Synthesis, characterization and antihypertensive activity of 2-phenyl substituted benzimidazoles

Hypertension is one of cardiovascular disease that is not sufficiently prevented and controlled at both hospital and community levels. Hypertension resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. The benz-imidazole ring is very important pharmacophore in modern drug discovery. The substituted benzimidazoles are the important for medicinal research. Researchers have reported that substituted Benzimidazoles are the structural isosteres of nucleotides, and easily allow them to interact with the different biopolymers, possess pharmacological activity especially antihypertensive activity. Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists/Blockers [ARBs] compete with angiotensin II at the receptor site and block the contractile effect of angiotensin II in all vascular smooth muscles. Among all Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists/Blockers [ARBs], Telmisartan, Milfasartan and many others have benzimidazole ring in their structure. In this study Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists/Blockers [ARBs] have been prepared. Synthesized compounds were characterized by physical data and FTIR spectroscopic technique. Synthesized compounds studied were finally screened for their antihypertensive activity by tail cuff method of measurement of blood pressure by NIBP apparatus [None Invasive Blood Pressure] using Chart 5.0 software. The compounds synthesized were 2-[3-nitrophenyl]-1Hbenzimidazole [1a], 3-[1H benzimidazol-2-yl]aniline [1b] and 5-[1H-benzimidazol-2-yl]-2-methoxyphenol [1c]. The synthesized compounds have shown antihypertensive activity by taking Losartan as lead compound

Frequency of diabetic cardiomyopathy among type-2 diabetics presenting as heart failure

To determine the frequency of diabetic cardiomyopathy among patients with type-2 diabetes presenting with overt heart failure. Case series. Department of Cardiology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from April 2008 to July 2009. One hundred patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus having symptoms and signs of heart failure were enrolled. Anthropometric parameters were recorded and all patients had investigations including complete blood count, blood glucose [fasting and random], serum creatinine, fasting lipid profile, haemoglobin A1c, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram and Doppler echocardiography. After stabilization, every patient underwent coronary angiography. The data was entered in a structured proforma. Sixty [60%] patients were males and 40 [40%] were females. Duration of diabetes was > 10 years in all. Eighty [80%] were on oral hypoglycemic and 20 [20%] were on insulin. Diabetic cardiomyopathy was found in 40 patients [40%] of the total study patients. Forty percent [40%] patients had marked left ventricular [LV] systolic dysfunction [ejection fraction < 30%]. Three [5%] patients died during hospitalization. Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a fairly common cause of heart failure in the natjve population with type-2 diabetes mellitus and results in high morbidity and mortality

Hepatitis C; validity of alanine aminotransferase levels in predicting histological changes in young asymptomatic patients

Liver biopsy the gold standard for the histological assessment in chronic hepatitis C is an invasive procedure with certain limitations. It was to evaluate the relation of serum ALT levels with the histological changes in healthy blood donors screened positive for HCV. This cross sectional comparative study. It was conducted at department of medicine Combined Military Hospital Lahore, from January to August 2004 It was to evaluate the relation of serum ALT levels with the histological changes in healthy blood donors screened positive for HCV. 76 apparently healthy blood donor soldiers age 20 - 49 years positive for HCV antibodies by third generation ELISA test, evaluated by medical history, physical examination, serum ALT levels, PCR test for HCV RNA and ultrasound abdomen were enrolled. Liver biopsy was done through percutaneous route and histology was graded according to Knodell scoring system. Serum ALT levels showed a skewed distribution with mean of 130.9+96.9 IU/L and median of 8.5IU/L. Eleven patients had normal ALT [<40 IU/L].On histological analysis of liver biopsy specimen 17 had Knodell score 8. Patients with score > 8 were older than the former groups. The difference was significant [p=0.047]. Relation of ALT levels with stage of fibrosis and grade of inflammation was estimated using ANOVA it showed no statistical significance. Patients with stage 1 fibrosis had highest mean serum ALT levels [p=0.108]. No association found between the ALT level and liver biopsy histological score. However patients with normal ALT levels usually had mild necroinflammatory changes

Liver biopsy percutaneous liver biopsy by surecut needle

To study the safety and efficacy of Surecut needle in obtaining the liver tissue by percutaneous liver biopsy. Design: Single centered prospective hospital based study. Department of Internal medicine [Unit-1] and Family ward, Combined military hospital Lahore for more than one year from August 2002 to March 2004. One hundred and fifty patients of either gender having asymptomatic hepatitis C carrier state, healthy blood donors, with positive HCV-PCR were included in study. The patients liver biopsy was done with Surecut needle 16G with patient breath suspended in expiration from the periphery of right lobe of liver. Majority of patients, 135 [90%] were male and 15 [10%] were female. The mean age was 30.3 years with range of 25-55years. In 146[97.31%]patients successful biopsy was done while the biopsy was non-diagnostic in 4[2.69%] patients. Mean core length of liver tissue obtained was Mean+sd[1.2+0.42cm] and histopathologic diagnosis was made in 97.31% cases. Total number of attempts were 1-2. In 99% single attempt was done. No major complications related to procedure was seen. liver biopsy with Surecut needle is safe and effective in establishing the diagnosis of Chronic hepatitis

To correlate the clinical picture with computed tomography scan findings in 200 cases of stroke

To study the accuracy of clinical data [history and physical examination] in distinguishing the ischaemic from haemorrhagic stroke. A prospective cross sectional case control study. Two hundred patients male and female patients between ages of 16 to 85 years visiting CMH Lahore with acute neurological deficits were included in the study. Out of 200 patients, 144 were males and 56 were females. One hundred seventy five patients were diagnosed as ischaemic and twenty five patients were diagnosed as haemorrhagic clinically. The males suffered from stroke more than females and ischaemic stroke is more common than haemorrhagic stroke