Effects of Circuit Resistance Training (CRT) for Cardiorespiratory health and fitness in persons with Paraplegia due to high thoracic spinal cord injury

The purpose of this study was to prove the safety and effectiveness of circuit resistance training in persons with high thoracic SCI. The total number of 15 subjects of age group 25-50 years diagnosed as paraplegia due to complete SCI were conveniently selected for this study. Circuit resistance training is the interventional program for this study. Metabolic and cardiac responses to exercise were continuously monitored via open-circuit spirometry and 12- lead Electro cardiography. The selected groups were given 12 weeks of circuit resistance training and examined for a period of 6 months. Before and after 12 weeks of CRT program, the pre and post training values of VO2max. and Hear rate were measured. The Paired t-test was used to compare the pre and post training values of VO2max. and Heart rate. Based on the statistical analysis the result of this study showed a significant increase in both VO2max. and Hear rate. Based on the data analysis and interpretation of VO2max. values the paired t-value of 7.89 was greater than the tabulated t-value of 2.14 at 0.05 level which showed a statistically significant difference between pre and post training values. Based on the data analysis and interpretation of Hear rate values the paired t-value of 18.69 was greater than the tabulated t-value of 2.04 at 0.05 level which showed a statistically significant difference between pre and post training values. CONCLUSION: The study showed that persons with paraplegia safely increased their endurance and muscular strength after 12 weeks of circuit resistance training. The study showed a significant increase in VO2max. and Heart rate while performing sioinertial resistance exercises after circuit resistance training program

A Linear Approximation for the Excitation Energies of single and double analog states in the f_{7/2} shell

We find that the excitation energies of single analog states for odd-even nuclei in the f$_{7/2}$ shell with J=j=7/2$^{-}$ and the J=0$^{+}$ double analog states in the even-even nuclei are well described by the formulas $E^{*}(j,T+1) = b (T+X)$ and $E^{*}(0^{+},T+2) = 2b (T+X+0.5)$,respectively, where $T=\mid N-Z\mid /2$ is usually the ground state isospin. It is remarkable to note that the parameter X accounts for the departures from the symmetry energy based predictions.Comment: 8 pages and no figure

The Electrically Silent Kv6.4 Subunit Confers Hyperpolarized Gating Charge Movement in Kv2.1/Kv6.4 Heterotetrameric Channels

The voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channel subunit Kv6.4 does not form functional homotetrameric channels but co-assembles with Kv2.1 to form functional Kv2.1/Kv6.4 heterotetrameric channels. Compared to Kv2.1 homotetramers, Kv6.4 exerts a ∼40 mV hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of Kv2.1/Kv6.4 channel inactivation, without a significant effect on activation gating. However, the underlying mechanism of this Kv6.4-induced modulation of Kv2.1 channel inactivation, and whether the Kv6.4 subunit participates in the voltage-dependent gating of heterotetrameric channels is not well understood. Here we report distinct gating charge movement of Kv2.1/Kv6.4 heterotetrameric channels, compared to Kv2.1 homotetramers, as revealed by gating current recordings from mammalian cells expressing these channels. The gating charge movement of Kv2.1/Kv6.4 heterotetrameric channels displayed an extra component around the physiological K+ equilibrium potential, characterized by a second sigmoidal relationship of the voltage-dependence of gating charge movement. This distinct gating charge displacement reflects movement of the Kv6.4 voltage-sensing domain and has a voltage-dependency that matches the hyperpolarizing shift in Kv2.1/Kv6.4 channel inactivation. These results provide a mechanistic basis for the modulation of Kv2.1 channel inactivation gating kinetics by silent Kv6.4 subunits

Analysis of Neuro Ophthalmic Features of Head Trauma

INTRODUCTION: The Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest” has made man, endeavour to attain higher and still higher speeds in travel and to search for more and still more effective techniques of destruction in war. These have all combined to heighten the incidence of head injuries to an extent unknown to the previous generation. India has only 1% of the world’s automobiles but 6% of road accidents. The death rate per 1000 vehicles is 2.5, which is the highest in the world, even without the recently burgeoning vehicular traffic. Falls, assault and domestic accidents also account for a significant proportion of head injuries. They affect the active and productive age group in the prime of life. We often wonder how nature is so resourceful to confine the entire visual system within the brain, but to retain the globe alone to the exterior. This play gifted by nature has, made any insult to the brain in the form of trauma, tumour etc., to be reflected outside by the globe like a mirror. Thus, neuroopthalmologists and neurosurgeons play essential roles to pick up these neuroopthalmics signs in head injuries, not only to localise the lesion, but also to save the life of the patient and to predict the prognosis. AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. To determine the mode of injury in head injury patients. 2. To document the incidence and nature of neuroopthalmic deficits in head injury patients. 3. To correlate the initial level of consciousness and the incidence of neuroopthalmic deficits. 4. To correlate the documented neuro-ophthalmic deficits with the neuroimaging studies. 5. To analyse the recovery pattern of the head injured patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical study was carried out in the Department of Ophthalmology. Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, during the period from May 2008 to October 2009. Out of 1086 patients admitted in head injury ward, 182 patients with the history of head injury were referred from the department of nuerosurgery who had ophthalmic complaints. Of them 100 patients were found to have abnormal neuroopthalmic deficits. Inclusion criteria 1. Patients with definite history of head trauma. 2. Patients with ophthalmic symptoms. 3. Patients whose level of consciousness is good with or without history of loss of consciousness in the immediate post-head trauma period. Exclusion Criteria 1. Unconscious patients who did not subsequently recover adequate consciousness. 2. Patients whose neuro-ophthalmic deficits were not confirmed or follow up was not possible due to default [Against Medical Advice/Absconded] The cases were examined in the Department of Neurosurgery and in the Neuro-ophthalmology Clinic in the Department of Ophthalmology subsequently. All the data were collected or a standardized proforma and wherever appropriate slit lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy, diplopia charting, forced duction tests visual field analysis etc were done. In cases requiring ophthalmic medical or surgical intervention, they were instituted appropriate work-up in the ophthalmology Dept., All the cases were essentially managed in the Department of Neurosurgery with routine follow up. All the patients were followed up for a minimum period of 3 months. They were reexamined and the results were recorded regarding the original problem and any new findings. RESULTS: 1. Of the 182 cases of head injury, the age range was 2-70 years, with the maximum number of patients in the age group of 20-40 yrs constituting more than 60% of the total. 2. Males were more commonly affected than female with a M:F ratio of 1.6:1. 3. Road traffic accidents was the commonest mode of injury in our study. This constitutes 61% of the cases. 4. Only 38% of head injury patients gave a history of loss of consciousness. 5. Of the 182 patients, 83 patients had abnormal finding in CT brain. Majority of the patient with CT abnormality had intracranial hemorrhage (59%). They had III or IV nerve palsies. Basilar skull fracture was associated with bilateral VI nerve palsies. 6. Abnormal neuro ophthalmic findings were seen in 100 out of 182 patients. The rest of the patients had non-neuroophthalmic problems. 7. Efferent pathway deficit constituted 57% and more common than afferent pathway deficit (43%). 8. Traumatic optic neuropathy was the commonest afferent pathway deficit constituting 70%. 9. Of the ocular motor nerve palsies, IV nerve injury was the commonest injury (52.1%) followed by III nerve injury. 10. IV nerve palsy was quite often bilateral. 11. Only 29 patients showed full recovery 4 out of 6 patients with cortical blindness recovered fully. Aberrant regeneration was seen in 4 patients of III nerve injury in 3 months of follow up. CONCLUSION: The following conclusions are made from the above observations: 1. Head injury is more common in the age group of 20-40 years. 2. Males are more commonly affected than females. 3. The most common mode of head injury is road traffic accident. 4. Loss of consciousness is not associated with any neuroophthalmic deficits. 5. Efferent visual pathway deficit is more common than afferent visual pathway deficit. 6. Commonest efferent visual pathway deficit is IV nerve injury. 7. Commonest afferent visual pathway deficit is indirect traumatic optic neuropathy. 8. Bilateral injury is more common with IV nerve injury. 9. Recovery pattern of visual pathway deficits are not very good inspite of timely management. 10. The presence of significant neuroimaging abnormality, particularly intracranial haemorrage is significantly associated with III and IV nerve injuries. 11. Even in the absence of any neuroimaging abnormality, the prevalence of neuro-ophthalmic deficits is high. 12. Meticulous awareness of traffic rules, helmet wear, giving up of drunken drive are the safety measures to avoid road traffic accidents and to prevent head injury for, “prevention is always better than cure”