Background: Throughout the world, a large number of surveys have been carried out to find the prevalence of dementia with variable results. Aims: This study was to generate data on the prevalence of dementia and to generate a hypothesis on the differential distribution across populations. Materials and Methods: Four settings identified for the purpose of this study included a migrant, urban, rural, and tribal. The study was conducted in two phases: 1) A screening phase and 2) a clinical phase, on 2,000 individuals above 60 years of age. To complete the required sample of 2,000 elderly individuals, 500 individuals were approached from each site. Nobody refused to participate. Results: A total of 32/2,000 (1.6%) elderly individuals were classified as demented. No case of dementia was reported from tribal population. A look at sex differential reveals that majority (21/32; 66%) of individuals identified as demented were females. As age advanced scores on cognitive screen decreased with elders above 80 years of age showing lowest scores. Out of 32, 18 (56%) of patients classified as demented were more than 80 years of age. Conclusion: The findings of this study are in agreement with previous studies which point towards differential distribution of dementia across populations.

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Background: Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale is a 65 item self administered open source questionnaire. The scale is widely used in clinical practice but its psychometric properties are not well established. Therefore keeping in mind this lacuna the current study was designed for university population of poor sleepers in India. Aims: The purpose of this study was to establish the Pittsburgh sleep Quality Index test- retest reliability, validity and internal consistency of Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale. Materials and Methods: Twenty five subjects were randomly chosen from the screened population of poor sleepers. Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index and Insomnia severity index were administered on test day. Retest was administered after one week. Results: Eight males and seventeen females with mean age 24 + 7.04 were recruited. The test retest reliability for Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale total score showed excellent reliability (ICC _2,1 -0.93). The results also show that the total score is moderately correlated with Pittsburgh sleep Quality Index (r-0.31) and moderately correlated with Insomnia severity index (r-0.49). Internal consistency for the test was excellent (Cronbach's alpha- 0.930) Conclusion: The study findings suggest that Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale has excellent internal consistency, test-retest reliability and good validity for university population of poor sleepers in India. It is an important first line of assessment scale for screening of sleep problems.

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Context : Ventricular standstill (VS) is an uncommon electrophysiological phenomenon and usually manifests as syncope. Rarely has a case been reported where the patient has been totally asymptomatic, and it has resolved spontaneously. Case Report : We report a case of complete VS and high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block in a 50-year-old female, who was admitted for nausea, vomiting, and chest pain. The patient never had a syncopal episode, even though she was in VS for more than 10 s. Conclusion : Such degree of conduction abnormality without any syncope has not been reported so far. Her electrophysiological abnormality was attributed to profound vagotonic effect and was treated with a permanent pacemaker.

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Background: Oxidative stress has repeatedly been implicated as the leading cause of several disease conditions. Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effects of nicotine administration on serum antioxidant levels in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: Forty male rats (150-180 g) were divided into five groups and treated orally for 30 days. Group I (control) received 0.2 ml/kg normal saline and Groups II and III received 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg body weight (BW) of nicotine, respectively for 30 days. The fourth and fifth groups were administered with 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg BW of nicotine for 30 days, but were left untreated for another 30 days. Serum was assayed for nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme. Results: The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg nicotine treated groups. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while NO and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in 1.0 mg/kg treated group when compared with the control. Conclusion: The present study shows that nicotine administration is associated with decreased serum antioxidant and increase lipid peroxidation ameliorated by nicotine withdrawal in male rat.

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