Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology

An open label randomized controlled study was conducted to compare the quality of life (QoL) and safety of newly diagnosed stage I hypertensive patients randomized into two groups of 30 receiving either enalapril 5 mg or losartan 50 mg per-oral once daily for three months. QoL was assessed at the baseline and at the end of study using SF-36v2 health care questionnaire. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were monitored. Investigations at baseline were compared with those after intervention. Pre & post-intervention QoL transformed scores within each group and change in the same between two groups were analyzed using paired and unpaired t-test respectively...

Prenatal ethanol exposure causes cognitive impairments in rats. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Centella Asiatica (CeA) in offspring of alcoholic rats. Pregnant rats in alcoholic group were orally fed with 30% alcohol at a dose of 5 g/kg body weight during their gestation period. Pregnant rats in control group were given water. Offspring from alcoholic group were divided into treated group and untreated group. Offspring in treated group were orally given whole plant aqueous extract of CeA at a dose of 20 ml/kg body weight...

BACKGROUND: Post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (RH) is impaired in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The aim of the present study was to examine systemic vascular response and endothelial function in patients of Overlap Syndrome (OS) of COPD and OSA and also to investigate whether OS has any additional effect on endothelial dysfunction when compared to dysfunction caused by COPD alone. METHODS: 31 COPD patients and 13 healthy controls participated in the study...

OBJECTIVES: Altered biomechanics leads to the development of degenerative joint disease. The joint pressure and dynamic loading varies during activities of daily living. The study was undertaken to assess the muscle activation pattern of the medial and lateral knee compartments (tibiofemoral joint) during gait in osteoarthritis subjects without and with knee brace undergoing either exercise therapy or balance therapy. The joint load was assessed by the strain gauge transducer and the weight shift pattern is taken as an indicator for the muscle activation pattern...

The aim of the study was to determine the correlation of percentage body fat (%BF) and muscle mass (MM) with aerobic and anaerobic performance in collegiate soccer players. Forty eight male collegiate soccer players were recruited and all the subjects were measured for % BF and MM using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) followed by anaerobic and aerobic performance. The anaerobic performance was measure using vertical jump test and 30 meter sprint test. Aerobic performance tests were Harvard step test and Cooper 12 min run/walk test...

The present study is carried out to assess brainstem auditory evoked potentials in patients of COPD and to evaluate effects of COPD on it before any clinical signs and symptoms of auditory impairment appear. This early diagnosis will help in maintaining a better quality of life in patients of COPD. Study includes 100 individuals divided in two groups, study group (n=50) and controls (n=50). Study group consist of COPD patients those had duration of COPD for more than 5 years with stable course of disease. Latency of wave 1, 111, IV, Vwere prolonged in cases compared to controls in right ear and left ear...

BACKGROUND: It is hypothesized that long-term hypertension might be associated with cognitive decline. OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed at finding out whether persistently elevated blood pressure affects the processing capability of the central nervous system. METHODS: The cognitive functions of 62 male subjects with age ranging from 40 to 60 years forming various groups as normotensives and hypertensives were assessed through Mini-Cog and audio-visual reaction time...

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The study aimed to look at the influence of mini-Objective Structured Practical Examinations (OSPEs) as a formative assessment tool for students and teachers. All first year MBBS students of 2013-14 batch of St. John’s Medical College (n=60) went through four mini-OSPE sessions consisting of 5 sets of 6 stations each during 3 months of hematology practicals and final OSPE after 2 months. Feedback of the students and faculty was obtained. The students were categorized into tertiles based on the cumulative scores obtained in the first three-OSPEs and final-OSPE session and were significantly associated from Chi square test...

Objectives: Transthoracic electrical bio-impedance (TEB) has been proposed as a non-invasive and continuous method of cardiac output (CO) measurement, but it still has not found wide usages in clinics. The present study measured CO, using a new instrument NICOMON, and compared it with Echocardiography (ECHO) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Methods: In the present study 100 patients of AMI were assessed by both ECHO and NICOMON for cardiac output and ECHO is considered as a reference method for comparison...

Electromagnetic waves (EMW) emitted from mobile phone (MP) may cause variety of ocular effects, e.g., cataract, corneal edema and lacrimation of eyes. Currently very little information is available on acute effects of EMW emitted from MP on human visual system. So, study was planned to see the effects of EMW emitted from MP on visual evoked potential (VEP). This study was conducted in 9 healthy male subjects in the age group of 20 40 years with history of exposure to MP for around 1 hour/day for the last 3-9 years...

Background: Medical Council of India (MCI) insists on the training of Medical Teachers in Medical Education Technologies (MET). The need for such a training is debated by many teachers. Hence this study is taken up to analyse its benefits. Subjects and Methods: Seven batches of medical teachers from a private Medical College Hospital underwent a three day training in the basics of MET, as per the guidelines of MCI. Pretest and post test for evaluation and feedback on usefullness were obtained from the participants...

Inflammation and pain is a common cause of medical consultation which generally occurs when a tissue is injured. In recent scenario, attention has been paid for screening new drugs with analgesic activity from plant sources, to reduce or treat pain with less adverse effects than allopathic drugs. The objectives of this research work was to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of phytosterol present in chloroform extract of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis (CEPM) through carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema and hot plate method in male wistar rats...

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute fulminant condition associated with acute lung injury and inflammation leading to hypoxemia, pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. Even though prostaglandins are inflammatory mediators, the role of prostaglandins in ARDS is still not clear. Therefore, we examined the involvement of prostaglandin in experimentally induced ARDS by using prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin. Experiments were conducted on anesthetized adult rats (total n=15). Cannulation of trachea, jugular vein and carotid artery was done in these rats...

Low cardio-respiratory fitness is prevalent in type 2 diabetics. The objectives of the present study was to assess the effect of an exercise on VO2max and HbA1c in type 2 diabetic patient. The baseline VO2max and HbA1c of 30 diabetics were estimated. VO2max was estimated using the Bruce protocol. HbA1c was measured by ion-exchange chromatography with Bio-Rad D10. After an exercise regimen for a period of 6 months, they returned to check their VO2max and HbA1c. The baseline VO2max was 32.67±11.99 ml/kg/min (low for given age) and HbA1C% values were high (7...

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation can be considered as the backbone of acid base physiology. This is conventionally represented using two dimensional plots. Although two dimensional plots are simple to use, the equation in reality represents a surface in three dimensional space. Any combination of PaCO2, [HCO3 —] and blood pH values representing acid base disorders is restricted to this surface. Two models depicting the three dimensional surface generated by the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation were constructed from easily available materials...

Objective: Memory is formed on the basis of sensory stimuli perceived. Vision and Auditory sense are the most common modes to form visual and auditory memory. This study was planned to find the preferred sense route for the formation of memory, between the two genders. Method: In the present cross sectional experimental study, 40 male and 40 female subjects between 18-20 years of age were tested for visual & auditory memory. Results: Results: The results suggested statistically significant higher scores of ‘Memory Test’ in women in comparison to men (F479 3...

Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Obesity can be quantified by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Similarly, IR is commonly quantified by fasting-plasma-insulin (FPI) and Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR). We aimed our study to find correlation between obesity-parameters and IR especially in the Indian population where despite lower BMI there is more prevalence of type 2 DM. In 34 uncomplicated patients of type 2 DM weight and WC were measured and BMI was calculated...

Pre-hypertensives are at increased risk for rise in blood pressure and cardio vascular morbidities. Autonomic dysfunction is both a cause and effect of high blood pressure. Considering its serious prognosis the current study was undertaken with an aim to assess autonomic functions in pre-hypertensive young adult males. Male volunteers of 20-40 years were divided into normotensives (n=44) and clinically healthy pre-hypertensives (n=44). They were subjected to anthropometric measurements, Heart Rate variability (HRV) analysis along with Standard Isometric Handgrip Test (HGT) and Sinus arrhythmia test...

The setback of sleep deficiency and sleep related disorders is colossal among the general population. Sleep deficiency and irregularity in sleep patterns have also been a common occurrence among doctors, as well as medical students for many years now. The study is of great significance in the medical fraternity, as future doctors are highly susceptible to irregular sleep patterns and duration. Obesity is well-known disorder of the 21st century which is constantly on the rise, carrying with it the vast Variety of health related factors...