Evaluation of examination stress in I MBBS medical students.

Background : As academic examination stresses are associated with changes in the mental and physical health such as increasing anxiety, increasing negative mood. Objective : The objectives for the study were to assess anxiety and sympathetic activity using TMAS and CPT respectively one month before examination and hour before examination .Both these parameters were compared and analysed. Method: Parameters were recorded with the help of Taylor manifest anxiety scale questionnaire and cold pressor test. Students were subjected to the tests between 9:30 to 10:30am one month prior to examination and one hour prior to preliminary practical examination in Physiology. Collected data was analysed using MW test and paired ‘t’test. Result : It was observed that students were having high level of anxiety even before one month of examination. Approximately 64 % of males and 53% of females were having high anxiety one month before examination. However, only 54% males and 53% females were having high anxiety one hour prior to examination. Another finding was increase in systolic and diastolic BP one hour before to examination compared to one month before examination, though the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: It is evident from the study that thought the results are not statistically significant basal increase in anxiety score indicates that medical students exhibit higher anxiety levels even in the absence of examination.

Platelet aggregability and fibrinolytic activity in different phases of menstrual cycle.

Background:- Sexual dimorphism in coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality is attributed to the cardioprotective effects of estrogen.This is reinforced by the observation that incidence of myocardial infarction is higher in menstrual phase, corresponding with low estrogen levels, in people who are predisposed to CAD due to the presence of modifiable risk factors. Cyclical variability of estrogen and progesterone in normal menstruating women may be associated with variability of platelet aggregation and fibrinolytic activity.There exists a delicate balance between fibrinolytic activity and platelet aggregation governing the haemostatic status. Objectives:- Platelet aggregability and fibrinolytic activity were measured and compared during menstrual (1-5 days), follicular ( 9-12 days) and luteal (20-25days) phases of menstrual cycle. Method:- In this cross sectional study of 50 normal menstruating females in age group of 18-35yrs, Platelet aggregability was measured by ADP induced platelet aggregation on a spectrophotometer. Fibrinolytic activity was estimated by euglobulin clot lysis time. Results :- Results were analyzed by students unpaired ‘t’ test. Change in platelet aggregability was found 0.12 ± 0.15, 0.04 ± 0.04 and 0.08 ± 0.07 in menstrual, follicular and luteal phase respectively. Platelet aggregability was found significantly (p < 0.001) higher in menstrual and luteal phases than follicular phase. The mean euglobulin clot lysis time was found 277.6 ± 43.96, 147.6 ± 52.78 and 244.6 ± 59.12 in menstrual, follicular and luteal phase respectively. Fibrinolytic activity was found significantly (p < 0.0001) lower in menstrual and luteal phases than follicular phase. Conclusion :- According to the present study, in both luteal and menstrual phases, not only platelet aggregability was found higher, but fibrinolytic activity was also found lower as compared to follicular phase, thereby pointing towards thrombotic tendency in these phases. Hence, these phases require careful monitoring in women who are susceptible to thrombotic disorders. However, follicular phase with lower platelet aggregability and higher fibrinolytic activity is relatively free from thrombotic risk.

Effect of yoga on anxiety score and resting heart rate in young healthy individuals.

Background : Modern age is the age of ‘anxiety and stress’, which is posing a great challenge to the health of society. Stresses of modern life precipitate various cardiovascular and other disorders by distorting basic neuroendocrine mechanism and poses risk to cardiovascular system. Objectives : The objectives for the study were to assess effect of yoga practices on anxiety score (using Taylor’s manifest anxiety scale) and resting heart rate. Methods: Study group included subjects who participated in yoga practices for a period of 3 months. Control group included subjects who did not perform yoga or any exercise. Anxiety score and resting heart rate were recorded in both the groups before start of study and at end of the study. Anxiety score was estimated with the help of Taylor’s manifest anxiety scale questionnaire and resting heart rate was estimated by using electrocardiogram (ECG). Collected data was analysed using Mann Whitney test and paired ‘t’test. Results: At the end of three months statistically significant decrease in anxiety score and resting heart rate was observed in the study group. Whereas, there was no statistically significant difference in anxiety score and resting heart rate of control group. Conclusion& Interpretation: It is evident from the study that yoga practices of even short duration (3 months) can reduce anxiety status and decrease resting heart rate. This probably indicates that parasympathetic activity was increased while sympathetic activity was decreased with yoga practices in young subjects.

Correlation of pulmonary function tests with body fat percentage in young individuals.

The present study was planned to assess the correlation of pulmonary functions with body fat percentage in young individuals. A total of 132 (males-68, females-64) young students (18 to 21 years) with moderately sedentary lifestyle were recruited in this study. Their height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were measured. Pulmonary function tests (static and dynamic) were recorded on a computerized portable Schiller lung function unit SP-1. The percentage of body fat was estimated by measuring skin fold thickness at four sites (4SFT-biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac) with the help of Harpenden’s caliper. In males body fat % showed negative correlation with expiratory reserve volume (ERV), forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum ventilatory volume (MVV), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory volume at the end of first second (FEV1). It was observed that in females body fat % had negative correlation with ERV, FVC, and MVV. These results indicate that increase in percentage of body fat and central pattern of fat distribution may affect the pulmonary function t e s t s.

Cervical thymic cyst: a case report.

Cervical thymic cysts are rare benign lesions. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cervical cysts in paediatric age group. This paper presents a case of a 6 years male child who presented with gradually increasing painless mass on right side of neck. Surgical excision was done. Histopathological study revealed features diagnostic of thymic cyst. It was clinically diagnosed as branchial cleft cyst. Though rare, thymic cysts should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses, especially in children.

Microcystic adenoma of pancreas: a case report.

Microcystic adenomas of the pancreas are rare benign neoplasms that occur most frequently in elderly females. Characteristically, the tumors have a spongy gross appearance and are composed of innumerable cysts lined by flat, and cuboidal cells which are rich in glycogen. They commonly present with abdominal discomfort or pain. In this case report, we present a cystic neoplasm of pancreas in a 65-year-old lady who clinically presented with discomfort in the abdomen and hyperglycaemia. Proximal pancreatectomy was done. Histopathological examination of surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of "Microcystic Adenoma ofPancreas". Despite of the rarity, microcystic adenoma should kept in the mind as the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions of pancreas.

Variations in serum glucose, urea, creatinine and sodium and potassium as a consequence of delayed transport/processing of samples and delay in assays.

Fifty blood samples were drawn in replicates and brought to the laboratory. One batch of the samples was processed immediately and the glucose, urea, creatinine and the electrolytes, sodium and potassium were assayed. The batch of replicate samples were processed after three hours and the assays performed. The assays for the above analytes were again performed from the replicate samples after twenty-four hours of serum-clot contact. The variations of the values of the above analytes were scrutinized. Glucose values showed significant variation with time. There was significant decrease in the glucose values after three hours and after further twenty-four hours of serum-clot contact the values reduced significantly. The variations in the values of urea and creatinine and also sodium after processing the samples after three hours and also further twenty-four of serum-clot contact were insignificant. The values of potassium after processing after three hours were insignificant but the values however increased significantly after further twenty-four hours of serum-clot contact.

Alterations in brain tumor DNA detected by a fingerprinting probe.

We used a novel DNA fingerprinting probe O-chi-1 (ref. 1) to detect differences in the hybridization pattern of brain tumor DNA and paired normal tissue of a given individual. Representatives of meningiomas (two), glioblastoma multeforme (three) and astrocytoma (one) were studied. Alterations, which included amplification as well as the loss of a normal band in tumor DNA, were observed in four of the six tumours. While the increased intensity of a band can be taken to imply increased copy number, the disappearance of bands could either be due to loss of DNA sequence or rearrangement resulting in different sized bands.

Effect of Azadirachta indica leaves on testis and its recovery in albino rats.

Histological and biochemical changes in the testis of rats treated with the leaf powder of A. indica are reported. The pattern of recovery is also studied at 8, 16 and 24 day after withdrawal of the treatment. In the treated rats, a general reduction in the diameters of seminiferous tubule, nuclei of the germinal elements and a mass atrophy of the spermatogenic elements has been observed. The Leydig cells are found to be atrophic. Biochemically, a decrease in the protein content and the activity of acid phosphatase and an increase in the total free sugar, glycogen, cholesterol contents and the activities of alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase have been observed. A gradual recovery is observed in both the histological and biochemical parameters after 8.16 and 24 day of cessation of the treatment. The result suggest a possible reversible antiandrogenic property of the leaves of A. indica in male albino rats.