Effect of '61-points relaxation technique' on stress parameters in premenstrual syndrome.

Premenstrual Syndrome is a psychoneuroendocrine stress related disorder and more than 300 treatment modalities for PMS show that the existing remedies have not provided satisfactory help to relieve PMS. 61-points relaxation exercise (61-PR), a relatively less known hatha yoga technique, is a successful means of stress relaxation and is expected to relieve PMS as well. The present study was conducted on 50 clinically healthy women volunteers who were in their reproductive age group and in their premenstrual period, from which a control group (n = 20) and a PMS group (n = 30) based on the symptoms were identified. In both groups basal heart rate (HR/min), systolic (SBP; mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP; mmHg), electromyogram (EMG; mV), electrodermal galvanic activity (EDG; microv), respiratory rate (RR/min) and peripheral temperature (T; degrees F) were recorded and the subjects were taken through a guided 61-PR. The symptoms and parameters were re-recorded after the 61-PR. In control group, the basal HR was 82.06 +/- 8.07, SBP 111.95 +/- 8.23, DBP 76.8 +/- 6.42, EMG 4.08 +/- 2.99, EDG 9.77 +/- 3.29, RR 15.60 +/- 3.77 and T was 97.86 +/- 0.63. After 10 minutes of 61-PR, HR (77.27 +/-10.85, P < 0.05), SBP (107.35 +/- 7.41, P < 0.05), DBP (75.25 +/-7.57, P < 0.05), EMG (2.07 +/- 1.90, P < 0.05), EDG (8.06 +/- 2.87, P < 0.05), RR (16.00 +/- 4.12, P < 0.05) fell significantly and T (97.97 +/- 0.64, P > 0.05) rose significantly. In the PMS group, the basal HR was 90.61 +/- 8.46, SBP 122.5 +/- 11.52, DBP 83.53 +/- 8.26, EMG 5.79 +/-2.75, EDG 13.14 +/- 6.54, RR 19.13 +/- 3.76 and T was 93.43 -/+ 5.29. After 10 minutes of 61-PR, HR (75.58 +/- 10.11, P < 0.0001), SBP (114.53 +/- 9.70, p < 0.0001), DBP (77.46 +/- 8.68, P < 0.0001), EMG (2.56 +/- 1.77, P < 0.0001), EDG (10.64 +/- 5.72, P < 0.0001), and RR (16.13 +/- 3.76, P < 0.0001) declined to a much greater extent and T (93.49 +/- 5.28, P < 0.0001) rose more significantly. These results suggest a reduction in sympathetic activity by 61-PR, also the high basal sympathetic tone present in subjects of PMS group due to stress is considerably reduced by relaxation. 61-PR is effective in providing relief from PMS and may be a useful adjuvant to medical therapy of PMS and other stress disorders.

Extra Pontine Myelinolysis without Striatal involvement Presenting as Pathological Crying, Reversible Parkinsonism and Dystonia.

A case of Central Pontine Myelinolysis and Extrapontine Myelinolysis presented with dystonia, Parkinsonism, and pathological crying that developed few days after gradual correction of hyponatremia. EEG slowing was evident before onset of symptoms, and disappeared with clinical improvement. Thalamic lesions alone produced these features. It dramatically responded to the Trihexyphenidyl therapy. Thus, basal ganglia involvement is not mandatory to produce this clinical picture; early onset of symptoms, resolution of EEG slowing and prompt response to anticholinergics may indicate better prognosis.

Magnetic resonance imaging changes in a case of extra-pyramidal syndrome after acute organophosphate poisoning.

Distal symmetrical polyneuropathy and neuromuscular weakness is common neurological problem in recovery phase of acute organophosphate (OP) poisoning. Various types of extra pyramidal syndromes are uncommon sequel after OP poisoning. These are reported to be reversible within few weeks and characteristically associated with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this report we are presenting a case with extra pyramidal syndrome after acute OP poisoning with few interesting MRI changes in striatum.

Influence of alternate nostril breathing on cardiorespiratory and autonomic functions in healthy young adults.

Alternate nostril breathing (ANB) may modulate cardio-respiratory and autonomic functions. However, the studies are scarce and results highly conflicting. The present study was conducted in healthy young volunteers comprising of males (n=20) and females (n=20) in range of 17-22 years. In both groups respiratory rate (RR/min), heart rate (HR/ min), systolic blood pressure (SBP; mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (DBP; mm Hg), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR; L/min) and galvanic skin resistance (GSR; microV) were recorded thrice; once as control and then after 15 min (acute exposure) and following 8 wks of training in ANB (15 min daily). In males the control RR was 16.60 +/- 2.01, HR 75.75 +/- 11.07, SBP-115.9 +/- 7.33, DBP 70.4 +/- 6.28 and PEFR 550.00 +/- 51.50. After 15 min of ANB-RR (14.75 +/- 1.41, P<0.001), HR (68.45 +/- 12.41, P<0.01) and SBP (113.6 +/- 6.04, P<0.05) fell significantly. After 8 wks of ANB training RR (12.35 +/- 1.35, P<0.0001), HR (63.20 +/- 11.11, P<0.001), SBP (109.5 +/- 5.61, P<0.001), declined to much greater extent and PEFR (571.50 +/- 46.26, P<0.01) rose significantly. In females the control RR was 17.25 +/- 1.89, HR-74.90 +/- 12.85, SBP-106.70 +/- 6.91, DBP-68.70 +/- 5.52 and PEFR-394.50 +/- 44.89. After 15 min of ANB RR (15.05 +/- 1.54, P<0.001) and HR (64.75 +/- 9.80, P<0.001) showed significant decline with concomitant rise in PEFR (407.00 +/- 2.31, P<0.05). Following 8 wks training the decrement in RR (12.60 +/-1.50, P<0.0001) and HR (63.30 +/- 8.65, P<0.001) was maintained. SBP (103.10 +/- 4.92, P<0.001) and DBP (65.8 +/- 5.54, P<0.001) decreased further and PEFR (421.00 +/- 38.51 P<0.001) rose, GSR was unaffected by ANB in both males and females. These results suggest that in general there is a tilt towards parasympathetic dominance by alternate nostril breathing. This breathing may be a useful adjuvant to medical therapy of hypertension and COPD.

The effects of right and left nostril breathing on cardiorespiratory and autonomic parameters.

The responses of right nostril breathing (RNB) and left nostril breathing (LNB) on cardio-respiratory and autonomic functions were investigated in healthy student volunteers of both sexes. The RNB and LNB groups comprised of 10 males and 10 females in each in age range of 17-22 years. Initially, in both groups control values of respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBF), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and galvanic skin resistance (GSR) were recorded. The same parameters were recorded after 15 min (acute exposure) and 8 wks of training in RNB and LNB. In males RR (P<0.0001), SBP (P<0.05) and DBF (P<.05) fell significantly after 15 min of RNB. After 8 wks training in RNB, HR (P<0.01) decreased, SBP (P<0.001) declined more profoundly and RR (P<0.0001) and DBP (P<0.05) decrement was maintained. After 15 min of LNB, RR (P<0.01), HR (P<0.01), SBP (P<0.001) and DBP (P<0.01) declined significantly, on 8 wks training, RR (P<0.0001) and HR (P<0.001) decreased further, the decrement in SBP (P<0.001) and DBP (P<0.01) was the same. In females, RR alone fell significantly (P<0.05) after 15 min RNB. After 8 wks RR decrement was more profound (P<0.0001) and DBP also declined significantly (P<0.01). Similarly, 15 min LNB resulted in significant reduction in RR (P<0.001) and HR (P<0.05) only. Following 8 wks, of training in LNB, in addition to RR (P<0.0001) and HR (P<0.05) decrement, SBP (P<0.01) and DBP (P<0.05) also fell significantly. Both in males and females, GSR did not change significantly (P>0.05) either after RNB or LNB (15 min/8 wks). PEFR rose significantly (P<0.05) only in females after 8 wks of LNB. The results suggest that there are no sharp distinctions between effects of RNB and LNB either acute exposure (15 min) or after training (8 wks). However, there is a general parasympathetic dominance evoked by both these breathing patterns.