Correlation Between Maternal Age and Cytokine (IL-6 and TGF-Beta) Levels in Colostrum.

BACKGROUND: Cytokines are small proteins that play an important role in cell signaling, particularly in inflammatory pathways. There are both pro- as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines that regulate this pathway and modulate the immune responses. Advancing maternal age is associated with systemic inflammation. The present study intends to evaluate the effect of advancing maternal age on cytokine (IL-6 and TGF-ß) levels in colostrum, the first breast milk secreted by mothers. METHODOLOGY: A total of 77 term deliveries were enrolled in the study. Colostrum specimens were collected and evaluated for cytokine IL-6 and TGF-ß levels. Colostrum IL-6 and TGF-ß levels were correlated with maternal age and were assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Multivariate analysis was done using a linear regression model comprising age, parity, and mode of delivery. RESULTS: Mean colostrum IL-6 and TGF-ß levels were 113.3±73.1 pg/ml and 20.9±23.6 pg/ml, respectively. No significant correlation between maternal age and colostrum IL-6 levels was observed (r=0.137; p=0.314). However, there was a significant positive correlation between maternal age and colostrum TGF-ß levels (r=0.452; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study show a significant association between maternal age and colostrum TGF-ß levels. The impact of colostrum cytokine levels on neonatal growth and development in context with advancing maternal age needs to be evaluated.

Cold pressor response in high landers versus low landers.

BACKGROUND: Native high landers face two main environmental challenges i.e. hypobaric hypoxia and low ambient temperatures. Both factors contribute to increased sympathetic stimulation and increased blood pressure. Despite these challenges, subjects living at high altitude have lower systolic and diastolic pressures as compared to subjects living in plains. Present study investigated cold pressor test (CPT) which is a potential predictor of future hypertension in high landers and low landers Materials and Methods: Vascular reactivity in terms of changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in response to cold pressor test has been compared in high lander (n=45) and low lander (n=46) population. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes and heart rate changes with cold pressor test are lower in high landers as compared to low landers. Females in both the groups in general exhibited greater cold pressor response than males. CONCLUSION: Hypo-reactive cold pressor test is due to higher parasympathetic tone and lower sympathetic tone. Decreased cold pressor response in high landers reflects another adaptive modulation of sympatho-vagal activity that enables them to stay in hypobaric atmosphere and lower temperatures without undue autonomic stress.

Impact of Yoga Nidra on menstrual abnormalities in females of reproductive age.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to observe the effect of Yoga Nidra practice on hormone levels in patients who had menstrual irregularities. DESIGN: The study was a randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS/LOCATION: The study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India. SUBJECTS were divided randomly into 2 groups-an intervention and a control group, with 75 subjects in each group. Of these subjects, 126 completed the study protocol. SUBJECTS: This study involved 150 subjects with menstrual irregularities; 126 of whom completed the protocol. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention was the practice of Yoga Nidra. The yogic intervention duration was 35-40 minutes/day, five times/week for 6 months. An estimation of hormonal profile was done for both groups at baseline and after 6 months. RESULTS: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (p<0.002), follicle-stimulating hormone (p<0.02), luteinizing hormone (p<0.001), and prolactin (p<0.02) were decreased significantly in the intervention group, compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the efficacy of Yoga Nidra on hormone profiles in patients with menstrual irregularities. Yoga Nidra practice was helpful in patients with hormone imbalances, such as dysmenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, and hypomenorrhea.

Effect of examination stress on mood, performance and cortisol levels in medical students.

Stress produces definable mental and physiological reactions in the body. Mild stress is beneficial in cognitive tasks and performance but persistently high stress may lead to neuropsychiatric illnesses like anxiety and depression. Examinations act as stressor and activate hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis causing an increase in cortisol level, which is reflected in saliva. Present study was done on 35 medical students. Their mood parameters were assessed, using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) scoring, and salivary cortisol levels using quantitative ELISA. Subjects were evaluated for mood parameters two times, one during relaxed state (with no examinations in preceding 2 weeks and in coming 2 weeks) and another during stressed state (on the day of viva voce examination). The levels of mood parameters and salivary cortisol were significantly raised during examination stress. The changes in stress level significantly correlated with change in levels of anxiety and salivary cortisol though there was no significant effect on the performance. Males and females showed similar changes in mood parameters. This study suggests that as examinations act as unavoidable stressors, the medical educators as well as students should be made aware of the negative consequences of stress faced during medical training. Efficient relaxation program as well as counseling services should be provided to stressed students so that they are able to cope better with examination stress.

Effect of Yoga Nidra on physiological variables in patients of menstrual disturbances of reproductive age group.

Aim of this study was to see any effect on autonomic functions in menstrual disturbances patients after Yoga Nidra practice. The subjects for the study were 150 females with menstrual irregularities, 28.08 +/- 7.43 years of mean age, referred from department of Obstetrics and Gynecology CSMMU, UP, Lucknow. Subjects were divided randomly in to two groups' intervention and in control groups -seventy five (75) in each group. Out of these, one hundred twenty six (126) completed the study protocol. The yogic intervention consisted of 35-40 minutes/day, five days in a week till six months. An autonomic function testing was done in both the groups at zero time and after six months. A significant positive effect was observed when yoga therapy was used as an adjunct in the patients of menstrual disturbances. There were significant improvements in the blood pressure, postural hypotension and sustained hand grip, heart rate expiration inspiration ratio and 30:15 beat ratios of the subjects after yogic practice.

Impact of Yoga Nidra on psychological general wellbeing in patients with menstrual irregularities: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Yogic relaxation therapy (Yoga Nidra) has been effectively prescribed in conjunction with other medical and yogic procedures in the management of severe psychosomatic diseases, including cancer, bronchial asthma, colitis, peptic ulcer and menstrual irregularities. AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the impact of Yoga Nidra on psychological problems in patients with menstrual disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, C.S.M. Medical University (erstwhile KGMU), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 150 female subjects were randomly divided into two groups: 1) group of 75 subjects (with yogic intervention) and 2) a control group of 75 subjects (without yogic intervention). Assessment of psychological general wellbeing (tool) was used for all the subjects Assessment of psychological general well being (tool) was used for all the subjects (Cases and controls). This assessment was done twice first time in the beginning (baseline) and then after six months. RESULTS: Anxiety decreased significantly (P<0.003) and depression decreased significantly (P<0.01) in the Yoga group. Positive wellbeing and general health improved significantly (P<0.02), and vitality improved significantly (P<0.01) after six months of Yoga therapy (Yoga Nidra) in the Yoga group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The current findings suggest that patients with menstrual irregularities having psychological problems improved significantly in the areas of their wellbeing, anxiety and depression by learning and applying a program based on Yogic intervention (Yoga Nidra).

Salt preference: age and sex related variability.

Salt preference was assessed in 60 adults of 18-21 yrs of age (30 males and 30 females) and in 60 children of 7-12 yrs of age (30 boys and 30 girls). Subjects rated the preference on Likert scale for popcorns of five salt concentrations (OM, 1M, 2M, 3M and +3M). Statistical analysis using Two way ANOVA revealed statistically significant effect of age and sex on salt preference (F4,100 = 15.027, P < 0.01) and One Way ANOVA revealed statistically significant sex difference in salt preference of adults (F4,50 = 16.26, P < 0.01) but no statistically significant sex difference in salt preference of children (F4,50 = 4.08, P > 0.05). Dietary experiences during development and more physical activity in children may be responsible for higher salt preference in children while finding no sex variability in children favours the role of sex hormones in salt preference of male and females.