Effect of yogic intervention on the autonomic nervous system in the patients with coronary artery disease: a randomized controlled trial.

In this study 258 patients from the Department of Cardiology in Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow were selected to participate. All had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. They were randomly divided into 2 groups, the yoga group and the non-yoga group, 129 in each group; 208 completed the study protocol. The yogic intervention consisted of 35-40 min/day, 5 days a week over a period of 18 months in the Department of Physiology. Autonomic function testing was done in both the groups at zero time and after 18 months. We observed a statistically significant reduction in body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate (P < 0.05), i.e., a significant positive effect was observed when yoga therapy was used as an adjunct in patients with coronary artery disease.

Effect of yogic intervention on the autonomic nervous system in the patients with coronary artery disease:a randomized controlled trial

In this study 258 patients from the Department of Cardiology in Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow were selected to participate. All had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. They were randomly divided into 2 groups, the yoga group and the non-yoga group, 129 in each group; 208 completed the study protocol. The yogic intervention consisted of 35-40 min/day, 5 days a week over a period of 18 months in the Department of Physiology. Autonomic function testing was done in both the groups at zero time and after 18 months. We observed a statistically significant reduction in body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate [P < 0.05], i.e. a significant positive effect was observed when yoga therapy was used as an adjunct in patients with coronary artery disease

Effect of yogic practices on lipid profile and body fat composition in patients of coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of regular yogic practices and self-discipline in reducing body fat and elevated lipids in CAD patients. METHOD: In this study one hundred seventy (170) subjects, of both sexes having coronary artery disease were randomly selected form Department of Cardiology. Subjects were divided in to two groups randomly in yoga group and in non-yoga group, eighty five (85) in each group. Out of these (170 subjects), one hundred fifty four (154) completed the study protocol. TIME LINE: The yogic intervention consisted of 35-40 min/day, five days in a week till six months in the Department of Physiology CSMMU UP Lucknow. Body fat testing and estimation of lipid profile were done of the both groups at zero time and after six months of yogic intervention in yoga group and without yogic intervention in non yoga group. RESULTS: In present study, BMI (p<0.04), fat % (p<0.0002), fat free mass (p<0.04), SBP (p<0.002), DBP (p<0.009), heart rate (p<0.0001), total cholesterol (p<0.0001), triglycerides (p<0.0001), HDL (p<0.0001) and low density lipoprotein (p<0.04) were changed significantly. CONCLUSION: Reduction of SBP, DBP, heart rate, body fat%, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL after regular yogic practices is beneficial for cardiac and hypertensive patients. Therefore yogic practices included in this study are helpful for the patients of coronary artery disease.

Six-month trial of Yoga Nidra in menstrual disorder patients: Effects on somatoform symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Yoga Nidra is a successful therapy for both recent and long-standing psychological disturbances of all kinds especially depression and high anxiety level and neurotic patterns. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present work, therefore, was to conduct a preliminary randomized study of Yoga Nidra as a treatment in the patients of menstrual disorders with somatoform symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were recruited from Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CSM Medical University (erstwhile KGMU) Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. One hundred and fifty female patients with menstrual disorders were randomly divided in to two groups 1- Intervention group: 75 subjects (Yoga Nidra intervention and medication) 2- control group: 75 subjects (without Yoga Nidra intervention only medication). Schedule for clinical assessment in neuropsychiatry tool was used. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in pain symptoms (P<0.006), gastrointestinal symptoms (P<0.04), cardiovascular symptoms (P<0.02) and urogenital symptoms (P<0.005) after 6 months of Yoga Nidra therapy in Intervention group in comparison to control group. CONCLUSION: Yoga Nidra appears to be a promising intervention for psychosomatic problems. It is cost-effective and easy to implement. The results indicate that somatoform symptoms in patients with menstrual disorder can be decreased by learning and applying a program based on Yogic intervention (Yoga Nidra).

Visual analogue scale for assessing breast nodularity in non-discrete lumpy breasts: the Lucknow-Cardiff breast nodularity scale.

BACKGROUND: Objective measurement of benign non-discrete lumpy breasts is not performed routinely that would lead to disease measurement, inter-physician communication, therapeutic response assessment and a normative function of reducing unnecessary biopsies. A schematic 5-point ordinal visual analogue scale was developed. METHODS: Two blinded experienced clinicians graded breast nodularity on a pre-determined five point analogue scale (grades 0-4) to determine its inter-observer reliability after its face validity that excluded inflammatory, nipple, areola and discrete lump problems. RESULTS: 784 Women (hospital 384; community 400) aged between 20 and 70 years (mean 31.9) underwent physical breast examination by 2 experienced clinicians. Inter-observer matched nodularity grading in women attending hospital were Grade 0 in 123 (32.03%), grade 1 in 67 (17.44%), grade 2 in 54 (14.06%), grade 3 in 52 (13.54%) and grade 4 in 23 (5.99%) and in community it was grade 0 in 172 (43%), grade 1 in 88 (22%), grade 2 in 60 (15%), grade 3 in 28 (7%) and grade 4 in 14 (3.5%) women. There was very good agreement (kappa = 0.7798) across all grades in hospital subjects and excellent agreement (kappa = 0.8659) in community subjects. Both estimates of kappa coefficients were highly significant from population kappa coefficient of zero (p < 0.001). Overall, 1/3rd normal women have absolutely smooth textured breasts. CONCLUSION: User-friendly tool developed for objective evaluation of non-discrete lumpy breasts showed excellent reliability and validity. This tool should be useful for clinical drug trials in benign breast disorders and for wide routine clinical recording of patients.

A study of knowledge, attitude and practice of hospital consultants, resident doctors and private practitioners with regard to pre-hospital and emergency care in Lucknow.

BACKGROUND: Burden of death and disability resulting from lack of emergency medical system (EMS) and emergency care is very high in low and middle income countries (LMIC). AIM: To study the knowledge, attitudes and practices of pre-hospital care and emergency services among health care providers of Lucknow SETTING AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey, 200 residents, 104 hospital consultants and 108 private practitioners MATERIAL AND METHODS: A close ended, self administered questionnaire based on 5-point Likert scale with 30 items of knowledge, attitude and practice of pre-hospital and emergency care RESULTS: Median scores of knowledge (26/50), attitude (41/50) and practices (27/50) showed less than adequate knowledge and practices. However, a positive attitude was seen in all the 3 group of respondents i.e. resident doctors, hospital consultants and private practitioners. CONCLUSION: Lucknow is the capital city of Indian largest state - Uttar Pradesh with over 100 years of established medical education. The results of the study in this town are applicable to most developed cities in India. Lack of adequate knowledge and practices in emergency medical system (EMS) at Lucknow represent a dismal situation and require continuing medical education in this area.

Prediction model for peak expiratory flow in North Indian population.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a model for predicting peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in North Indian healthy population. Study subjects. Eight hundred and ninety-seven healthy, non-smoker individuals (681 males and 216 females) in the age group of 10-60 years. METHODS: The study was carried out at a health exhibition organised by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, at King George's Medical University, Lucknow. Only healthy, non-smoker individuals were enrolled for the study. Age was noted in completed years and weight in kg and height in cm were taken without shoes. PEFR was measured by Mini Wrights peak flow meter in standing position after prior instructions and demonstration of technique to each individual. The test was performed three times on each subject and best of the three attempts was selected for data computation. The statistical solftware SPSS was used to fit the model and perform residual analysis. RESULTS: The highest reading for males was recorded in the age group of 20 to 24 years and for females in the age group of 25 to 29 years. Using age, height and weight, we established a regression model for predicting PEFR values for males and females separately in the age group 19-60 years. In the age group 10-18 years, the model for predicting PEFR was same for both the sexes. PEFR values were found to be more in males as compared to females. The predictive power of the model as described by explained variation was found to be 80 and 82 percent for males and females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prediction model for north Indian subjects was drafted for age range 10-60 years. While separate models were required for males and females because of sex related differences in the age group 19-60 years, a common model sufficed for age group 10-18 years.

Excessive anteriorisation of the superior vena cava associated with an azygos lobe.

A wide variety of congenital vascular anomalies of the superior mediastinum exist. Being clinically silent, most of these anomalies are detected incidentally on plain radiographs or CT scans where they could be mistaken for mediastinal masses. Familiarity with these anomalies is very important for correct interpretation and avoidance of confusion. We present a case of a mediastinal mass detected accidentally on plain radiography which on further radiological investigation was found to be an unreported normal variant of the superior vena cava (SVC). CT scans of the thorax and superior vena cavograms showed excessive anteriorisation of the SVC in the presence of an azygos lobe. After reviewing the literature and the embryology of the SVC and azygos lobe, we postulate that the variation in the location of the SVC was possibly due to the presence of the azygos lobe.