Immediate effect of slow pace bhastrika pranayama on blood pressure and heart rate.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate effect of slow pace bhastrika pranayama (respiratory rate 6/min) for 5 minutes on heart rate and blood pressure and the effect of the same breathing exercise for the same duration of time (5 minutes) following oral intake of hyoscine-N-butylbromide (Buscopan), a parasympathetic blocker drug. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Heart rate and blood pressure of volunteers (n = 39, age = 25-40 years) was recorded following standard procedure. First, subjects had to sit comfortably in an easy and steady posture (sukhasana) on a fairly soft seat placed on the floor keeping head, neck, and trunk erect, eyes closed, and the other muscles reasonably loose. The subject is directed to inhale through both nostrils slowly up to the maximum for about 4 seconds and then exhale slowly up to the maximum through both nostrils for about 6 seconds. The breathing must not be abdominal. These steps complete one cycle of slow pace bhastrika pranayama (respiratory rate 6/min). During the practice the subject is asked not to think much about the inhalation and exhalation time, but rather was requested to imagine the open blue sky. The pranayama was conducted in a cool, well-ventilated room (18-20 degrees C). After 5 minutes of this breathing practice, the blood pressure and heart rate again were recorded in the aforesaid manner using the same instrument. The other group (n = 10) took part in another study where their blood pressure and heart rate were recorded following half an hour of oral intake of hyoscine-N-butylbromide 20 mg. Then they practiced the breathing exercise as stated above, and the abovementioned parameters were recorded again to study the effect of parasympathetic blockade on the same pranayama. RESULTS: It was noted that after slow bhastrika pranayamic breathing (respiratory rate 6/min) for 5 minutes, both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly with a slight fall in heart rate. No significant alteration in both blood pressure and heart rate was observed in volunteers who performed the same breathing exercise for the same duration following oral intake of hyoscine-N-butylbromide. DISCUSSION: Pranayama increases frequency and duration of inhibitory neural impulses by activating pulmonary stretch receptors during above tidal volume inhalation as in Hering Bruer reflex, which bring about withdrawal of sympathetic tone in the skeletal muscle blood vessels, leading to widespread vasodilatation, thus causing decrease in peripheral resistance and thus decreasing the diastolic blood pressure. After hyoscine-N-butylbromide, the parasympathetic blocker, it was observed that blood pressure was not decreased significantly as a result of pranayama, as it was observed when no drug was administered. CONCLUSIONS: Vagal cardiac and pulmonary mechanisms are linked, and improvement in one vagal limb might spill over into the other. Baroreceptor sensitivity can be enhanced significantly by slow breathing (supported by a small reduction in the heart rate observed during slow breathing and by reduction in both systolic and diastolic pressure). Slow pace bhastrika pranayama (respiratory rate 6/min) exercise thus shows a strong tendency to improving the autonomic nervous system through enhanced activation of the parasympathetic system.

Study habits and attitude of medical students of basic sciences.

Study habits and attitude for learning of Basic Medical Sciences amongst 133 students of first and second year MBBS course were analyzed (through questionnaires). The study revealed that the most of the students desired to be physicians to serve the patient/society. They preferred to learn more through self study (48.0%) and lecture classes (43.0%), less through group discussion (8.0%) and PBL (1.0%). Only 5.0% use to surf the internet regularly for their study matter and 79.0% students had never consulted any medical journals.

Resistance VS aerobic exercise--is the later a better choice?

Pulse pressures of two groups of young (18-35 yrs) normotensive non smoker men were compared. One group used to do regular resistance exercise in gymnasium & anther group used to practice aerobic exercise (playing football basketball etc.) regularly. Duration of exercise for both the group was same. Higher pulse pressure was noted in the group taking strength training than that of the persons taking aerobic exercise. Higher pulse pressure is an indication of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness. It promotes vascular damage and atherosclerosis. It seems that, practice of regular aerobic exercise is preferable for maintaining physical fitness, normal blood pressure and endothelial health.

Trend of blood group distribution among the different ethnic groups of Kathmandu Valley.

This study was undertaken to find out the trend of blood group distribution (ABO and Rh) among the 1310 Nepalese attended in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital Kathmandu. The frequency of distribution of A, B, AB and O was 28.5%, 27.3%, 8.7% and 35.5% respectively. Only 0.8% of them were found to be Rh (-) ve. In this population of study, O (+) ve blood group was found to be predominant among the Brahmins, Magars and Gurungs. A (+) ve blood group was predominant among the Chhetris, and B (+) ve among the Sherpas and the Lamas.

Is it relevant to screen women younger than 26 years for precancerous and malignant cervical lesions ?

Cervical cancer is a serious health problem and most of the cases occur in less developed countries where effective screening systems are lacking. The aim of our present study is to delineate the age for early detection of precancerous cervical lesions. Cervical smears were screened (Pap test) over a period of four and half years from January 2000 to June 2004. The pattern of lesions was found to be almost same among the age groups of 26 to 35 years and 36 to 45 years. This result tempted us to think that detection of cervical lesions at an early age younger than 26 years may be an important step forward towards complete cure.

Effect of examination stress on the alteration of blood pressure in young normotensives.

BACKGROUND: It is known that stress alters mental status and biological processes. Acute mental stress due to stressful interviews increases blood pressure. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of chronic stress due to preparation of examination on cardiovascular function. METHODS: The blood pressure of young normotensive medical students (n=55) was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer during a casual (less stressful) period and during the period of preparation for final examinations. Data were analysed by Student's t-test. RESULTS: In the period of preparation for final examinations a significant rise in diastolic and mean blood pressure took place in both sexes (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The aforesaid result may be due to the vestibulo-sympathetic reflex elicited by head down and neck flexed posture (the conventional position of study) for a prolonged time.

Effect of temperature on phagocytic activity of neutrophils.

The effect of temperature on phagocytic activity of neutrophils has been evaluated. Freshly collected heparinised blood samples from young healthy volunteers were incubated with heat killed Staphylococcus aureus at 37 degrees C, 38 degrees C, 39 degrees C and 40 degrees C for 20 minutes. Some of the neutrophils engulfed some heat killed bacteria. Then the blood smears were prepared and stained by Leishman's stain. Engulfed bacteria within the neutrophils stained intensely were observed and counted to find out the phagocytic index and avidity index of the neutrophils. It was found that phagocytic index increased significantly at 38 degrees C and 39 degrees C in comparison to that of at 37 degrees C but did not show significant increase when incubated at 40 degrees C. It seems that contractile elements responsible for the movement of the neutrophils through the formation of pseudopod is more activated at higher temperature (38 degrees C and 39 degrees C) in comparison to that of at normal body temperature (37 degrees C). Temperature higher than 39 degrees C may cause impairment in enzyme function responsible for assembly and disassembly of actin and myosin filaments in the cell causing decreased movement and decreased rate of formation of psudopod resulting in decreased phagocytic activity.

Effect of Sonachandi Chyawanprash and Chyawanprash Plus--two herbal formulations on immunomodulation.

The immunomodulatory effects of Sonachandi Chyawanprash and Chyawanprash Plus--two herbal formulations have been evaluated. Both the drugs increased the macrophage activity and their number indicating enhancement of non-specific immune response and reduction of chances of infection. Besides that both Sonachandi Chyawanprash and Chyawanprash Plus efficiently protected Cyclosporine A induced immunosuppression suggesting the immunoprotective role of the aforesaid herbal formulations.

Seasonal variation of blood pressure in young normotensive.

In this study, the variation of blood pressure in young normotensive medical students has been recorded in winter and summer. Daytime blood pressure of young normotensive medical students has been measured in supine position. It has been found that both the systolic and diastolic pressure increases in low ambient temperature. It may be due to sympathetic stimulation and increase secretion of catecholamines in response to cold. Both sympathetic stimulation and catecholamines causes vasoconstriction leading to increased peripheral resistance and thereby increases diastolic pressure. At the same time the above mention stimuli increases heart rate and force of contraction of cardiac muscle causing increased cardiac output and thereby increases the systolic pressure.

Phagocytic activities of neutrophilic leukocytes in women in various phases of menstrual cycle, and in pregnancy.

This study evaluated the phagocytic activities of neutrophilic leukocytes in both sexes during reproductive age and in women in different phases of the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy. In this study, 9 male and 12 female medical students, 17 to 20 years of age, 23 pregnant women and 9 women after delivery were evaluated. Heparinized blood was incubated with heat killed bacteria Staphylococcus aureus at 37 degrees C for 20 minutes. The blood films were stained with Leishman stain and the phagocytic index was found out by the number of neutrophilic leukocytes ingested with organisms in 100 cells and the total number of organisms counted therein. At the interval of 14 days, on 3 consecutive occasions, the phagocytic index was studied on the same male and female subject. The phagocytic activities of neutrophilic leukocytes were found slightly higher in females than in males; more so in pregnancy than in non-pregnant women, woman controls and after delivery. During the expected ovulation period, the phagocytic activities were observed more than during the menstrual and premenstrual phases. The phagocytic activities were found more in pregnancy and during the ovulatory period in women.