Decolonizing Yoga in Academia: Narratives of Young Adults using Yoga to Manage Stress

This inquiry explores the experiences of thirteen Canadian yoga-exemplars, ages 25-40, who use traditional Yoga knowledge and practices to handle lifes stresses and strains. The young adults describe Yoga as a holistic and spiritual practice as a way of life, a philosophy, and not merely a physical exercise. Their stories about how they cope with the challenges of life such as school, relationships or existential angst, demonstrate how Yoga has helped them effectively cope with stress. Their discussion of Yoga is important because of concerns that unmanaged stress leads to negative impacts, such as anxiety, depression and drug and alcohol abuse. Researchers have concluded that, due to the heterogeneity of Yoga, it is difficult to compare Yoga programs to know their quality or content. Also, these programs are usually limited to practice of asanas, or physical postures, along with some mindfulness. Yet, as the Patanjali Yoga Sutras explain, Yoga teaches the complete psychology of the mind and provides a holistic, spirituality-based, embodied and experiential approach to wellness and increased-self-awareness. Using the Art of Living programs as a case study, this inquiry provides an example of a program that teaches all eight limbs of Yoga which is a Yoga-based theoretical framework researchers can use to study programs that are based on Yoga. Purva paksh, or critical review, of western scholarship on Yoga has led Indigenous scholar-practitioners to conclude that Yoga has been, and continues to be, studied through colonial lenses. This study proposes and demonstrates how Yoga may be better understood and analysed using Yogas own theories and Sanskrit terminology. This study uses decolonizing methodologies to theorize Yoga as indigenous knowledge, similar to other indigenous knowledges of the world which are based on the oral tradition. Indigenous scholars have asserted that the authority to speak for or teach the knowledge belongs to its own knowledge keepers and scholars, and not to outsiders. The study further decolonizes western studies on Yoga to show that the significant contributions made by Yoga to western psychology, mind sciences, and philosophy remain mostly unacknowledged. A review of the many threats faced by Yoga from western Indology provides the backdrop to the yoga-exemplars' narratives

A study of clinical and laboratory profile of dengue fever in a tertiary care centre of Uttarakhand, India

Background: Dengue is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in India. Many recent studies have shown varied clinical manifestations from different geographical locations. There is paucity of data on this topic from this region. The present study was conducted to find out the clinical features, complications, response to treatment and outcome of patients suffering from dengue in a tertiary care centre of Uttarakhand, India.Methods: The study was performed at SGRR Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, Dehradun, which is a tertiary care hospital of Uttrakhand. The study period was of 1 year from July 2012 to June 2013. Patients of 12 years of age or above it who were antigen positive or antibody positive were included in the study. All such patients who were admitted in the hospital underwent detailed clinical examination and investigation. Results: Dengue infection was identified in 140 patients. Thrombocytopenia was the commonest hematological abnormality. Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and hepatosplenomegaly, were common findings. Renal, hepatic and cerebral dysfunctions were noted. Mortality was seen in 5 (3.6%) patients. Encephalitis, shock and ARDS were associated with high mortality and poor outcome.Conclusions: Dengue is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in Uttarakhand. High index of suspicion, early diagnosis, monitoring of the clinical and laboratory parameters and prompt intervention may help in reducing the mortality.

A study of complications of scrub typhus in a tertiary health care institute of Uttarakhand, India

Background: Scrub typhus or tsutsugamushi disease is a febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Uttarakhand State in the northern region of India has been witnessing increased incidence of this fever. There is paucity of data on this topic from this region. The present study was conducted to find out the clinical features, complications, response to treatment and outcome of patients suffering from scrub typhus in a tertiary health care institute of Uttarakhand, India.Methods: The study was performed at SGRR Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, Dehradun, which is a tertiary health care institute Uttrakhand. The study period was of 1year from December 2012 to November 2013. Patients of 12 years of age or above it who were IgM antibody positive by ELISA technique were included in the study. All such patients underwent detailed clinical examination and investigation. Results: 47 patients were found to be suffering from scrub typhus. The common symptoms noted fever, myalgias, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, breathlessness, petechiae and jaundice. Common complications noticed were hepatitis (78.7%) acute respiratory distress syndrome (19.2%), thrombocytopenia (46.8%) and acute renal failure (31.9%), Mortality was seen in 3 (6.4%) patients.Conclusions: Scrub typhus is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in Uttarakhand. High index of suspicion, early diagnosis, monitoring of the clinical and laboratory parameters and prompt intervention may help in reducing the mortality.

A comparative study of complications of vivax and falciparum malaria in Dehradun, India

Background: Traditionally Plasmodium falciparum has been considered to cause severe malaria while Plasmodium vivax is known to cause benign malaria. However many recent studies have shown that Plasmodium vivax is also responsible for many cases of severe malaria. There is scarcity of data on this topic from this region. The present study was conducted to find out clinical and pathological manifestations of vivax and falciparum malaria in Dehradun. Methods: The study period was of one and half years, from January 2012 to June 2013. Patients of 18 years of age or above it who were smear positive or antigen positive were included in the study.Results: one hundredand thirty nine patients were found to be suffering from malaria. 90 (64.7%) had vivax malaria, while 49 (35.3%) patients suffered from falciparum. The study of morbidity profile showed that the complications related to severity, earlier attributed to only falciparum is equally seen in vivax case. Low platelet count was the commonest finding in both groups. Other complications seen in both groups were those of severe anemia, cerebral malaria, ARDS, renal failure, hepatitis, leucocytopenia, pancytopenia, and shock. Mortality in the two groups was of the same order. Conclusions: Vivax malaria causes significant mortality and morbidity. The morbidity and patterns are almost similar in both vivax and falciparum malaria.

Complications of vivax malaria in Uttarakhand, India

Background: Malaria is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in India. Many recent studies have shown that vivax malaria which was once thought to be a benign condition has emerged in a more virulent form causing many cases of severe malaria and life threatening complications. There is paucity of data on this topic from this region.Objective: The present study was conducted to find out the clinical features, complications, response to treatment and outcome of patients suffering from vivax malaria. The study has also tried to find out severe malaria associated with P. vivax infection.Methods: The study was performed at SGRR Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, Dehradun, which is a tertiary care hospital of Uttarakhand. The study period was of two years, from September 2011 to August 2013. Patients of 18 years of age or above it who were smear positive or antigen positive were included in the study. All such patients who were admitted in the hospital underwent detailed clinical examination and investigation.Results: Plasmodium vivax infection was identified in 140 patients. Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and hepatosplenomegaly, were common findings. Renal, hepatic and cerebral dysfunctions were noted. Severe malaria was observed in 63(45.0%). Thrombocytopenia was the commonest hematological abnormality. Mortality was seen in 9(6.4%) patients. Cerebral malaria, shock and ARDS were associated with high mortality and poor outcome.Conclusion: Vivax malaria may cause life threatening complications. The complications of vivax malaria are similar to those which have been traditionally described with falciparum malaria

Effect of Lakshadigana Taila on Wound Healing in Albino Rat

Objective: To investigate the wound-healing potency of the Lakshadigana Taila on the excisional woundhealing process in experimental study of albino rats, in comparison to 5% Povidone Iodine solution anduntreated group.Materials and Methods: Albino rats of either sex weighing between 200 and 300 gm were divided randomlyinto three groups (n=6). The animals were anesthetized with anesthetic agent Thiopentone Sodium 25mg/kg intra peritoneal. The skin of albino rats was saved on one side of paravertebral region. The skinwas disinfected using cotton and alcohol wipes. Excisional wound, full thickness skin wounds of diameter10 mm were created in the paravertebral area. The following medications were applied topically to thewound once daily for a maximum of 16 days. In Group I (trial group) Lakshadigana Taila was applied onrats, in Group II (positive control), 5% Povidone Iodine solution was applied on rats and Group III (negativecontrol) served as untreated. Wound was measured on days 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 of the experiment andhistopathological of H and E stain study done on day 4 and 8, 12 and 16. Statistical analysis was doneusing analysis of One Way ANOVA followed by Post Hoc Test and P <0.05 was considered significant and<0.001 highly significant.Result: Area of wound was measured in all three groups at different intervals and found that the rate ofwound contraction was statistically highly significant in all groups (p <0.001). Rate of wound contractionwas faster in Group I than in Group II and III.Conclusion: In the present study, topical application of Lakshadigan Taila accelerated healing of excisionalwound in albino rats

An Assessment of Awareness Campaigns in COVID-19 Management

A public awareness campaign is a tool of social marketing technique. The quality of awareness campaign is determined based on its effectiveness which is evaluated by its impact on the audience. To know the awareness related to major media campaigns, during the COVID-19 pandemic related to COVID-appropriate behaviour, a survey tool was designed and administered in online mode among 200 young respondents from Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Data were collected through Google forms shared via various social platforms and snowball sampling technique with age and area related restrictions. The media campaign which made a great impact on the mind and heart of the respondents were “Do gaj doori mask hai jaroori (Mask and maintaining distance of two yards is necessary) ” and “Jab tak dawai nahi tab tak dhilai nahi (No carelessness till a medicine is recommended)” The sources which made people aware were "caller tune" followed by "family and friends" . Almost all components of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour were known to the respondents except, seeking COVID-19 related information from reliable sources and refraining from sharing unverified social media posts. This research throws light on the interventions that can be more impactful and will thus help in better designing and dissemination of awareness campaigns in future

Prevalence of skin diseases among infants in a tertiary medical facility in Uttarakhand

Background: Skin diseases are common in infancy. This study aimed to determine to prevalence of various dermatoses in infancy in Uttarakhand. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of different dermatologic diseases in infant in Uttarakhand.Methods: A prospective study was carried out for one year from 06 Sep 2013 to 05 Sep 2014, to study prevalence and patterns of dermatological lesions in infants, a tertiary care health facility in Uttarakhand. A total of 234 infants of both sexes were seen during this period.Results: Of 234 patients 58.9% were males. Noninfectious dermatitis was the largest group of skin disorders in infancy, constituting 35.89% of total cases. Seborrheic dermatitis was commonest type of non-infectious dermatitis in infancy (42.85%) followed by atopic dermatitis (19.04%), Ptyriasis alba (14.28 %), contact and diaper dermatitis (7.14% each). Seborrheic dermatitis did not display any gender or seasonal bias. Infectious/ parasitic infestations formed second largest group of dermatoses in infants (26.92%) with commonest being fungal infections (49% cases of infectious group) followed by parasitic infestations (26.98%). Bacterial and viral infections were formed only 12.69% and 11.11% of infectious group cases. Nonfungal and nonparasitic infections showed higher incidence in summers.Conclusion: Out of 234 infants who attended paediatric dermatology clinic, major dermatoses were of noninfectious origin with seborrheic dermatitis forming largest group. Infectious etiology dermatoses constituted second major group with fungal and parasitic etiology. Nonfungal and non-parasitic dermatoses showed higher prevalence in summer months.

Incidence of diabetes and ischemic heart disease in COVID-19 post pandemic

Background: The long-term effects of COVID-19 pandemic are currently getting more attention. The majority of individuals with COVID-19 report having symptoms for longer than 4 weeks following their initial appearance. after COVID-19 infection, there is worry that cardiovascular conditions and metabolic conditions may be harmed. Aim of the study the incidence of ischaemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus (DM) post COVID 19 pandemic. Methods: Information for all individuals diagnosed as suffering of COVID-19 were taken at the beginning of the investigation from the health department's release of electronic medical records in February 2021. The main outcomes analysed were first ever documented cardiovascular disorders (CVD) as well as DM diagnoses. The data were then combined for the time periods following the index date (long COVID-19), for five to twelve weeks following the index date (post-acute COVID19), for four weeks after the date of indexing (acute COVID-19), prior to the index date (Pre-index). For COVID-19 patients as well as control subjects, incidence rates with precise Poisson confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. Results: CVD events was 1362 in COVID-19 study group while it was 131 in control study group at phase corresponding to four weeks after the indexed date. CVD events was 781 in COVID-19 study group while it was 298 in control study group at phase corresponding to five to twelve weeks since the date of indexing. CVD events was 781 in COVID-19 study group while it was 298 in control study group at phase corresponding to five to twelve weeks since the date of indexing. CVD events was 2,134 in COVID-19 study group while it was 298 in control study group at phase corresponding to 13 to 52 weeks since the date of indexing.   Conclusions: Early on after COVID-19 infection, the risk of CVD is elevated, and this risk is elevated for up to three months. However, there does not appear to be a long-term rise in the prevalence of CVD or DM in COVID-19 patients who do not already have these illnesses. This study shows that after COVID-19 infection, the incidence of DM is high for at minimum 12 weeks before it starts to decline