ABSTRACT
Background: Psyllium husk has been used for treating gastrointestinal upsets like diarrhea, constipation and irritable bowel disease in the past. Recent medical researches have shown remarkable effects of psyllium husk on all parameters of lipid profile, except triglycerides and very low density lipoproteins
Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of psyllium husk on lipid profile of primary hyperlipidemic patients
Patients and Methods: It was a single blind placebo controlled experimental study,conducted in Jinnah Hospital Karachi, from January 2009 to June 2009. Forty hyperlipidemic patients were included in this study. Twenty patients were on placebo as control group, and twenty were on psyllium husk, ten grams daily in three divided doses, for three months. Patients with hypothyroidism, alcoholism, renal and hepatic disease were excluded from the study. Serum total cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated by the enzymatic calorimetric method. Serum High Density Lipoprotein [HDL] was determined by direct method, at day one and on last day of the treatment. Low Density Lipoprotein, [LDL] was calculated by Friedwald formula [LDL-C= TC- [TG/5 + HDL-C]. Data was analyzed as the mean +/- standard deviation. To determine statistical significance of results, paired t-test was applied and p < 0.05 was taken as significant
Results: Two patients withdrew from the study due to personal reasons. Psyllium decreased serum total cholesterol from 228.27+/-4.89 mg/dl to 199.22 +/- 2.30 mg/dl, triglycerides from 169.27+/- 9.92 mg/dl to 164.5+/-8.56 mg/dl, LDL from 159.72 +/- 5.70 to 129.55+/- 2.81 mg/dl and increased serum HDL from 34.61+/-1.85 to 36.77+/-1.96 mg/dl in three months of treatment. Results of all parameters were significant, except triglycerides, when paired 't' test was applied for significance
Conclusion: From this experimental study, it was concluded that psyllium husk fibers are effective in maintaining lipid profile at normal limits in hyperlipidemic patients
ABSTRACT
Background: well recognized and explained risks factors for development of atherosclerosis include hypertension, old age, sedentary life style, smoking and high serum lipid levels
Objective: to determine the effects of niacin on blood pressure, body weight, low density lipoprotein [LDL] and high density lipoprotein [HDL]
Patients and Methods: this single blind placebo controlled experimental study was conducted at Jinnah Hospital, Karachi, from June 2009 to December 2009. Forty hyperlipidemic patients of both sexes were included in the research study, among which 20 patients were on placebo as control group, and 20 were on tablet niacin, 2.25 grams daily, in divided doses for the period of three months. Patients with diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcer, renal disease, hepatic disease, hypothyroidism and alcoholism were excluded from the study. Body weight and blood pressure of patients were recorded at fortnightly visit. LDL was calculated by Friedwald formula [LDL= TC- [TG/5 + HDL-C]. Serum HDL was determined by direct method. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated by the enzymatic calorimetric method. Data regarding results were expressed as the mean +/- SD and "t" test was applied to determine statistical significance of results. A probability value of <0.05 was taken as significant. Three patients were dropped from the study due to side effects of niacin
Results: in three months of treatment with 2.25 grams of niacin, HDL increased from 36.41+/-1.96 to 43.70+/-1.81 mg/dl, which was highly significant change when analyzed statistically. Niacin decreased LDL from 182.58+/-8.74 mg/dl to 119.29+/-4.08 mg/dl, which was highly significant [p<0.00] statistically. Overall, percentage change from day-0 to day-90 was 34.66. Triglycerides reduced from 169.64+/-7.60 to 137.35+/-6.31 mg/dl, which was highly significant [p<0.001] reduction in three months. Niacin has also reduced blood pressure, the difference between mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at day-0 and day-90 were found highly significant [p<0.001]. Body weight was reduced from 66.29+/-1.94 kg to 64.79+/-1.82 kg in three months. This change was significant [p<0.01]
Conclusion: we concluded from the research study that niacin decreases blood pressure, body weight and LDL-Cholesterol and increases HDL-cholesterol in primary hyperlipidemic patients
ABSTRACT
Recent research studies claim that myocardial infarction as a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Among other risk and predisposing factors atherosclerosis is one of the major risk for myocardial infarction. Each 1% increase in the serum cholesterol concentration results in 2 to 3% increase in coronary heart disease risk. By lowering serum 'bad' li-pids, and increasing good lipid, i.e.; HDL - cholesterol, atherosclerosis may be prevented and so the prevention of myocardial infarction ensues. Research study was conducted to examine the effects of Psy Ilium fibres to decrease 'bad'cholesterol [LDL - C, Triglycerides, and Serum Total Cholesterol] and increase good cholesterol [HDL - C] which prevent the risk of myocardial infarction [MI]. It was single blind placebo controlled research study. Forty already diagnosed primary hyperlipidaemic patients were selected from Cardiology OPD ofJinnah Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Exclusion criteria were patients suffering from hypothyroidism, renal dysfunction, any hepatic disease. Consent Proforma was designed and got the approval from [Research Ethical Committee of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi]. After explaining the limitations, consent was obtained from all study participants before they were recruited to the study. They were divided in two groups, 20 patients were on Psy-llium husk fibres, 10 gram daily in divided doses. And 20 patients were kept on placebo as control group. Lipid profile of all participants was estimated at day - o and at day - 90. All other vital functions of patients were also estimated and kept on record. They were advised to visit clinic fortnightly. When results were compiled at the end of this study, it was observed that two patients discontinued taking the drug, due to metallic taste of psyllium fibres. Psyllium decreased serum total cholesterol from 228.27 +/- 4.89 mg/dl to 119.22 +/- 2.30 mg/dl, 159.72 +/- 5.70 to 129.55 +/- 2.81 mg/dl, and increased serum HDL - Cholesterol from 34.61 +/- 1.85 to 36.77 +/- 1.96 mg/dl in three months of treatment. Data were expressed as the mean +/- SD and [t] test was applied to determine statistical significance of results. P - value lesser than 0.05 was the limit of significance. Results of all parameters of lipid profile were significant when paired [t] test was applied for statistical analysis. We concluded from this study that psyllium is an effective agent to maintain lipid profile parameters at normal limits in hyperlipidaemic patients, and normal limits of all lipid parameters play major role in prevention of atherosclerosis and MI
ABSTRACT
Atherosclerosis is the degenerative processaffecting all the sections of population of either sex, ageand socio-economic status. If the plaque is complicatedby blood clotting, it causes ischaemia and infarction ofthe tissues or organs, most vulnerable are heart andbrain. In the present [in vitro]study, twelve cardiotonicdrugs were selected which have been used by therenowned Unani physicians. The drugs were purchasedfrom Dawakhana Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, AligarhMuslim University, Aligarh and properly identified.All the drugs were powdered separately and theiraqueous solutions were prepared. Fresh human venousblood was mixed with them. Eight drugs prevented theclotting of blood in different concentrations so theywere identified as having anticoagulant effect. Neitherthe morphology of centrifuged blood cells was altered or hemolysis took place. The details are given in fulllength paper. Out of eight, details of four drugs arebeing given here
ABSTRACT
The bark of T. arjuna is in clinical use for the management of cardiovascular disorders in India. The objective of the study was to investigate its effect on the blood coagulation in vitro. The powder of the crude drug and aqueous extract in different concentrations inhibited the clotting of human blood in vitro. The probable mechanism is the chelation of Ca ion
ABSTRACT
Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing non infectious inflammatory disease of skin affecting of population between the age group of 15-45 years. In Allopathic system of Medicine treatment of the disease is satisfactory but has its own side effects. In this preliminary study the disease was treated with Unani formulations and excellent results were achieved