Effects of an 8-week intervention of anulom vilom pranayama combined with heartfulness meditation on psychological stress, autonomic function, inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Health care workers were exposed to huge stress during COVID-19 pandemic affecting their physical and mental health. Practice of anulom vilom pranayama and heartfulness meditation (AVPHFN) can improve mental and physical health and counter stress. The present study explored the effect of 8-week AVPHFN intervention on autonomic functions, emotional stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation markers in the nurse group of health-care givers.

Effects of Different Types of Physical Activity on Respiratory Health Parameters in Elderly Males: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background  is a global phenomenon associated with declines in muscle mass, physical activity levels, and respiratory health among elderly individuals. Despite evidence suggesting the benefits of physical activity on respiratory function, there is limited research examining its effects on lung function in the Indian elderly population. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the impact of different intensities of physical activity on respiratory health parameters among apparently healthy elderly males aged 60-80 years.

Comparison of cardiac autonomic function across complete glycaemic spectrum.

Objectives: Autonomic imbalance is attributed as key mechanism altering metabolic regulation in diabetes mellitus. In view of controversial reports on autonomic function in FDRD and prediabetes, we aimed to assess and compare the autonomic function across the complete glycaemic spectrum in Indian population.

Methods: Short term heart rate variability and cardiac autonomic reactivity tests - blood pressure and heart rate response to orthostatic tolerance and deep breathing exercise, and diastolic response to isometric handgrip exercise were recorded in normoglycemic apparently healthy individual, normoglycemic first degree relatives of diabetes, prediabetes and diabetes individuals.

Assessment of vascular function in complete glycaemic spectrum.

The present study was conceived to delineate the point of vascular dysfunction along the glycemic spectrum (normoglycemic individuals with no family history of diabetes, normoglycemic individuals with family history of diabetes, prediabetic individuals, and diabetic individuals). In this cross-sectional comparative study, we enrolled 252 participants of both gender in the age group of 30-50 years. They were classified based on their family history of diabetes and glycemic status into four groups along the glycemic spectrum as mentioned above.

Comparison of cognitive auditory event related potentials and executive functions in adolescent athletes and non-athletes - A cross sectional study.

There is strong evidence for the positive physical health outcomes of physical conditioning (athletic training. But there is a dearth of data on the impact of exercise on cognition, particularly in the adolescent age group. Further, most of the studies done on this topic are mainly acute in nature, and few that have seen long term effect of exercise have very rarely used objective measures such as event-related potentials.

Comparison of Baroreflex Sensitivity and Cardiac Autonomic Function Between Adolescent Athlete and Non-athlete Boys - A Cross-Sectional Study.

It is well known that regular physical activity improves cardiovascular health, and higher baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability are associated with cardiovascular health. Adolescence is the age when an individual's behavior is easily modified; early intervention at this stage in terms of physical conditioning or training prevents future cardiovascular risk. Hence, we conceived the present study to assess and compare the baroreflex sensitivity and autonomic function between adolescent athletes and non-athletes.

Assessment of autonomic functions and its association with telomerase level, oxidative stress and inflammation in complete glycemic spectrum- an exploratory study.

Aims: In the present study we intended to study autonomic functions and its association with telomerase level, oxidative stress and inflammation in complete glycemic spectrum.

Materials And Methods: Age, gender and BMI matched 28 subjects in the age group of 25-50 years were recruited across complete glycemic spectrum as follows: 1) Normoglycemics (controls) 2) Prediabetics and 3) Frank diabetics. We assessed heart rate variability, cardiac autonomic function, lipid profile, adiponectin, malondialdehyde and telomerase level.

Comparison of anthropometric, cardiovascular, autonomic, baroreflex sensitivity, aerobic fitness, inflammatory markers and oxidative stress parameters between first degree relatives of diabetes and controls.

Aim: We aimed at assessing cardiovascular risk of first degree relatives of diabetes (FDRD).

Methods: A cross sectional study involving 90 apparently healthy normoglycemic volunteers aged between 15 and 50 years (45 FDRD and 45 FDRs of non-diabetics). We measured anthropometric parameters, baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability, cardiac autonomic function tests, and aerobic capacity, fasting blood glucose and insulin, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, nitric oxide and oxidative stress markers.

Assessment of heart rate variability for different somatotype category among adolescents.

Background Somatotype is a quantified expression of the morphological conformation of a person in terms of three-numeral rating each representing one component; fat (endomorphy), muscle mass (mesomorphy) and bone length (ectomorphy) in the same order. Certain somatotypes are more prone to develop the particular disease. Obesity and overweight are already epidemic among Indian adolescents and are increasing at an alarming rate, and obesity is linked to cardiovascular (CV) risk in this age group.

Comparison of structured and unstructured physical activity training on predicted VO2max and heart rate variability in adolescents - a randomized control trial.

Background: Physical inactivity contributes to many health issues. The WHO-recommended physical activity for adolescents encompasses aerobic, resistance, and bone strengthening exercises aimed at achieving health-related physical fitness. Heart rate variability (HRV) and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) are considered as noninvasive measures of cardiovascular health.

Heart Rate Variability in Adolescents - Normative Data Stratified by Sex and Physical Activity.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) refers to the beat-to-beat fluctuations in the cardiac rhythm occurring due to modulation of the pacemaker (sinoatrial node) activity of the heart by the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system. Nowadays, cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors are increasingly occurring at a younger age (children and adolescents) and recording of HRV in them will help us to identify cardiovascular autonomic derangement earlier. However, to be used clinically, normative data has to be established in this age group considering other major factors that can influence HRV such as sex, physical activity, and BMI.