A case control study was done to find out the effects of simple yogic exercise programs (asanas and pranayamas) on selected pulmonary function tests of forty elderly individuals of both sexes, between 50 and 70 years of age, with no active medical disorders. The study was conducted at a selected yoga centre in Siliguri town of Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV 1) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) were measured, once initially and again after six weeks of yoga training under supervision of a certified yoga instructor. Two instruments were used: a) A Vitalograpgh Gold Standard Spirometer; b) A Wright's Peak Flow meter. There was definite improvement of ventilatory functions as revealed by significant increase in FVC, FEV 1 and PEFR that was measured after 6 weeks.

Background:  Menstrual cycle is a regular coordinated physiological change in non-pregnant women. The variation of hormonal concentrations during different phases of the menstrual cycle has a profound influence on autonomic and metabolic activities. The present study was designed to assess the cardiovascular sympathetic functions during different phases of menstrual cycle in normal healthy eumenorrheic females.Methods:  Fifty females in the age group of 18-25 years were selected for the study. Non-invasive cardiovascular sympathetic function tests were performed during different phases of the menstrual cycle using RMS Polyrite D.Results: Results were analyzed using paired ‘t’ test. Resting blood pressure, blood pressure response to isometric handgrip test and cold pressor test were statistically significant higher (p-value <0.05), in the secretory phase as compared to menstrual and proliferative phase. Blood pressure response to orthostatic test was statistically significant between the proliferative and secretory phase and between menstrual and secretory phase (p-value <0.05).Conclusion: Our study shows that sympathetic activity is highest during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and lowest in the proliferative phase as compared to the menstrual phase. This higher sympathetic activity may be correlated with higher estrogen and progesterone levels during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The study also emphasizes the complex relationship between ovarian hormones and autonomic regulatory systems.

Background: Type 2 diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism.  Peripheral neuropathy is a common and disabling complication of diabetes mellitus. Peripheral nervous system involvement in hypothyroidism is also a well-documented fact. Nerve conduction studies are generally considered to be the most sensitive and reproducible in the assessment of peripheral neuropathies. This study helped to determine the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic hypothyroid patients as well as to compare it in diabetic patients with or without hypothyroidism. It compared the onset latency, amplitude, conduction velocity and F- wave latency of some nerves in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with or without hypothyroidism.Methods: With RMS, EMG, EP MARK-II, nerve conduction studies are done in 30 cases (type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with hypothyroidism) and 30 controls (type 2 diabetes mellitus patients of diabetes without hypothyroidism) respectively, attending the Diabetic Clinic and Biochemistry Laboratory of North Bengal Medical College.Results: Data were treated with Unpaired t-Test. The study reveals that type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with hypothyroidism have higher prevalence of peripheral neuropathy. There is statistically significant (p<0.00) decrease in motor nerve conduction study in both right and left median nerves in diabetic patients with hypothyroidism than in diabetic patients without hypothyroidism.Conclusions: All diabetic patients should be screened for early detection of hypothyroidism as type 2 diabetic patients with hypothyroidism have higher prevalence of peripheral neuropathy. The nerve conduction study remains the most reliable, accurate, and sensitive method to evaluate peripheral nerve function.

Introduction: It is well documented that any sort of exercise done regularly, is beneficial for health. Swimming is no exception and considered to be a very good exercise for maintaining proper health and also has a profound effect on the lung functions. Regular swimming practice gives a positive effect on the lungs by increasing the pulmonary capacity and thus improves the lung functions. The proposed study was carried out with the above background, among swimming beginners undergoing a swimming training session to see how a course of swimming affect the lung function parameters. Material and Methods: The study was carried out on 32 males and 12 females' healthy young adults of either sex of age group of 18-35 yrs. At the beginning of the swimming session recording of pulmonary functions tests was done for each selected candidate (control group). Again procedures were repeated at the end of three months and at the end of six months for same candidates (case group). Results: In the present study, it is observed that there is significant increase (p value <0.05) in FVC, FEV1, PEFR and MVV after three months and after six months of swimming both males and females separately. Conclusion: From the present study we concluded that even after short course of swimming training session there is significant benefit in some parameters of lung function. The improve lungs function is thought to be duo to increase in respiratory muscle mass. More elaborate and multi-centred studies are needed to corroborate our findings.

There is a general paucity of studies on exercise testing and performance among the various age groups of the Indian population with regard to obesity and cardiovascular fitness. Also such study is sorely lacking among the college students, who belong to the 'young ABSTRACT Background: Cardiovascular fitness has been found to be significantly compromised by obesity, whose prevalence is increasing rapidly. The present study aimed to assess the aerobic exercise performance in terms of maximum aerobic power (VO 2 max) of the male students of North Bengal medical college in the age range of 18-22 years. Methods: The subjects were divided into two groups viz. control (N=52) and study (N=43) on the basis of Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC), according to the current Indian guidelines for obesity. The VO 2 max was compared among the two groups. It was evaluated using the Bruce protocol, and also expressed in terms of 'Metabolic equivalents' (MET). Results: VO 2 max exhibited significant negative correlation with BMI (r=0.75, P <0.000) and WC (r=0.72, P <0.000). VO 2 max was higher for the normal group compared to the study group, and the mean difference was significantly different [P <0.05(0.000)]. Conclusion:The study thus showed that cardiovascular capacity is compromised by excess adiposity.