Audio-visual reaction time is a reliable indicator to assess the processing capability of central nervous system and sensory motor performance in response to an external stimulus. The present study was aimed to find out whether chronic smoking affects the processing capability of central nervous system. The audiovisual reaction times of 120 male subjects with age ranging from 25 to 55 years forming various groups as control and smoker were measured by a device “Response Analyzer”. The auditory reaction time was recorded for high frequency sound and visual reaction time for red light. The observations revealed that both auditory and visual reaction times were significantly delayed in chronic smokers as compared to that in controls. The results indicated that alteration of the processing capability of central nervous system as reflected by the changes in auditory and visual reaction times might be due to impaired perceptual-motor coordination in chronic smokers.
Working memory is a form of short ‐ term memory that keeps information available, while the individual plans action based on it. So, a well‐func‐tion‐ing work‐ing memory forms a productive basis for successfully completing many complex activities that require reasoning, understanding and learning. It is also intricately linked to attention and other cognitive processes. Thus, children with deficits in working memory may have learning difficulties and eventually poor academic performance. A classic way of studying working memory is the use of the n‐back task, a type of serial working memory task wherein a person must hold a series of information in working memory. We hypothesized that the low score of n‐back test would result in poor academic performance in school. After taking approval from Institution Ethics Committee, the study was performed on 114 school students; 62 boys and 52 girls (age 13.8 ± 0.91 and 13.65 ± 0.88 years respectively). 1‐back and 2‐back visual tasks were employed in two blocks; each block consisting of 20 trials of geometric images presented to them in a random order. The image appeared for 0.5 sec and next image appeared after 2.5 sec. In 1‐back, the student was supposed to respond if the image appeared was the same as the previous trial and in 2‐back test the correct response was the image that appeared two trials earlier. The total correct and incorrect responses were recorded and the accuracy of each of the tests was calculated. The academic performance of the students was obtained from the school authorities and the average score in all the subjects in all the assessments of that academic year was calculated. We divided the students into 4 groups according to their academic scores; Excellent (>75%), Good (74–60%), Average (59–36%) and Poor (<35%). The n‐back score was tested for gender differences and correlation, if any, with the academic performance. ANOVA test for baseline parameters like age, height, weight, BMI was statistically not significant which means our population was matched and the groups were comparable. The total n‐back score (1‐back and 2‐back) was 51.31 ± 18.52 and 50.24 ± 16.40 in males and females respectively which was statistically not significant (p=0.249). The academic performance score was respectively 63.99 ± 19.28 and 69.35 ± 19.99; not significant (p=0.887). Comparison of all 4 academic groups with 1‐back test by analysis of variance was statistically significant (p=0.049). Although the 2‐back score and total n‐back scores were statistically not significant, they showed a trend of decreasing scores with decreased academic performance. Pearson correlation test showed a significant correlation between total n‐back score and academic performance (p<0.05). The results of this study can represent a foundation for understanding the role of working memory in academic achievements. The significant positive correlation can enable us to identify slow learners, who can be given career counseling or increased attention while teaching. Further, some forms of working memory trainings may be beneficial for slow learners to enhance their learning and improve their academic performance. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .
This paper presents the design, development and testing of a novel neck chamber device for non-invasive stimulation of an individual carotid baroreceptor in a graded manner. The proposed neck chamber device is a strap-free design that avoids discomfort during testing due to tight seal generated by the neck collar design, and facilitates unilateral testing and targeted assessment without stimulating other neck baroreceptors. The device consists of two independent components to achieve these requirements: an outer suction mechanism and an inner chamber. The outer mechanism consists of multiple suction cups to grip the device over the human neck, while the inner chamber creates controlled positive and negative pressure for stimulation of baroreceptors using a pump. The indigenously developed device was employed for the testing by providing neck chamber stimulation in discrete steps of –20 mm Hg, –40 mm Hg, −60 mm Hg, 0 mm Hg, 20 mm Hg, 40 mm Hg and 60 mm Hg with the gap of 60 s between each stimulation as per the standard test protocol of autonomic function test. The changes in heart rate and RR interval were recorded to determine the baroreceptor gain using the logistic equation derivative and gain curve plot. The results of the present study show that the estimated baroreceptor gain is –0.109±0.04, which is consistent with the previous studies conducted using neck collar devices. The testing results showed that the desired objectives are achieved successfully by the prototype device, opening up the possibility of its use for the treatment of resistant hypertension.
Background Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN), an important form of DAN is caused by the impairment of the autonomic nerve fibers that innervate the heart and blood vessels and leads to abnormalities in cardiovascular dynamics. The earliest finding of CAN, even at the subclinical stage, is a decrease in heart rate variability (HRV). Objective The objective is to assess the effect of ramipril 2.5mg once daily on cardiac autonomic neuropathy in type II DM patients as an add-on to a standard antidiabetic regimen for a duration of 12 months. Materials and methods A prospective, open-label, randomized, parallel-group study was conducted on type II DM with autonomic dysfunction. Patients in Group A received tablet ramipril 2.5mg daily along with the standard antidiabetic regimen which consist of Tab Metformin 500mg twice a day and Tab Vildagliptin 50mg twice a day and group B received only the standard antidiabetic regimen for 12 months. Results Among 26 patients with CAN, 18 patients completed the study. After one year in group A, Delta HR value increases from 9.77±1.71 to 21.44±8.44 and the E:I ratio (ratio of the longest R-R interval during expiration and shortest R-R interval during inspiration) improved from 1.23±0.35 to 1.29±0.23 signifying significant improvement in parasympathetic tone. Results of the postural test showed significant improvement in SBP. Analysis of HRV by time domain method showed that the standard deviation of RR (SDRR) interval and Standard deviation of differences between adjacent RR interval (SDSD) value increased significantly in group A. Analysis of HRV frequency domain indices showed that LFP:HFP ratio improved after treatment in ramipril group indicating improvement in sympatho-vagal balance. Conclusion Ramipril improves parasympathetic component more as compared to sympathetic component of DCAN in type II DM. Ramipril could be a promising option having favorable long-term outcomes in diabetic patients especially when treatment begins at subclinical stage.
In peer-assisted teaching (PAT) method, students are encouraged to prepare, organize, and construct their learning program under the guidance of a teacher. The objective of the present study is to assess the benefits and outcome of PAT on students' understanding and knowledge of one of the important and difficult topics, "physiological basis of electrocardiography (ECG)."A nonrandomized, interventional study was carried out in the department of physiology. Five peer tutors were selected and trained in the basics of ECG by a senior faculty of physiology for 12-14 h sessions over the 6-week period. These peer tutors then conducted a day-long workshop on five different subtopics of ECG, which was attended by 184 1st year medical students. Evaluation of the workshop was done through pre/posttest 20-item questionnaire score analysis and feedback questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale items.The average pre- and posttest scores were 6.6 ± 2.73 and 13.3 ± 4.73, respectively. The average posttest scores were higher and statistically significant compared to pretest (R2= 0.4275; P < 0.05). The class average normalized gain (g) for a posttest score was 101.5%. Of 184 students, 9.7% of students had >70% improvement from the pretest score, and 44.78% had more than 50% improvement in their posttest scores.We received a predominantly positive feedback for the usefulness of peer teaching as a learning method. Thus, PAT was found to be a feasible and effective way of teaching the difficult concepts in physiology.
Medical students often experience different stresses which may affect their emotional, psychosocial and physical health. A study of anxiety score, auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) was carried out on 160 medical students, which were divided into two groups; day scholars (60) and hostilities (100). A statistically significant high anxiety score was seen in hostilities in comparison to day scholars (p<0.0001). Similarly prolonged ART and VRT were found in hostilities. From this baseline study we come to a conclusion that medical students face stress at the time of entering their new curriculum, therefore timely counseling and preventive mental health services integrated with other creative and extracurricular activities should be intervened.
The intense global efforts are directed towards development of vaccines to halt the COVID-19 virus pandemic. There are 160 candidate vaccines under clinical trials across the world using different molecular targets and techniques. This race for the vaccine has several challenges and ethical issues like compressed timelines, generation and proper management of resources and finances, risks to the participating volunteers due to curtailed research trial processes, geopolitical contentions, misinformation through social media and parallel race with drugs. We feel that the fundamental principles of ethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice should not be violated in this hastened vaccine development process. We recommend constitute a Consortium on a global platform to formulate, provide and monitor a comprehensive ethical umbrella to the process of vaccine development.
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