International Physiology

Intermittent Fasting (IF) has gained widespread popularity particularly due to its remarkable effects on weight loss and regulation of metabolic homeostasis. Although it became a recent trend, its benefits have been documented in a number of studies including hepatic steatosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes as well as cancer. Ozempic®, the brand name of Glucagon like Peptide-1(GLP-1) receptor agonists or semaglutide, has attracted attention from celebrities and social media due to its “miraculous” effect of weight loss. Although it was originally developed as a treatment for Type–2 diabetes, as it mimics the hormone glucagonlike peptide-1 in the body, its side effect of weight loss has now become a more dominating feature. Although both these methods result in weight loss, however, IF focuses primarily on calorie restriction and metabolic regulation whereas Ozempic® works by suppression of appetite and inducing a feeling of fullness through GLP-1 receptor agonists. Studies have shown that IF provides a natural form of metabolic regulation through maintenance of circadian rhythm and increased insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the insulin resistance and promoting liver health and detoxification. Evidences suggesting the effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonists in lowering glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in Type 2 diabetes along with its “off-label” use as a weight loss drug have gained attention and more research is being carried out to understand and comprehend the magnitude of its efficacy. This review presents a comparative analysis between IF and GLP-1 receptor agonist (Ozempic®) as a method of weight loss and illustrates upon it prevalent use worldwide.
 

GBS stands as a unique autoimmune disease which prompts the body’s immunity system to attack peripheral nervous system structures resulting in swift deteriorating muscle weakness coupled with total loss of reflexes and extreme cases lead to respiratory failure. The precise causes of GBS remain unknown although the majority of GBS cases begin following infections by Campylobacter jejuni, influenza and the Zika virus and rarely by vaccines and surgical procedures. Precise categories of Guillain-Barre syndrome include Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) and Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (AMAN) and Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS). These subtypes show different patterns of nervous system damage. The combination of clinical features with cerebrospinal fluid tests showing albuminocytologic dissociation, nerve conduction studies serves to diagnose the condition. Protocols for management consist of immunotherapy applications combined with plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy which support patients through respiratory failure complications along with autonomic instability manifestations. Patients normally recover within six to twelve months of diagnosis yet some patients face persistent deficits along with persistent symptoms including fatigue and neuropathic pain. The patients’ expected outcomes are determined by their age at diagnosis together with their disease pronunciation and when they began treatment. Research today prioritizes discovering disease mechanisms while finding biomarkers alongside therapeutic strategy development. Progress in GBS care has cut the mortality rate and decreased long-term disabilities but ongoing clinical research needs to push forward both treatment quality and patient care outcomes. This review demonstrates why healthcare professionals must actively raise awareness and immediately react to this complex condition while scientists must intensify their research into its ongoing challenges.
 

Introduction: Oxidative stress, mediated by lipid peroxidation, contributes to cellular injury in BPH. Malondialdehyde (MDA) serves as a marker of oxidative stress, while the body’s defence includes enzymatic antioxidants like Glutathione Reductase and non-enzymatic ones like Vitamin C. Calcium’s role in prostate cancer is established, but its implications in BPH remain inconclusive. Objectives: Assess oxidative stress by measuring MDA levels, Evaluate antioxidant status through Glutathione Reductase and Vitamin C levels, Compare serum calcium levels in BPH patients and healthy controls. Methodology: Participants: 30 controls and 30 clinically diagnosed BPH patients, aged 65–75 years. Ethical Clearance and informed consent was obtained. Sample Collection: 10 ml of heparinized blood analyzed using: • MDA: Thiobarbituric acid method. • Glutathione Reductase: Beutler E method. • Vitamin C: Evelyn and Melloy method. • Serum Calcium: Modified O-Cresolphthalein Complexone method. Results: Demographics: No significant age difference between groups (p=0.117). Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants: MDA: Significantly increased in BPH (p <0.001). Glutathione Reductase: Significantly decreased in BPH (p <0.001).Vitamin C: Significantly reduced in BPH (p < 0.001). Serum Calcium: Higher normal range in BPH patients, with a statistically significant difference compared to controls (p < 0.05). Correlations: MDA positively correlated with BPH (+0.2). Inverse correlations with Glutathione Reductase (-0.28) and Vitamin C (-0.20). Weak correlation between MDA and Glutathione Reductase (r = -0.100, p = 0.6). Low correlation between MDA and Vitamin C (r = 0.41, p = 0.831).  Conclusion: Increased oxidative stress and diminished antioxidant defenses in BPH patients.Serum calcium levels in the higher normal range, significantly differing from controls. Implications: Potential benefits of antioxidant supplementation and calciumlowering strategies in managing BPH. This study underscores the importance of addressing oxidative stress and maintaining optimal calcium levels in managing BPH. Adding specific recommendations for antioxidant-rich diets or pharmacological interventions could further enhance clinical outcomes.

Background: A number of clinical disorders, particularly those associated with chronic stress, may cause disruptions in cardiac autonomic balance. As a result, parasympathetic tone decreases and sympathetic activity rises. One relaxation method that may help restore this equilibrium is slow breathing pranayama. Aim and Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess how Slow Breathing Pranayama affects cardiac autonomic balance. Materials and Methods: 60 young, healthy, sedentary volunteers participated in a prospective interventional study in which they performed Slow Breathing Pranayama for 12 weeks. Prior to and during the intervention, measurements were made of heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate variability (HRV). Both time-domain and frequency-domain characteristics were used to measure HRV. The software Kubios HRV (version 1.1, Finland) was used to analyze HRV. Results: HRV measurements showed a change toward parasympathetic predominance, whereas HR and blood pressure showed significant decreases. Conclusion: Practicing slow breathing techniques on a regular basis can help the heart’s autonomic balance move toward parasympathetic dominance and can help prevent illnesses linked to autonomic imbalance.
 

Background: Hypertension accounts for 13.5 million deaths worldwide every year and is one of the most prevalent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies suggest a significant link between cardiovascular reactivity to stress and the development of future hypertension. Most of the previous research has focused on hypertensive patients directly, aiming to predict their stress reactivity rather than exploring their offspring. So, in the present study, we attempted to find out whether there is an effect of acute mental stress on cardiovascular reactivity and changes in heart rate variability (HRV) in children of hypertensive parents. Material and Methods: This case-control study includes sixty participants from the general population, adhering to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among these, 30 participants were young adults aged 18 to 22 years, with at least one parent diagnosed with essential hypertension according to JNC VII guidelines. Additionally, thirty control participants were selected, consisting of healthy young adults matched for age and sex, who are children of parents with no family history of hypertension. Acute mental stress was induced using problem-solving questions from the MENSA workout questionnaire. Cardiovascular reactivity and heart rate variability were assessed in resting, stress, and recovery stages. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± Standard Deviation (S.D.). An unpaired t-test was employed to compare the means between the two groups. A p-value of less than 0.05 is considered significant. Results: Following acute mental stress, children in the hypertensive group exhibited a notable rise in cardiovascular reactivity (p-value≤0.005). In the heart rate variability test, a significant reduction in Total power (p-value≤0.005) was noted during the stress phase, while a substantial increase in low frequency (p-value≤0.005) occurred in the recovery phase.  Conclusion: This study observed increased cardiovascular reactivity and decreased overall heart rate variability, indicating heightened sympathetic activity and diminished vagal tone in subjects prior to hypertension onset. The rising rates of childhood hypertension, coupled with increased cardiovascular reactivity and reduced heart rate variability, underscore the urgent need for primary preventive measures and targeted intervention strategies for this at-risk group.