ABSTRACT
Background: Diseases of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) constitute among the most common causes of hospital visits worldwide and account for most of the antibiotics prescribed and used. They are responsible for significant school and work absenteeism and have generated 94.6 disability-adjusted life years lost worldwide. Due to the high incidence of these diseases and the different varieties of drugs in use, it becomes imperative for us to know the present prescribing patterns, so that appropriate adjustments can be made for the benefit of patients. Methods: Over a period of 1-year, the outpatient department (OPD) records of 608 patients with ENT infections, reporting to the ENT OPD of Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital, Deralakatte, Mangalore, were scrutinized and the data collected in a specially designed proforma. Descriptive analysis of the data was done. Results: Of the total 608 prescriptions analyzed, 309 (50.8%) belonged to male patients and 299 (49.2%) belonged to female patients. Highest numbers of patients were in the age group of 16-25 years (29.44%). The most common diseases reported were chronic suppurative otitis media (19.24%), followed by otitis externa (13.49%) and furunculosis (9.87%). Average number of drugs per prescription was found to be 3.0. Oral antibiotics were prescribed to 540 patients (88.81%). Most common antibiotics prescribed were amoxicillin-clavulanate (53%), levofloxacin (17%), and cefixime (14%). Antihistamines were prescribed in 52.47% prescriptions, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were prescribed to 298 patients (49.01%). Conclusion: This study shows that the diseases were treated rationally in accordance with the standard guidelines of therapy.
ABSTRACT
Background: Sitagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase type 4 inhibitor. This study was done to assess the insulin-sensitizing effect of sitagliptin on Wistar albino rats by means of surrogate measures. Methods: There were four groups of six rats each. First group received dexamethasone alone in a dose of 8 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 6 days to induce metabolic changes and considered as dexamethasone control. Second group received sitagliptin 100 mg/kg orally 6 days before dexamethasone and 6 days during dexamethasone administration. Third group received pioglitazone 45 mg/kg orally 6 days before dexamethasone and 6 days during dexamethasone administration. Fourth group did not receive any medication and was considered as normal control. Fasting blood sugar, lipid profi le, blood sugar 2 hrs after glucose load (postprandial blood sugar), liver weight, liver volume, and histopathological analysis were done. Results: The effects of sitagliptin were compared with that of pioglitazone. Dexamethasone caused hepatomegaly, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia. Both pioglitazone and sitagliptin signifi cantly reduced hepatomegaly, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia (p<0.01). Reduction of blood sugar levels after glucose load was signifi cant with pioglitazone in comparison to sitagliptin (p<0.01). Conclusions: Sitagliptin has comparable effi cacy to pioglitazone in dexamethasoneinduced hepatomegaly, dyslipidemia, and fasting hyperglycemia