Schizophrenia is one of the most prevalent chronic psychiatric disorders that affect 1% of the world’s population. Despite its societal burden, pathophysiology of schizophrenia remains poorly ...understood. Currently available drugs predominantly control positive symptoms, and often have no or poor control on negative and related cognitive symptoms, which strongly affect functional outcome in schizophrenia. The present article is an attempt to provide a critical review of recent hypothesis to understand pathophysiology of schizophrenia and to highlight exploitable molecular drug targets other than dopaminergic systems to treat and manage schizophrenia effectively.
Essential oil of eucalyptus species is among the most common traded essential oils in the world. There is an increasing interest in the application of eucalyptus oil as a natural additive in food and ...pharmaceutical industry. The present study was undertaken to identify the phytoconstituents present in the essential oil of
Eucalyptus globulus
leaves (EO) and ascertain their protective effect against ketamine-induced psychosis in rats. GC–MS technique was used for analysis of phytoconstituents present in EO. Ketamine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce psychosis in rats. Photoactometer, forced swim test and pole climb avoidance test were used to evaluate the protective effects of the EO (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, p.o.) on acute and chronic administration. Bar test was used to test the side effect of EO. Biochemical and neurochemical estimations were carried out to explore the possible mechanism of action. GC–MS analysis of EO showed the presence of a number of biologically active compounds. EO at the dose of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, p.o. on acute and chronic administration, decreased locomotor activity, immobility duration and latency to climb the pole. EO was effective to facilitate the release of GABA, increase GSH levels, inhibit dopamine neurotransmission and decrease TNF-α levels as well as diminish AChE activity in different regions of the brain. EO at the dose of 500, 1000 mg/kg did not produce cataleptic behavior in rats. EO at the dose of 500, 1000 mg/kg produced protective effects against ketamine-induced psychosis and can be further explored clinically against neuropsychiatric disorders.
Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a skin disease that usually occurs among individuals with a past history of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). PKDL cases act as a reservoir of parasites and ...may play a significant role in disease transmission. Hence, prompt detection and complete treatment of PKDL cases are crucial for the control and elimination of VL. The purpose of this review was to highlight the barriers to effective control and prevention of VL/PKDL as well as potential solutions in India. Main obstacles are lack of knowledge about the disease and its vector, poor treatment-seeking behaviours, ineffective vector control measures, lack of confirmatory diagnostics in endemic areas, limited drug choices, treatment noncompliance among patients, drug resistance, and a lack of an adequate number of trained personnel in the health system. Therefore, in order to control and successfully eliminate VL in the Indian subcontinent, early detection of PKDL cases, improved diagnosis and treatment, raising awareness, and effective vector control mechanisms are necessary.
Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder impairing memory and cognition. Alzheimer's Disease, followed by vascular dementia - the most typical form. Risk factors for vascular dementia ...include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia. Lipids' levels are significantly associated with vascular changes in the brain.
The present article reviews the cholesterol metabolism in the brain, which includes: the synthesis, transport, storage, and elimination process. Additionally, it reviews the role of cholesterol in the pathogenesis of dementia and statin as a therapeutic intervention in dementia. In addition to the above, it further reviews evidence in support of as well as against statin therapy in dementia, recent updates of statin pharmacology, and demerits of use of statin pharmacotherapy.
Amyloid-β peptides and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles are markers of Alzheimer's disease. Evidence shows cholesterol modulates the functioning of enzymes associated with Amyloid-β peptide processing and synthesis. Lowering cholesterol using statin may help prevent or delay the progression of dementia. This paper reviews the role of statin in dementia and recommends extensive future studies, including genetic research, to obtain a precise medication approach for patients with dementia.
Key Clinical Message
A clinical pharmacist offers invaluable support in the development of a final prescription with better patient management and enhanced safety. Increasingly, medical practice is ...becoming a team effort with a specialized skill matrix, concentrating on multifaceted support for patient management. A physician undoubtedly leads the team, comprised of a specialist and skilled clinical pharmacist, among others, with skill sets to detect drug interactions, adverse effects, and therapeutic incompatibilities to enable the health‐care team to achieve therapeutic outcomes on a case‐by‐case basis.
A clinical pharmacist offers invaluable support in the development of a final prescription with better patient management and enhanced safety. Increasingly, medical practice is becoming a team effort with a specialized skill matrix, concentrating on multifaceted support for patient management. A physician undoubtedly leads the team, comprised of a specialist and skilled clinical pharmacist, among others, with skill sets to detect drug interactions, adverse effects, and therapeutic incongruities to enable the health‐care team to achieve therapeutic outcomes on a case‐by‐case basis.
Besides physical toxicity, cancer care imposes significant financial distress referred to as financial toxicity (FT). FT has become a growing concern among cancer patients. Researchers have ...associated FT among cancer patients with clinical outcomes like mortality, poor quality of life and non-adherence. Currently, no reliable tools are available for assessing FT among cancer patients in India. The aim of this pilot study was to test the reliability and validity of the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) questionnaire among patients undergoing radiotherapy in India.
This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted among head and neck cancer patients on follow-up in radiation oncology department. The reliability of COST measure was assessed using Cronbach's α. The underlying construct of COST was verified by Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). EFA was performed using parallel analysis technique.
Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, the COST questionnaire was administered to 29 patients using the interview method after written informed consent. The COST measure demonstrated excellent reliability with Cronbach's α of 0.92. A Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin of 0.87 verified the sample adequacy and a
-value of ˂0.001on Bartlett's sphericity test indicated that the strength of the correlation between 11 COST items was good to perform the EFA. Parallel analysis technique identified one factor on scree plot with eigenvalue of 6.21 explaining 56.5% of the variance by non-rotated solution. All the factor loadings in one factor model were ˃0.3 (range 0.35-0.97). The factor loadings indicated that the underlying construct can be considered as one factor domain as intended by the original COST development study. However, Chi-square goodness of fit test revealed the one factor model did not adequately depict the data. However, the results were consistent with the construct obtained in the original scale development study.
This pilot study demonstrated excellent reliability of COST for measuring FT among radiation oncology patients. Further studies are warranted to study the clinical implications of FT in the Indian population for making better strategies and policies to ease the financial burden on cancer patients.
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