Immediate and delayed effect of Ramadan fasting on spirometry parameters: Effects of fasting on lung volumes and capacities

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is an obligatory duty for muslims. Researchers have investigated health benefits of fasting and reported conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate and delayed effects of Ramadan fasting on spirometric parameters. 50 apparently healthy young adults aged between 17-27 years, belonging to both genders who fast during the month of Ramadan were enrolled for the study. Spirometric recordings were done at three different time points. First: 5-10 days before the start of Ramadan (Pre-Ramadan); second: within 10 days of the beginning of Ramadan fasting (Ramadan); third: within 7 days of the end of Ramadan (Post-Ramadan). There were no statistically significant differences between the three phases with respect to tidal volume (TV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory flow 25% to 75% (FEF25-27). To conclude, Ramadan fasting does not have any significant effect on pulmonary function tests as assessed by spirometry. Hence, the diagnosis and prognosis of a respiratory disorder made on spirometry findings are reliable and need no error correction if an individual is fasting

Effect of tea and coffee consumption on the blood pressure, pulse wave velocity and aortic pressures in young healthy individuals: Effect of tea and coffee on CVS

Caffeine present in tea and coffee, the most commonly used beverages, has been implicated to have long term effects on cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to document the acute and chronic effects of tea and coffee consumption on blood pressure, pulse wave velocity and aortic pressures in young, healthy individuals. This observational study was conducted on 86 healthy MBBS student volunteers of both genders between the age group of 18-27 years. Cardiovascular parameters (heart rate, peripheral blood pressure, central blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, augmentation pressure) were measured using PeriScope™. Participants were divided into 3 groups based on their history of consuming tea/coffee/both/none. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS 17.0. ANOVA or Welsh test of equality of means was used for knowing the differences for scale variables. Paired sample t test was used to know the acute effect of coffee consumption among group 1 participants in a before-after design. In regular tea consumers, the bilateral brachial SBP, DBP and MAP were significantly higher than individuals who did not consume tea regularly; similar results in these parameters were also observed in regular coffee drinkers. However the lower limb arterial parameters were not markedly differently in tea/coffee group compared to non-drinkers. In both tea and coffee group, AoSP and AoDP were significantly higher than non-drinkers. Additionally, coffee drinking has acute stimulatory effects on CVS as evident by increase in peripheral and central vascular parameters

Central blood pressure parameters in young adults with and without parental history of hypertension: Central BP in young with parental history of HTN

Hypertension is increasingly being found in children and adolescence. The purpose of this study was to find out differences in the central arterial (aortic) blood pressure parameters in young adults with hypertensive and normotensive parents. 109 healthy volunteers between the ages of 17 and 25 years were enrolled for the study after taking consent. Brachial artery pressures and aortic parameters were recorded using PeriScope™ which determines aortic parameters and functional vascular age non-invasively based on oscillometric method. The results of this study showed no statistically significant difference between offspring of hypertensive parents and offspring of normotensive parents

Variation in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, augmentation pressure and augmentation index during different phases of menstrual cycle: Indicators of arterial stiffness during phases of menstrual cycle

Physiological variation of estrogen and progesterone during menstrual cycle is well known.  They not only have an effect on blood pressure control, but also seem to have a role in regulating arterial compliance. This study was done to find out whether there are any changes in central arterial parameters during different phases of menstrual cycle. Thirty female  subjects  in the  age  group  of  18-22  years  with  normal,  regular menstrual  cycles  participated in this prospective observational study at our teaching hospital. Anthropometric parameters were recorded.  Blood pressure in all 4 limbs was recorded using cardiovascular risk analyzer-Periscope™ on Day 3rd to 5th (follicular phase), Day 12th to 14th (ovulation phase), Day 22nd to 24th (luteal phase) of their menstrual cycle. We collected blood samples during these three phases for estimation of estradiol and progesterone by ELISA technique. Analysis of variance and correlation statistics were done using SPSS 17.0 statistical software. No significant statistical changes were observed in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, aortic systolic pressure, aortic diastolic pressure, aortic augmentation pressure, aortic index and pulse wave velocity during the three recorded phases of the menstrual cycle. There are many studies which correlate changes in peripheral artery blood pressure with different phases of menstrual cycle. But there is scarcity in data available which correlates central arterial pressures and arterial stiffness with natural hormonal variations in different phases of menstrual cycle. However, our results show that although there are subtle changes in blood pressure parameters along with estrogen and progesterone levels throughout the menstrual cycle, yet these were not statistically significant

TRANSITION METAL COMPLEXES MEDIATED EFFICIENT AND FACILE CLEAVAGE OF OXIMES AND PHENYLHYDRAZONE TO CARBONYL COMPOUNDS

 Graphical AbstractPurpose: To report a new and efficient method for the regeneration of carbonyl compounds from their oximes and phenylhydrazones by employingtransition metal complexes under mild conditions.Methods: Different oxime and phenylhydrazone complexes have been examined for this regeneration process and found effective.Results: A new method for the cleavage of oximes and phenylhydrazone into their corresponding carbonyl compounds has been done successfully.Conclusion: The present method is of practical significance as it is rapid, high yielding, involves simple work-up under the very mild condition, and itapplicable to both aldehydes and ketones. Thus, it is believed that the present method appears to be viable alternative to existing procedures.Keywords: Regeneration, Carbonyl compounds, Oximes, Phenylhydrazones, Transition metal complexes

Tumor associated carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Rational approaches, design strategies, structure activity relationship and mechanistic insights

The emergence of tumor-associated human carbonic anhydrases (hCA) as promising therapeutic targets has urged rigorous research into the development of potent and selective hCA IX and XII inhibitors. Rationalization of targeting tumor-specific hCA isoforms is a major challenge that requires a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between inhibitors and the dynamic hCA active site. The benzenesulfonamides and its bioisosteres are currently being used clinically as inhibitors of various hCA isoforms through classical inhibitory mechanism. In addition, several other chemotypes have also been developed with improved potency and selectivity through non-classical inhibitory mechanisms. Coumarin and its derivatives represent highly selective and potent inhibitors of hCA IX and XII. Recently, various other pharmacophores were also proven to have a strong selectivity and potency against hCA IX and XII including pyrazole, 1,2,3-triazole, 4-thiazolidinone, and thiourea. This review navigates through understanding the role of hCA IX and XII in cancer biology, encompassing different inhibition approaches, strategic design methodologies, recent advancements in the rational design of hCA inhibitors, exploration of structure-activity relationships, in-depth mechanistic insights, and PET imaging applications for in vivo visualization of target enzymes

Faradic stimulation in the treatment of functional aphonia: A case series

Dissociative disorders have many clinical presentations, one of which is mutism. Hysterical mutism, or functional aphonia (FA), is a functional disorder of the vocal cords presenting as loss of voice with no change in the integrity of the anatomy or physiology of the voice box. Modern understanding of its etiology suggests a strong role for psychosocial stressors. Treatment modalities for this condition are aplenty and vary in mode of administration. This case series describes the use of faradic stimulation in the treatment of FA

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Imidazo[2,1-b]Thiazole based Sulfonyl Piperazines as Novel Carbonic Anhydrase II Inhibitors

A novel series of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-sulfonyl piperazine conjugates (9aa-ee) has been synthesized and evaluated for carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitory potency against four isoforms: The cytosolic isozyme hCA I, II and trans-membrane tumor-associated isoform hCA IX and hCA XII, taking acetazolamide (AAZ) as standard drug, using a stopped flow CO2 hydrase assay. The results revealed that most of the compounds showed selective activity against hCA II whereas none of them were active against hCA I, IX, XII (Ki > 100 µM). The physiologically dominant cytosolic isoform hCA II was inhibited by these molecules with inhibition constants in the range of 57.7–98.2 µM. This new derivative, thus, selectively inhibits hCA II over the hCA I, IX, XII isoforms, which may be used for further understanding the physiological roles of some of these isoforms in various pathologies