No abstract

No abstract

Background: The nasal cycle is an ultradian rhythm with a periodicity of about 2-8 hours, during which the right and left nares are alternately patent. Pranayama, the yogic system of breathing, is based on the belief that right nostril dominance corresponds to sympathetic arousal and left nostril breathing corresponds to parasympathetic arousal. Alternate nostril breathing exercises have been reported to influence cardio-respiratory and autonomic functions. There is a paucity of literature on the effect of breathing through right or left nostril on cardiovascular and autonomic functions. Also the immediate effects of such a maneuver have not been studied. Hence the present study was aimed at analyzing the R-R interval related to left and right nostril breathing and to get a better understanding about the immediate effects of such breathing maneuver on autonomic function. Materials & methods: 60 healthy adult males between 20-40 years were selected for the study. They were briefed about the breathing maneuver. Subjects were asked to relax completely in supine position for 10 minutes and they were instructed to do right and left nostril breathing for 20 minutes. ECG recording was done during last 5 minutes of different nostril breathing. R-R interval was obtained directly from the computerized ECG system. Students paired t test was done to analyze the statistical significance by using SPSS 17. Results: The mean (+/-SD) R-R interval with left nostril breathing was 851.77+/-14.45 ms, with right nostril breathing was 826.83 +/-16.91 ms and both nostril breathing was 828.29+/-133.98 ms. The mean R-R interval between right and left nostril breathing was significantly different (p=0.009). Conclusion: Parasympathetic activity is increased with left nostril breathing than right and both nostril breathing.

IntroductionAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and a tremendous increase in the incidence of autism poses challenges in identifying the different treatment modalities. Since the defined etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of autism are unavailable, translational research is being done by creating animal models of autism. This study aimed to assess the effects of Acorus calamus on developmental and histopathological changes in autism-induced Wistar rats. Materials and methodsA rat model of autism was created by administering sodium valproate on the 12th day of pregnancy, and rat pups of this group were considered autism-induced. Rat pups of pregnant rats who had received normal saline on the 12th day of pregnancy were considered group I (negative control group). Neural reflexes were assessed in early postnatal days (PND) to confirm the development of autism. Autism-induced rat pups were divided into the following two groups: group II, autism (positive control group), and group III, autism + A. calamus (drug-treated group). On the 21st postnatal day (PND), group III was given an ethanolic extract of A. calamus (200 mg/kg), and group I and group II were given normal saline orally for 15 days. After 15 days of drug exposure, at 36th PND, the rats were sacrificed, and brain tissue was collected for histopathological analysis. ResultsWhen compared to the negative control group, autism-induced rat pups showed delayed appearance of neurological reflexes. Neurodegenerative changes were well appreciated in group II (autism-induced rats) than in group III (autism + A. calamus). In the histomorphometric analysis, group II showed a significant reduction in the number of neurons in the frontal cortex and Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. However, when compared to group II, group III (autism treated with A. calamus) did not show significant alteration. ConclusionValproate exposure at mid-pregnancy creates autism by disturbing neural structures among rat pups. This was clinically represented as the delayed appearance of neural reflexes. Acorus calamus in the early postnatal period protects rat pups' brain morphology against autism pathology.

Night shifts work in particular is the most frequent reasons for circadian rhythm disruption and subsequent psychological and physiological disturbances, especially increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory ailments compared to daytime workers. Alternate nostril breathing for about 15 minutes was known to have effect over cardiac, respiratory parameters and muscle strength. Hence aim is of interest to assess the effects of alternate nostril breathing (ANB) on cardiorespiratory parameters and muscle strength among the rotating shift workers in the tertiary care hospital. This observational study was carried out in the department of Physiology after getting institutional ethical committee clearance. Around 140 rotating night shift workers of both sex of age 25-40 years with normal BMI and 140 non-shift workers age, sex and BMI matched were selected as study and control group respectively. Heart rate, blood Pressure, respiratory rate, peak expiratory flow rate, respiratory endurance, respiratory burst test, muscle strength and fatigue were recorded before and after 15 minutes of ANB. Shift workers were found to have significantly altered systolic (P=0.000) and diastolic (P=0.002) blood pressure and heart rate (P= 0.010) compared to non-shift workers. All the cardiorespiratory parameters and muscle strength, fatigue was found to be significantly (P< 0.05) altered after ANB between both shift and non- shift workers. ANB can be used as a therapeutic module among the shift workers, to maintain their sound health and to improve their performance in the night duty.