Effect of sub-maximal exercise stress on cold pressor pain: a gender based study

BACKGROUND

Analgesic effect of exercise is a well established fact; however available reports are contradictory on gender differences in pain perception following exercise stress test.

OBJECTIVE

The current study is prospectively designed to evaluate and compare the effect of acute bout of sub-maximal exercise stress on cold pressor pain in normal adult males and females.

METHOD

The experimental study design involved healthy adults (n= 41); females (n = 18) and males (n=23) aged between 18 to 25 years and included them into four sets of experiments: SET I (Control), "resting blood pressure, radial pulse and respiratory rate were recorded after 15 minutes of complete supine relaxation. SET II (Cold Pressor Pain Test): Pain Threshold, Pain Tolerance, and Pain Duration in seconds were taken. SET III (Exercise Stress Test): Sub-maximal exercise of 70 to 75% of maximum predicted heart rate was given for 6 minutes. SET IV (Cold Pressor Pain Test immediately after Exercise Stress Test): At 0 minute of recovery again the pain parameters; Pain Threshold, Pain Tolerance, and Pain Duration in seconds were taken. SET I, SET II were performed in order on the first day and SET III and SET IV on the second day to ensure only a single Cold Pressor Pain Test is performed in each day.

RESULT

The data (Mean ± SD) analysis showed significant increased in pain threshold (males: 14.36 ± 10.6 Vs 21.47 ± 13 seconds, p< 0.001, females: 14.1 ± 11.5 Vs 23.81 ± 20.22 seconds, p<0.001) and pain tolerance time (males: 41.3 ± 19.31 Vs 54.1 ± 21.7 seconds, p<0.001) in both sexes after 6 min of acute bout of sub-maximal exercise stress test with comparable age, BMI and baseline resting values of pain parameters and pulse rate and blood pressure. The percentage increment pain tolerance time following the exercise stress in female is higher than male (78.6 Vs 68.9%).

CONCLUSION

The result suggests that pain sensation decreases immediately after a brief period of exercise challenge irrespective of gender, and the analgesic effect of the acute bout of exercise in terms of pain tolerant time is more enhanced in females than males.

Bacteraemia caused by Sciscionella marina in a lymphoma patient: phenotypically mimicking Nocardia

A 55-year-old female patient with malignant lymphoma after induction chemotherapy developed fever. Blood culture yielded an organism biochemically identified as representing Nocardia spp., but molecular identification (16S rRNA gene sequencing) later identified it as representing Sciscionella marina. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of Sciscionella being isolated from a human sample.

Cervical Dysgenesis with Transverse Vaginal Septum with Imperforate Hymen in an 11 year old Girl Presenting with Acute Abdomen

This case highlights the importance of careful evaluation of girls presenting with imperforate hymen as this is accompanied by other female reproductive tract anomalies. It is of utmost importance that a correct timely diagnosis is made so that the right treatment can be chosen with the perspective of future fertility. Cervical dysgenesis associated with vaginal septum and imperforate hymen has not been reported in literature so far. Present case highlights the simple mode of management with a successful outcome. Keywords: cervical dysgenesis; imperforate hymen; transverse vaginal septum.

Cervical dysgenesis with transverse vaginal septum with imperforate hymen in an 11 year old girl presenting with acute abdomen

This case highlights the importance of careful evaluation of girls presenting with imperforate hymen as this is accompanied by other female reproductive tract anomalies. It is of utmost importance that a correct timely diagnosis is made so that the right treatment can be chosen with the perspective of future fertility. Cervical dysgenesis associated with vaginal septum and imperforate hymen has not been reported in literature so far. Present case highlights the simple mode of management with a successful outcome.

Skeletal muscle stem cells: effects of aging and metabolism on muscle regenerative function

Homeostatic and regenerative replacement of skeletal muscle fibers requires the activity of a dedicated pool of myogenic stem cells, called satellite cells, that are activated by muscle injury and act as a renewable source of muscle-forming cells throughout adult life. Satellite cell function is controlled by both intrinsic and extrinsic regulatory cues, whose integration determines the success of muscle regenerative responses. Pathological deregulation of satellite cell function through perturbation of these signaling pathways appears to play an important role in age-dependent deterioration of muscle function and in muscle dystrophic disease. The regenerative activity of skeletal muscle also appears to be tightly linked to metabolism, and alterations in metabolic state can directly influence the activity of these tissue-specific stem cells. Here, we review recent and emerging insights into the molecular and biochemical signals that control satellite cell function and discuss these in the context of muscle degenerative diseases such as dystrophy and sarcopenia. Novel discoveries from this ongoing work bring new opportunities to enhance or restore muscle repair and are likely to facilitate satellite cell transplantation in clinical applications.

Anaphylactic shock following intraurethral lidocaine administration during transurethral resection of the prostate

Anaphylactic shock was noted following an apparently uneventful transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Lidocaine jelly was used prior to urethral dilatation and before placement of three-way Foley. Lidocaine sensitivity was diagnosed serendipitously when lidocaine jelly was used for application of ECG electrodes. Anaphylaxis may be one of the rare differentials to be considered in a patient with postoperative shock following TURP. This report highlights a potentially fatal complication of an apparently innocuous and ubiquitous urological use of lidocaine.

Opportunistic Intestinal Protozoan Parasitic Infection in HIV Positive Patient in Jamnagar, Gujarat

The case definition of AIDS encompasses a spectrum of infections and malignancies, labelled as opportunistic infections. In recent years, numerous studies have outlined the emergence of opportunistic gastrointestinal protozoa that have caused diarrhoeal illness among HIV - AIDS patients. Purpose of present study was to determine the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal protozoal parasites in HIV positive patients with or without diarrhoea. A total of 100 stool samples of HIV positive patients were examined for protozoal parasites by microscopy. Protozoal parasites were detected in 25 HIV positive patients; in 41.37 % of patients with diarrhoea and in 2.38% of patients without diarrhoea. Isospora belli appeared to be a predominant parasite associated with diarrhoea among HIV patients. Cryptosporidium revealed of its asymptomatic carriage along with its association with acute and chronic diarrhoea. Prevalence of Microsporidia and Cyclospora cayetenensis was found to be very low. Key words: HIV; diarrhoea; opportunistic protozoa. DOI: 10.3126/saarctb.v5i1.3079 SAARC J. Tuber. Lung Dis. HIV/AIDS 2008 Vol.5(1) 21-24