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BackgroundVentromedial hypothalamus (VMH) plays a major role in food intake, obesity and energy homeostasis. There is a report of gender difference in energy balance with increased vulnerability of males to cardiac disease.PurposeBody metabolism is greatly influenced by the diet we eat and some of the blood parameters like plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profile and thyroid profile depict a picture of energy homeostasis of the body.ObjectiveThe present study was conducted to assess the effect of VMH in high fat diet (HFD) induced obesity and its link with insulin, glucose, thyroid and lipid profile of male Wistar rats.MethodsThe male rats (n = 12) were given HFD for a period of 10 weeks to induce obesity. After obtaining a basal recording of food intake, body weight, glucose, insulin, thyroid and lipid profile, animals were divided into control and experimental group (n = 6 male in each). Experimental rats underwent electrolytic ablation of VMH whereas control rats underwent sham lesion. A post-lesion recording was taken at the end of four weeks.ResultsThe rats had a greater food intake and more body weight gain after HFD schedule in both the groups. After VMH lesion, food intake increased further, only in experimental group. Plasma glucose, Insulin, HOMA - IR, total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were significantly increased compared to the pre-lesion values in experimental group (P<0.001).ConclusionsTen week of HFD resulted in obesity. VMH appears to prevent the development of insulin resistance and hypercholesterolemia which influences the energy homeostasis in male rats after high fat diet.

Introduction: 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. Methods: We recruited school going athletes ( n = 30) and non-athlete boys ( n = 30) in the 10–19 age group after obtaining their assent and consent from their parents. We assessed height, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, baroreflex sensitivity, and cardiac autonomic function. Comparison between groups was made using the unpaired t -test for height, weight, body mass index, heart rate, blood pressure, and baroreflex sensitivity and using Mann-Whitney U test for cardiac autonomic function parameters. Results: There was a trend for higher baroreflex sensitivity in athletes. Heart rate variability (total power and SDNN) was higher in athletes. The parasympathetic tone was higher in terms of higher RMSSD, and higher HF power. Parasympathetic reactivity was higher in athletes in terms of higher 30:15 ratio and EI ratio. Conclusion: Athletic level physical conditioning has a positive influence on baroreflex function and autonomic function that may prove beneficial to the adolescents’ cardiovascular health.

Introduction: COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease and varies in the severity of presentation as well as survival outcome due to varied inflammatory responses. Hence, the present study is aimed to evaluate the role of inflammatory markers in predicting the outcome of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.Methods: A total of 272 confirmed COVID-19 patients were included in the study. Clinical and demographic data were collected. Biochemical, hematological, and inflammatory markers were assessed in all patients. Disease severity and primary outcome as survival and or mortality were recorded.Results: Hematological indices and inflammatory markers were significantly higher among the non-survivors. can differentiate non-survivors from survivors with 100% sensitivity and 70.2% specificity, with a cut-off value of 79.6 in the receiver operator curve (ROC). As disease severity was increasing, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly increased among patients. Survival Inflammatory markers In CoVID-19 outCome analysis showed that an elevated level of IL-6 was significantly associated with mortality and Cox regression analysis showed the hazard ratio (HR) of . Conclusion:The results of the present study implicate that increased levels of IL-6 and CRP were significantly correlated with severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. In addition, the dynamic measurement of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, might be used as predictors of prognosis and outcome.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is expressed at high levels in the limbic system, has been shown to regulate learning, memory and cognition. Thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development. Hypothyroidism is a clinical condition in which thyroid hormones are reduced and it affects the growth and development of the brain in neonates and progresses to cognitive impairment in adults. The exact mechanism of how reduced thyroid hormones impairs cognition and memory is not well understood. This review explores the possible role of BDNF-mediated cognitive impairment in hypothyroid patients.

Background: Hypertension is often associated with obesity. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to uncorrected cardiac dysautonomia that makes cardiac repolarization abnormally prolonged. Modern dietary habits, stress and bad life style habits makes young adults vulnerable to hazards of health. Purpose: So we planned to study the association of BMI (Body Mass Index) and BP ( Blood pressure) with QTc (corrected QT interval) in young adults. Materials and methods: After obtaining the written informed consent, 171 subjects were randomly selected in the age group of 18-35 years. A general history and physical examination was done before recording the BMI and BP. A 12 lead ECG was recorded and QTc calculated using Bazett’s formula. The values obtained were compared and statistical analysis done. Results: Of the 171 subjects 14.03% were hypertensive. The QTc interval is found to be prolonged in females and it is prolonged with age, BMI and BP. Conclusion: QTc was significantly increased among the prehypertensive and hypertensive group and with overweight / obese BMI group compared to the normotensives and normal BMI group suggesting an altered autonomic homeostasis. This warrants lifestyle modification at a younger age to reduce the cardiovascular risk.

The gut microbiota is a quickly developing bacterial ecosystem with biodiversity. It is an adaptive immunity that varies with food intake, environmental conditions, and human habits, among other factors. Various external stimuli, such as drugs, can influence the gut microbial environment and lead to gut dysbiosis. Recently, gut dysbiosis has been identified as an important factor that leads to several diseases either by the released metabolites or by the gut neuronal connection. In brain disorders, gut dysbiosis is involved in neuropsychiatric manifestations, including autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and depression by interfering with neurotransmitter homeostasis, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease by releasing abnormal metabolites from the gut. Gut dysbiosis has been documented in gut disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome. Immune cells in the gut are modulated by external factors such as stress, diet, and drugs to produce inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, etc.). Inflammatory cytokines lead to a cascade of events, which lead to various ailments in the bowel. Beneficial bacteria in the form of probiotics ameliorate the condition and have healthful effects in disease conditions. This warrants further research to identify newer therapeutic strategies for diseases that cannot be cured or are difficult to treat.

Background: Fall risk assessment is an essential component of a comprehensive fall reduction and prevention program. Fall risk assessment is done to identify patients' risk for falls and ultimately prevent falls from occurring. The aim of the study was to identify the risk factors for fall in the elderly population.Methods: This study included 250 elderly patients > 60 years (105 males, 145 females) attending Medicine OPD in a tertiary care hospital. Detailed history including the previous h/o falls, medication history elicited and divided study subjects into two groups: fallers and non-fallers. Cardiovascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal system examinations were done. Handgrip, 30 seconds chair standing test (CST), "timed up and go" test (TUG), and performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA) were performed.Results: The prevalence of falls in our study was 27.6%. The mean age of fallers was 72.22±6.219 years (P 0.002). Females had significant falls compared to males (p < 0.001). In binary logistic regression, age >80 [