Relationship of perceived sleep quality and stress among university students: An online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Several factors cause mental stress during a pandemic where academic life is uncertain. This stress may cause a change in healthy behavior. Sleep is one of the important aspects and is deranged with physical or mental stress. Aim and Objectives: With this background, we conducted this study with university students to know the level of stress and sleep pattern and to find any correlation between them. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational online survey study was conducted in Bhubaneswar, Odisha with 100 university students during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress was assessed with the COVID-19 Student Stress Questionnaire (CSSQ) and subjective sleep was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI). Both the questionnaires were in English and were having Likert-type response options. The survey data were analyzed by Statistical test by GraphPad Prism 6.01 software package. Results: Among the participants, 66% had high stress, 24% had moderate stress, and 10% had low stress. The sleep quality analysis showed that 76% of students were having poor sleep and 24% had good sleep. There was a positive correlation between the CSSQ and PSQI score (r = 0.45, P < 0.0001). This indicates a strong correlation between stress and sleep quality. Conclusion: During a pandemic like the current COVID-19 pandemic, university students suffer from a high level of stress and disturbed sleep. Hence, to restore the wellbeing of the students, a proper sleep hygiene practice should be promoted that may eventually help reduce stress. On the other hand, proper information regarding academic progress and defined assessment methods may help reduce academic stress and promote good sleep.

Linguistic and cultural adaptation of physical activity readiness questionnaire in Odia language

Background: Regular exercise and proper exercise are two important measures that can control obesity reduce the chances of metabolic disease and promote a healthy life. Many a time, exercise may not be suitable for some individuals. For screening, a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) is used. However, it is not available in Odia, a language spoken in Odisha, India. Aim and Objective: This study aimed to adapt the PAR-Q linguistically in Odia according to guidelines laid by the World Health Organization. Materials and Methods: The English questionnaire was forward translated from English to Odia by three bilingual experts and a consensus was reached to make a final Odia version. Then, the Odia version was back-translated to English by three language experts and a consensus was reached to form a final back-translated version. Then, the conceptual equivalence was checked between the two versions for finalizing the Odia version. Then, the questionnaire was pre-tested and cognitive interview was conducted. Results: We have successfully forward translated and back-translated the PAR-Q. The Odia version and back-translated English version showed an acceptable level of equivalence by two individual raters with an acceptable level of agreement. The Odia PAR-Q was successfully pre-tested. Conclusion: We have linguistically translated the PAR-Q in Odia. This questionnaire can be used for screening individuals for their fitness for enrolling and engaging in exercise. This questionnaire would help sports authorities as well as paramedical staff in screening Odia speaking subjects who are not comfortable with English.

Implementation of meta-analysis approach, comparing conventional radiotherapy, and proton beam therapy treating head and neck cancer

Introduction: Radiation therapy is commonly used in the treatment of head and neck cancer in both the definitive and postoperative settings. Proton therapy, due to its intrinsic physical properties, has the ability to reduce the integral dose delivered to the patients while maintaining highly conformal target coverage Materials and Methods:.A literature search was performed on scientific databases, and Preferred Reporting Items for Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to compute results. Only original studies were selected. Selected studies were used to extract some proposed data for comparison, dosimetry, site, complications, and survival. Results: Proton beam therapy technology can be used against the conventional radiotherapy and shows satisfactory results. Yet conventional therapy is not less advantageous considering the amount of work available for any cross interpretations. Conclusion: Comparative preplanning could be beneficial considering multiple therapies for ruling out the best treatment outcomes that could be expected

An institutional survey for knowledge‑based and self‑awareness assessment in temporomandibular joint disorders among dental students.

Context: Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) have been recognized as one of the most common causes of nondental orofacial pain. Various studies have been reported in literature regarding the relationship between prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMDs and gender, suggestive of female predilection; however, none of the studies have yet been reported to suggest the relationship between knowledge about temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and TMDs and self‑awareness of its signs and symptoms. Aim: To find a relationship between the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self‑awareness of its signs and symptoms. Settings and Design: This study was designed as an institutional survey. The study sample comprised 491 undergraduate and postgraduate (PG) students, consisting of 90 males and 401 females with age ranging between 18 and 32 years. Subjects and Methods: Two sets of questionnaire were distributed among the students. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed with the help of Epi Info (TM) 3.5.3, descriptive statistical analysis, test of proportion, Chi‑square test, one‑way analysis of variance, Tukey’s test, and knowledge index. Results: It was observed that there was a gradual increase in the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self‑awareness of its signs and symptoms from the 1st year to PG students. Conclusions: A direct relationship exists between the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self‑awareness of its signs and symptoms.

Vegetable gum based gel lubrication of endotracheal tube cuffs improves efficacy of alkalinized intracuff lignocaine in preventing postoperative sore throat: a randomized controlled study

Background and aims: In order to reduce endotracheal tube [ETT] induced emergence phenomenon at extubation which involves postoperative sore throat [POST], cough, hoarseness, dysphagia and hemodynamic changes, we evaluated the efficacy of vegetable gum based [VGB] Lubic gel lubrication alone or in combination with 4% intracuff alkalinized lignocaine [IAL]. The vegetable gums in the gel appear to be of special significance

Methodology: 100 patients undergoing surgical procedures under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to 4 groups of 25 each. In Group C [control group] patients, the ETT cuffs were inflated with air and lubricated with normal saline. In Group G, the cuffs were inflated with air, while in Group L and LG, cuffs were filled with IAL. The Group G and LG cuffs were lubricated with VGB lubricant gel while Group L cuffs were lubricated with normal saline. During the post-extubation period POST was studied using Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] at 15 min, 1, 2, 3 and 24 h. Incidence of cough, dysphagia, hoarseness and hemodynamic changes was recorded and compared

Results: The mean VAS scores for POST were found to be the least in Group LG [12.6 +/- 7.08] compared to Groups C [33.8 +/- 9.38], G [32.52 +/- 2.11] and Group L [21.6 +/- 12.30] over 24 h. Incidence of cough, dysphagia, hoarseness and hemodynamic changes was least in Group LG compared to others

Conclusion: VGB gel lubrication combined with IAL enhanced the effect of IAL, than IAL or VGB gel lubrication alone thus proving most effective in preventing emergence phenomenon at extubation

Role of yoga in modifying anxiety level in women.

Anxiety leads to derangement in physical and mental health. Anxiety levels are more in full time housewives than working women. There is a need for simple, easy treatment for anxiety to alleviate the burden on health caused by anxiety. Yoga is among the top ten complementary and alternative medicine therapies. Our study aimed to determine the anxiety levels in apparently healthy full time housewives and to study the effects of Yoga on anxiety levels among them. Present study is a comparative interventional study. Study was conducted on 50 apparently healthy full time housewives (20-50 years) who attended one month Yoga camp. Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) Scale was used to evaluate anxiety levels before and at the end of the yoga camp. Statistical analysis was done by Paired t test using SPSS 9.0. The baseline pulse rate, SBP, DBP were 82.90±4.25 bpm, 124.84±11.022 mm Hg, 85.20±10.81 mm Hg respectively. After four weeks yoga camp there was statistically significant lowering of pulse rate (77.58±3.86 bpm), SBP (117.92±6.76 mm Hg), DBP (78.68±6.62 mm Hg). Before yoga training, percentage distributions of subjects with mild, moderate and severe anxiety were 6%, 18% and 76% respectively. At the end of four week yoga training, percentage distributions of subjects with mild, moderate and severe anxiety were 44.23%, 19.23% and 36.53% respectively. There was highly significant (p=0.000) difference in the mean values of total score before (33.71±4.90) and after (26.93±4.53) yoga. These results indicate that there was a reduction in the severity of anxiety from severe to moderate and mild indicating decrease in anxiety following yoga. Based on the results of our study, we conclude that regular yogic practices and adapting and implementing the principals and philosophy of yoga in day to day life may decrease the anxiety level.

Effect of Yoga on Short Term Heart Rate Variability Measure as a Stress Index in Subjunior Cyclists : A Pilot Study。

Subjunior athletes experience mental stress due to pressure from the coach, teachers and parents for better performance. Stress, if remains for longer period and not managed appropriately can leads to negative physical, mental and cognitive impact on children. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of integrated yoga module on heart rate variability (HRV) measure as a stress index in subjunior cyclists. Fast furrier transform technique of frequency domain method was used for the analysis of HRV. We have found a significant increase in high frequency (HF) component by 14.64% (P<0.05) and decrease in the low frequency component (LF) of HRV spectrum by 5.52% (P<0.05) and a decrease in LF/ HF ratio by 19.63% (P<0.01) in yoga group. In the control group, there was decrease in the HF component and, no significant difference in the LF component of HRV spectrum and LF/HF ratio. The results show that yoga practice decreases sympathetic activity and causes a shift in the autonomic balance towards parasympathetic dominance indicating a reduction in stress. In conclusion, yoga practice helps to reduce stress by optimizing the autonomic functions. So, it is suggested to incorporate yoga module as a regular feature to keep subjunior athletes both mentally and physically fit.

Effect of some chemical radioprotectors on mouse bone marrow.

Effect of HT, AET and Se on mice bone marrow has been studied by counting bone marrow micronucleated cells and endogenous spleen colony count (CFU-S). Combination of HT and AET used as a radioprotector has not caused any significant variation in any of the parameter studied when administered once, it increases bone marrow micronucleated cells and decreases CFU-S slightly after daily administration for 7 days. The individual constituent of the combination administered singly does not increase micronucleated cell number. Seven consecutive doses of HT + AET and same in combination with Se enhances micronucleated cells to a higher level. Daily injection of Se alone up to 7 days also causes an increase in micronucleated cells upto same level. CFU-S pool does not show any significant change in number of bone marrow cells through out the study except in the groups where animals were treated with Se.

Medullomyoblastoma. A case report.

A case of medullomyoblastoma was studied by light and electron microscopy and by immunohistochemistry. It showed glial and neuronal differentiation in the medulloblastoma areas and rhabdomyoblastic differentiation in the intervening areas.