The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) provides the most powerful regulation of blood pressure and angiotensin II is the primary mediator in this system. The binding of angiotensin II to AT1 receptors produces a number of potentially harmful effects that include increase in blood pressure, progression of atherosclerosis, myocardial and vascular hypertrophy. Losartan was the first ARB and found to reduce the risk of stroke, new onset of diabetes and to have a proven benefit in stroke. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of losartan on different biochemical parameters viz; blood sugar, lipid profile, uric acid and serum electrolytes. 29 newly diagnosed patients of either gender with essential hypertension were included in the study. Baseline readings of lipid profile, serum electrolytes, fasting blood sugar and uric acid were recorded before starting losartan monotherapy and were repeated after six months. After comparing the means, it was revealed that there was a significant increase in HDL cholesterol and a significant decrease in serum uric acid levels after six months of losartan therapy. No significant difference was found in blood sugar and electrolyte levels. These findings suggest that losartan can be an attractive option for the treatment of hypertension and for metabolic syndrome.
Objective: To determine whether fluoxetine (FLU) induces penile erection (PE) in rats either indirectly via its 5-HT neuronal reuptake inhibiting activity or directly by stimulating the 5-HT 2c receptors in the brain. Method: The effect of pre-treatment with para-Chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) on fluoxetine and d-fenfluramine (d-FEN) induced PEs (Penile erections) was studied in albino rats. Results: FLU (10mg/kg) and d-FEN (2.5mg/kg) treated groups exhibited a significant increase in number of PEs as compared to their respective control (DW treated) groups. Pre-treatment with PCPA (100mg/kg/day) had no significant effect on the PEs induced by FLU (10mg/kg) but did significantly decrease the PEs induced by d-FEN (2.5 mg/kg). Conclusion: Our results indicate that pre-treatment with selective 5-HT depleter PCPA (100mg/kg/day) significantly decreased PEs induced by d-FEN (2.5mg/kg) but had no significant effect on the number of PEs induced by FLU (10 mg/kg). This indicates that the PE inducing effect of FLU is probably due to the stimulation of 5HT 2C receptors.
In the present study, we have recorded the percentage of prescribing prevalence for different respiratory drugs and antibiotics and DDDs/1000inhabitants/day for different antibiotics to recognize the drug utilization trends in respiratory tract infections. In the present study, among the upper respiratory infection cases, 89.60% of the patients received antibiotics and culture was done in only 4.62% of patients. Among the lower respiratory infection cases all the patients were prescribed antibiotic therapy, culture was done in 39.58% of patients, and 55.26% was sterile. Pneumonia was found more in the age group of 41 to 70 whereas Nonspecific URTI and Sinusitis in the age group of 17 to 30. The sex distribution of the patients showed that the female constituted of 59.38% of the patients and male constituted of 40.56% of the patients. The upper respiratory tract infection constituted of 69.47% of patients and lower respiratory tract infection constituted of 31.16% of patients.
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