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Medical ethics education along with attitude and communication training has been incorporated into the regular MBBS curriculum in India from 2019, so as to encourage a caring and communicative approach by doctors towards patients. It would be important to understand the relevance of the educational module in the form of cases to ensure an optimal learning process for future students and doctors in the making. We selected three cases and conducted online debates among small groups of second year MBBS students. Students submitted narratives and their reflections after discussing each case and gave overall feedback. Our findings suggested that the students recognised the complexity of taking decisions when presented with ethical dilemmas and appreciated the opportunity to voice opposing views. The online platform was effective and may be considered in the future as a medium to help integrate discussions on medical ethics alongside clinical work.
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Background: Peripheral neuropathy is a common treatment related adverse effect and affects long term quality of life. AIM: To study the Carboplatin–Paclitaxel induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with lung or ovarian cancer. Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Oncology, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, after obtaining clearance from Institutional ethical committee, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai.Thirty newly diagnosed patients suffering from Lung or ovarian cancer attending Oncology department were selected. After satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria,Patient received Injection Carboplatin AUC 6 and Injection Paclitaxel 175mg/m2 . Nerve conduction study was done to assess the peripheral neuropathy. It was done before starting the chemotherapy.Patients with grade 0 neuropathy were included for the study.Nerve conduction study was repeated after each cycle. The time taken to develop peripheral neuropathy was assessed using Cancer Institute – Common Toxicity Criteria version 3.0. The data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software package (Version 16.0 SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA ). Results: There is a statistically significant reduction in sensory nerve (sural) amplitude (SNAP) and latency (p<0.05) indicating significant axonal damage. The time taken to develop peripheral neuropathy was 4 Cycles with Grade 2/4. Conclusions: In this present study , the neurotoxicity induced by Carboplatin–Paclitaxel in patients with lung or ovarian carcinoma was observed. More effective dosing– schedules of treatment decreases the incidence of long lasting peripheral neurotoxicity thus providing better results withlonger survival rate and less disability.
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Background: Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy is a significant disability after the treatment of large number of cancers and they have an impact on quality of life. The aim of the present endeavour was to study the cisplatin-paclitaxel induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with lung or ovarian cancerMethods: The study was carried out in the Department of Oncology, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, after obtaining clearance from Institutional ethical committee, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. Thirty newly diagnosed patients suffering from Lung or ovarian cancer attending Oncology department were selected. After satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patient received injection cisplatin 60 mg/m2 and injection paclitaxel 175 mg/m2. Nerve conduction study was done to assess the peripheral neuropathy. It was done before starting the chemotherapy. Patients with grade 0 neuropathy were included for the study. Nerve conduction study was repeated after each cycle. The time taken to develop peripheral neuropathy was assessed using Cancer Institute - Common Toxicity Criteria version 3.0. The data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software package (Version 16.0 SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA ).Results: There is a statistically significant reduction in sensory nerve (sural) amplitude (SNAP) and latency (p <0.05) indicating significant axonal damage. The time taken to develop peripheral neuropathy was 3 cycles with grade 3/4.Conclusions: In this present study, the neurotoxicity induced by cisplatin-paclitaxel in patients with lung or ovarian carcinoma was observed, so that early intervention can prevent the permanent neurotoxicity.
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Background: NSAIDS are associated with side effects and research should continue for developing safer drugs. This study aims to evaluate newer thiazolidine-4-ones for their anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activities in wister rats.Methods: Five groups of wister rats, 6 in each were used. Anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activities of diclofenac (30mg/kg), nimesulide (50mg/kg), thia-1 (50mg/kg) and thia-2 (50mg/kg) are compared with control group (4% Gum Acacia). Carrageenin-induced paw edema, formaline induced acute peritonitis and cotton pellet-induced granulomatous tissue formation models were used for evaluating anti-inflammatory activity. After removing cotton pellets with granuloma on 8th day gastric ulcerogenicity was assessed by using macroscopic and microscopic scoring of ulcers.Results: Diclofenac, nimesulide and thia 2 reduced both paw edema and peritoneal exudate volume significantly (p <0.01). Wet weight of cotton pellets reduced significantly (p <0.01) by diclofenac, nimesulide and thia 2. Diclofenac (p <0.01) and thia 2 (p <0.05) reduced dry weight of cotton pellets significantly. nimesulide and thia-1 reduced it by 19.14% and 2.68% respectively and was considered statistically not significant (p>0.05). Nimesulide, thia-1 and thia-2 did not increase gastric ulcer score significantly (p >0.05). Diclofenac increased ulcer score significantly (p <0.01).Conclusions: Thia-2 demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic models. In addition to inhibition of cyclooxygenase pathway, PPAR agonistic activity may be involved in its anti-inflammatory activity. No significant ulcerogenicity was observed on comparing with nimesulide and control. Further in-vitro and in-vivo studies are recommended to confirm the results of this study.
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Background: Study about adverse drug reaction of antidiabetic drugs helps in ensuring maximum benefits of drug therapy.Methods: An observational study was carried out in patients attending tertiary care hospital in Kanyakumari district from August 2013 to August 2014. Adverse drug reactions due to the use of antidiabetic drugs were collected and adverse effects experienced by the patient was assessed using WHO scale, Naranjo scale, Schumock and Thornton scale and Hartwig and Siegel scale.Results: In this prospective study a total of 76 adverse events (41 male and 35 female) were identified. Most frequently observed adverse effect were hypoglycaemia and the less observed were pruritis. Maximum of 14 adverse effect were observed due to use of insulin. Combination of sulphonylurea and biguanides caused 28 adverse effects. Assessment of adverse effect using WHO scale showed 64% as probable, 16% possible, 7% conditional, 5% unclassifiable, 4% certain, and 4% unlikely. Relationship of adverse reaction to antidiabetic drugs using Naranjo scale showed 92% possibly, 5% probably and 3% as definite. Antidiabetic drug adverse effects were not preventable in 63%, definitely preventable in 19% and probably preventable in 18% as per modified Schumock and Thornton scale. Severity assessment of adverse effects were mild in 75%, moderate in 25% and no severe reactions according to modified Hartwig and Siegel scale.Conclusions: Adverse effect most commonly encountered during the study period were predictable, definitely preventable and without serious effects. Majority of the reactions were due to combination of antidiabetic drugs.
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Background: Drug utilization research establishes the current trend in the use of antidiabetic drugs including the new drug and to identify irrational prescription.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of one year (between August 2013 to August 2014) at outpatient department of Medicine, Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Kulasekharam, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.Results: A total of 169 prescriptions were evaluated during the study period. Diabetes mellitus was predominant among the female population in this region. Demographic details of the patient included in the study were mean weight 67.56kg, mean height 155cm and average body mass index 27.82kg/m2. All the patients were diagnosed and were known case of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Systemic hypertension was the frequently encountered co-morbid conditions associated with this endocrine disorder. Metformin was the drug chosen for managing diabetes as monotherapy and 73% of the patients were on combination of antidiabetic drugs. Glimepiride with metformin was the combination therapy frequently prescribed during the study period. Pharmacoeconomic analysis identified that drugs prescribed by brand name were costlier compared to generic equivalent.Conclusions: Utilization of antidiabetic drug therapy in this region has shown a changing trend compared to the previous studies. There is a gradual increase in the prescription of metformin and dramatic increase in the use of newer drugs like pioglitazone, voglibose and sitagliptin. Pharmaeconomic analysis revealed that glibenclamide was least expensive while sitagliptin was most expensive in this study.
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Genetic divergence using D2 statistic of forty genotypes of various agro-climatic region for ten quantitative characters revealed existence of considerable genetic diversity in the material. The genotypes were grouped into eleven clusters. Cluster VIII contained the highest number of nine genotypes followed by cluster V with seven genotypes. The pattern of distribution of genotypes from different geographical location into eleven clusters were random, demonstrating that geographical isolation may not be the only factor causing genetic diversity. The highest intra-cluster distance was observed for cluster VI (112.02) and the lowest was observed for cluster II (6.24). While the highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster III and X (493.41). Harvest index contributed maximum to diversity. Cluster IX with WGG-66 recorded the highest mean for yield contributing characters viz., plant height, branches/plant, pods/plant and clusters/plant. Therefore it was suggested that more emphasis should be given this genotype as parents for crossing with genotypes of other clusters which may produce novel recombinants with desirable traits.
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Studies on the effectiveness of age of in vitro grown seedlings on regenerative response of explants derived from them were conducted in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. PKM-1. The results revealed that cotyledons and hypocotyls of 10 days old seedlings were found to be superior compared to explants collected from 8, 12, 14 days old seedlings when MS medium is supplemented with BAP 1.5 mg/L + Kinetin 1.0 mg/L. These findings could be well exploited for further development of quick regenerative and transformation protocols for the tomato cv.PKM-1.
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Combining ability studies indicated predominant role of non-additive gene action for the inheritance of the characters viz., plant height, clusters per plant, pods per plant, pods per cluster, pod length, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, protein content and grain yield per plant. However, additive gene action was found to be playing a major role in respect of days of 50 per cent flowering and days to maturity. Overall examination of gca and sca effects showed Pusa-105, RMG-275, LGG-460 and ML-267 as the best general combiners and the crosses COGG-2 x LGG 410, RMG 275 x LGG 410, LGG 460 x LGG 410 and Pusa 105 x PDM 89-221 as the best cross combinations for some of the characters studied. Hence, it is suggested that these crosses are to be carried for further generations for the improvement of grain yield in greengram.
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Soybean (Glycine max ( L. ) Merril) is one of the most important oil seed crop in many regions of the world including India. Good quality seed is a basic need and fundamental requirement for production of good crop. The present investigation was conducted on the seeds of 28 Soybean cultivars presently in the multiplication programme of the country with the objective to study the relationship between various seed quality characteristics. The seed samples of each cultivar were subjected to seed quality evaluation for germination, storability and field emergence. Germination % had positive correlation with field emergence.
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Studies on the effectiveness of various sterilants and culture conditions on in-vitro seed germination in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. PKM-1 revealed that among three sterilants used, surface sterilization of seeds with 5 % NaOCl for 20 minutes was found to be more effective resulting in high germination rate and contamination free cultures. Similarly among the different media and culture conditions considered in the present experiment, MS medium without sucrose with dark incubation for three days recorded lower no. of days (3.3 days) for initiation of germination with 96 % germination. These findings could be well exploited for further development of quick regenerative and transformation protocols for the tomato cv.PKM-1.