Introduction: The pandemic due to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major health issue resulting in mortality across the globe. Multiple newer medications are being tried in treatment but with minimal success. The development of vaccines is occurring with unprecedented speed using different platforms with collaborations of academia and the pharmaceutical industries globally. These vaccines are approved for emergency use authorization by health authorities based on limited data from clinical trials. Hence, there is a need for active surveillance of vaccine recipients to monitor for safety. Methods: Adverse drug reaction monitoring centre (AMC) of our institute is actively involved in surveillance of recipients for adverse events following immunization (AEFI) who received vaccines for COVID-19 from the vaccination centre of the institute. As per the guidelines of National Coordinating Centre (NCC), Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), designated staff of AMC follows up vaccine recipients over their registered mobile number post-vaccination for AEFI if any. This is a descriptive study of all the AEFI reported to NCC, PvPI between 16th January 2021 and 31st March 2021. Results: Of the 5793 doses of vaccination administered during the study period, 59.4% (3443) responded to follow up and 8.6% (299 of 3443) recipients reported 509 AEFI. The most common reported AEFI include fever, generalized body pains, and headache constituting 36.1%, 30.5%, and 18.5% respectively. 64.2% (327 of 509) of AEFI were reported from people younger than 45 years of age. Though females constituted 53.8% (161 of 299) of people who reported AEFI, total number of events reported from this group was 58% (295 of 509). More number of AEFI were observed after first dose of COVISHIELD compared to second dose. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination drive is rolled out in multiple phases for different age groups across the country. Many vaccinations are being approved for use in general public with limited data from clinical trials. Active surveillance of COVID-19 vaccines for AEFI helps us in further understanding safety issues beyond the clinical trial environment.
Background: Alpinia galanga is an ayurvedic herb recognized and used across many traditional medicine systems for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. The present study scientifically validates the potential anti nociceptive action of ethanolic extract of Alpinia galanga by chemical, neurogenic and inflammatory nociception model in mice followed by identification of potential lead compound by computational analysis.Methods: The assessment of anti nociceptive action is evaluated by Acetic acid induced abdominal constrictions and Formalin assay on ethonolic extract of Alpinia galanga, followed by 20 compounds with known chemical structure of Alpinia galanga is subjected to computational analysis to predict possible lead compound with desirable pharmacokinetic and drug like features.Results: The percentage inhibition rate of Aspirin (100mg/kg) was 82.15% compared to Alpinia galanga (100mg/kg) 19.63%, (200mg/kg) 33.02% and (400mg/kg) 57.13% by acetic acid induced abdominal constrictions antinociceptive mice model. Alpinia galanga 400mg/kg (71.70%) had comparable percentage inhibition of nociception to standard group indomethacin (88.71%) in formalin induced nociceptive mice model. Among 20 compounds screened for pharmacokinetic and drug like features, Galanal B had the binding free energy -56.664 when compared to control compound 2AZ5-56.000.Conclusions: The Alpinia galanga extract had significant anti nociceptive activity and followed by computational analysis of 20 compounds with known chemical structure predicted Galanal B as lead compound with best insilico pharmacokinetic and drug like features.
Background: Pharmacology enables medical students with the art of rational prescriptions of drugs. It is one of the rapidly evolving subjects in medical sciences. The purpose of the study was to assess whether teaching-learning methodologies and evaluation methods are supporting the curriculum goals and what modifications can be made for the benefit of medical students.Methods: After approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee the study was carried out in January-February 2017. A total of 128 students of 2nd MBBS were administered a pre-validated questionnaire after explaining the purpose of the study. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis of data. Frequency was expressed as percentage.Results: A total response rate of 93.75% was observed. Most of the students mentioned cardiovascular system (20.8%) as the most interesting topic. 78.3% preferred teaching by use of combination of both audio-visual aids and chalk and board. Majority of the students rated practical classes as similar to theory (34.2%). 91.7% students mentioned that seminars are useful to them. 95% of students are interested in continuation of the integrated classes conducted at the end of each chapter. 98.3% of students for written tests and 90% for viva voce responded positively for the need of such periodic evaluation in addition to university prescribed evaluations. 95% students mentioned that field visits helps them in better understanding of pharmacology.Conclusions: The present study helped us to elicit student preferences regarding teaching and evaluation methods in pharmacology. Implementation of the same would be helpful for better outcome of students.
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