Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

Analysing Depressive Symptoms during Pregnancy Period: A Cross Sectional Study

2025-06-21T09:42:34+00:00

Background: Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. During pregnancy, it is referred to as antenatal depression, which can impact both maternal and fetal health. Untreated prenatal depression can lead to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as long-term emotional and behavioral issues in the child. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is widely used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms, and early diagnosis and treatment are important for managing this condition effectively.

Aim: To analyze the prevalence of depressive symptoms during the pregnancy period.

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.
To compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms across the first, second, and third trimesters.
To educate patients and caregivers about the prevention of depressive conditions during pregnancy.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out at NIMS Medicity, Thiruvananthapuram, over a 6-month period. A total of 138 pregnant women were assessed for depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Data was collected in a structured form and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 24.

Result and Discussion: Out of the 138 participants, most were in the age group of 25-28 years. 52.7% had planned pregnancies, while 47.83% had unplanned pregnancies. 12.32% of the participants experienced obstetric complications such as thyroid issues, PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease), or IVF (In-vitro Fertilisation), while 87.68% did not. The classification of depression was based on the BDI score, and mild mood disturbance was most common (35.51%). 61.59% of the participants had depressive symptoms, with the highest incidence observed in the third trimester.

Conclusion: This study highlighted the significant prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Factors such as age, unplanned pregnancies, trimester, and obstetric complications were found to influence the occurrence of depressive symptoms. The study underscores the importance of early detection and intervention for managing depression during pregnancy.

Microsponges Enriched Gel for Enhanced Anti-microbial Potential of Shikalkin: Development and Characterization

2025-06-30T12:15:17+00:00

Modern science has gone a long way in elucidating the beguiling properties attributed to the roots of Arnebia nobilis (Boraginaceae) containing Shikalkin (SHK). This compound holds promise as a powerful anti-microbial agent, addressing the persistent problem of microbial resistance stemming from imprudent use of antibiotics. However, the effectiveness of SHK is hindered by its photostability and poor aqueous solubility, limiting its use in pharmaceutical applications. This study aims to overcome these challenges by developing a microsponge based topical gel containing SHK, after its successful extraction from roots of Arnebia nobilis. The encapsulation of SHK within the core of microsponges was confirmed through various techniques viz. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), UV spectrophotometry, Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) analysis, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The optimized SHK microsponge-based gel exhibited good thixotropic and texture properties. In-vitro anti-microbial studies conducted on prevalent pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans warrants expediting its use in treating several kinds of microbial infections whilst imparting photostability to the encapsulated SHK.

Oxidative Lipid Peroxidation in Petroleum Pump Attendants: Possible Predisposing Factors for Familial Cardiovascular Diseases

2025-07-05T13:42:25+00:00

Objective: Petroleum pump attendants are constantly exposed to petroleum-derived toxicants, like aromatic hydrocarbons, released into the ambient air during dispensing, and these cause some biochemical changes, including lipid peroxidation. This study investigated possible effects of these toxicants on the lipid profile of petroleum pump attendants in Enugu metropolis, Nigeria.

Methodology: The cross-sectional study was undertaken between June and December, 2024 and involved 60 adult male and female (22 males and 38 females, age range was 18 to 35 years) petroleum pump attendants and another 60 sex and age-matched non-attendants (26 males and 34 females) as control subjects. Structured questionnaires was given to each participant and retrieved prior to sample collection. Total cholesterol, HDL and Triglycerides were estimated using enzymatic methods while VLDL and LDL were calculated using Friedwald formula.

Results: The results showed that petroleum pump attendants in the study area do not use protective measures. 53% of them work for more than 8 hours daily and 80% of them consume more fried foods. There were statistically significant increases (p<0.05 each) of all lipid parameters in pump attendants when compared with control groups, except HDL. There was positive correlation between work duration and levels of VLDL and Triglycerides, negative correlation between work duration and HDL, but no significant correlation between work duration and Total cholesterol and LDL. The results did not show any statistical difference between male and female attendants.

Conclusion: Despite the nutritional habit of most of the petroleum pump attendants, the aromatic hydrocarbons inhaled from the petroleum fume is suspected to have contributed significantly to the lipid derangements, implying the possibility of development of inheritable cardiovascular diseases as work duration increases. Use of personal protective equipment, regular health monitoring, and good workplace policies are imperative.

Intrinsic Network Pharmacology Guided Simulation of NAFLD Collapse and Recovery: A Systems Level Investigation of Picrorhiza Kurroa via Multi Layered Network Integration

2025-07-05T13:47:49+00:00

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant world health burden, occurring in more than 25% of the adult population and advancing to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and eventually cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Although it is increasingly prevalent, there are limited pharmacological treatments for NAFLD available, which are mostly symptomatic but not aimed at the systemic multi-factorial dysfunctions at its core. Herbal Ayurvedic medicine, such as the hepatoprotective plant Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki), represents a fertile ground for multi-targeted therapeutic intervention. Yet, a clear need exists for system-level mechanistic models that can assess such intricate botanicals. Our research initiates an enhanced simulation-based approach unifying classical network pharmacology and our in-house developed 7+1-layer Intrinsic Network Pharmacology (INP) model to investigate the systemic repair capacity of P. kurroa in NAFLD. Beginning with compound-target-pathway (CTP) mapping and network analysis of P. kurroa's bioactive constituents, high-priority targets were evaluated across molecular, enzymatic, signaling, redox, inflammatory, autophagic, and epigenetic levels. The last "+1" dynamic layer includes an ODE-based simulation platform to model disease collapse versus Rasayana-mediated recovery over time. INP and classical pharmacology integration allows high-resolution modeling of the mechanisms by which Kutki phytoconstituents, including Kutkin, Picroside I & II, apocynin, androsin, and cucurbitacins, modulate intricate cellular networks. An INP Fit Score was created to measure compound efficacy across system layers, and differential system trajectories were calculated to model therapeutic responses. This multi-scale computational system not only validates the efficacy of P. kurroa as a systems-level modulator for NAFLD recovery but also provides a replicable paradigm for investigating polyherbal formulations for chronic diseases. The model sets the stage for personalized, network-based Rasayana pharmacology and provides a template for converging traditional medicine with systems biology.