Pranayama Practioners and Brisk Walking Group on Breath Holding Time and Concentration Among Sedantary Woman

The purpose of the study was to find out the impact of pranayama and brisk walking practices on Breath holding time and concentration among sedentary Women. To achieve the purpose of the study, 45 middle aged sedentary women with age ranged from 30 to 40 years. Were randomly selected as subjects from the administrative work of various departments in trichy, Tamilnadu. The selected subjects were divided into three experimental groups and were subjected to a training program for 12 weeks. Pranayama Prctioners was administered to group I (n =15) and Brisk Walking was administered to group II (n = 15) and group III (n = 15) as a Control group group. Test was conducted for Pranayama Prctioners, Brisk Walking and Control groups before and after 12 weeks training program. The tachistoscope was used to measure the concentration. The data was collected and analyzed statistically by Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to find out the significant differences. The level of confidence was fixed at 0.05 levels. Result: the experimental group had achieved significant improvement on Pranayama Prctioners and Brisk Walking when compared to Control group. It was also observed that the 12 weeks of Pranayama Prctioners, Brisk Walking and Control Group program have significantly improved the Breath holding time, focusing ability in concentration on particular object and administrative work performance of middle aged sedentary Woman

Direct senstivity test for isoniazid.

IT is well known that the results of isoniazid sensitivity tests by the indirect method have prognostic significance in the treatment of tuberculosis with regimens containing isoniazid (Tuberculosis Chemotherapy Centre, Madras, 1960 ; Devadatta et al., 1961) ; the indirect method is, however, complex and time-consuming, and therefore not feasible in institutions with limited facilities. Direct sensitivity tests are attractive because they involve only one stage of handling (i.e. cultures need not be set up), are simpler and less expensive, and consume less time. Although the direct sensitivity test introduced by Middlebrook and co-workers (Middlebrook and Cohn, 1958 ; Russell and Middlebrook, 1961) using 7H10 agar medium yielded satisfactory results, it has certain disadvantages. Thus, the medium employed is expensive, the in are not readily available in this country and, in our experience at Madras, losses due to contamination can be considerable. This paper describes a direct sensitivity test for isoniaid using Lowenstein- Jensen medium, and compares the findings obtained by this method with those obtained by the indirect method

Effect of storage for three months at different temperatures on the sensitivity to streptomycin and isoniazid of cultures of tubercle bacilli

MAINTENANCE of bacterial strains by repeated subcultivation is both expensive, laborious and time-consuming ; moreover, there is always the possibility of contamination or of differential selection of sub-strains with specific properties. In consequence, several methods, such as freeze-drying or storage at low temperatures, have been introduced by which bacterial cultures can be kept alive for long periods with their reproductive and metabolic activity at an extremely low level. However, information is rather sparse on such methods for the storage of tubercle bacilli. For instance, Corper and Gauss (1923) found that tubercle bacilli remained viable in Petroff's egg medium or glycerol agar after storage in the incubator or refrigerator for 4 to 8 months. Later workers (Heckly, 1950 ; Stern and Tompsett, 1951 ; Jones, 1957 ; Tsukamura, 1965) suggested preservation of cultures by freezing them in various diluents. More recently, Tarshis (1961) compared storage of cultures in various diluents at –20°C. and concluded that, with minor exceptions, most types of mycobacteria (including tubercle bacilli) can be stored for at least 3 years without any major change in their viability or drug resistance. However, these procedures are time-consuming, expensive and require special equipment and are? therefore, not very practicable in developing countries with limited resources

Direct Test for Determining Sensitivity of M. Tuberculosis To Streptomycin

For a total of 400 sputum specimens, the sensitivity of M. tuberculosis to streptomycin was determined by direct inoculation of the sputum sediment on to drug-free and drugcontaining slopes of Lowenstein-Jensen medium, and also by a standard indirect test. Agreement between the two methods in the classification of strains as sensitive or resistant was of the order of 90%. The optimal time for reading the direct test is 6 weeks

"Getting the water-carrier to light the lamps": Discrepant role perceptions of traditional, complementary, and alternative medical practitioners in government health facilities in India.

The government of India has, over the past decade, implemented the "integration" of traditional, complementary and alternative medical (TCAM) practitioners, specifically practitioners of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-rigpa, and Homoeopathy (collectively known by the acronym AYUSH), in government health services. A range of operational and ethical challenges has manifested during this process of large health system reform. We explored the practices and perceptions of health system actors, in relation to AYUSH providers' roles in government health services in three Indian states - Kerala, Meghalaya, and Delhi. Research methods included 196 in-depth interviews with a range of health policy and system actors and beneficiaries, between February and October 2012, and review of national, state, and district-level policy documents relating to AYUSH integration. The thematic 'framework' approach was applied to analyze data from the interviews, and systematic content analysis performed on policy documents. We found that the roles of AYUSH providers are frequently ambiguously stated and variably interpreted, in relation to various aspects of their practice, such as outpatient care, prescribing rights, emergency duties, obstetric services, night duties, and referrals across systems of medicine. Work sharing is variously interpreted by different health system actors as complementing allopathic practice with AYUSH practice, or allopathic practice, by AYUSH providers to supplement the work of allopathic practitioners. Interactions among AYUSH practitioners and their health system colleagues frequently take place in a context of partial information, preconceived notions, power imbalances, and mistrust. In some notable instances, collegial relationships and apt divisions of responsibilities are observed. Widespread normative ambivalence around the roles of AYUSH providers, complicated by the logistical constraints prevalent in poorly resourced systems, has the potential to undermine the therapeutic practices and motivation of AYUSH providers, as well as the overall efficiency and performance of integrated health services

Germ Warfare in a Microbial Mat Community: CRISPRs Provide Insights into the Co-Evolution of Host and Viral Genomes

CRISPR arrays and associated cas genes are widespread in bacteria and archaea and confer acquired resistance to viruses. To examine viral immunity in the context of naturally evolving microbial populations we analyzed genomic data from two thermophilic Synechococcus isolates (Syn OS-A and Syn OS-B′) as well as a prokaryotic metagenome and viral metagenome derived from microbial mats in hotsprings at Yellowstone National Park. Two distinct CRISPR types, distinguished by the repeat sequence, are found in both the Syn OS-A and Syn OS-B′ genomes. The genome of Syn OS-A contains a third CRISPR type with a distinct repeat sequence, which is not found in Syn OS-B′, but appears to be shared with other microorganisms that inhabit the mat. The CRISPR repeats identified in the microbial metagenome are highly conserved, while the spacer sequences (hereafter referred to as “viritopes” to emphasize their critical role in viral immunity) were mostly unique and had no high identity matches when searched against GenBank. Searching the viritopes against the viral metagenome, however, yielded several matches with high similarity some of which were within a gene identified as a likely viral lysozyme/lysin protein. Analysis of viral metagenome sequences corresponding to this lysozyme/lysin protein revealed several mutations all of which translate into silent or conservative mutations which are unlikely to affect protein function, but may help the virus evade the host CRISPR resistance mechanism. These results demonstrate the varied challenges presented by a natural virus population, and support the notion that the CRISPR/viritope system must be able to adapt quickly to provide host immunity. The ability of metagenomics to track population-level variation in viritope sequences allows for a culture-independent method for evaluating the fast co-evolution of host and viral genomes and its consequence on the structuring of complex microbial communities

Efficacy and safety of bempedoic acid for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Bempedoic acid is a first-in-class lipid-lowering drug recommended by guidelines for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Our objective was to estimate its average effect on plasma lipids in humans and its safety profile. Methods and findings We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of phase II and III randomized controlled trials on bempedoic acid (PROSPERO: CRD42019129687). PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases were searched, with no language restriction, from inception to 5 August 2019. We included 10 RCTs (n = 3,788) comprising 26 arms (active arm [n = 2,460]; control arm [n = 1,328]). Effect sizes for changes in lipids and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) serum concentration were expressed as mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For safety analyses, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated using the Mantel–Haenszel method. Bempedoic acid significantly reduced total cholesterol (MD −14.94%; 95% CI −17.31%, −12.57%; p < 0.001), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD −18.17%; 95% CI −21.14%, −15.19%; p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD −22.94%; 95% CI −26.63%, −19.25%; p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein particle number (MD −20.67%; 95% CI −23.84%, −17.48%; p < 0.001), apolipoprotein B (MD −15.18%; 95% CI −17.41%, −12.95%; p < 0.001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD −5.83%; 95% CI −6.14%, −5.52%; p < 0.001), high-density lipoprotein particle number (MD −3.21%; 95% CI −6.40%, −0.02%; p = 0.049), and hsCRP (MD −27.03%; 95% CI −31.42%, −22.64%; p < 0.001). Bempedoic acid did not significantly modify triglyceride level (MD −1.51%; 95% CI −3.75%, 0.74%; p = 0.189), verylow-density lipoprotein particle number (MD 3.79%; 95% CI −9.81%, 17.39%; p = 0.585), and apolipoprotein A-1 (MD −1.83%; 95% CI −5.23%, 1.56%; p = 0.290). Treatment with bempedoic acid was positively associated with an increased risk of discontinuation of treatment (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.06, 1.76; p = 0.015), elevated serum uric acid (OR 3.55; 95% CI 1.03, 12.27; p = 0.045), elevated liver enzymes (OR 4.28; 95% CI 1.34, 13.71; p = 0.014), and elevated creatine kinase (OR 3.79; 95% CI 1.06, 13.51; p = 0.04), though it was strongly associated with a decreased risk of new onset or worsening diabetes (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.39, 0.90; p = 0.01). The main limitation of this meta-analysis is related to the relatively small number of individuals involved in the studies, which were often short or middle term in length. Conclusions Our results show that bempedoic acid has favorable effects on lipid profile and hsCRP levels and an acceptable safety profile. Further well-designed studies are needed to explore its longer-term safety

Endosomal association of a protein phosphatase with high dephosphorylating activity against a coronavirus nucleocapsid protein

AbstractOn the assumption that dephosphorylation of the neurotropic coronavirus JHM (JHMV) nucleocapsid protein (N) may be connected with initiation of the infectious cycle we searched for a relevant host enzyme activity. Analysis of subcellular fractions from L-2 murine fibroblasts, separated by dual Percoll density gradients, revealed the presence of a phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPPase), co-sedimenting with the endososomal/prelysosomal material, which possesses high activity against N. With purified [22P]N as substrate it was demonstrated that this PPPase, distinguishable from acid and alkaline phosphatases, acts optimally at neutral pH in the presence of Mn2+ following treatment with a detergent. Complete inhibition with okadaic acid at 0.9–4.5 μM but not at 1–10 nM relegates this PPase to a type I protein phosphatase. Similar PPPase activity for N was present in the endosome fraction of a rat Roc-1 astrocytoma-oligodendrocyte cell line and in homogenates of brain and cultured oligodendrocytes. Our data suggest that the phosphorylated N of the inoculum may be modified by the endosomal PPPase in host cells, including those from the CNS so as to facilitate the JHMV infectious process

HINDI MEM SAHITYETAR ANUVAD Kl SAMASYAYEM

HINDICUSATDepartment of Hindi, School of Languages Cochin University of Science and Technolog