An exercise in clinical pharmacology is proposed in this article for involving 3rd year medical students to experience and observe the effects of coffee on psychomotor performance.Control scores for psychomotor performance were obtained by administering digit letter substitution test (DLST) and six letter cancellation test (SLCT) to 50 medical students. Hot drink without coffee was served to 25 students (group A, placebo group) and hot drink with coffee (2.5 gm/125 ml) to the remaining students (group B). After 30 min of hot drink administration the tests were readministered to both the groups using parallel worksheets. There was a significant increase In the scores of both the tests following coffee administration indicating stimulant effect of coffee on psychomotor functions

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Objectives: To assess the incidence of adverse drug reactions due to ranitidine, famotidine omeprazole and their effect on hepatic function tests and lipid profile in a sample Delhi population. Methods: A prospective study was done in 170 patients diagnosed as acid peptic disease, attending medicine outpatient clinic of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, New Delhi. They were prescribed one of the following drugs, ranitidine (300 mg total daily dose), famotidine (40 mg total daily dose) or omeprazole (20-40 mg total daily dose) and followed every two weeks for twelve weeks. At each visit patients were observed for subjective and objective side effects. Dechallenge was done for any observed side effect. Hepatic function tests and lipid profile were conducted at baseline, four. eight and twelve weeks. Results: Three patients (7.5%) on ranitidine reported adverse drug reactions. These included two cases (5%) of diarrhoe and one case (2.5%) of skin rashes on the extremities. No adverse drug reactions were observed with famotidine and omeprazole. No significant alteration in hepatic function tests and lipid profile at twelve weeks were observed with any of the test drugs. Conclusion: Incidence of adverse drug reactions with famotidine and omeprazole is low. Ranitidine, famotidine and omeprazole have no significant effects on hepatic functions and lipid profile when used for a period of twelve weeks

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Cataract is one of the leading causes of visual disability, often leading to blindness. The situation can be remedied surgically by extirpation of the cataractous lens. Various pharmacological strategies have been proposed for prevention and treatment of cataract. The present article deals with the wholearea from aldose reductase inhibitors (ARI) through aspirin, ibuprofen, bendazac, glutathione boosters, antiglycating agents, vitamins and various drugs from indigenous sources. Recently various substances with dietse chemical structures and properties have been claimed to possess anti-cataract potential in experimental models. Some of them have been evaluated in clinical trials but failed in final stages due to adverse side effects. Till day no anti-cataract drug is approved for the medical therapy of cataract anywhere in the world. However, agents with un-proven efficacy are available in some developing countries. It is probable that some agents will come up soon and will be useful in delaying the onset and progression of cataract formation in humans.

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Objective: To investigate the effect of acute and chronic haloperidol treatment and apomorphine challenge on the behavioural parameters in rats. Methods: The study was done in male rats which were divided into 5 groups. They were treated with haloperidol in the doses of 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10 mg/Kg i.p. The control animals received saline. The following parameters were studied: (a) Locomotor activity in home cage monitor. (b) Wood block test (catalepsy or Descent latency time). (c) Paw test (forelimb retraction time and hindlimb retraction time). (d) Effect of single injection of low dose apomorphine (0.05 mg/kg, s.c). challenge in rats after acute and chronic haloperidol treatment on locomotor activity in home cage monitor. Results: Low dose haloperidol (0.3 mg/kg) had no effect on home cage locomotor activity, while higher doses decreased locomotor activity in rats after both acute and chronic treatment. Acute haloperidol treatment significantly increased descent latency at 3 and 10 mg/kg. It also significantly increased forelimb retraction time and hindlimb retraction time at 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg using the wood block (catalepsy) and paw test. Chronic haloperidol treatment significantly increased the descent latency time and hind limb retraction time at dose of 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg, i.p. A single injection of a low dose apomorphine (0.05 mg/kg, s.c.) challenge after acute and chronic haloperidol treatment further decreased the locomotor activity in home cage in all groups of animals. Conclusion: Acute and chronic haloperidol treatment causes dopamine receptor sub-sensitivity in rats as observed by a decrease in home cage locomotor activity and their significant effect on hind limb retraction time.

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Objectives: To assess the incidence of adverse drug reactions due to ranitidine, famotidine omeprazole and their effect on hepatic function tests and lipid profile in a sample Delhi population. Methods: A prospective study was done in 170 patients diagnosed as acid peptic disease, attending medicine outpatient clinic of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, New Delhi. They were prescribed one of the following drugs, ranitidine (300 mg total daily dose), famotidine (40 mg total daily dose) or omeprazole (20-40 mg total daily dose) and followed every two weeks for twelve weeks. At each visit patients were observed for subjective and objective side effects. Dechallenge was done for any observed side effect. Hepatic function tests and lipid profile were conducted at baseline, four. eight and twelve weeks. Results: Three patients (7.5%) on ranitidine reported adverse drug reactions. These included two cases (5%) of diarrhoe and one case (2.5%) of skin rashes on the extremities. No adverse drug reactions were observed with famotidine and omeprazole. No significant alteration in hepatic function tests and lipid profile at twelve weeks were observed with any of the test drugs. Conclusion: Incidence of adverse drug reactions with famotidine and omeprazole is low. Ranitidine, famotidine and omeprazole have no significant effects on hepatic functions and lipid profile when used for a period of twelve weeks

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]

Full text not available  [PDF]