Impact of Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique on Adrenaline and Cortisol Levels in Healthy Volunteers

The objective was to find out the effect of Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique (IAM) on the stress hormones: adrenaline and cortisol. One hundred and fifty healthy subjects were randomized into three groups. Blood was collected at 0 hour, 48 hours, 2 months, and 8 months after the first visit. Adrenaline was analyzed by ELISA and cortisol by Chemiluminescent method. In the IAM, PMR and control groups 44, 44, and 36 came, respectively, for the baseline visit. Within group, cortisol and adrenaline levels reduced in the IAM 48 hours onwards and the fall sustained until 8 months (P < .05). ANCOVA (Repeated measures) on adrenaline taking the four levels of observation showed a highly significant (P = .001) drop in the IAM group. The mean cortisol values between groups were not statistically significant (P = .138). IAM Technique was effective in reducing adrenaline and cortisol levels within group comparisons

Novel biomarkers for inborn errors of metabolism in the metabolomics era

314-320Inborn errors of metabolism arise due to deficiency of enzymes in metabolic pathways. Recent years have seen the onset of novel technologies like proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and urinomics. In the past many novel biomarkers have been developed like succinyl acetone for tyrosinemia, a number of organic acids for organic acidurias, acylcarnitines for the detection of fatty acid oxidation disorders and organic acidurias etc. With the advent of the -omics technologies, the number of novel biomarkers has increased dramatically. The use of techniques like mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy has led to a faster diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism and smaller sample requirement. Hundreds of markers can be detected in a single urine sample, making diagnosis easier. There is an urgent need for implementing such techniques into routine practice in India

Attitude of bachelor of dental surgery students and interns toward teaching-learning process in Government Dental College, Kottayam, Kerala, India

Introduction: The educational environment affects the academic performance of students. One of the most widely utilized tools for measuring the educational environment is Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM). The objective of the study was to assess the attitude toward study environment, as measured using DREEM questionnaire, and to find out the differences in perception of various batches of dental students. Materials and Methods: All Bachelor of Dental Surgery students from Government Dental College, Kottayam, Kerala, India, were included in the study. They were given the well-established DREEM questionnaire. A total of 234 students took part in the study, belonging to 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 batches. DREEM subcategories were analyzed for significance using analysis of variance. The significance of DREEM score across the different batches was further analyzed using post hoc test. Results: Overall, DREEM score was positive (111.14), but there is need for improvement. Individual questions also were given positive score for most questions. The maximum score was obtained for 3rd year students. Similar results are obtained for three of the five subcategories of DREEM. Conclusion: The total DREEM score was positive (111.14). The total score as well as the scores for the subcategories was highest in 3rd year dental students. The increase might be due to the excitement of clinical exposure for the first time in 3rd year students

Alterations in Plasma Amino Acid Levels in Chronic Pancreatitis

Context Dietary proteins and amino acids can modulate pancreatic function. Objective Our aim was to estimate the levels of plasma amino acids in chronic pancreatitis patients and study their relationship with disease characteristics as well as exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. Patients One hundred and seventy-five consecutive adult patients with chronic pancreatitis: 84 patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis and 91 patients with tropical chronic pancreatitis. One hundred and thirteen healthy controls were also studied. Design Prospective study. Main output measures Disease characteristics and imaging features were recorded. Plasma-free amino acid levels were estimated using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Polyclonal antibody ELISA was used to assess pancreatic fecal elastase-1. Results The majority of the plasma free amino acid levels decreased in chronic pancreatitis patients whereas glutamate, glycine, proline and lysine were elevated as compared to the controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the decrease in branched chain amino acid concentration was significantly associated with the presence of diabetes and low fecal elastase-1. In addition, a significant positive correlation was observed between branched chain amino acids and pancreatic elastase-1 (rs=0.724, P&lt;0.001). Conclusion Reductions of plasma amino acid levels are seen in chronic pancreatitis, particularly sulphur containing amino acids and branched chain amino acids. Selective amino acid deficiencies seem to correlate with exocrine and endocrine insufficiency.Image: Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. Cochin, Kerala, India

Assessment of oxidative status in chronic pancreatitis and its relation with zinc status

Abstract Background Oxidative stress-induced free radicals have been implicated in the pathology of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Aim We aimed to estimate oxidative stress and antioxidant status in tropical chronic pancreatitis (TCP) and alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) and correlate with zinc status. Methods One hundred and seventy-five CP patients (91 TCP, 84 ACP) and 113 healthy subjects were prospectively studied. Disease characteristics and imaging features were recorded. Erythrocyte reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), plasma vitamin C, and erythrocyte thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were estimated by spectrophotometry. Erythrocyte zinc was estimated by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results Enhanced lipid peroxidation with concomitant decrease in antioxidant status was observed in both TCP and ACP patients (p&lt;0.05). The findings were comparable in both diabetic and non-diabetic CP patients. Significantly, lower plasma vitamin C and elevated levels of erythrocyte TBARS was noted in TCP as compared to ACP patients. The erythrocyte zinc significantly correlated with SOD activity (r=0.450, p&lt;0.001). Conclusions Our study corroborates the role of oxidative stress in CP and suggests some differences in oxidative status in TCP and ACP patients. Zinc deficiency appears to affect oxidative status in CP patients

Folate Deficiency in Chronic Pancreatitis

No abstract available.Image: Logo of "Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences". Cochin, Kerala, Indi

Reply to 'Some More Comments on Folate Deficiency in Chronic Pancreatitis'

No abstract available.Image: Folic acid crystals (Author: W. Oelen; Wikimedia Commons)