Quality of life assessment in the first episode of acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important measure of a patient's recovery after an illness. However, HRQoL among acute coronary syndrome (ACS) survivors has not been extensively studied following cardiac management. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) among ACS patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: This cohort study included 145 consecutive male ACS patients between March 2021 and May 2022. Of these patients, 138 (mean age 54.3 ± 10.7 years) completed the QoL assessment using the short form-12 (SF-12) health survey questionnaire. Seventy (51%) of them presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 18 (13%) had non-STEMI, 39 (28%) had evolved MI, and 11 (8%) had unstable angina. Recruited patients' QoL data were assessed at various time points post-PCI. Results: At the end of the 12 months of follow-up, major clinical events (MCE) defined as death, sudden death, or re-acute myocardial infarction occurred in 54.9% of patients. Out of 7 MCE, four deaths and three re-AMIs had occurred. SF-12 physical component score was found to be significantly improved when compared to the mental component score, which seems to improve without reaching statistical significance over time. Among event-free ACS patients, we found a significant positive correlation between left ventricular ejection fraction and HRQoL. Conclusion: Improvement in HRQoL (physical component) was seen among ACS patients post-PCI. Relevance for Patients: QoL assessment outcomes should be considered in clinical settings, practice guidelines, and treatment modality post-PCI to improve QoL in post-ACS survivors.

Impact of REM sleep deprivation and sleep recovery on circulatory neuroinflammatory markers.

OBJECTIVES: Sleep loss may contribute to neuroinflammation, which might increase neuroinflammatory markers such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE), creatine kinase-brain fraction (CK-BB), lactate dehydrogenase brain fraction (LDH-BB) in blood. Hence, we evaluated the effect of REM sleep deprivation and recovery on these markers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four adult male Sprague Dawley rats were grouped as control, environmental control, REM sleep deprivation, and 24 hour sleep recovery. The rats were sleep deprived for 72 hours and recovered for 24 hours. NSE, CK-BB, and LDH-BB levels in serum were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: The serum NSE, CK-BB, and LDH-BB were significantly higher in 72 hour sleep deprived group compared to control (p<0.01). After 24 hours of sleep recovery, the levels of NSE, CK-BB, and LDH-BB were comparable to control (p>0.05). DISCUSSION: REM sleep deprivation increased serum NSE, CK-BB, and LDH-BB, which might be due to neural damage. However, 24 hours of sleep recovery restored these markers.

An Interventional Study of Physical Activity on HbA1C and VO2max in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Low cardio-respiratory fitness is prevalent in type 2 diabetics. The objectives of the present study was to assess the effect of an exercise on VO2max and HbA1c in type 2 diabetic patient. The baseline VO2max and HbA1c of 30 diabetics were estimated. VO2max was estimated using the Bruce protocol. HbA1c was measured by ion-exchange chromatography with Bio-Rad D10. After an exercise regimen for a period of 6 months, they returned to check their VO2max and HbA1c. The baseline VO2max was 32.67±11.99 ml/kg/min (low for given age) and HbA1C% values were high (7.58±1.66). After walking it was found that VO2max increased and HbA1c decreased significantly. Exercise improves cardiorespiratory fitness and lower HbA1c. So, a suitable exercise should be incorporated along with diet and drug prescription.

Efficacy of short-term Yoga therapy program on quality of life in patients with psychosomatic ailments.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the effect of short-term Yoga therapy program on quality of life in patients suffering from psychosomatic ailments. METHODS: Sample size and Study period: All the subjects coming to SVYASA AROGYADHAMA in month of July 2011 for Yoga therapy for various psychosomatic ailments and were free of any primary psychiatric illness and volunteering to participate were enrolled in the study after taking informed consent. Their physical condition was healthy enough to practice Yoga as judged clinically. All subjects (n = 94) who were enrolled in the study underwent Integrated Approach to Yoga Therapy, which included Asanas, Pranayamas, meditation, Kriyas and lectures on practice of Yoga and derived special techniques in their respective sections. The quality of life was assessed by SF-12 questionnaire and thereby calculating Physical and Mental Composite Scores (PCS and MCS) before and after 1 week of Yoga therapy. Data thus obtained was analyzed using paired t-test. RESULTS: A significant improvement (P < 0.001) was seen in the study group in both PCS (from mean ± SD of 37.50 ± 9.58 to 43.7 ± 8.73) and MCS (from 45.87 ± 9.57 to 53.35 ± 7.9.) with minor variations in patients of various departments. CONCLUSION: A short-term Yoga therapy program leads to a remarkable improvement in the quality of life of the subjects and can contribute favorably in the management of psychosomatic disorders.

Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials in medical students: Normative data.

BACKGROUND: The median nerve N20 component constitutes the initial response of the primary somatosensory cortex to somatosensory stimulation of the upper extremity. Knowledge of the underlying generators is important for basic understanding of the initial sequence of cortical activation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, normative data of cortical evoked potentials in particular of N20 wave onset and peak latencies by median nerve stimulation in a group of 100 medical students aged between 18 and 30 years were documented and the effect of physiological variables were studied. Descriptive statistics and Student t-test were used to analyze the healthy subjects and to compare N20 latencies for handedness, respectively. Regression analysis was used to show association between average N20 latencies and physiological variables from which regression formulae were calculated to predict normative values of these parameters. RESULTS: The results of the study indicated that N20 onset and peak latency values are significantly affected by limb length at 95% confidence level. Height is showing as a significant factor affecting N20 onset latencies but it is probably because of high correlation of height with limb length. Age though on linear regression showed some significant correlation with N20 onset and peak latency, multiple regressions showed that it does not affect N20 onset and peak latencies in the presence of other variables. Handedness did not affect both N20 onset and peak latency values. CONCLUSION: Physiological variables do affect the N20 latencies and these should be standardized before usage for research in basic sciences at all age groups.

Neck circumference as an anthropometric measure of obesity in diabetics.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance is associated with visceral subcutaneous fat content. Neck circumference (NC) is a marker of upper body subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution. AIM: The aim of this study is to compare NC in diabetics and non-diabetics and to correlate NC with other anthropometric measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 350 type 2 diabetics and 350 non-diabetics of >30 years of age. Anthropometric parameters like body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, and NC were measured. Independent t-test and Pearson's correlation were the tests of significance done to analyze quantitative data. RESULTS: There was positive correlation of NC, BMI, and index of central obesity. The NC in diabetics was significantly higher than in non-diabetics (P < 0.001). NC >36 cm in diabetics and >37 cm in non-diabetics was the best cutoff value to determine subjects with central obesity. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that NC may be used both in clinical practice and in epidemiologic studies as a straightforward and reliable index. It is an economical easy to use test with less consumption of time and correlates well with other standard anthropometric parameters.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices of traffic policemen regarding the auditory effects of noise.

The objectives of the present study were to (i) estimate noise levels at major traffic junctions in Bengaluru City, and (ii) assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of traffic policemen deputed at those junctions towards the auditory effects caused by noise pollution. The present questionnaire based study was carried among 60 traffic policemen. Road traffic noise was measured at different places in Bengaluru city using Sound level meter and it ranged from 71.2 to 91 dB. The questionnaire included the questions regarding the self assessment of the policemen about their hearing ability, past and present exposure to loud sound and the use of personal protective devices such as ear plugs and ear muffs. The questionnaire was filled by the subjects and the data was analyzed. The mean age was 42.2 +/- 7.4 years and the mean year of exposure was 10.82 +/- 8.53 yrs. Only 3.33% of the subjects felt that their hearing ability was below average. Thirteen subjects reported that they usually missed some conversation over phone while 25% reported similar condition while talking to someone in crowd. 16.66% had work related tinnitus (> once a day) and experienced it more during working hours. None of them used ear plugs/ear muffs and the reason for non-usage was nonavailability (100%). The self assessment of hearing by traffic policemen suggests that most of the traffic policemen have normal hearing. However, a systematic study with Audiometry of these subjects is recommended.