A systematic review of antibiotic drug shortages and the strategies employed for managing these shortages.

Background: There is a need to examine the impact of increasingly prevalent antibiotic shortages on patient outcomes and on the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Objectives: To: (1) assess patterns and causes of shortages; (2) investigate the effect of shortages on health systems and patient outcomes; and (3) identify strategies for forecasting and managing shortages.

Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Effect of CYP2C19 polymorphism on response to bortezomib-based therapy in multiple myeloma patients.

Background: Bortezomib, a commonly used anti-myeloma drug, is metabolized by liver microsomal enzymes which may be polymorphic and responsible for lack of response in 30% patients. Hence, the association of CYP2C19 polymorphism with treatment response was explored in this study.

Methods: Treatment naive multiple myeloma (MM) patients, eligible for bortezomib-based induction treatment, were recruited as per the inclusion - exclusion criteria.

Tamsulosin Versus Mirabegron in Relieving Ureteric Stent-Related Symptoms: A Prospective, Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction Alpha-adrenergic blockers like tamsulosin are widely used in the treatment of stent-related symptoms due to ureteric stents. Recently, mirabegron has emerged as a potential alternative. So, our study aimed to compare the effect of mirabegron and tamsulosin on ureteric stent-related morbidity.

Strategies to improve antibiotic access and a way forward for lower middle-income countries.

Antibiotics have substantially improved life expectancy in past decades through direct control or prevention of infections. However, emerging antibiotic resistance and lack of access to effective antibiotics have significantly increased the death toll from infectious diseases, making it one of the biggest threats to global health. Addressing the antibiotic crisis to meet future needs require considerable investment in both research and development along with ensuring a viable marketplace to encourage innovation.

Real-time (nanoseconds) determination of liquid phase growth during shock-induced melting.

Melting of solids is a fundamental natural phenomenon whose pressure dependence has been of interest for nearly a century. However, the temporal evolution of the molten phase under pressure has eluded measurements because of experimental challenges. By using the shock front as a fiducial, we investigated the time-dependent growth of the molten phase in shock-compressed germanium.

Landscape of Push Funding in Antibiotic Research: Current Status and Way Forward.

The growing need for effective antibiotics is attributed to the intrinsic ability of bacteria to develop survival mechanisms. The speed at which pathogens develop resistance is at par or even faster than the discovery of newer agents. Due to the enormous cost of developing an antibiotic and poor return on investment, big pharmaceutical companies are stepping out of the antibiotic research field, and the world is now heading towards the silent pandemic of antibiotic resistance.

Evaluation of serum glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) as a biomarker of treatment response to bortezomib-based induction regimen in multiple myeloma: A cross-sectional pilot study.

GRP78 overexpression in myeloma cells has been associated with bortezomib resistance in multiple myeloma (MM). However, serum GRP78 as a maker of bortezomib-based treatment response remains unexplored. The objective of the study was to evaluate serum GRP78 levels in MM patients who underwent a bortezomib-based induction regimen.

Drug development process and COVID-19 pandemic: Flourishing era of outsourcing.

Traditional drug development is a tedious process with involvement of enormous cost and a high attrition rate. Outsourcing drug development services to contract research organizations (CROs) has become an important strategy for cost and risk reduction, capacity building, and data generation. The therapeutic and operational expertise of these CROs has allowed pharmaceutical industry to reduce in-house infrastructure as well as research capacity.

Effect of morphine administration after status epilepticus on epileptogenesis in rats.

Introduction: Morphine is widely used in patients and has been reported to alter seizure threshold, but its role in the development of epilepsy is unknown. In this study, role of morphine administration in the development of epilepsy using the status epilepticus (SE) model was determined in rats.

Methods: Rats experiencing SE with lithium-pilocarpine (LiP) were randomized into four groups- saline, morphine low dose (5 mg/kg, s.

Cognitive Dysfunction and Anxiety Resulting from Synaptic Downscaling, Hippocampal Atrophy, and Ventricular Enlargement with Intracerebroventricular Streptozotocin Injection in Male Wistar Rats.

Insulin-resistant brain state is proposed to be the early sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which can be studied in the intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) rodent model. ICV-STZ is reported to induce sporadic AD with the majority of the disease hallmarks as phenotype. On the other hand, available experimental evidence has used varying doses of STZ (< 1 to 3 mg/kg) and studied its effect for different study durations, ranging from 14 to 270 days.

Antiepileptic-drug tapering and seizure recurrence: Correlation with serum drug levels and biomarkers in persons with epilepsy.

Objectives: Antiepileptic-drug (AED) serum level and inflammatory biomarkers are primarily monitored/assessed during epilepsy treatment for effective seizure control; however, their correlation with seizure recurrence (SR) following AED-tapering has not been established, and this is being investigated in this study.

Materials And Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled persons with epilepsy (PWE) on AED monotherapy and going to start tapering after being seizure-free for ≥2 years. Data regarding seizure episodes, AED-treatment, and adverse events (using Liverpool Adverse Event profile [LAEP]-score) were recorded.

Characterization of potentially inappropriate medications use in Indian elderly population and their impact on quality of life using Beers criteria.

Background: Polypharmacy is principal cause of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in elderly patients, which include over prescribing, under prescribing, and misprescribing.

Methods: Elderly subjects (≥60 years), of either sex, receiving two or more medications for one or more chronic ailments, attending Geriatrics Outpatient Department (OPD), at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, were included. Their prescriptions were assessed for PIMs by using Beers criteria 2015 and were further followed up at least once in 6 months for adverse events, telephonically.

Status Analysis of Herbal Drug Therapies in Epilepsy: Advancements in the Use of Medicinal Plants with Anti-inflammatory Properties.

Background: The use of plants and plant products in health care has shown an exponential increase in the past two decades.

Introduction: In-spite of the availability of well-established pharmacotherapy for epilepsy, a large no of the population still explores alternative treatments due to refractory seizures, adverse effects of drugs, chronic treatment, inaccessibility of standard therapies in rural areas and the social stigma attached to the disease. Various studies on medicinal plants showed the protective effect of herbals in animal models of epilepsy.

Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Centella asiatica with valproate and phenytoin in experimental models of epilepsy in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Centella asiatica (CA) is commonly used herbal medicine for treatment of epilepsy. CA has CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 enzymes inhibition property and used as an adjuvant therapy with conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). That may be responsible for herb-drug interaction.

Prescription pattern of antiepileptic drugs in a tertiary care center of India.

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.

Structural Transformation and Chemical Stability of a Shock-Compressed Insensitive High Explosive Single Crystal: Time-Resolved Raman Spectroscopy.

Despite the considerable interest in insensitive high explosives (IHE) as a safer alternative to conventional high explosives, a good understanding of the low sensitivity of IHEs to shock initiation is lacking. In particular, real-time measurements to directly probe the molecular-level response of shock-compressed IHE single crystals constitute an important need. To address this need, plate impact experiments were conducted to determine time-resolved changes in the Raman spectra of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7) single crystals-a representative IHE crystal-shock-compressed up to 20 GPa longitudinal stress.

H NMR metabolomic profiling elucidated attenuation of neurometabolic alterations by lercanidipine in MCAo model in rats.

Objectives: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with limited therapeutic interventions. The current study explored proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( H NMR)-based metabolomic approach to elucidate the effect of lercanidipine on neurometabolic alterations in transient model of ischaemic stroke in rats.

Methods: In the present investigation, male Wistar rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) for 2 h followed by reperfusion using intraluminal filament method.

Evaluation of adverse drug reaction profile of antiepileptic drugs in persons with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are preferred over conventional AEDs with the perception of better safety profile and efficacy though there is a lack of confirmatory evidence. The present study assessed the adverse drug reactions' (ADRs) profile of AEDs prescribed in persons with epilepsy (PWE) as per the System Organ Class (SOC) and compared them on the basis of demographics and treatment pattern.

Material And Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional, and observational study was conducted in PWE attending Neurology Outpatient-Department from February 2016 to April 2019 who were presented with any ADR.

Aluminium utensils: Is it a concern?

Aluminium utensils are ubiquitous in Indian households and other developing countries. Concerns have recently been raised on the pathological effects of aluminium on the human body, due to its leaching from utensils with long-term use, which has been associated with certain clinical conditions such as anaemia, dementia and osteo-malacia. While some studies suggest that cooking in utensils or aluminium foils is safe, others suggest that it may lead to toxic levels of aluminium in the body.

Evaluation of sodium valproate loaded nanoparticles in acute and chronic pentylenetetrazole induced seizure models.

Background And Purpose: Efficacy of sodium valproate in epilepsy is limited by its poor blood brain barrier penetration and side effects. Nanoparticles may offer a better drug delivery system to overcome these limitations. This study evaluated the efficacy of sodium valproate encapsulated in nanoparticles in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced acute and kindling models of seizures in male Wistar rats.

Seizure recurrence risk in persons with epilepsy undergoing antiepileptic drug tapering.

Objectives: Antiepileptic drug (AED) tapering in persons with epilepsy (PWE) after 2-3 years of seizure freedom is still debatable because of the risk of seizure recurrence. Tapering patterns have wide variability and could impact seizure recurrence; this study aimed to find out the correlation between them.

Material And Methods: This prospective, observational independent assessor study enrolled PWE undergoing AED tapering in a tertiary care hospital.

Impact of increased focus on pharmacovigilance on knowledge and attitude towards adverse drug reaction reporting among medical students in India.

Background: Recent years have seen a surge in pharmacovigilance (PV) related activities in India. In the present study the impact of these initiatives on medical students from across the country was evaluated to identify their effectiveness, lacunae and arrive at remedial measures.

Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire based study was conducted.