International Physiology

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in men and women in industrialized world.As Indian population differs in body composition and lifestyle, this study was undertaken to correlate the body composition parameters and lipid profile parameters as well as correlation of these parameters in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine postmenopausal women were selected after their consent and divided into two groups. Group-I consists of 32 postmenopausal women within 5 years of menopause and Group-II consists of 37 postmenopausal women after 5 years of menopause. The body composition parameters were measured by classical anthropometry and skin fold callipers and lipid profile parameters were analysed by enzymatic method. Institutional ethical clearance was obtained. Statistical Analysis: Data was expressed as mean±SD. Pearson correlation test was used for analysis. p value less than 0.01 was considered statistically significant. Results: No statistically significant correlation was found between most of the body composition parameters in both the groups except for the weight (r =-0.3600, p<0.05) BSA (r =-0.3555, p<0.05), and FM (r =-0.3946, p<0. 05) which were significantly correlated with HDL-C in Group-II subjects. Discussion and Conclusion: This correlation may be due to increased intra-abdominal adipose tissue, as it has high sensitivity to catecholamine induced lipolysis. Non-esterified fatty acids mobilized from Intra-abdominal adipose tissue into the portal circulation, may increase hepatic production of TG and Apo- B, and increase subsequent export of VLDL particles.

Keywords: Menopause; Correlation; Body Composition; Lipid Profile.

Hypothyroidism is a clinical case due to structural or functional deterioration of production of thyroid hormone and affects most the organ systems. Major clinical findings are fatigue, coarseness and dryness of the skin, intolerance to cold, poor concentration. The present study aim was to assess the association of lipid profile in hypothyroidism. 30 cases of hypothyroidism were chosen, 30 age group subjects’ controls were chosen. Blood samples were collected from patient and T3, T4 and TSH levels were measured. Also, triglyceride, Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL cholesterol levels in blood was measured. It was found that triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, LDL levels were significantly increased in hypothyroidism cases than the controls. It is concluded that increasing total cholesterol, Triglycerides and LDL cholesterol Levels are at may enhance risk for developing cardiovascular disorders and Atherosclerosis

Keywords: Hypothyroidism; Dyslipidemia; Total Cholesterol; Triglycerides. 

Objective: Diabetes Mellitus is a group of common metabolic disorders that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia. Several distinct types of Diabetes Mellitus exist and are caused by interaction of genetics and environmental factors. Individuals with Diabetes Mellitus may develop signs of autonomic dysfunction involving cholinergic, noradrenergic and peptidergic systems. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus has a strong genetic component. Individuals with a parent with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus have an increased risk of Diabetes. If both parents have Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, the risk approaches to 40%. Thus this study is designed to evaluate BMI and autonomic functions in nondiabetic offsprings of Type 2 diabetic parents. Method: The cross-sectional study of BMI and Parasympathetic Functions was carried out in 30 healthy offsprings of Type 2 Diabetic Parents (Study group) and 30 healthy offsprings of Nondiabetic Parents (Control group) in the age range of 18 - 21 years randomly selected among 1st MBBS students. Statistical Analysis is done by ‘Z’ test. Results: There is insignificant decrease in parasympathetic functions and insignificant increase in BMI in Study Group compared to Control Group. Conclusion: Our observations indicate that subclinical autonomic dysfunction may develop without the presence of long-term hyperglycemia in family members of Type 2 diabetic subjects having higher BMI; Thus, it is not simply a complication of the hyperglycemia in these patients. An explanation could be that it is possible to inherit susceptibility genes for autonomic neuropathy, and that these genes could be expressed before or maybe even without the subjects developing diabetes. Different factors (including hyperglycemia) could subsequently affect the expression of the genes and influence the progression of neuropathy.

Keywords: Parasympathetic Functions; Healthy Offsprings. 

Blood pressure follows a circadian variation i.e. it falls at night during sleep (nocturnal dipping) and rises in the morning. Lack of nocturnal dipping predisposes to various cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is increasing day by day especially in younger age. It may be considered as a risk factor for various cardio metabolic diseases like hypertension, diabetes. The present study was designed to investigate the association of various obesity parameters with circadian variation of blood pressure as assessed by dipper state. 60 healthy young adults of age between 20 to 35 years were enrolled. Subjects with any H/o hypertension, cardiovascular, renal disorders were excluded. BMI was calculated. Waist circumference (WC) was measured in cms. Skinfold thickness was measured using Harpendent skinfold calipers and body fat percentage was calculated using Durnin-Womersley formula. 24 hours Ambulatory Blood Pressure was measured using Contec Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor (ABPM). ABPM was set to measure BP every 15 min during daytime and every 30-min in night time while sleeping. Subjects were divided into two groups according to their dipper profile, as defined: dippers (nocturnal decrease in systolic BP was  10% of daytime BP) and non-dippers (nocturnal decrease in systolic BP was <10% of daytime BP). The average BMI, waist circumference and body fat percentage were significantly more in non-dippers than dippers. Non-dippers even if normotensives are at more risk of cardiovascular complications. Hence, ABPM should be performed in obese individuals to know their dipper state and assess the risk of cardiovascular complications associated with non-dipping.

Keywords: BMI; Waist Circumference; Body Fat Percentage; Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring; Non Dipper. 

Background: RT (Reaction time) is the interval time between the presentation of a stimulus and the initiation of the muscular response to that stimulus. Aim of the study was to compare visual reaction time for Red and Green colors in the first year medical students. Material & Methods: Total 120 first year M.B.B.S students in age group of 17-24 yrs both male and females were selected .Visual Reaction time was recorded by using audiovisual Reaction time apparatus designed by Anand agencies Pune. The study was carried out in the research lab, Department Of Physiology, Vikhe Patil Medical College, between 3 to 5 pm. Result: Data was analyzed by unpaired “t” test we found that visual Reaction time for Red and Green colors were statistically significant both in male and female (p<0.05) visual reaction time for red color light is faster than green color light both in males and females. Conclusion: Thus our study results showed visual reaction time for green color was significantly more than red color. This could be because individual color mental processing time for green color is more than red color.

Keywords: Green Color; Red Color; Reaction Time; Visual Reaction Time; RT: Reaction Time; VRT: Visual Reaction Time. 

Introduction: Menopause is physiological event in women’s life and is associated with unfavourable changes in body composition and abdominal fat distribution as well more atherogenic lipid profile. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to study the body composition and lipid profile in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine postmenopausal women were selected after their consent and divided into two groups. Group-I consists of 32 postmenopausal women within 5 years of menopause and Group-II consists of 37 postmenopausal women after 5 years of menopause. The body composition parameters were measured by classical anthropometry and skin fold callipers and lipid profile parameters were analysed by enzymatic method. Institutional ethical clearance was obtained. Statistical Analysis: Data was expressed as mean±SD. Student’s unpaired’ test was used for analysis. p value less than 0.01 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean values of body Weight, BMI, BSA, WC, HC, FM, FFM, FMI and MM were more in Group-I compared to Group II and WHR and BF% were more in Group-II compared to Group-I. These variations were not statistically significant. The lipid profile parameters i.e. TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TC/HDL in Group-II subjects were found to be nonsignificantly higher when compared to Group-I subjects. Discussion and Conclusion: The increase in the lipid profile in Group-II subjectsmay be due to increased intra-abdominal adipose tissue. These changes may be due to hormonal changes and depend on physical activity, life style, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, ethnicity and genetic make-up of individual rather than on duration after menopause.

Keywords: Menopause; Body Composition; Lipid Profile. 

Context: Among undergraduate medical students, the relation between mood disturbances associated with the psychological or physical stressors induced by studying and the medical training and the modifications of ANS has been recently reported. Aims: To examine the impact of stress of medical college environment among the undergraduate medical students in terms of altered parasympathetic functions and altered sympathetic functions. Settings and design: A prospective study was carried out in the department of Physiology, Lt. BRKM Government Medical College. Methods and Material: Present study was conducted among randomly selected 90 first year medical students. The students underwent evaluation at the start of the course, just before the terminal examination and after the terminal examination. Statistical Analysis: The data was analyzed using mean values and ±two standard deviations. Students’t test was applied and p value was calculated which was considered significant if it is less than 0.05. Results: “Heart rate changes”, “Heart rate response to Valsalva maneuver”, “Heart rate response to deep breathing”, “orthostatic test” were found to be significantly changed during the examination period. There was significantly lesser variation in the female group for all above mentioned parameters. Rise of Diastolic blood pressure in handgrip test was not found to be significantly changed during the examination period. Conclusion: We conclude that undergraduate students preparing for examination represents a widely employed model of a real life stressor, raising resting blood pressure and heart rate. There is a shift towards sympathetic activation and vagal withdrawal at rest and by enhanced vasomotor and reduced cardiac sympathetic standing.

Keywords: Autonomic Function Tests; Medical Students; Sympathetic Activity. 

Introduction: During normal gestation, a variety of hemodynamic changes are going to occur. They will influence the condition of heart, which in turn results in changes in electrocardiography. Hence, the present study was designed to study the electrocardiographic changes during different trimesters of pregnancy was compared with nonpregnant controls. Materials and Methods: It is a cross sectional study conducted in the Department of Physiology after institutional clearance and consent from all the participants,150 pregnant women in the age group of 20-35yrs who were attending the OPD of OBG were recruited and divided into 3 subgroupscomprising 50 women in first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The control group was comprising of another apparently healthy age matched 50 non-pregnant women.ECG was recorded in all 12 leads and was evaluated for different parameters such as heart rate, P wave, PR interval, QRScomplex, Q wave, T wave, QTc interval, axis deviation, R and S amplitudes and ST segment. Statistical Analysis: The data were expressed as Mean±SD. Z test was used for comparison between control and study groups andwithin the study group. ‘p’ value of 0.05 or less was considered as statistically significant. Result: There was statistically significant decrease in PR interval (p<0.001) in all trimesters of pregnancy when compared to control group. QT intervals did not show significant difference between the control and the study groups or within in the subgroup of study group (p> 0.05). But, QTc interval showed a statistically significant increase 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy when compared to control group (p< 0.001). Similarly, a statistically significant increase in QTc interval was observed in 2nd and 3rd trimester (p< 0.001, Table-6) of pregnancy when compared to 1st trimester and also in 3rd trimester (p< 0.001) of pregnancy when compared to 2nd trimester. Discussion: Heart rate was increased in 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, a decrease in PR interval was seen all the trimesters of pregnancy, Occurrence of Q wave in leads II and III showed an increase in 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, ST segment depression was noticed in 4 subjects in 2nd trimester and 6 in 3rd trimester of pregnancy, QTc interval showed an increase in pregnant women in 1st, 2nd and 3^rd trimesters of pregnancy. Conclusion: This knowledge may be helpful in the prevention of gestational complications associated with an inadequate maternal hemodynamic adaptation.

Keywords: Pregnancy; Hemodynamic Changes; ECG Changes; Trimesters.