ABSTRACT
Background — Over the past years, there seems to have been good attention paid to the connection between some diseases and the ABO blood group type. To our knowledge, nostudy has been done todetermine the association between obesity and ABO blood group. To find the prevalence of obesity in medical students and to determine theAims — association between obesity and ABO blood group. A cross sectional study was carried outMaterials and methods — among 745 medical students. Height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference was measured. BMI and waist —hip ratio was determined. Blood group was determined by slide agglutination method The findings of theResults — present study reported that the most prevalent blood group was B+ whereas the blood group AB was least prevalent. 25.5% of the total study subjects were overweight and 7.2%were obese. Overweight and obesity were more common among students with blood group B. It was also observed that WHR statistically associated with ABO Blood group system. Conclusion — Participants with blood group B+ had higher prevalence of overweight and obesity. ABO Blood group system showed statistically significant association with WHR.
ABSTRACT
Exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic radiations from mobile phones may affect the circadian rhythm of melatonin in mobile users. The study was designed with objective to evaluate the influence of mobile phone on circadian rhythm of melatonin and to find the association if any between the hours of mobile usage with serum melatonin levels. All the volunteers medical students using mobiles for > 2 hrs/day were included in high users group and volunteers who used mobile for ≤ 2 hrs where included in low users group. Both high and low users volunteers were sampled three times in the same day (Morning- 3-4 am, Noon 1-2 pm, Evening-5-6 pm) for estimation of serum melatonin levels. Comparsion of sernum melatonin levels in high users and low users were done by Mann Whitney “U” Test. Reduced morning melatonin levels (3-4 am) was observed in high users (> 2 hrs/day) i.e high users had a disturbed melatonin circadian rhythm.There was a negative correlation between melatonin secretion and hours of mobile usages.
ABSTRACT
Medical courses in India are very demanding for the students thus making career in medical education very stressful. The study was designed to determine the prevalence of stress levels in 100 first year medical students and to explore the sources of stress & it‘s relationship across the male and female students. Demographic information and Qualitative data from investigator tailored Medical Student Stress Questionnaire (MSSQ) by self rating under supervision of investigators were subjected to a thematic analysis. Stress perceived was more in males students (82.2%) as compared to females (61.8%) and their MSSQ index score was significantly different (U=985; P=0.02). Moderate to high academic stress was present among 79% of students more so in males with the academic domain score significantly different from that of females (U=883; P=0.007). Females perceived more stress in inter personal domain (12.7%) with the score significantly different from males (U=953.5; P=0.02). Group and Teaching stress was equally present in males and females.
ABSTRACT
Exposure of humans to radio frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) both during receiving and transmitting the signals has amplified public and scientific debate about possible adverse effects on human health. The study was designed with the objective of assessing the extent of mobile phone use amongst medical students and finding correlation if any between the hours of usage of mobile to sleep pattern and quality. hundred medical students grouped as cases (n=57) (>2 hours/day of mobile usage) and control (n=43) (≤2 hours/day of mobile usage) were examined for their sleep quality & pattern by Pittsburg sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Differences between groups were examined with the Mann Whitney “U” test for proportions (Quantitative values) and with Student‘t’ test for continuous variables. The association of variables was analyzed by Spearman Rank’s correlation. Probability was set at <0.05 as significant. Sleep disturbance, latency and day dysfunction was more in cases especially females. A significant association of hours of usage and sleep indices were observed in both genders (males r=0.25; p=0.04, females r=0.31; p=0.009). Evening usage of mobile phone in cases showed a statistically significant negative association (–0.606; p=0.042) with Sleep quality (higher PSQI means sleep deprivation). Students using mobile for > 2 hours/day may cause sleep deprivation and day sleepiness affecting cognitive and learning abilities of medical students.
ABSTRACT
Formalin is extensively used for preservation of cadavers in department of Anatomy. However it is a noxious chemical which vaporises at normal room temperature in the air and may cause respiratory health problems among first year medical students. The study was planned to observe the effect of formalin vapours on lung function tests of first year medical students who are exposed routinely for 2 hrs every day for 6 days per week throughout the year. Following written informed consent clinically healthy 100 medical students between age group 18-23 yrs were subjected to pulmonary function testing by computerised spirometery. The dynamic lung function tests (FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, FEF25-75, PEFR) were measured on four occasions-basal (before exposure), 1 month, 6 months, 11 months of exposure to formalin vapours in anatomy dissection hall. The study revealed statistically significant (P<0.0001) decreases in FVC, FEV1%, FEF25-75, PEFR except FEV1 after 1 month of exposure to anatomy dissection hall. The decrease in all the parameters slowly reverted back towards normal basal values across 6 and 11 months and was statistically significant in all (P<0.0001) except FVC. Acute exposure to formalin vapours at anatomy dissection hall decreases the respiratory functions, however on long term exposure the body corrects the damage. Further studies are required to see the changes at cellular levels and the extent of damage to respiratory system.
ABSTRACT
Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a polyphenol, is an active principle of the perennial herb Curcuma longa commonly known as turmeric. Turmeric (CURCUMA LONGA L.) is a medicinal plant extensively used in Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha medicine as a home remedy for various diseases including biliary diseases, cough, hepatic diseases, wound healing. However studies on the effect of curcumin on the gastric emptying are nearly nonexistent. It is hypothesized that curcumin may have an effect on gastric emptying. For this reason the present study was aimed to study the effect of curcumin on gastric emptying. Rats were divided into 5 groups (Group I – Group V), based on the time interval between administration of curcumin/vehicular fluid to administration of barium sulphate (Group I – 1 hr, Group II – 8 hrs, Group III – 16 hrs, Group IV – 24 hrs, Group V – 48 hrs). Each group was further divided into two subgroups, Group A (control) and Group B (experimental), containing 6 rats each. Rats in experimental group were administered curcumin intragastrically, in the dose of 1 gm/kg body weight, suspended in normal saline (0.9% NaCl). The controls were given vehicular fluid intragastrically, in volume equal to the experimental animals. It was observed that there was a decrease in the gastric emptying in all the experimental groups.
ABSTRACT
: Nutritional anemia exists globally and cuts across all the sections of the population. Adolescent being formative years in life are more susceptible to nutritional anemia. Considerable changes in growth pattern, lifestyle, dietary habits & behavior are likely to influence the hemoglobin levels among male and females of high income group. Study was done to assess the level of anemia among medical students and it’s relation to Body mass index (BMI) among medical students. 200 healthy medical students at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences belonging to both the sexes were taken in the study. Following consent anthropometry was conducted using standard protocol. Body Mass Index of >/= 18.5 kg/m2 is used to define undernutrition. Hemoglobin was estimated in gram %. Statistical analyses was done using mean .Standard deviation, Student’s t test, and was studied for effect of gender on correlation of anemia with BMI. 8% of the students of MBBS were found to be anemic (Hb <12 g%) with none of the boys having hemoglobin <12 g% .15.5% under nutrition was observed in the medical students with (25.75%) of girls having a BMI of <18.5 kg/m2. A negative association of hemoglobin was found with nutritional status (BMI) (r = –0.59; P = 0.24) in over weight and obese females students. Nutritional anemia and under nutrition exist among female medical students who are literate, and have free access to the nutritive diet in a good healthy environment.
ABSTRACT
Curcumin has been used in traditional medicine as a household remedy for various diseases including biliary diseases, cough, hepatic diseases, wound healing. For past few decades, extensive work has been done on biological activities of curcumin. This study was carried out to provide scientific basis for the use of curcumin in gastrointestinal disorders. Animals were divided into 5 groups (Group I - Group V), based on the time interval between administration of curcumin/vehicular fluid to administration of barium sulphate (Group I – 1 hr, Group II – 8 hrs, Group III – 16 hrs, Group IV – 24 hrs, Group V – 48 hrs). Each group was further divided into two sub-groups, Group A (control) and Group B (experimental), containing 6 rats each. Rats in Group A were given vehicular fluid (0.9% NaCl) while the rats in Group B were administered curcumin intragastrically by the naso-gastric tube reaching up to the lower 1/3rd of esophagus, in the dose of 1 gm/kg body weight, suspended in normal saline. After the intra-gastric administration of single dose of curcumin, there was decrease in length of small intestine traversed by BaSO4 in all the experimental groups as compared to control groups. These data suggests that curcumin decreases intestinal motility in albino rats, and this may partly explain the traditional use of curcumin in different disorders like diarrhea, abdominal cramps and irritable bowel syndrome.