The effect of Indocid® was determined using thirty (30) albino rats of mixed sex, aged 3 months weighing 110-200g. They were acclimatized to their environment for 2 weeks during which they were fed with standard pelleted feed and water. The study is divided into acute toxicity testing and main experimental phase. The acute toxicity testing for the determination of the median lethal dose was ascertained using 12 rats divided into groups K, L, M. The main experiment using 18 rats divided into groups A, B, C, D, E and F of three (3) rats in a group in different cages, cage A served as control. The rats were orally administered graded doses of Indocid dissolved in water once daily along with their feed for 30 days. Cages B-F received 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 1.5 and 1.0 mg/kg respectively and were closely observed. At day 31, the rats were randomly selected, sacrificed, the stomach, and small intestine were excised, examined grossly and subsequently processed for light microscopy. Grossly the organs and tissue appeared to have several perforations especially evident in the small intestine. Further histological examination revealed erosion of the stomach and intestine. This result forms the basis for further research into the danger posed to indiscriminate users of Indocid®.

Schistosome is a treamatode, snail-born parasitic of circulatory system in domestic animals and man. Ruminants are usually infected with cercariae by active penetration of the unbroken skin. It is an economically important disease caused by several Schistosoma species and results in economic losses through mortality and morbidity. The geographical distribution of Schistosoma species infecting cattle are mainly determined by the distribution of their respective intermediate host snails. The disease affects rural communities particularly those who depend upon irrigation to support their agriculture and drink contaminated water. Effective transmission of schistosomiasis occurs when the schistosome parasites, the aquatic snail hosts and the human or animal definitive hosts meet in space and time in surface water. The pathological changes with the disease are attributed by the adult parasite, cercaria and the eggs of the parasite. Health education, chemotherapy, environmental and biological control as well as provision of clean water have an innumerable role in the control activity of the disease. The use of traditional medicines in the treatment of schistosomiasis are economically important and a growing concern. There are various types of plants like Phytoplacca dodecandora (Endod) is the most widely used anti molluscicidal properties with minimal side effects used by developing countries and continuous to be used in the modern world. Diagnosis is based primarily on the clinico pathological pictures, parasitological techniques, post mortem findings, Serological techniques and Molecular diagnostic techniques .The most effective way to control cattle Schistosomiasis in endemic areas is to prevent contact between the animals and the parasite. Awareness creation about the disease, destruction of the snail intermediate host population at their breeding sites, either by chemical or biological methods may be considered as a recommendation to prevent the occurrence of bovine schistosomiasis.

Introduction: Internship is the period when a medical graduates acquires skills which enables him/her to become an effective physician of first contact of the community. However, new graduates go through this period only preparing for the post graduate entrance exam without acquiring many skills and practical knowledge. We conducted a cross-sectional study to document the self-perceived competence of the interns in performing the basic medical skills. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 70 medical interns graduating from a private medical college in North India. The interns who were willing to participate in the study were asked to state the level of their competence on a 3-point scale in a 95 point questionnaire .The questionnaire was divided as per clinical specialties and further sub-divided into competence in examination skills, core skills and knowledge, attitude and performance skills. Results: All the interns self-rated that they were competent in recording basic clinical variables, 60% percent students self-rated that they were fully competent in examination skills and core competencies of internal medicine but only 37.14% felt competent in knowledge and attitudinal skills. In surgery, more than 60% interns rated themselves to have good core competencies, 37.14% rated themselves to be competent in examination of surgical patients whereas only 28% interns rated themselves as competent in knowledge and attitudinal skills of surgery. Only one third interns self-rated that they had good examination skills pertaining to ENT and Ophthalmology. Similarly less than 20% interns self-rated that they were good at core competencies related to Ophthalmology and ENT departments. Conducting a normal vaginal delivery was considered a core competency of Ob-Gyn (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) department. Only 12 interns (27.8%) self-rated to be fully competent to do so, 51.4% interns self-rated that they had good examination skills and only 10% interns felt competent in knowledge and attitudinal skills of Ob-Gyn. Majority of the students rated themselves as having good examination skills and core competencies in pediatrics. Discussion: In the present study less than 60% interns rated themselves as competent in examination skills and core competencies in major clinical specialities except in Ob-gyn, while less than ten percent (9.3%) self evaluated their examination skills as poor. This implies that many of the graduates did not feel competent to carry out the role of a junior doctor with confidence. A variety of studies from other countries have found that many graduates feel inadequately prepared for the role of junior doctor [11-13] and criticisms that medical schools do not prepare graduates for early medical practice have been voiced many times. Conclusions: All the graduate medical doctors are not fully competent to perform the basic medical and surgical procedures. They are especially lacking in knowledge and attitudinal skills so medical educators need to stress on training the graduates in knowledge application and critical thinking.

Cereals and legumes are important food crops and provide cheap sources of energy and protein, and therefore, are good substitutes or supplements to major staples foods and help meet the needs of Africa's teeming population. Five food products (rice, maize wheat, groundnut and beans) stored for 2 - 4 months in different packaging materials were assessed for the presence of mycotoxin producing moulds. These samples were randomly selected from different markets. Standard microbiological and molecular methods were used in the isolation and identification of moulds. The frequently occurring moulds species identified molecularly were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus tamarii, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus brunneoviolaceus, and Penicillium chrysogenum. The dominant mould species were Aspergillus flavus (46%) followed by Aspergillus tamari (23%), Aspergillus niger (18%), and Penicillium chrysogenum (9%) while the least was (4%) Aspergillus brunneoviolaceus. The Phylogenic tree was constructed by using the geneious software version 4.0. (By Neighbor-joining (N-J) method based on the 18s rDNA sequence.) The 18S rDNA sequence analysed showed that strains were most closely affiliated with members of their genus. The occurrence of high contamination level of Aspergillus species indicates the possible production of aflatoxin in stored food products. There is a strong need to devise good storage condition for stored food products to avoid mycotoxigenic moulds contamination.

Protein Loosing Enteropathy (PLE) is a disorder characterized by either increased loss of proteins from the digestive system or defect in the absorption of proteins. It is a rare complication seen in some cases of Fontan surgery, the reason for which remains an enigma. There are many causes elucidated like increased central venous pressure, decreased cardiac output, increased mesenteric resistance, lymphatic obstruction and so on. Though panoply of treatment options is available for the management of PLE post Fontan, there is still no consensus regarding the causes, consequences and treatment protocol. We present a case of 22 year old girl who underwent Fontan procedure for complex congenital heart disease at the age of 3. She developed diarrhea, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypocalcemia 18 years after surgery and was diagnosed as protein loosing enteropathy post Fontan based on strong clinical findings after excluding other causes of hypoalbuminemia and was managed conservatively. PLE post Fontan has a grave prognosis and is essential to elucidate the exact pathophysiological abnormality thus paving way for better therapeutic management.

Background: An Adverse drug reaction (ADR) is an injury caused by taking medication. ADRs are major threat to patient therapy as it results in significant morbidity, mortality and health care costs. Objective: To monitor and evaluate the ADRs in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This observational and cross-sectional study was conducted for 10 months from January 2019 to October 2019 in an inpatient setting of a tertiary care hospital in Mangalore using ADR reporting form. Patients of all age groups, either sex and only inpatients were included. Results: ADR’s caused by Intravenous route were the highest occurring comprising of 60.46% followed by 29.53% causing by oral route of administration. Among the organ systems skin membrane were mostly affected which is of 60.46% and 13.95% of ADR’s were present as CNS and neurological disorders. Drug categories suspected to cause ADRs were related to antibiotics (39.53%), G1 drugs (16.27%), and the remaining classes of drugs like anti-diabetics, anti-coagulants etc.11 (26%) ADR’s were found to be mild, 25 (58%) were moderate and 7 (16%) of ADR’s were found to be severe according to severity assessment. Conclusion: Adverse drug reaction is a significant limitation to the success of therapeutics and to deal with this problem pharmacovigilance program is initiated to emphasise the importance of monitoring and reporting of ADRs to ensure the safety use of drugs. However the quality and quantity of the ADR reports can be improvised only through educational programs that guide the healthcare providers in recognising and reporting the ADRs efficiently.

Introduction: Digoxin is an inotropic drug indicated for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and cardiac arrhythmias. It has a narrow therapeutic index. Predisposing factors and drug-drug interactions causes digoxin toxicity at normal therapeutic doses. Hence we report a case on the adverse drug reaction of digoxin induced sinus bradycardia due to the co-administration of amiodarone with digoxin. Case report: An 83years old female patient with the known case of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. She is a known case of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. She was on treatment with digoxin (0.25mg) 5 days in a week along with amiodarone 200mg BD and other drugs. With ECG report indicating sinus bradycardia and the laboratory investigations the physician’s diagnosis as an ADR caused by the drug-drug interaction resulting from the concomitant use of digoxin and amiodarone. Causality assessment was done and the drugs were withdrawn from the drug regimen. After which the patient improved symptomatically. Discussion: Sinus bradycardia is one of the early signs of digoxin toxicity. The drug interaction with amiodarone which has the potency to increase the digoxin concentration must be considered and individualization of medicines in such cases is of prime importance in order to avoid the undesired side effects or toxicity. Conclusion: Low margin of safety drug like digoxin should be prescribed with the consideration of all aspects pertaining to the individual patient. Monitoring for drug-drug interactions and also periodic Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is beneficial.