Effect of Weekly Text Messaging Reminders on Medication Adherence in Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a Tertiary Care Center in Eastern Nepal.

Background The short-message service (SMS) reminder techniques are found to be important in increasing medication adherence in non-communicable diseases. Objective To assess the effect of SMS on medication adherence in hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Method An observational study was conducted in the outpatient department using a semistructured questionnaire.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Disposal of Unused, Unwanted and Expired Medicines among Healthcare Professionals.

Background Unused, unwanted and expired medicines stored at home pose threats to both health systems and environments. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) should be aware of the proper disposal methods of such medicines. Objective To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of disposal of unused, unwanted and expired medicines among healthcare professionals.

Sunscreen Use among Medical Undergraduate Students in a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Unprotected sun exposure could cause tanning, burning, hyperpigmentation, skin aging, and even skin cancer. Regular sunscreen use is a safeguard and a primary preventive strategy against sunlight-related damages. This study aims to find out the prevalence of sunscreen use among medical undergraduate students of a medical college of Eastern Nepal.

COVID-19: All Facts, No Myth.

On December 31, 2019, the China Health Authority alerted WHO about 27 cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan City. It was subsequently named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The disease has now become pandemic.

Pharmacovigilance of Antiretroviral Drugs at B.P. Koirala Institute of Health sciences.

Background: Antiretroviral drugs are lifeline for patients living with HIV. Adverse drug reactions can compromise the compliance to antiretroviral therapy. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of adverse drug reactions and to assess its risk factors in patients living with HIV and receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Prevalence of Substance Use among Undergraduate Students in a Medical College of Nepal.

Introduction: The consumption of substances is a common practice among the medical students and their use might reduce educational and clinical performances as well as judgment of the students. This study aims to find out the prevalence of substance use among medical students in BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences from 15th September 15th to December 15th 2018 after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Ref: 1394/017).

Effect of local bee honey on dihydrofolate reductase enzyme inhibitor-induced mucositis: A histological study on albino wistar rats.

Introduction: Mucositis is a common complication in around 40% of patients receiving chemotherapy which profoundly impact the quality of life. Despite the availability of many therapeutic agents that claim to prevent or reduce the severity of oral mucositis, no intervention that is completely successful at preventing oral mucositis exists. The present study aimed to demonstrate the effect of local honey on methotrexate-induced mucositis of the tongue.

Effect of Honey on Healing Process of Extraction Socket in Rabbits.

Background Honey is regarded as the oldest wound dressing. It accelerates wound healing in burn, infected and open wounds. Its effect on wound healing process in extraction socket is not fully established till today.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antiepileptic Drugs at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Eastern Nepal.

Background Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is the process of measuring drug level in body fluids. It is done to maintain plasma concentration of the drug under therapy within a specific target range for maximum therapeutic efficacy without unnecessary exposure to adverse effects. Objective This study aims to evaluate necessity of therapeutic drug monitoring in Phenytoin, Carbamazepine and Lamotrigine therapy among epileptic patients.

Pattern of Self-medication in Undergraduate Students at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

Background Self-medication is a growing health problem. It may lead to wastage of resources, emergence of antimicrobial resistance, adverse drug reactions and prolonged suffering. Little has been reported on the extent of self-medication practiced in medical students in Nepal.

Antibiotic Usage and its Culture Sensitivity Pattern in Urinary Tract Infections at Tertiary Hospital in Eastern Nepal.

Background The presence of microbial pathogen in the urinary tract is Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). In BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), each year there are around 1000 cases of UTIs. Antibiotic is empirically started after sending culture/sensitivity (c/s) with intention to change antibiotic if c/s demands.

Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Monitoring at the Eastern Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Nepal.

Background Adverse Drug Reaction is any unintended drug consequence. It is often preventable. In developed countries, it is among the top ten leading causes of morbidity and mortality.

Effect of root-extracts of Ficus benghalensis (Banyan) in memory, anxiety, muscle co-ordination and seizure in animal models.

Background: Ficus benghalensis L. (Banyan) is a commonly found tree in Eastern Nepal. Its different plant parts are used for various neurological ailments.

Effect of root-extracts of Ficus benghalensis (Banyan) in pain in animal models.

Introduction: According to the WHO, 70-80% population in developing countries still relies on nonconventional medicine mainly of herbal origin. Even in developed countries, use of herbal medicine is growing each year. Pain is an unpleasant feeling often caused by intense or damaging stimuli.

Effectiveness of an educational feedback intervention on drug prescribing in dental practice.

Background: Irrational use of drugs as well as inappropriate and over drug prescribing leads to unnecessary expenditures and emergence of resistant bacterial strains. Feedback intervention on drug prescribing habits and face to face educational intervention of prescription audit would be effective in rationalizing prescribing practices.

Objective: To measure the impact of educational feedback intervention on the prescribing behavior of dental surgeons.

Experimental study of neuropharmacological profile of Euphorbia pulcherrima in mice and rats.

Context: Euphorbia pulcherrima (EP) belongs to the family: Euphorbiaceae and Genus: Euphorbia. Many species of Euphorbia have been reported as having beneficial properties like anticonvulsive effect, central analgesic properties, antipyretic action, central depressant action and strong sedative effect. However, little study has been done and published on EP.

Drug utilization pattern and effectiveness analysis in diabetes mellitus at a tertiary care centre in eastern Nepal.

An observational follow up study conducted for one year at a tertiary care centre in 154 newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus patients is presented. The aims of the study were to determine the demographics, prescribing patterns, drug cost and analyze effectiveness of different therapies. Effectiveness of therapies were analyzed in patients achieving glycemic control by Wilcoxon signed- rank test.

Comparison of antinociceptive effect of the antiepileptic drug gabapentin to that of various dosage combinations of gabapentin with lamotrigine and topiramate in mice and rats.

Introduction: Newer anticonvulsants have a neuromodulatory effect on pain perception mechanisms in a hyperexcitable and damaged nervous system.

Aim: This study was designed to study the analgesic effects of gabapentin alone and in combination with lamotrigine and topiramate in experimental pain models.

Materials And Methods: Adult albino mice (n=490) weighing 20-30 g and rats (n=130) weighing 100-200 g were injected intraperitoneally with gabapentin, lamotrigine, and topiramate alone and in different dose combinations.

Effect of Ocimum sanctum, ascorbic acid, and verapamil on macrophage function and oxidative stress in mice exposed to cocaine.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Ocimum sanctum, ascorbic acid, and verapamil on macrophage function and oxidative stress in experimental animals exposed to cocaine.

Materials And Methods: Mice were used in this study and were divided randomly into different groups of six animals each. They were either treated with intraperitoneal injection of saline or cocaine hydrochloride or an oral feeding of oil of Ocimum sanctum, ascorbic acid or verapamil, or both (ascorbic acid and verapamil), and were evaluated for a respiratory burst of macrophages, superoxide and nitric oxide (NO) production, estimation of TNF-alpha in the serum and supernatant of cultured macrophages, estimation of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde- MDA) in the serum, and superoxide dismutase activity in the erythrocytes.

Prescription writing skills of pre-clinical medical and dental undergraduate students.

Objective of this prospective study was to assess the acquisition of prescribing skill of preclinical medical and dental undergraduate students. Prescription writing skills of 258 students of both first and second year of MBBS and BDS students were analyzed through an objective structured practical examination. MBBS student of second year scored 85.

Relationship between plasma leptin and plasma insulin levels in type-2 diabetic patients before and after treatment with glibenclamide and glimepiride.

Type 2 diabetes affects 100 million people throughout the world. Among the various factors implicated in the causation of this disease, the role of leptin, an obesity gene product, is increasingly being investigated. This especially assumes importance in the light of knowledge that obesity confers a minimum of 3-10 fold higher risk of diabetes.

Recent advancement in drug delivery system.

Ease of drug administration, safety, affordability and efficacy are the major concerns in pharmacotherapy leading to exploration of better drug delivery systems. Liposomes are lyotropic liquid crystals composed mainly of amphiphilic bilayers and these are more frequently used as drug carriers. Liposomes help reduce the toxicity and deliver the drug to the target tissue.

Vagus nerve stimulation: a novel approach for prevention and control of refractory seizures.

In order to understand the brain function and to treat various neuropsychiatric illnesses including epilepsy, continued search and discovery of newer antiepileptic drugs has failed to revolutionize the approach in the management of this complex disorder. Moreover, in close to 30% of epilepsy patients, the seizure control is either not satisfactory or it is intractable to pharmacotherapy. Amongst the non-pharmacological treatment options for refractory epilepsy, vagus nerve stimulation occupies a unique position as an adjunctive treatment in prevention and control of partial-onset seizures in adults and adolescents older than 12 years.

Evaluation of anxiolytic activity of tensarin in mice.

Introduction: Anxiolytic drugs are amongst the most frequently prescribed drugs. Available anxiolytic agents are associated with several limitations. Several indigenous drugs are being evaluated but none has been proved to be effective.

Medical errors challenges for the health professionals: need of Pharmacovigilance to prevent.

The incidence of different aspects of iatrogenic problems due to drugs is Adverse Events (AEs) 3.7%, Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) 2.4-6.