Publications by authors named "Joshi Rupa"

Objectives: India has taken several initiatives to provide health care to its population while keeping the related expenditure minimum. Since cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent chronic conditions, in the present study, we aimed to analyze the difference in prices of medicines prescribed for three cardiovascular risk factors, based on (a) listed and not listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and (b) generic and branded drugs.

Materials And Methods: Outpatient prescriptions for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were retrospectively analyzed from 12 tertiary centers.

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Introduction: Drug-resistant epilepsy is an unmet medical condition that impacts 30% of epileptic patients. Numerous antiseizure drugs have already been developed but they provide only symptomatic relief and do not target the underlying pathogenesis. Preclinical models provide opportunities to gain insights into obscure mechanisms of drug-resistant epilepsy.

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Background Objectives: Irrational prescribing practices have major consequences on patient safety and also increase the economic burden. Real-life examples of impact of irrational prescription have potential to improve prescribing practices. In this context, the present study aimed to capture and evaluate the prevalence of deviations from treatment guidelines in the prescriptions, potential consequence/s of the deviations and corrective actions recommended by clinicians.

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Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder characterized by neuronal hypersynchronous discharge in the brain, leading to central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Despite the availability of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), resistance to AEDs is the greatest challenge in treating epilepsy. The role of sphingosine-1-phosphate-receptor 1 (S1PR1) in drug-resistant epilepsy is unexplored.

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disease and is associated with dementia. Presently, various chemical and environmental agents are used to induce models of Alzheimer disease to investigate the efficacy of different therapeutic drugs. We screened literature from databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google scholar, emphasizing the diverse targeting mechanisms of neuro degeneration explored in models.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how fingolimod (FTY720) can change the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) levels in the blood-brain barrier to enhance the effectiveness of anti-seizure medications in rats resistant to phenobarbital (PB).
  • Using an animal model of refractory epilepsy, findings showed that fingolimod significantly reduced seizure scores, improved PB concentration in the brain, and decreased both P-gp expression and oxidative stress/inflammation levels.
  • The results suggest that targeting S1P signaling through fingolimod may offer a new approach to improving drug delivery and managing epilepsy in cases that resist standard treatments.
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Background: Tanzania does not have a formalized prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response. As a result, traffic police play an integral role in the emergency response system. This study examines the potential impact of a brief training program in prehospital trauma care and mental health to improve knowledge, self-efficacy, and practice intentions related to trauma care among police officers.

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  • - The study analyzes past viral vaccine programs (like those for HIV, Ebola, and SARS) to identify challenges faced in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
  • - Key challenges include issues like viral mutations, duration of immunity, and potential adverse events related to the vaccines.
  • - The research highlights the need for long-term follow-up studies and alternative strategies for effectively managing the COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
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  • The study investigates the prescription practices of healthcare providers regarding drugs not listed in India's National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), emphasizing that proper use of essential medicines can improve access and lower costs.* -
  • An analysis of 4,838 outpatient prescriptions showed that over 55% included at least one non-NLEM drug, with significant variations in costs, potential side effects, and effectiveness when compared to NLEM alternatives.* -
  • The findings point to a critical need for better training and awareness among healthcare prescribers to promote the consistent use of NLEM drugs in order to enhance rational prescribing practices.*
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Background: India has seen more than 43 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of April 2022, with a recovery rate of 98.8%, resulting in a large section of the population including the healthcare workers (HCWs), susceptible to develop post COVID sequelae. This study was carried out to assess the nature and prevalence of medical sequelae following COVID-19 infection, and risk factors, if any.

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  • Chronic neuroinflammation and abnormal glutamate receptor activation are linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), prompting research into potential neuroprotective treatments.
  • The study used a rat model of ASD induced by valproic acid and tested the effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and risperidone on behavior and biochemical parameters from postnatal days 23 to 43.
  • Results indicated that G-CSF improved behavioral issues and reduced oxidative stress/inflammation in a dose-dependent manner, while risperidone was less effective; G-CSF also showed interactions with NMDA and AMPA receptors, supporting its role as a neuroprotective agent against ASD symptoms.
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Dysregulated GABAergic signaling is reported in Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD). In the present study, we evaluated a GABA structural mimicker homotaurine (HT) via in-silico docking and investigated the therapeutic efficacy of this drug to ameliorate ASD symptoms in the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of ASD. For the in-vivo study, animals were divided into two groups [Normal control (NC, 0.

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  • Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, with emerging research highlighting the significant role of epigenetics, particularly imprinting, in their development.
  • The region of chromosome 15q11-q13 is especially relevant, as many ASD cases are associated with chromosomal abnormalities in this area, which houses important candidate genes like those for the GABA receptor.
  • The review emphasizes the necessity of understanding epigenetic changes in this chromosomal region to develop targeted therapies and screening methods for ASD in the future.
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  • The study examines the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the Indian population regarding online pharmacies, revealing that most people are still more inclined to purchase medicines offline due to concerns about quality and trustworthiness.
  • Out of 322 respondents, 83.2% were aware of online pharmacies, with higher awareness among urban males, but 81% preferred offline purchasing.
  • Key reasons for online medicine purchases included limited availability and price differences, with respondents mostly interested in prescription medications, while highlighting the need for better guidelines and public awareness to improve the online pharmacy landscape.
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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Bacopa monnieri (BM) is commonly employed in the Indian traditional system of medicines, i.e. Ayurveda as a memory booster, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, sedative and anti-epileptic for decades.

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The imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters is explicitly related to the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The role of an NMDA receptor antagonist, dextromethorphan, was studied in ameliorating the ASD-like symptoms by regulating the excitatory and inhibitory imbalance using the valproic acid (VPA) model of ASD. Female Wistar rats were administered VPA [600 mg/kg on embryonic day ED-12.

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Background: It is well accepted that PI3k/Akt signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic window which regulates metabolism and energy homeostasis within the brain, and is an important mediator of normal neuronal physiological functions. Dysregulation of this pathway results in impaired insulin signaling, learning and memory and neuronal survival.

Objectives: Elucidating the role of everolimus in intracerebroventricular (ICV) streptozotocin induced Insulin/IGF-1 dependent PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway dysregulation and associated neurobehavioral deficits.

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  • PTP1B inhibitors like alendronate may help treat insulin resistance and cognitive decline related to diabetes by improving insulin signaling in the brain.
  • This study focused on assessing how alendronate impacts memory deficits caused by induced central insulin resistance in rats, using various behavioral and biochemical tests.
  • Results indicated that alendronate improved insulin signaling and cognitive performance, but its effectiveness disappeared when combined with a PI3K inhibitor, suggesting its action is linked to the insulin signaling pathway.
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The initial precipitating injury such as SE progresses to chronic epilepsy through multiple epileptogenic processes. Early epileptogenic events are generally characterized by neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and abnormal neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Metformin has exhibited anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties in numerous studies.

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Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the pattern of prescription of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in a cohort of patients with epilepsy (PWE) attending a tertiary care center of North India.

Materials And Methods: Demographic variables including age, gender, age at onset, type and frequency of seizures, and prescription of all AEDs (dose and duration) were noted. Descriptive analysis of the use of AEDs was done, and their different combinations were studied.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Coronaviruses can infect both humans and animals, but the transmission between them is still a topic of debate, with evidence suggesting zoonotic transmission plays a role, similar to past outbreaks like SARS and MERS.
  • - There are concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on companion animals, including reports of pets being abandoned due to fears of transmission, which poses risks for both human and animal health.
  • - Public health organizations like the CDC and WHO recommend precautionary measures to raise awareness and protect the health of both people and pets in light of the potential for reverse transmission.
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  • - About 25% of people with epilepsy have a special type called refractory epilepsy, which means their condition doesn't respond well to regular medicines.
  • - A protein called P-glycoprotein (P-gp) makes it hard for epilepsy medicines to work properly in the brain by keeping their levels low.
  • - The review suggests finding new medications that aren't affected by P-gp, which could help treat people with drug-resistant epilepsy more effectively.
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The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has already affected a large population of the world. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the same family of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). COVID-19 has a complex pathology involving severe acute respiratory infection, hyper-immune response, and coagulopathy.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the prevalence of depression among epilepsy patients using antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and identifies factors influencing this condition.
  • Findings reveal that nearly half of the patients experienced mild to significant depressive symptoms, with a notable increase in scores for those on multiple AEDs versus a single drug.
  • Levetiracetam was linked to higher depression levels compared to other AEDs, indicating the need for more research into its effects on mental health.
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