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.

Gender and stress perception based differences in BMI, hormonal response and appetite in adult Pakistani population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the gender based variations in stress perception induced changes in leptin, cortisol and serotonin (5-HT) trends, appetite and Body Mass Index (BMI). STUDY DESIGN: An analytical comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Neurochemistry Laboratory, University of Karachi, from January to August 2013. METHODOLOGY: Appetite, BMI and serum leptin, cortisol, and 5-HT were measured in 100 men and women of aged 30-60 years, working in teaching institutes of Karachi, to evaluate gender based, stress perception induced variations. The samples were identified by stratified random technique. The chemical variables were estimated through ELISA. RESULTS were analysed using one-way ANOVA and multivariate general linear model using SPSS version 17. RESULTS: Mean stress perception, BMI and serum leptin levels were significantly more in women (p<0.05). Serum cortisol and 5-HT were found significantly reduced in women (p<0.05). BMI, serum cortisol and leptin were found to be increased with increasing level of stress perception (p<0.05). VAS for hunger and desire to eat as the measure of appetite was significantly higher in men (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Stress perception attenuates the positive effect of cortisol and negative effects of leptin and 5-HT on appetite through changes in their circulatory levels. Women perceive more stress and exhibit significantly attenuated changes in hormonal levels and appetite which may be the contributing factor towards obesity. Increased BMI in women despite decreased appetite merits more studies.

Mediastinal enteric cyst.

A 20-year-old female presented with complaints of right-sided chest pain, cough, fever and shortness of breath for the preceding one-and-a-half year. Air entry was decreased over the middle and lower chest. Computed tomography scan of the chest revealed a cystic lesion with thick margins present in the right hemi-thorax. The cyst was excised by posterolateral thoracotomy. Histopathology revealed it to be mediastinal enteric cyst with intestinal and pancreatic tissue.