Discussion & Summary
- 1. The control group was the participants of IA on day 0, and the study group was the same participants post IA, day 21. Hence, human variations of gene expression between control and study groups have been completely avoided.
- 2. 420 up regulated and 165 down regulated entities have been demonstrated within a short period of 21 days. The shortest previous study done at Harvard Medical School was of 8 weeks duration.
- 3. Gene ontology studies and pathway analysis has shown significant gene expression differences in 22 pathways.
- 4. MeSH pathway analysis, further subdivided the GO pathways under the following:
- Auto Immunity
- Neurotransmitter
- Malignancy
- Androgen related
- Mitochondria
There is a 7 fold increase in pathways related to Immune modulation, Inflammation, Hypoxia regulation etc. This matches with the clinical relief of inflammatory symptoms in the IA participants, both in relation to autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions.
MAP-K signalling pathways are largely implicated in long term potentiation involving in learning and memory. Eight children participated in the eN-genius program in parallel with the IA program, and their memory and ability to recall were tested and recorded before and after 21 days. The significant improvement in memory correlates well with the MAP-K gene up regulation.
Almost 117 gene expression changes with relationship to various known malignancies were noticed following MeSH analysis; however none of the registered participants had any recorded malignant conditions during the IA processes.
There was more than 7 fold increase in Androgen receptor activity and other Androgen mediated signalling events. It is well known in Vedic/yogic literature that intense practice of certain Kriyas and meditation can lead to a natural suppression of sex-related desires (Mooladhara Chakra), which, similar to insulin resistance, would lead to up regulation of androgen receptors in peripheral cells. The only other condition where such up regulation of androgen receptors is seen is in prostate cancer. However, none of the participants had any history of cancer of the prostate.
Previous study on the mitochondrial activity of IA participants using the MTT assay techniques revealed a 967% increase of mitochondrial activity. This correlates well with the current finding of a significant increase of MAP-K and other related pathways, which are essential in increasing both the number and size of mitochondria.
Techniques of pranayama, which include various forms of bandhas and kumbhakas, would naturally be expected to affect oxygen homeostasis under hypoxic conditions, and the up regulation of the HIF-1-alpha signifies the same.
Further studies in collaboration with Ohio State Medical University, may provide greater information on changes in mitochondrial activity in relation to age, health and disease.
Studies are being structured to do concomitant fMRI and QEEG studies to correlate with neurotransmitter activity in relation to normal brain physiology and psychiatric illnesses.
The study was conducted at Dhyanapeetam, using processes under the guidance of THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM.
This study was funded by Dhyanapeetam, and the data, results and the copy right are the sole property of Dhyanapeetam.
References
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