Symphysis fundal height curve--a simple method for foetal growth assessment.

In this prospective study, symphisis fundal height (SFH) was measured in centimeters at different weeks of gestation from 20th week onwards in 100 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies. A curve was plotted based on the mean SFH measurements with standard deviation. Readings were also arranged on the basis of 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles. Percentile curve was similar to the curve based on mean with standard deviation. The rate of growth was 1 cm per week between 20-32 weeks. Thereafter, there was a slight fall in the rate of growth. SFH measurement is a simple method of foetal growth assessment which can be utilized even by paramedical workers to screen for small for gestational age babies. It is better to have a standard curve derived from the population as there is regional variation.

Energy expenditure and ventilatory responses during Siddhasana--a yogic seated posture.

Reports of energy expenditure and ventilatory responses to yogic seated posture of Siddhasana are lacking in literature. Various cardio-ventilatory responses were studied in states of the horizontal supine, chair-sitting and Siddhasana. It was observed that sitting in Siddhasana posture was characterised by greater minute ventilation, larger tidal volume, higher oxygen consumption, greater CO2 elimination, higher heart frequency greater oxygen pulse and lesser as compared with other two postures. These observations suggest that Siddhasana is a mild type of exercise and may have its application in conditions of low cardio-respiratory reserves especially in individuals in whom heavy exercises are contra-indicated.

Energy expenditure and ventilatory responses during Virasana--a yogic standing posture.

Energy expenditure and ventilatory responses to yogic standing posture of Virasana were studied on 10 healthy men (25-37 years of age). The results of various responses respectively to the horizontal supine, Chair-sitting and Virasana were: Minute Ventilation (VE) 7.64, 8.61 and 18.67 L/min; Respiratory Frequency (FR) 15.71, 15.70 and 21.45 Breath/min; Tidal Volume (VT) 0.496, 0.544 and 0.827 L/min; Oxygen consumption (VO2) 0.127, 0.234 and 0.573 L/min; Carbondioxide Elimination (VCO2) 0.127, 0.134 and 0.420 L/min; Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) 0.58, 0.57 and 0.69; Heart Frequency (FH) 65.2, 74.5 and 104.4 beats/min; Oxygen Pulse (O2P) 3.32, 3.17 and 5.45 ml/beat; Ventilatory Equivalent (VE-EQ) 36.78, 37.12 and 33.85; Multiple of Resting VO2 (METS) 0.96, 1.05 and 2.53 and Metabolic Cost (MC) 1.04, 1.13 and 2.76 Cal/min. Virasana posture was characterised by higher VE, FR, VT, VO2, VCO2, FH and O2P with lesser VE-EQ. The observations suggest that Virasana induces temporarily a hypermetabolic state characterised by enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity which gets inhibited during the adoption of resting supine shavasana posture.