Mental Health Disorders Due to Disaster Exposure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Natural disasters are complex, global issues that affect people individually, families, and communities, upsetting their emotional wellbeing. This research aims to comprehend the connections between disasters and their effects on mental health. We conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis on the effect of disasters on mental health disorders using defined search terms across three major databases. The search technique adhered to the PECO framework. The study locations were dispersed across Asia, Europe, and America. An electronic search was established in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Medline databases. A random-effects meta-analysis was carried out. The I2 statistic was used to explore heterogeneity. In the random-effects analysis, Tau-squared, τ2, or Tau2 evaluates the effects seen between the study variances. Publication bias was examined. The outcomes of the included studies on mental health issues (n = 48,170) brought on by catastrophic disasters were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. The three main mental health illnesses attributed to the disaster catastrophe in most studies were generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, substance use, adjustment disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Storms, including cyclones and snowstorms, had an impact on 5,151 individuals. 38,456 people were harmed by flooding, and 4,563 people were affected by the earthquake. The included studies showed prevalence rates for mental health disorders ranging from 5.8% to 87.6%. The prevalence rates were between 2.2% and 84% for anxiety, 3.23% and 52.70% for depression, and 2.6% and 52% for PTSD, respectively. The point effect estimates of studies included the flood, storm/cyclone, and earthquake were 0.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02-0.12), 0.18 (95% CI: 0.03-0.32), and 0.15 (95% CI: 0.03-0.27), respectively, which revealed a statistically significant positive effect (p-value: < 0.05) with a narrow 95% CI indicating more precise population estimates. However, the pooled effect estimates were not of a large effect size of 0.129 (95% CI: 0.05-0.20). This study found a link between disaster and poorer outcomes for mental health. The risk of psychological morbidity and fatalities increased with relocation and disruption of essential services. Flooding was the most frequent calamity. The "medium human development countries" were found to have the highest prevalence rate of mental health disorders in our meta-analysis. The "very high human development" and "high human development" nations, however, also had a higher prevalence rate of mental health disorders following catastrophic events. This study could aid in the creation of thorough strategies for the mitigation and avoidance of mental health problems during natural disasters. Increased community resilience, improved access to healthcare services, and a suitable mitigation strategy can all help to improve the situation of the disaster's vulnerable population.

Acute and sub-chronic toxicity of Liberin, an anti-diabetic polyherbal formulation in rats.

BACKGROUND: The polyherbal formulation (PHF) liberin, is known to exert anti-hyperglycemic effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hence, it is important to study the safety profile of PHF in the current study through acute and chronic toxicity evaluation. OBJECTIVES: This research aims to assess the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of PHF in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PHF was administered once orally (1000 mg/kg body weight), and the rats (male and female) were monitored for toxicity signs for a 14-day period. For a 28-day chronic toxicity study, rats were daily administered with PHF dose of 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight. Rats were followed up for mortality, weight changes, and other morbidities. Further haematological, biochemical, and histopathological changes were assessed. RESULTS: No death related to treatment or toxicity signs were recorded in the acute single-dose administration group. The results showed that the PHF was tolerated well up to a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight. Even at the high dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight, sub-chronic tests did not show any significant difference between the dosed and normal groups. No significant changes were seen in the histopathological analysis of the liver, spleen, and kidney as well as haematological and biochemical parameters in acute, sub-chronic and satellite groups following the administration of PHF. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that there was no adverse effect of this PHF at the maximum dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight in Wistar rats. Further, no adverse delayed effects related to PHF were observed in the satellite group. Therefore, this PHF appears safe for therapeutic purposes in the Ayurvedic medicinal system.

Anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effect of the drug Guggulutiktaka ghrita on high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

BACKGROUND: Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine and describes a vast array of herbs and herbal mixtures that are been demonstrated to possess efficacy in research investigations. Guggulutikthaka gritha (GTG) is one such drug evaluated for its role in skin and bone diseases. OBJECTIVE: In the current study, the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effect of the drug GTG was studied with the scope to treat dyslipidemia and thereby reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The animals (Wistar rats) were fed a high-fat diet and dyslipidemia was induced. The control group was provided with a normal chow diet and had free access to water. The treatment with the drug GTG was given for 21 days after confirming dyslipidemia. The blood glucose was measured immediately using a glucometer. The serum was analyzed for lipid profile and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule - 1(VCAM 1) by ELISA method before and after treatment. The histopathology of the heart and liver was also performed. RESULTS: The abnormal change in lipid profile, blood glucose, and inflammatory marker along with the accumulation of intracellular fats in the arteries of the heart and liver confirmed dyslipidemia. A significant reduction in serum lipid profile (p < 0.05), blood glucose (p < 0.05), and VCAM 1 (p < 0.05) was noted after the treatment with significant histopathological changes in arteries of the heart and liver. CONCLUSION: The study provides scientific validation on the drug GTG being effective in hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation in dyslipidemia.

Blue-Light-Blocking Lenses Ameliorate Structural Alterations in the Rodent Hippocampus.

Evidence suggests that prolonged blue-light exposure can impact vision; however, less is known about its impact on non-visual higher-order functions in the brain, such as learning and memory. Blue-light-blocking lenses (BBLs) claim to reduce these potential impacts. Hence, we assessed structural and functional hippocampal alterations following blue-light exposure and the protective efficacy of BBLs. Male Wistar rats were divided into (n = 6 in each group) normal control (NC), blue-light exposure (LE), and blue-light with BBLs (Crizal Prevencia, CP and DuraVision Blue, DB) groups. After 28 days of light exposure (12:12 light: dark cycle), rats were trained for the Morris water maze memory retention test, and brain tissues were sectioned for hippocampal neuronal analysis using Golgi and Cresyl violet stains. The memory retention test was significantly delayed (p < 0.05) in LE compared with DB groups on day 1 of training. Comparison of Golgi-stained neurons showed significant structural alterations, particularly in the basal dendrites of hippocampal neurons in the LE group, with BBLs significantly mitigating these structural changes (p < 0.05). Comparison of Cresyl-violet-stained neurons revealed significantly (p < 0.001) increased degenerated hippocampal neurons in LE rats, with fewer degenerated neurons in the CP lens group for CA1 neurons (p < 0.05), and for both CP and DB groups (p < 0.05) for CA3 neurons. Thus, in addition to documented effects on visual centers, high-level blue-light exposure also results in degeneration in hippocampal neurons with associated behavioral deficits. These changes can be partially ameliorated with blue-light-blocking lenses.

Self-medication practice among preclinical university students in a medical school from the city of Pokhara, Nepal.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries like Nepal medicines can be acquired from the chemist's without of a prescription which sometime may have many drawbacks due to intake of excessive drugs without a proper diagnosis. The primary objective of the study was to find out the pattern of self-medication practice among the preclinical medical students at Manipal College of Medical Sciences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross sectional study carried out using structured questionnaire at Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal between November 2012- July 2014. RESULTS: The overall response rate of this study was 95.31%. 81.35% of the students were practicing self-medication in this institution. Most common group of drugs that were consumed were antipyretics 31%, antibiotics 26.2%, analgesics 18.89%, antihistaminics 10.1% respectively. Paracetamol was the most common drug used for self-medication 31%, followed by Azithromycin 17.6% and combination of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen 15.6%, Cetirizine 8.6%, Amoxicillin 6.5%, Omeprazole 6.3%, Albendazole 3.3%, Mefenemic acid 2.8%, Cefpodoxime2% respectively. CONCLUSION: Medical student should be educated through awareness programme regarding pros and cons of self-medication practice and they should be motivated regarding the rationale use of antibiotics. .