Prescription pattern monitoring studies (PPMS) are a tool for assessing the prescribing, dispensing and distribution of medicines. The main aim of PPMS is to facilitate rational use of medicines (RUM). There is paucity of published data analysing the effectiveness of PPMS. The present review has been done to assess the effectiveness of prescription pattern monitoring studies in promoting RUM. Data search was conducted on internet. A multitude of PPMS done on different classes of drugs were collected and analyzed. PPMS using WHO prescribing indicators were also included. The present article reviews various prescription pattern monitoring studies of drugs conducted all over country and abroad. It was observed in the majority of such studies that physicians do not adhere to the guidelines made by regulatory agencies leading to irrational use of medicines. This in turn leads to increased incidence of treatment failure, antimicrobial resistance and economic burden on the patient and the community as a whole. The treatment of diseases by the use of essential drugs, prescribed by their generic names, has been emphasized by the WHO and the National Health Policy of India. We conclude that the prescription monitoring studies provide a bridge between areas like rational use of drugs, pharmacovigilance, evidence based medicine, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacogenetics and ecopharmacovigilance. In India, this is the need of the hour to utilise the data generated by so many prescription pattern monitoring studies done in every state and on every drug, so that the main aim of promoting rational use of drugs is fulfilled.

With increasing information available about the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of patients affected with severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 infection, patients with Down syndrome, congenital heart disease, airway obstruction, and pulmonary hypertension present a unique challenge. This case series describes 3 patients with Down syndrome and respiratory failure secondary to coronavirus infection.

The risk of pDDI was more commonly observed in elderly male patients particularly with antiplatelet drugs like low dose aspirin and clopidogrel.

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IN BRIEF Diabetes management is challenging for youth. We developed a theoretical framework for the facilitators and barriers to diabetes management in youth from the perspective of parents.

Introduction:Undergraduate training in pharmacology recently has been reformed with adoptions of new methods of teaching that focus on supportive learning through novel teaching approaches like computer-assisted learning (CAL), integrated teaching, learning by problem-based clinical scenarios. Materials and methods:This study was done on 125 secondyear professional MBBS students after taking their informed consent. They were first given a pretest questionnaire and then divided into two groups, viz., group I and group II based on their performance in pretest. The CAL sessions were used to teach them experimental pharmacology topics. The performance of the students in the two groups in both pre-and posttests was compared. Students' perception on the use of CAL for delivering experimental pharmacology training was also assessed.Results: A statistically significant difference in performance was seen among the students in the pre-and posttests in both the groups. Average scores for groups I and II in the pretest were 11.73 and 19.48 respectively. However, in posttest, the average scores for both the groups increased to 18.91 and 24.79 respectively. About 97% students strongly agreed that CAL sessions were interesting and easy to retain. The students' knowledge about the disadvantages of CAL was sound. Conclusion:The study concludes that CAL is a promising teaching option for undergraduate practical sessions in pharmacology. It provides a platform for students to develop a near to real idea of actual experimentation and hence bridges the gap in isolated animal experiments and didactic demonstration classes.

BACKGROUND Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of mortality due to its complications such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke and end stage renal disease (ESRD). Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter-2 inhibitors is a new class of oral hypoglycaemics which impart additional benefits primarily on heart and kidney. The most commonly used drugs in this class include Canagliflozin, Dapagliflozin and Empagliflozin. However, these drugs are associated with certain adverse effects. This review aims to appraise the extra-glycaemic benefits and adverse effect profile of SGLT-2 inhibitors so as to minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS Thorough literature search was made using search engines like PubMed, Cochrane library, Medline and Google scholar to retrieve articles pertaining to extra glycaemic benefits and adverse effects of SGLT2i. RESULTS Majority of studies like CANVAS, EMPA-REG and DECLARE-TIMI done on Canagliflozin, Empagliflozin and Dapagliflozin respectively have concluded that these drugs possess additional benefits like reduced risk of heart failure, positive effects on kidney functions, favourable effects on body weight, reduced levels of uric acid and reduction in blood pressure. However, these drugs are associated with certain adverse effects like increased risk of genital and urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS The extra-glycaemic benefits of SGLT2i on heart, kidney and other parameters like body weight, uric acid and blood pressure have been proven by a number of studies conducted over several years. Nevertheless, these drugs are associated with certain adverse effects like increased risk of genital and urinary tract infection which can be mitigated by maintaining hydration, perineal hygiene and educating the patient. KEYWORDS Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors, Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, Canagliflozin, Dapagliflozin, Empagliflozin, Extra Glycaemic Effects, Adverse effects

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