Early treatment can reverse and retard the complications associated with hypertension. The main aim of the ABSTRACT Background: Beta blockers have been used in the treatment of hypertension, since last four decades and are widely accepted as the first-line treatment for hypertension. Nebivolol, a third generation β-blocker has highest β1 selectivity and is devoid of intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. Along with peripheral vasodilatation and nitric oxide (NO)-induced benefits such as antioxidant activity and reversal of endothelial dysfunction, nebivolol promotes better protection from cardiovascular events. The objective of the study was to compare the effects of atenolol and nebivolol on both blood pressure and lipid profile in patients of mild to moderate hypertension. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, parallel, open labelled study. Patients were recruited from the medicine out-patient department (OPD) and cardiology OPD. A total of 100 patients were enrolled in the study. 50 patients were allocated to atenolol group and 50 patients to nebivolol group. BP and baseline investigations such as lipid profile were performed. Tests to determine lipid profile were performed on the first visit (Week 0) and at 24 weeks. Continuous variables between the two treatment groups were analyzed by unpaired t-test. Efficacy endpoints within the group were analyzed by using paired t-test.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in India and worldwide. Hypercholesterolemia plays a pivotal role in atherogenesis which gave rise to universally accepted cholesterol diet-CVD hypothesis. Statins are the most potent and commonly used drugs for treating hypercholesterolemia. With atorvastatin, because of the long lasting active metabolites, half-life of HMG-CoA reductase inhibition reaches 20 to 30 hours. Thus, it is conceivable that alternate-day atorvastatin treatment might be effective in maintaining the lipid-lowering efficacy. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, open labelled, parallel group study, 100 participants with serum low density cholesterol (LDL-C) level 100 mg/dL-190 mg/dL were recruited. Group A received 20 mg atorvastatin on alternate day and group B received 20 mg atorvastatin daily for 12 weeks. Follow up visits were scheduled at 6 and 12 weeks at which fasting serum LDL-C, serum TC, serum TG, serum HDL were estimated. Creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) estimations were also done and participants were examined for occurrence of myalgia, jaundice or any other adverse effect.

Diabetes is fast gaining the status of a potential epidemic in India with more than 62 million diabetic individuals currently diagnosed with the disease. There are atleast 10 different drug classes for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but metformin is recommended as the initial medication for treatment of T2DM. Inter-individual variability in response and few clinical or biomarker predictors of response reduces its optimal use. Personalized medicine promises a path for individually optimized treatment, but realizing this promise will require a more comprehensive characterization of disease and drug response. As per American Medical Association, pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic variations that influence individual response to drugs. Knowing whether a patient carries any of these genetic variations can help prescribers individualize drug therapy, decrease the chance for adverse drug events, and increase the effectiveness of drugs. There are variety of genes controlling metformin transport in the body, for eg-SLC22A1, SLC22A2, SLC22A3, SLC22A4 etc. The purpose of this review article is to explain in brief pharmacogenomics of metformin and its application and practical hurdles in its translation.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a progressive disease characterised by declining β-cell function. Cornerstone of effective management of T2DM is maintaining strict glycaemic control through agency of various oral hypo-glycaemic agents (OHAs). Metformin (a biguanide) currently forms the preferred treatment in newly diagnosed patients of T2DM. Vildagliptin is a potent, orally administered, competitive and reversible inhibitor of DPP-4, which was launched in 2006 and is now approved in more than 70 countries worldwide.Methods: The study was a single blinded study conducted in a district level tertiary care hospital attached to a medical teaching institute. Newly diagnosed patients were screened and randomised in two groups. Group 1 received metformin (500 mg) twice daily and group 2 received vildagliptin (50 mg) twice daily. FPG, PPPG, HbA1c and Weight were assessed on week 0 and week 12.Results: At the end of 12 weeks, ∆FPG was 39.33±4.72mg/dL and 37.84±6.58mg/dL with metformin and vildagliptin respectively. ∆PPPG was 73.88±13.80 mg/dL and 65.08±13.00mg/dL with metformin and vildagliptin. ∆HbA1c was 1.12±0.46 and 0.95±0.32 with metformin and vildagliptin. ∆Weight was 1.02±0.90 Kg with metformin and 0.69±1.33 Kg.Conclusions: Vildagliptin offers an alternative mode of therapy for newly diagnosed, obese patients of type 2 DM, especially those with impaired fasting plasma glucose.

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