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

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

BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutation analysis among Indian women from south India: identification of four novel mutations and high-frequency occurrence of 185delAG mutation

Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes profoundly increase the risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer among women. To explore the contribution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in the development of hereditary breast cancer among Indian women, we carried out mutation analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in 61 breast or ovarian cancer patients from south India with a positive family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Mutation analysis was carried out using conformation-sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) followed by sequencing. Mutations were identified in 17 patients (28.0%); 15 (24.6%) had BRCA1 mutations and two (3.28%) had BRCA2 mutations. While no specific association between BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations with cancer type was seen, mutations were more often seen in families with ovarian cancer. While 40% (4/10) and 30.8% (4/12) of families with ovarian or breast and ovarian cancer had mutations, only 23.1% (9/39) of families with breast cancer carried mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. In addition, while BRCA1 mutations were found in all age groups, BRCA2 mutations were found only in the age group of &lt;= 40 years. Of the BRCA1 mutations, there were three novel mutations (295delCA; 4213T -&gt; A; 5267T -&gt; G) G) and three mutations that have been reported earlier. Interestingly, 185delAG, a BRCA1 mutation which occurs at a very high frequency in Ashkenazi Jews, was found at a frequency of 16.4% (10/61). There was one novel mutation (4866insT) and one reported mutation in BRCA2. Thus, our study emphasizes the importance of mutation screening in familial breast and/or ovarian cancers, and the potential implications of these findings in genetic counselling and preventive therapy

Emergency balloon dilation or stenting of critical coarctation of aorta in newborns and infants: An effective interim palliation

<b>Background:</b> Management of native uncomplicated coarctation in neonates remains controversial with current evidence favoring surgery. The logistics of organizing surgical repair at short notice in sick infants with critical coarctation can be challenging. <b> Methods and Results: </b> We reviewed data of 10 infants (mean age of 2.9 &#177;1.6 weeks) who underwent catheter intervention for severe coarctation and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction between July 2003 and August 2007. Additional cardiac lesions were present in 7. Mean systolic gradient declined from 51&#177;12 mm Hg to 8.7&#177;6.7 mm Hg after dilation. The coarctation segment was stented in five patients. Procedural success was achieved in all patients with no mortality. Complications included brief cardiopulmonary arrest (n =1), sepsis (n = 1) and temporary pulse loss (n = 2). LV dysfunction improved in all patients. Average ICU stay was 5&#177;3.4 days and hospital stay was 6.5&#177;3.4 days. On follow-up (14.1&#177;10.5 months), all developed restenosis after median period of 12 weeks (range four to 28 weeks). Three (two with stents) underwent elective coarctation repair, two underwent ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure and coarctation repair and one underwent pulmonary artery (PA) banding. Two patients who developed restenosis on follow-up were advised surgery, but did not report. Two (one with stent) underwent redilatation and are being followed with no significant residual gradients. <b>Conclusion</b>: Balloon dilation &#177; stenting is an effective interim palliation for infants and newborns with critical coarctation and LV dysfunction. Restenosis is inevitable and requires to be addressed