Clinical and biochemical efficacy of diltiazem in hyperthyroidism

To evaluate the effect of diltiazem on the adrenergic manifestations of hyperthyroidism and thyroid function tests. This prospective, interventional study included 19 newly diagnosed patients [16 females, 3 males with mean age of 35.31 + 10.36 years] of hyperthyroidism attending the out patient department of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar. All patients took diltiazem 30 mg three times a day for 6 weeks. Clinical assessment was done before starting therapy and then serially after 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks [+3 days] using standardized and modified hyperthyroid symptom score. Serum free T4 measurements were done before starting diltiazem and then serially after 2, 4 and 6 weeks [+3 days] of therapy. Following therapy with diltiazem the hyperthyroid system score decreased significantly at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks of therapy. With individual values dropping from 14.42 to 12.89 pmol/L after 1week [P < 0.05], to 11.21, 10.78 and 10.26 pmol/L after 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively [P < 0.001]. Serum free T4 decreased from 33.29 pmol/L to 32.77, 31.86 and 31.50 pmol/L after 2, 4 and 6 weeks [P > 0.05]. Diltiazem effectively controls the clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism. It also causes some decline in free thyroxine levels

Biochemical effect of diltiazem in hyperthyroidism

To evaluate the effect of diltiazem on thyroid function tests. This prospective, interventional study was conducted on 19 newly diagnosed patients of hyperthyroidism attending the out patient department of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar. All patients took diltiazem 30 mg three times a day for 6 weeks. Serum free thyroxine [FT4] measurements were done before starting diltiazem and then serially after 2, 4 and 6 weeks [+ 3 days] of therapy. FT4 decreased from 33.29 +/- 7.77 pmol / L to 32.77 +/- 8.15 pmol / L after 2 weeks [P = 0.509], to 31.86 +/- 8.15 pmol / L after 4 weeks [P = 0.138] and then to 31.50 +/- 7.80 pmol / L after 6 weeks [P = 0.137]. Diltiazem has some although not significant biochemical effectiveness in decreasing the thyroid hormone levels after 4-6 weeks of therapy

Effect of a compound recipe [medical plants] on serum insulin levels of alloxan induced diabetic rabbits

The present study was planned to observe the hypoglycaemic effect of the 'Compound recipe' a combination of traditional medicinal plants in normal and alloxan induced diabetes mellitus. This study was performed to study the possible role of indigenous medicinal plants in the regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells and in treatment of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The 'Compound recipe' was administered daily in doses of 400-mg/kg body weight to normal and alloxan induced diabetic rabbits for a period of 4 months. The blood glucose and serum insulin levels were estimated before and 1,2,3 and 4 months after the administration of the extract. The extract exerted a significant [p>0.05] hypoglycemic effect in alloxan diabetic rabbits. The hypoglycemic effect was not significant [p>0.05] in normal rabbits. The extract exerted a significant [p<0.05] increase in insulin levels in alloxan diabetic rabbits. The effect on insulin levels was not significant [p>0.05] in normal rabbits. The doses used did not show acute toxicity or result in behavioral changes. From this study it may be conclude that the Compound recipe causes an increase in serum insulin levels in alloxan induced diabetic rabbits possibly due to regeneration of pancreatic beta cells

Clinical efficacy of diltiazem in hyperthyroidism

To evaluate the effect of diltiazem on the adrenergic manifestations of hyperthyroidism. This prospective, interventional study included newly diagnosed patients with untreated hyperthyroidism attending the out patient department of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar. All patients took diltiazem 30 mg three times a day for 6 weeks. Clinical assessment was done before starting therapy and then serially after 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks [+3 days] using standardized and modified hyperthyroid symptom score [HSS] including excessive sweating, trembling hands, heat intolerance, easy fatigability, nervousness, diarrhoea, increased appetite, palpitation and dyspnoea on exertion. This study was conducted on 19 patients [16 females and 3 males, mean age 35.31 +/- 10.36 years] HSS decreased from 14.42 +/- 2.71 [mean +/- SD] to 12.89 +/- 3.39 after one week [P<0.05], and then to 11.21 +/- 3.64, 10.78 +/- 3.35 and 10.26 +/- 2.95 after 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively [P<0.001]. Diltiazem effectively controls the clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism

Frequency of hypothyroxinemia in preterm versus term neonates

To determine the relative frequency of hypothyroxinemia in preterm versus term neonates from 3 to 7 days of age. cross sectional analytic study. special care baby unit Khyber teaching hospital, Peshawar, in collaboration with IRNUM Hospital Peshawar from November 2004 to June 2005. One hundred and one neonates age 3 to 7 days, including 52 preterm and 49 term babies were included in the study. Blood specimens for T4 and TSH assays were collected after taking informed consent from parents and tested in laboratory of IRNUM Hospital for serum T4 and TSH levels by radiommunoassy. Mean values of serum T4 and TSH levels in preterm and serum T4 and TSH levels in hypothyroxinemic preterm and term neonates were compared. Data was entered and analyzed on SPSS version 8. Among 52 preterm neonates, 9 babies [17.3%] had serum T4 levels < 60 n mol/l compared to one baby out of 49 term neonates [2.04%]. Mean values of serum T4 levels were lower in preterm neonates and values of serum TSH were not proportionately increased in these babies, while in one full term baby lower T4 level was associated with increased level of serum TSH. [High level of TSH was defined> 4.0 ulU/ml and low level of serum T4 was defined as < 60 nmol/l]. Among 9 preterm babies with hypothyroxinemia who were called at later ages for follow up, parents of 2 babies agreed to give blood specimen and serum levels of T4 and TSH, which were normal in the babies [reflecting transient hypothyroxinemia of preterm]. Hypothyroxinemia without significant hyperthyropinemia is relatively common in preterm than term neonates during the first weeks of life. It seems to be transient. Further studies are required to determine the risks and benefits of thyroxine therapy in preterm infants