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Statins are drugs which help in reducing the cholesterol level by blocking the enzyme, HMG CoA Reductace, which is an important component in lipid metabolism.Statins are prescribed in all patients attending hospital with acute coronary syndromes and are given to people who are at high risk for coronary events.

Statins reduce significantly the incidence of coronary events,  being the most efficient hypolipidemic compounds that have

reduced the rate of mortality in coronary patients.

Decrease in LDL cholesterol>>>>antiatherosclerotic effects>>>>Prevent acute coronary syndromes.

Statins act by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, which is vital in Cholesterol synthesis. They can exert antiatherosclerotic effects independently of their hypolipidemic action.

Other Advantages

Mevalonate, the product of HMG CoA reductase reaction, is the precursor not

only for cholesterol, but also for many other nonsteroidal

isoprenoidic compounds, inhibition of this

key enzyme may result in pleiotropic effects.

Actions of Statins

Cholesterol Biosynthesis

• Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis,
• increased uptake and degradation of low density lipoproteins (LDL),
• inhibition of the secretion of lipoproteins,
• inhibition of LDL oxidation,
• inhibition of the scavenger receptorsexpression

In preventing acute coronary syndromes

• The plaque instability, manifestedas an ulceration of the fibrous cap, the rupture of the

  plaque and internal hemorrhage, are characteristics

  of the plaques with numerous lipid deposits and

  macrophages in the cap

• Statins promoste plaque stability
• statins (fluvastatin, simvastatin) can inhibit t he gelatinolytic activity ofmetalloproteases, as well as their secretion by

  human macrophages in culture.

Others

• statins interfere with events involved in bone formation and impede tumor cell growth.
• Reduction of the accumulation of esterifiedcholesterol into macrophages
• Increase of endothelialNO synthetase,
• reduction of the inflammatoryprocess,
• Increased stability of the atherosclerotic plaques,
• Restoration of platelets activity and of the coagulation process
• Human subjects treated with statins have shown a reduction in the number of bone fractures

How statins are Obtained

Some of the statins are obtained after fungal

fermentation: lovastatin , pravastatin

and simvastatin others

by synthesis: fluvastatin , atorvastatin

, and cerivastatin.

Five statins are, at this moment, in

clinical use: lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin,

atorvastatin and fluvastatin.

Adverse effects of statin therapy

The most important adverse effects are liver and muscle

involvement. Myopathy can occur if

cytochrom P450 or other inhibitors of statins

metabolism are co-administered with statins,

Azole antifungals

Fibrates and niacin enhance myopathy risk

Other risk factors are: liver

damage, renal insufficiency, hypothyroidism.

After a long interval, the blog is going to be back on track. I have always thought of posting regularly, but was never commiktted to posting every day. So I made a commitment, I will be posting atleast twice in a week from now on. 

See you twice a week from now on, have a great day!

I have always wondered, to be happy what do we need? Some people get happy working hard to earn money, some others feel happy when they make money without much sweat.So what are the criteria for being happy

Happiness is a state of mind or feeling such as contentment, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy.Philosophers and religious thinkers have often defined happiness in terms of living a good life, or flourishing, rather than simply as an emotion.

In the Buddhist view, ultimate happiness is only achieved by overcoming craving in all forms. Aristotle saw happiness as “the virtuous activity of the soul in accordance with reason,” or the practice of virtue. In Catholicism, the ultimate end of human existence consists in felicity, or “blessed happiness”, One psychological approach, positive psychology, describes happiness as consisting of positive emotions and positive activities. In most religions, happiness is the eternal reward for those who meet certain criteria.

While direct measurement of happiness is difficult, tools such as The Oxford Happiness Inventory have been developed by researchers.

How ever I believe ultimate happiness is the satisfaction we get in doing something we are capable of or something we had dreamt of, recieving something we never dreamt of, getting recognition, power.Some find happiness in helping others.

I used to find happiness in being idle or evading work. Now I have changed that  now I find happiness in doing more than what I am entrusted with. Repetition is the best way to remember. Practicing is the only way to perfection

Days are becoming smaller and smaller with no useful work done on most days. Posting to my blog has also been infrequent. I usually publish only on compulsion. Because frequent posting requires frequent research. When I did a websearch I came across a topic that would interest all. It was regarding pain relief, a new drug called tapentadol. As I had never heard of this medicine, I just copied and pasted the whole topic from another site and displayed on my site.I never thought of copyright infringment.

     Today when I saw the comments, there this comment was waiting for me. I am so sorry that I published your content. I sincierly apologize. I have removed exclusive content and placed my own content and have given credit to the site owners. I even changed the heading to suit them. 

    That was the new lesson for today. Learn to craft my own content or give credit.

2008 as a year can be looked upon from various aspects, which often differ in a big way.It was as if a nightmare had suddenly occured in the middle a peaceful sleep, or just like a the shock wave from a Cluster bomb laid upon a city which never suspected an attack. It would be those concerned with the financial sector who has this viewpoint.

In my view 2008 was a good year, with me graduating into a young doctor and so many other happenings made 2008 a great year for me. Though there were some falls gfrom my part, I learned much from them making it a fruitful year.

For many 2008 was an year of achievment as in the case of ISRO, which came up with the succesful Chandrayaan project by the end of the year.India inching closer to United States by inking a nuclear deal.Obama being selected as the Next President of America.

War intensified in many parts of the world. While it was Iraq and Afghanistan at the core, the west Asian conflisct also shared a centre piece. By year end the war ticker shifted towards Indian subcontinent with Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers being pushed back by Sri Lankan Army and facing a bitter defeat and the terrorist attack in Mumbai.

Years go by, people are being forgotten easily. Remember to live and don’t be timid.