Effect of metformin on exercise capacity in treatment naïve type 2 diabetes patients.

Objectives: Exercise capacity is decreased in diabetes mellitus due to impaired insulin sensitivity, endothelial dysfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of metformin on exercise capacity in treatment naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were tested for baseline insulin resistance and exercise capacity, before starting on metformin.

A Retrospective Observational Study of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) Reported to ADR Monitoring Centre from 2010 to 2020.

Background: Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) are one of the essential causes of hospital admissions and pose a significant clinical and economic burden on the healthcare system. The Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Centre (AMC) in JIPMER functioning under the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) plays a vital role in ensuring medication safety by routinely detecting and monitoring ADRs. Hence, this study aimed to assess the characteristics of ADR reported from 2010 to 2020 in AMC JIPMER and to detect signals, if any.

Matrix Gla Protein and Nitric Oxide Synthase-3 Genetic Variants in Chronic Kidney Disease and Their Relation with Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by gradual deterioration of renal parenchyma and decline of functioning nephrons. The risk of cardiovascular events is drastically increased in patients with CKD. This complicated link of CKD and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not well understood till date.

Intravesical bupivacaine in reducing catheter-related bladder discomfort and lower urinary tract symptoms after transurethral surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to investigate the efficacy and safety of intravesical bupivacaine instillation in reducing catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) after transurethral surgery.

Methods: The study enrolled 100 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I-III patients aged ≥18 years undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate or transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, randomly assigned to Group B (intravesical bupivacaine) or Group S (saline). Double blinding was employed.

Molecular docking of curcumin and curcuminoids as human Zn dependent histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzyme inhibitors.

Unlabelled: Chemotherapy is one of the most well-established and effective cancer treatments available. However, non-tumor-associated damage restrict the treatment's effectiveness and safety. Our growing understanding of cancer epigenetics has resulted in new therapeutic options and the potential of better patient outcomes in recent decades.

Clinicopathological features and survival outcomes for gastric adenocarcinoma: Real-world single-center data.

Introduction: Gastric cancer is the fifth most-common cancer and fourth common cause for cancer-related deaths globally. Surgery preceded or followed by chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy is considered an optimal treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer. This study is a real-world data from a tertiary referral institute in southern India, in its experience with treating gastric adenocarcinoma over a period of four years with a minimum of two-year follow-up.

The Association of Dyslipidemia and Atherogenic Indices With Glycemic Control in Diabetic Dyslipidemia Patients: A Real-World Landscape.

Background: Dyslipidemia is an important comorbid factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to assess the pattern of dyslipidemia and atherogenic indices and determine its relation with glycemic control.

Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 382 patients with diabetic dyslipidemia.

Effects of Vitamin D on Migraine: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in mean serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level between migraineurs and nonmigraineurs, the association between hypovitaminosis D and migraine, and the effects of oral vitamin D supplementation on migraine-related symptoms as compared to placebo.

Methods: Relevant databases were searched for observational studies and randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) which evaluated the difference in mean serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level between migraineurs and nonmigraineurs; the association between hypovitaminosis D and migraine; and the effects of vitamin D supplementation on migraine-frequency, duration, and severity. Pooled mean difference and odds ratio were calculated (random-effects model, RevMan version 5.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α and γ Gene Polymorphisms among South Indian Patients with Diabetic Dyslipidaemia.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) α and γ genes play an important role in dyslipidaemia of T2DM.

Aims: To estimate the frequency distribution of PPAR α and γ gene polymorphisms in South Indian T2DM patients with dyslipidaemia compared to healthy controls. Normative frequencies of SNPs were established and compared with data for 1000 genome populations.

In vitro detection of suspected drug in maculopapular drug reaction to antibiotics using secreted cytokines from drug-specific activated T cells.

Background: Maculopapular drug eruption (MPE) in reaction to antibiotics is associated with enhanced expression of T-helper (Th)1 cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) or Th2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-5. Identifying the culprit drug usually involves rechallenge, which may not be forthcoming. Memory lymphocytes remain responsive to the culprit drug long after the reaction has resolved.

Efficacy of pharmacological interventions in COVID-19: A network meta-analysis.

Aims: To perform network meta-analysis for a head-to-head comparison of various interventions used in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on mortality, clinical recovery, time to clinical improvement and the occurrence of serious adverse events.

Methods: Systematic search was performed using online databases with suitable MeSH terms including coronavirus, COVID-19, randomized controlled trial, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, tocilizumab, remdesivir, favipiravir, dexamethasone and interferon-β. Data were independently extracted by 2 study investigators and analysed.

Use of "Repurposed" Drugs in the Treatment of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Epithelial ovarian cancer has poor outcomes with standard therapy and limited options for treatment of recurrent disease. This systematic review summarizes the data on the clinical use of repurposed drugs. We searched for clinical studies using "repurposed" agents for the treatment of ovarian cancer in the following databases: PubMed, clinicaltrials.

Genetic polymorphisms influencing response to lithium in early-onset Bipolar disorder from south India.

Objectives: Early-onset Bipolar disorder (EOBD), has a more malignant course with high recurrence risk and there is a need for population-specific pharmaco-genomic study.

Methods: This study is a prospective and retrospective observational study. Both newly diagnosed patients and those on follow-up with a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder with onset before 18 years of age and on lithium prophylaxis as part of treatment-as-usual were recruited for the study.

Vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease: Myth or reality?

Background And Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem, which has a prevalence of 17.2% in India. As kidney function decreases, there is a gradual deterioration in the regulation of bone mineral homeostasis.

A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Oral Cholecalciferol in Improving Renal and Vascular Functions in Vitamin D-Deficient Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of cholecalciferol in improving renal and vascular functions in vitamin D-deficient patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) along with chronic kidney disease (CKD). One hundred patients (18 - 65 years), having T2DM along with CKD (stage IIIA and IIIB) and hypovitaminosis D were randomized (1:1) to receive either oral cholecalciferol 60,000 IU (Group A) or placebo (Group B) weekly for 8 weeks along with standard background treatment. They were followed up for another 24 weeks.

Agreement Among Different Scales for Causality Assessment in Drug-Induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Background And Objective: Identification of the offending drug is crucial and challenging in cases of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADR) like Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Poor reproducibility and varying levels of agreement have been observed among different causality assessment tools (CATs) in assessing severe CADRs. This study was conducted to examine the agreement among four different CATs in assessing cases of drug-induced SJS, TEN and SJS/TEN overlap.

Frequency and risk factors of bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity in South Indian patients with germ-cell tumors.

Aim: Bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) regimen is the standard treatment for germ-cell tumors (GCTs). Bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity (BPT) is fatal and dose-limiting toxicity associated with this regimen. In this study, we aimed to identify the frequency and risk factors of BPT in South Indian GCT patients receiving BEP regimen.

The Risk of Fractures in Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Meta-Analysis.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common metabolic bone disease affecting 1% of the adult population. Patients with PHPT have reduced BMD, especially at the cortical bone. However, studies evaluating its impact on fracture risk have shown contradictory results.

Association of genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor (, and ) with vitamin D and glycemic status in type 2 diabetes patients from Southern India.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of polymorphisms (, and ) with vitamin D levels and glycemic status in type 2 diabetes patients from Southern India.

Methods: In this observational study, genotype frequencies and vitamin D levels of 200 cases (type 2 diabetes patients) were compared with 300 controls (unrelated anonymised stored samples of healthy volunteers) from south India. Serum 25 (OH) D levels were measured by immunoassay technique, glycated hemoglobin (HbA) was measured using HPLC and genotyping of VDR polymorphisms were carried out using Real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR).

Association of genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor (, and ) with vitamin D and glycemic status in type 2 diabetes patients from Southern India.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of polymorphisms (, and ) with vitamin D levels and glycemic status in type 2 diabetes patients from Southern India.

Methods: In this observational study, genotype frequencies and vitamin D levels of 200 cases (type 2 diabetes patients) were compared with 300 controls (unrelated anonymised stored samples of healthy volunteers) from south India. Serum 25 (OH) D levels were measured by immunoassay technique, glycated hemoglobin (HbA) was measured using HPLC and genotyping of VDR polymorphisms were carried out using Real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR).

Parathyroid Hormone Replacement versus Oral Calcium and Active Vitamin D Supplementation in Hypoparathyroidism: A Meta-analysis.

Objectives: Chronic hypoparathyroidism is treated conventionally with active vitamin D and high doses of calcium. Recombinant human parathyroid hormone (PTH) replacement is an attractive option for treating patients with hypoparathyroidism since it can replace the physiological action of native PTH. The aim of our study was to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of PTH replacement on calcium homeostasis, bone metabolism, and daily requirement of calcium and active vitamin D.

An overview on medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence.

In this article, a broad overview of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence has been provided. Significant benefits of commonly used drugs (buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone-based regimens) along with the therapeutic aspects of other available options are highlighted. Salient points on each or individual drug therapy, comparison of pharmacological profiles of dif-ferent drugs, effective clinical practice in different scenarios, relevant drug interactions, and safety issues in various populations have been emphasized.

Variants in and genes are not associated with bleomycin-induced lung injury in Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

Pulmonary toxicity is a well-known adverse reaction of bleomycin. In this study, we investigated the influence of and genetic variants on the development of bleomycin-induced lung injury (BILI) in south Indian patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma patients receiving adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine regimen were recruited for the study and BILI was diagnosed based on symptoms and/or radiological signs.

Atomoxetine Does Not Improve Complex Attention in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease Patients with Cognitive Deficits: A Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of atomoxetine on complex attention and other neurocognitive domains in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Interventional trials reporting changes in complex attention and other neurocognitive functions (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5) following administration of atomoxetine for at least 8 weeks in adults with idiopathic PD were included. Effect sizes (Cohen's ), the standardized mean difference in the scores of each cognitive domain, were compared using a random-effects model (MetaXL version 5.