Cardiorespiratory fitness and its association with adiposity indices in young adults

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF] and adiposity in young adults

Methods: Data was collected from 133 students of a medical college of Pakistan. The study was conducted on young adults, aged 17-24 years, recruited from Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, between Aug-Dec, 2015. Queen's College Step Test was conducted to measure CRF and maximal oxygen uptake [VO[2max]] evaluated. Anthropometric measurements [body mass index, body fat, visceral fat, waist circumference] were taken to assess adiposity. Associations of VO[2max] and adiposity were analyzed

Results: The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 44% overall. The VO[2max] [ml/kg/min] of males and females was 55.41 +/- 9.45 and 39.91 +/- 3.14, respectively, the gender difference being highly significant [p<0.001]. Quartiles of VO[2max] showed strong inverse relationship between adiposity and VO[2max], obese individuals having low VO[2max] [1st quartile] and normal weight individuals having high VO[2max] [4th quartile]. VO[2max] correlated greatest with body fat in males [r = -0.600; p<0.001], and waist circumference in females [r = -0.319; p=0.004]

Conclusion: The results indicate low CRF in young females and a strong inverse relationship between fitness levels and adiposity in young adults of both genders. Improving these parameters in our young population may prevent development of chronic non-communicable disease in later life

Autonomic dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Central obesity and hyperinsulinaemia of polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] are associated with chronic sympathetic over activity. To evaluate the autonomic functions and to indicate the superiority, if any, for those functions in the diagnosis of sympathetic over activity in PCOS women. Sixty-four PCOS patients and 40 women served as the control group were studied. The two groups were subdivided according to the body mass index [BMI] into two obese and non-obese groups. Waist:hip ratio [WHR], plasma epinephrine level was estimated, sympathetic skin response [SSR]; postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, heart rate variability [HRV], and valsalva ratio were measured in both groups. Compared to the control group, obese PCOS patients demonstrated higher BMI and WHR, reduced palmar SSR latency and higher amplitude, altered HRV, higher plasma epinephrine level, and rapid pulse rate. Moreover, non-obese patients show reduced palmar SSR latency and higher amplitude, higher plasma epinephrine level, and higher pulse rate. BMI and WHR of the patients were positively correlated with plasma epinephrine level; while the HRV was negatively correlated WHR. Women with PCOS exhibits altered autonomic function and sympathoexcitation is more pronounced in obese than non-obese patients; therefor the SSR could be useful auxiliary electrophysiological test to predict autonomic dysfunction in those patients. Receiver operating characteristics curve demonstrate the pulse rate in standing position as the autonomic function test that is superior to others in predicting sympathetic over activity in those patients

Type II Diabetic patients; use of camel milk in Karachi: a cross sectional survey

Objectives: To determine the frequency of camel milk users as a dietary adjunct therapy in Diabetes Type 2

Study Design. A cross sectional questionnaire based survey

Period: May to August 2013

Setting: Liaquat National Hospital and Jinnah Medical College Hospital] and one public sector hospital [Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre] in Karachi

Methods: Minimum sample size using 11.1% prevalence of type II diabetes mellitus, confidence interval of 95% and 5% margin of error and finite population correction for large population was calculated to be 152. Using purposive sampling, type II diabetes patients [taking oral hypoglycemic medication or insulin to control serum blood glucose] visiting outpatient departments for diabetes management at two private and one public sector hospital in Karachi, were requested to participate. After obtaining informed consent, a structured pre-coded questionnaire was filled by trained interviewer. Two laboratory assessed fasting blood [FBG] readings from previous three months were also recorded from their files. Those who affirmed the use of camel milk were asked further questions on reasons and consumption pattern. All responses were entered into SPSS version 17.0 and descriptive frequencies and statistics were obtained for camel milk users and non-users

Results: 300 patients consented to participate and filled the questionnaire. 36 forms did not have two FBG lab reports from previous three months and were excluded. In the remaining sample size of n = 264, camel milk use frequency was 35.98% [n=95]. In the preceding three months, the median FBG of users was 121.0 mg/dl as compared to median FBS of non-users [64.01%;n = 169] of 202.06 mg/dl. 90.5% [n=86] of all users considered oral medications as main modality for control and only 15.8% of these patients attributed blood glucose control solely to use of camel milk. Camel milk users were found to use more of home remedies [13.7%, n = 13], homeopathic medicine [15.8%, n = 15] and exercise [45.3%, n=43] as adjunct modalities to control their blood glucose as compared to 6.5%, 8.9% and 31.4% of non-users. 71.6% [n= 121] of non- users used dietary modification to manage diabetes as compared to 47.4% [n = 45] users. 71% [n = 121] non-users were regularly measuring their blood glucose levels as compared to 56.8% [n=54] users of camel milk

Conclusions: Diabetics drinking camel milk showed a marked decrease in mean Fasting Blood Sugar values as compared to non-users. More experimental studies should be conducted on a larger scale and on different regions so as to ascertain the biological plausibility

Sleep patterns of medical students; their relationship with academic performance: a cross sectional survey

To identify sleep patterns of medical students and determine the relationship between sleep habits and academic performance. Human beings adopt three different sleeping patterns; monophasic, biphasic and polyphasic. Sleep allows synaptic molding to return by developing faster memory union. When such memory processing is not present, memory keeping is reduced which can have an adverse effect on the academic performance of students. Professional education in the field of medicine requires learning a greater amount and variety of syllabi to practice as a satisfactory medical graduate. Among medical students, the burden of the extensive curriculum often results in the development of non-recuperative sleeping patterns, which can, in turn, affect their overall academic performance. This study strives to deduce the sleeping patterns of students and the connection between those sleeping patterns and academic performance. A cross-sectional questionnaire based survey. Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi. 2013. Sleep patterns of 347 medical students from year 1 -4. The results of the midterm examinations were cross-tabulated with the sleep patterns to determine the relationship between them. Our study showed that out of 347 medical students, 38.9% [n=135] had monophasic, 46.7% [n = 162] had biphasic and 14.4% [n=50] had a polyphasic sleep pattern. 67.4% of monophasics, 87.0% of biphasics and 66.0% of polyphasics passed their midterm examination. Biphasic students performed the best in their midterm examinations. This is in agreement with scientific proof that sleeping in two phases matches the body's instinctive circadian rhythm, hormonal regulation and memory creation. These two phases are sleeping once at night and having one shorter period during the day. Professional colleges should advise and educate students in order to encourage them to acquire adequate sleep through appropriate sleeping patterns by which they may support their academic learning