COMPARATIVE STUDY ON EFFECT OF SLOW AND FAST PHASED PRANAYAMA ON QUALITY OF LIFE AND PAIN IN PHYSIOTHERAPY GIRLS WITH PRIMARY DYSMENORRHOEA: RANDO-MIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Objective: Few studies have been done on pranayama as therapy to improve pain and quality of life for primary dysmenorrhoea. Hence, this study is aimed at understanding the effect of slow and fast pranayama on primary dysmenorrhoea among Physiotherapy girl students. Methods: Unmarried girls (n=90) under the age group of 18-25 with primary dysmenorrhoea were randomly assigned to the study, Group A (n=45) Group B (n=45). Moos menstrual distress questionnaire (MMDQ), Numerical pain rating scale for pain, Quality of life scale by American chronic pain association were administered at baseline, after 1 st menstrual cycle and follow-up after 2 nd menstrual cycle. Group A was subjected to slow pranayama (Nadi Shodhan) and Group B was subjected to fast pranayama (Kapalbhati). Result: Significant (P<0.0001) improvement in quality of life and pain scores after intervention was seen in Group A (Nadi Shodan) as compared to Group B (Kapalbhati) . Prevalence of Primary Dysmenorrhoea was found to be high between the age group of 18-22. Conclusion: With Slow pranayama (Nadi Shodhan) the quality of life and pain scores improved when compared to Fast pranayama (Kapalbhati) indicating the benefits of Slow pranayama on Primary Dysmenorrhoea. Pranayama improves quality of life and reduces absenteeism and stress levels, so it should be implemented in college students to augment their menstrual wellbeing and should be inculcated as a routine practice to improve quality of life

Increasing access to erectile dysfunction treatment via pharmacies to improve healthcare provider visits and quality of life: Results from a prospective real-world observational study in the United Kingdom

OBJECTIVES: The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom (UK) formally reclassified sildenafil citrate 50 mg tablets as a pharmacy medicine (sildenafil-P) in 2017 for adult men with erectile dysfunction (ED). A 1-year prospective real-world observational study was conducted to track men's health behaviour, particularly their healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) and quality of life (QoL) before and after the availability of sildenafil-P. METHODS: Adult men with ED aged ≥18 years provided data at baseline (prior to launch of sildenafil-P) and every 3 months after the launch. Demographics, health characteristics, treatments at baseline and HCRU, including number of pharmacist and physician/nurse practitioner visits over time are reported. QoL-related outcomes were assessed via the Self-Esteem and Relationship Questionnaire (SEAR), 2-Item Patient Health Questionnaire and ratings of sexual satisfaction. Generalised linear models were used to assess the association of sildenafil-P use with total physician/nurse practitioner and pharmacist visits and QoL-related outcomes at 12 months. RESULTS: Overall, 1162 men completed the survey at all 5 time points. The mean ± SD age was 59.02 ± 12.06 years; 55.42% reported having a moderate-to-severe ED. Hypertension (37.52%) and hypercholesterolaemia (31.50%) were the most common risk factors for ED. At baseline, 62.99% were not using any ED treatment. After adjusting for baseline visits/other covariates, mean physician/nurse practitioner (3.68 vs 2.87; P = .003) and pharmacist visits for any reason (2.10 vs 1.34; P < .001) at 12 months were significantly higher among sildenafil-P users than those who never used sildenafil-P. Sildenafil-P users also had significantly higher SEAR total and domain (sexual relationship and self-esteem) scores at 12 months. CONCLUSION: Following the reclassification to a pharmacy medicine in the UK, sildenafil-P was associated with a higher number of physician/nurse practitioner and pharmacist visits for any reason. Sildenafil-P use was also associated with better QoL, although group differences were small in magnitude

Bovine Tuberculosis at the Wildlife-Livestock-Human Interface in Hamer Woreda, South Omo, Southern Ethiopia

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is endemic in cattle in the Ethiopian Highlands but no studies have been done so far in pastoralists in South Omo. This study assessed the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) at an intensive interface of livestock, wildlife and pastoralists in Hamer Woreda (South Omo), Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey including a comparative intradermal skin testing (CIDT) was conducted in 499 zebu cattle and 186 goats in 12 settlements. Sputum samples from 26 symptomatic livestock owners were cultured for TB. Fifty-one wildlife samples from 13 different species were also collected in the same area and tested with serological (lateral flow assay) and bacteriological (culture of lymph nodes) techniques. Individual BTB prevalence in cattle was 0.8% (CI: 0.3%–2%) with the >4 mm cut-off and 3.4% (CI: 2.1%–5.4%) with the >2 mm cut-off. Herd prevalence was 33.3% and 83% when using the >4 and the >2 mm cut-off respectively. There was no correlation between age, sex, body condition and positive reactors upon univariate analysis. None of the goats were reactors for BTB. Acid fast bacilli (AFB) were detected in 50% of the wildlife cultures, 79.2% of which were identified as Mycobacterium terrae complex. No M. bovis was detected. Twenty-seven percent of tested wildlife were sero-positive. Four sputum cultures (15.4%) yielded AFB positive colonies among which one was M. tuberculosis and 3 non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The prevalence of M. avium-complex (MAC) was 4.2% in wildlife, 2.5% in cattle and 0.5% in goats. In conclusion, individual BTB prevalence was low, but herd prevalence high in cattle and BTB was not detected in goats, wildlife and humans despite an intensive contact interface. On the contrary, NTMs were highly prevalent and some Mycobacterium spp were more prevalent in specific species. The role of NTMs in livestock and co-infection with BTB need further research

A new class of glycomimetic drugs to prevent free fatty acid-induced endothelial dysfunction

Background: Carbohydrates play a major role in cell signaling in many biological processes. We have developed a set of glycomimetic drugs that mimic the structure of carbohydrates and represent a novel source of therapeutics for endothelial dysfunction, a key initiating factor in cardiovascular complications. Purpose: Our objective was to determine the protective effects of small molecule glycomimetics against free fatty acid­induced endothelial dysfunction, focusing on nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress pathways. Methods: Four glycomimetics were synthesized by the stepwise transformation of 2,5­dihydroxybenzoic acid to a range of 2,5­substituted benzoic acid derivatives, incorporating the key sulfate groups to mimic the interactions of heparan sulfate. Endothelial function was assessed using acetylcholine­induced, endotheliumdependent relaxation in mouse thoracic aortic rings using wire myography. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) behavior was evaluated in the presence or absence of the free fatty acid, palmitate, with or without glycomimetics (1µM). DAF­2 and H2DCF­DA assays were used to determine nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, respectively. Lipid peroxidation colorimetric and antioxidant enzyme activity assays were also carried out. RT­PCR and western blotting were utilized to measure Akt, eNOS, Nrf­2, NQO­1 and HO­1 expression. Results: Ex vivo endothelium­dependent relaxation was significantly improved by the glycomimetics under palmitate­induced oxidative stress. In vitro studies showed that the glycomimetics protected HUVECs against the palmitate­induced oxidative stress and enhanced NO production. We demonstrate that the protective effects of pre­incubation with glycomimetics occurred via upregulation of Akt/eNOS signaling, activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway, and suppression of ROS­induced lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: We have developed a novel set of small molecule glycomimetics that protect against free fatty acidinduced endothelial dysfunction and thus, represent a new category of therapeutic drugs to target endothelial damage, the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease

The leadership of emergence: A complex systems leadership theory of emergence at successive organizational levels

Complexity science reframes leadership by focusing on the dynamic interactions between all individuals, explaining how those interactions can, under certain conditions, produce emergent outcomes. We develop a Leadership of Emergence using this approach, through an analysis of three empirical studies which document emergence in distinct contexts. Each of these studies identifies the same four “conditions” for emergence: the presence of a Dis-equilibrium state, Amplifying actions, Recombination/“Self-organization”, and Stabilizing feedback. From these studies we also show how these conditions can be generated through nine specific behaviors which leaders can enact, including: Disrupt existing patterns through embracing uncertainty and creating controversy, Encourage novelty by allowing experiments and supporting collective action, Provide sensemaking and sensegiving through the artful use of language and symbols, and Stabilize the system by Integrating local constraints. Finally, we suggest ways for advancing a mes

Goal setting and self-perception

A causal model was proposed to describe the cognitive processes in goal setting in terms of self-efficacy theory and attribution theory. The model was tested using a laboratory study and an ego-involving task. Subjects, assigned a hard or an easy goal, completed seven trials consisting of task performance and questionnaire ratings of self-efficacy and attributions. Immediately after goal assignment, self-efficacy and performance increased in the hard goal condition but remained constant in the easy goal condition. On subsequent trials, self-efficacy and performance increased continuously and at the same rate in both conditions. The hypothesized relationships between self-efficacy and attributions and attributions and performance were not supported, possibly due to the subjects' interpretation of the attribution measure. Subjects may have rated stability of performance rather than stability of the cause of performance. If so, indirect support for the causal attribution hypotheses was found. The extraordinary self-efficacy, performance, and attribution levels demonstrated the importance of task and setting characteristics and information processing in the iterative goal setting process.Psychology, Department o

Data bank and information system for small scale industries

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Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in South Africa

A series of two-page advertisements have appeared in the September and November 2016 issues of the SAMJ, entitled ‘da Vinci Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) is a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery and full-dose chemoradiation therapy for diseases of the head and neck’. As these advertisements go beyond simply marketing surgical equipment, but seek to influence patients, referring doctors, oncologists and head and neck surgeons on how to treat cancers of the head and neck and sleep apnoea, we have taken the unusual step of writing to the editor of the SAMJ to correct some misconceptions in the advertisement.http://www.samj.org.zaam2017Otorhinolaryngolog