ABSTRACT
Aims: There is an increasing recognition of the putative association between the use of biomass fuels and the risk of cataracts. However, the exact strength of this association is currently unknown. Our aim was to synthetically quantify the association between biomass fuel use and cataract. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methodology: Using results from the MEDLINE®, Scopus®, Web of Science® and Google® searches, we conducted a random-effects meta-analysis of the published studies. We also conducted subgroup meta-analyses, meta-regressions and sensitivity analyses to determine the contribution of potential confounders to between-study heterogeneity which was measured by the tau-squared and I2 statistics. Summary effect sizes (SES) were estimated using the DerSimonian and Laird method and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) and 95% prediction intervals (PI) were also estimated. Publication bias was examined using funnel plots and Egger’s test. Results: In spite of significant between-study heterogeneity (I2 70%, p=8.1x10-5), biomass fuel use was associated with a significantly increased risk of cataract (SES 2.12; 95% CI 1.61-2.80; 95% PI 0.88-5.09). Age-, gender- and other methodological differences did not significantly contribute to between-study heterogeneity but Indian studies showed a statistically significant association between biomass fuel use and cataract. Statistically homogeneous studies (n = 8) showed an SES of 2.01 (95% CI and PI 1.67-2.41). Conclusion: Synthetic evidence from observational studies indicates that biomass fuel use may increase the risk of cataract. Public health initiatives aimed at avoidance of biomass fuel use may reduce the burden of cataracts especially in settings where biomass fuels are commonly used.
ABSTRACT
Routine exposure to domestic cooking fuels is an important source of indoor air pollution causing deterioration of lung function. We conducted a community based cross-sectional study in 760 non-smoking rural women involved in household cooking with four types of cooking fuels i.e. Biomass, Kerosene stove, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Mixed (combination of two and more cooking fuels). Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) less than 80% of the predicted was considered as abnormal PEFR. The overall prevalence of abnormal PEFR was found to be 29.1% with greater predominance among biomass fuel users (43.3%) with high risk ratio (1.86) as compared to kerosene (0.63), LPG (0.75) and mixed (0.66) fuel users. However the pair wise comparison of different groups of cooking fuels by Marascuilo procedure reported significant differences within different groups except kerosene - mixed group. The study also demonstrated a negative correlation between observed PEFR and exposure indices in different cooking fuels (r=–0.51). Our results indicate that prolonged exposure to cooking fuels particularly biomass fuels as a source of cooking adversely affects PEFR in nonsmoking rural women.
ABSTRACT
Effect of short-term and long-term Brahmakumaris Raja Yoga meditation on physiological variables like heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was evaluated in 100 subjects practicing Raja Yoga meditation. All 100 subjects (33 men and 67 women) were aged 30 years and above (mean age 52.06±12.76 years). Short-term meditators (STM) (n=27) practiced Raja Yoga meditation for duration of six months to five years (mean duration 3.37±1.67 years) and long-term meditators (LTM) (n=73) practiced Raja Yoga meditation for more than five years (mean duration 11.19±5.13 years). The participants were asked to meditate and the physiological variables (HR, RR, SBP and DBP) were recorded twice (15 minutes and 30 minutes) after beginning of meditation. Also, the fasting blood sugar was estimated by glucometer. The study subjects did not differ significantly in age and various anthropometric characteristics such as body weight, body mass index, waist-hip ratio and fasting blood sugar. Comparison between STM and LTM showed that the changes from baseline values (from premeditation to post-meditation at 15 and 30 minutes) in LTM were not statistically significant with those in STM (P>0.05). However, within group differences in LTM revealed that changes in the physiological variables were statistically significant when compared between pre and post meditation both at 15 and 30 minutes. The study suggests that the long-term practice of Raja Yoga meditation improves basic cardio-respiratory functions due to shifting of the autonomic balance in favor of parasympathetic instead of sympathetic system.