Poonam Tripathi

Alternative therapies useful in the management of diabetes: A systematic review.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in the endocrine system. This dreadful disease is found in all parts of the world and becoming a serious threat of mankind health. There are lots of chemical agents available to control and to treat diabetic patients, but total recovery from diabetes has not been reported up to this date. In addition to adverse effects, drug treatments are not always satisfactory in maintaining euglycemia and avoiding late stage diabetic complications. Alternative to these synthetic agents, plants provided a potential source of hypoglycemic drugs and are widely used in several traditional systems of medicine to prevent diabetes. Several medicinal plants have been investigated for their beneficial effect in different type of diabetes. Other alternative therapies such as dietary supplements, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and yoga therapies less likely to have the side effects of conventional approaches for diabetes.

An in vitro evaluation of the anthelmintic activity of Hedychium spichatum rhizomes and Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes on the Pheritima Posthuma model: a comparative study.

Ethanolic extracts of Hedychium spichatum rhizomes and Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes were taken for in vitro comparative studies on the anthelmintic activity against Pheritima posthuma. Different concentrations (25, 50, 100 mg/ml) of both the extracts were used for the activity. Varying albendazole concentrations (25, 50, 100 mg/ml) were used as a reference standard and normal saline (0.9% NaCl) was used for the control treatment. The results were expressed in terms of time in minutes to report the paralysis and time of death of the earthworms. The results obtained from the study indicate toward the anthelmintic activity, supporting folk use of both the plants when compared with the standard. The results also established that Z. zerumbet was a more potent candidature of as compared with H. spichatum.

Prescription pattern in asthma therapy at Gorakhpur hospitals

Objectives: This prescription-monitoring study was conducted to establish the drug-prescribing trend of anti-asthmatic drugs in various hospitals of Gorakhpur. Setting: The study covered three famous hospitals of Gorakhpur. Patients and Methods: Hundred patients were studied using a prescription auditing performa. Data was recorded from the patients attending the out patient department using a chance random sample method for two months. Patients who co- operated were interviewed and information was filled in the performa. Results: The results suggested that b-agonist (40%) were the most frequently prescribed anti-asthmatic drugs followed by Methylxanthine (27%), corticosteroids (25%), leukotriene antagonist (4.4%) and anti-histaminics (3.6%) was the least prescribed. Analysis of prescription revealed that multiple drug therapy (81%) was opted for a significant number of patients as compared to single drug therapy (19%). Contrary to popular belief, oral dosage form tablets (56.3%) were preferred over inhalation (33.8%). Conclusion: It is concluded that the present prescribing pattern of anti-asthmatics in Gorakhpur does not completely meet standard guidelines of asthma treatment. Hence there is a need to encourage physicians of Gorakhpur to follow the guidelines while treating asthma.

Knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS among students of a technical institution.

Abstract Background: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a major health problem worldwide. The number of infected people is increasing daily. Knowledge and awareness toward prevention and control of the disease is necessary among both educated and illiterate people. Objective: This study is aimed at assessing the knowledge and awareness about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS among undergraduate students studying in a technical institute in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among youths aged 15–30 years studying in a technical institution in Gorakhpur. Data were collected using a semistructured questionnaire developed with the help of existing literature, from 250 participants (students). Results: The main source of information was the television; knowledge about the difference between HIV/AIDS was satisfactory. The findings showed that the knowledge about modes of prevention (blood checkup, needle/syringe sterilization) was satisfactory. There were several misconceptions about the modes of transmission of the disease, such as through mosquito bites, eating/drinking, and kissing. Conclusion: The knowledge of the study population was satisfactory, and there is a need for innovation and comprehensive education to impart better knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS.

Prevalence of psychological and physical symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome in female students

Pre-menstrual syndrome is a group of physical and psychological symptoms that appears before the menstrual bleeding. The study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of physical and psychological symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome among female students of technical institution in Gorakhpur. Two hundred students aged between 15 to 30 years participated in the study and revealed that all the participants of study experienced at least 1 symptom of PMS. The most common physical symptom was joint\muscle pain (77.5%). Lethargy (83%) was reported as most common psychological symptom in the study. The study concluded that prevalence of PMS is 100%, and most of the participants (42.5%) have more than 5 symptoms of PMS.