Background: The study aimed to analyse the trends in the growth pattern of the children in the age group of 3-21 years of both boys and girls using body mass index (BMI). The study also compared the BMI of the sample with the WHO norms and the group average.Methods: A study was conducted in India covering 1728 children 849 boys and 879 girls from LKG grade to +2 grades in the age group of 3-21 years. BMI grades were computed as per WHO 2006 standards (underweight- <18.50, normal- 18.50-24.99, overweight- >25.00 and obese- >30.00). Results were analyzed using percentage and ANOVA.Results: The data shows that 88.9% of children in the age group of 3-8 years are underweight and in 15-21 years of age children are relatively healthy, but are inclined to move to overweight (17.66%) and obesity (7.21%). More of boys (31%) tend to be underweight than girls. Age and gender were found to be significantly related to BMI. The average BMI of the sample group is above the national standards of WHO (World Health Organization) in all the three age groups. Boys are found to be on par with WHO norms while girls exceed the same. Majority of the sample were below the average denoting underweight.Conclusions: Age and gender was significantly related with BMI. Average BMI of the sample was on par with national standard of WHO. BMI was thus found to be an effective tool for predicting the well-being of school children.

Background and Aim: Increased Neck circumference is the marker of upper body obesity and identified as an indicator of future cardiovascular disease risk (CVD). Hence, in this study, we assessed the relationship of Neck circumference (NC) with basal cardiovascular and body composition (BC) parameter in young adult males. Methods: Sixty three healthy young adult male volunteers of age between 18 to 25 years were enrolled for this study and they were divided into two groups based on neck circumference (NC). Control group (n = 32) comprises of individuals with normal neck circumference of ≤ 35.5 cm and study group (n = 31) includes individuals with increased neck circumference of ≥ 35.5 cm. The, BC parameters was assessed by Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA) method using Quadscan 4000. And the basal cardiovascular parameters such as systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR) was measured by automated sphygmomanometer and the pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the rate pressure product (RPP) were derived. Results: Data was expressed in Mean ± SD. The groups were compared using Independent Student's t test. The association between NC and various study parameters were assessed by Pearson's correlation analysis. Our study, revealed increased body fat and reduced muscle mass in individuals with increased NC. Further, we observed a positive correlation of NC with body fat (%) and negative correlation with Lean Body Mass. Cardiovascular parameters SBP, DBP, MAP and PP were elevated in subjects with increased NC. Further, positive correlation is seen with SBP, DBP, RPP and NC. Conclusion: Neck circumference is a readily measurable screening tool of upper-body adiposity and increased NC is associated with CVD risk.

Introduction: Assessment of skeletal muscle function (SMF) is of clinical relevance in the prediction of treatment outcome and to decide on optimal management of head & neck cancer (HNC) patients. Handgrip strength (HGS) & handgrip endurance (HGE) are considered as surrogate marker for whole-body skeletal muscle function. Further, SMF depends substantially on the body composition (BC). Hence in this study, we compared BC, HGS and HGE between HNC patients and healthy controls and also analysed the association of HGS, HGE with body composition in HNC patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study, conducted in 44 subjects in the age between 18 to 60 years. Twenty-two were histologically proven HNC patients prior to cancer-specific treatment and twenty-two age and gender-matched healthy volunteers. The parameters recorded were Height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, HGS, HGE and BC. Hand-held dynamometer was used to measure HGS and HGE measured using a stopwatch. BC was estimated by whole-body bioelectrical Impedance analysis method using Bodystat Quad scan 4000 device. Result: Comparison of data between HNC patient & healthy control was done by Student's t test. HGS, HGE, lean body mass (LBM), fat-free mass index (FFMI), Phase angle (PA), body cell mass (BCM) and body cell mass index (BCMI) were found to be reduced significantly in HNC patients when compared to healthy subjects. Further, Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation of HGS & HGE with LBM, FFMI, PA, BCM & BCMI, whereas body fat mass index showed a negative correlation with HGS & HGE in HNC patients. Conclusion: Our findings revealed, a significant reduction in HGS, HGE in patient with HNC which denotes decreased skeletal muscle function and it is linearly associated with low muscle mass, body cell mass and phase angle.

The physiological and psychosocial stresses of surgery increase the risk of poor nutritional status, which is clearly linked to poorer outcomes. Poor nutrition therefore has its consequences on quality of life. The evaluation of Quality of Life assesses patients' well-being by taking into account physical, psychological and social conditions. The objectives are to assess the anthropometric parameters, Biochemical parameters, diet history and Quality of Life of the study subjects using Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index questionnaire (GOQLI) and to compare the nutritional status and Quality of Life scores and to correlate the anthropometric, biochemical parameters and nutrient intake with GIQLI scores. A prospective study using convenient sampling technique was conducted on 50 study subjects to assess their nutritional status and gastrointestinal quality of life. In this study the GIQLI score was divided into overall, physical, emotional and gastrointestinal domains. Observations showed nutritional status had significant association (p<0.05) with physical domain (12.12±14.15). In biochemical parameter albumin had significant association (p<0.05) with emotional domain and nutrient intake was found to have significant association (p<0.01) with emotional domain. In patients admitted for GI surgery the overall and domain specific scores were found to be less when compared with the scores of normal subjects as reported in the previous studies. The overall and domain specific GIQLI scores seem to have association with varying weight loss, serum albumin and nutrient intake. It is understood that gastrointestinal Quality of Life has major impact on the underlying disease progression and recovery, appropriate nutritional intervention and support should be provided at the earliest to prevent further decline in nutritional status and post-operative complications.

Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. In developing countries like India, 60% to 80% of cases are diagnosed only in advanced stage. The vital structures of head and neck region are infiltrated by the malignant cells, interfering with normal functions, like swallowing, breathing etc. [1] Therefore, these patients are treated aggressively, with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT). Neck radiation has emerged as the most extensively used treatment modality, when vital organ preservation is considered. Ionizing waves used in RT, generates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and free radicals. ROS are not only responsible for arresting the proliferation and killing of cancer cells, but also cause radiation -induced long-term complications. [2] The incidence rate of late complications like Baroreflex failure and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunctions have tremendously increased over the past few years, due to advancement in treatment modality, increased survival rate, clinical awareness of radiation injury. Several mechanisms have been postulated for radiation induced baroreflex failure. The ROS leads to chronic inflammation of the irradiated neck region results in carotid artery fibrosis, causing baroreceptors malfunction. [3] In addition to this, the afferent nerves coursing from the baroreceptors are damaged leading to baroreflex failure and altered cardiovascular autonomic function. Reduction in tonic inhibitory input to the vasomotor center, causes increased sympathetic outflow, resulting in impaired control of blood pressure and heart rate. [4] VIEWS Parasymapthetic activity improves survival in HNC patientsPost-irradiation baroreflex failure has wide range of clinical presentations from orthostatic hypotension to neurogenic supine hypertension. Previous studies with conventional cardiac autonomic function test (CAFT) in HNC patients, Correlated Impaired Vagal activity with poor prognosis. In our pilot study, CAFT was done before the onset of RT and the 6 months after the completion of RT. During followup, nearly half of the patients got expired. Post RT CAFT in the survivors, revealed improved cardiovagal activity. Improved vagal activity may be ascribed to activation of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathways, in response to persistent inflammation induced by the cancer per se and post radiotherapy. As a result, there is an activation of efferent vagal nerve. The activated vagus nerve, inhibits the oxidative stress, inflammtion and symapthetic activity and improves the prognosis and survival in cancer patients.