Does Unidirectional Polyglycolide Caprolactone Barbed Suture Have Improved Outcomes Over Non-barbed Suture When Applied for Intra-oral Incision Closure?

Purpose: The choice of wound closure material may influence the clinical outcomes of intra-oral incision closure. Studies evaluating the application of barbed suture in the oral cavity are scarce. Hence, the present study was carried out with the aim to monitor and compare the efficacy and ease of handling of monofilament polyglycolide caprolactone (PGCL) unidirectional barbed and non-barbed sutures used for intra-oral incision closure in patients undergoing transalveolar extraction of impacted mandibular third molar and mandible fracture open reduction internal fixation.

Comparative Efficacy of Topical Finasteride (0.25%) in Combination with Minoxidil (5%) Against 5% Minoxidil or 0.25% Finasteride Alone in Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot, Randomized Open-Label Study.

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss in males which remains a therapeutic challenge.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of topical 5% minoxidil and 0.25% finasteride combination (MNF) over 5% minoxidil (MNX) or 0.

Materiovigilance of unidirectional barbed and poliglecaprone 25 nonbarbed sutures used for intraoral incision closure: An open-label prospective study.

Introduction: The adverse events of sutures used for the closure of surgical incisions influence clinical outcomes. Literature on the safety profile of the application of unidirectional barbed sutures in oral and maxillofacial surgery is scarce. Hence, focused materiovigilance was done to monitor and compare the adverse events of unidirectional barbed and poliglecaprone 25 nonbarbed sutures for intraoral incision closure.

Association of statin induced reduction in serum coenzyme Q10 level and conduction deficits in motor and sensory nerves: An observational cross-sectional study.

Objective: The reduction of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels following statin use has been linked to cause peripheral neuropathy. Hence, this study was planned to explore the effect of statin on the serum HMGCR (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase), serum CoQ10 levels and nerve conduction and their correlation.

Patients And Methods: In an open labelled, cross-sectional, observational study, estimation of serum HMGCR and CoQ10 levels was performed in 50 atorvastatin/rosuvastatin users and 50 normal healthy volunteers (NHV).

Exploring the role of adipsin in statin-induced glucose intolerance: a prospective open label study.

Background Evidence from the literature, highlights the increased risk of developing glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with statin therapy. In addition, few animal studies demonstrate that adipsin secreted from adipocytes plays a crucial role in insulin secretion and the development of T2DM. Methods To further explore the role of serum adipsin, in this prospective open label study, 55 newly diagnosed dyslipidemic patients were enrolled.

Self-reported Morisky Eight-item Medication Adherence Scale for Statins Concords with the Pill Count Method and Correlates with Serum Lipid Profile Parameters and Serum HMGCoA Reductase Levels.

Background It is imperative that non-compliance with statins be identified and addressed to maximize their clinical benefits. Patient self-reporting methods are convenient to apply in clinical practice but need to be validated. Objective We studied the concordance of a patient self-report method, Morisky eight-item medication adherence scale (MMAS)), with the pill count method in measuring adherence with statins and their correlation with extended lipid profile parameters and serum hydroxyl-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCoA-R) enzyme levels.

Antimicrobial Agents-induced Hypokalemia: A Possible Causality Association.

Background: Drugs including some of the antimicrobial agents (AMAs) can cause mild to severe intensity of hypokalemia, which leads to cardiac, muscular, renal, gastrointestinal, and metabolic manifestations.

Objective: To explore the possible association of AMAs use and the development of hypokalemia as an adverse drug reaction (ADR).

Methodology: Retrospective analysis of spontaneously individual case safety reports (ICSRs) received during January 2015 to September 2017 for any reduction in serum potassium levels following the use of AMAs.

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms Syndrome Associated with Ethambutol use: A Case Report.

Background: Among the first line Anti-Tubercular Drugs (ATDs), ethambutol has been rarely associated to cause drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome.

Case Report: A 34-year-old woman presented in an out-patient department of Dermatology with fever, skin eruptions, eosino- philia, hyperinflated lung fields and deranged liver enzymes after 35 days of the initiation of ATDs. The patient recovered completely after stopping ethambutol and administration of topical and sys- temic corticosteroids.

Randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of daily and every other day atorvastatin therapy and its correlation with serum hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase enzyme levels in naïve dyslipidemic patients.

Objective: Data regarding efficacy comparison of daily regimen (DR) versus every other day regimen (EODR) atorvastatin therapy is not validated by estimation of serum hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) levels and HMGCR correlation with lipid indices.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we compared the efficacy of DR versus EODR by measuring lipid indices and serum HMGCR levels at baseline and after 12 weeks of 10 mg atorvastatin therapy. Primary endpoint was comparison of mean change in serum HMGCR levels and lipid indices of both groups and their correlation with each other.

Vaping Smoking: A Quest for Efficacy and Safety of E-cigarette.

Background: Electronic Cigarettes (ECIGs) are devices with a heating element which produces aerosol for inhalation. They have been propagated as a healthier alternative to tobacco smoking and a potential device for smoking cessation, despite non-documentation of their long-term adverse health effects.

Objectives: With the glorification of ECIG, its use has increased even among non-tobacco users.

Correlation of long-term glycemic control as measured by glycated hemoglobin with serum angiopoietin-like 6 protein levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Aims: Angiopoietin-like growth factors (ANGPTLs) regulate glucose, lipid homeostasis, and insulin sensitivity. This study aimed to find whether long-term glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin [HbA]) has any correlation with serum ANGPTL6 levels in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: It was an open-label, observational, prospective clinical study.

Assessment of anti-CarP antibodies, disease activity and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients on conventional and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Objective: Good biomarkers are important to guide decisions in the clinical management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA patients harbor antibodies directed against carbamylated proteins which may predict joint damage. This study investigated whether antibodies against carbamylated proteins (anti-CarP) may serve as surrogate prognostic markers.

Ambiguities in the Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension: Indian Perspective with a Call for Global Harmonization.

Many medical professional societies have formulated guidelines to treat hypertension, but there existed differences with respect to diagnosis, blood pressure (BP) targets, pharmacotherapy of hypertension, and grades of evidence. A MEDLINE search for hypertension guidelines was performed to compare Indian guidelines for hypertension (IGH) with these guidelines. A majority of the guidelines had consensus on the cutoff value (140/90 mmHg, recorded twice) to diagnose hypertension.

Correlation of compliance to statin therapy with lipid profile and serum HMGCoA reductase levels in dyslipidemic patients.

Background: The efficacy of statin therapy may be lost or vary with reduction in compliance and intensity of statin therapy.

Objective: To study and correlate the quantitative effect of compliance on lipid profile and 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCoA-R) levels in dyslipidemic patients.

Methods: Compliance to different intensity of statin therapy assessed by pill count was correlated with serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and HMGCoA-R.

Comparison of the knowledge, attitude, and practices of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists regarding the use of expired and disposal of unused medicines in Delhi.

Objectives: The use of out-of-date medicines and improper disposal of pharmaceutical products harm consumers and environment. To limit pharmaceutical load on the environment, it is important that healthcare professionals (HCPs) are aware of and have good practices toward their disposal.

Materials And Methods: A pretested instructor administered questionnaire containing 21 questions was used to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of 300 HCPs toward use and disposal of unwanted/expired medicines.

Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula (TEF) in a Newborn Following Maternal Antenatal Exposure to Olanzapine.

There is a dearth of evidence on the safety of the use of antipsychotics during pregnancy. Olanzapine, a pregnancy category C drug, has no unequivocal evidence of harm to the fetus. Against this backdrop, we report the first case of a tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF) in a newborn following maternal antenatal exposure to olanzapine.

An Evaluation of Indian Consumers' Reporting of Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions with a Designated Reporting Form.

Background: The Pharmacovigilance Program of India recently initiated a process for direct patient reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) with a designated form.

Patients And Methods: A survey of 200 patients reporting ADRs filling the form. Forms were analysed for patient data, the suspected medication(s), ADRs and possible causality.

Olanzapine vs. Risperidone in Schizophrenia: A Cross-sectional Comparison of Quality of Life of Caregivers.

In schizophrenia, efficacy of antipsychotic therapy might be better measured by quality of life (QoL) of caregiver, due to less reliability of patient's account and greater burden of management on caregiver. Hence, we compared QoL of the primary caregiver of schizophrenics prescribed either olanzapine or risperidone. In a cross sectional analytical study, caregivers of 120 schizophrenic patients' on either olanzapine or risperidone filled the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire containing physical, psychological, social and environmental domains.

Comparison of Effect of Enalapril and Losartan Monotherapy on Quality of Life and Safety of Stage 1 Hypertensive Patients.

An open label randomized controlled study was conducted to compare the quality of life (QoL) and safety of newly diagnosed stage I hypertensive patients randomized into two groups of 30 receiving either enalapril 5 mg or losartan 50 mg per-oral once daily for three months. QoL was assessed at the baseline and at the end of study using SF-36v2 health care questionnaire. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were monitored.

Effect of Sucrose Analgesia, for Repeated Painful Procedures, on Short-term Neurobehavioral Outcome of Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Safety of oral sucrose, commonly used procedural analgesic in neonates, is questioned.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of sucrose analgesia, for repeated painful procedures, on short-term neurobehavioral outcome of preterm neonates.

Methods: Stable preterm neonates were randomized to receive either sucrose or distilled water orally, for every potentially painful procedure during the first 7 days after enrollment.

A perspective on role of calcium and vitamin D in cardiovascular outcomes and lipid profile.

Recent concerns on increased incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke on administration of calcium and vitamin D supplements have alarmed the physicians about safety of these drugs. Although both calcium and vitamin D have been shown in the past to have beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease status through lowering of harmful lipids, these findings have been contradicted by some recent meta-analysis and randomized controlled trials that have shown no beneficial or in some cases a deteriorating effect of these supplements on lipid levels. In particular, calcium supplementation has been associated more with increased incidence of cardiovascular morbidity than vitamin D, but the convincing proof is still lacking.

Safety and efficacy of Qurse-e-istisqua in chronic hepatitis C infection: an exploratory study.

Background: Qurse-e-istisqua (Q-e-I), an Unani medicine commonly prescribed to treat liver disorders.

Objectives: To study efficacy and safety of Q-e-I in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: In this randomized double-blind exploratory study, 60 naive patients of HCV infection were assigned to receive either interferonα2a (IFNα2a) (3 mIU, subcutaneous, thrice weekly), ribavirin (RBV) (1000 mg, orally, twice daily in divided doses) and placebo (n = 30) or IFNα2a, RBV and Q-e-I (5 g, orally, thrice daily in divided doses) (n = 30).