Association between Sleep Quality and Different Aspects of Memory along with Assessment of Post Exercise and Post Meditation Effects

Background and Aims : Sleep is a highly conserved behaviour across animal evolution. The functions of sleep include restoration, memory processing, dreaming etc. Memory is informational processing system with explicit and implicit functioning made up of sensory processor, short term memory and long term memory. The present study was designed to analyse the impact of sleep quality on memory and effect of exercise and meditation on same. Material and Method : The present study was performed on 110 subjects chosen randomly with no gender bias. In first phase, baseline values were assessed for different sub tests of sleep quality and different aspects of memory. Subjects were divided into two groups with each group including 27 males and 27 females. One group was required to perform moderate intensity exercise and other meditation for one month duration. In the second phase, parameters were again assessed. Statistical analysis : Paired t-test was used for comparison of memory and sleep components between males and females. Independent t-test was used between baseline and post intervention values of exercise, meditation. Correlation studies were also carried out between sleep quality and different aspects of memory using Pearson correlation coefficient. Result : Significant and non significant results were obtained on comparison of memory and sleep components in males and females. Total memory score was better in females. Exercise and meditation exhibited statistically significant result on memory and sleep quality. Conclusion : Good sleep quality is associated with better memory. There is improvement across domains of memory and sleep with meditation and exercise.

Incidence of Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunctions in the Early Stages of COVID-19: An Objective Evaluation

Abstract Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a dangerous infectious disease caused by a newly discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has various clinical presentations. Numerable cases with non-specific olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in COVID-19 have been reported from all over the globe. This is important as awareness will let people to self-isolate and help in limiting disease spread. Objective To objectively evaluate the frequency of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, which may occur independently or with other symptoms, in laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients at an early stage of the disease. Methods Objective evaluation of olfactory and gustatory function of 322 COVID-19 patients treated at our hospital, (SMGS, Government Medical College, Jammu), from August 2020 until November 2020. Results Our study population included 127 (39.4%) males and 195 (60.6%) females. Two hundred and twenty-six (70.2%) COVID-19 patients experienced olfactory and gustatory disorders. One hundred and sixty-five (51.2%) cases experienced both olfactory and gustatory disorders. Isolated olfactory dysfunction was reported in 34 (10.6%) patients, while 27 (8.4%) patients experienced only gustatory dysfunction. Conclusion The olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions, without any nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea, are significant symptoms in the clinical presentation of early COVID-19 patients. This presentation can be recognized at the earliest one, and it can reduce the high communicability of the COVID-19 disease.

Study of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Responses During Cold Pressor Test (CPT) In Healthy Volunteers.

Acute pain was induced in 35 healthy volunteer males by cold pressor test (CPT) and pulmonary parameters - respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV), inspiratory and expiratory reserve volume (IRV, ERV), inspiratory capacity (IC), vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1, peak expiratory flow rate and forced expiratory flow rate at 75, 50 and 25% of expired FVC (FEFR 75, 50 and 25%) were measured. Acute pain parameters like pain threshold, tolerance and sensitivity were also recorded. Besides these, the cardiovascular parameters - pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, were also measured. Comparisons were made between values recorded before, during and after cold induced pain. There was a significant increase in cardiovascular and pulmonary parameters (RR, TV, IC, IRV, ERV, VC, FVC and FVC1) during the acute pain induced by CPT, reflecting an acute state of responses secondary to sympathetic challenge. The study indicates that alterations in pulmonary and cardiovascular profile form an integral part of multidimensional responses observed during cold induced acute pain.

Prolonged Impacted Laryngeal Foreign Body

A unique presentation of laryngeal foreign body (meat bone) in a four year old girl is presented. She had prolonged impaction of meat bone in the larynx (22 days) and presented with sudden onset of hoarseness but was managed conservatively, outside, on the line of treatment of bronchial asthma. Foreign body was removed by direct laryngoscopy, under general anaesthesia, uneventfully. The presentation and management of airway foreign bodies are discussed in general.

Cranio-Facial Fibrous Dysplasia.

An unusual case offibrous dysplasia involving leftcranio-facial region in an adult male is reported. The clinical features, radiological findings and the treatment have been discussed.