ABSTRACT
Background: Though statins are widely used in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), there is a paucity of information on the efficacy of high dose statin therapy in reducing the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction. Arrhythmias are relatively common in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) anterior, and sometimes progress to cardiac arrest. This study was planned to evaluate the role of high dose atorvastatin therapy in prevention of ventricular arrhythmias after acute anterior myocardial infarction. Methods: This study was conducted in NICVD from December 2010 to October 2011. Total 200 patients with newly diagnosed acute anterior myocardial infarction who received thrombolytic therapy were included in the study. They were divided into two groups. Group I (n=100) was selected for high dose atorvastatin therapy and group II (n=100) was selected for conventional doses of atorvastatin therapy. 24 hours Holter monitoring was performed 48 hours after hospital admission to evaluate arrhythmia. Results: Majority of the patients belonged to age range of 40 to 59 years with a male predominance. Patient characteristics regarding age, sex, drug use, risk factors for ventricular arrhythmia, body mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction were similar in two study groups. There was no electrolyte imbalance or renal impairment in any patient in either group. A significant difference in frequency of ventricular arrhythmias was found between the two groups. Ventricular premature beats were found in 66% patients in group I and 97% patients in group II (p=0.001) whereas non sustained ventricular tachycardia were observed in 0% and 4% in group I and group II respectively. Conclusion: High dose atorvastatin therapy is associated with lower frequency of ventricular arrhythmias after acute anterior myocardial infarction.
ABSTRACT
Aims: This study was aimed to find out anti-fertility effects of Andrographis paniculata (AP) plant. Study design & Methodology: A prospective case control animal study with 85 female and 30 male rats (Total 115 rats) was done in the Department of Pharmacology of Dhaka Medical College and Bangladesh Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2002 to December 2003. The total 85 female rats were grouped into case study or exposure group (N=60 female rats) exposed to water extract of AP & control or non exposure group (N=25 female rats, 30 male rats also considered as control group) Exposure group (water extract) of female were again subdivided in 3 groups according to duration of (A.P) exposure (N=20 in each group) e.g. 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks. Mating schedules were done after the completion of scheduled duration of exposure with A.P (Dose was 1 gm/kg). Results: In group I percentage of infertility was 33.33% in 4 weeks exposure, 50% in 6 weeks exposure & 100% in 8 weeks exposure respectively. In control group (Group II) percentage of infertility was 0%. In case study group of female rats the value of FSH was 1.20 1U/L (4 weeks), 1.12 1U/L (6 weeks), 1.00 1U/L (8 weeks), LH 0.78 1U/L (4 weeks), 0.70 1U/L (6 weeks), 0.64 1U/L (8 weeks), Estrogen 45.30 pg/ml (4 weeks), 44.80 pg/ml (6 weeks), 44.20 pg/ml (8 weeks) and Progesterone 4.84 nmol/L (4 weeks), 4.72 nmol/L (6 weeks) and 3.80 nmol/L (8 weeks). In non exposure group the value of FSH was 1.23 1U/L, LH 0.80 1U/L, Estrogen 47.05 pg/L and Progesterone 5.50 nmol/L. In exposure group all the values were lesser than the normal hormonal value. Conclusion: This study suggests that due to lower level of hormone, female rats have promising percentage of infertility with AP. Further study is needed with rat as well as clinical trial with human being.