Role of pitavastatin in prevention of osteopenic changes in ovariectomized rats

Objective: To determine the effect of pitavastatin, a third generation statin, on development of osteopenia in ovariectomized rats

Study Design: Experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, from January to July 2013

Methodology: Forty female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into ovariectomized [OVX], Sham OVX and OVX given pitavastatin 0.4 mg/kg/day, 0.8 mg/kg/day, for 8 weeks. Bone density measurements using CT scan and Archimedes' principle were made on femora and tibiae. Blood samples were analyzed for acid phosphatase [ACP] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] levels

Results: Ovariectomy-induced osteopenic changes were indicated by significant decrease in bone densities and Hounsfield [HU] index of distal femoral and proximal tibial metaphyses and elevation of ACP and ALP levels. 0.4 mg/kg pitavastatin did not significantly alter the evaluated parameters. 0.8 mg/kg produced a restoration of HU of lower femur and femoral density comparable to Sham. HU of upper tibia and tibial density following 0.8 mg/kg was significantly higher than OVX but was not approximate to Sham. ALP and ACP with 0.8 mg/kg were comparable to Sham

Conclusion: Supra-therapeutic dose of pitavastatin was effective in preventing estrogen deficiency-induced decrease in bone density of ovariectomized rates, over an 8-week period

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among adult asthmatic patients in Karachi

Vitamin D deficiency has assumed pandemic proportions all over the world. It has been documented as a frequent problem in studies of young adults, elderly person and children in other countries, but there is no reliable data on vitamin D status of adult asthmatic patients in Pakistan. To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in adult asthmatic patients with moderate to severe asthma using a cross-sectional study design in Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.311 adult asthmatic patients with moderate to severe asthma were recruited from JPMC, tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Questionnaires were administered together demographics, height, weight, nutritional and physical activity assessment. Blood samples for vitamin D measurement were also taken. Results show high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency [88.10%] in adult patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was more frequently observed in female than in male patients.67.66% of the female patients had serum vitamin D level less than 20 ng/ml as compare to 56.1% of the male patients [p=0.01]

Pitavastatin is a potent anti-inflammatory agent in the rat paw model of acute inflammation

Statins are used extensively as anti-hyperlipidemic agents. In addition to curtailing cholesterol synthesis they have been found to have multiple actions unrelated to cholesterol lowering" the pleiotropic effects," which includes inhibition of inflammation. We aimed at investigating the effect of pitavastatin a 3[rd] generation statin, in suppressing acute inflammation in rat paw edema model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of five groups [n=8]: Control, indomethacin and pitavastatin [0.2mg/kg, 0.4mg/kg, 0.8mg/kg] treated. 1hour following treatment, inflammation was induced by sub-planter injection of egg albumin into the hind paw. Anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by measurement of edema formation every half hour for three hours, assessment of polymorphonuclear leukocyte [PMNL] infiltration and measurement of tissue damage in skin biopsies. Ascending doses of pitavastatin were found to attenuate these parameters. The lowest dose of pitavastatin [0.2mg/kg] was found to significantly reduce edema volume, PMNL infiltration and tissue damage. The efficacy of the smallest dose was found comparable to indomethacin

Effect of concept maps on knowledge retention in dental students

To determine the effect of Concept Maps on Knowledge Retention in Dental students. Randomized study. study was conducted at the Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on fifty students of BDS first year at the Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi. The students were randomly divided into two groups. Initially the whole class was taught thefirst unit of Biochemistry [Carbohydrates] by the conventional method. It was followed by a Multiple Choice Questions test which established the equivalence in the mean scores of the two groups. The Intervention group now attended a workshop on [Concept Maps]. In the next two units [Proteins and Lipids], the Intervention group made Concept Maps while the Control group continued with the conventional method. Each unit ended with an MCQ test. The score of the Unit test was taken as an indicator of short term retention of knowledge. Two months later, an unscheduled Retest was given consisting of all the MCQ given in the three Unit tests. The difference between the scores of the Unit tests and Retest was taken as an indicator of long term retention of knowledge. The mean scores of the two groups were compared using Independent samples t-test. No significant difference was found in the mean scores of the Intervention and Control groups in the Unit tests. But in the Retest the Intervention group performed significantly better [p < 0.01] than the Control group. Learning through Concept Maps improves long term retention of knowledge

Use of concept mapping as a facilitative tool to promote learning in pharmacology

To assess whether students find concept mapping a useful learning methodology to conceptualize and organize topics studied in CNS module of Pharmacology; and to evaluate whether addition of concept mapping assignment could help to improve examination scores. An analytical study. College of Dentistry, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan, from March to May 2009. A class of 50 BDS students was recruited for the study. Two randomly selected groups of 12 students each, prepared concept maps in topics from CNS pharmacology which were displayed and discussed during tutorial sessions. The other two groups [n=25] following the traditional teaching methodology, served as controls. Scores from best choice questions and short essay questions were compared between the investigational and control groups using the student's t-test with significance at p < 0.05. Feedback obtained after completion of the study was evaluated as percent response. One-best-choice test of the control group showed a mean grade of 57.1 + 16.7 vs. test group mean of 58.8 + 13. For the short essay questions, control group obtained a mean of 52.3 + 18.8 vs. test group mean grade of 53.8 + 22.5. Both results were not significantly different [p > 0.05]. However, feedback about concept mapping showed that the technique helped the students to conceptualize difficult topics in CNS pharmacology [86.36%]. Concept mapping was particularly beneficial in preparing for exams as it provided a quick overview of the entire subject [68.68%]. Students found concept mapping as a useful pedagogical tool which could potentially be used to acquire meaningful learning in Pharmacology as a supplement to traditional teaching techniques. It was not found beneficial in improving examination grades probably because standard examinations and concept mapping measure different cognitive domains