The voluntary religious undertaking of fasting has attracted scientific, religious and popular interest due to its supposed health benefits. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of intermittent fasting on such parameters as body weight, blood glucose, uric acid and blood lipid profile among healthy volunteers.Seventy-five consenting Muslim medical students resident in the medical students’ hostel of the College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria were recruited during the month of Ramadan 1428AH corresponding to September 2007. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical indices including plasma glucose, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and uric acid were evaluated a week before, three weeks into and a month after Ramadan.BMI showed significant difference in all subjects during and after Ramadan fasting, however the body weight and BMI parameters were insignificant in gender analysis. We also recorded no overall changes in total cholesterol, TG and LDL during Ramadan. However, significant increase in HDL and a slight increase in plasma glucose levels were noted during Ramadan. Further, there weresignificant increases in TG level during Ramadan and in both TG and total cholesterol after Ramadan in females. However, the atherogenic index decreased in males. BMI, total cholesterol, LDL, uric acid and atherogenic index were all decreased in overweight subjects.Females demonstrated increases in TG before Ramadan and in both TG and total cholesterol after Ramadan. Differences in the levels of physical activity, eating pattern and the fact that not all females completed the Ramadan fasting may be responsible for this observation

Despite the wealth of evidence for unfavourable effects of salt consumption on blood pressure dietary adherence remains unachievable. Behaviour modification by considering the perceived barriers has emerged as a promising control measure. This is a cross sectional study carried out in primary health centre of Chidambaram to assess the level of perceived barriers to salt restriction among known hypertensive patients in an urban population and to find out the various factors influencing the level of barriers. The study assessed known hypertensive patients for their prior behaviours and perceived barriers in following salt restriction along with dietary sodium estimation and clinical details. The barriers perceived by the participants were assessed and categorized as less, moderate and severe using Fredmann test. It was analyzed for association with factors of prior behaviour, duration of disease and treatment regularity using ANOVA. The study revealed no association between socio-demographic factors and perceived barriers yet duration of disease and treatment regularity had positive association with perceived barriers which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Also prior behaviours were statistically associated with perceived barriers (p<0.05). This study highlights the importance of knowledge of perceived barriers to encourage behavioural change for adapting salt restriction as a healthy practice

Food borne diseases are the major health problems in developing countries like India. The problem is more noticeable due to prevailing poor food handling and sanitation practices. Street food vending has been increasing for several years but this growth presents public health challenge with evidence of diarrheal diseases. Emerging needs for understanding the food hygiene knowledge of street food vendors to ensure hygienic preparation of street foods is essential. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of knowledge on food hygiene among street food vendors in urban Chidambaram. The study conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A total of 50 street food vendors were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected by conducting face to face interview using a semistructured questionnaire. The questionnaire was peer-reviewed and pilot tested before the final version. The questionnaire were structured into three distinctive parts to collect information on demographic characteristics, personal hygiene and knowledge on food safety .Among the study participants majority were of the age group 20 to 29 yrs ie 25[50%] majority of the participants were males 35[70%] and 33[66%] were married. With regards to cooking process 44[88%] of participants had moderate knowledge with mean score of 59.66±12.63. Knowledge about diseases was also adequate among 46[92%] participants with mean score of 97.33±9.13. .The study shows the overall knowledge level on food hygiene among street food vendors were adequate with 82.63±6.40. The factors like age, gender, education, type of shop or years of experience had no significant association with the knowledge levels of the participants. To conclude, Food vendors should be adequately educated on the role of food in disease transmission as well as on rules of personal hygiene and approved practices in handling street food

Nerve conduction study (NCS) measures how quickly electrical signals move through peripheral nerve. It is used to assess peripheral nerve dysfunction thus diagnose the types of neuropathy, and nerve damage. The purpose of this study was to observe the significance of recording nerve conduction parameters (NCP) of common peroneal nerve (CPN) from tibialis anterior (TA) muscle in neuropathic subjects. This study included 153 subjects which were grouped, on the basis of clinical and routine NCS in to normal healthy subjects and neuropathic patients; axonal and demyelinating types. Nerve conduction parameters were recorded and analyzed by using Digital EMG machine. After categorizing the subjects, the recordings of NCP were also obtained from TA muscle on stimulation of CPN, above and below the head of fibula. Study was performed at recommended temperature (32-340C). For statistics, the data was analyzed using MS Excel 2010 and Graph pad Prism6. A t-test was applied to see the significance of NCP recorded from TA and compared it with the NCP obtained from extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle in different categories of selected subjects. P-values < 0.5 were considered significant. The comparison of most NCP between TA and EDB was highly significant in these categories of selected subjects. In neuropathic patients, more than 40% were non responsive to EDB stimulation while recording from TA was comparatively convincing. Findings of the study showed that the recording of nerve conduction parameters from TA is very useful in severe neuropathic condition, therefore, should be performed routinely in nerve conduction study