Background: Recently with the changes in population lifestyle, prediabetes is constantly on the rise. Management of prediabetes currently is with lifestyle modifications like weight loss, exercise and diet control. Better drugs with acceptable safety profile are needed for better control of prediabetes. This study was thus designed to evaluate the antihyperglycaemic effect of one such potential compound Syzygium cumini (SC) (Jamun)in comparison to conventional antidiabetic drug Metformin. Methods: Rats were divided into four study groups (SC 100mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, metformin 90 mg/kg and SC 200 mg/kg with metformin 90 mg/kg). The glycaemic changes were followed up for a period of 8 weeks. Results: Streptozotocin (STZ) induced significant rise in blood glucose levels in the rats. SC100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg caused a reduction in BSL (192.50 ± 6.189 & 175.00 ± 6.782 respectively). SC 200 mg/kg alone and in combination with metformin caused a significant reduction in HbA1C levels at the end of 8th week (8.84 ± 0.65 &6.86 ± 0.40 respectively) as compared to their baseline levels. Increase in dose had led to more significant reduction in BSL at the end of 8th week in groups A & B (p < 0.05). However, reduction of BSL was superior with Metforminalone (159.17 ± 13.060) compared to Syzygium cumini administered alone. Also antihyperglycemic effect of Syzygium cumini administered along with metformin was significant (p < 0.05) compared to either doses of Syzygium cumini given alone. Conclusions: Syzygium cumini demonstratedantihyperglycemic activity in diabetic rats but less significant when compared to metformin. Antihyperglycaemic effect of Syzygium cumini with metformin was significantly better than either drugsgiven alone. In prediabetic or diabeticindividuals Syzygium cumini seed powdercan be suggested as a potential add-on therapy with conventional antidiabetic drugs. However more non-clinical and clinical studies need to be conducted to confirm the findings.

Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although known as disease of old age, younger population is at increasing risk due to various factors including obesityand diabetes. Antihypertensive drug treatment being the only measure to control the raised blood pressure, large number of patients remain untreated or inadequately treated. Prescription pattern studies are needed to optimize and control the drug treatment. Present study was done with the aim to study the prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs in a tertiary care hospital in western India.Pattern of drugs prescribed whether in combination or as single drug in various comorbidities were the objectives of the study. It was observed that ARB was the most commonly prescribed drug (41.5%) either alone or in combination. Multidrug therapy being the preferred treatment (56%), combination of ARB, CCB and Diuretic was the most common (35.7%). Diabetes mellitus was the most commonly associated comorbidity in hypertensive patients (39%), with ARB and CCB as the preferred antihypertensive drugs used in them. The treatment prescribed seemed to be specific to age, comorbidity and was in accordance with national and international guidelinesincluding the Indian Guidelines on Hypertension.

Scope and Objective:Ocimum sanctum and Azadirachta indicaare known to be safe and effective anti-inflammatory agents in ayurveda. So, this study was planned to evaluate and compare anti-inflammatory activity of Ocimum sanctum, Azadirachta indica and combination of Ocimum sanctum + Azadirachta indica (COA) with Aspirin on acute inflammation in rats and also to assess mechanism behind their anti-inflammatory action. Materials and Methods: Wistar albino rats of either sex (150-250 g) were divided into 5 groups with six rats in each group. To induce inflammation, formalin (2.5%, 0.1 ml) was injected into sub-plantar region of left hind paw of rats. The study groups were administered orally with distilled water (3 ml), Aspirin (200 mg/kg), Ocimum sanctum (400 mg/kg), Azadirachta indica (500 mg/kg) and COA (400 mg/kgOcimum sanctum+500 mg/kgAzadirachta indica) half an hour before the formalin challenge. Effect of test drugs on acute inflammation was assessed by rat paw oedema test&mechanism behind their action was assessed using histopathological examination. Results:In rat paw oedema test, Ocimum sanctum, Azadirachta indica and COA groups showed significant reductionin oedema as compared to control; Azadirachta indica and COA groupsalso showed comparable effect to Aspirin group. In histopathological examination, Aspirin, Azadirachta indica and COA groups caused significant reduction in vasodilation, oedema, infiltration and margination of neutrophils while Ocimum sanctum group only caused significant reduction in oedema. Conclusion: This study revealedthat all test groups have significant anti-inflammatory efficacy;Azadirachta indica and COA also have comparable efficacy to Aspirin.

Background: Metabolic syndrome is described as the clustering of obesity, aberrant glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia and hypertension. A characteristic pattern, termed diabetic dyslipidemia, consists of low HDL, increased triglycerides and postprandial lipemia. This pattern is most frequently seen in type 2 diabetes and may be a treatable risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular disease. This study was designed to compare the hypolipidemic activity of Coriandrum sativum L. with the standard antidiabetic drug, metformin in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ) was used to induce diabetes in the rats. The hypolipidemic activity of Coriandrum sativum seed extract was compared to the standard drug metformin. 4 groups (n=8) (normal control, diabetic control, streptozotocin+Coriandrum sativum and streptozotocin+metformin). The drugs were administered once daily for 28 days following which lipid profile was estimated on 28th day by using blood sample collected from the retro-orbital space.Results: STZ induced diabetes and also lead to dyslipidemia. Oral administration of CS seed extracts significantly lowered total cholesterol (TC), LDL:HDL ratio, TC:HDL ratio, thus, reducing the cardiovascular risk. HDL levels were slightly increased with CS seed extract compared to diabetic control group but not statistically significant. There was also statistically insignificant reduction in the atherogenic index with CS seed extract compared to diabetic control.Conclusions: CS seed extract (40 mg/kg) orally may have considerable therapeutic benefit as a hypolipidemic agent and can be suggested as a potential dietary add on.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is exponentially increasing worldwide. Irrational prescription of antibiotic treatment contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance. Appropriate antibiotic use is vital in reducing the mortality caused by bacterial infections. Third generation cephalosporins are now considered as the backbone of antibiotic therapy for treatment of serious infections including those in hospitalized patients. These drugs are the commonly prescribed ꞵ-lactam antibiotics even before culture sensitivity reports arrive. Generation of resistance has been a growing concern for all clinicians and must be avoided at all costs. This drug utilization study was undertaken to understand the growing resistance acquired by the organisms against cephalosporins caused due to the superfluous and unrestrained use of cephalosporins in the medical wards of our institution. Objective: The study objectives were to assess: The cephalosporins generation which was most commonly prescribed The relevance of cephalosporins generations used in various diseases The shift or addition of other antimicrobials upon failure of cephalosporins treatment Methods: This was an observational study done amongst 350 patients admitted in infection wards of Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune over a period of one year between January 2019 to December 2019 after obtaining institutional ethical clearance. Data was analyzed and values were presented descriptively in number and percentage form. Results: Maximum usage of third generation cephalosporin was seen with ceftriaxone being the most commonly prescribed third generation cephalosporin in parenteral form (59.43%). Gender analysis revealed that males (60.28%) were prescribed more cephalosporins as compared to females (39.71%), whereas, frequent usage was seen in the age group 61 – 70 years. Bacteriological investigations were done in only 103 (29.42%) cases following which shift or addition of other antimicrobials was seen in 13 (3.71%) cases. Metronidazole was the most frequently co-prescribed with cephalosporins. Conclusion: Our study revealed extensive usage of third generation cephalosporin and the treatment regimens implemented in majority of the cases were without prior culture sensitivity test leading to irrational prescribing. Our study, along with the various other studies, would help in taking the corrective measures to curb the unnecessary use of antibiotics, and framing the guidelines for the doctors prescribing them.

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