Effect of controlled deep breathing on psychomotor and higher mental functions in normal individuals.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to assess the effect of controlled deep breathing on psychomotor and higher mental functions. METHODS: 100 normal healthy subjects (52 females and 48 males, age range - 18 to 25 years) participated in the study. Each subject acted as his or her own control. Six weeks course of controlled deep breathing i.e. 5 seconds of maximal inhalation followed by 5 seconds of maximal exhalation, once a day for ten minutes, six days a week was arranged. (i) Letter cancellation test (ii) Rapid fire arithmetic deviation test and (iii) Playing card test were conducted before and after six weeks of controlled deep breathing practice for evaluating psychomotor and higher mental functions. RESULTS: No significant gender difference was observed on comparing baseline readings between female and male subjects. After six weeks of controlled deep breathing practice letter cancellation test time significantly reduced (P<0.001), rapid fire arithmetic deviation test and playing card test scores (P<0.001) significantly improved. Letter cancellation test score didn't show improvement. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a short, simple breathing practice can be helpful in improving cognitive processes.

D-Aspartate oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase are localised in the peroxisomes of terrestrial gastropods.

D-Aspartate oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase were found in high activity in the tissues of representative species of terrestrial gastropods. Analytical subcellular fractionation demonstrated that both of these oxidases co-localised with the peroxisome markers, acyl-CoA oxidase and catalase, in the digestive gland homogenate. Electron microscopy of peak peroxisome fractions showed particles of uniform size with generally well preserved variably electron-dense matrices bounded by an apparently single limiting membrane. Many of the particles exhibited a core region of enhanced electron density. Catalase cytochemistry of peak fractions confirmed the peroxisome identity of the organelles. Peroxisome-enriched subcellular fractions were used to investigate the properties of gastropod D-aspartate oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase activities. The substrate and inhibitor specificities of the two activities demonstrated that two distinct enzymes were present analogous to, but not identical to, the equivalent mammalian peroxisomal enzymes.

An Ultrastructural Study of Melanocytes and Mast Cells in the Depigmented Skin in Vitiligo.

In the depigmented patch of ten vitiligo patients a few melanocytes were seen. Coagulation, fatty degeneration, focal aggregation of melanosomes and vacuolation were some of the changes seen in their cytoplasm. Many indeterminate cells were also observed. These resembled Langerhans cells morphologically but were without Birbeck granules. Basement membrane architect was lost. In the dermis mast cells and plasma like cells were seen. Collagenised nerves and blood vessels with reactive endothelial cells were the salient features.