Rohini P, A Saravanan, K Maheshkumar, K ThamaraiSelvi, P Kalyani Praba, Venkataraman Prabhu
{"title":"Effects of <i>Bhramari</i> and <i>Sheetali</i> Pranayama on Cardio Respiratory Function in Post-COVID Patients: A Randomised Controlled Study.","authors":"Rohini P, A Saravanan, K Maheshkumar, K ThamaraiSelvi, P Kalyani Praba, Venkataraman Prabhu","doi":"10.1177/09727531241306849","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09727531241306849","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a range of long-term health issues in recovered patients, collectively known as \"post-COVID syndrome.\"</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined pranayama techniques, specifically <i>Sheetali</i> and <i>Bhramari</i>, on pulmonary function and heart rate variability in post-COVID patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 90 post-COVID patients (aged 19-40). Participants were divided into three groups of 30 each: control, <i>Bhramari</i> Pranayama and <i>Sheetali</i> Pranayama. The intervention groups practiced their respective pranayama techniques for 15 minutes twice daily for 6 months. Outcome measures included Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), assessed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 3 months, both pranayama groups showed moderate improvements in pulmonary function and HRV compared to baseline. By 6 months, these improvements were significantly enhanced. The <i>Bhramari</i> group showed increased FVC from 3.2 ± 0.5 L to 3.5 ± 0.4 L at 3 months, and to 3.7 ± 0.4 L at 6 months (<i>P</i> < .001). Similarly, the <i>Sheetali</i> group reflected improved FVC from 3.3 ± 0.4 L to 3.5 ± 0.3 L at 3 months, reaching 3.7 ± 0.3 L at 6 months (<i>P</i> < .001). HRV measures showed a similar trend, with SDNN and RMSSD in the <i>Bhramari</i> group and <i>Sheetali</i> pranayama group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides novel insights into the combined effects of <i>Bhramari</i> and <i>Sheetali</i> Pranayama on post-COVID patients. The findings suggest significant improvements in respiratory function and autonomic nervous system balance.</p>","PeriodicalId":7921,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"09727531241306849"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11726493/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142982521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Proximal Median Nerve Conduction Velocity Slowing in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: An Observational Retrospective Study.","authors":"Senthil Kumar Subramanian, Rajathi Rajendran","doi":"10.1177/09727531241306863","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09727531241306863","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy, characterised by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Traditional understanding views CTS as a distal compression issue, but recent evidence suggests potential proximal involvement.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to assess the prevalence of proximal median nerve conduction velocity (CV) slowing in CTS patients and examine its association with CTS severity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective observational study, data were analysed from 80 CTS patients and 40 controls from the Electrophysiology Lab at a tertiary care institute. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) evaluated the median nerve's conduction velocity and latency. Patients were classified by CTS severity, and nerve conduction parameters were statistically compared between groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CTS patients exhibited significantly prolonged distal motor latency (DML) (5.2 ± 0.8 ms) and reduced forearm motor conduction velocity (MCV) (55.3 ± 4.1 m/s) compared to controls (<i>P</i> < .01). Approximately 27.45% of CTS hands showed proximal median nerve slowing. The severity classification showed that Grade 3 CTS was the most prevalent (47%), followed by Grade 2 (23%) and Grade 1 (10%). There was a negative correlation between distal latency and forearm conduction velocity, suggesting that as distal latency increases, forearm conduction velocity decreases. Post-operatively, significant improvements were observed in distal latency (mean decrease: 1.2 ± 0.5 ms, <i>P</i> < .01), but median nerve conduction velocity remained unchanged. While there was a trend towards improvement in CMAP amplitude, the difference did not reach statistical significance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A subset of CTS cases exhibits reduced proximal median nerve conduction velocity, which correlates with CTS severity. This suggests retrograde degeneration may contribute to CTS pathology, challenging the traditional view of CTS as a purely distal compression disorder.</p>","PeriodicalId":7921,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"09727531241306863"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11719419/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142969476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annals of NeurosciencesPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2023-09-01DOI: 10.1177/09727531231186503
Rakhi Sharma, Shiv Dutt Joshi
{"title":"Graph Theoretical Measures for Alzheimer's, MCI, and Normal Controls: A Comparative Study Using MRI Data.","authors":"Rakhi Sharma, Shiv Dutt Joshi","doi":"10.1177/09727531231186503","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09727531231186503","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Graph theory provides the platform that could be used to model complex brain networks mathematically, and it could play a significant role in the diagnosis of various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The main aim of our study is to perform a comparative analysis in terms of various graph theoretic measures of structural brain networks. In particular, the paper evaluates graph theoretical measures by first forming graphs using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In this paper, we study and evaluate graph theoretical measures using MRI data, namely characteristic path length, global efficiency, strength, and clustering coefficient, in a cohort of normal controls (<i>N</i> = 30), a cohort of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (<i>N</i> = 30), and a cohort of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (<i>N</i> = 30). In our work, MRI data is preprocessed and cortical thickness is extracted for each brain region. The connectivity matrix is obtained, and thus a graph is formed. We have also performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the ROC analyses of all graph theoretical measures to better elucidate and validate the results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>It is observed that these measures may be used to differentiate Alzheimer's from normal. In our study, we observed that a very random and disrupted network is obtained in the case of Alzheimer's in comparison with the normal and MCI cases. The other observations in terms of graph theoretic measures are an increase in characteristic path length, a decrease in global efficiency, a decrease in strength, and a reduction in values of the clustering coefficient in the case of Alzheimer's.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that graph theoretical measures and alterations in network topology could be used as quantitative biomarkers of AD.</p>","PeriodicalId":7921,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"21-28"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11863209/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45032809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Myasthenia Gravis as a Paraneoplastic Manifestation of Renal Cell Carcinoma: More Than a Coincidence?","authors":"Sujin Koshy, Reji Thomas, Vijayalekshmi S, Jeethu Thampi","doi":"10.1177/09727531241306852","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09727531241306852","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease primarily caused by autoantibodies against nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the neuromuscular junction. However, extrathymic malignancies need to be considered in the elderly population.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Although thymic malignancy is the most common tumour association, several extrathymic malignancies complicated with myasthenia gravis have been reported. During the review of the literature, there are only a few reports of myasthenia occurring as a paraneoplastic manifestation of renal cell carcinoma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We present a 64-year-old elderly gentleman with progressive weakness. The patient underwent routine blood investigations, AChR antibody testing repetitive nerve stimulation test (RNST), contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen and radical nephrectomy with histopathological analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The patient improved significantly with immune modulatory therapies and underwent surgical intervention. He also later started on adjuvant chemotherapy based on histopathological reports and analysis. This case highlights the need for evaluation of extrathymic malignancy in late-onset myasthenia gravis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our case highlights the need for screening for extrathymic malignancies in patients presenting with late-onset myasthenia gravis, which had good outcomes if identified early initiation of treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":7921,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"47-50"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11726495/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142982523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of Resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Connectivity Among Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A Comparative Study.","authors":"Paramdeep Singh, Jawahar Singh, Sameer Peer, Manav Jindal, Sunil Khokhar, Abhilash Ludhiadch, Anjana Munshi","doi":"10.1177/09727531231191889","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09727531231191889","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Resting-state functional connectivity analysis has a potential to unearth the putative neuronal underpinnings of various disorders of the brain. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is regarded as a disorder arising from alterations in functional networks of the brain.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>There is paucity of literature on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (Rs-fMRI) in MDD, especially from the Indian subcontinent. The purpose of our study was to elucidate the differences in Rs-fMRI connectivity between MDD patients and age and gender matched healthy controls (HC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this prospective single institute-based study, the patients were recruited consecutively based on Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D). Age and gender matched HC were also recruited. Rs-fMRI and anatomical MRI images were acquired for all the subjects (MDD and HC group) and subsequent analysis was done using the CONN toolbox.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 49 subjects were included in the final analysis (MDD = 28 patients, HC = 21). HAM-D score was noted to be 24.4 ± 4.8 in the MDD group. There was no significant difference between MDD and HC groups as far as age, gender, employment status, and level of education is concerned. Region-of-interest-based analysis of Rs-fMRI data showed a significantly lower connectivity between the left insula and left nucleus accumbens and between left paracingulate gyrus and bilateral posterior middle temporal gyri in MDD group as compared to HC group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is reduced connectivity between certain key regions of the brain in MDD patients, that is, between the left insular cortex and the left nucleus accumbens and between the left paracingulate gyrus and the bilateral posterior middle temporal gyrus. These findings could explain the basis of clinical features of MDD such as anhedonia, rumination of thoughts, reduced visuo-spatial comprehension, reduced language function, and response to external stimuli.</p>","PeriodicalId":7921,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"13-20"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11863249/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43113605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biomarkers of Parkinson's Disease.","authors":"Anjali Sahai, Khyati Saxena","doi":"10.1177/09727531241301878","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09727531241301878","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative brain disease characterised by motor and non-motor symptoms. Motor disabilities, including dystonia and dyskinesia, cause speech and movement difficulties and limit many aspects of life. Factors affecting PD refer to the various internal and external conditions that contribute to the onset, severity and progression of the disease. These factors can be broadly categorised into genetic, environmental and lifestyle-related factors.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>The primary objective of this prospective cohort study is to investigate the association between environmental exposures and genetic predisposition and the risk of developing PD. Secondary objectives include examining the relationships between these factors and clinical outcomes in PD, such as disease severity and progression. We have utilised the data from other research studies, which primarily involve recruiting a cohort of individuals at high risk for PD based on their family history and/or environmental exposure history. These research studies also include participants who will undergo clinical evaluations, including neurological examinations and cognitive assessments, and provide biospecimens for genetic analysis. Environmental exposure histories will be obtained through questionnaires and medical records fetched by the authors of these research studies. In all these studies, participants were followed up regularly over several years to monitor the development of PD and to assess disease progression.</p><p><strong>Key message: </strong>This study provided valuable insights into the role of environmental exposures and genetic predisposition in the development and progression of PD. The results of this study may inform strategies for preventing or delaying the onset of PD in high-risk individuals, as well as guide the development of targeted interventions for those already diagnosed with the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":7921,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"09727531241301878"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11656457/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142875840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Mental Health Issues: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Arya Aravind, Manju Agarwal, Shahzadi Malhotra, Sayma Ayyub","doi":"10.1177/09727531241300741","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09727531241300741","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mental health disorders rank among the most common psychiatric conditions, with lifetime prevalence rates that have a significant effect on the global population. Although CBT is still the most generally recommended psychosocial intervention for mental health problems, a significant number of patients do not fully react to therapy, which results in persistent symptoms. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has gained worldwide attention as a promising intervention with a growing body of empirical support across a variety of mental health conditions.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>A systematic review was conducted to evaluate ACT's impact on mental health. Comprehensive searches of Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Shodganga, along with reference and citation checks, yielded 15 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Four independent reviewers assessed the studies for eligibility, methodological rigor, and data extraction. The findings revealed that ACT consistently reduces symptom severity, improves emotional regulation, enhances life satisfaction, and increases psychological flexibility. However, common methodological limitations include small sample sizes, lack of long-term follow-ups, and limited control group comparisons.</p><p><strong>Key message: </strong>ACT demonstrates significant promise as a trans-diagnostic intervention adaptable to various mental health issues. Despite its evident benefits in symptom reduction and psychological well-being, further research addressing methodological constraints is crucial to optimize its clinical applications and establish its long-term efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":7921,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"09727531241300741"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11653371/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142863141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Effect of Physical Activity on Premenstrual Syndrome: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Sayma Ayyub, Manju Agrawal, Vibha Sharma, Arya Aravind","doi":"10.1177/09727531241297012","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09727531241297012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical, emotional, and behavioural symptoms that can significantly impact daily life are the hallmarks of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a common illness affecting women of reproductive age. There are many different ways to manage PMS, and there is mounting evidence that physical activity may be helpful in reducing symptoms. With an emphasis on different exercise modalities such as weight training, yoga, and aerobic activity, this systematic review attempts to investigate how physical activity affects the management of PMS symptoms.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>A systematic review of studies published between 2009 and 2023 was conducted, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Articles from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were evaluated based on inclusion criteria focusing on the effects of physical activity on PMS symptoms. The findings indicate that regular participation in exercises such as weight training, yoga, and aerobic activities significantly reduces fatigue, improves mood regulation, and alleviates physical discomfort associated with PMS. These results highlight the benefits of exercise as an effective, non-pharmacological intervention for managing PMS symptoms.</p><p><strong>Key messages: </strong>Incorporating regular physical activity into daily routines can serve as a practical and sustainable approach to managing PMS symptoms. Women suffering from PMS can experience improved physical and psychological well-being through diverse forms of exercise, including yoga and aerobic workouts. This underscores the role of exercise as a holistic and accessible intervention for enhancing women's health.</p>","PeriodicalId":7921,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"09727531241297012"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11647822/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142845650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Examining the Moderating Role of Affective Commitment on the Influence of Job Satisfaction on Intent to Stay: Evidence from Healthcare Technical Staff.","authors":"Chiradip Bandyopadhyay","doi":"10.1177/09727531241302573","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09727531241302573","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare technical workers are responsible for service delivery and are indispensable to the organisation. However, being in a client facing role, they perform under client pressures thereby experiencing stress. The enormity of the healthcare industry ensures the existence of multiple competing organisations. Therefore, attrition is a cause of concern for these industries. Not only do organisations suffer as a consequence of such actions, the end users of such services may also be affected by attrition.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this study is to examine whether the intent to stay of healthcare workers is influenced by their job satisfaction and affective commitment. It also attempts to understand if affective commitment moderates the influence of job satisfaction on the intent to stay.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study has adopted a quantitative survey-based and primary data-based approach. The sample consists of technical healthcare staff such as medical imaging technicians, pathology laboratory technicians and medical equipment technicians. Two stage sampling has been adopted, with convenience sampling being used to approach private sector hospitals, and random sampling being used to select the respondents. Standard and established scales have been used in the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results indicate a significant correlation among job satisfaction, affective commitment and intent to stay. Further, the findings of analysis indicate that job satisfaction significantly influences the intent to stay. Affective commitment also significantly impacts the intent to stay. Moreover, affective commitment moderates the influence of job satisfaction on the intent to stay.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Healthcare organisations need to focus not only on enhancing the job satisfaction of healthcare staff but also pay attention effective commitment. They therefore need to focus not only on enhancing job skills and competencies but also provide a congenial organisation climate conducive to growth and development.</p>","PeriodicalId":7921,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"09727531241302573"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11647818/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142845649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}