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Purpose: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is known to produce diabetic retinopathy (DR). Pulse wave analysis (PWA) provides arterial stiffness (AS) and central hemodynamic (CH) parameters. We studied the effect of DR on AS and CH parameters in type 2 diabetics (T2D). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on 47 T2Ds attending a private ophthalmology clinic screened for DR by optical coherence tomography angiography and divided into NDR (non-DR), NPDR (non-proliferative DR), and PDR (proliferative DR). Mobil-o-graph (IEM, Germany) based oscillometric PWA yielded AS and CH parameters. They were further compared between groups stratified by DR with P value set at 0.05. Results: Participants had a mean age 62, mean diabetes duration 9 years, high mean BMI, and high prevalence of physical inactivity, hypertension, and poor diseases control. Significant differences were lacking in NPDR, NDR, and PDR in rate pressure product (mean 112.71 vs 116.06 vs 119.57), central pulse pressure (mean 46.50 vs 43.09 vs 42.72), stroke work (mean 153.36 vs 132.36 vs 146.08), augmentation index (mean 29.43 vs 33.14 vs 31.64), and aortic pulse wave velocity (mean 10.06 vs 9.08 vs 9.06). There was no clear pattern of distribution of most parameters among the three subgroups. Conclusion: We found a lack of association between DR and cardiovascular ageing studied by AS and hemodynamic parameters. It suggests a possible difference in risk factors for both of these aftermaths of T2DM and calls for further prospective studies with a large sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) imposes significant cardiovascular risk beyond raised blood pressure. Pulse wave analysis (PWA) infers directly about the same by arterial stiffness (AS) assessment. We studied the relation between AS and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetics (T2D). Materials and Methods: We evaluated 164 T2Ds in a cross‑sectional study. Oscillometric PWA performed by Mobil‑o‑Graph (IEM, Germany) reported AS parameters such as augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index at heart rate 72, reflection magnitude, and aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV). DN was evaluated by creatinine, proteinuria, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Parameters were further analyzed for the effect of gender, proteinuria, and grades of DN by eGFR. Multiple linear regressions were used to find significant predictors. P <0.05 was taken as statistical significance. Results: Case group constituted 91 males, with mean age 56 years, with mean duration 4.48 years, 70% prevalence of hypertension and poor glycemic control. There was mild to moderate DN and 34% prevalence of proteinuria. AS parameters were not affected significantly by proteinuria, but by increasing grades of DN. aPWV and AP were predictors of eGFR, whereas AP was a predictor of creatinine. Conclusions: AS was related with estimated GFR but not with proteinuria in Gujarati diabetics with high co‑existing hypertension and predominantly mild‑to‑moderate grade nephropathy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: First-degree relatives (FDRs) of hypertensive (HT) are predisposed to hypertension (HTN) which accelerates cardiovascular aging. Same can be studied noninvasively by pulse wave analysis (PWA), encompassing central hemodynamics such as central blood pressure (cBP), cardiac output, and stroke work (SW) and vascular stiffness parameters such as pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index at HR 75 (AIx@75). We studied PWA-derived cardiovascular parameters in FDRs of HT compared to controls. Materials and Methods: We conducted a case--control study in 119 FDRs of HT and 119 matched controls. Oscillometric PWA was performed by Mobil-o-Graph (IEM, Germany) and cardiovascular parameters were compared. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Groups were comparable with gender, age, height, weight, body mass index, and physical activity. FDRs of HT had significantly higher brachial and cBPs, SW (101.41 ± 25.44 vs. 88.31 ± 20.25, P = 0.001), rate pressure product-119.40 ± 25.34 vs. 108.34 ± 18.17, P < 0.0001), PWV (5.22 ± 0.46, P < 0.0001), and AIx@75 (31.48 ± 9.01 vs. 27.95 ± 9.4, P = 0.002) than control. Dependent study variables correlated with brachial blood pressure more in magnitude and significance level than age or anthropometric variables. PWA results of FDR with maternal inheritance did not differ significantly from those with paternal inheritance. Conclusion: PWA reveals early cardiovascular aging in young FDRs of HTs. It clues to future cardiovascular disease including HTN itself, need for primary prevention, and further study for consolidation of these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is linked to cardiac dysautonomia that can end up as life-threatening arrhythmias. The same can be screened by simple electrocardiogram (ECG)-based QTc (QT corrected for heart rate) interval which indicates repolarization abnormality. We quantified QTc interval among treated hypertensives in comparison to controls, testing effect of age, gender, and blood pressure. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study was done at a tertiary care teaching hospital of Gujarat, India, on 142 hypertensives on monotherapy (60 males, 82 females) and 72 age-, sex-, and time-matched normotensives. ECG was recorded with minimum 10 complexes of Lead II. QTc was derived from average of 10 values, using Bazett's formula. QTc > 0.43 s in male and > 0.45 s in female was considered abnormal. Results: Hypertensives (mean age 40 and duration 5 years) had significantly higher QTc value than normotensives among males (0.42 vs. 0.40, P < 0.001), females (0.44 vs. 0.41, P < 0.001), and in total (0.43 vs. 0.41, P < 0.001) with 24% prevalence of ECG-based left ventricular hypertrophy. Hypertensives had odds ratio 1.63 in males (P = 0.15), 23.71 in females (P = 0.003), and 3.83 in total (P < 0.001) for prolonged QTc. QTc values were significantly affected by increasing age amongst hypertensives but not by duration of HTN or current blood pressure. Conclusions: Our study showed a high prevalence of prolonged QTc, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in hypertensives on monotherapy with poor pressure control, associated with female gender and age but not duration or blood pressure. This underscores high risk of repolarization abnormality induced future event, suggesting QTc screening as primary prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the electrocardiogram (ECG) based QT parameters namely QTc (heart rate corrected QT), QTd (QT dispersion) in treated type 2 diabetics (T2D) and the effect of hypertension (HTN), blood pressure (BP) control, and antihypertensives used on the above parameters. Materials and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital of Gujarat, India, on 199 T2D (67 males and 132 females). Standard 12-lead ECG was recorded to derive QTc (Bazett's formula), QTd, and ECG left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). QTc >0.43 s in male and >0.45 s in female and QTd >80 msec were considered abnormal. Results: Hypertensives (n = 138) and normotensives (n = 61) were comparable for most confounders. Hypertensives had better profile of QTc and QTd than normotensives. T2D with controlled BP revealed slightly better, though insignificant; QTc, QTd than those with BP uncontrolled. QT parameters were not significantly correlated with age, heart rate, or BP. Qualitative differences exceeded quantitative difference in QTc and QTd evaluation. There was no significant effect of use or nonuse of preventive pharmacotherapy on QT parameters. Conclusion: Low-to-moderate prevailing cardiac repolarization abnormality in T2D with very low ECG LVH was unaffected by HTN as a disease, its control status, and treatment modalities suggesting primary preventive role of antihypertensive use without class difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the effect of disease duration, treatment and risk factors on QTc interval among young hypertensives. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 142 hypertensives (60 males, 82 females) taking calcium channel blocker (CCB) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) as monotherapy. After blood pressure measurement, we recorded lead II electrocardiograph with minimum ten waveforms. QTc was derived from average of ten values using Bazett's formula. QTc interval >0.43 s in male and >0.45 s in female was considered abnormal. Results: Cases had mean duration of hypertension 5 years, mean age of 40 years, and poor blood pressure control (systolic blood pressure >140 and diastolic blood pressure >90 mm of Hg). Newly diagnosed hypertensives had significantly higher QTc values than the matched known cases (0.44 vs. 0.42 s, P < 0.05). Known hypertensives did not differ significantly in QTc values by the duration of disease. CCB users showed small, insignificant disadvantage for abnormally prolonged QTc values than ACEI users. With coexisting diabetes, smoking, and positive family history of hypertension, there was odds risk of 7.69, 2.75, and 2.54, respectively for prolonged QTc. Conclusion: Our study showed prolonged QTc in hypertensives more so in newly diagnosed, unaffected by duration or use of ACEI, or CCB but associated with modifiable risk factors. This underscores high risk of repolarization abnormality-induced future events, suggesting early screening of hypertension, strict blood pressure control, optimum use of QTc measurement, and preventive pharmacotherapy to reduce this aftermath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To correlate BMI, lipidemic control, and statin therapy with PAD measured by ABI in low risk type 2 diabetics. Materials and Methods: A sample of 101 nonsmoking, asymptomatic type 2 diabetics (50 males, 51 females) with known glycemic (fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin) and lipidemic (total cholesterol, lipoproteins, and triglycerides [TGAs]) control was taken. Vascular Doppler was used to derive ABI and PAD was defined as ABI <0.9. ABI values were compared amongst groups and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We found fairly good lipid but poor glycemic control and prevalence of PAD 30%. There was insignificantly low ABI profile in patient having BMI ≥25, hyperlipidemia and absent statin therapy with odds ratio being highest for TGAs ≥150 (3.23) followed by BMI ≥25 (2.61), high-density lipoprotein ≤50 (1.61), low-density lipoprotein ≥100 (1.20), and disuse of statin (1.14) with significance only for BMI. Conclusion: We observed small, insignificant PAD risk by dyslipidemia or non-use of statins in low-risk ambulatory T2DM patients, not so by BMI. This suggests importance of good glycemic control, maintenance of optimum weight, and lifestyle modifications as primary prevention rather than opting for costly and inefficient secondary prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a proven threat of cardiac dysautonomia with paucity of studies from India. Poor disease control makes it further worse with co-existence of hypertension in majority. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a validated noninvasive tool to assess cardiac autonomic status. Aim: We studied HRV parameters of type 2 diabetics looking for effects of disease control and other co-existing risk factors. Materials and Methods: Ninety-eight hypertensive and forty normotensive under-treatment, Gujarati type 2 diabetics were evaluated for disease control and risk stratification. Five minutes resting, HRV was measured by Variowin HR, software-based instrument, using standard protocols to record time domain, frequency domain, and Poincare plot HRV parameters. They were compared between subgroups for the difference with P < 0.05 defining statistical significance. Results: All HRV parameters were reduced in type 2 diabetics, having mean age 56 years, mean duration 6 years with poor glycemic but comparatively better pressure control. HRV parameters were significantly not different in good compared to poor glycemics or in subjects with optimum pressure control than those without it. Results did not differ significantly, by the presence of individual cardiovascular risk factor in diabetics except resting heart rate. Conclusion: Our findings of HRV suggest that type 2 diabetics with poor glycemic control do not have a significant difference of cardiac dysautonomia by pressure control, glycemic control, and absence of risk cardiovascular factor. It suggests diabetes as a major cause for cardiac dysautonomia, residual risk despite treatment and need for HRV screening, strict glycemic control, and further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Smoking is an increasingly popular indulgence in India. Assessment by routine spirometry falls short of direct functional parameter like Diffusion Lung Capacity (DLC), also known as lung transfer factor (LTF). Aim: To measure LTF amongst middle aged male smokers and to study various correlates for it. Materials and Methods: Total of 45 asymptomatic male current smok ers were enrolled for this cross-sectional study conducted at pulmonary function testing lab of Physiology Department of our college. Smoking history was evaluated and smoking index was defined by product of number smoked per day and years smoked. We used instrument Ultima PFX of Medgraphic Company. After pre syringe calibration LTF was measured by Methane mixture using protocols of ATS. Parameters measured were Dlco-uncorrected, corrected and normalized to VA (alveolar volume). Results were compared for statistical significance and significance was set as p <0.05. Results: In case group of 45(25 bidi and 20 cigarette smokers) mean age was 30 years, mean duration was 8 years, mean smoking index was 60. We found small insignificant decline in actual LTF values than predicted which was not significantly different between bidi and cigarette smokers. Duration, age and intensity of smoking were negatively and significantly correlated with LTF value while anthropometric parameters were not. Conclusion: Smoking adversely affects LTF in young asymptomatic current male smoker that further declines with severity of smoking and with duration regardless of type of smoking. With years to come, these alterations can largely be prevented by smoking cessation, at least theoretically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus are on rise with cause-effect relationship. Diabetics monitor blood sugar, neglecting qualitative body composition, leaving residual threat of ectopic fat unattended. We tried to correlate glycemic triad with parameters of body composition derived objectively by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Materials and Methods: A sample of 78 under treatment sedentary Type 2 diabetics of either sex with known glycemic and lipidemic control from our city. Following baseline assessment measurement was done by instrument Omron Karada Scan (Model HBF-510, China) using the principle of tetra poplar BIA to derive parameters of body composition. We tried to correlate glycemic triad with these parameters, both directly as well as after defining them as per established cutoff norms. Results: We found poor glycemic control in the study group (20% for Hb1AC), high body mass index, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat (VF), total body fat (TBF), and lesser mass of skeletal muscle in Type 2 diabetics. However, there were small, insignificant, and inconsistent difference of these parameters while directly correlating with the fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, and glycosylated hemoglobin. On qualitative assessment, the impact of glycemic control as per standard norms, the risk of high VF, high TBF, low skeletal muscle mass was though high (between 1 and 2) in Type 2 diabetics with poor glycemic control as compared to good glycemics, but each strength lacks statistical significance. Conclusion: BIA reveals that Type 2 diabetics have more ectopic fat on expense of skeletal muscle that do not correlate with current glycemic status, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Measurement of body composition can be included and subjects can be motivated for lifestyle modification strategies while managing metabolic derangements of Type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deranged body fat and muscle mass are aftermaths of uncontrolled diabetes. Anthropometric methods like body mass index (BMI) do not give qualitative inferences like total body fat (TBF), visceral fat (VHF) or subcutaneous fat (S) that can be given by bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA). We studied body composition of type 2 diabetics in comparison to controls matched by age-sex, weight and BMI separately. Methods: Seventy-eight under-treatment type 2 diabetics of either sex with known glycemic and lipidemic control and equal number of controls with three patterns of matching were taken from our city. We derived parameters of body composition in both groups by Omron Karada Scan (Model HBF-510, China), using the principle of tetra poplar BIA and compared them for statistical significance. Results: We found significantly more SF (30.47% ± 7.73%), VF (11.94% ± 4.97%) and TBF (33.96% ± 6.07%) and significantly lesser skeletal muscle mass (23.39% ± 4.49%) in type 2 diabetics as compared to controls, persisting even after matching with weight or BMI. On assessing qualitatively, the risk of high VF, high TBF, low skeletal muscle mass was significantly high in type 2 diabetics, which were 10.41, 3.01, 9.21 respectively for comparable BMI and 6.78, 3.51, 11.93 respectively for comparable weight. Conclusions: BIA reveals that type 2 diabetics have more ectopic fat on the expense of skeletal muscle that persists even after matching by weight or BMI, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Measurement of body composition can be included as a primary care strategy to motivate lifestyle modifications while managing metabolic deran-gements of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Air pollution due to road traffic is a serious health hazard and air quality crisis in cities is mainly due to vehicular emission. Thus the persons who are continuously exposed are at an increased risk. The study was carried out to evaluate the extent of impairment in lung function in traffic police personnel compared to matched unexposed control group. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure the spirometric parameters of 100 traffic police personnel, aged 20-55 years, working in Saurashtra region, as compared to matched control group, consisting of 100 unexposed males. Measurement of lung volumes and capacities was done with SPIROEXCEL. The statistical analysis was carried out with Graph pad instat 3. Results: Traffic police personnel had significantly declined forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1), slow vital capacity (SVC) and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) when compared with predictive normal values, which is probably due to exposure to vehicular exhaust. Comparison of test values between groups showed significantly reduced FVC, MVV and increased FEV1/FVC ratio and insignificantly declined FEV1 and SVC in cases as compared to controls. Traffic personnel with longer duration of exposure showed significantly reduced lung functions than those with shorter duration. Smokers showed lower test values as compared to non-smokers with significance only in unexposed group. Conclusion: The effect of pollution by vehicular exhausts may be responsible for these pulmonary function impairments and traffic police personnel should be offered personal protective or preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental investigations are reported for air–water two-phase flow through a 2.1-mm horizontal circular minichannel. Influence of inlet premixing on two-phase flow is established by constructing various T-junction geometries with cross-flow arrangement of air and water. Six different flow patterns are observed and flow pattern maps are developed. The developed flow pattern maps are then compared for different inlet designs. It is observed that the degree of premixing of the two fluids has significant effect on flow patterns, particularly for surface-tension-dominated regime. The results obtained from these experiments can provide guidelines for selection, design, and control of wide-ranging microfluidic applications. The flow pattern map established in the present study may facilitate prediction of flow regimes in pulsating heat pipes based on the inlet flow rates of the gas and liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: Hypertension represents a multifactorial disease of blood pressure (BP) regulation with persistently elevated systolic and/or diastolic BP over 140/90 mmHg. 90% cases of hypertension have to be assigned as essential hypertension. Research has proven that patients with essential hypertension, especially at an early stage without any medication, display autonomic disturbance in the form of increase in sympathetic and a reduction in parasympathetic activity of the ANS. The heart rate variability analysis is a powerful tool in assessment of the cardiac autonomic nerve function. It is non-invasive, an accurate, reliable, reproducible, yet simple to measure and to process and It is indicative of neuro-cardiac fitness and overall health. Objective - The aim of the present study was to (1) measure Heart rate variability (HRV) in Essential Hypertension (2) effect of different drugs on Heart rate variability in hypertension among hypertensive subjects. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted On 100 Hypertension subjects & 100 Normal subjects after obtaining informed written consent by use of Heart rate variability Analysis System Variowin-HR Medical System. Results: The mean values of Very low frequency (VLF), Low frequency (LF), High frequency (HF), Normalized High Frequency (HF (nu) & all time domain parameters were found to be reduced significantly in hypertensive subjects as compared to control subjects. The mean values of LF (nu), LF / HF ratio were significantly high in hypertensive subjects as compared to control subjects. Conclusion: observations in our study demonstrate that hypertensive subjects had markedly reduced heart rate variability (HRV) in comparison with normal subjects which indicate cardiac autonomic disturbances in hypertension subjects in causation of essential hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Remarkable and uncontrollable changes with modification during pregnancy are connected with the autonomic control and consequently with the heart rate variability (HRV). Heart rate variability is a sum of different mechanisms and if pregnancy is a state of change, these modifications could be extracted from HRV analysis. Objective: To assess the effect of pregnancy on heart rate variability among pregnant mothers during first trimester of pregnancy and third trimester of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: HRV was measured for 5 minutes of continuous recording of electrocardiogram (ECG) lead II, using windows based HRV analysis system variowin-HR after obtaining permission from the Institutional Review Board of Government Medical College, Bhavnagar and written consent from 30 pregnant subjects and 30 non-pregnant control subjects at autonomic function lab, Dept of Physiology, Bhavnagar. Result: Frequency domain parameters, very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and HF normalized unit (nu) were significantly decreased and LF (nu) and LF/HF significantly increased in pregnant subject in 3rd trimester as compared to their 1st trimester of pregnancy. Time Domain parameters like SDNN, RMSSD, SDSD, NN50 count, pNN50, SD1/SD2, triangular HRV index and average R-R interval were significantly decreased during 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion: The inhibition of resting parasympathetic activity or vagal blockage and an increment of the sympathetic modulation during the 3rd third trimester of gestation in pregnancy as compared to their 1st trimester and healthy non-pregnant subjects. Sympathovagal imbalance and abnormally low HRV may more pronounce during later stage of normal pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exposure to Occupational noise is the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing loss that is preventable by protective measures. Present study evaluated hearing profile and effects of shift, sex, and smoking on hearing loss in plastic weavers working in textile industry exposed to impact type of noise. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of hearing threshold of various shift workers of plastic weaving industries (18 males, 32 females) at various frequencies was done and effect of various factors was tested at low and high frequencies and compared at 4 kHz, 6 kHz, and 8 kHz statistically. Results: Hearing thresholds were significantly higher at high frequencies than speech frequencies, in day shift workers than night shift workers and within day shift workers more with continuous type of shift work than interrupted type. Females showed better hearing than males and for non-smokers than smokers, but the difference observed in both instances proved statistically insignificant. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the use of alternate day and night shift, interrupted day shift may be used to prevent hearing loss and for further confirmation few more studies are warranted. Being female and non smoking also proved an advantage. Comparatively, mild to moderate degree of hearing loss further reinforces the scope of prevention by hearing protective devices and interrupted shift design of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The textile workers exposed to industrial noise are prone to develop hearing loss concentrated mainly at high audible frequencies. It is affected by duration of exposure and type of noise. Aims: Present study was conducted to (a) investigate hearing thresholds of textile workers by pure tone audiometry, (b) correlate thresholds at 4 kHz, 6 kHz and 8 kHz between noise exposed and unexposed group and (c) study effect of duration of exposure on hearing profile. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 50 weavers of plastic industries exposed to high levels of constant noise. Objectively, hearing defects were inquired by self-administered questionnaires. Subjectively, pure tone audiometry was carried out to measure hearing thresholds at various frequencies. It was simultaneously compared with the similar data of matched control group. Results: Prevalence of hearing loss symptom and hearing thresholds were more in exposed group than in control group. There was significant hearing loss at high frequency as compared to lower ones. Audiometry revealed notch at 4 kHz with less effect at 6 or 8 kHz, cumulative effect of duration of exposure. Conclusion: Textile weavers are more at risk to develop Occupational Noise Induced Hearing Loss (ONIHL) mainly affecting higher frequencies concentrated at 4 kHz. Despite least effects on hearing, this disease silently progresses and there is a definite scope of prevention by appropriate protective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Influence of sex on brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) is not well understood with few studies in India that targets young Teenagers. Aim: Our study aimed to look into gender, head circumference, and body mass index (BMI) as a factor affecting BAEPs of healthy late teenagers. Materials and Methods: BAEP responses were elicited in age-matched teenager college students using standard protocol. Results of absolute latencies and interpeak latencies (IPLs) were compared among Male and female groups and compared for significance as such and after normalizing head size and BMI and tested for significant difference, if any. Results: Latencies and IPLs of BAEP were lower in males when compared with females, but significance was found only for the later parameter. IPLs showing significant gender difference were for I-III and III-V but not I-V. When test groups with comparable head size and BMI were compared, the difference decreased with neither of the parameter being statistically significant. Conclusion: Utility of BAEP can be optimized by establishing normative data for every setup based on BMI and head circumference along with age and gender before using it as a clinical tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Present study aimed to see effect of number of stimuli on auditory reaction time. Reaction is purposeful voluntary response to different stimuli as auditory stimuli. Auditory reaction time is time required to response to auditory stimuli. Materials and Methods: The auditory reaction time was measured by the reaction time instrument in subjects. Simple reaction time and choice reaction time measured. During the reaction time testing, auditory stimuli were given for three times and minimum reaction time was taken as the final reaction time for that sensory modality of that subject. The results were statistically analyzed and were recorded as mean ± standard deviation and Student's paired t-test was applied to check the level of significance. Results and Conclusion: The study shows that simple auditory reaction time is less than choice auditory reaction time. Mental processes are involved in identification of stimulus, response selection, and programming and this takes certain time. Response to stimuli would be faster if number of stimuli is lesser in number. In routine life, many works done on information of auditory stimuli. Person should be careful while driving in talking with others or in mobiles. Training reduces reaction time. In medical examination, there are identification of instruments, graphs, bones, and viva questions as well. Student can practice and decrease mental processing time for identification of all this and can respond quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biophysical parameters of skin such as trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration, elasticity, pH, and sebum reflects it functional integrity. Advances in technology have made it possible to measure these parameters by non-invasive methods. These parameters are useful for the prediction of disease and its prognosis. It also helps in developing new skin care products according to various skin types, and to evaluate, modify, or compare the effects of existing products.Aim: The aim of the study was to measure, evaluate, and analyze variations in biophysical parameters at pre-selected skin sites in healthy Indian volunteers, across different age groups and gender.Methods: The study was conducted among 500 healthy Indian volunteers, between 5 and 70 years of age, in the outpatient department of dermatology at Sir T. Hospital, Bhavnagar. Biophysical parameters such as TEWL, hydration, elasticity, and sebum content was measured on four pre-selected body sites by a Dermalab instrument (Cortex Technology, Denmark). The skin pH was measured with a sensitive pH probe (BEPL 2100).Results: All parameters were higher in males compared to females, except for sebum content, which was equal in both genders. Transepidermal water loss and hydration was lower in middle and older age groups. The skin pH showed no statistically significant difference with age. Sebum content was higher in middle and older age groups. The nose had the highest sebum content across all age groups. The forehead showed higher median values of TEWL and hydration compared to other sites. Though elasticity has highest value on forearm, only leg region showed statistically significant value.Limitations: The present study was confined to a single geographical area, so the effect of environment changes could not be judged accurately. Seasonal variations were not studied as it was a cross-sectional study.Conclusion: Skin properties vary with age, gender, and location on the body. This knowledge will help to create a database of these parameters in the Indian population. It would assist in the diagnosis of various clinical conditions and monitor therapeutic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]