ABSTRACT
Background: Long Latency Reflex (LLR) is one of the late responses occurring after H reflex from a mixed nerve by submaximal stimulation. LLR has been found to be absent in patients with multiple sclerosis, spastic patients and in Huntington’s disease. A change in body temperature affects conduction velocity. It is a known fact that there is a change in body temperature during menstrual cycle. However, no studies are available to indicate changes in latency of LLR during the menstrual cycle. Aim: To determine the effect of menstrual cycle on Long Latency Reflex of Abductor Pollicis Brevis among healthy female volunteers. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in 30 healthy female volunteers aged 20-30 yrs. The study was conducted between 9.00 a.m.-11.00 a.m using Digital Nerve Conduction/EMG/EP machine (Recorders Medicare system, India) in a laboratory maintained at 22º±3ºC. LLR was recorded during early follicular and mid-luteal phases by stimulation of median nerve while abducting the thumb and recording the EMG response of Abductor Pollicis Brevis. Body temperature was recorded. Latency of LLR obtained during two phases of menstrual cycle was compared. Result: The mean value of latency for LLR was 45.45±2.95 ms (mean±SD) in the mid luteal phase. It was significantly (Wilcoxon test, p<0.001) shorter than the value in the early follicular phase 47.10±2.51ms (mean±SD). This is possibly due to the higher body temperature in the mid luteal phase. Conclusion: Long Latency Reflex was found to be affected during the phases of the menstrual cycle in healthy female volunteers.
ABSTRACT
This descriptive study was undertaken to investigate the influence of menstrual cycle on sympathetic skin response (SSR) during different phases of menstrual cycle in young healthy Indian women. A comparison of SSR latencies and amplitudes were done in the follicular, ovulatory and mid luteal phases of menstrual cycle. Fifty women in age group of 18 – 25 years having regular menstrual cycles were chosen for this study. After confirming the regularity of menstrual cycle, SSR was performed on them. The recording was done under standardized conditions using standardized procedure. Amplitude of SSR was found to vary in the three phases, but the differences were statistically not significant. Latency of SSR was found to be greatest in the follicular phase (1.54 ± 0.22 s) and least in the mid-luteal phase (1.35 ± 0.18 s). Statistically significant differences were found between mean SSR latency in the follicular phase and the other two phases (p < 0.01). This study concludes that SSR is enhanced during the mid-luteal phase in women with regular menstrual cycles indicating sympathetic dominance.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To study the various electrophysiological changes in the motor conduction, sensory conduction and F wave latencies of acute Guillain-Barre Syndrome patients. Methods: Sixteen patients with acute GBS were included in this study. They were subjected to various nerve conduction studies (NCS) following standardized procedures. The mean values obtained for the various nerve conduction parameters were compared against the corresponding standardized values using Student’s t-test. P value less that 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The results of NCS in GBS patients were as follows: 1.The motor nerve conduction velocity was significantly lower and the motor nerve conduction latency was significantly prolonged. 2. The sensory nerve action potential conduction velocity and amplitude remained normal in most of these individuals. 3. F wave latency was significantly prolonged. Conclusion: Acute Guillain-Barre Syndrome patients manifest with abnormal motor nerve conduction parameters and F wave latency. Electrophysiological studies would help the researchers to diagnose the disease at an early stage.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Menstrual cycle is a physiological cyclical occurrence in women. This is associated with variations in metabolism and associated endocrine fluctuations. Among other things, the cardio respiratory changes too have been observed. In the present study, we investigated the autonomic control of heart, and concurrent changes in the respiratory system. Material and methods: Forty seven normally menstruating women were recruited from a group of 80 subjects reported for this study voluntarily. ECG was recorded from limb lead II time domain and frequency domain analysis of Heart rate Variability (HRV) was done. Their respiratory parameters namely PEFR, FEV1 were determined. Results: The results of this study were analysed by applying Wilcoxon’s signed rank sum test. In Time domain analysis RMSSD (36.91±2.73, p<0.05) showed significant decrease during ovulation, while other parameters did not show significant variation among the three phases. Frequency domain analysis yielded results to suggest that there is increased variability during Ovulatory and Luteal phase (p<0.05). PEFR and FEV1 increased in luteal phase (p<0.05).Conclusions: The results of our study reiterated the findings of reports of previous studies on the heart rate variability suggesting that the HRV was more during ovulatory and luteal phase. This is suggestive of the role of Progesterone on the HRV. Similarly the respiratory parameters too showed an increased PEFR and FEV1 suggesting a decreased airway resistance, while other parameters remained unchanged.
ABSTRACT
The present study was performed to evaluate the rate of whole stomach emptying (WSE) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced rat model of diabetes mellitus by assessing the effect of bilateral gastric vagotomy in control as well as in experimental animals. Our results revealed that delayed emptying of solid foods by the stomach is demonstrated within 5 days of induction of diabetes in rats. After bilateral vagotomy, the later stages of WSE slowed down because of the diabetic state, most probably due to the direct effect of diabetes on the gastric antrum.