Search

Background: Hindi cognitive screening test (HCST) and Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination both claim that they are bias-free cognitive screening tests. HCST is highly sensitive and specific in screening Indian older adults. However, SLUMS is more comprehensive in terms of assessing visuospatial and memory functions. The present study presents and compare cognitive status of older adults with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), and dyslipidemia (DL) on HCST and SLUMS. Methods: The sample comprised of 150 older adults ≥60 years included in a consecutive series. Participants and their family members, giving written informed consent, residing permanently in central catchment areas Chowk, Lucknow, constituted the study sample. Semistructured sociodemographic details and medical history proforma, Socioeconomic Status (SES) Scale, General Health Questionaire – 12, SLUMS and HCST were administered. Blood pressure was measured by Medical Research Assistant. Biochemical investigations for DM and DL were carried out. Participants were categorized into two groups: (1) case groups (112): DM only + HT only + DL only and (2) control group (38): Without discernable abnormality of physical illness on the basis of invesigations. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard devitation SD, Chi-square, and t-test. Results: There was a statistically significant difference on cognitive status between control and DM group on recall, reading, copying (P < 0.05 level), and on writing (P < 0.01) on HCST. A statistically significant difference was also found in writing (P < 0.01) between control and HT group. A statistically significant difference was found between control and DL on recall (P < 0.05) and writing (P < 0.01). According to SLUMS control and DM group differ significantly (0.01) for delayed recall and with HT and DL group on visuospatial function. Conclusion: Cognitive status of older adults with DM, HT, and DL was found to be significantly impaired on specific domains as compared to the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vertigo, a multisensory symptom, is one of the most common presentations to otolaryngology clinic and may occur in a multitude of ENT-related diseases, thus making a correct diagnosis challenging. In the last few decades, there has been a paradigm shift in the diagnostics of vertigo due to the availability of better objective modalities that allow assessment of different components of the complex vestibular labyrinth with relative ease. With the advent of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) since the last few decades, it is possible to test otolith organs in isolation and objectively. Aim: The aim of this study is to study the effectiveness of cervical VEMP (cVEMP) in the evaluation of saccular function in patients suffering from peripheral vertigo. Study Design: Analytical cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted over a period of 2 years, from December 2016 to October 2018 at the ENT department of a tertiary care hospital. A sample size of 40 patients of peripheral vertigo and 40 age-matched healthy controls was selected. Air conduction cVEMP was performed in cases of posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (pBPPV), vestibular neuritis (VN), superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SCD), and Meniere's disease (MD) and their values were compared with contralateral healthy ears and controls. Results: cVEMP parameters in VN, SCD, and MD were found to be abnormal, and the difference from normal was statistically significant. However, in the case of pBPPV patients, they did not show any difference from the normal. Conclusion: cVEMP is found to be a useful screening tool for conditions such as VN, SCD, and MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of dementia is very crucial. Nonpharmacological methods (NPM) are well appreciated and encouraged to be used as first-line treatment for managing elderly patients with dementia (PwD). The present case reports aimed to share the strategies of NPM for managing PwD. NPM requires a structured blueprint to record, follow-up, and monitor the outcomes. A structured proforma has been developed in the department. After getting all the basic information from the patient, needed assessments are being done by the concerned team member to identify and rate the level of severity of the problem, and specific NPM strategies are being provided. Concerted efforts give positive results; knowledge and understanding about the illness help the caregiver in managing the patient. No negative impact has been reported; NPM is a cost-effective approach and therefore should be studied on a larger level to provide evidence from India and prove its efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is the most common mental health problem across all the age groups. Still diagnostic techniques and laboratory tests are awaited to confirm it. Some studies focus on P300 latency to aid in the diagnosis of depression. Hence, this study was conducted to know whether P300 latency is an indicator of major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: This study was conducted both on patients admitted in the hospital and those attending outdoor clinic giving written informed consent and fulfilling inclusion/exclusion criteria from the Department of Psychiatry, S.N. Medical College and Hospital, Agra. The sample consisted of 30 consecutive patients suffering from MDD as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria and 30 subjects as normal control. Sociodemographic and clinical history proforma, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D), and P300 were administered on all 60 subjects. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and t-test. Results: Significant difference (P < 0.0001) has been found in HAM-D mean scores of depressed and nondepressed control group subjects. The mean score of depressed group was significantly high (18.066) compared to nondepressed control group (4.833). Significant difference (P < 0.0001) between the mean of P300 latency in depressed and nondepressed control subjects was also found. Mean score of P300 latency in depressed group was significantly high (346.918 ± 19.515) compared to the nondepressed control subjects (303.741 ± 6.378). There was a significant difference in the mean of P300 latency between mild and severe (P < 0.0001), mild and very severe (P < 0.0003), as well as moderate and severe (P < 0.0001) level of depression. Conclusions: P300 latency may be used as an indicator of MDD and it is directly proportional to the severity of MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arjunarishta (Parthadyarishta) is an important Ayurvedic formulation used for cardiovascular disorders and is prepared by fermenting the decoction of specified plant materials using flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa. In present communication, an HPLC-PDA method was developed for the standardization of Arjunarishta by quantitative estimation of major antioxidant compounds, ellagic acid, gallic acid, ethyl gallate, quercetin and kaempferol as markers. The developed method was validated with respect to linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness. The HPLC analysis showed an increase in amount of ellagic acid and gallic acid during preparation, i.e. decoction vs formulation. A similar increase in free radical scavenging activity of formulation vs decoction was also observed. Arjunolic acid and arjunic acid were not detected in the formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]