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In order to achieve early ripening of fruits, chemicals and ripening agents are used by retailers and farmers. Artificial fruit ripening is illegal but also practiced regularly and most of them are banned. These agents or chemicals create health problems. These chemicals exhibit several adverse effects on human health hence precaution or control should be put in place. The aim of this research was to identify the trace elements of calcium carbide present in the banana samples and determine the level of these trace elements present in the banana samples on both Ghanaian and Chinese market as well as ascertain its severity and toxicity content. Using Vanado-molybdate method, the ash banana samples were boiled with 10mLof 5g/mL HCl and the solution was then washed into a 100 mL volumetric flask using water, and then filtered. The solution was then neutralized by drop wise addition of 0.88 g/mL ammonia (the volume at this stage was 55 mL) and then a standard solution was prepared. This was done by just adding the HCl to the dilute nitric acid, then 25ml of the Vanado-molybdate reagent was added and diluted to the mark. The optical density was then measured. Phosphorus was present in all the six samples. There was a significant difference in the amount of phosphorus present in the banana samples from both the Ghanaian market and Chinese Market. From the experiment conducted, if a person is to consume 100g of banana (powdered) from Ghana, he/she will be taking in as much as 2020.66mg of phosphorus, a figure almost three times the highest tolerable amount in humans per day. If this same person is to consume 100g of banana (powdered) from China, he/she will be taking in as much as 2001.66mg of phosphorus, another figure almost three times the highest tolerable amount in humans per day.

Background: Fluoride is one of the potent toxicants to which humans are exposed. It induces various anomalies such as skeletal fluorosis, osteoporosis, cancer, dental problems, psychological problems and arthritic pains. Little literatures are available about the genotoxicity of fluoride in bone marrow cells of mice. Therefore, the present has been undertaken to study the genotoxicity of fluoride in mice. Methods: Laboratory inbred albino Swiss Mice (Mus musculus) of average body weight 25 g were fed orally with 2 ppm NaF by soaking with bread for 30 consecutive days. 300 well spread metaphase plates were screened randomly. Number of abnormal cells and chromosomal abnormalities were calculated and interpreted based on statistic. Result: Sodium fluoride (2 ppm/animal/day) when administered orally to Albino Swiss mice (Mus musculus) for 30 days increased the frequency of abnormality by 5.66% compared to 1.66% of control in mitotic chromosome in bone marrow cells. The increase in frequency of chromosome anomaly was mainly due to a significant increase in both gross and individual type. Hypoploidy and chromatid breaks are found to be more frequent. Conclusion: Fluoride pollution is a global problem and induce genotoxic effects on animals, especially those who drink water containing non-permissible concentrations of fluoride. A safety measure must be followed either by supplying the processed water without the fluoride concentration to human population or by supplementing any antioxidants to nullify the harmful effect of fluoride.

Background: In India, antimicrobial resistance are getting increase day by day due to misuse of antimicrobial drugs or irrational prescription practice by Clinicians. After implementing so many guidelines by government but hence there is no control on antimicrobial resistance. Irrational prescribing of medicine results in increased morbidity and mortality as well as additional economic burden to health services. The aim of this study was to assess antimicrobial use pattern in Pediatric intensive care unit in tertiary care hospital. Methodology: This retrospective observational study was carried out in a 338-bedded multispecialty hospital for 4 months. Data was collected and analyzed as per World health Organization (WHO) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines. Results: A total of 52 patient’s case sheets and 34 (65.38%) patients were having antibiotics in their prescription. Febrile Seizure was a common clinical condition in which the antibiotics were prescribed in high percentage (20.5%). It was found that 21 (61.76%) prescription was mono-antibiotic prescription and 13 (38.23%) prescription was poly- antibiotic prescription. Among the mono-antibiotic prescription ceftriaxone was most commonly prescribed and in case of poly-antibiotic therapy combination of ceftriaxone and amikacin was mostly prescribed. Out of 48 antibiotics total 3 (6.25%) antibiotics were found inappropriate as per WHO guidelines and 45 (93.75%) antibiotic was prescribed appropriately. Conclusion: It was found that antibiotics were prescribed frequently in most of the prescription in which mono-antibiotic therapy was preferred more over poly-antibiotic therapy. Sometimes physician have to choose antibiotic out of the guideline, in such cases antibiotic should be de-escalated based on culture reports and clinical condition of patient within 48 hours. Hence, there is a need to promote rational use of antimicrobials, as their irrational use would lead to antimicrobial resistance.

Over the counter drug means a drug that is sold without a prescription. The use of over the counter drugs is growing rapidly in India. Therefore, a study was conducted with aim to determine the prevalence of over the counter medications in students of pharmacy colleges in eastern Uttar Pradesh and to access patients’ perceived safety of these medications. A cross-sectional study was designed; using a self-administered questionnaire for the students’ convenience and easy response disclosure. Data were statistically analyzed. A total of N = 800 students participated in this survey. Ease in access to OTC medicine, availability of pharmacist consultation and advertisement in print and electronic media were the main factors disclosed by the respondents that may result in an increase in the use of OTC products. The study revealed that the use of OTC medications was high in the students. Gender, age and educational institution were found significantly affecting the use of OTC medicines. Use of OTC medicines was generally higher among female students (p = 0.001). It was also found that the knowledge about adverse effects and contraindications is very limited.