Effectiveness of affirmation therapy on stress among nurses working in intensive care units at selected hospitals at Chennai: Pilot study

The primary aim of the study was to assess stress among nurses working at selected hospital. Job related stress among nurses has a cost for individual in term of health, well being and for organization in term of absenteeism and turnover which affects quality of patient care. Objectives: To assess level of stress among nurses working in intensive care units, to assess and compare the pre and post assessment of clinical variables among nurses working in intensive care units with stress, to assess the effectiveness of affirmation therapy on stress among nurses working in intensive care units and to find out the association between stress and selected background of nurses. A study was conducted on 10 staff nurses working in intensive care units. Modified stress assessment scale was used and requires 15-30 min to solve for each questionnaire. There was no significant association found between occupational stress, and age, sex, education, year of experience. Nurses have to face stress which could have negative impact on organizational environment in the future. Out of all considered causes of stress, workload is the major factor responsible for frequent occurrence of stress among majority of nurses

Effectiveness of music therapy and reminiscence therapy on depressive symptoms among elderly people in selected geriatric home, Chennai; Pilot study

Introduction:With ageing, the likelihood of experiencing age-related health issues increase. Other than systemic diseases, many people experience mental illnesses in old age.Music and reminiscence therapy has been proposed as a potentially effective strategy for elderly geriatric home residents with depressive symptoms.Methods:In this pilot study, residents of elderly were evaluated for depressive symptoms through revised geriatric depression scale, and modified beck depression inventory respectively.Music and reminiscence therapy were applied to them and post-intervention assessment was done using the same scales.Results:Depressive symptoms showed a mean reduction in score but statistically not significant. When graded into severity, outcomes showed improvement from higher severity grade to lower grade in post-intervention assessment. The intervention resulted in an reduction of depressive symptoms.Conclusions:The study found music and reminiscence therapy could be encouraging in Indian settings. Hence, we recommend for further exploration of the long-term effects of this program, its feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and validation of the content for large-scale implementation

Ayurvedic management of Motor Neuron Disorder (Mamsa Majjagata Sarvanga Vata) - A Case Report

Motor neuron disorders are a group of progressive neurological diseases that affect motor neurons. As motor neurons degenerate, the brain\u27s ability to initiate and control muscle movements diminishes, leading to severe disability and, eventually, death. A 52-year-old male patient apparently healthy 1 year ago, gradually over a period of 6-7 months patient experienced reduction of strength in bilateral lower and upper limb, slurred speech, fasciculation over thigh region. Patient observed progression of the above symptoms which made him unable to stand and walk without support, difficulty in swallowing. Patient visited National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru where magnetic resonance imaging of brain (impression: Grade 1 small vessel ischemic changes) and electromyography were done (impression: preganglionic neurogenic involvement of bulbar, cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments with evidence of ongoing denervation and chronic re-nervation: likely pathology-anterior horn cell). Diagnosed it as motor neuron disorder advised medications and physiotherapy (for 6 months). Later, after 1 year, patient visited SDM Ayurveda hospital 11.11.2024. Here, this was diagnosed as Mamsa-Majjagata Sarvanga Vata, based on the symptoms Bala Kshaya/Chesta Nivrutti (reduced strength), Vak Stamba (difficulty speaking), Mamsa Kshaya (muscle wasting). Patient was treated for 20 days with Ayurveda according to stages of the disease (Ama, Kapha Dosha, and Vata). Sarvanga Kayaseka, Agnichikitsa Lepa, Ksheera Vaitarana Basti, Brihat Vata Chintamani Rasa, Saraswatharishta, Agnitundi Vati, Vak Shuddhikara Choorna, and physiotherapy were adopted. Assessed for changes in clinical features, Medical Research Council muscle scale for strength, Barthel Index. These assessments were shown significant improvements

Ayurvedic management of Chronic Kidney Disease : A Case Report

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a spectrum of different pathophysiologic processes associated with abnormal kidney function and a progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate. Globally it is the 12th cause of death and 17th cause of disability. Clinically this condition can be correlated to madumeha and mutrakshaya. Methodology: A 60yr old female patient with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (stage 4) was advised hemo-dialysis, which she was not willing to undergo, attended out patient department of Kayachikitsa, at SDM College of Ayurveda & Hospital, Hassan. Patient was treated with shamanaaushadi, Mustadiyapana basti, and with specific pathyaahara. Assessment was done before and after treatment with serum creatinine, eGFR and oedema grade. Result: After 9 days of treatment, there was significant change in the bilateral pedal oedema, urine output, general condition and also reduction in the serum creatinine. Conclusion: Chronic kidney disease was effectively managed by treatment modalities mentioned in Ayurveda after proper assessment of the dosha, dushya and vyadhi avasta

Ayurvedic Management of Ankylosing Spondylitis - A Case Report

Introduction: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a sero negative chronic inflammatory arthritis of unknown cause that primarily affects the axial skeleton which usually begins in the second or third decade of life with a male to female ratio of 3:1. The prevalence rate of AS in India is 0.03%. It is clinically correlated to Danda Apatanaka in Ayurveda. It is caused due to the vitiated Vata and Kapha Dosha which enters the Dhamani and causes stiffness of the body. Due to its known complications and its tendency to hamper the quality of life, there is a need for an effective Ayurvedic intervention. This report is based on a case of Ankylosing Spondylitis which presented with pricking pain over nape of the neck and low back associated with stiffness and restricted movements, swelling over nape of neck right shoulder and right side of face, associated with restricted movements of right upper limb. Methods: This case was diagnosed as Danda Apatanaka and was treated with Basti Karma, Abhyanga along with oral medications. Assessment was done before and after treatment using relevant scales. Result: After 2 weeks of treatment pain and swelling over the nape of neck, right shoulder and face resolved completely, pain and stiffness of low back reduced, pain in right upper limb reduced and patient was able to perform normal movements. Stiffness of neck still persisted. Conclusion: Ankylosing spondylitis can be effectively managed by Ayurvedic treatment modalities after proper assessment of the involved Dosha and Dhatus

A round robin approach to the analysis of bisphenol a (BPA) in human blood samples

BACKGROUND: Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous, yet there are concerns about whether BPA can be measured in human blood. This Round Robin was designed to address this concern through three goals: 1) to identify collection materials, reagents and detection apparatuses that do not contribute BPA to serum; 2) to identify sensitive and precise methods to accurately measure unconjugated BPA (uBPA) and BPA-glucuronide (BPA-G), a metabolite, in serum; and 3) to evaluate whether inadvertent hydrolysis of BPA-G occurs during sample handling and processing. METHODS: Four laboratories participated in this Round Robin. Laboratories screened materials to identify BPA contamination in collection and analysis materials. Serum was spiked with concentrations of uBPA and/or BPA-G ranging from 0.09-19.5 (uBPA) and 0.5-32 (BPA-G) ng/mL. Additional samples were preserved unspiked as ‘environmental’ samples. Blinded samples were provided to laboratories that used LC/MSMS to simultaneously quantify uBPA and BPA-G. To determine whether inadvertent hydrolysis of BPA metabolites occurred, samples spiked with only BPA-G were analyzed for the presence of uBPA. Finally, three laboratories compared direct and indirect methods of quantifying BPA-G. RESULTS: We identified collection materials and reagents that did not introduce BPA contamination. In the blinded spiked sample analysis, all laboratories were able to distinguish low from high values of uBPA and BPA-G, for the whole spiked sample range and for those samples spiked with the three lowest concentrations (0.5-3.1 ng/ml). By completion of the Round Robin, three laboratories had verified methods for the analysis of uBPA and two verified for the analysis of BPA-G (verification determined by: 4 of 5 samples within 20% of spiked concentrations). In the analysis of BPA-G only spiked samples, all laboratories reported BPA-G was the majority of BPA detected (92.2 – 100%). Finally, laboratories were more likely to be verified using direct methods than indirect ones using enzymatic hydrolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitive and accurate methods for the direct quantification of uBPA and BPA-G were developed in multiple laboratories and can be used for the analysis of human serum samples. BPA contamination can be controlled during sample collection and inadvertent hydrolysis of BPA conjugates can be avoided during sample handling