K. Mahesh kumar

Background: Depression is a common mental disorder with increasing prevalence in India, which involves cognitive impairment as well. Pharmacological management of depression has many adverse effects, which provides symptomatic relief to the patients, with little to no improvement in cognitive impairment or cerebral hemodynamics. This necessitates the exploration of complementary and alternative treatment modalities. Yoga, in particular Bhastrika pranyama, has been utilized as a complementary practice for various conditions, but evidence of its impact on depression and cerebral hemodynamics is limited. Case details: A 66-year-old male, previously diagnosed with depression, was admitted to our inpatient hospital for a holistic approach to his condition, combining yoga and naturopathy as part of his treatment. During his stay, he participated in a ten-minute Bhastrika pranayama intervention, conducted under supervision. To evaluate cerebral hemodynamics, a 16-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device was used and changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyHb), deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyHb), and total hemoglobin (Total Hb) was recorded. Results: Following the practice of Bhastrika Pranayama, the results indicated a rise in bilateral oxygenated hemoglobin (OxyHb) levels during and immediately after the practice, particularly in the prefrontal cortex region. Simultaneously, a decrease in deoxygenated hemoglobin (DeoxyHb) was observed during the practice, with a slight subsequent increase after the Bhastrika Pranayama session. Conclusion: These preliminary findings indicate that Bhastrika pranayama may have an immediate positive impact on cerebral hemodynamics in patients with depression. Further research with larger sample sizes and controlled studies is needed to confirm and generalize these observations.

Elevated blood pressure is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Available evidence on mind-body medicine (MBM) techniques on blood pressure is inconclusive and provides conflicting results. The objective of the current systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of MBM techniques on blood pressure in patients with cardiovascular disease. Randomized control trials (RCTs) done between the years 2000 and 2020 on cardiovascular disease, using MBM techniques such as meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction and relaxation techniques were searched through electronic databases such as PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL), EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Three authors independently performed article selection, data extraction and validation. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effect model and standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) estimated for the effect size. Fifteen RCTs with 927 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity among the studies was very high for all analyses (I 2 >94%). For studies comparing systolic blood pressure, MBM interventions show a significant (p=0.01) effect when compared to conventional treatment, an overall estimated effect size of SMD-0.78 (95% CI:-1.36,-0.20). For studies comparing the diastolic blood pressure, MBM intervention did not show any significant effect when compared to the conventional treatment, an overall effect size of SMD-0.26 (95% CI:-0.91, 0.39). The findings of the metaanalysis suggest that MBM interventions may improve systolic blood pressure alone in patients with cardiac diseases. With high heterogeneity and low quality of the included studies, more robust evidence is required before suggesting MBM as an effective treatment modality for reducing blood pressure in cardiovascular diseases.

The prevalence of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is gradually reducing. However, its aftermath, the post COVID syndrome is being increasingly reported and gains the attention of clinicians in recent times. Severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had given utmost burden to health care system worldwide [1]. With improvements in diagnostic approaches and also alongside development of conventional and alternative therapy, COVID-19 prevalence has significantly reduced [2]. When physicians and other health care workers were taking a sigh of relief, there was an increase in the visits of patients with post-COVID syndrome visiting our outpatient department (OPD). Long COVID or post COVID whose illness, clinical picture and precise definition was still lacking, known to affect the COVID survivors irrespective of age, co-morbidities and status of hospitalization. Post COVID syndrome refers to any of the persistent symptoms or complications that follows the attack ARTICLE HISTORY

Purpose: psychological stress caused due to the current COVID 19 pandemic lock down may have an adverse impact on the quality of life (QoL) in office shift workers. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of OM chanting on the levels of perceived psychological stress, quality of life and sleep among office workers who are confined at home and work during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Material & Methods: an online OM chanting session was conducted for 20 workers who stayed at home and worked during the pandemic lockdown. Prior to and at the end of the training all the participants finished a battery of self-reported online inventories, including the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale with 21 items (DASS-21) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: after ten days of OM chanting, all the participants stated a significant enhancement in all domains of quality of life and a reduction of psychological distress (P<0.05). Conclusions: OM chanting is feasible, safe and has a positive effect on psychological quality of life of participants. Still further studies have to be done to warrant the findings with suitable study design.

Introduction and Aim: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) manifests with menstrual irregularities, infertility, galactorrhoea and hirsutism. Hormonal irregularities are found to be the pathogenesis behind PCOS. The study was aimed to evaluate whether obesity is associated with serum prolactin and insulin levels in PCOS women.    Materials and Methods: This case control study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Chennai. Control group included 30 apparently healthy women and cases included 30 PCOS patients, diagnosis based on Rotterdam criteria. The individuals were of 20-40 years of age in both the groups. The serum prolactin and insulin were analysed by ELISA. The obtained data were checked for normality of distribution and subjected to statistical analysis. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was done. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 16.0. P less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.   Results: The median and interquartile ran...

Introduction: Heart Failure (HF) is a major disorder causing mortality and morbidity in the elderly population. Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is considered as the gold standard biomarker for diagnosis of HF. Aim: To find the association of plasma BNP levels with heart failure in hypertensive patients with and without diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 35 hypertensive heart failure patients who attended the Outpatient General Medicine Department at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, between March 2020 to December 2020. The patients who belonged to class IV heart failure of the New York heart association were included. Total 35 HF patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 10 patients with hypertensive heart failure without diabetes mellitus. Group 2 included 25 patients with hypertensive heart failure with diabetes mellitus. Parameters such as Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), ...