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Surya Nadi Pranayama is a yogic breathing technique that involves controlled breathing through the right nostril. The study aims to evaluate the effects of the 20-min practice of Surya Nadi pranayama (4 weeks) on cognition among schoolchildren, comparing it to observing a normal breathing pattern.

Kaki Mudra is a yogic gesture that involves nasikagara drishti focusing on the nose tip without the eyes blinking and pursing the lips, which form beaks during inhalation, and exhaling slowly through the nose. However, there is a lack of evidence on the impact of kaki mudra on cardiovascular changes and autonomic function using pupillary light reflex (PLR).

Recent reports highlight the effectiveness of mud therapy in various health conditions. A previous study showed that applying a mud pack (MP) to the abdomen and eyes effectively lowered blood pressure (BP) in healthy individuals. However, there have been no studies investigating the immediate effects of MP on the abdomen and eyes in patients with hypertension. This pilot study aims to determine the immediate impact of MP on cardiovascular parameters in patients with hypertension.

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

Importance: Labor pain presents significant challenges during childbirth, necessitating effective pain management strategies. Auriculotherapy, a non-pharmacological intervention targeting specific ear points, has been explored as a potential solution for alleviating labor pain. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of auriculotherapy in reducing labor pain intensity and improving maternal satisfaction. Data Resources: The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception until December 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating auriculotherapy as an intervention for labor pain management. Study Selection: Two authors independently conducted literature selection based on predefined criteria (i.e., RCTs assessing auriculotherapy for labor pain management). Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data extraction was performed independently by two authors, and a random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. The pooled mean difference (MD), with a 95% confidence interval (CI), was calculated to estimate the effect size. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): The primary outcome was labor pain intensity measured on the visual analog scale. Results: Meta-analysis of five RCTs involving 451 patients revealed a significant reduction in labor pain following auriculotherapy compared with no treatment (MD, -1.78; 95% CI, -2.62 to -0.93). However, significant heterogeneity was observed among the included studies (I2, 87%; p < 0.01). Conclusions and Relevance: Despite the observed heterogeneity, this meta-analysis suggests that auriculotherapy holds promise as a non-pharmacological intervention for alleviating labor pain. Further investigation is warranted to refine auriculotherapy protocols and assess its long-term effects, thereby enhancing its potential as a viable option for labor pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder characterized by recurrent headaches accompanied by sensory disturbances. It involves a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurovascular factors. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the correlation between migraine and specific mutant genes by examining the association of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Peptide-38 genes with migraine. A comprehensive search was conducted in major scientific databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, to identify relevant studies published up until September 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies that examined the genes (PACAP-38) and various aspects of migraine. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and quality assessment to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the collected information. Seven studies, comprising 737 patients, were included in the final analysis. The random effects model yielded a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.55 (95% CI:-0.15 to 1.25, t=1.45, p=0.19). Heterogeneity among the studies was substantial, with I² indicating 93% variability (95% CI: 84.6% to 96.5%). The heterogeneity was statistically significant (Q= 87.2, df=6, p<0.001). The prediction interval ranged from -1.40 to 2.51. This systematic review and meta-analysis establish a strong link between PACAP-38 and susceptibility to migraine. These findings highlight the significance of genetic factors in migraine development, emphasizing the need for further investigation to elucidate underlying mechanisms and explore the clinical implications of these genetic associations. Keywords: Meta-analysis, migraine, mutant gene, review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Vaginal births are associated with a certain degree of trauma to the genital tract, with significant short-term and long-term morbidity. Awareness of morbidity following perineal trauma has led to application of different interventions during the late first stage and second stage of labour to prevent severe perineal trauma. This includes techniques such as perineal massage, warm and cold compresses, and perineal management techniques. Objective of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of perineal massage during the late first stage and second stage of labour on the rate of episiotomy and risk of perineal trauma. Materials and methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Science Direct) were searched from inception until August 2021. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compares perineal massage during labor (i.e., intervention group) with a control group in women with singleton gestation and cephalic presentation at ≥36 weeks. The primary outcome was severe perineal trauma and the rate of episiotomy. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model of DerSimonian and Laird to produce summary treatment effects in terms of relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Ten trials including 4,088 women were analyzed. Women with perineal massage during labor had a significantly lower incidence of severe perineal trauma (RR: 0.52, 95% CI 0.29- 0.94) compared to the control group. The incidence of episiotomy was lower in the perineal massage group (RR: 0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.98 p < 0.01) but was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion: The finding of meta-analysis showed that perineal massage during labor could be effective in reducing the risk of severe perineal trauma, such as third- and fourth-degree spontaneous lacerations during labor.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition characterized by increased pressure around the brain, leading to symptoms including vision changes, headaches, and other neurological issues. The effect of yoga nidra on IIH is still unexplored. This case study investigates the effect of yoga nidra on a 16-year-old female with a known case of IIH with episodic seizures. The patient underwent yoga nidra for six months. The patient's sleep quality, stress, and pain levels were assessed at baseline and after the intervention. The results suggest that yoga nidra had a positive effect in improving sleep quality and reducing the stress level, pain, and reoccurrence of IIH. Hence, future studies with control groups are required to validate the current report findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving diabetes remission (HbA1c<48mmol/mol without the use of anti-diabetic medication for 3 months) might not assure restoration of a normal glycemic profile [fasting blood sugar level <5.6 mmol/L and Post-Prandial (PP) blood glucose <7.8mmol/L]. The study investigates the factors associated with OGTT clearance in patients under type 2 diabetes remission. Four hundred participants who achieved remission during a one-year online structured lifestyle modification program, which included a plant-based diet, physical activity, psychological support, and medical management (between January 2021 and June 2022), and appeared for the OGTT were included in the study. OGTT clearance was defined by fasting blood glucose < 5.6 mmol/L and 2-hour post-prandial blood glucose <7.8 mmol/L post-consumption of 75g glucose solution. Of the 400 participants, 207 (52%) cleared OGTT and 175 (44%) had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). A shorter diabetes duration (<5 years) was significantly associated with OGTT clearance (p<0.05). Pre-intervention use of glucose-lowering drugs showed no association with OGTT clearance (p<0.1). Post-intervention, the OGTT-cleared group showed significantly higher weight loss (p<0.05) and a decrease in HbA1c compared to the IGT group (p<0.05). Improvement in Insulin resistance and β-cell function was also higher in the OGTT-cleared group compared to the IGT group (p<0.05). In conclusion, clearing the OGTT is a possibility for those achieving remission through lifestyle interventions. Higher weight loss, a shorter duration of diabetes, and improvement in insulin resistance were significantly associated with OGTT clearance in participants in remission. Future randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups may help substantiate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrotherapy is a commonly used treatment modality to manage various conditions including diabetes in the Naturopathy system of medicine. The objective of the current scoping review is to find the effectiveness of hydrotherapy on plasma blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework was adopted for this scoping review. The studies which used hydrotherapy intervention for the management of diabetes or the effect of hydrotherapy on plasma glucose levels were considered eligible. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Google scholar were searched for English- language published articles till December 20, 2022. The following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keyword search terms were used ("diabetes" OR "type 2 diabetes" OR "diabetes mellitus" OR "plasma glucose level") AND ("hydrotherapy" OR "water therapy" OR "balneotherapy"). Two investigators independently assessed the studies for inclusion. Review articles, abstracts, and articles including the aquatic exercises as interventions were excluded. In total, six studies met the inclusion criteria. Out of six, two studies used hot therapies, two studies cold therapy, and the remaining two used both hot and cold as interventions. The study results showed that hydrotherapy can be used as an effective intervention tool for blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Integrating hydrotherapy treatments alongside conventional management can reduce blood glucose levels and thus reduce diabetes-related complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]