Immunohistochemical study of Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PDL1) expression by combined positive score using 22C3 clone in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, its correlation with clinicopathological features and outcome.

Context: Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD L1) is a transmembrane protein that is highly expressed in neoplastic cells. Therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors target PD-1/PD-L1 blockade-inducing tumour regression. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for PD-L1 expression enables patient selection for immunotherapy and can be considered as a potential predictive biomarker for immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Aims: To determine the PDL1 expression in HNSCC, to correlate with clinicopathological features and outcome. Settings and Design: We retrospectively analysed 59 cases of HNSCC at our Tertiary Hospital between January 2017 and November 2018 and followed up until death/Nov 2022 for Overall survival. Methods and Material: IHC analysis of PD-L1 using Combined Positive Score (CPS) with antibody clone 22C3 in 59 cases of HNSCC was performed. PD-L1 expression was correlated with clinicopathological features and outcomes. Statistical Analysis Used: Pearson Chi-square test was used to analyse the correlation between PD-L1 expression and clinicopathological parameters using SPSS20.0. Survival curves were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were analysed by log-rank test. Results: A total of 25 cases (42.4%) had positive PDL expression (CPS ≥1). 16/25 cases (27.1%) belonged to CPS (≥1, <10). An almost-perfect interobserver agreement was noted by two pathologists for PD-L1 IHC expression. No statistically significant correlation was noted between PD-L1 score and clinicopathologic features. Conclusions: Detection of PD-L1 status gives further insight into frequency of PD-L1 expression in Indian HNSCC patients to possibly improve clinical treatment strategies, ensuring that our patients get the maximum therapeutic benefit of immunotherapy.

Design of PI3K-mTOR Dual Inhibitors for Ovarian Cancer: Are We on the Right Track?

Ovarian cancer is one of the most familiar kinds of gynecological cancer seen in women. Though it is not as familiar as breast cancer, the survival rate for ovarian cancer is very low when compared with breast cancer. Even after being one among the familiar types, to date, there are no proper treatments available for ovarian cancer. All the treatments that are present currently show a high rate of recurrence after the treatment. Therefore, treating this silent killer from the roots is the need of the hour. PI3K/AKT/m- TOR pathway is one of the pathways that get altered during ovarian cancer. Studies are already going on for the inhibition of PI3K and mTOR separately. Efforts have been made to inhibit either PI3K or mTOR separately earlier. However, due to its side effects and resistance to the treatments available, current studies are based on the inhibition of PI3K and mTOR together. Inhibition of PI3K and mTOR simultaneously reduces the chances of negative feedback, thus decreasing the toxicity. This review contains the evolution of PI3K and mTOR drugs that are approved by the FDA and are in the trials for different cancer types, including Ovarian cancer. In this article, how a molecular targeted therapy can be made successful and free from toxicity for treating ovarian cancer is discussed. Therefore, this review paves the way for finding an effective scaffold rather than the clinical part. The scaffold thus selected can be further modified and synthesized in the future as dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors specifically for OC.

A microfluidic route for synthesis of scandium oxide microspheres, their characterization and neutron activation.

Radioactive scandium-46 microspheres have applications in mapping flow in a chemical reactor through a technique known as radioactive particle tracking (RPT). In the present study a novel microfluidic method has been developed for synthesis of controlled size scandium oxide microspheres. An inline/in-situ mixing of the scandium precursor and gelling agents was implemented which makes the microfluidic platform amenable for truly continuous operation. Microspheres of size varying from 937 to 666 µm were produced by varying O/A ratio from 10 to 30. Perfectly spherical and monodispersed (PDI <10 %) microspheres were obtained at O/A 15 and beyond. The morphology, elemental composition, and structure of the microspheres were analysed by SEM, EDS and XRD, respectively. Subsequently the microspheres were irradiated with thermal neutrons in a nuclear reactor to obtain radioactive Sc-46 oxide microspheres. The activity produced on each Sc-46 microspheres with different sizes was in the range 19.5-34.0 MBq.

Feasibility and safety of redo laparoscopic repair of recurrent inguinal hernia following previous endolaparoscopic repair.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic redo inguinal hernia (LRIH) repairs are fraught with challenges as the pre-peritoneal space is violated due to previous surgery and the presence of mesh. The purpose of this study was to present the feasibility and safety of LRIH in a series of patients with recurrent inguinal hernia following previous endolaparoscopic repair and present technical experiences and clinical outcomes in this subset of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study from a prospective database of 16 patients who underwent LRIH between March 2014 and December 2020. The decision to do a redo laparoscopic surgery was undertaken after a detailed discussion with the patient. The operative details, challenges faced and tips to overcome difficulties have been explained in detail. RESULTS: Out of 16 patients (mean age 49.5 years, all men), 15 underwent laparoscopic redo trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) mesh repair and 1 underwent laparoscopic enhanced-view totally extra-peritoneal (eTEP) mesh repair. The mean operating time was 68.5 min for unilateral, 115 min for bilateral TAPP and 90 min for eTEP. The main contributing factors for recurrences were mesh migration, insufficient size of the mesh and inadequate fixation. There was no conversion to open repair. The duration of stay was 1-2 days. There was no documented re-recurrence during the follow-up period of 2-9 years. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, redo laparoscopic inguinal hernia mesh repair after previous endolaparoscopic repair is feasible, effective and safe in experienced hands.

Novel laparo-endoscopic hybrid technique of management of a rare case of duodeno-duodenal intussusception.

We herein report a rare case of duodeno-duodenal intussusception (IS) presenting with obstruction caused by tubulovillous adenoma in an adult with malrotation that was managed by a novel laparoendoscopic hybrid technique. This was done by passing transjejunal nasogastric tube (NG) through one of the ports and manoeuvring it towards the IS. Two hundred and fifty millilitre of saline was flushed by aseptosyringe with pressure connected to the NG. This hydrostatic reduction technique resulted in distension of the jejunal and duodenal loop achieving reduction of IS. Intraoperative endoscopy was performed to exactly localise the mass lesion. The duodenum was kocherised and was delivered through a 4-cm transverse incision. Anterior duodenotomy was performed; the mass was excised; and duodenotomy was closed transversely. An extensive literature search did not show any case report of duodenoduodenal IS being managed by this technique. The combination of novel retrograde decompression and intraoperative endoscopy helped us to manage this rare case by this novel technique.

Enhanced view totally extraperitoneal approach: A better alternative to transabdominal preperitoneal approach for irreducible inguinoscrotal and giant inguinal hernias!

The advantages of enhanced view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) over TEP approach are well established in large inguinoscrotal, recurrent inguinal, patients with short pubis to umbilicus distance and in obese patients. Irreducible inguinoscrotal hernias (IISHs) and giant inguinal hernias (GIHs) pose a great challenge. GIHs are hernias which extend below the midpoint of the inner thigh with the patient in the standing position. Majority of these hernias are managed by open, hybrid or by transabdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) approach. TAPP was considered the optimal minimally invasive approach for these hernias as it provides a large working space and reduction of contents under vision. My practice of eTEP has been limited to IISH and GIH. I would like to share some technical tips to manage these cases by eTEP approach.

Curcumin-sulfobutyl-ether beta cyclodextrin inclusion complex: preparation, spectral characterization, molecular modeling, and antimicrobial activity.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Gram-negative bacteria E. coli is responsible for 80-90% of uncomplicated cases in women. The increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance has made the management of UTIs more challenging. Plant-derived compounds have long been used to treat various diseases, and constitute an alternative to antibiotic resistance. Curcumin (CUR), a naturally occurring polyphenolic phytoconstituent obtained from Curcuma longa is endowed with diverse medicinal properties. The present study aims to form a complex of CUR with Sulfobutyl ether-ß-cyclodextrin (SBEßCD) to overcome the poor solubility and bioavailability of CUR and to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of CUR-SBEßCD. Phase solubility studies and spectral characterization showed the entrapment of CUR in the SBEßCD cavity. In silico docking studies performed to investigate the complexation process of CUR with SBEßCD, revealed that the methoxy group and OH group of CUR interacted with SBEßCD. The cytotoxicity and HET-CAM assays confirmed that CUR-SBEßCD was non-irritant. The prepared complex investigated with the disc diffusion method showed antimicrobial activity with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 13 mm against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and 11.5 mm against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) whereas CUR alone did not show any ZOI. It can be concluded that prepared CUR-SBEßCD demonstrated superior antimicrobial activity and therefore can be a promising alternative for the treatment of UTIs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome: A surgical surprise and management during laparoscopic transabdominal pre-peritoneal repair.

Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome is an intersex disorder which occurs due to the failure of regression of Müllerian structures in genotypical and phenotypical males. It is a rare disorder of male internal pseudohermaphroditism with normal secondary sexual characters and XY karyotype. We report a male patient with the diagnosis of bilateral inguinoscrotal hernia with cryptorchidism scheduled for laparoscopic bilateral transabdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) mesh repair with bilateral orchidopexy. Intra-operatively, there was a rudimentary uterus with tubes on both sides. Bilateral testicular biopsy was taken to confirm the presence of testicular tissue and to exclude malignancy and ovarian tissue. Hernia surgery was deferred in the first stage. After 2 weeks, he underwent laparoscopic bilateral orchidopexy with TAPP mesh repair. At 6-year follow-up, there is no recurrence of hernia or features of malignancy in the retained testis.

Correction: The 20-minute whole blood clotting test (20WBCT) for snakebite coagulopathy-A systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009657.].

Evaluation of the quality of life of patients with maxillofacial defects after prosthodontic rehabilitation: A cross-sectional study.

Context: Oral cancer surgery leads to hard- and soft-tissue loss which can affect the quality of life of the individuals. Maxillofacial prosthodontics focuses on optimizing the disrupted oral function of individuals whose rehabilitation will serve as a psychosocial therapy. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) after the maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation following cancer resection surgery. Settings and Design: The sample comprised 15 oral cancer patients who agreed to maxillofacial prosthesis (MFP) after surgery. Materials and Methods: Oral function and OHRQoL were evaluated pre- and postmaxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation. The masticatory function, swallowing function, and articulatory function were evaluated. The OHRQoL was evaluated by OHIPJ-14 questionnaire. Descriptive methods such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were calculated. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the results. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between prescores and postscores of dysphagia score (P = 0.05) and OHIP-J14 score (P = 0.00). No statistically significant differences were evident in perceived chewing ability (P = 0.29) and intelligibility score (P = 0.43). A statistically significant difference was evident in the prescore and postscore of OHIP-J14 subscales: functional limitations (P < 0.05), physical pain (P < 0.05), psychological discomfort (P < 0.05), physical disability (P < 0.05), psychological disability (P < 0.05), and handicap (P < 0.05), before and after maxillofacial prosthetic treatment except for social disability (P > 0.05). Conclusion: OHRQoL significantly improved with maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation.

Botulinum Toxin-A in the Treatment of Excessive Gingival Display: A Clinical Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficiency of BTX-A injections as an alternative approach in patients with excessive gingival display and to observe the patient's satisfaction in order to obtain cosmetically promising results. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients of whom ten female and five male with different types of gummy smiles such as anterior (53%), posterior (7%) and mixed (40%) reported to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Thai Moogambigai Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu from December 2018 to October 2019 those who were willing to undergo corrections using Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTX-A) were selected for the present study using various inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were injected with BTX-A on Yonsei triangle accordingly. The clinical evaluation and patient satisfaction evaluation were carried out. Results: A significant decrease in the gingival exposure of about 3.5 ± 1 mm at 2 weeks after injection was observed and it lasted for 4 months. It was also noted that there was no difference in the measurement of gingival display on maximum smile for postinjection during 5th and 6th month when compared with preinjection measurements. This study confirms that the efficacy of BTX A injection lasted for 4 months and then gradually reduced resulting in reversal of gingival display during maximum smile. Conclusion: The authors conclude that in the cosmetic correction of gummy smile by BTX-A, it is important to identify the type of smile and the main muscles involved, so that the correct injection technique can be used. It also confirms that BTX-A is a novel, competent, risk-free and minimally invasive nonsurgical therapy that can extensively improve smile aesthetics.

Septilin: A versatile anticlastogenic, antigenotoxic, antioxidant and histoprotective herbo-mineral formulation on cisplatin-induced toxicity in mice.

Septilin (Spt), a herbo-mineral formulation contains the extracts of Maharasanadi qoath, Tinospora cordifolia, Rubia cordifolia, Emblica officinalis, Moringa pterigosperma, Glycyrrhiza glabra and powders of Balsamodendron mukul and Shankha bhasma. In the present study, the anticlastogenic, antigenotoxic, antioxidant and histoprotective effects of Spt against cisplatin (Csp) induced toxicity in Swiss albino mice were investigated. The micronucleus (MN) test was used to assess the anticlastogenic potential of Spt (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg bw; p.o., 5 days) on somatic cells of mice. The sperm shape abnormality assay detects germinal nuclear damage, which induces spermatogenic dysfunction. Comet assay was employed to study the antigenotoxic potential of Spt on Csp (10 mg/kg bw; i.p.) induced DNA strand breaks in bone marrow cells of mice. The antioxidant enzyme activity of liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a biological antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured to determine its hepatoprotective property. The ability of Spt to protect against the histopathologic alterations accompanying Csp-induced liver and testicular injury was studied. The frequencies of MN induced by Csp in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells of mice were significantly decreased by the pre-treatment of Spt. Csp treatment increased the percentage of DNA strand breaks and depleted levels of SOD and GSH content along with histopathological changes. Supplementation of Spt attenuated the toxicity of Csp in liver and testes tissues possible viaimprovement of enzymatic and histological parameters toward normal. This study suggests that the protection offered by Spt against Csp-induced toxicity is partly related to the maintenance of the antioxidant system. Overall, this study shows the protective role of Spt against Csp-induced toxicity in somatic and male germinal cells of mice.

The 20-minute whole blood clotting test (20WBCT) for snakebite coagulopathy-A systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy.

BACKGROUND: The 20-minute whole blood clotting test (20WBCT) has been used to detect coagulopathy following snakebite for almost 50 years. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the 20WBCT was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the 20WBCT to detect coagulopathy, indicative of systemic envenoming. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Databases were searched from inception up to 09/12/2020 to identify studies that compared the 20WBCT and INR/fibrinogen on five or more subjects. Data was extracted from full-text articles by two reviewers using a predetermined form. Authors of 29 studies that lacked sufficient details in the manuscript were contacted and included if data meeting the inclusion criteria were provided. Included studies were evaluated for bias using a tailored QUADAS-2 checklist. The study protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO database (CRD42020168953). The searches identified 3,599 studies, 15 met the inclusion criteria and 12 were included in the meta-analysis. Data was reported from 6 countries and included a total of 2,270 patients. The aggregate weighted sensitivity of the 20WBCT at detecting INR >1.4 was 0.84 (CI 0.61 to 0.94), the specificity was 0.91 (0.76 to 0.97) and the SROC AUC was 0.94 (CI 0.91 to 0.96). The aggregate weighted sensitivity of the 20WBCT at detecting fibrinogen <100 mg/dL was 0.72 (CI 0.58 to 0.83), the specificity was 0.94 (CI 0.88 to 0.98) and the SROC AUC was 0.93 (0.91 to 0.95). Both analyses that used INR and fibrinogen as the reference test displayed considerable heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of laboratory clotting assays, the 20WBCT remains a highly specific and fairly sensitive bedside test at detecting coagulopathy following snakebite. However, clinicians should be aware of the importance of operator training, standardized equipment and the lower sensitivity of the 20WBCT at detecting mild coagulopathy and resolution of coagulopathy following antivenom.

Molecular dynamics simulations of simplified sodium borosilicate glasses: the effect of composition on structure and dynamics.

The fusion of valuable material properties has led to the acceptance of sodium borosilicate (NBS) glasses for nuclear waste immobilization. Although popular, the mechanisms associated with these properties are still only partially discovered and need further exploration. Bearing this in mind, the combination of experiments, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the Dell, Yuan and Bray model have been used to understand the role of composition variation for structural and physical aspects of vitrified borosilicate glasses. Experiments have been conducted to evaluate the macroscopic glass parameters of density (ρ), glass transition temperature (Tg) and thermal expansion coefficient (TEC). Experimentally observed trends for ρ, Tg and TEC with composition have been found in good agreement with the MD results. MD studies also provide a microscopic understanding of the glass structure and phenomena associated with the change in the glass composition. A detailed view of local structure and medium-range connectivity for the borosilicate glasses has been explored. Owing to a large B4 population, the results showed the abundant presence of BO4-BO4 connections, we hereby omit the generally accepted "B[4] avoidance rule" for glass. The relative propensity for connecting SiO4/BO3/BO4 structural motifs is in line with the predictions made by the Dell, Yuan and Bray model. Furthermore, the effects of composition on the mechanical integrity of NBS glasses, including the elastic nature, plastic distortion, yielding, breaking stress, and brittle fracture, have been explored by MD simulations. In addition, the glass dynamics have been evaluated by diffusion coefficient and the results suggest that Na+ is likely to be more mobile in the case of NBS1 as compared to NBS2 and NBS3 due to significant disruption in the glass network introduced by a larger amount of Na2O network modifier. Also, the diffusivity was reduced with increasing B2O3 due to the altered role of Na+ ions from network modifiers to charge compensators. The combined study of experiments, MD simulations and the Dell, Yuan and Bray model establish the correlation between the microscopic structure and macroscopic properties of NBS glasses with varied composition, which might be of great scientific use for future glasses in various applications including nuclear waste immobilization.

Gallic acid: A promising genoprotective and hepatoprotective bioactive compound against cyclophosphamide induced toxicity in mice.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent and is also known to interact with specific biological molecules and produce numerous side effects such as genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and nephrotoxicity. CP induces genotoxicity by generating oxygen/nitrogen derived free radicals during chemotherapy and causes DNA damage. Hence, to overcome such side effects of chemotherapeutic agents antioxidants are recommended. Gallic acid (GA) a phenolic compound is commonly exists in variety of fruits and in many plants. In the present study, genoprotecive effects of GA against CP induced genotoxicity in Swiss albino mice were evaluated by using comet assay, bone marrow, and peripheral micronucleus (MN) assays. CP produced oxidative stress induced hepatic damage was assessed by estimating the activity of liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione content (GSH), and also by examining the histological alterations induced by CP in hepatic tissue of mice. It was noticed that, GA pretreatment significantly reduced the frequency of MN and DNA strand breaks induced by CP. GA also protected the hepatic tissue against CP induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated damage and was evident by increased levels of liver SOD and GSH. GA ameliorated the histological changes induced by CP in hepatic tissue. These findings suggest that, GA is a versatile antioxidant with promising protection against CP induced genotoxicity and hepatic damage in Swiss albino mice.

DFT and MD simulation supplemented experiments for isotopic fractionation of zinc compounds using a macrocyclic crown ether appended polymeric resin.

Isotope effect is a quantum mechanical phenomenon and thus poses a challenge for the separation of isotopes of an element of interest, especially for heavy elements. Isotopic fractionation of zinc is also quite difficult and challenging but is necessitated due to various applications of its isotopes ranging from nuclear medicine to nuclear power reactors. Here, we developed the dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) ether-functionalized poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) resin by exploiting the ion and isotope recognition ability of the crown ether using DFT/MD simulations followed by experiments for isotopic fractionation of zinc. The PMADB18C6 adsorbent was prepared and suitably characterized. Both computational and experimental findings demonstrate that the adsorption and isotope separation of zinc with PMADB18C6 are due to the molecular recognition effect of the "O" dipole of the crown ether. Furthermore, both MD simulations and experiments suggest Langmuir type adsorption isotherms. The adsorption of Zn2+ ions on the PMA resin is predicted to be endothermic, whereas it is exothermic on the PMADB18C6 resin, as revealed from the experimentally observed enthalpy change. A small scale fixed bed column study was demonstrated to test the scale-up application. The values of the experimental separation factors: 1.0013 for 66/64 and 1.0027 for 68/64 confirm the computationally predicted results of 1.00088 and 1.0010, respectively, thus establishing the combined strength of the theory and experiments for the identification of efficient fractionating agents for a complex quantum isotope effect which eventually helps in planning further experiments in view of medicinal and technological applications of zinc isotopes.

Spatiotemporal analysis of drug-resistant TB patients registered in selected districts of Karnataka, South India: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) depicts heterogeneous spatial patterns with geographical aggregation of TB cases due to either ongoing person-to-person transmission or reactivation of latent infection in a community sharing risk factor. In this regard, we aimed to assess the spatiotemporal aggregation of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) patients notified to the national TB program (NTP) from 2015 to 2018 in selected districts of Karnataka, South India. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study among DR-TB patients notified from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Chikamagalur districts of the state of Karnataka. Clinico-demographic details were extracted from treatment cards. The registered addresses of the patients were geocoded (latitude and longitude) using Google Earth. Using the QGIS software, spot map, heat maps and grid maps 25 km2 with more than the expected count of DR-TB patients were constructed. RESULTS: Of the total 507 patients studied, 376 (74%) were males and the mean (standard deviation) age of the study participants was 41.4 (13.9) years. From 2015 to 2018, the number of patients increased from 85 to 209 per year, the area of aggregation in square kilometers increased from 113.6 to 205.7, and the number of rectangular grids with more than the expected DR-TB patients (> 1) increased from 12 to 47. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the number of DR-TB patients, area of aggregation, and grids with more than the expected count is a cause for concern. The NTP can use routine programmatic data to develop maps to identify areas of aggregation of disease for targeted TB control activities.

The Evaluation and Use of a Food Frequency Questionnaire Among the Population in Trivandrum, South Kerala, India.

Dietary record tools such as food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and food diaries (FD) are the most commonly used choices for assessing dietary intakes in most large-scale epidemiological studies. The authors developed a self-administered 360-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess dietary intakes amongst a population-based cohort in South Kerala. In the validation study (n = 460), the data were collected using FFQs that were administered on three different occasions which were then compared to 7-day food records. The intake of foods and nutrients was higher as determined by the FFQ than that assessed using food records. Spearman correlations for macro-nutrients ranged from 0.72 for protein to 0.61 for carbohydrates and for micronutrients, from 0.71 for vitamin B6 to 0.34 for magnesium. The correlation was improved with energy-adjusted nutrient intakes. On average, the exact agreement for the macronutrients ranged from 48.2% to 57.1%, and that for micronutrients ranged from 66.7% to 41.9%, with the median percentage of 49.58%. The authors conclude that the FFQ has an acceptable reproducibility, however, there was a systematic trend towards higher estimates with the FFQ for most nutrients compared to the FD records.

Effect of Atorvastatin on Serum Para-Oxonase-1 and C-Reactive Protein in Wistar Rats.

Statins have been widely used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic disease. Atherosclerosis is an ongoing inflammatory response which is involved in mediating all stages of this multifactorial disease. The present study focuses on the long term effect of atorvastatin on the anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties with reference to para-oxonase and C-reactive protein levels in rats. Thirty six Wistar albino rats obtained from the central animal house were divided into 6 groups with 6 rats in each group. Group I and IV served as the control for male and female rats respectively. Group II and V comprised of male and female rats that received low dose of atorvastatin (10 mg/kg body weight). Group III and VI comprised of male and female rats that received high dose of atorvastatin (40 mg/kg body weight) for period of 45 days. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture. The plasma was analysed for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Paraoxonase-1, both basal Paraoxonase (BPON) & Salt stimulated Paraoxonase (SPON) by standard procedures. Results of the present study showed a reduction in TC and increase in HDL-C in both groups of rats receiving low and high dose of Atorvastatin. Both male and female rats responded similarly. The levels of CRP decreased in the male rats receiving either low or high dose of atorvastatin. Activity of SPON and BPON was increased only in the group receiving high dose of atorvastatin in both male and female rats.