International Physiology

Background and Aim: Electrical conduction of motor and sensory nerves of the human body is evaluated by Nerve Conduction Velocity, which is a part of electro-diagnostic procedures, which help in set up the type and character of the nerve and commonly used to evaluate function of nerve. Present study was performed with an aim to know the effect of Height and BMI on median motor nerve conduction velocity. Materials and Methods: A Descriptive Cross–Sectional was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Index Medical college Hospital and Research Centre, Indore. The study group included 55 female medical students with age 18 to 23 years in secretory phase of menstrual phase. Nerve conduction velocity was calculated by recording evoked electromyogram (EMG) by stimulating median nerve at elbow and at wrist with the help of EMG electrodes and isolated stimulator by using Power lab 8/30 series with dual Bioamplifier. Statistical analysis was done by using Karl Pearson Correlation coefficient. Results: There is quite negative correlation effect with height on motor nerve conduction velocity with “r” value -0.26, and results was found to be not statistically significant. There is slender negative correlation effect of BMI on conduction velocity with “r” value -0.17 which was also non-significant. Conclusion: Through escalating height and BMI, nerve conduction velocity is diminishes which was found to be not significant statistically. The above two biological factors be required to be taken into contemplation as understanding nerve conduction studies.

Keywords: BMI; Correlation; Height; Indore; Nerve Conduction Velocity.

Introduction: Pregnancy is a physiological condition associated with profound adaptive changes in the maternal hemodynamics and cardiovascular system. Autonomic nervous system plays a central role in this adaptation to the various needs of pregnancy. One of the well known complication, that occurs commonly during pregnancy is pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH)/ preeclampsia (PE). Impairment of autonomic functions has been suggested as one of the cause of pregnancy induced hypertension. As sympathetic vascular reactivity has been reported as one of the indicators of autonomic status to predict the development of hypertension. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess sympathetic vascular reactivity in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences (UPUMS), Saifai, Etawah, in association with Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The pregnant females in first and second trimesters reporting to the Out Patient Department (OPD) of Obstetrics and Gynaecology were included in the study. They were subjected to the Cold Pressor Test for the assessment of sympathetic vascular reactivity in sitting position by the method as described by Hines and Brown. Results: A total of 14 subjects were recruited in the study (7 subjects were in the first trimester and another 7 were in the second trimester). The 51.7 percent of the subjects during first trimester turned out to be the hyper- reactors while in second trimester this was true for the 71.4 percent of the subjects. Conclusion: As the subjects even in the first trimester showed increased blood pressure reactivity, thus it is hypothesised that assessment of sympathetic vascular reactivity reflected as blood pressure reactivity from early pregnancy may be a useful indicator for development of pregnancy induced hypertension and preeclampsia in later pregnancy.

Keywords: Pregnancy; Autonomic Functions; Sympathetic Vascular Reactivity; Pregnancy Induced Hypertension; Preeclampsia.

Stress is common and inevitable in present scenario. Ability to combat stress varies from person to person. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of acute stress on cardiovascular parameters in sedentary workers and athletes. One hundred asymptomatic healthy males, aged 17-25 years, participated voluntarily. Subjects were divided into 2 groups of 50 each comprising of sedentary workers (Group A) and athletes (Group B). Cold pressor test (CPT) was used to induce acute stress. In CPT, cold water of 8o C was used to induce experimental stress. In both the groups, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded in basal condition and post CPT-immediate, 1 minute and 5 minutes after removal of cold stimulus. Statistical analysis was done by one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests using the (window) SPSS Statistics 17.0 version. Results showed that there was significant increase in cardiovascular parameters viz. blood pressure and heart rate in both the groups but these increments were more significant in sedentary workers in comparison to athletes. Recovery from the effects of cold stress was faster in group B (athletes). The results suggest that regular athletic activities and aerobic exercise reduces the effects of stress and also helps in faster recovery from the ill effects of stress.

Keywords: Acute Stress; Athletic Activity; Sedentary Life Style; Cold Pressor Test.

Previous studies have reported and documented the beneficial effects of deep breathing as a part of either short term or long term practice of pranayama. Few studies have shown increase in Heart rate variability (HRV) on performing non yogic deep breathing exercise for a long period. However our knowledge about the effects of few minutes of deep breathing exercise (DB) on HRV is lacking. In the present study we examined the effects of few minutes of deep breathing exercise (DB) on HRV. The study was conducted on a homogenous group of 17 male students. The students performed deep breathing exercises for 3 minutes at the rate of 6 breaths per minute; short term HRV indices were assessed before and after deep breathing exercise. The data analysis was carried out by using SPSS19.0 software. Results were expressed as mean & standard deviation. A Pvalue of < 0.001 was considered as highly significant. The mean LF, HF & LF/HF ratio before DB exercise was 46.07±11.03, 50.97±8.67 & 0.95±0.36. The mean LF, HF & LF/HF ratio after DB exercise was 36.68±11.76, 58.29±9.64 & 0.67±0.32.Mean differences in all parameters before and after DB exercise was found to be statistically significant. There was a significant decrease in the sympathetic tone (LF) & a significant increase in the parasympathetic tone (HF) after DB exercise. This shows that deep breathing for few minutes has a beneficial effect on heart.

Keywords: Deep Breathing Exercise; Heart Rate Variability.

Background: Tobacco is one of the most abused drugs of all ages. It is said to alter the Intraocular Pressure and hence vulnerable to cause ocular disease. Aim: To study the Intraocular Pressure changes in smokers. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Dept. of ophthalmology, Navodaya medical college on 20 healthy male smokers and 20 controls in age group of 20-50 years. Smokers included with history of smoking 10-20 cigarettes per day for duration of >5 years. Exclusion criteria involved any ocular pathology, hypertension, diabetes. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using schiotz tonometer. Statistical analysis done by student t test. Results: The mean difference in right eye smokers is 17.08 ±3.06, right eye non-smokers is 13.70±2.66. The mean difference in left eye smokers is 17.25±2.75 , left eye non-smokers is 14.29±3.03.Thus it was observed that the mean difference in IOP changes amongst smokers was significantly increased in both right and left eye (p<0.05) when compared to non-smokers. Conclusion: It was observed that tobacco in the form of smoking increases intraocular pressure. Measuring intraocular pressure by schiotz tonometer is simple technique which can be done at periphery centers to detect high risk group for glaucoma.

Keywords: Intra Ocular Pressure; Smokers.

Introduction: The nature of some jobs and the related exposures predispose certain groups of workers to considerably larger risk of developing occupational lung diseases. Occupational lung disorders studies in India have mostly been among industrial workers exposed to occupational hazards. Traffic police, who are continuously exposed to high levels of ambient air pollution, however has attracted less attention. This study was done in this context, among 40 traffic policemen to assess effect of exposure to traffic pollution on pulmonary function. Aims and Objectives: To study the pulmonary functions in traffic policemen and to compare the same with matched control group. Materials and Methods: In this study pulmonary functions such as FVC, FEV1, FEV1 /FVC, MVV, PEFR parameters were studied in 40 traffic policemen in the age group of 30-45 years. These parameters were compared with matched apparently normal healthy control group selected from general population using unpaired ‘t’ test. Results: The present study shows that among traffic policemen and controls, traffic policemen have statistically significant low values of forced vital capacity (FVC) (P=0.0015), Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1 ) (P=0.0012), FEV1 /FVC (P=0.0001), Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) (P=0.0153) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) (P=0.0016). Conclusion: There is significant decrement in pulmonary function parameters in the traffic policemen exposed to vehicle exhaust as compared to control group. This reduction in pulmonary function can be detected with spirometry before pulmonary functions are grossly impaired.

Keywords: Traffic Policemen; FEV1; FVC; PEFR; Pulmonary Function.

Background & Objective: Practicing exercises on regular basis will reduce the cardiovascular diseases and also reduce death due to cardiac complications. The independent and additional benefit of practicing physical exercises regularly help in improving the aerobic condition of the body and also helps in leading healthy life. Physical fitness index is one of the important parameter which is not given much attention. To measure the physical fitness index among Indian elite runners and compare it with control group, by using Harvard step test. To correlate the PFI of runners with resting heart rate. Methods: PFI and BMI, HR of 31 runners at national level was compared with that of 31 controls. Runners were divided into two groups, group A (>2yrs & < 3yrs of training) and group B (>3yrs & < 10yrs of training).Correlation of PFI with resting Heart rate was done. Results: PFI was high among runners and showed statistically significant values. Group B players (seniors) showed highly statistically significant PFI value. Correlation analysis has shown negative correlation of PFI with resting Heart rate with statistically significant value in runners. Conclusion: Improvement in PFI by regular practice will ultimately improve cardiorespiratory endurance in turn improving the sports performance.

Keywords: Runners; Physical Fitness Index (PFI); Harvard Step Test; Heart Rate (HR).

Background: Knowledge of blood group distribution is also important for clinical studies, for reliable geographical information and it will help a lot in reducing the maternal mortality rate, as access to safe and sufficient supply of blood will help significantly in reducing the preventable deaths. Aims and Objectives: To study the distibution of ABO and Rh(D) blood group system among phase I MBBS students in North East Karnataka. Material and Methods: The retrospective study done by using records of 300 healthy medical students of 2014-15 and 2015-16 batch studying at the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences belonging to both the sexes volunteered for the study. The study was conducted at the department of Physiology during the month of August 2015. Results: Distribution of ABO blood group system among phase I MBBS students. The study shows the distribution of various blood groups in numbers as well as in percentage form. Males constituted 60% and females constituted 40% of this study. ‘B’ blood group formed the most common with 52% (50.6% B+ and 1.4% B-) followed by ‘O’ blood group with 22%( 21% O+,1% O-). ‘A’ blood group with 16%(14.2% A+, 1.8% A-). AB blood group with 10% (9% AB+.1% AB-). Conclusion: The study depicts the frequency occurrence of different blood groups among the students in VIMS, Bellary. Also to create awareness as to which blood groups should be stored and given importance.

Keywords: Blood Group; ABO System; Students; Percentage; North East Karnataka.