Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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Item Symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthem with itraconazole: The unusual reaction with a frequently used drug(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Goyal, S; Kumar, S; Brar, B; Mehta, A.Symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthem (SDRIFE) is a rare, benign and self-limiting cutaneous adverse drug reaction. It presents as an erythematous rash distributed symmetrically on the gluteal and intertriginous areas with no systemic affection. SDRIFE is most commonly reported after exposure to antibiotics, particularly those in the penicillin group. Here, we present a case of SDRIFE associated with itraconazole. A 15-year-old boy presented with a dermatophytic infection for which itraconazole was prescribed. After 10 days of drug intake, he presented with diffuse erythema and scaling over the buttocks. The rash continued to progress to other intertriginous areas and was associated with itching and a burning sensation. On examination, an erythematous scaly macular rash symmetrically involving groins, thighs, neck, axilla, flexural aspect of arms, popliteal fossa and upper part of chest was noted. There was complete resolution of the lesions after 2 weeks of stopping itraconazole. The patient was, thus, diagnosed with SDRIFE due to itraconazole, based on the drug history and clinical profile. Although SDRIFE caused by itraconazole is exceedingly rare, increasing awareness among dermatologists can facilitate early identification and prompt discontinuation of the medication.Item Effect of cilnidipine on depression-like behaviour in male Swiss mice: A study using the tail suspension test(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Saravanan, ND; Hogade, AP; Biradar, PRObjectives: The objective is to evaluate cilnidipine and compare it with fluoxetine on the depression model in male Swiss mice, utilising the tail suspension test and locomotor activity test. Materials and Methods: The animals were categorised into four groups, each consisting of six individuals (n = 6 per group). The subjects were given the test drug doses of cilnidipine at 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, as well as fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg, for a duration of 21 days through an intraperitoneal route. On days 1, 14 and 21, the locomotor activity was assessed using the actophotometer, while the antidepressant activity was assessed using the tail suspension test (TST). The duration of immobility was assessed using the total sleep time method for a 5-minute period, while the number of counts was monitored for 10 min using an actophotometer. Results: Cilnidipine at a dosage of 10 mg/kg demonstrates a reduction in symptoms of depression when compared to the standard control. Neither cilnidipine 5 mg/kg nor 10 mg/kg resulted in a noteworthy decrease in locomotor activity. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated a substantial antidepressant effect of cilnidipine 10 mg/kg dosage. More research is needed to validate the results reported.Item Electives implementation in competency-based medical education: Perspective of final year medical undergraduate students in a tertiary care hospital(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Priyanka, S; Vasundara, K; Shubha, R; Chethan, B; Kumar, R.Objectives: Elective postings are a part of the new competency-based medical education curriculum as they are known to provide a more well-rounded education. This was the first medical undergraduate batch to undergo the elective postings, and their perspective regarding its implementation will help us to refine this process for future batches. Hence, this study was taken up to assess their feedback. Materials and Methods: A well-designed, structured and pre-validated questionnaire was filled out by consenting students who had attended the elective postings. The responses were collected through Google Forms, which were then exported and analysed in Microsoft Excel. Results: Out of the total 150 students in the batch, 96 consented and filled out the questionnaire. About 81.25% of students were aware of the existence of electives, and 76% were aware of both their purpose and importance. About 51% agreed that the postings were useful, and 46.9% felt that it was necessary for both clinical and nonclinical postings to be included in the study. About 43.75% felt that it was confusing to select the topics, and 60.4% opined that there were sufficient topics to choose from. Conclusion: We found that the students were aware of the existence and purpose of elective postings, and they perceived them to be useful, and the majority did not face many challenges during its implementation. It is up to the decision-makers to improve the process further to improve its implementation.Item Handgrip strength cut off value estimation in Indian older adults using LASI-1 dataset(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Mondal, S; Banerjee, S; Mukherjee, S.Objectives: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a well established indicator of sarcopenia. The study tried to report the distribution of HGS among the Indian older adults with a large dataset of LASI-1 and attempted to generate age and sex specified cut-off values following the procedure recommended by Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Materials and Methods: After considering inclusion and exclusion criteria, 40351 healthy individuals aged 45-89 years of both sexes were selected. Arithmetic mean and standard deviation for HGS were found out. HGS cut-off values were generated using the lowest 20th percentile from the study population. Results: Average HGS was found to be higher in females (21.74 ± 7.447 kg) than males (21.67 ± 7.361 kg). HGS cut-off value of 15.25 kg was generated for Indian older adults of both sexes. Conclusion: Generated HGS cut-off value of 15.25 kg may be found to effective in early screening of sarcopenia among the Indian older adults.Item Tilted trials: Assessing performance with varying angle perturbations in visuomotor adaptation task(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Sami, N; Soni, S; Muthukrishnan, SP; Kaur, S; Tayade, P; Sharma, RObjectives: This study examined how varying angular perturbations in a visuomotor adaptation task (VMAT) influence implicit and explicit motor learning. The goal was to assess whether implicit adaptation can compensate for limitations in explicit learning, particularly in the context of neurological rehabilitation. The study was designed to map the implicit and explicit learning processes in response to a specific perturbation angle in a VMAT using mean directional errors and adaptation as outcome variables. Materials and Methods: Participants performed reaching tasks under visuomotor rotations of different angles (30°, 45° and 60°), presented in block sequences. Performance was measured using mean directional errors and adaptation levels, reaction time (RT) and movement time (MT). The design allowed for the distinction between implicit and explicit learning based on changes in performance across blocks. Results: As expected deterioration in performance was observed (as indicated by mean directional errors) on exposure to altered perturbation during each block. Participants struggled to adapt for smaller angle (the RT and MT failed to improve across block), as they used sensory feedback rather than relying on implicit strategy. Partial adaptation was observed until block 2 for sequences with smaller angles presented together. Small angles (30° and 45°) showed no improvement, indicating that magnitude of movement is critical for precise motor control. Conclusion: This approach is especially important for tasks that require explicit knowledge of subsequent actions. The study highlights the importance of visual representations of hand position in motor learning, and its findings could be applied to specialized rehabilitation training.Item A correlation study of arterial stiffness with P300 event-related potential in non-haemodialytic and haemodialytic chronic kidney disease patients of renal origin(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Aswin, PR; Kannan, B; Panda, SK; Nanda, P; Kar, MIntroduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with hypertension. The renal micro-vessels are vulnerable to the pulsatile nature of systemic pressure leading to arterial stiffness, which may lead to progressive renal disease besides other mechanisms. The stiffened cerebral vasculatures may also cause neural injury. Thus, cognitive impairment is prevalent in CKD patients. However, very few studies have attempted to examine the association of arterial stiffness with P300 event-related potential (P3ERP) in CKD patients of primary renal disease in the Indian population, which forms the basis of the study. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three age- and sex-matched non-haemodialytic and haemodialytic CKD patients were recruited in this cross-sectional and observational study. Montreal cognitive assessment questionnaire was applied to them to estimate global cognitive level. Peripheral and central blood pressure, augmentation index, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), heart rate and P300 ERP were recorded. Biochemical analysis of the serum was also done. Appropriate statistical tests were performed to compare the differences between the variables of the two groups. Spearman’s Correlation test was performed to examine the relationship between vascular parameters and P300 ERP metrics. Results: Haemodialytic CKD patients exhibit early vascular ageing than non-haemodialytic CKD patients as evidenced by increased heart rate (P = 0.001) and higher central diastolic (P = 0.035) and peripheral diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.042). Although there was no significant difference in latency and amplitude of P300 ERP between the two groups, a significant positive association between baPWV and amplitude of P300 ERP was found. Moreover, higher serum phosphate (P = 0.021) and uric acid levels (P = 0.017) in haemodialytic patients promote vascular stiffening. Conclusion: It may be concluded that early vascular ageing in CKD patients occurs due to the interplay of multiple physiological factors, which finally perturb cerebral haemodynamics and are responsible for the cognitive impairment observed in these patients.Item Efficacy of Garcinia indica fractions on mast cell degranulation in experimental allergic conditions(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Dayanand, L; Vijayakumar, S; Veerapur, VP; Nagashree, KS; Singh, SK; Dua, K; Pant, K; Hussain, MS; Gupta, GObjectives: Allergic reactions are classified into two categories: Early-phase response (EPR) and late-phase response (LPR). EPRs demonstrate a rapid onset of symptoms resulting from histamine release by mast cells (MCs). The introduction of compound 48/80 (C48/80) to rats induces an EPR by facilitating the release of MC contents. Research suggests that inhibiting MC degranulation may hold promise for curing allergic conditions. This article investigates the ability of hydro-alcoholic fractions of Garcinia indica (HAGI) to inhibit MC degranulation. G. indica, a fruit tree from the Clusiaceae family, is known for its use in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and various industrial applications. Its health benefits are attributed to its high phytochemical content. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the anti-allergic activity of G. indica fruit fractions using both ex vivo and in vivo experimental models. Materials and Methods: HAGI was tested for anti-allergic efficacy using a C48/80-generated MC degranulation paradigm in isolated rat mesentery. A dose of 100 ?g/mL was administered to a variety of fractions (F2–F8) of the hydro-alcoholic extract. Results: MC degranulation in rat mesenteric tissue was markedly reduced at a concentration of 50 mg/kg with a significance of P < 0.01 and at an elevated concentration of 100 mg/kg with a significance of P < 0.001 by the HAGI (F2–F8) in the ex vivo study at 100 ?g/mL. The HAGI F6 fraction, when administered at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg in the in vivo study, significantly suppressed the degranulation of mesenteric MC-mediated by C48/80 in rats. The inhibition was significant at P < 0.001 for both concentrations, indicating a robust effect of the fraction at these doses. Conclusion: This study validates the traditional use of G. indica fruit fractions in treating allergic diseases, demonstrating significant MC stabilising activity and antiallergic effects. Further, systematic research is required to clarify the precise fundamental process in the MC stabilising functioning of these fractions.Item Safety and efficacy of dapagliflozin versus empagliflozin as add-on therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus management(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Velusamy, S; Kumar, SR.Objectives: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are drugs used as the oral hypoglycaemic that have a significant effect in lowering blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), weight and blood pressure in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). SGLT-2 inhibitors, such as empagliflozin and dapagliflozin, are used in addition to diet and exercise to help persons with T2DM improve their glucose control. The drugs are combined with other antidiabetic medications or used as monotherapy. Materials and Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the drug dapagliflozin against empagliflozin in individuals with T2DM as an add-on treatment. The study is carried out in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Coimbatore using a prospective observational research design. T2DM patients with a HbA1c level of >7% are included in the study. Patient information was collected by patient interviews and from the patient file. Participants in the study are categorised into two groups: one group consists of patients taking oral dapagliflozin in doses of 5 mg or 10 mg alongside other oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs), while the other group comprises patients taking oral empagliflozin in doses of 10 mg or 20 mg alongside other OHAs. The endpoints were to assess the safety and effectiveness of each SGLT-2 inhibitor by monitoring changes in the diabetic profile, body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Results: The study included 100 patients, with 56 males and 44 females. Most participants were aged 51–60 years. In both treatment groups, A and B, significant reductions in body weight Group A: 3.14 kg and Group B: 2.29 kg and BMI Group A: 0.65 kg/m2 and Group B: 0.84 kg/m2 were observed after 6 months of treatment follow-up. Both groups experienced decreases in HbA1c levels from baseline to 6 months of treatment. The mean differences in HbA1c were 0.36% in Group A and 0.55% in Group B; empagliflozin led to a more significant reduction in HbA1c (0.19%) compared to dapagliflozin. Significant reductions were noted in fasting blood sugar (FBS) and postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) levels in both groups. Both dapagliflozin and empagliflozin were associated with reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) after 6 months of therapy. Dapagliflozin showed a greater reduction in SBP of 10.26 mmHg compared to 4.2 mmHg with empagliflozin. In addition, dapagliflozin increases diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 2.25 mmHg, while empagliflozin reduces DBP by 3.61 mmHg. While both groups experienced reductions in SBP, only the group using empagliflozin showed a significant reduction in DBP. The Framingham risk score showed significant reductions in mean differences observed in both groups after 6 months of treatment, with a mean difference of 1.08% in Group A and 2.17% in Group B. However, the score is not statistically different between the groups. Both drugs exhibited equal effects on the prevention of cardiovascular risk. Both drugs exhibited a similar safety profile, with mild-to-moderate adverse events reported, including urinary tract infections (Group A: 18% and Group B: 12%) and hypoglycaemia (Group A: 24% and Group B: 20%) during the study period. Conclusion: SGLT-2 inhibitors dapagliflozin and empagliflozin have favourable efficacy and safety in the management of T2DM; both drugs show equal effects on HbA1c, FBS, PPBS, body weight and BMI. Empagliflozin led to a more significant reduction in HbA1c compared to dapagliflozin. In both hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients, dapagliflozin exhibited greater systolic blood pressure reduction compared to empagliflozin, whereas empagliflozin exhibited greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure compared to dapagliflozin; in contrast, dapagliflozin has shown to increase DBP. Further investigation is required to explore the blood pressure effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors in a large population. In addition, these drugs decreased cardiovascular risk. Both medications exhibited fewer instances of hypoglycaemic episodes and urinary tract infections.Item Unveiling the therapeutic potential of Olax psittacorum: An approach to explore its safety and efficacy in experimental rats(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Mansingh, PP; Adhikari, L; Dhara, MObjectives: A traditional herb, Olax psittacorum (Lam.) Vahl. used in Odisha, India, for the management of different ailments, including aphthae ulcers. O. psittacorum leaf ethanolic extract was used in the present study to quantitatively evaluate the phytoconstituents present in ethanolic extract for its antibacterial, anti-oral-ulcer and free radical-scavenging properties. Materials and Methods: The leaves were extracted with ethanol, and the quantitative estimations were assessed by total tannin, flavonoid as well as phenolic contents. The antioxidant efficacy was evaluated using different free radical scavenging assays, and antimicrobial activity was assessed for Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacteria. Acute toxicity and sub-chronic toxicity studies were assessed. The anti-oral-ulcer property of the extract was observed using an acetic acid-induced ulceration in vivo model. Results: The extract yield was 45.6%, and the total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin content was determined to be 97.6 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, flavonoid content was 754.8 mg quercetin equivalent/g of extract, and the total tannin content was 21.81 mg tannic acid equivalent/g of extract. The extract exhibited free radical scavenging efficacy with a median inhibitory concentration of <50 µg/mL. Acute toxicity studies revealed no death associated with the extract. Subchronic toxicity studies showed no significant changes in biochemical, haematological or histological parameters. However, the extract exhibited good antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-oral-ulcer activity by inhibiting ulceration by 70% and 83%, with doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively, on day 5. Conclusion: The present work confirms potent antioxidant and antimicrobial, along with anti-oral-ulcer properties and is considered safe for therapeutic purposes, suggesting that it could be an appropriate herbal source in treating associated ailments.Item Development of research skills in medical undergraduates through mentored research project(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-06) Moudgil, T; Arora, R; Bandhu, SD; Bains, BK; Sabane, H.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop research skills in undergraduate medical students through mentored student research projects in medical colleges in North India. Materials and Methods: This was an educational intervention study. This project was carried out at a medical college in north India. After obtaining ethical clearance from the IEC of our college, this project was carried out. A core team of 5 faculty members was formed. Forty students were enrolled for this project on a voluntary basis. The project involved mentors from multiple departments who had experience in carrying out research projects. A total of 13 faculty members were involved. The core team prepared a module for training undergraduate medical students in research skills. It was validated by the subject’s experts outside the medical college. The training program consisted of 20 classes followed by 10 assignments, during which the students completed their research projects. The students were divided into groups of four, and each group took on one project (a total of ten projects). The training methodology included lectures, individual work, and a plenary session. We planned the evaluation of this training by multiple means. The research projects were graded by three reviewers, who were the faculty members assigned to the task of reviewers. In the end, pre and post-retrospective feedback questionnaires were filled out by students. Results: All 40 students, working in ten groups, submitted their projects (ten projects). Among these research projects, there were seven descriptive studies, two observational studies, and one interventional study. The average self-rating (on a 10-point scale) of skills in conducting research projects by participants went from 3.8 in pre-training to 8.5 in post-training on the retrospective pre-post questionnaire. The average score (out of 90) on structured research project evaluation by two external experts was 58.5. As evident from the quantitative and qualitative data, the participants gained maximum skills in choosing an appropriate title for the project, choosing study participants, preparing a data collection tool, and dealing with ethical issues. About 62.5% of participants rated the overall quality of training as excellent, and 100% of students recommended continuing training for the next batches. Conclusion: Undergraduate students can be taught skills of performing research through research projects under mentorship, along with interactive sessions on research methodology.Item Neuro-cardiovascular correlates of controlled slow yogic breathing: A pilot study(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Kharya, C; Bhagat, O; Deepak, KK.Objectives: We assessed the frontal cerebral hemodynamic alterations and neuro-cardiovascular interactions during alternate nostril breathing (ANB), a slow yogic breathing manoeuvre. Materials and Methods: Five healthy male volunteers (age 30 ± 3.8 years) practised ANB for 5 min at five breaths per minute with the timing ratio (seconds) of 4:2:4:2 (inspiration: Pause: Expiration: Pause). We recorded 16 channels of functional near-infrared spectroscopy at the prefrontal cortex (PFC) region of the brain, electrocardiography, beat-to-beat arterial blood pressure (BP), respiratory movements and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) for 5 min each: Pre (T0), during (T1) and post-ANB (T2). ETCO2, oxy-haemoglobin (oxy-Hb), deoxy-haemoglobin (deoxy-Hb), total haemoglobin (HbT) concentrations and time domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV), BP variability (BPV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) were calculated. Results: In comparison to T0, the oxy-Hb and time domain parameters of HRV and BPV at the left lower region of the PFC were significantly increased at T1. Up-BRS-SBP showed a trend of enhancement during the manoeuvre. A significant optically measured HbT concentration with a corresponding decrease in deoxy-Hb was observed at T1. Conclusion: Optically measured Oxy-Hb and HbT increased gradually with the increased practice of ANB, with a simultaneous decrease in deoxy-Hb suggesting a cerebral activation during ANB that may be predominantly in ventromedial PFC. Both baroreflex and mechanical mechanisms appear responsible for the improved neurovascular coupling. Slow yogic breathing may have beneficial effects in disorders that involve cerebral hypoactivation.Item In silico profiling of Cynodon dactylon L. Bioactives: Targeting Alzheimer’s pathways through network pharmacology, molecular docking and ADMET analysis(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Pattanashetti, L; Patil, VS; Patil, BMObjectives: The present study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of Cynodon dactylon in alleviating memory deficits associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Specifically, we seek to explore its antioxidant properties and evaluate its potential as an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, with the ultimate goal of identifying C. dactylon bioactives as lead molecules for the management of AD. Materials and Methods: We performed an in silico analysis incorporating in silico studies, namely network pharmacology, docking and ADMET profile, to discover the potential effect of C. dactylon L. bioactives against AD targets. Results: The present study identified eight bioactive compounds with favourable drug-likeness scores, predicted to target 122 genes involved in crucial pathways. These key targets were involved in 7 pathways with targets such as AChE, butyrylcholinesterase, adenosine receptors A2A, monoamine oxidase (MAO) A, MAOB regulating protein binding, protein dimerisation and serine hydrolase activity. Notably, molecular docking simulations revealed quercetin, kaempferol and luteolin; active ingredients of C. dactylon and exhibited significant binding affinity with AChE. Conclusion: These computational insights provide a foundation for further investigation and highlight C. dactylon bioactives as potential candidates for modulating memory deficit in AD, offering new prospects for therapeutic interventions.Item A comparative analysis of the drug interaction programmes amongst geriatric outpatients(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Wannawichate, T; Limpawattana, P.Objectives: Drug interaction programmes are considered imperative tools utilised by healthcare professionals to screen potential risks that may occur from drug combinations. However, the outcomes of analysing drug–drug interactions (DDIs) differ across each programme. It is crucial for clinician to be aware of the varying results from each database and their limitations before utilising them. This study aimed to compare drug interaction programmes in geriatric patients at an outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed at a tertiary care hospital in Thailand. This study collected all prescriptions for patients from the outpatient clinic during November 2021 and 2022. The drug interaction programs using Micromedex, Medscape and Lexicomp were used to detect and assess the severity of DDIs. Results: The participants were recruited using electronic medical records in the enrolment of a total of 10,877 individuals. The majority of these patients were male, with an average age of 74.3 (standard deviation 6.8) years. The prevalence of major DDIs using Lexicomp, Micromedex and Medscape was 28.1%, 57.9% and 18.2%, respectively. Only 1700 major DDIs (15.6%) were observed to be consistent across all three programmes. The strength of agreement amongst these drug interaction programmes using Kappa statistics was 0.15, 0.35 and 0.61 (P <0.01) in major, moderate and minor + no interaction groups, respectively. Conclusion: The degree of agreement of major DDIs among the three-drug programmes, Lexicomp, Micromedex and Medscape, was minimal. To maintain uniformity in drug information sources, it is essential to apply measures for the standardisation of DDIs documentation.Item Increased angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) level is associated with the cardiovascular risk in diabetes(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Naveena, G; Shivasekar, M; Vinodhini, VM; Nath, DObjectives: Increased plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels are associated with cardiovascular risk in diabetes and therapeutic targets. ACE2 is an endogenous regulator of the renin-angiotensin system and is important in various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to investigate the association between increased ACE2 levels and cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly those with CVD. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, subjects were classified into 3 groups. Each Group has 87 individuals. Group I was considered as controls, Group II was considered as diabetes, and Group III was considered as diabetes with heart disease who attended the master health checkup, cardiology and general medicine OP in the tertiary care centre. The serum ACE, ACE2, oxidized-low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and highly sensitive c-reactive were examined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, and the lipid levels were measured using the AU 480 (Auto analyser). Results: The study found that mean plasma ACE, ACE2, ACE/ACE2 ratio, ox-LDL, and high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were significantly higher in group III than compared to group II and group I (P < 0.001). A significant correlation was observed between ACE2, ACE, ACE/ACE2 ratio, hs-CRP, and ox-LDL in patients with group III. Linear regression analysis showed a strong association of ACE2 with hs-CRP, ox-LDL and ACE. Conclusion: The study concludes that increased ACE2 levels may be associated with the risk of CVD in T2DM, especially in those with coronary heart disease. These findings suggest the possibility of independent risk assessment in diabetic patients.Item Cardiorespiratory responses to incremental exercise in dominant somatotypes(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Jaiswal, K; Talwar, A; Bade, GG.Objectives: Somatotype rating is used to categorise human physiques using parameters related to body shape and composition. These parameters are adiposity, musculoskeletal robustness, and linearity. Somatotype rating is based on anthropometric dimensions that influence a person’s ability to perform physical activity. This study aimed to measure cardiorespiratory responses to incremental exercise in different somatotypes. Materials and Methods: Fifty (50) healthy male participants with a mean age of 24.10 ± 4.55 years were recruited in this study. The dominant somatotype was determined using the Heath and Carter method. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was done to measure peak VO2, peak VO2/kg, metabolic equivalents (METS), breathing reserve (BR), minute ventilation (V.E), oxygen pulse (VO2/HR), and heart rate. Results: The cardiorespiratory parameters showed significant differences between the endomorphs and mesomorphs. Mesomorphs showed significantly higher peak oxygen consumption (mL/min) (2487 ± 364.3 vs. 2151 ± 287.8; P = 0.013) and exhibited significantly higher peak VO2 % predicted values (78.13 ± 10.11 vs. 66.92 ± 10.09; P = 0.003) than the endomorphs. METS % predicted was significantly higher in mesomorphs than endomorphs (78.13 ± 11.95 vs. 66.92 ± 10.09; P = 0.003). Similarly, the V.E (L) of mesomorphs was also higher than that of endomorphs (95.32 ± 18.63 vs 71.13 ± 25.39), but the BR (L) of mesomorphs was lower than endomorphs (38.38 ± 11.87 vs 53.80 ± 17.16) and ectomorphs (38.38 ± 11.87 vs 52.79 ± 9.47). Mesomorphs showed higher O2 pulse than endomorphs (14.8 [10.3–24.0] vs 12.8 [9.2–21.9]; P = 0.02); they also showed significantly higher respiratory frequency than endomorphs (1/s) (48.25 ± 11.34 vs. 38.19 ± 6.89; P = 0.001) and ectomorphs (48.25 ± 11.34 vs. 40.92 ± 7.03; P = 0.03). Conclusion: Cardiorespiratory responses to exercise vary among different somatotypes. Exercise capacity, as measured by VO2 peak, is higher in mesomorphs.Item Self-reported impulsivity and mood states predict cue-induced food craving in adults with obesity: A cross-sectional study(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Sharma, SK; Gupta, A; Telles, S; Balkrishna, AObjectives: To determine the relationship of mood state and impulsivity with cue-induced food craving. Materials and Methods: Forty obese adults (group average age±SD; 42.68±11.62 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Each participant was assessed for (i) positive and negative mood states, (ii) impulsivity, and (iii) cue-induced food craving (FC). Results: Linear regression analysis showed a significant negative association between a more positive and less negative mood state and cue-induced FC, while a positive association between impulsivity and FC. Conclusion: A more positive and less negative mood state is negatively associated with FC, whereas state impulsivity is positively associated with FC in obese persons.Item Exploring the repeatability of pulse arrival time in healthy subjects: A test-retest approach(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Jose, AS; Srivastav, S; Mehta, B.Objectives: Vascular ageing is increasingly being recognised as a vital marker of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Assessment of vascular stiffness is an important parameter in this context. Pulse arrival time (PAT) assessed using photoplethysmography (PPG) and digital electrocardiogram (ECG) signals is a feasible and cost-effective parameter for this assessment. However, there are few, if any, studies that have assessed the test-retest repeatability of this parameter over time. Materials and Methods: We computed PAT using finger PPG and Lead II ECG and measured it sequentially at five instances over a period of 1 month in 21 healthy adults (10 males and 11 females). Mean and diastolic blood pressure (MBP and DBP) and heart rate (HR) were also measured at each visit. A novel parameter, PAT normalised for HR of 75 (PAT-75), was also computed. PAT and PAT-75 were compared for these visits using repeated measures analysis of variance. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the test-retest reliability of this parameter. Results: MBP, DBP, and PAT values did not show any difference between the visits. HR was significantly different between the visits. PAT-75 was significantly lower for the afternoon of day 1 as compared to the forenoon. ICC demonstrated only moderate reliability of PAT (ICC = 0.57), with further reduction observed for PAT-75 (ICC = 0.38). Conclusion: PAT was only moderately repeatable on repeated evaluation over a 1-month period. This finding may have implications for the large-scale applicability of this technology, and therefore, we propose further investigation into the repeatability of this parameter in large cohorts.Item Modulatory effect of quercetin on aspirin-induced hepatoxicity in Wistar rats(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Akingbade, MA; Adegoke-Kehinde, O; Faeji, CO; Fasoro, AObjectives: Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug medication. Aspirin has been shown to have a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as antipyretic, antiplatelet and analgesic effects. Although there is little known about how aspirin causes hepatotoxicity at the cellular level, this does happen and there is a need to look into some hepatoprotective remedies. The aim of this study was to assess how quercetin (QE) affects aspirin-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five male adult Wistar rats divided into seven experimental groups were used in this study. These groups received different treatments: Some were given varying concentrations of QE (30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg), while others received aspirin (50 mg/kg). In addition, there were control groups that did not receive either aspirin or QE, with normal saline and corn oil being administered instead. The administration of treatments lasted for 30 days, after which the experiment was concluded, and the rats’ livers were removed for histological examination. Simultaneously, blood serum samples were collected for the biochemical analysis of liver enzyme markers. The level of significance was set at 0.05, and the data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 29. Results: It was found that aspirin increased the level of liver enzyme markers in the serum after 30 days of administration resulting from damage to the liver cells, this effect was most significant at an aspirin concentration of 50 mg/kg and QE at a concentration of 60 mg/kg was most effective in exhibiting hepatoprotective potentials. Conclusion: The results suggest that aspirin 50 mg/kg could be hepatotoxic due to the lessening of antioxidant effects, and QE has a modulating effect on aspirin-induced toxicity.Item Effect of 40 continuous connected breathing on electroencephalogram and heart rate variability of healthy volunteers(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Gowda, N; Vijayalakshmi, K; Sooda, K; Ravi, S; Kubakaddi, S; Mahesh, DP.Objectives: Continuous connected breathing (CCB) is a high-frequency breathing technique without breath retention. This study examines changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) band power and heart rate variability (HRV) before, during and after breathwork intervention of 3 rounds of 40 CCB versus normal breathing in healthy volunteers. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three healthy volunteers, aged between 19 and 23 years, participated in the study (n = 15; female = 7; mean age = 21.5 years) group, while the control group consisted of 18 individuals (n = 18; male = 11; mean age = 19.6 years). After acquiring baseline measures, the study group engaged in 40 CCB practice online for 10 days, while the control group continued with their usual activities. EEG and HRV signals were recorded for both groups after the 10 days. Post-intervention, the study group practised 40 CCB breathwork, while the control group breathed normally during signal acquisition. EEG was recorded for 1-min durations at five different time events (1st, 4th, 5th, 7th and 10th min) according to the protocol. HRV was continuously recorded for the entire 10 min, and 1-min readings corresponding to the EEG recording time intervals were analysed. EEG signals were acquired using an Enobio-8 cap with dry electrodes in pre-frontal (FP1 and FP2), temporal (T7 and T8), central (C3 and C4) and occipital (O1 and O2) regions. HRV data were acquired from Polar H7/H10 chest strap sensors through Bluetooth using Elite HRV app on android phone and data were later processed with Kubios software. EEG signals were processed using MATLAB software to extract EEG power for delta (0– 3.5Hz), theta (4–7 Hz), alpha (8–13 Hz), beta (14–29 Hz) and gamma frequencies (30–50 Hz). The EEG power and HRV signals were later arranged as before-after and during time events and statistically analysed for within and between-group changes using t-tests for significance of means. Results: There was an overall quantitative change in EEG band power of ?2 units within the study group and ?0.03 within the control group. A significant decrease was found in overall delta (?2.27), theta (?1.7), alpha (?1.8) and beta (?2.27) brain waves in pre-frontal (FP1, FP8), temporal (T7, T8) and occipital (O1, O2) regions after breathwork compared to before within the study group. A significant increase was found in beta (+2.8) band power in the control group with a higher increase in the left compared to the right hemisphere. Bilateral average change ranged from ?1.6 to ?2.6 in the study and ?0.1 to +4.9 in the control group. HRV parameters were reduced after intervention in both groups but without significance. The parameters improved after the intervention compared to during within the study group, though not significant. Conclusion: 10 days of practice of 40 CCB breathworks (3 rounds) for 5 min/day may reduce EEG power in delta, theta, alpha and beta waves. It may help to maintain autonomic balance with an increase of HRV in the recovery phase after an initial decrease during breathwork. Further studies are recommended to test the consistency of outcomes.Item Electroencephalographic power spectrum and intersubject correlation on acoustic stimulation with modes of Indian music: A randomised controlled trial(Scientific Scholar on behalf of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2025-03) Kunikullaya, KU; Sasidharan, A; Muradi, V; Kunnavil, R; Goturu, J; Murthy, NSObjectives: There is variation in the level of engagement among individuals during any sensory experience, including listening to music. This current randomised controlled triple-blind study employed Indian music to understand electroencephalogram (EEG) based inter-brain synchronisation. Materials and Methods: Four groups (three music interventions: mode or raga Miyan ki Todi, Malkauns and Puriya and one control group) were compared, with 35 participants in each group. EEG power spectrums before intervention (BI), during intervention (DI) and after intervention (AI) acoustic were analysed for correlated components (C1, C2 and C3), and scores of Inter-subject correlation (ISC). Results: Left frontal gamma power increased with raga Malkauns DI. Raga Miyan ki Todi showed a frontal increase in beta1 power, and raga Puriya showed a decrease in right frontoparietal delta power AI. The raga Malkauns and Miyan ki Todi groups showed decreased C1 (globally distributed low-frequency activity) and increased C2 (posteriorly dominant alpha-beta1 activity) power. Raga Puriya showed a weak decrease in C1 and ISC scores and a marginal drop in C3 (peripherally dominant broad-band activity) AI. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate specific mode-dependent correlated EEG components that persist after the listening period. The short-term effects were postulated due to default-mode network activity and autobiographical memory. Overall, this study adds to our understanding of the effects of Indian music on the brain.