@article {93, title = {Evaluation of Changes in Bleeding Time in Hypertensive Patients on Amlodipine - A Prospective Observational Study}, journal = {International Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Sciences}, volume = {5}, year = {2016}, month = {June 2016}, pages = {45-48}, type = {Research Articles}, chapter = {45}, abstract = {

Background: Platelet hyperactivity is a risk factor in hypertensive patients that paves the way to atherothrombosis causing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Counteracting platelet aggregation is an established step in preventing thrombotic events. Calcium channel blockers are one among the recommended antihypertensive agents according to 2013 ESH/ESC (European Society of Hypertension and European Society of Cardiology) guidelines. In addition to lowering blood pressure they are known to have antiplatelet activity. Dihydropyridine class of L-type calcium channel blockers are the most potent group and shares this activity. Anti-platelet aggregatory effect of these agents could supplement its anti-hypertensive property and could prove to be desirable in the treatment of hypertensives with high risk of atherosclerotic and thromboembolic risk. So the present study aims to explore the anti-platelet activity of Amlodipine. Objectives: To evaluate the anti-platelet activity of Amlodipine in hypertensive patients. Methods and Materials: Sixty subjects were enrolled in the study. Test group comprised of thirty patients with essential hypertension, who were prescribed Tab Amlodipine at doses 5 mg or 10 mg once daily orally. Patients included in study group were regularly on Amlodipine for at least one month. 30 normotensive subjects, who are not on any drug affecting platelet function like Aspirin, dipyridamole, statins etc. acted as control group.Duke method of Bleeding time estimation was used to assess changes in Bleeding time. Statistical analysis: Student{\textquoteright}s unpaired t-test was used to compare Amlodipine test group with the normotensive control group. Results were expressed as Mean bleeding time {\textpm} SEM. SPSS software version 20 was used for statistical calculations. Results: The mean bleeding time of Amlodipine group was 2.214 minutes {\textpm} 0.028 SEM. The control group had a mean bleeding time of 1.998 minutes {\textpm} 0.036 SEM. The result gave a statistically significant p value of \<0.001. Average duration of treatment was 3.683 years. Conclusion: The statistically significant bleeding time observed in Amlodipine group suggest that it has anti-platelet activity.

}, keywords = {Amlodipine, Antiplatelet activity, Bleeding time, Hypertension}, doi = {10.5530/ijpcs.5.2.2}, author = {Pallavi Mahadeva Kamath and Suresh Surappla Rudrappa and Arun Suresh and Narendranath Sanji and Shashikala Gowdara Hanumanthareddy and Imran Maniyar} } @article {123, title = {Comparison of Two Zidovudine Based HAART Regimens used in Treatment of HIV Infection}, journal = {International Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Sciences}, volume = {3}, year = {2014}, month = {June 2014}, pages = {28-33}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {28}, abstract = {

Background: India has third highest number of HIV patients. Zidovudine based regimens are the first line of treatment in these patients. This study was undertaken to compare three prognostic markers with this treatment in patients infected with HIV. The objective of the study was to compare the changes in the CD4 counts, hemoglobin and weight between HIV infected patients receiving zidovudine, lamivudine and nevirapine (ZLN) against those receiving zidovu-dine, lamivudine and efavirenz (ZLE). Materials and Methods: Retrospective data was collected from the ART centre, Chigateri Hospital, Davangere. Patients who were on the study regimens for atleast six months were considered for analysis. Changes in CD4 counts, hemoglobin levels and weight were analyzed with paired {\textquoteleft}t{\textquoteright} test for intra group variation and unpaired {\textquoteleft}t{\textquoteright} test for inter-group variation. Results: CD4 counts were analyzed in 339 patients and in both the groups the counts improved significantly (ZLN: n=252, ZLE: n=87 and p \< 0.001 in both groups) after six months of treatment but the improvement was much better in patients who received ZLN regimen (p = 0.005). 281 patients were analyzed with respect to hemoglobin and improve-ment was seen in ZLE group (n=77, p = 0.001) but not in ZLN group (n=204, p = 0.36) with treatment and intergroup analysis was in favor of ZLE (p = 0.03). Weight was analyzed in 356 patients and it improved significantly in both ZLN group (n=264, p = 0.001) and ZLE group (n=92, p = 0.001) but the intergroup comparison did not reveal any signifi-cance (p = 0.21). Conclusion: A regimen consisting of zidovudine, lamivudine and efavirenz is better in treating a HIV patient with decreased hemoglobin. So this regimen can be preferred in anemic patients with HIV.\ 

}, keywords = {Efavirenz, HAART, Lamivudine, Nevirapine, Zidovudine}, author = {Narendranath Sanji and Dinakar KR and Vaneet Aggarwal and Navin A Patil and Somashekar HS and Keerthisagar J and Reshma SR} } @article {152, title = {Trends in Prescribing Antimicrobials in an ENT Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections}, journal = {International Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Sciences}, volume = {1}, year = {2012}, month = {April 2012}, pages = {15-18}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {15}, abstract = {

Background: The drug utilization study identifies the problems that arise from drug usage in healthcare delivery system and highlights the current approaches to the rational use of drugs. Objective: To study the trends in prescribing antimicrobials in an ENT outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital for upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). Materials and method: An observational study was conducted in the OPD of ENT at Bapuji Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India from May to July 2011. Prescriptions of all patients were collected; relevant information entered in a preformed proforma and analyzed using the drug utilization 90\% [(DU-90\%)] method. The results were presented in percentages and analyzed using DU-90\% method. Result: A total of 300 prescriptions were analyzed. The common cases for which antimicrobials prescribed were infections like pharyngitis, acute suppurative otitis media (ASOM), chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), tonsillitis, laryngitis. It was noted that 142 patients (47.33\%) received amoxicillin alone, 52 patients (17.33\%) received combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, 43 patients (14.33\%) received cefixime, 40 patients (13.33\%) received cefuroxime and 23 patients (7.66\%) received azithromycin, levofloxacin and other antimicrobials. Conclusion: The present study showed that among the various antimicrobials used, only four antimicrobials figured in DU-90\% segment which were amoxicillin, combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid and cephalosporins like cefixime and cefuroxime. Though azithromycin and levofloxacin are also frequently used drugs in upper respiratory tract infections, in this study they did not figure in the DU-90\% segment.

}, keywords = {Antimicrobials, DU-90\%, ENT, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection}, author = {K.Ramachandra and Narendranath Sanji and H.S. Somashekar3 and Abhishek Acharya and Keerthi Sagar J and Susheela Somappa Halemani} }