scholarly journals Effect of Trataka (Yogic Visual Concentration) on the Performance in the Corsi-Block Tapping Task: A Repeated Measures Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Swathi ◽  
Raghavendra Bhat ◽  
Apar Avinash Saoji

Background and Objective: Attention and memory are essential aspects of cognitive health. Yogasanas, pranayama, and meditation have shown to improve cognitive functions. There has been no assessment of Trataka (yogic visual concentration) on working or on spatial memory. The present study was planned to assess the immediate effects of Trataka and of eye exercise sessions on the Corsi-block tapping task (CBTT).Methods: A total of 41 healthy volunteers of both genders with age 23.21 ± 2.81 years were recruited. All participants underwent baseline assessment, followed by 2 weeks of training in Trataka (including eye exercise). Each training session lasted for 20 min/day for 6 days a week. After completion of the training period, a 1-week washout period was given. Each participant then was assessed in two sessions in Trataka and in eye exercise on two separate days, maintaining the same time of the day. Repeated measure analysis of variance with Holm’s adjustment was performed to check the difference between the sessions.Results: Significant within-subjects effects were observed for forward Corsi span andforward total score (p < 0.001), and also for backward Corsi span (p < 0.05) and backward total score (p < 0.05). Post hoc analyses revealed Trataka session to be better than eye exercises and baseline. The eye exercise session did not show any significant changes in the CBTT.Conclusion: The result suggests that Trataka session improves working memory, spatial memory, and spatial attention.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-298
Author(s):  
Rian Tri Prayogo ◽  
Sendy Mohamad Anugrah ◽  
Ardhika Falaahudin ◽  
Dody Tri Iwandana ◽  
Rifqi Festiawan

Pembatasan kegiatan masyarakat akibat penyebaran virus covid-19 telah mengubah olahraga di Indonesia sehingga memaksa para atlet untuk melakukan latihan mandiri di tempat tinggalnya masing-masing dengan program latihan yang dibuat oleh para pelatihnya. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah membandingkan kapasitas aerobik, aspek kelincahan, dan daya tahan otot lokal atlet pencak silat sebelum dan sesudah masa latihan mandiri. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah deskritptif dengan melibatkan 12 atlet pencak silat putra kategori tanding Kabupaten Karawang. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa terjadi penurunan signifikan pada kapasitas aerobik (p= 0.025) dan performa kelincahan (0.042) namun pada daya tahan otot lokal tidak terdapat perbedaan. Kesimpulan penelitian ini adalah terjadi penurunan pada kapasitas aerobik dan aspek kelincahan pada atlet pencak silat Kabupaten Karawang setelah masa latihan di tempat tinggalnya masing-masing akibat dari pemberlakukan pembatasan kegiatan masyarakat (PPKM), namun pada komponen daya tahan otot-otot lokal tidak terdapat perubahan.The sports activity of badminton and responses to changes in blood uric acid at productive age AbstractThis study aims to determine whether there was a response to changes in uric acid levels due to the physical activity of badminton. The design of this study is a quasi-experimental. The sample used in this study was eight respondents with certain criteria. Treat physical activity twice on different days with 4 measurements of uric acid levels. The method of this study is repeated measure analysis. When subjects are measured repeatedly, requiring fewer subjects per experiment, then repeated measures analysis can be used. The results showed that the treatment of badminton had a significant effect on changes in uric acid levels with a probability value of 0,038. These results were obtained by using the Greenhouse-Geisser test where the assumptions of normality and homogeneity were satisfied. From the marginal test results using pairwise comparisons, there was a significant difference in the average uric acid levels at 15 minutes after exercise and 9 hours the following day, where there was a decrease of 1.169 mg/dl. Badminton can reduce uric acid levels, which is indicated by a decrease of 0.15 mg/dl at 09.00 the next day compared to before exercise. Marginally, this decrease is not statistically significant, but regular badminton can be an option for physical activity for those who want to reduce uric acid levels.


1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 259-262
Author(s):  
L Lykouras ◽  
M Markianos ◽  
Y Papakostas ◽  
D Malliaras

SummaryThe thyrotropin (TSH) and prolactin (PRL) responses to protirelin (TRH) were studied in 62 female unipolar depressive patients, 24 delusional (psychotic) and 38 nondelusional (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual [DSM]-III-R criteria). The TSH response to TRH was blunted (≤6 μlU/mL) in ten of the 24 delusional (41.6%) and in 18 of the 38 nondelusional (47.4%) patients, the difference being not significant. The TSH and PRL responses to TRH, calculated as area under the curve, were not different between the two groups. Similar results were obtained when the response patterns were compared by repeated measure analysis of covariance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (04) ◽  
pp. 272-282
Author(s):  
Rashmi Sharma ◽  
Raj K. Manchanda

Abstract Background Acne is often treated at homeopathic clinics in India based on existing literature without using any measurable parameters and the outcomes are seldom reported, hence this study. Objective To evaluate the effects of homeopathy on the treatment of acne using specific outcome measures related to severity and disability. Methods It is an open, single-arm, non-comparative study undertaken at a clinic located in rural India using individualised homeopathy. Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) scores and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) scores were analysed at baseline and post medication at 3 and 6 months using one-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 to assess the outcomes of intervention. Results Eighty-four patients enrolled in the study were analysed under modified intention to treat approach. Nat-m (n = 14), Calc-s (n = 14), Sulph (n = 13), Kali-br (n = 10) and Hep-s (n = 9) were the most frequently used remedies. Significant differences were found in the severity of the disease and quality of life (QoL) from baseline to 6 months in terms of GAGS (mean difference, 15.47; standard error [SE], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 13.79–17.16; p < 0.001) and CADI (mean difference, 6.94; SE, 0.33; 95% CI, 6.12–7.75; p < 0.001) scores. A one–way repeated measures ANOVA was calculated and significant effects were found for GAGS scores (Wilks's lambda = 0.142; F [2, 82] = 248.50; p < 0.001; effect size = 0.748) and CADI scores (Wilks's lambda = 0.159; F [2, 82] = 217; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.786) at baseline and 3 and 6 months post medication. There was a positive correlation between the GAGS and CADI: r = 0.585, n = 84, p < 0.001. Conclusions Acne can be effectively treated at homeopathic clinics along with improvement in QoL of patients. Increase in severity of acne was associated with worsening of QoL. Further pragmatic studies with comparative cohort is desirable.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-289
Author(s):  
Angkit Kinasih ◽  
Ronaldo Lomi Djara ◽  
Ferry Fredy Karwur

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui ada tidaknya respon perubahan pada kadar asam urat akibat aktivitas olahraga bulu tangkis.  Desain penelitian ini adalah quasi eksperimen. Sampel yang digunakan sebanyak delapan responden dengan kriteria tertentu. Perlakukan aktivitas fisik dilakukan dua kali pada hari yang berbeda dengan 4 kali pengukuran kadar asam urat. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah repeated measure analysis. Ketika subyek diukur berulang kali dengan jumlah yang sedikit per percobaan maka repeated measures analysis dapat digunakan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakukan olahraga bulu tangkis memberikan respon perubahan yang signifikan terhadap perubahan kadar asam urat dengan nilai probabilitas sebesar 0,038. Hasil ini diperoleh dengan menggunakan uji Greenhouse-Geisser dimana asumsi normalitas dan homogenitas telah terpenuhi. Pada hasil uji marginal menggunakan pairwise comparisons, terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada rata-rata kadar asam urat 15 menit setelah olahraga dan jam 09.00 hari berikutnya, dimana terjadi penurunan sebesar 1,169 mg/dl. Olahraga bulu tangkis dapat menurunkan kadar asam urat yang ditandai dengan adanya penurunan sebesar 0,15 mg/dl pada jam 09.00 hari berikutnya dibandingkan dengan sebelum olahraga. Secara marginal, penurunan ini tidak signifikan secara statistik, namun olahraga bulu tangkis yang rutin dapat menjadi salah satu pilihan aktifitas fisik bagi yang ingin menurunkan kadar asam urat.The sports activity of badminton and responses to changes in blood uric acid at productive ageAbstractThis study aims to determine whether there was a response to changes in uric acid levels due to the physical activity of badminton. The design of this study is a quasi-experimental. The sample used in this study was eight respondents with certain criteria. Treat physical activity twice on different days with 4 measurements of uric acid levels. The method of this study is repeated measure analysis. When subjects are measured repeatedly, requiring fewer subjects per experiment, then repeated measures analysis can be used. The results showed that the treatment of badminton had a significant effect on changes in uric acid levels with a probability value of 0,038. These results were obtained by using the Greenhouse-Geisser test where the assumptions of normality and homogeneity were satisfied. From the marginal test results using pairwise comparisons, there was a significant difference in the average uric acid levels at 15 minutes after exercise and 9 hours the following day, where there was a decrease of 1.169 mg/dl. Badminton can reduce uric acid levels, which is indicated by a decrease of 0.15 mg/dl at 09.00 the next day compared to before exercise. Marginally, this decrease is not statistically significant, but regular badminton can be an option for physical activity for those who want to reduce uric acid levels.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A18-A18
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Lauren Whitehurst ◽  
Sara Mednick

Abstract Introduction Studies have shown that sleep affects working memory (WM) improvement, but specific electrophysiological features are unclear (Sattari et al., 2019; MacDonald et al., 2018). In addition, sex differences have been found in both sleep and working memory (Mong, 2016; Harness, 2008). The goal of this study is to identify sex differences in EEG correlates of working memory over a night of sleep. Methods Sixty-three healthy (33 females), college-aged adults without sleep disorder were enrolled. A 32-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) cap was used to record brain activity during sleep. Operation span (OS) task was used to evaluate WM performance. Participants reported to the laboratory in the evening, performed OS before sleep (test1) and after sleep (test2). Trials were divided into easy and hard trials based on the number of letters subjects had to recall. A repeated-measure analysis of variance was conducted to examine the effects of time and trial difficulty. Paired-sample t-tests between test 1 and test 2 were conducted for males and females. Pearson’s correlations were examined between WM performance at test 1 and the difference score between test 1 and test 2 and EEG frequency bands. The Benjamini–Hochberg method was used to control for multiple comparisons. Results There was an increase in performance across the night in WM hard trials across all subjects (F(1,62)=4.86, p=0.03), no effect for easy trials (p&gt;0.05). Females, but not males, showed a significant decrease in easy trials (t62= 2.40, p=0.02), while both males and females showed improvement in hard trials across the night. Females showed a positive correlation between test 1 hard trials and slow sigma, delta, slow oscillation in stage 3, this correlation is not seen in males. No correlations between overnight improvement and EEG bands were found. Conclusion Consistent with previous studies, participants showed better memory performance over a night of sleep, and the WM performance was associated with slow wave activity in females. Slow sigma also plays a role in the WM performance for females, indicating a possible role of sleep spindles. These associations were not shown in males, suggesting sex hormones mediate sleep’s impact on WM performance. Support (if any):


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Peimin Yu ◽  
Minjun Liang ◽  
Feng Ren

The purpose of this study was to investigate the variations of arch index from static standing to dynamic walking and running; furthermore, the interlimb symmetry was checked in the two populations. A total of eighty male participants were recruited for this study, with forty habitually barefoot and forty habitually shod males, respectively. Arch index (AI) was calculated following the previously established “gold standard” measurement via contact areas recorded from EMED. Repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to compare the difference between static and dynamic walking and running arch index. Paired-samples t-test and symmetry index (SI) were used to investigate the symmetry of the left foot arch index and right foot arch index. It was found that the dynamic arch index was significantly higher than the static arch index in barefoot and shod males, showing an increase from static weight-bearing standing to dynamic walking and running. However, interlimb (right-left) symmetry in the foot arch index was observed in the two populations. Dynamic changes of the arch index may provide implications that need to be considered while designing shoe lasts or insoles. Knowledge of the healthy arch index range reported from this study could also be used as a standard baseline to probe into foot and arch disorders.


2011 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Piccione ◽  
V. Messina ◽  
C. Giannetto ◽  
S. Casella ◽  
A. Assenza ◽  
...  

Abstract. The aim of this study was to assess the seasonal trend of the serum protein content of sheep and goats. The tested animals were six female goats (Maltese breed) and six female sheep (Valle del Belice breed). All animals were clinically healthy and not pregnant or lactating before or during the study. On blood samples, collected through an external jugular venipuncture every 30 days for 12 months, electrophoresis was performed using a semiautomated AGE system and then electrophoretic curves with the relative protein concentrations were analyzed. One way for repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine the effect of time and by means of cosinor rythmometry, mesor (mean level), amplitude (half the range of oscillation) and acrophase (Φ, time of peak) were determined. The results showed a seasonal rhythm on Albumin and Alumin/Globulin ratio for sheep and goats, with different acrophases, winter for goats and spring for sheep. A seasonal rhythm was shown also in Alpha 2 globulins by sheep and in Beta globulins by goats. The difference in the acrophase can be attributed to a different production pattern of melatonin in goat, so the liver production of albumin is major during the winter that has a longer scotophase.


Author(s):  
Zi Di Lim ◽  
Edwin Pheng ◽  
Evelyn Tai Li Min ◽  
Hans Van Rostenberghe ◽  
Ismail Shatriah

Platelets are a primary source of pro- and anti-angiogenic cytokines. However, the evidence of their role in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is controversial. This retrospective study aimed to compare mean weekly platelet counts between infants with and without ROP over the first 6 weeks of life. A total of 93 infants matched by gestational age and birth weight were recruited (31 with ROP, 62 without ROP). Weekly mean platelet counts and other related risk factors were documented. The repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the repeated measure analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare mean platelet counts over time between the two groups, with and without adjusting for confounders. We found significant differences in the weekly mean platelet counts of infants with and without ROP over the first 6 weeks of life (p = 0.002). These differences disappeared after adjusting for covariates (p = 0.489). Lower mean platelet counts in ROP infants are not directly related to ROP, but rather to the presence of other risk factors for ROP, such as culture-proven sepsis, blood transfusion and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.


Author(s):  
Samer Mheissen ◽  
Haris Khan ◽  
Mohammed Almuzian ◽  
Emad Eddin Alzoubi ◽  
Nikolaos Pandis

Summary Background In orthodontic trials, longitudinal designs with multiple outcome measurements over time are common. The aim of this epidemiological study was to examine whether optimal statistical analysis approaches have been used in longitudinal orthodontic trials. Methods Pubmed was searched in August 2021 for longitudinal orthodontic trials with at least three time points of outcome assessment published in the 2017–20 period. Study selection and data extraction were done independently and in duplicate. The analysis approaches undertaken were tabulated and associations between study characteristics and the use of optimal analysis or not were assessed using Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression. Results One hundred forty-seven out of 563 unique records were deemed eligible for inclusion. Only 26.50% of these trials used an optimal statistical analysis for longitudinal data where the data structure is accounted for. None of the study characteristics except the statistical significance of the results were associated with the appropriateness of the statistical analysis. The odds of significant results in studies with suboptimal analyses were higher than that in studies with optimal longitudinal analyses (odds ratio: 3.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.62, 7.46, P = 0.001). For the studies with optimal analysis, the most frequent test was repeated-measure analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). The reporting of the statistical analysis section was suboptimal in the majority of the trials. Conclusion Most longitudinal orthodontic trials are not analysed using optimal statistical approaches. Inferences and interpretation of their results are likely to be compromised.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
Martina Đodan ◽  
Tomislav Dubravac ◽  
Sanja Perić

Background and Purpose: Recently raised questions on adaptability of native tree species to climate changes pointed to Douglas-fir as a species suitable for rapid reforestation and increase of stand resistance. The first results on provenance research need to be confirmed in later stages of stand development, so the paper answers the following two questions: (i) are there differences in growth of 14 Douglas-fir provenances still in the fifth decade of stand development, and (ii) which provenances should be used and which omitted from further use in the hilly area of Croatia? Materials and Methods: Productivity of 14 provenances was evaluated on the basis of height, diameter at breast height and volume in the 46th year after planting. Growth dynamics was also statistically analysed using a repeated measure analysis of variance, for which purpose we partially used published data from the 2010. Results: The analysis excluded Castle Rock and Shady Cove (Oregon) provenances due to their low values of all analysed growth indicators, as well as Castle Rock, Elma and Hvidilde provenances due to their high values. Average values of tree volume ranged from 0.53 m3 (Shady Cove) to 2.05 m3 (Castle Rock), while the tallest trees belonged to Elma provenance (29.6 m). Conclusions: Different growth dynamics of provenances were confirmed for later development stage, so further monitoring is still required. Clear guidelines for the selection of provenances for practical forestry distinguish provenances from lower altitudes of the State of Washington, Denmark and Bulgaria as the most productive. Shady Cove and Salmon Arm provenances are not advised to be used in the future.


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