Life Style Research Articles

A healthy habitual score for dietary intake is associated with primary dysmenorrhea among adolescent school girls

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecological complaints among adolescent and young females in their reproductive age that affects their daily activities and social life. Nutritional habits are considered as risk factor for primary dysmenorrhea. ‘Thus the aim of our study was to assess the relation between healthy habits score for dietary intake and prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: The present study was conducted on 432 adolescent school girls (218 girls with nil to mild dysmenorrhea and 214 girls with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea). Healthy habitual scores (HHS) was calculated from 5 modifiable dietary intake habits considering high risk habit as ‘0’ and low risk habit as ‘1’ giving a composite score ranging from 0 to 5. We classified the healthy life style score into three category: 0-2 as low; 3 as medium and 4-5 as high. Correlation between HHS and its components with incident of primary dysmenorrhea were evaluated. HHS and risk of primary dysmenorrhea were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. The significance level of the all the tests were considered at a level of 0.05. Results: Significant correlation was obtained between incident of primary dysmenorrhea and all tested habits. Magnitude of correlation was higher for HHS than individual habit. Among tested habitual factors sugar intake, skipping breakfast and frequency of junk food intake was positively correlated where as negative correlation was obtained between primary dysmenorrhea and dietary intake of vit-E and calcium. Considering low HHS as reference group odd ratio significantly low in medium and high HHS groups. Thus risk of primary dysmenorrhea was more among adolescent girls those led unhealthy dietary habits like take more sugar, frequently take junk foods and skipping breakfast and take vit-E and calcium below recommended amount. Conclusion: Avoiding of Junk food, skipping breakfast and intaking of vit-E and calcium as per recommended amount and restricting sugar intake is recommended as a healthy dietary habit to minimize the risk of primary dysmenorrhea.

ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS USAGE BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF MEDICAL GROUP IN BASRA, IRAQ

Background: Psychological disease is strongly prevalent among college and university students worldwide with negative impacts on students’ life. Specifically, medical group students have long time of study with suffer from competitive ambience and sleep privation, that lead to out of the way from perfect learning environment. When medical students are abused psychotropic drugs that lead to defect on performance, health, life style and interpose with their concentration. Aim: to investigate the prevalence rate of depression and anxiety in university students of medical group in Basra, and estimate the rate and type of psychotropic drugs consumption by them. Method: The study data was collected from 376 students of medical group at College of Medicine, College of Dentistry and College of Pharmacy of Basra University by questionnaire forma. Results: The prevalence rate of mental disorders was low about and many factors that affected on psychiatric state of them like gender, age, Family and friends Relation, missing one of parents etc. Among medical group students that used sedatives and hypnotics about (46%) than other psychotropic drugs like serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs) (42.9%) tricyclic antidepressants (21.4%), and atypical antipsychotic (7.1%). Conclusions: Medical group students are more likely to consumption antipsychotic drugs by physician prescription or self-medications. Therefore, there are required more interesting and pursuits for college students especially medical college students for amelioration their college and social lives. Peer Review History: Received 6 February 2024; Revised 15 March 2024; Accepted 26 April; Available online 15 May 2024 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye

Importance of Undergraduate Research in Medical and Dental Curriculum

INTRODUCTIONThe quality of medical education has attracted considerable interest during the last few years. This interest is especially concerned with the question of how education can be made more relevant to the needs of today’s society. Emerging changes in today’s society such as rapid advances in technology, changes in demographics, environmental factors and life style may require a revision in the present system of education in such a way that students of health profession are trained to deal with problems in the future, preparing themselves to become active, independent learners and problem-solvers, rather than more or less passive recipients of information. The recent trend in medical and dental education is introduction of undergraduate research in the medical and dental curriculum. The present article reviews and describes the importance of undergraduate research to teach students how to conduct research and to develop necessary skills that can be applied outside the academic environment, to produce competent doctors and enhance patient outcomes.

Assessment of Urinary Tract Infections Among Female Patients Attending Ruhengeri Referral Hospital

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the inflammatory disorders of the urinary tract caused by the abnormal growth of pathogens. UTI is known to cause short-term morbidity in terms of fever, dysuria, and lower abdominal pain (LAP) and may result in permanent scarring of the kidney. The presence of bacteria in the urine, known as bacteriuria, may be indicative of infection or colonization of the urinary tract, but it may also be due to bacterial contamination occurring during collection of a specimen. Aim: The present study was done in order to identify the bacteria causing UTI from female patients. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted on female patients who were attending Ruhengeri Referral Hospital in a period of two months from October to November 2021. Urine samples were collected from patients who were requested to urinary test with respect to standard procedures. Samples were processed and analyzed at INES-Ruhengeri microbiology laboratory where gram stain and culture as well as biochemical test were performed in order to make microbial identification. From the results patients who were found with UTI, their structured questionnaire was taken into consideration in order to determine the associated risk factors. Results: The outcomes of the study indicated that E.coli, K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, Enterobacter ssp and S. saprophyticus were isolated from patients urine sample where E. coli is more present in patients sample where it has been found at 60%(18) samples. The least isolated bacteria in patient’s samples are Enterrobacter spp and S. saprophyticus at frequency of 2(6.7) per each bacterium. The risk factor associated with urinary tract infection in female patients attended Ruhengeri-referral-hospital in a period of study, the results indicated that douching in secret parts twice a day is associated with UTI with P-value equivalent to 0.001. Conclusion: This study was intended to assess the UTI among female patients. The study findings indicated that E.coli, K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, Enterobacter ssp and S. saprophyticus are more likely to be found in urinary tract of female. The study finding has indicated also that poor hygienic life style increases the risk of being infected by UTIs.

RESEARCH OF MECHANISMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PROTECTION OF PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS

The purpose of the work is to present the results of a theoretical and empirical study of the formation of mechanisms of psychological protection of the adolescent girls in the context of their professional training for the work of psychologists. Methodology. Sample: 54 students majoring in "Psychology", aged 17-20. All of the were female. Among them, 52% are 1st year students and 48% are 2nd year students. Methods: The Plutchik-Kellerman-Conte "Life Style Index" questionnaire (Life Style Index, LSI) was used as a diagnostic tool, which allows you to determine the severity of eight main mechanisms of psychological protection and their general tension. Results. Theoretical approaches to the definition and classification of EDs were considered, as well as an empirical study was conducted on EDs that are most characteristic of female psychology students in the first and second years of study. According to the results of the survey, data were obtained on the degree of severity of each MPZ. It was found that there was a difference between the MPZs inherent in female students in different courses of study. Very primitive protection mechanisms are more common among the first-year students than among the second-year students. During early adolescence, higher psychological defenses are just beginning to form and are not typical for this age. Starting from the age of 18, higher defense mechanisms, as dominant, are observed more often in psychology students

Sublingual immunotherapy for allergy to shrimp: the nine-year clinical experience of a Midwest Allergy-Immunology practice

BackgroundDiet restrictions and fear of adverse reactions put a significant burden on the nutrition, growth and life style of children and adults with food allergies. While various disease-modifying options are pursued, there are so far no published clinical data on immunotherapy for crustaceans. The efficacy and safety of desensitization to crustaceans by means of sublingual immunotherapy is assessed for the first time in this study with a view of validating it as a clinical-practice modality.MethodsCharts of a Midwest Allergy-Immunology practice from the period January 2014–June 2023 were reviewed to identify patients with allergy to shrimp treated with sublingual immunotherapy and to retrospectively evaluate their responses to oral challenge.ResultsSixty-six patients were identified who had been treated by sublingual immunotherapy for either systemic or localized reactions to shrimp. Demographics and relevant comorbidities were consistent with those of the atopic population. Sublingual immunotherapy with serially diluted mixtures was initiated at 64–320 ng/dose and was gradually escalated to 0.5 mg/dose three times a day. The sublingual immunotherapy course ranged from 5 to 72 months (average: 51 months), following which, 18 patients underwent shrimp oral challenge. No systemic reactions occurred upon challenge; no patient required epinephrine. Tolerance of target dose equal to or exceeding 42 g shrimp was achieved in 11 patients (61%), seven of whom had originally presented with systemic reactions to crustaceans. Seven patients (38%) developed one or more of the following localized reactions: oral itching, nasal symptoms, localized perioral hives, localized hives at pressure points, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain upon exposure to a cumulative dose of 39.2–148.2 g of shrimp during the 4 h of the challenge. Five of these patients had originally presented with systemic reactions to crustaceans. Five of the 7 patients who developed localized symptoms during the challenge were subsequently placed on routine exposure to 12–20 g shrimp every other day. Two patients continued sublingual immunotherapy but declined routine exposure to shrimp every other day because they had no intention to incorporate crustaceans to their routine diet. On repeat challenge 6–9 months after original challenge, all five patients who had routine exposure to 12–20 g shrimp every other day tolerated the procedure to target dose without any symptoms.ConclusionsDesensitization to shrimp by sublingual immunotherapy appears to be safe and effective as shown in this study. Whether the immune modification induced by sublingual immunotherapy is permanent resulting in sustained tolerance, or the achieved degree of desensitization depends on regular exposure is not known; therefore, following challenge, regular consumption three-four times per week was recommended.

Osmosis: A Natural Approach for Treating Constipation

Osmosis is a natural process that occurs in living organisms and plays a vital role in maintaining their health. This abstract investigates the effectiveness of treating constipation with salt water after getting out of bed in the morning using the process of osmosis. Constipation is a common bowel problem caused by diet, lifestyle, medications, or other factors that make stool hard or impede the ability to pass it comfortably, affecting people of all ages worldwide. By conducting osmosis, where solute molecules move through a semi permeable membrane from low solute concentration to high solute concentration, salt water treatment softens stool and facilitates bowel movements. This paper presents an overview of treatment protocols, including materials, methods and observational results. Preliminary findings indicate promising results, with participants experiencing increased frequency and ease of bowel movements after consuming salt water. This paper explores the benefits of osmosis in treating constipation and how it works. We discuss the osmosis and their mechanisms of action, as well as their safety and efficacy. Overall, we conclude that osmosis is a safe and effective way to treat constipation and has the potential to change the life style of millions of people across the Globe.

Association between bacterial vaginosis, Chlamydia trachomatis infection and tubal factor infertility in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo

BackgroundTubal factor infertility (TFI) is common in sub-Saharan Africa and often secondary to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Anaerobes associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) are also found in PIDs widely dominated by Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis), whose role in TFI is better demonstrated than that of BV.ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of BV and C. trachomatis and to investigate the association between BV, C. trachomatis and TFI.MethodsWe included 137 patients treated for infertility between January 2020 and November 2021. Cases were defined as women with infertility aged 18-45 years presenting with TFI (n = 52), and controls as infertile women in the same age groups without TFI (n = 85). Data on social habits, life style and infertility parameters were collected, and we performed screening for BV and C. trachomatis. Multiple regression was used to measure associations.ResultsThe prevalence of BV and C. trachomatis was 42.3% (58/137) and 23.4% (32/137), respectively. BV (61.5% vs 30.6%, p<0.001) and C. trachomatis (48.1 vs 8.2%, p<0.001) were more frequent in cases of TFI.BV and C. trachomatis increased the risk of TFI approximately 4-fold [aOR: 3.77 (1.61-8.83), p=0.002] and 14-fold [aOR: 13.77 (4.59-41.27), p<0.001], respectively.ConclusionBV and C. trachomatis infection are strongly associated with TFI in Bukavu. Prevention and screening should be implemented to reduce the risk of TFI.

Baby Vaccination Web Application

The Baby Vaccination System project aims to develop a comprehensive platform for managing child vaccination schedules efficiently. It incorporates frontend and backend development to provide users with tools for vaccine registration, tracking, and locating nearby vaccine centres. By targeting efficient management of vaccination schedules, the system contributes to public health initiatives and ensures timely immunisation for children. The objectives of the study include assessing the effectiveness of the system, evaluating user satisfaction, and determining the impact on vaccination completion rates. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative feedback collection. Participants include parents or guardians of children eligible for vaccination, healthcare providers, and system administrators. Data collection methods include system usage metrics, surveys, and interviews. Ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent, ensuring participant confidentiality, and adhering to relevant ethical guidelines. The study findings will provide insights into the usability and effectiveness of the Baby Vaccination System in improving vaccination management.In today’s life style due to the heavy burden and pressure of work it is difficult to remember vaccine period on new born baby as well as small once. Keywords: Blockchain Vaccination System, Healthcare, Immunization, Public Health, Technology Integration

Impact of Food Additives and Food Hybridization on Human Health W. R. T. Gara Visha

Food is an essential entity for all the living beings. Food habit is a key source of individual’s health. The quality of healthy life is dependent on the quality of food the person consumes. There are some protocols explained in Ayurveda for the processing and consumption of food through which one can achieve a healthy life and can increase the life expectancy. Since many years raw food is being processed with some or the other chemicals for its better Shelf-life, Taste, Appearance, Smell etc. for the purpose of mass distribution, attractiveness, large selling, Easy to cook, Easy to eat etc. And these all processing and generative methods fall under the term of Hybridization and Food additive criteria. In spite of being used with good purpose, a long term use of these products will give a bad impact on human health system. The health issues and deadly diseases which we are observing since last few decades could be probably due to these processing methods. The diseases like Cancer, Coronary diseases, Liver failure, Organ toxicity, all the metabolic and endocrinal disorders etc. are in a peak stage. And one among the reason could be the quality of food which is being used. These types of changes in life style will unknowingly lead to exposure of toxins in one or the other way. Which we can call it as a Gara visha (artificial/concealed poison). Gara visha is a type visha which is produced by combination of two or more non poisonous / poisonous substances. Through this poisoning symptoms/ disease may manifest in few weeks to months. Poisoning may generate through improper food habit, drugs , medications etc. Gara visha will produce symptoms such as Pandu(Anemia), Grahani(IBS), Hridrog(Heart diseases), Gulma(Tumors) etc.

Assessing Financial Inclusion Impact on Economic Empowerment in Pondicherry: A Study on Banking Scheme Beneficiaries

The Indian banking industry today is quite robust and strong to be able to take on the challenges of achieving greater financial inclusion. Access to affordable financial services, such as credit and insurance enlarges livelihood opportunities and empowers the poor to take care of their lives. These empowerment aids will create social and political stability. Customers who are account holders in Indian bank under financial inclusion scheme in Pondicherry formed the population of the study. The bank stated that thousands of customers were covered under this scheme. Since the study focus only on individual account holders, of financial inclusion. List of individual account holders was obtained from the bank case firm. Majority (60 per cent) of the respondents’ income was in the range of around Rs. 3,000 – 5, 000 per month. 64 per cent of sample respondents were living in the concrete roofed houses. About 37 per cent of respondents were visiting the bank once in a month followed 33 per cent visits as and when it requires. The economic empowerment index revealed that there was no significant improvement in the savings pattern, increase in income and housing condition and it was found that there was slow and insignificant level of economic empowerment taking place among the socially disadvantageous people even after the financial inclusion under NPPFI scheme implemented by banks. It could be concluded that the scheme had not brought any significant change in the life style and economic status of the people who are supposed to be its beneficiaries.

Sub-fertility and life style factors which affecting sub-fertility among women in Regional Director of Health Service area, Colombo

Sub-fertility and life style factors which affecting sub-fertility among women in Regional Director of Health Service area, Colombo

Pattern of Breast Cancer in Women at Child-bearing Age, its Risk Factors and Clinicopathological Evaluation in Tertiary Level Hospital

Background: Carcinoma breast is the leading cancer in female in Bangladesh, increasing significantly due to urbanization and adoption of western life style. Objective: This study aimed to systematically understand the pattern of breast cancer, its risk factors and clinicopathological evaluation in women at their childbearing age. Methods: A cross sectional observational study, data was collected from 50 patients of histopathologically confirmed breast cancer in the department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka from 2022 to 2023. Results: The majority of the cases were 41-45(42%) years age with mean presentation was 43.55 (SD-/+9.63) years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common subtype 86%, followed by ductal carcinoma in situ (8%). Of the cases 2% were nullipara and 46% had two children. Median age of at 1st birth was 21 years. A significant proportion (16%) had family history of breast cancer. 98% patients gave history of breast feeding. Conclusions: Breast cancer is increasingly occurring in younger age groups in Bangladesh, results suggested a mixture of different factors in women like age of menarche, age of first child birth, parity, history of breast feeding and family history poses higher risk for breast cancer. J Rang Med Col. March 2024; Vol. 9, No. 1:16-21

Assessing the Nutrient Intake, Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity Level of Obese and Non-obese Women in Hisar District, India: A Cross Sectional Study

The present study was conducted on thirty obese and thirty non-obese women (30-45 years) of Hisar district, Haryana to assess their mean nutrient intake, adequacy of intake of different nutrients, energy expenditure and physical activity level. The subjects did not exhibit any health complications and, overall, were in a state of good health. It was found that the mean intake of energy, protein, fat, folic acid and magnesium by respondents was comparable to Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) i.e 98 to 129 per cent of RDA. But when assessed on parameter of adequacy it was found that only 50 to 53.3 percent of respondents consumed adequate protein. Intake of most of the nutrients (iron, β-carotene, folic acid) under study, by them, was marginally adequate to inadequate when compared to the recommended values (with few exceptions). Calcium intake of 50 per cent of non-obese women was adequate while iron intake of 66.7 per cent of them was 50 to 74.9 per cent of RDA. All the obese and non-obese women were sedentary workers and consumed more energy than their requirement. This low intake in their nutrient intake may be due to inadequate intake of protective foods and it was felt that they need awareness regarding balanced diet and endorse adoption of a healthy life style by including minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity in their daily routines.

The Relationship Between Psychological Conditions and Gastrointestinal Symptoms of Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aims to explore the nexus between students' psychological well-being and the manifestation of gastrointestinal symptoms (GISs) amid the health lockdown enforced in Xi'an, focusing on the student populace of Xi'an Medical College and Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A survey encompassing psychological parameters and GISs was administered to a randomized cohort of 1327 college students drawn from Xi'an Medical College and Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The survey instrument was developed utilizing the Questionnaire Star platform. Subsequent to data collection, analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 9 and SPSS 22.0. Comparative analysis revealed statistically significant disparities (P < 0.05) in various GISs between the periods during and preceding the health lockdown, encompassing symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, acid reflux, postprandial fullness/early satiety, anorexia, decreased appetite, bloating, abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. Notably, the mean score for Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) was 3.31±3.92, indicating mild anxiety, while the mean score for Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) was 1.15±1.28, suggesting mild depression. Detailed evaluation of anxiety revealed prevalence rates of 34% among respondents, with 34.2% of these individuals reporting concurrent GISs, while among those evaluated for depression (38.8% of the sample), 44.2% reported concurrent GISs. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis unveiled a negative correlation between GISs during the health lockdown and lifestyle scores, while positive correlations were observed with GISs preceding the lockdown, anxiety, and depression. The formulated multiple linear regression equation for GISs during the health lockdown is delineated as follows: 14.693-0.342 life style + 0.725GISs before health lockdown + 0.218anxiety + 0.564 depression. This investigation underscores the substantial impact of anxiety and depression on the student body, accentuating their role in precipitating GISs during health lockdown situations. The psychological well-being of medical students during exigent circumstances such as natural disasters warrants heightened attention, necessitating proactive measures aimed at emotional regulation to mitigate the onset of GISs.

The Impact of Coping Styles on the Mental Health of Outstanding Physical Education Students in Shanghai During the Normalization Epidemic: The Chain Mediation Role of Meaning in Life and Prosocial Behavior.

The continuous spread of the epidemic has inflicted serious harm upon individual's mental well-being, and effective coping mechanisms are associated with positive mental health outcomes. Prosocial behavior and a sense of meaning in life can enhance individuals' subjective well-being, which can subsequently positively impact their mental health. Thus, in the context of epidemic prevention and control, this study investigates the relationship between the meaning in life, prosocial behavior, and coping styles of outstanding physical education students and the impact on their mental health. The study involved a questionnaire survey on 498 outstanding physical education students, consisting of 297 boys (mean age = 13.16) and 201 girls (mean age = 12.87 years). Subsequently, the data was analyzed using the mediating effect and Bootstrap tests. The coping style positively predicted the meaning in life (β=0.294) and prosocial behavior (β=0.293). Conversely, mental health was predicted in a negative direction (β=-0.494). Mental health negatively predicted prosocial behavior (β=-0.810), although prosocial behavior positively predicted meaning in life (β=0.644). Finally, prosocial behavior negatively predicted mental health (β=-0.513). Additionally, the interplay between prosocial behavior and meaning in life is established in terms of both the individual and chain mediating roles. This study demonstrates that coping styles during a normalized epidemic prevention and control situation directly impact the mental health of Shanghai's outstanding physical education students. Additionally, these coping styles indirectly influence mental health through the mediating effects of meaning in life and prosocial behaviors. Furthermore, meaning in life and prosocial behaviors act as chain mediators in this relationship.

VISUAL AVATAR IDENTIFICATION ON ONLINE GAME PLAYERS

There are many game system features in an online game and one of them is the avatar system. Avatar here is a system in the game, that gives player on the game an opportunity to dress up visual of their character according to what they want. Avatar has various types and forms that can be choose. This research aims to learn what kind of visual design avatar is preferred by online game players, which will provide an overview for game designers to create avatars in the game. This study uses a virtual ethnographic method that is connected with dramaturgical theory, how a person plays a role in the world of online games by using this avatar system. The results showed that avatars with style that match in real life are still more in demand than avatars with shapes that tend to be unique. Even though sometimes game players play different roles in the game world, they still tend to dress up their characters with visuals that match their style in real life in terms of avatar.

The Kind of Hedonism Life Styles Found in John Hughes’s The Home Alone Movie (1990)

This research was conducted to analyze the types of hedonism that exist in the 1990 Home Alone film. Home Alone itself is not even a film that focuses on luxury, this film focuses on a situation where a child lives alone at home and is terrorized by a group of robbers who want the priceless stuffs in the house. Several scene on this movie feature scenes related to lifestyle. One of them is the hedon lifestyle. It also includes experiences that are intrinsically valuable, such as reading a good book. Hedonic lifestyles can be divided into 2 (two), as follows: (a) Egoistic Hedonism and (b) Universal Hedonism. The method of this study is descriptive and qualitative. The object of this study is to analyze kind of the hedonism life style aspect in this movie. The author collects data primary data by watching scenes in the filmHome Alone to know and understand what the meaning of scenes shown in the film. In analyzing data, author use the literature study method which requires author to find and analyze research or journals from various sources. The results of the data there are has found kind of the Hedonism like eating style, house style, fashion style, pet option, and vacation style. All of them has divided into 2 kind of hedonism type egoistic and universal hedonism. By studying the case of hedonism in the film Home Alone 1990, it is hoped that readers will be able to choose wisely in seeking satisfaction/pleasure in life. So as to avoid the bad impacts of hedonism.

The nutrition and therapeutic potential of millets: an updated narrative review.

Millets are ancient small grains grown in arid and semiarid regions of the world. They are staple food for many people in Asia and Africa. They are abundant sources of minerals and vitamins, giving them the name Nutricereals. Moreover, millets contain valuable phytochemicals that impart therapeutic properties for various disorders and diseases, thus giving them nutraceutical value. A wide array of biochemical compounds are present in the plant parts as well as the grains. In the oldest texts of medicine in India and China, millets are mentioned for use for their medicinal value. There has been expanding interest and emerging facts about millets and their therapeutic uses. Ample evidence shows that consumption of millets amounts to correction of life style and metabolic disorders. Therapeutic properties of millets can be viewed in two ways, supplementary nutrition through minerals and vitamins, and therapeutic value through the presence of phytochemicals and specialty compounds that include flavonoids, phenolics, anthocyanidins and others that have antioxidant potential. Millets are gluten free, have low glycemic index and the phytochemicals aid in correction of lifestyle disorders and prevention of ailments like carcinogenesis. Supplementary benefits include treatment of anemia and calcium deficiency especially for pregnant women and young children. With the improvements in analytical methods for detection of various compounds, it is possible to identify the compound-specific genotypes in millets that can cater to the pharmacy industry. End-use specific genotypes can be bred to meet the demand. Millets being climate resilient, can contribute to a healthier life and better world through economic usage of natural resources.

Sleep quality and associated factors among undergraduate medical students in Delhi

Background: Sleep disturbances are common among medical students worldwide and affects their health and academic performance. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of sleep in undergraduate medical students of Delhi. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 234 undergraduate students from medical college in New Delhi. A pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and life style details and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to study the quality of sleep. Data was analyzed by SPSS software version 25.0 and for qualitative data analysis chi-square test was used. Results: Mean age of study subjects was 21.99±1.74 years and males (67.5%) were more as compared to (32.5%) females. Most of the participants 47.4% were in first and second year, 35.5% were from third and final year and 17.1% were interns. Out of 234 participants, only 44% of study participants has good quality of sleep. Most of study participants (56%) were suffering from poor sleep quality. Batch of MBBS, relationship status, BMI and dietary habits of participants were found to be significant predictors of quality of sleep. Conclusions: This study shows that 56% of study participants were suffering from poor quality of sleep. Professionals and medical students who suffer from poor sleep quality have a higher risk of misjudgements, substance abuse, accidents, burnout, anxiety, and depression. So, there is a need to improve knowledge regarding importance of good sleep quality among medical students.