Aims: Azadirachta indica (meliacea), popularly known as neem has extreme bitter taste however it has high medicinal properties. The study aimed to use the bitterness property of neem leaf powder to assess the bitter taste along with other tastants and to check reliability of this newly introduced method. Materials and methods: 60 healthy subjects were recruited in the present study. Bitter, sweet, salt, sour and umami taste solutions are prepared in three different concentrations. Gustatory recognition threshold was recorded against each concentration of five tastants solutions. Results: A significant difference in the first concentration (.003) of neem between all age groups (p=0.026) but no significant difference in the second and third concentrations were observed. Males have higher gustatory recognition threshold in almost all levels of taste parameters. However, medium and higher concentrations of neem have no significant gender wise difference. An acceptable level of reliability was found in the test retest method conducted in a two week interval. Conclusion: The neem leaf powder solution can be used for bitter taste assessment, is reliable, and can be safely used in the clinical setting.

Aim: Olfactory function assessment is often neglected in clinical settings due to a lack of appropriate cost effective techniques. We therefore aimed to develop a cost effective, reliable and culturally appropriate tool for olfactory function assessment among the Indian population and to compare olfactory functions among 63 healthy controls and 32 idiopathic Parkinson’s disease patients. Materials and Methods: Olfactory stimuli were applied to the nostrils of the participants using an olfactometer. Five different odoriferous substances common to Indian culture were used for the study in three different concentrations: ginger (1%, 2%, 3%), cardamom (0.4%, 2%, 3%), garlic (0.8%, 1.4%, 2%), coffee (1.6%, 2%, 4%), vanilla (2%, 3%, 4%). Olfactory recognition threshold, olfactory identification score and olfactory discrimination score were observed among the control population and Parkinson’s disease population. Results: The olfactory recognition threshold was significantly high among the Parkinson’s disease group compared to controls (Mann Whitney U test, p<0.001). Reliability was tested using the test-retest method among the control group and all olfactory variables in three different concentrations had either r value closer to 1 or 1, which shows an acceptable level of reliability. The correlation was found to be significant (p<0.001). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve drawn for olfactory recognition thresholds at different concentrations for the five odouriferous substances and the area was determined to classify cases and controls (Determined areas: ginger = 0.928, cardamom = 0.955, garlic = 0.921, Coffee = 0.950, vanilla = 0.950). The area under the curve was found to be significant in classifying the cases and the control. Conclusion: The newly developed olfactory assessment tool was found to be reliable and effective in assessing olfactory parameters like recognition threshold, identification score and discrimination score among the Indian population.

blood cells) are less active in the lining of the stomach to kill the germs (H. pylori) which allows the germs to penetrate the lining and the deeper layers of the stomach [7]. The parasympathetic (Valgus nerve) stimulates production of hydrochloric acid through release of a local hormone (Gastrin), from the lower end of the stomach (pylorus) and acid producing oxyntic cells of the stomach lining. Vestibular stimulation inhibits the stress axes and HPA axes directly and indirectly and brings stress to a less condition. Hence, we hypothesized that vestibular stimulation may be beneficial in relieving most of the symptoms of gastritis [8]. Vestibular stimulation may prevent or delay gastritis by promoting sleepInsomnia is found among people with Gastritis, especially for people who are female, 60+ old, take medication Omeprazole and have Gastritis. Studies show that, in chronic insomnia, the activity of the HPA axis and the sympathetic system relates positively to the degree of objective sleep disturbance [9]. Increased stress level cause lack of sleep and it also promote increased gastric secretion. This article is to review that by reducing the stress level can reduce the gastric secretion. Vestibular stimulation is an effective intervention for relieving the stress there by improving the sleep [8,10]. Vestibular stimulation may prevent or delay gastritis through relieving stressGastric parietal cell secretion is depressed by enhanced sympathetic nerves activity [6]. In a stressed situation immune system becomes less capable of handling the germs around, fighter soldier cells (white