PowerPoint presentation in learning physiology by undergraduates with different learning styles.

PowerPoint presentations (PPTs) have become routine in medical colleges because of their flexible and varied presentation capabilities. Research indicates that students prefer PPTs over the chalk-and-talk method, and there is a lot of debate over advantages and disadvantages of PPTs. However, there is no clear evidence that PPTs improve student learning/performance. Furthermore, there are a variety of learning styles with sex differences in classrooms. It is the responsibility of teacher/facilitator and student to be aware of learning style preferences to improve learning. The present study asked the following research question: do PPTs equally affect the learning of students with different learning styles in a mixed sex classroom? After we assessed students' predominant learning style according to the sensory modality that one most prefers to use when learning, a test was conducted before and after a PPT to assess student performance. The results were analyzed using Student's t-test and ANOVA with a Bonferroni post hoc test. A z-test showed no sex differences in preferred learning styles. There was significant increase in posttest performance compared with that of the pretest in all types of learners of both sexes. There was also a nonsignificant relationship among sex, learning style, and performance after the PPT. A PPT is equally effective for students with different learning style preferences and supports mixed sex classrooms.

Correlation Between Haemoglobin Level and Electrocardiographic (ECG) Findings in Anaemia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia affects the body by decreased oxygen (O2) carrying capacity of the blood. There is growing evidence that anaemia contributes to cardiac disease and death. It causes O2 supply - demand myocardial mismatch causing myocardial ischemia. There is diversity of opinion available in literature on reports of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in anaemia. AIM: To study the ECG changes in anemic population and to correlate ECG changes seen with increasing severity of anaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In hundred anemic adults, haemoglobin level and resting ECG were recorded. They were grouped according to haemoglobin level. ECG findings and varying severity of haemoglobin (Hb) level of each group were correlated using Pearson 's co-relation co-efficient and association was calculated using Chi-square test. RESULTS: ECG changes in patients with Hb level of 0-5gm% showed ST segment depression in 50-75%, T wave changes in 29-50% and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) in 25-30% of patients. Less percentage of patients with 5-7gm% Hb showed such changes, and patients with 7-8gm% Hb, showed no changes. As the Hb level decreased there was more percentage of patients having tachycardia and ECG changes. There was a strong negative correlation between Hb level and tachycardia and ECG changes. CONCLUSION: Diagnosing anaemia in critical care can be supported by ECG changes like ST depression, T wave changes, with/without associated QRS abnormalities to avoid misdiagnosis and also as dramatic clinical and ECG recovery can be achieved with anaemia correction.

Effect of yogic bellows on cardiovascular autonomic reactivity.

CONTEXT: Yoga is an ancient science, which originated in India. Pranayama has been assigned a very important role in yogic system of exercises. It is known that regular practice of breathing exercises (pranayama) increases parasympathetic tone, decreases sympathetic activity, and improves cardiovascular functions. Different types of breathing exercises alter autonomic balance for good by either decrease in sympathetic or increase in parasympathetic activity. Mukh Bhastrika (yogic bellows), a type of pranayama breathing when practiced alone, has demonstrated increase in sympathetic activity and load on heart, but when practiced along with other types of pranayama has showed improved cardiac performance. AIM: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of long term practice of fast pranayama (Mukh Bhastrika) on autonomic balance on individuals with stable cardiac function. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This interventional study was conducted in the department of physiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 50 healthy male subjects of 18 - 25 years age group, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent Mukh Bhastrika training for 12 weeks. Cardiovascular autonomic reactivity tests were performed before and after the training. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The parameters were analyzed by Student t test. RESULTS: This study showed an increase in parasympathetic activity i.e., reduced basal heart rate, increase in valsalva ratio and deep breathing difference in heart rate; and reduction in sympathetic activity i.e., reduction in fall of systolic blood pressure on posture variation. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that Mukh Bhastrika has beneficial effect on cardiac autonomic reactivity, if practiced for a longer duration.

Effect of short-term pranayama and meditation on cardiovascular functions in healthy individuals.

CONTEXT: Asana, pranayama, and meditation are three main techniques of yoga practiced in India over thousands of years to attain functional harmony between the body and mind. Recent studies on long-term yogic practices have shown improvements in cardiovascular functions. AIM: The present study was conducted to ascertain if a short-term practice of pranayama and meditation had improvements in cardiovascular functions in healthy individuals with respect to age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This interventional study was conducted in the Department of physiology of S.N. Medical College, Bagalkot. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty healthy subjects (24 males and 26 females) of 20-60 years age group, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent two hours daily yoga program for 15 days taught by a certified yoga teacher. Pre and post yoga cardiovascular functions were assessed by recording pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean blood pressure. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The parameters were analyzed by Student's t test. RESULTS: There was significant reduction in resting pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure after practicing pranayama and meditation for 15 days. The response was similar in both the genders, both the age groups, <40 yrs and >40 yrs and both the groups with BMI, <25 kg/m(2) and >25 kg/m(2). CONCLUSION: This study showed beneficial effects of short term (15 days) regular pranayama and meditation practice on cardiovascular functions irrespective of age, gender, and BMI in normal healthy individuals.

A study of electrocardiographic changes in congenital deaf school children.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence of cardiac abnormalities in congenital deaf school children, together called as Jervel Lange Nielsen syndrome or Long QT syndrome. AIM: The main aim was to study the electrocardiographic changes in congenital deaf children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty congenital deaf children aged 6-18 years were selected. ECG was taken in lead II, at rest and after exercise, as some are known to exhibit the abnormality after exercise. The child was made to run on the Tread mill till exhaustion. Corrected QT interval (QTc) was Calculated by Bazett's formula QTc = QT/ √R-R. ECG was also analyzed for other abnormalities like Twave changes, ST depression, rhythm abnormalities etc. RESULTS: Out of 50, 2 children showed resting QTc of 0.45 sec which is diagnostically high. Mean value of QTc in deaf children(Cases) before exercise was 0.4111 ± 0.0271 sec and in controls 0.379 ± 0.020 sec. Mean value of QTc after exercise in deaf(cases) was 0.403 ± 0.028 sec and in controls 0.376 ± 0.021 sec. Eight deaf children showed ST depression and 2 biphasic T and 2 notched T waves. Thirty-three deaf children's parents had consanguineous marriage. CONCLUSION: The results were explained on the basis of ion channellopathy in heart and inner ear which predisposes to sensorineural hearing loss and cardiac abnormality.