Impact of pelvic rocking exercise on dysmenorrhea among adolescent girls

Background: Pelvic rocking exercise is an exercise which contracts deep abdominal muscles and buttocks by taking deep breath, so that a small movement takes place inside the uterus. It is an exercise which strengthens the muscles of lower abdomen and back by taking deep breath. So that the pressure on blood vessels in the area around uterus is relieved. It helps to relieve menstrual discomfort through increased vasodilatation and subsequent decreased ischemia, release of endogenous opiates and suppression of prostaglandins. It is a non-pharmacological management of dysmenorrhea. It increases endorphin release which decreases pain perception and to suppress prostaglandin release. It is found to be effective in managing stress and is easy to practice. Present study aimed to evaluated the effectiveness of pelvic rocking exercise on dysmenorrhea.Methods: Pre- experimental one group pre-test post-test design has been used to attain the objectives of the present study. 60 adolescent girls were selected by non- probability purposive sampling technique. Sociodemographic variables, menstrual history related data was collected and standardized Numerical Pain Rating Scale was used to assess the level of dysmenorrhoea among adolescent girls. Pelvic rocking exercise was the intervention done to evaluate its effect on the level of dysmenorrhea.Results: Out of total adolescent girls, majority had moderate level of dysmenorrhea. There was a significant difference between the pre and post- intervention level of dysmenorrhoea.Conclusions: Study concluded that the intervention of pelvic rocking exercise was significantly effective in reduction of dysmenorrhoea among the adolescent girls.

Influence of Weather, Vector and Variety on Incidence of Yellow Leaf Disease in Sugarcane

Yellow leaf disease of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) caused by the Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV), vectored by aphids has attained epidemic proportions causing severe yield losses, ranging from 20 to 40 % in susceptible varieties. Yellow leaf spread by aphids depends on cultivar susceptibility as well as weather parameters and thus the present studies were conceptualized. The observations on meteorological parameters were taken from the observatory at the station. The data on incidence of vector(aphids) and yellow leaf disease were recorded at weekly interval during the entire crop growth period on three sugarcane varieties viz., 2005 A 128, 2001 A 63 and 2003 V 46. The data on vector and disease incidence was correlated with weather parameters. The aphid incidence on 2005 A 128 initiated (4.6 per leaf) at 30 SMW and gradually increased to 19.1 per leaf at 40 SMW. In the variety 2001 A 63, the aphid incidence was first observed (2.2 per leaf) at 27 SMW and reached the peak population of 19.1 per leaf at 38 SMW. The aphid incidence on 2003 V 46 initiated (2.1 per leaf) at 29 SMW and gradually increased to 18.1 per leaf at 42 SMW. With regard to yellow leaf disease the incidence was first observed (1.0 per cent) at 26 SMW and reached the peak (28.7 per cent) at 37 SMW in the variety 2005 A 128. In the variety 2001 A 63, the incidence of yellow leaf disease was 1.8 per cent at 26 SMW which later on increased up to 29.4 per cent by 46 SMW. The incidence of yellow leaf disease was 3.5 per cent at 28 SMW which later on increased up to 27.6 per cent by 44 SMW in the variety 2003 V 46.The observations on incidence of aphids and YLD in susceptible varieties revealed that aphids contribute significantly to the initial spread of YLD, from initial incidence of aphids and YLD in 29-30 SW up to 42-44 SMW when the aphids reach peak incidence and YLD also leaps to above 25 per cent. The aphid population exhibited positive correlation with maximum temperature (r2=0.62), minimum temperature (r2=0.55) and relative humidity I (r2=0.65), whereas, negative correlation with rainfall (r2=-0.63). The yellow leaf disease exhibited positive correlation with minimum temperature (r2=0.75) and relative humidity I (r2=0.67), whereas, negative correlation with rainfall (r2=-0.63). The leaf and aphid samples were collected at peak incidence of Yellow leaf disease and were tested and found positive for presence of virus using ELISA reader at 405 nm.

Genetics of fruit yield and its component traits under different fruiting habit backgrounds in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

The six basic generations (two parents, F1, F2 and backcrosses) of 14 crosses developed from nine parents differing in fruits node−1 and fruit orientation were evaluated to decipher the genetics of three quantitative traits (average fruit weight, fruits plant−1 and green fruit yield plant−1) during the rainly season of 2016 and 2017. The magnitude and direction of the additive genetic effects [a], dominance genetic effects [d], magnitudes of additive genetic variance (σ2 A) and dominance genetic variance (σ2 D) varied with the genetic background of the crosses and traits. In the genetic background of crosses involving parents differing in fruit node−1, the inheritance of average fruit weight, fruits plant−1 and fruit yield plant−1 were controlled by the genes with both additive and ambidirectional dominant effects. On the contrary, genes with only additive effects controlled the inheritance of average fruit weight, fruits plant−1 and fruit yield plant−1 in most genetic backgrounds of crosses involving parents differing in fruit orientation and those differing in both fruits node−1 and fruit orientation. Further, the genes controlling the inheritance of all the traits are dispersed among the parents used in the investigation. These results are discussed in relation to strategies to be used in breeding chilli.

Plasma Lipoprotein (a) levels in patients with untreated essential hypertension.

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] is considered as a risk factor for vascular diseases, especially those associated with renal failure. Adequate studies have not been conducted on the lipoprotein (a) in essential hypertensive patients. There is a controversy on the mechanisms by which Lp (a) is associated with essential hypertension. It is unclear whether Lp (a) contributes to atherogenesis or to thrombogenesis or both. Recent studies suggest that Lp (a) can act as a marker for determining vascular or tissue injury. Reports on Indian population indicate elevated levels of Lp (a), together with other serum lipoproteins emphasizing an important role in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and peripheral atherosclerosis. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the relation between plasma levels of Lp (a) and the parameters of the lipid profile in a group of essential hypertensive patients, who are not receiving pharmacological treatment and with no clinical signs of associated pathologies or organ damage. A total of 37 essential hypertensive patients (27 men and 10 women) were compared with 50 controls (32 men and 18 women). It was observed that the hypertensive patients had higher plasma concentrations of Lp (a), Total Cholesterol (TC), Low-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C), and Triglycerides (TG) as compared to controls (P< 0.01). Hypertensive patients were also observed to have significantly low levels of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol levels (HDL-C) as compared to controls (P<0.01). Only 14 hypertension patients and 4 controls had plasma concentrations of Lp (a) of over 30 mg/dl. Lp (a) values correlated significantly ( P<0.05 ) with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the main parameters of the lipid profile. We conclude that elevated plasma Lp (a) levels were associated with hypertension and show significant correlation with lipid levels. However higher plasma concentrations of Lp (a), albeit with in the normal range, could be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, and could contribute towards increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease in persons with essential hypertension.