Comparative evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of rosuvastatin 10 mg with atorvastatin 10 mg in adult patients with hypercholesterolaemia: the first Indian study.

To compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of rosuvastatin 10mg with atorvastatin 10 mg in adult Indian patients with hypercholesterolaemia, a prospective, open-label, comparative, phase III study was conducted. A total of 45 patients of either sex, between 18 and 80 years of age with hypercholesterolaemia, having LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of 160 and < 250 mg/dl and triglyceride < 400 mg/dl, were included in this trial. After a dietary run-in period of 2 weeks, patients received either rosuvastatin 10 mg once daily or atorvastatin 10 mg once daily, for 6 weeks. The fall in the mean LDL-C levels after 6 weeks of treatment in rosuvastatin group (40.1%) was significantly more as compared to the fall in atorvastatin group (29.8%). Other secondary lipid parameters like total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, apo-B, apo-AI, and TC/HDL-C ratio also showed more beneficial changes from the baseline in rosuvastatin group than in atorvastatin group. Rosuvastatin 10 mg shows significantly better efficacy than atorvastatin 10 mg in reducing LDL-C levels and produces greater improvements in other elements of the lipid profile.

Efficacy and safety of the first parenteral selective COX-2 inhibitor, parecoxib sodium, in adult patients with postoperative pain.

Parecoxib, a prodrug of valdecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, has been recently introduced for the treatment of moderate to severe postoperative pain. This prospective, open, multicentric study enrolled 260 patients undergoing orthopaedic, gynaecological, dental and general surgery. Postoperatively, patients were treated with parecoxib, 40 mg IM/IV. There was a statistically significant decrease in the mean pain intensity score (p<0.05). At the end of 24 hours, 89.6% of total cases had a very good to total relief of pain. The mean duration of analgesia was 19.26 hours and mean time of onset of analgesia was 16.25 minutes ranging from 11-20 minutes. The laboratory values were within normal limits. The drug was well tolerated. There was no report of any hypersensitivity reaction. This study suggests that parecoxib, in a dose of 40 mg IM/IV, is an effective and safe option for the management of postoperative pain.

Intra-arterial thrombolysis in acute brainstem infarct.

A young male presented with vertebrobasilar ischaemic stroke. He was given intra-arterial thrombolysis, following which he showed gradual partial recovery.

MR venography in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

A case of left transverse and sigmoid sinus thrombosis in a 60 years female is reported. The diagnosis was confirmed on MRI with MR venography.

Virtual bronchoscopy in carcinoma of lung.

A 55 years female presented with a malignant pleural effusion. Post-paracentesis, a lobular mass was seen which was biopsied after virtual bronchoscopy.