A.S.P.I.R.E: A student led initiative to foster a facilitative environment for undergraduate medical research.

The uptake of undergraduate research opportunities in India is reported to be disappointing and little is known about the hurdles faced by students in undertaking research activities. As a solution to this issue, a student-led research council named, "," was formed. Its activities were focused on building a peer-based research environment to learn via module-wise teaching and mentoring sessions, a practical approach to learn evidence-based medicine via and maximize the available opportunities .

Effect of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal aqueous root extract on reinstatement using conditioned place preference and brain GABA and dopamine levels in alcohol dependent animals.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (WS), a known'Rasayana' (rejuvenating agent) as per Ayurveda is prescribed to promote health, to increase longevity and to hasten recovery in disease convalescent stages. WS has demonstrated protective effect on alcohol dependence and withdrawal anxiety in previous experimental studies.

Compassionate drug use: Current status in India.

The World Health Organization defines compassionate use (CU) as a "program that is intended to provide potentially life-saving experimental treatments to patients suffering from a disease for which no satisfactory authorized therapy exists and/or who cannot enter a clinical trial. For many patients, these programs represent their last hope." Over the years, an increasing number of requests and isolated cases have paved the way for more robust CU programs by pharmaceutical companies and guidelines by eminent regulatory bodies globally.

Single-dose and Steady-state Pharmacokinetics of Vancomycin in Critically Ill Patients Admitted to Medical Intensive Care Unit of India.

Rationale: Vancomycin remains the standard of care for gram-positive bacterial infections, though there are significant developments in newer antibacterial agents. Efficacy can be improved by linking pharmacokinetic with pharmacodynamic principles, thus leading to optimum antibiotic exposure. There is scarcity of pharmacokinetic data in Indian intensive care unit (ICU) population.

Effect of Jyotiṣmatī seed oil on spatial and fear memory using scopolamine induced amnesia in mice.

Background: Treatment of memory impairment associated with dementia such as Alzheimer's disease is still inadequate and requires development of new drugs.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the memory enhancing effect of Celastrus paniculatus seed oil.

Materials And Methods: C.

Animal models of erectile dysfunction.

Animal models have contributed to a great extent to understanding and advancement in the field of sexual medicine. Many current medical and surgical therapies in sexual medicine have been tried based on these animal models. Extensive literature search revealed that the compiled information is limited.

Effect of Saraswatarishta in animal models of behavior despair.

Background: Saraswatarishta (SA) is a herbo-mineral formulation consisting of 18 plants some of which are Medhyarasayanas. It has been claimed to be useful in treating central nervous system disorders.

Objective: To evaluate antidepressant effect of 'Saraswatarishta'(SA) alone and in combination with imipramine and fluoxetine in animal models of depression.

Awareness about medical research among resident doctors in a tertiary care hospital: A cross-sectional survey.

Context: Every medical practitioner should strive to contribute to the generation of evidence by conducting research. For carrying out research, adequate knowledge, practical skills, and development of the right attitude are crucial. A literature review shows that data regarding knowledge, attitude, and practices toward medical research, among resident doctors in India, is lacking.

Total knee arthroplasty: Limb length discrepancy and functional outcome.

Background: Limb length discrepancy and its effects on patient function have been discussed in depth in the literature with respect to hip arthroplasty but there are few studies that have examined the effect on function of limb length discrepency following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study was to determine whether limb length discrepancy after TKA in patients with bilateral osteoarthritis of knee with varus deformity affects functional outcome.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-four patients with bilateral osteoarthritis of knee with varus deformity, who were operated for total knee arthroplasty from 1996 to 2008, were reviewed retrospectively.