Glucocorticoid Use and Misuse in a Rural Community of Kerala, India.

Background: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are anti-inflammatory steroid medications prescribed globally by doctors for various illnesses and they are known to produce quick symptom relief. In India, they are among the cheapest and easily accessible over-the-counter medications. Thus, it can be misused, leading to many life-threatening illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, overwhelming infections, Cushing's syndrome, and hypo-adrenal crisis.

Evaluation of Glucocorticoids Utilization in Central Kerala using Pharmacy Sales Overview.

Background: Misuse of prescription drugs is a major public health problem in India and developing countries. Emerging evidence indicates that glucocorticoids are a class of drugs that are silently misused. These drugs are inexpensive and easily available as over-the-counter drugs in India are widely used by local practitioners and self-prescribed by patients for swift symptomatic relief of febrile illnesses, joint pain, asthma, other respiratory illnesses, and skin diseases.

Outcome determinants of snakebites in North Bihar, India: a prospective hospital based study.

Bihar is the state with the third largest number of snakebite deaths per year in India. This prospective, one-year study of 608 snakebites provides the first data from Bihar on determinants of unfavourable outcomes in snakebites. Any delay in reaching hospital raised the risk of a snakebite patient for an unfavourable outcome [OR 8.

Phaeochromocytoma presenting as an acute coronary syndrome.

A 44-year-old Caucasian man presented to the emergency department in acute cardiogenic shock, with pulmonary oedema, secondary to an acute myocardial infarction and in a hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state. The previous day he had undergone a colonoscopy, which revealed features of colitis, and was started on prednisolone. He had been previously diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, migraine and anxiety attacks.

Use and misuse of glucocorticoids in the community of Raxaul Block, North Bihar.

Background: Glucocorticoid misuse is widely recognised but inadequately addressed issue in India. This study reports the use and misuse of glucocorticoids in Raxaul Block, North Bihar, India.

Methods: A two-stage sampling method was used to interview 240 households during April and May 2013.

Jasmine flower extract lowers prolactin.

Background: Antipsychotic drugs frequently cause amenorrhoea and galactorrhoea. Jasmine flowers used topically were as effective as oral Bromocriptine in suppressing puerperal lactation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intranasal jasmine flower extract (JFE) to reduce prolactin levels of patients on stable doses of antipsychotic drugs.

Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis in rural northern India--most have secondary causes.

Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (HPP) is a life-threatening condition. Our aim was to study the clinical profile and laboratory parameters of HPP patients and to develop an algorithm to determine the causes of HPP. 84 patients presented with HPP over a 3 year period.

Glucocorticoid misuse in a rural and semi-urban community of North Bihar: a pilot study.

Glucocorticoid misuse is a common problem in northern Bihar. There is very little published literature regarding the magnitude of glucocorticoid misuse in South Asia. All inpatients and medical outpatients presenting to Duncan Hospital with suspected glucocorticoid abuse were screened over a six-month period.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma: a 20-year experience from a centre in South India.

Background: Management of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) remains controversial despite many advances over the past five decades. We attempt to review the presentation, management and prognosis of MTC at our institution over the last two decades.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the records of 40 patients with MTC over a period of 20 years.