Journal of Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety

Concept of Materiovigilance in Ayurveda

2021-02-01T18:12:49+00:00

Incidents or any undesirable events occurring due to medical devices are being reported under Materiovigilance programme. Though concept of Materiovigilance are vibrant in various classical texts of Ayurveda, the ancient medical science, but a single hand information in this regard is lacking till date. Present paper deals with available evidence of use of various types of medical devices and view of ancient Ayurveda scholars about their safe uses.

Ayurveda Samhita records sample number of description about the safe use of medical devices in various context. Varieties of Shastra (Instruments), Anushastras (Devices used for para-surgical process) and Yantra (Equipments) etc. being used as medical devices in surgical, para-surgical, Panchakarma procedures. Some of the instruments and equipment are also reported for their use in daily regime as a Bhajana (container) and in the preparation of herbomineral drugs. Specific materials to be used for the preparation of these devises along with their specific measurements have also been recorded. Possible effects of container on the content were well versed to the ancient experts of Ayurveda and are well reflected with various textual references. Only need is awareness of its proper use and reporting of undesirable incidence to avoid any harm or loss in future and for the betterment of the system.

A Prospective Study on Hypolipidaemic Effects in Fresh and Dried Ginger Varieties

2021-02-23T06:32:45+00:00

Background:The secretion of VLDL is influenced by the availability of apolipoprotein (apo) B in the liver and the activities of regulatory enzymes involved in the assembly and transport of VLDL, including microsomal transfer protein and acyl-coenzyme A (CoA):cholesterol acyltransferase . Dyslipidemia is well known factor to increase incidence of heart diseases. This may lead to development of atherosclerotic plaques which is major etiological factor for establishing coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypolipidemic drugs used in allopathy include Statins, Fibric acids, Niacin, and Resins but all have their low compliance due to frequent side effects. Medicinal herbs like Onion and Ginger are hypolipidemic agents commonly used as flavoring agents and making foods spicy and tasty. We have compared hypolipidemic potential between these two medicinal herbs.

Methods: The study was conducted at Ghurki Trust teaching hospital, Lahore from January to June 2017. Eighty secondary hyperlipidemic patients were enrolled after getting written consent which was approved by Ethics committee of the hospital. They were divided in two equal groups comprising 40 patients in each group. Group-I was treated by Ginger 10 grams daily in three divided doses for 2 months. Group-II was advised to take Onion 200 grams daily in divided amount with each meal i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner for two months.

Results: After two months therapy it was observed by statistical analysis that 10 grams ginger reduced TC (total cholesterol) of 38 hyperlipidemic patients 12.4 gm/dl and LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) 27.3 mg/dl. In group-II, onion reduced TC in 35 patients 17.9 mg/dl and LDL-C 14.8 mg/dl. Changes in tested parameters are significant biostatistically with p-values <0.01 to <0.001.

Conclusion: We concluded from this research work that Onion and Ginger reduces risk of CAD by decreasing plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

Concept of Materiovigilance and Importance in AYUSH

2021-02-23T06:32:13+00:00

The excerpt of this paper was read as a part of invited lecture during the National Webinar on Pharmacovigilance of Ayurveda Sidhha Unani and Homeopathy (ASU & H) Drugs - AYUSHSURAKSHA 2020 through Online Zoom. It was organized by the Intermediary Pharmacovigilance Centre, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore and sponsored by the Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, New Delhi on 16.9.2020.

How safe are intramedullary stainless-steel nails for long bone fractures?

2021-02-23T06:31:48+00:00

Femoral and tibial fractures are usually the result of high-energy trauma such as road traffic accidents, fall from heights and trauma in high-speed contact sports. Most femoral and tibial shaft fractures are treated surgically. Several studies have shown that early surgical stabilization is associated with reduction of complications and mortality. An intramedullary nail is a metal rod that is inserted into the medullary cavity of a bone and across the fracture in order to provide a solid support for the fractured bone. Intramedullary nailing is currently considered the “gold standard” for treatment of femoral and tibial shaft fractures. Proposed advantages of intramedullary nailing include short hospital stay, rapid union of the fracture and early functional use of the limb. Intramedullary nailing aims to preserve the anatomical structure of fracture site and to provide a proper environment for fracture healing. The present case report further enlightens the safe use of Intramedullary nailing for long bone fracture.