group I [cough -83% vs. 33%; breathlessness -75% vs. 33%; and wheezing -83% vs. 78%] at the end of one year. A significantly better (p < 0.05) improvement in forced expiratory volume (FEV 1 ) was also observed in group II. Conclusions: Treatment with montelukast leads to better improvement in clinical symptoms and PFT in the patients of moderate persistent asthma.