Effect of gender and physical activity on internet addiction in medical students

Objective: To determine the effect of gender and physical activity on internet addiction in medical students

Methods: In this cross sectional, analytical study Young's internet addiction test questionnaire was distributed to 350 MBBS students of Army Medical College, Rawalpindi. The study was conducted from January to May 2015. A dichotomous response from students regarding physical activity was obtained which was verified from the sports department of the institution. Based upon total score, internet addiction was categorized as no addiction if the score was less than or equal to 49, moderate addiction when the score was 50 to 79 and severe when the score was 80 to 100

Results: Out of 322 respondents 175 [54.3%] were males and 147 [42.7%] females with a mean age of 19.27 +/- 1.01 years. Total internet addiction score and frequency of internet addiction were similar between males and females [37.71 +/- 11.9 vs 38.63 +/- 14.00, p=0.18 and 25 vs 29, p=0.20]. However, total score and frequency of internet addiction were higher in students lacking physical activity as compared to those with regular physical activity [40.37 +/- 15.05 vs 36.38 +/- 11.76, p=0.01 and 30 vs 24, p=0.01]

Conclusion: Internet addiction is unrelated to gender however it is inversely related to physical activity

Arrhythmogenesis in mitral valve prolapse; risk stratification - role of high resolution ECG, Holter monitoring and Mitral leaflet geometry

Mitral valve prolapse is generally considered a benign condition, however, a subset of patients remains at high risk of arrhythmogenesis which may lead to sudden cardiac death. To stratify risk of arrhythmogenesis in patients with mitral valve prolapse on the basis of high resolution ECG, Holter monitoring, resting heart rate and mitral leaflet geometry. Cross sectional comparative study. Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology [AFIC]/National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi and Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan Mitral leaflet displacement and thickness were measured on echocardiography in 37 patients with mitral valve prolapse. Resting heart rate and time domain indices of heart rate variability of each patient were recorded from 24 hours Holter monitoring. High resolution ECG of all the patients was carried out to record ventricular late potentials. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and the alpha value was set at <0.05 for significance. The mean values for resting heart rate, leaflet displacement and leaflet thickness were 77.19 +/- 6.29 per minute, 3.64 +/- 0.92 mm and 4.96 +/- 0.79 mm respectively. Ventricular late potentials were present in 8 [21.62%] whereas heart rate variability was reduced in 5 [13.51%] patients. Leaflet thickness was significantly greater in patients with ventricular late potentials as compared to those without [p-value 0.004]. Patients with reduced heart rate variability had significantly higher resting heart rate as compared to those with normal variability [p-value 0.02]. One patient [2.7%] had ventricular late potentials, reduced heart rate variability, resting heat rate of 88 beats per minute and leaflet thickness over 5 mm. Combined effects of high resolution ECG, holter monitoring and leaflet geometry identified the high risk subset, comprising of 2.7% of the study population

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

Dual effect of atorvastatin on endothelium; reduction In LDL And TXA2 levels but unaltered HCY levels In obese hyperlipidemic rats

Objective: The objective of the study was to observe the effect of lipid lowering therapy on homocysteine and TXA[2] concentration in obese hyperlipidemic Sprague Dawley rats

Design: Randomized Control Trial [RCT]

Place and Duration of study: The study was conducted in Department of Physiology and Centre for Research in Experimental and Applied Medicine [CREAM], Army Medical College, Rawalpindi; and National Institute of Health [NIH] Islamabad over a period of 12 months

Methodology: Ninety healthy Sprague Dawley rats divided into three equal groups. Group I [n=30] were healthy controls, group II [n=30] were made obese and group III [n=30] were obese treated [atorvastatin 10 mg/kg/day orally by gavage method for three weeks]. Body weight was recorded thrice weekly, lipid profile was measured by colorimetric method on microlab and homocysteine and TXA2 were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay

Results: Serum low density lipoproteins and TXA2 decreased after three weeks of atorvastatin administration, elevated HCY concentration in obese hyperlipidemic rats however was not significantly affected

Conclusion: Atorvastatin apart from lowering lipid levels in the body also reduces TXA[2] concentration which is a vasoprotective. Elevated HCY concentration which is deleterious to the endothelium however is not affected

Diabetic patients; study of inflammatory markers

Inflammation is the one of the major causes for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications. In this study, association between inflammation and type 2 diabetes mellitus was studied by measuring various inflammatory markers [soluble vascular cell adhesion molecules type - 1, Interleukin - 6 and C- reactive protein] between healthy and diabetic patients. A cross sectional comparative study. The study was conducted at Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi in collaboration with Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi and Centre for Research in Experimental and Applied Medicine [CREAM], Army Medical College, Rawalpindi for blood sampling and biochemical assays respectively. The study was performed in 40 human subjects divided into two groups containing 20 subjects each. One group was designated as control while the other was diseased [diabetic] group. Glycemic status was measured to confirm their normal and diabetic state. Inflammatory markers were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. Levels of all inflammatory markers [soluble vascular cell adhesion molecules type - 1, Interleukin - 6 and C-reactive protein] were found to be raised in the experimental diabetic groups; 1991.5 +/- 201.97 ng/ml, 24.99 +/- 1.366 pg/ml and 2931 +/- 168.319 respectively compared to the control group; 570.2 +/- 16.526 ng/ml, 6.64 +/- 0.3516 pg/ml and 1806.6 +/- 183.32 respectively. Inflammatory markers were significantly elevated in patients with diabetes mellitus as compared to normal healthy control subjects

Association of allergic rhinitis with gender and asthma

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are chronic inflammatory conditions of airways sharing common pathophysiology. The two disorders have similar cellular responses, with different symptoms based on the differences in the physical structures involved. Studies have shown that allergic rhinitis has a major impact on asthma morbidity and that treating allergic rhinitis may also impact asthma control. The objective of this study was to determine association of allergic rhinitis with gender and asthma. In this cross-sectional study, 100 patients with allergic rhinitis and equal number of patients without allergic rhinitis were included. Patients were excluded if they were smokers or if they had respiratory infection within the month preceding the study. Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed on history, nasal smear and blood complete picture. In both groups, patients having asthma, pre-diagnosed by the physician were isolated and their frequency was calculated. Ninety-two male and 108 female patients with mean age 30.72 +/- 12.58 were included in the study. Odds ratio for allergic rhinitis patients and asthmatics was 5.05 [p<0.05]. Association of allergic rhinitis with gender was also statistically significant [p<0.05]. Multiple regression analysis showed predictability of allergic rhinitis from asthma at p<0.05. Allergic rhinitis is significantly associated with gender and asthma