The Effects of Yoga Practice on Lung Function and sIL-2R Biomarkers in Individuals Working and Living in the Lonavala Industrial Area: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Context: Pollution-related health hazards are very common among people living and/or working in industrial areas, particularly near industries and metro cities. These air pollutants contribute to allergens, increase inflammation, and affect lung function. Aim: The present study aimed to examine the effect of yoga training on lung functions and inflammation in terms of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in people working and living in a polluted area. Settings and Design: This is a randomized controlled interventional pilot study. Methods and Materials: Forty-eight male volunteers from the industrial area, aged 20-50 years, were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. Each group comprises 24 study participants. Lung function and sIL-2R were studied at the baseline and post-yoga intervention period of 16 weeks. Statistical Analysis Used: Study data were analyzed using descriptive methods, a one-tailed t-test, a paired t-test, and an independent t-test. Result: Study results showed directional and significant improvements in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second, and peak expiratory flow rate compared to the control group participants. The results pertaining to sIL-2R showed a directional and significant decrease in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The present study showed that yoga helps to promote better health, improve lung function and reduce inflammation among people residing in polluted environments.

Differential Radiographic Chest Findings in COVID-19 Positive Patients with and Without Comorbidities.

Background: The pandemic of Covid-19 resulted in significant morbidity and mortality, especially in those with pre-existing diseases like diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, etc., primarily due to extensive pulmonary involvement. The chest radiograph is the first imaging tool used in all Covid-19 patients. Hence, in this study, we attempt to understand and evaluate the role of the chest radiograph in Covid-19 patients with and without coexisting diseases. Materials and Methods: Our study included RTPCR-positive Covid-19 patients with comorbidities (560 cases) and without comorbidities (145 controls), viz. diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, or thyroid disease. All controls and cases had chest radiographs with simple fractional zonal scores in a predesigned proforma. Statistical evaluation of chest radiograph scores was compared with and within groups. Results: Among the controls, approximately 63.5% revealed pulmonary findings on chest radiographs contrary to 77% among cases. No statistical differences were noted among controls and cases based on age and gender. The presence of pleural effusion was noted as a significant factor affecting the score and hence the prognosis in both controls and cases. Statistically significant differences were noted in SFZ scores between controls and various case groups. Conclusion: Chest radiograph scores in Covid-19 disease are higher in patients with comorbidities at the time of presentation, most marked in those with both hypertension and thyroid disease followed by those with hypertension and coronary artery disease. Lower zone predominance is seen in all patients including those with and without comorbidities. The chest radiograph scores become statistically significant with more than one existing comorbidity.

Yoga Intervention Improves the Metabolic Parameters and Quality of Life among Infertile Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Indian Population.

Background: The heterogenic manifestations of polycystic ovarian syndrome have led to various treatment approaches that include improving hormonal imbalance, weight management, and improving quality of life (QoL). Yoga therapy being a versatile treatment approach benefits physical and mental well-being and can be recommended to women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Objective: The objective of this study was to study the effect of structured yoga intervention on anthropometric, metabolic, hormonal, biochemical, ovarian morphology, and infertility-related QoL parameters among infertile women with PCOS. Settings and Design: A prospective, controlled before and after study was conducted at a Multidisciplinary PCOS Clinic in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Methodology: Infertile women with PCOS (26 participants in each group which includes intervention and control arm) seeking treatment for infertility at the Multidisciplinary PCOS Clinic at National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health. The intervention group received 90 min of structured yoga intervention for 3 months. Statistical Analysis: The median change in parameters between baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention was analyzed using IBM SPSS software, version 26 to perform descriptive analyses and Wilcoxon test to analyze pre- and postintervention parameters in the intervention and control group. Results: There was a significant difference in the weight, basal metabolic rate, postglucose insulin, anti-Müllerian hormone, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, ultrasound parameters such as stromal thickness, follicle number per ovary, and QoL in infertility domain in the intervention group compared to the control group. Within 1 year of initiation of the study, 13 participants became pregnant in the yoga intervention group as compared to 7 participants in the control group. Conclusion: The metabolic comorbidities of PCOS have adverse effects on the QoL and pregnancy outcome among infertile women with PCOS. This pilot study demonstrated that a 12-week yoga intervention brought overall improvement in anthropometric, hormonal, biochemical, ovarian morphology, and infertility-related QoL parameters compared to the control group. Integration of yoga in infertility management will help to improve the QoL and to optimize prepregnancy metabolic parameters among infertile women with PCOS.

α-Sulfonamidophosphonates as new anti-mycobacterial chemotypes: Design, development of synthetic methodology, and biological evaluation.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death worldwide due to bacterial infection. The scarcity of effective drugs to treat the disease and the compounded problems due to the development of resistance to the available therapeutics and TB-HIV synergism drive medicinal chemists to search for new anti-Mtb chemotypes. Towards this endeavor, the α-sulfonamidophosphonate moiety has been identified as new anti-Mtb chemotype through the scaffold hopping as the design strategy, development of an effective synthetic methodology using green chemistry tools, and evaluation of anti-TB activity of the synthesized compounds against Mtb (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) H37Rv. Out of the sixteen compounds, five have been found to have MIC values of 1.56 µg/mL and one 3.125 µg/mL. The five most active compounds are non-cytotoxic to RAW 264.7 (mouse leukemic monocyte macrophage) cell lines. The compounds are found to possess acceptable values of the various parameters for drug likeness in accordance with the Lipinski rule with the topological surface area (tPSA) of >70 that suggest eligibility of these new molecular entities for further consideration as potential drug candidates.

The clinical and demographic profile of male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome.

AIMS: To study the demographic factors associated with alcohol dependence syndrome so that the problems of alcohol related co morbidities can be prevented with appropriate preventive measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in De-Addiction Clinic of the Department of Psychiatry, Mamata Medical College, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh from July 2008 to February 2009. Patient who fulfills criteria for alcohol dependence, according to diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition were included. RESULTS: Mean age (standard deviation) at first drink was 18.93 (3.81) years and at onset of Alcohol dependence was 28.28 (6.55) years. The most common reason being given by the patients was financial strain (70% of the patients) due to alcohol use and its consequences. Educational qualification of 12th standard or above was seen only in 7.5%. Alcohol dependence syndrome was more common in unemployed, unskilled and semi-skilled patients. Majority of patients (80%) belonged to lower socio-economic class. CONCLUSION: Alcohol dependence syndrome and its related co morbidities can be minimized to a great extent if the educational and socio-economic standards are improved in countries like India where there is increase in alcohol consumption as a life style choice.

Gross anatomical studies on the adrenal gland in prenatal goat (Capra Hircus) / Estudio anatómico macroscópico de la glándula suprarrenal en fetos de cabra (Capra Hircus)

The present study was conducted on the 24 healthy and normal embryos/foeti of non- descript goat (Capra hircus) varying from day old to 150 days of gestation. The embryo/foeti were assigned into three groups according to their gestational ages; Groups I (0-50 days), II (51-100 days) and III (101-till term). At 38 days of gestation the primordia of right and left adrenal gland were observed as a pea shaped spherical swelling located just cranial to the respective metanephros. Biometrical studies revealed the increase in the all parameters of the adrenal gland with the advancement of age. Adrenal glands were harvested first grossly at 50 days of gestation.

El presente estudio se realizó en 24 embriones / fetos de cabra (Capra hircus) sanos de un día hasta los 150 días de gestación. Los embriónes fueron separados en tres grupos de acuerdo a la edad gestacional: grupos I (0-50 días), II (51 a 100 días) y III (101-till plazo). A los 38 días de gestación se observó el primordio de las glándulas suprarrenales derecha e izquierda como una protuberancia de forma esférica, situada justo en la zona craneal en relación al metanefros. C on el avance de la edad, estudios biométricos revelan aumento de todos los parámetros de la glándula suprarrenal. Las glándulas suprarrenales fueron extraídas inicialmente a los 50 días de gestación.