Obesity; effect of high fat diet followed by atorvastatin administration onserum interleukin-6, white blood cell and platelet count in male and female spraguedawley rats

To study the effects of atorvastatin administration on serum IL-6, WBC and platelet count in obese male and female animal models. Randomized control trial [RCT]. The study was conducted at Department of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi in collaboration with National Institute of Health [NIH], Islamabad and Centre for Research in Experimental and Applied Medicine [CREAM], Army Medical College, Rawalpindi for funding, blood sampling and biochemical assays respectively. Ninety healthy male and female Sprague Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into three equal groups. Group I rats were fed normal diet for a period of three weeks. Group II rats were fed high fat diet for a period of three weeks to induce obesity. Group III rats were administered atorvastatin 10 mg/kg/day orally by gavage method for three weeks after obesity induction. Terminal sampling by intra-cardiac puncture was done at the end of study. Whole blood was used to perform blood complete picture by KX 21 Sysmex Hematology Analyzer which includes platelet count and WBC count and serum was used to measure IL-6 levels by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay [ELISA]. There was a significant decrease [p<0.05] in serum IL-6 levels and WBC count, whereas platelet count was not significantly [p>0.05] affected by atorvastatin administration. Although atorvastatin reduces obesity related inflammation by decreasing serum IL-6 levels and WBC count, it has no effect on platelet count in male and female obese animal models

Effect of chronic restraint stress on immune status of male sprague dawley rats

To determine the effect of chronic restraint stress on immune status of Sprague Dawley rats by comparing total leukocyte count [TLC], total lymphocyte count and levels of serum immunoglobulins A, E, G and M of the rats exposed to chronic restraint stress with that of healthy control rats. Quasi-experimental study. Centre of Research in Experimental and Applied Medicine [CREAM], Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration of National Institute of Health [NIH], Islamabad, from June 2008 to June 2009. Sixty healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were obtained from NIH. Rats were divided into two groups, each having 30 rats. The rats of group-I were not exposed to chronic restraint stress, while rats of group-II were exposed to chronic restraint stress in meshwire restrainer for 6 hours daily for 15 days. Estimation of total lymphocyte count and serum immunoglobulins [IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE] was carried out and compared between the groups. TLC, lymphocyte count and serum IgA, IgE, IgG and IgM levels were found significantly lower in rats exposed to chronic restraint stress as compared to the rats which were not exposed to stress [p < 0.001]. Chronic restraint stress compromises immune status of rats by decreasing the levels of immunoglobulins and lymphocyte count

Effects of amlodipine besylate on spermatogenesis in sprague dawley rats

To determine the effects of chronic treatment with amlodipine besylate on spermatogenesis in Sprague Dawley rats. Quasi experimental study. The study carried out in the department of Physiology, Army Medical College Rawalpindi in collaboration with the department of Pathology, Army Medical College and National Institute of Health, Islamabad during April 2007 and March 2008. Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups; each comprising of 15 rats. Group A was given vehicle whereas group B was given amlodipine besylate [norvasc] by oral and gavage for 50 days along with standard rat diet. Testes were removed 24 h after the last experimental day and sectioned. The sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin and examined microscopically. Results were analyzed on SPSS version 13. There were significant differences in mean tubular diameter and height of germinal epithelium of testes between amlodipine and vehicle treated rats. Long term treatment with amlodipine besylate [norvasc] results in suppression of spermatogenesis in male rats

Hyperventilatory capacity - a predictor of altitude sickness

The aim of the study was to document link between hyperventilatory capacity and risk for developing acute mountain sickness [AMS]. This study was carried out at Karakorum Mountain ranges [Northern areas of Pakistan] from March till July 2004. 54 healthy male subjects were enrolled in this study. Arterial oxygen saturation [SpO[2]] of the subjects was measured by the pulse oximeter at rest and after 1 minute of voluntary hyperventilation at an altitude of 2833 meters. Symptoms of acute mountain sickness [AMS] were recorded on a questionnaire by using the Lake Louise consensus scoring system 24 hours after ascent to high altitude. Mean pre hyperventilation oxygen saturation [SpO[2]] was 94.07 + 0.26% whereas SpO2 after 01 minute of hyperventilation was 98.61 + 0.14% that was significantly increased [p<0.001]. The mean increase in percent oxygen saturation of hemoglobin after one minute of hyperventilation [hyperventilatory capacity] for the study group was 4.61 + 0.24% while the mean symptom score was 2.06 + 0.26. It was noted that 19 [35.2%] subjects did not develop AMS whereas 34[63.0%] subjects had mild AMS and only one subject developed moderate AMS. There was no case of severe AMS. The data reveals significant [P<0.01] association between hyperventilatory capacity and development of the symptoms of AMS [r= - 0.664]. It is evident that individuals with greater hyperventilatory capacity manifest less number of symptoms of mountain sickness. It is concluded that post hyperventilation increase in oxygen saturation at lower altitude may help to predict the susceptibility of subjects to develop high altitude sickness

Sensitivty and specificity of Romhilt-Estes point score system for detecting left ventricular hypertnophy

The present study was conducted to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Romhilt and Estes point score system of ECG for the assessment of left ventricular hypertrophy by comparing it with the gold standard of echocardiography. Fifty clinically diagnosed patients of LVH were included in this collaborative study of Dept. of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi and Department of Cardiology, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi. ECG of the patients were recorded and Romhilt-Estes point score calculated. This was followed by echocardiography and left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index was calculated. It was found that Romhilt-Estes point score system had a sensitivity of 35% and specificity of 90%. The sensitivity of ECG is low in detecting LVH, however, sensitivity can be increased by combining Sokolow Lyons voltage criteria and Cornell voltage criteria with Romhilt-Estes point score. ECG is however still recommended as a routine investigation because of its cost effectiveness and easy availability

High altitude illness: experience of one year

Objectives of this study was to analyze symptoms of altitude illness commonly necessitating evacuation of patients from high altitude to the base hospitals in Siachin area by simple clinical screening. This was a prospective observational. Place and duration of study was Northern areas of Pakistan. This study was carried out at altitudes of 3633 meters [GOMA] and 2833 meters [Siksa] from Oct 2003 till Oct 2004. One hundred and thirty eight patients of altitude illness were studied, who were evacuated from altitude above 4000 meters. Out of 138 cases, 103 [74.6%] patients suffered from acute mountain sickness [AMS], while 21[15.2%] patients developed high altitude pulmonary edema [HAPE] and 14 [10.1%] patients developed high altitude cerebral edema [HACE], of which 3 patients were having concomitant HAPE. The most common symptom combination was headache and vomiting which was the presenting feature in 53[38.4%] patients, followed by headache, loss of appetite and insomnia, in 41[29.7] patients. Headache was the most common single symptom present in about 120[86.96%] patients that required evacuation. The next common symptom was vomiting that was found in 51[36.96%] patients while shortness of breath was present in 33[23.91%] patients. We conclude that headache is the most common presenting symptom in all the patients of AMS. Therefore, headache at high altitude should be taken seriously, if does not respond to common medication, then patient should be evacuated to a lower altitude. The incidence of AMS, HAPE, and HACE may be reduced by improving the physical fitness of mountaineers and observing the protocol of acclimatization

Correlation of eosinophil cationic protein with severity of asthma

Activated eosinophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Upon activation eosinophils release their granular proteins. Eosinophil Cationic Protein [ECP] is a highly basic protein of ribonuclease-A family that is released from matrix of eosinophil granules. In the recent past a number of studies have shown increased levels of ECP in serum and induced sputum of asthmatics. We carried out this study to find out correlation of serum ECP with severity of asthma. This study was carried out on 44 asthmatics and 44 matched controls at Department of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi from June 2002 to December 2003. Lung function tests were done using spirometer [Vitalograph-Compact] and severity of asthma was graded into four classes, mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent. Serum was used to assess ECP by ELISA. Statistical correlation between ECP and severity of asthma as well as lung function tests was calculated. The asthmatics as compared with the controls had significantly more serum ECP. Serum ECP increased significantly with increase in severity of asthma [from mild intermittent to severe persistent]. Serum ECP was negatively correlated with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC[r=-.823 and r=-.772, p<.001 respectively]. There was a significant positive correlation between serum ECP and severity of asthma [r=0.947 p<0.001] Conclusions: We conclude from this study that serum ECP can be used as a useful laboratory investigation for severity of asthma

Eosinophils and eosinophil products in asthma

Eosinophils are known to be an indirect marker of airway inflammation in asthma. It is known since long that the total eosinophil count reflects asthmatic activity and is useful for regulating steroid dosage and for early detection of exacerbations. Eosinophils are currently regarded as the effector cells responsible for much of the pathology of asthma. Eosinophil-mediated damage to the respiratory epithelium is a major pathogenetic mechanism in asthma. This article is a review of the latest works about the relationship of eosinophil and eosinophil products with asthma. This is a review article

Ventilatory lung functions and absolute eosinophil count in adult asthmatics

Ventilatory lung functions and peripheral blood eosinophil count have proved valuable screening guidelines both in diagnosis and prognosis of asthma. Furthermore, blood eosinophilia differentiates asthma from other inflammatory conditions of the airways. The present study was planned to ascertain the role of absolute eosinophil count in impairment of ventilatory lung functions of asthmatic subjects [both sexes, aged 15-45 years] attending out patients department of Thoracic Medicine at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in [JPMC] Karachi. 30 healthy controls and fifty asthmatics were investigated. Ventilatory lung functions were recorded by Autospiro [Model - AS500] Spirometer, whereas, peripheral blood eosinophil count was determined by direct method. The data revealed absolute eosinophil count/ul 137.13 ' 17.81 and 201.86' 28.64 [Mean ' S.E.M.] in male and female controls respectively. The eosinophil count/ul in asthmatic counterparts were found to be 442.0' 48.52 [Mean ' S.E. M.] which were statistically significant [P<0.001] as compared to controls. The asthmatics exhibited a trend of decline in forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV1], FIEF 25-75, and peak expiratory flow rate [PEF] in relation to increasing absolute eosinophil count. The present data suggest the reciprocal impairment of ventilatory functions in asthmatics with an increase in absolute eosinophil count. It reflects the critical role of eosinophils in the spasm and inflammation of the airways