Toxic metals, including excessive levels of essential metals tend to change biological structures and systems into either reversible or irreversible conformations, leading to the derangement of organ functions or ultimate death. Nickel, a known heavy metal is found at very low levels in the environment. Nickel is available in all soil types and meteorites and also erupts from volcanic emissions. In the environment, nickel is principally bound with oxygen or sulfur and forms oxides or sulfides in earth crust. The vast industrial use of nickel during its production, recycling and disposal has led to widespread environmental pollution. Nickel is discharged into the atmosphere either by nickel mining or by various industrial processes, such as power plants or incinerators, rubber and plastic industries, nickel-cadmium battery industries and electroplating industries. The extensive use of nickel in various industries or its occupational exposure is definitely a matter of serious impact on human health. Heavy metals like nickel can produce free radicals from diatomic molecule through the double step process and generate superoxide anion. Further, these superoxide anions come together with protons and facilitate dismutation to form hydrogen peroxide, which is the most important reason behind the nickel-induced pathophysiological changes in living systems. In this review, we address the acute, subchronic and chronic nickel toxicities in both human and experimental animals. We have also discussed nickel-induced genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity and toxicity in various other metabolically active tissues. This review specifically highlighted nickel-induced oxidative stress and possible cell signaling mechanisms as well.

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Objective: Pregnancy is characterized by profound changes in the function of

Background: Pregnancy leads to profound alterations in the respiratory system of the mother, leading to alteration in the normal course of common pulmonary diseases. However there is insufficient information regarding the changes in respiratory parameters of smaller airways in different trimesters of pregnancy. Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the pulmonary function tests in 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd trimesters of pregnancy & compare them with non-pregnant control group. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried in 200 healthy women in the age range of 19-35 years. The subjects were distributed in four groups, i.e control (non-pregnant) group and 1 st , 2 nd & 3 rd trimester pregnant groups. Number of subjects in each group was 50. We recorded respiratory parameters in control and study groups. Statistical analysis was done by 'Z' test. Results: There is significant decrease in FEV1, FEV1%, FEF25-75%, FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75% in all trimesters of pregnancy with maximum decrease in 1 st trimester. Conclusion: The changes in pulmonary functions are attributed to the marked changes in the respiratory parameters during pregnancy. This knowledge of pulmonary function changes during pregnancy may be helpful in the prevention of gestational complications associated with an inadequate maternal respiratory adaptation.

Background and Objective: Yoga attracts people primarily as an easy way to good health. Yogic techniques are known to improve one's overall performance and working capacity. So, our study aimed to evaluate the pulmonary functions in healthy individuals aged 20 to 65 years before and after short duration yoga training and to evaluate the differential effects between young and middle aged individuals. Methods and Material: A comparative prospective study involving 52 healthy individuals aged 20 to 65 years. The study group was divided into two according to age Group I (age=20-40 yrs, young adults) and Group II (age=40-65 yrs, middle aged). Pulmonary function parameters like Breath Holding Time, 40 mmHg Endurance Test, Vital Capacity, FEV1% and PEFR were recorded before and after two weeks yoga training. The mean values of parameters were compared within and between groups before and after yoga training. Results: We found statistically significant higher values of 40 mmHg Endurance Test and PEFR in Group I compared to Group II before yoga training. Also found statistically significant improvements of the pulmonary function parameters in Group I as well as Group II after short term yoga training but the effects were more prominent in Group I. There is statistically significant higher values of PEFR in Group I compared to Group II after yoga training. Conclusion: This study showed beneficial effects of short term yoga on pulmonary function parameters in healthy subjects aged 20 to 65 years, particularly in young adults.

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OBJECTIVE:This study was aimed to assess the effect of unilateral common carotid artery occlusion on brain pathophysiology in rats pretreated with subchronic hypoxia.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Rats (200 ± 20 g) were randomized into three groups: Group 1 served as sham, Group 2 were normoxic (21% O2 and 79% N2), and Group 3 were hypoxia preconditioned (10% O2 and 90% N2) for 21 days before left common carotid artery occlusion (LCCAO). The LCCAO was done for 75 min followed by reperfusion for 12 h. Neurological scores were recorded. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels at pre- and 12 h post-LCCAO were measured. Brain histopathological assessments were also done.RESULTS:Higher neurological deficits scores in Group 2 as compared to Group 3 rats were noticed. Serum MDA and NO levels at 12 h post-LCCAO in Group 2 rats showed significant elevation as compared to preocclusion levels. Group 3 rats did not show such elevations. On histopathology of left and right cerebral hemispheres of Group 1 (sham) did not show any specific changes. In Group 2 rats, the right cerebral hemisphere (nonoccluded) showed no areas of ischemia-induced brain changes, but in the left side (occlusive), there were features of ischemic brain damage including cerebral edema. In the case of Group 3 rats, there were less ischemic damages in the left occluded side as compared to the left side of the Group 2 rats.CONCLUSION:This study clearly demonstrates that subchronic hypoxia pretreatment can reduce ischemic brain injury by unilateral common carotid artery occlusion in rats.

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