Does treadmill running performance, heart rate and breathing rate response during maximal graded exercise improve after volitional respiratory muscle training?

AIM: Maximal physical exertion in sports usually causes fatigue in the exercising muscles, but not in the respiratory muscles due to triggering of the Respiratory muscle metabo-reflex, a sympathetic vasoconstrictor response leading to preferential increment in blood flow to respiratory muscles.1 We planned to investigate whether a six week yogic pranayama based Volitional Respiratory Muscle Training (VRMT) can improve maximal Graded Exercise Treadmill Test (GXTT) performance in healthy adult recreational sportspersons. METHODS: Consecutive, consenting healthy adult recreational sportspersons aged 20.56±2.49 years (n=30), volunteered to 'baseline recording' of resting heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), and Bruce ramp protocol maximal GXTT until volitional exhaustion providing total test time (TTT), derived VO2max, Metabolic Equivalent of Task (METs), HR and BP response during maximal GXTT and drop in recovery HR data. After six weeks of observation, they underwent 'pre-intervention recording' followed by supervised VRMT intervention for 6 weeks (30 minutes a day; 5 days a week) and then 'post-intervention recording'. Repeated measures ANOVA with pairwise t statistical comparison was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: After supervised VRMT, we observed significant decrease in their resting supine RR (p<0.001), resting supine HR (p=0.001), HR after 5 minutes of assuming standing posture (p=0.003); significant increase in TTT (p<0.001), derived VO2max (p<0.001), METs (p<0.001) and drop in recovery HR (p=0.038); altered HR response and BP response during exercise. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that these changes are probably due to VRMT induced learnt behaviour to control the breathing pattern that improves breathing economy, improvement in respiratory muscle aerobic capacity, attenuation of respiratory muscle metabo-reflex, increase in cardiac stroke volume and autonomic resetting towards parasympatho-dominance. Yogic Pranayama based VRMT can be used in sports conditioning programme of athletes to further improve their maximal exercise performance, and as part of rehabilitation training during return from injury.

Evaluation of the groundwater quality feasibility zones for irrigational purposes through GIS in Omalur Taluk, Salem District, South India.

The present work is employed in Omalur Taluk (study area 538.10 km(2)), Salem District, Tamil Nadu, India. Eighty-nine groundwater samples were collected during pre-monsoon (May) 2011 and were analyzed for major cations and anions. The irrigational parameters like; EC, Kelley's ratio, sodium absorption ratio (SAR) values, Mg(2+) hazards, HCO3 (-) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) have been worked out to know the suitability of the groundwater for irrigational purpose. Wilcox diagram indicates that out of 89 samples, 39 samples belong to good permissible category and Doneen diagram revealed that 98.88 % of the groundwater samples fall in Class I. The plotting of SAR values in USSL diagram indicates that all the samples have low SAR value. Out of 89 samples, 44 samples were in C3-S1 field. This implies that no alkali hazard is anticipated to the crops. In 44 locations (49.44 %), samples fall within C3-S1 category. This category is suitable for irrigation purpose. However, the concentration of bicarbonate was in significant amount showing 82 % of sites under "increasing problem" and the 4 % sites under "Severe Problem" zones. Finally, the above-said results are taken into a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. To understand the spatial distribution of unsuitable zones, ArcGIS was employed. The present work reveals that groundwater in the Omalur Taluk is of good quality and is suitable for all uses including interbrain water transfer in the region.

Significance of computed tomography mixed density in traumatic extra-axial hemorrhage.

Computed tomography (CT) mixed density of traumatic extra-axial hemorrhages (TEH) or the 'swirl sign' has been reported to correlate with active bleeding found at craniotomy and poor outcome. This study was done to test the hypothesis that mixed density of TEH detected by third or fourth generation CT correlated with the type of bleeding or clinical outcome. All cases of TEH operated at Detroit Receiving Hospital from 1991-1997 were reviewed for type of bleeding (active vs. not active; arterial vs. venous); Glasgow Coma Scale (severe 1-8, not severe 9-15); and Glasgow Outcome Score (1-3 poor; 4,5 good). CT density (CTD) of 51 cases with specific written documentation of bleeding type were then independently reviewed (SKS and MHR) and classified into TEH with mixed or high density. Data was analyzed using corrected Chi Square analysis, Fischer's Exact Test and Pearson's Correlation (SPSS 6.0). The Pearson Chi Square probability for correlation follows: CTD vs. active bleeding, 0.21; CTD vs. arterial, 0.41; CTD vs. severity, 0.57; and CTD vs. outcome, 0.81. No other statistical analysis identified a significant correlation, thus the null hypothesis could not be rejected. CT mixed density was not found to be correlated by more than chance with bleeding type, injury severity or outcome. Surgeon inaccuracy in documentation of bleeding type and use of later generation CT may account for the discrepancy between this and previous studies. Nevertheless, we conclude clinical exam and other published CT criteria are better indicators of injury severity and outcome.