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Adipokines have an important role in the pathophysiology of overweight and obesity and associated inflammatory diseases. The present review aims to evaluate the role of Yoga on adipokines among people with overweight and obesity. Authors performed a systematic search for relevant research studies as per the PRISMA guidelines in Google Scholar, Medline/Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsychInfo electronic databases. Two independent authors conducted the selection of articles, data extraction, assessment of the risk of bias for individual studies. Any disagreements were resolved by discussion with the third author. Eight randomized trials and four uncontrolled trials involving a total of 1054 participants were included. Yoga with varying frequencies was administered for different durations. The studied adipokines among overweight and obese were leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), chemerin, visfatin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). The methodological quality of the included studies was low to moderate on the Cochrane risk of bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The higher the frequency and duration of Yoga practice, the more significant changes in the adipokine levels were seen. The present review indicates that Yoga practices positively impacts adipokines among people with overweight and obesity. However, the present study precludes the generalizability of results due to the methodological heterogeneity, the type of Yoga intervention, and settings.

Context: HIV/AIDS individuals have problems relating to immune system, quality of life (QOL), and cognitive functions (CFs). Yoga is found to be useful in similar conditions. Hardly, any work is reported on yoga for HIV-positive adults/adolescents. Hence, this study is important. Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the effect of yoga on immune parameters, CFs, and QOL of HIV-positive children/adolescents. Settings and Design: Single-group, pre-post study with 4-month yoga intervention. Methods: The study had 18 children from an HIV/AIDS rehabilitation center for children/adolescents. CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio, and viral loads were studied. CF tests included six letter cancellation test, symbol digit modalities test, digit-span forward backward test, and Stroop tests. QOL was assessed using PedsQL-QOL and fatigue questionnaire. Depression was assessed using CDI2-SR. Statistical Analysis Used: t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, as applicable. Results: The study included 18 children/adolescents. There was improvement in general health of the participants. There was statistically significant increase in CD4 cells counts (p = 0.039) and significant decrease in viral load (p = 0.041). CD4/CD8 ratio moved to normal range. QOL significantly improved. CFs had mixed results with improved psychomotor performance (PP) and reduced executive functions. Conclusions: There was improvement in general health and immune parameters. While depression increased, QOL improved. CFs showed mixed results with improved PP and reduced executive functions.

Regulation of cellular growth implies spatiotemporally coordinated programmes of gene transcription. A central question, therefore, is how global transcription is coordinated in the genome. The growth of the unicellular organism Escherichia coli is associated with changes in both the global superhelicity modulated by cellular topoisomerase activity and the relative proportions of the abundant DNA‐architectural chromatin proteins. Using a DNA‐microarray‐based approach that combines mutations in the genes of two important chromatin proteins with induced changes of DNA superhelicity, we demonstrate that genomic transcription is tightly associated with the spatial distribution of supercoiling sensitivity, which in turn depends on chromatin proteins. We further demonstrate that essential metabolic pathways involved in the maintenance of growth respond distinctly to changes of superhelicity. We infer that a homeostatic mechanism organizing the supercoiling sensitivity is coordinating the growth‐phase‐dependent transcription of the genome.

IntroductionThe conceptualisation of healthy ageing phenotype (HAP) and the availability of a tentative panel for HAP biomarkers raise the need to test the efficacy of potential interventions to promote health in older adults. This study protocol reports the methodology for a 24-week programme to explore the holistic influence of the yoga-based intervention on the (bio)markers of HAP.Methods and analysisThe study is a two-armed, randomised waitlist controlled trial with blinded outcome assessors and multiple primary outcomes. We aim to recruit 250 subjects, aged 60–80 years from the residential communities and old age clubs in Bangalore city, India, who will undergo randomisation into intervention or control arms (1:1). The intervention will include a yoga-based programme tailored for the older adults, 1 hour per day for 6 days a week, spread for 24 weeks. Data would be collected at the baseline and post-intervention, the 24th week. The multiple primary outcomes of the study are the (bio)markers of HAP: glycated haemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), systolic blood pressure, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s for physiological and metabolic health; Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Trail Making Tests A and B for cognition; hand grip strength and gait speed for physical capability; loneliness for social well-being and WHO Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form for quality of life. The secondary outcomes include inflammatory markers, tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptor II, C reactive protein, interleukin 6 and serum Klotho levels. Analyses will be by intention-to-treat and the holistic impact of yoga on HAP will be assessed using global statistical test.Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana University, Bangalore (ID: RES/IEC-SVYASA/143/2019). Written informed consent will be obtained from each participant prior to inclusion. Results will be available through research articles and conferences.Trial registration numberCTRI/2021/02/031373.

Vomiting is a complex autonomic reflex orchestrated by several neurological centres in the brain. Vagus, the cranial nerve plays a key role in regulation of vomiting. Kunjal Kriya (Voluntarily Induced Vomiting), is a yogic cleansing technique which involves voluntarily inducing vomiting after drinking saline water (5%) on empty stomach. This study was designed with an objective to understand the effect of voluntary induced vomiting (ViV) on pulmonary functions in experienced practitioners and novices and derive its possible therapeutic applications. Eighteen healthy individuals volunteered for the study of which nine had prior experience of ViV while nine did not. Pulmonary function tests were performed before and after 10 min of rest following ViV. Analysis of Covariance was performed adjusted for gender and baseline values. No significant changes were observed across genders. The results of the present study suggest a significant increase in Slow Vital Capacity [F(1,13) = 5.699; p = 0.03] and Forced Inspiratory Volume in 1st Second [p = 0.02] and reduction in Expiratory Reserve Volume [F(1,13) = 5.029; p = 0.04] and Respiratory Rate [F(1,13) = 3.244, p = 0.09]. These changes suggest the possible role of ViV in enhancing the endurance of the respiratory muscles, decreased airway resistance, better emptying of lungs and vagal predominance respectively. We conclude that ViV when practiced regularly enhances the endurance of the respiratory muscles and decreases airway resistance. These findings also indicate need for scientific understanding of ViV in the management of motion sickness and restrictive pulmonary disorders like bronchitis and bronchial asthma.

Extreme environments are inherently stressful and are characterized by a variety of physical and psychosocial stressors, including, but not limited to, isolation, confinement, social tensions, minimal possibility of medical evacuation, boredom, monotony, and danger. Previous research studies recommend adaptation to the environment to maintain optimal function and remain healthy. Different interventions have been tried in the past for effective management of stress. Yoga practices have been shown to be beneficial for coping with stress and enhance quality of life, sleep and immune status. The current article describes preparation of a Yoga module for better management of stressors in extreme environmental condition of Antarctica. A Yoga module was designed based on the traditional and contemporary yoga literature as well as published studies. The Yoga module was sent for validation to forty experts of which thirty responded. Experts (n = 30) gave their opinion on the usefulness of the yoga module. In total 29 out of 30 practices were retained. The average content validity ratio and intra class correlation of the entire module was 0.89 & 0.78 respectively. A specific yoga module for coping and facilitating adaptation in Antarctica was designed and validated. This module was used in the 35th Indian Scientific expedition to Antarctica, and experiments are underway to understand the efficacy and utility of Yoga on psychological stress, sleep, serum biomarkers and gene expression. Further outcomes shall provide the efficacy and utility of this module in Antarctic environments.

Yoga is the most popular form of alternative medicine for the management of diabetes mellitus type 2. The electro-photonic imaging (EPI) is another contribution from alternative medicine in health monitoring. To evaluate diabetes from EPI perspective. (1) Compare various EPI parameters in normal, prediabetic and diabetic patients. (2) Find difference in controlled and uncontrolled diabetes. (3) Study the effect of 7 days diabetes-specific yoga program. For the first objective, there were 102 patients (normal 29, prediabetic 13, diabetic 60). In the second study, there were 60 patients (controlled diabetes 27, uncontrolled diabetes 33). The third study comprised 37 patients. EPI parameters were related to general health as well to specific organs. In the first study, significant difference was observed between (1) Diabetics and normal: average intensity 5.978, form coefficient 3.590, immune organs 0.281 all < 0.001; (2) Diabetics and prediabetics: average intensity 6.676, form coefficient 4.158, immune organs 5.890 < 0.032; (3) Normal and prediabetes: immune organs (-6.171 = 000). In the second study, remarkable difference was in the immune organs (0.201, = 0.031). In the pre- and post-study, the mean difference was: area 630.37, form coefficient 1.78, entropy 0.03, liver 0.24, pancreas 0.17, coronary vessels 0.11, and left kidney 29, with all < 0.02. There is a significant difference in EPI parameters between normal, prediabetics and diabetics, the prominent being average intensity, form coefficient, and immune organs. Between controlled and uncontrolled diabetes, immune organs show significant change. Intervention of yoga results in change in most parameters.

Background People with visual impairment (VI) tend to face more psychological distress than normally sighted individuals due to mobility restrictions, fear of falling, and sleep disturbances. However, research to address these problems is rare. This study aims to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based yoga versus physical exercise on the psychological well-being of individuals with VI. Methods This study will be a single-blinded, three-armed, multicentered, randomized controlled trial (RCT). A total of 132 participants with VI (ages 15-25) will be recruited in the study and will be randomly assigned to either group 1 (mindfulness-based yoga), group 2 (physical exercise), or group 3 (wait-list control). Groups 1 and 2 will receive intervention for 40 hours (eight weeks, weekly five days, one hour/day), whereas group 3 will continue their daily activities as usual. The intervention will take place in the afternoon from Monday to Friday. The timing varies between 4-5 pm according to the different time schedules of the institutions of the blind. Three times, assessments will be conducted at T0 (baseline), T1 (eighth week at the completion of the intervention), and T2 (sixth month following the completion of the intervention). ANOVA will be used to find out the differences between groups; repeated measures ANOVA will be used to check within-group changes. Trial status The study was first screened in December 2021. The recruitment of participants has been completed in two centers covering 62 individuals with VI, and intervention started in August 2022. The data collection is still ongoing due to the nature of the study design, a specific demographic, complex logistics, and administrative bottlenecks. The study incorporates three different groups and a substantial sample size (n=132). The specific demographic, people with visual impairments, are rare and difficult to locate. In addition, a six-month follow-up assessment contributes to complex procedures while coordinating between various institutions and securing necessary authorizations. Discussion This study will be the first comprehensive RCT to investigate the psychological well-being of the VI population with various psychophysiological and hormonal parameters in multiple centers. The presence of physical exercise and a wait-list control group will further elucidate the potential mechanism of Mindfulness-based yoga. Mindfulness-based yoga can be integrated into educational and rehabilitation systems to enhance the well-being of individuals with VI.