Evaluation of Stress in Professional Life and Other Factors Among Young Technology Professionals in South India.

Stress has been a topic of interest in the last century, since its description by Hans Selye. Stressors could be anything from the daily life, professional or domestic, eventually leading the deleterious health outcomes. However some types of stressors were believed to be necessary for growth, which were termed eustress. In the present study we evaluated the stress levels in software professionals (n=155) from Karnataka State, India by using Professional Life stress Score (PLSS) and Perceived Stress Score (PSS) after explaining the subjects about the questionnaire and response types and obtaining their informed consent. Ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional ethics committee before the beginning of the data collection. Apart from the responses for the questionnaire, their BMI was calculated by carefully measuring their height and weight. Their other demographic data such as age, matrimonial status were also collected. From the results we found that PLSS score was elevated to mild and moderate degree among the study group, which was not correlated with either their age or matrimonial status. However in contrast, the PSS scores were elevated to higher degree and it was well correlated with BMI, age and number of years of experience. From the results we found that these young technical professionals of Bangalore and Mangalore did not have much professional stress but they were influenced by other factors which produce overall stress as evidenced by the elevated PSS scores. Thus we herestate that this study produced results which was helpful in differentiating the professional life environment causing stress and other compounding factors influencing the psychological well being. We, therefore conclude that well employed young professional enjoy their work but other extraneous factors could lead to stress.

Cardiac autonomic functions are compromised in diabetes mellitus – a study on south Indian elderly patients.

Diabetes is known to affect almost all functions of the body. Long standing diabetics show several detrimental symptoms including in the heart. Diabetic neuropathy affects the cardiac autonomic function and may be reflected in the HRV (Heart rate variability). In the present study, we investigated the HRV in elderly diabetic patients in two groups, viz. moderate (FBS <126 mg/dl) and those with more FBS (FBS>126) and compared the results of Lipid profile, glycosylated Hb and HRV(both normal breathing, nb & Deep breathing, db) with the parameters in age matched controls. We found that the glycosylated Hb was significantly more in diabetics and it is proportional to the FBS (p<0.001). The HRV was found to be lower in diabetic patients. However in the moderate diabetic patients the HRV did not show significant decline, but in severe diabetics, it was significantly lower. From our studies we could reconfirm the decline in the cardiac autonomic control over a period in diabetic patients over and above the age related decrease in HRV. Therefore this result will also reinforce that HRV could be useful for analysis of the diabetic neuropathic effect on the heart.

A comparison of responses to alcohol expectancy questionnaire (CEOA) of Indian and Malaysian medical students.

Alcohol addiction is a social problem faced by every country worldwide. Young people are more at risk of this menace. In spite of a clear knowledge and message about the effects of alcohol on individual health and social fabric, it is hard to curb the overuse of this beverage. In the present study, we compared the outcome of a survey using Comprehensive effects of Alcohol (CEOA) in two private Medical institutions in two Asian countries, viz. KMC, Mangalore, India (n=180) and AIMST, Kedah, Malaysia (n=170). The study included both males and female students. The result suggested that the negative reinforcement responses were rated higher in both the study groups. But those who have tasted alcohol before had a higher rating that alcohol may cause positive reinforcement. Both groups of respondents showed similar trend suggesting that the alcohol expectancies are similar in Indian students and Malaysian students. From the results we could conclude that the responses of the two sample groups were comparable to each other. While the male respondents were inclined show higher affinity towards acceptance of alcohol females are very much less so. However, the respondents of both groups appeared to be well aware of the negative aspects of alcohol. Importantly previous exposure to alcohol intake dramatically changed the perception and showed increased inclination towards alcoholism. This study thus provides an important clue to the clinician, counselors and parents regarding the importance of guiding the young people about the alcoholism.

Connective tissue naevus.

A case of non hereditary connective tissue naevus without any association with systemic complaints, in a 20-year old male is reported.

Pigmented xerodermoid.

An 18-year-old female who presented with features suggestive of pigmented xerodermoid is reported.