Sharanjit Kaur

To study the efficacy and safety of doxophylline and theophylline in bronchial asthma.

BACKGROUND Asthma is a non communicable chronic disease prevalent all over the world. Two commonly used methylxanthines, theophylline and doxofylline were compared in the study in stable asthmatic patients at recommended doses by various spirometric lung function tests with forced expiratory volume at second one (FEVI) between 50 to 80% of predicted FEVI. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 100 patients were divided in two groups. Group I was administered 300 mg theophylline twice a day and Group II was administered doxofylline 400 mg twice a day orally for six weeks. Spirometric variables symptom score, and adverse effects were recorded at the baseline level and after six weeks of therapy. Data was compared and analysed statistically. RESULTS The spirometric values of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEVI), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC showed a statistically significant improvement over base line with the use of both theophylline as well as doxophylline, but were not statistically different from each other. There was a statistically significant improvement in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) after six weeks of treatment with doxophylline compared to theophylline. It was found that the doxophylline has a better safety profile as compared to theophylline. Adverse events occurred in a greater proportion of patients in the theophylline group. CONCLUSION In the study it was concluded that both theophylline and doxofylline improved the lung function tests and symptoms in patients of mild Bronchial Asthma, but doxofylline has a better profile in terms of safety.

Comparative Study of Electrocardiographic Changes in Patients of Acute Mania Receiving Verapamil or Lithium Carbonate

AIM TO compare the ECG changes in patients of acute mania receiving verapamil and lithium carbonate. OBJECTIVES Verapamil used in resistant manic patients not responding to any drug therapy, should be considered for its side effects on cardiovascular system. It causes bradycardia and myocardial infarction in risk patients. So it is important to take clinical and other relevant history and do ECG before the patient to put on verapamil drug therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with acute mania were randomized to receive lithium (n =25) or verapamil (n=25) in a 4-wk double-blind comparative study. Both groups were homogeneous with regard to demographic and disease variables. After giving first dose of verapamil, patients were observed for any cardiovascular side effects and ECG changes during the study. The study parameters were recorded at the baseline, after 7 d and 28 d of trial medication. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The Unpaired t-test was used for comparing baseline data in two groups and paired t-test was used for the interval data. A level of less than 5% value of p was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Both treatment groups showed no major differences in ECG changes during the trial except for the heart rate and T wave changes. The study showed that verapamil produces more bradycardia and T wave depression than with lithium in the treatment of mania. CONCLUSION The baseline electrocardiogram should be done and heart rate should be monitored during the treatment.

To compare the efficacy of trimetazidine and diltiazem in chronic stable angina

Background: Trimetazidine, a cytoprotective agent, is better anti-ischemic drug than conventional agents without causing any change in heart rate and blood pressure. Aims and Objectives: To compare the efficacy of trimetazidine with diltiazem in chronic stable angina. Materials and Methods: Thirty diagnosed cases of chronic stable angina were subjected to TMT I with total effort duration and time to precipitate angina being the end point. Patients were given 60 mg of trimetazidine for 8 weeks, in addition to their conventional treatment and subjected to another TMT II with the same end points. After a washout period of 2 weeks, the same patients were put on diltiazem 60 mg TDS for 8 weeks again with another third TMT III to evaluate the results. Results: The mean age of all patients was 57.70 ± 8.44. The mean increase in effort duration between TMT II (7.50 ± 1.52) and I (6.21 ± 1.65 min) was 1.29 min which was statistically significant (P 0.05 not significant). The increase in time to ST-segment depression between TMT I and II was 1.35 min. (P 0.005). Conclusions: The patients with stable angina had a better clinical improvement after treatment with trimetazidine, without any adverse effects.