International Physiology

The objective of this short communication was to provide evidence for cause-effect inter-relationship and action-reaction association between Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and Peripheral Neuropathy along a structure-function continuum. ERS layed an important role in pathogenesis of rediabeticand diabetic neuropathy, bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy and Familial amyloid polyneuropathy. Whilst the existing evidence confirmed the presence of ERS in peripheral neuropathy, the ERS-based interventions had mixed results.

Keywords: Endoplasmic reticulum stress; Peripheral neuropathy; Neurophysiology; Molecular neurology. 

Background: India has one of the highest rates of oral cancer in the world, partly attributed to high prevalence of tobacco chewing. The WHO predicts that tobacco deaths in India may exceed 1.5 million annually by 2020.[1] Aims and objectives: 1) To study the ART, VRT, CRT, in tobacco chewers of duration 1-5 years. 2) To study the immediate effects on ART, VRT, CRT after chewing a packet of Gutka in tobacco chewers. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 25 apparently healthy male tobacco chewers of age group 20-25 years and equal number of healthy age and sex matched controls. Simple (random and alert) and discrimination times were recorded in both groups using response analyzer (YSRT- 0101). Results and Conclusions: Simple reaction times (random and alert) were shortened in tobacco chewers before and after chewing a packet of Gutka due to the stimulatory effect of nicotine. The discrimination reaction times were prolonged in tobacco chewers before chewing a packet of Gutka and reason is not known. Further studies are needed in this regard. After chewing a packet of Gutka the discrimination reaction times were shortened in the cases; again this is attributable to stimulatory effect of nicotine. 

Keywords: Gutka; Reaction time; Tobacco chewers.  

Introduction: Increasing evidence suggests that playing competitive cricket produces many health benefits which include endurance, stamina, balance and physical fitness. Even though cricket is one of the oldest organized sports, there are very few studies on the association between playing competitive cricket and pulmonary functions. Aims and Objectives: To study the pulmonary functions in competitive cricket players and to compare the same with matched sedentary control group. Materials and Methods: In this study pulmonary functions such as FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, MVV, PEFR parameters were studied in 48 competitive cricket players in the age group of 18- 26 years. These parameters were compared with matched apparently normal healthy sedentary medical students using unpaired t test. Results: In our study significant increase was observed in pulmonary function parameters of competitive cricketers than sedentary controls. Competitive cricketers had higher mean of percentage value of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) (P=0.0122), Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) (P=0.0129), Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) (P=0.0249) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) (P=0.0119) than controls. However there was no significant difference in FEV1/FVC ratio (P=0.3404) between the study groups. Conclusion: The current study has shown that, there is significant positive relationship between playing cricket and pulmonary function in healthy young men. The improvement in pulmonary function could be due to increased strength of respiratory muscles. 

Keywords: Cricket; FEV1; FVC; PEFR; Pulmonary function. 

Early man’s ability to survive depended primarily on physical fitness. It is known that a number of indices of physical fitness are influenced by yogasana and gymnastics. Aim of the study is to find out, effects of these short term exercises on Auditory reaction time, visual reaction time and cutaneous reaction time in healthy young volunteers.  The protocol of the study involved measurement of ART, VRT and CRT in both hands separately; before and after one month of yoga and gymnastics training in two groups. Each consisting of 25 healthy male volunteers, in the age group of 18- 23 years. Response – analyzer [YSRT – 0101] instrument was used for the measurements of ART, VRT and CRT. The results of study showed that, the random and alert RTs, were decreased after both yoga and gymnastics training (p<0.001). Right hand RTs were significantly shorter than the left hand RTs before and after yoga as well as gymnastics training (random and alert, p<0.001). There was a greater reduction in random RTs after gymnastics training whereas, a greater reduction in alert RTs was found after yoga training but the p value was not significant. To conclude, yogasana and gymnastics training, both have showed the improvement in the RTs.

Keywords: ART; CRT; VRT; Gymnastics; Yogasana.