Effect of habitual breakfast skipping on information processing capacity, cortical response, and cognitive flexibility among medical collegiate - a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Breakfast replenishes glucose homeostasis and provides other micro-nutrients for the normal functioning of the body after a long night at night. Habitually skipping breakfast leads not only to metabolic disturbances but also to neurocognitive impairment. Hence, the current study was carried out to study the effect of skipping breakfast on neurocognitive functions. METHODS: A 9-item breakfast questionnaire was distributed online to students for identifying habitual breakfast skippers from non-skippers based on inclusion criteria. Random blood glucose was noted and visual and auditory reaction time, critical flicker fusion frequency, and Stroop test were assessed in both groups to assess cognition. RESULTS: Forty one habitual breakfast skippers who met the inclusion criteria showed increased visual reaction time, and auditory reaction time indicating cognitive impairment. A significant reduction in the Stroop test was observed among the non-skipper group when compared to the skipper group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that skipping breakfast diminishes neurocognitive functions like problem-solving, planning, judgment, information retention, and reasoning.

Smartphone Addiction and its Impacts on Loneliness, Happiness, and Satisfaction with Life in Medical Students with Different Personalities During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: In this digital era, around the globe, smartphones have become ubiquitous and an indispensable part of everyday life. Despite being a highly productive tool, smartphone is often overused or misused leading to addiction. Studies have been carried out to assess factors influencing smartphone addiction, but very little focus has been placed on psychosocial changes in adults with different personalities, especially among medical students. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the influence of smartphone addiction on personality among medical students in South India. Methods: A validated extrovert and Introvert Personality Inventory (IPEI) was administered to assess the personality after obtaining the necessary permissions. Using a validated questionnaire, the satisfaction with life, subjective happiness, and loneliness scales were administered via Google Forms. Findings: The results showed there was a statistically significant increase in life satisfaction and loneliness scores among the extroverts in the mobile phone addiction group compared with the non-addiction group (P<0.0001). Conclusion: Considering the impact of cell phones on various factors in adults in different areas can complement the nationwide statistics so as to formulate a health policy to address the vulnerable population and thus prevent the deterioration of the psychosocial behavior of the young generation.

Effect of Different Pranayamas on Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia.

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) is the differential change of Heart Rate (HR) in response to inspiration and expiration. This is a noninvasive sensitive index of parasympathetic cardiac control. AIM: To evaluate changes in RSA by utilizing a simple and cost-effective analysis of electrocardiographic (ECG) tracings obtained during performance of four pranayama techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty two trained volunteers performed the following pranayamas with different ratios for inspiration and expiration: sukha (1:1), traditional (1:2), pranava (1:3) and savitri (2:1:2:1) and ECG was recorded while performing the techniques with rest period of 5 minutes in-between. HR was calculated and maximum HR during inspiration (Imax), minimum HR during expiration (Emin), differences between Imax and Emin (Δ), percentage differences between I(max) and Emin (Δ%) and expiration: inspiration ratio (E:I) calculated by respective formulae. Statistical analysis was carried out using repeated measures of ANOVA with Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons test. RESULTS: There were significant differences between groups in all five aspects namely: p= 0.0093 for mean Imax, p = 0.0009 for mean Emin, and p < 0.0001 for Δ HR (I-E), Δ% HR (I-E) and E:I ratio. Pranava pranayama produced the greatest changes in all five comparisons. CONCLUSION: We suggest that further short and long term studies be undertaken with pranava pranayama in patients to further qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate inherent mechanisms of this simple technique. Addition of these cost-effective techniques to the medical armory will help patients of rhythm disorders and other cardiovascular conditions.