Comparison of serum levels of Cystatin-C and traditional renal biomarkers for the early detection of pre-hypertensive nephropathy.

Objective: To compare serum Cystatin-C and serum creatinine levels along with estimated glomerular filtration rate of apparently healthy people of South Asian descent with pre-hypertension to determine which is better in detecting reversible renal dysfunction.

Methods: :The comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in 2013-14, and comprised apparently normal healthy male and female volunteers. The subjects were divided into normotensive group 1 and pre-hypertensive group 2.

Effect of ascorbic acid and alpha tocopherol supplementation on acute restraint stress induced changes in testosterone, corticosterone and nor epinephrine levels in male Sprague Dawley rats.

Background: Stress of various origins suppresses male reproductive functions through releasing stress hormones. Antioxidant like ascorbic acid (AA) and alpha tocopherol (AT) have been thought to protect the body against stress induced damage. Whether, these antioxidants confer protection against the stress induced increased levels of corticosterone and nor-epinephrine, and decreased testosterone secretion have been investigated in this study.

Cut-off values of anthropometric indices to determine insulin resistance in Pakistani adults.

Objective: To determine the cut-off values of anthropometric indices to indicate insulin resistance and correlation of these indices with insulin resistance in Pakistani adults.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Military Hospital and Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from June 2010 to November 2011. The study measured 209 adults for body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and conicity index.

Adrenocortical response to 17-beta estradiol replacement in oophorectomized female sprague dawley rats.

Objective: To determine the effect of estradiol treatment on serum corticosterone levels in Oophorectomized (OVX) female Sprague Dawley rats exposed to chronic restraint stress.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi and National Institute of Health, Islamabad, from January to December 2008.

Effect of cholecalciferol and levo carnitine on plasma glucose, plasma insulin and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats.

Objective: To compare the effects of combined and individual supplementation of cholecalciferol and levo carnitine on plasma glucose, plasma insulin and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats.

Methods: The randomised controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, between October 2010 and April 2011. It comprised 80 healthy Sprague Dawley rats who were divided into four groups (n = 20 each).

Effect of levocarnitine on endurance capacity in type-2 diabetic rats.

Background: Carnitine is an essential cofactor for the enzymes transporting long chain fatty acids across mitochondrial membranes for beta oxidation and also modulates the intra-mitochondrial acylCoA/CoA ratio. This study was conducted to determine the effect of levo-carnitine on endurance capacity, skeletal muscle fatigue characteristics and glycogen stores in diabetic rats.

Methods: This laboratory based experimental study was conducted in department of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, from June 2009 to July 2010.

Serum levo-carnitine levels and skeletal muscle functions in type 2 diabetes mellitus in rodents.

Objective: To study serum levo-carnitine (l-carnitine) levels and isometric contraction, force frequency relationship and fatigue of rodent skeletal muscles in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Place And Duration Of Study: Physiology Department, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, from January 2009 to January 2010.

Levo-carnitine reduces oxidative stress and improves contractile functions of fast muscles in type 2 diabetic rats.

Background: Metabolic derangements in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are likely to affect skeletal muscle contractile functions adversely. Levo-carnitine improves muscle contractile functions in healthy humans and rats and corrects metabolic derangements in T2DM. Therefore, it is likely to improve muscle contractile functions in T2DM as well.

Gender differences of heart rate variability in healthy volunteers.

Objective: To identify the basic values of heart rate variability in Pakistani population and to verify our hypothesis that there are gender differences in cardiovascular autonomic modulation.

Methods: The descriptive cross sectional study based on convenience probability sampling was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Heart Diseases (AFIC/NIHD) Pakistan. The duration of the study was from December 2009 to July 2010.

Correlation of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels to liver histology in chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: To assess the correlation of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels to severity of disease on liver biopsy in patients of chronic hepatitis C.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Gastroenterology at Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from January 2006 to February 2007.

Interferon-alpha induced and ribavirin induced thyroid dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is one of the commonest infectious diseases of the liver and may lead to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Combination therapy with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and Ribavirin is the treatment of choice for CHC. Combination therapy is thought to act by means of antiviral mechanisms and immunomodulation.

Correlation of eosinophil derived neurotoxin with airway resistance in asthmatics.

Objective: To determine the correlation of EDN with lung function tests (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75%) in asthmatics and to compare these with matched controls.

Methods: This study was carried out at Army Medical College & Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Forty four asthmatic patients and equal number of matching controls were selected.

Association of response to combined interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin therapy in patients of chronic hepatitis c with serum alanine aminotransferase levels and severity of the disease on liver biopsy.

Background: Raised serum alanine aminotransferase (serum ALT) levels indicate active liver disease while liver biopsy has been considered the 'gold standard' for assessing the severity of disease in patients of chronic Hepatitis C. The response of these patients to standard treatment regimen of interferon (INF)-alpha-2b and ribavirin for 24 weeks have been studied.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of response to combined INF alpha-2b and ribavirin therapy in patients of chronic hepatitis C with serum ALT levels and severity of the disease on liver biopsy.