Department of Physiology at Kshema

Department of Physiology

The Department of Physiology caters to the pre-clinical physiology requirements for medical, dental, physiotherapy, nursing students and allied health science courses like Biomedical Sciences, Medical laboratory technology, Medical Imaging Technology, Anesthesia & operation theatre technology, B. Sc. Renal dialysis technology and BSc Radiation Therapy Technology. It also offers MD and Ph.D. courses. The department has an excellent teaching-learning infrastructure including laboratories-Hematology, Human physiology, Clinical physiology, Amphibian physiology, Mammalian physiology and Research laboratories. The Hematology laboratory with facilities for training in Haemoglobinometry, Blood cell counts, Blood grouping and typing and Hemostasis tests. The Human Physiology Laboratory quipped with 8 Digital Data Acquisition work stations for performing lung function tests, autonomic function tests and demonstrating muscle fatigue in human subjects and the Clinical Physiology Laboratory for training in basics of clinical examination and BLS training. The Amphibian/Mammalian laboratories have facilities for both conventional and simulation experiments. There is also a departmental library, a seminar room and two demonstration rooms. The department is actively involved in initiation of innovative teaching-learning and assessment practices for implementation of CBME curriculum. The department also has an E-Learning Course Web-page on NUeLearn.

For any information regarding the admissions,mail us at: info@nitte.edu.in

Senior Resident

Dr. AMRUTHA AITHAL

Tutor

DR. ABHISHEK MANOHARAN

Tutor

Autonomic Neurosciences
Biological Ageing
Psychophysiology
Medical Education
Cognitive function Studies

Physiology Research lab is equipped with 4-channel hi-resolution Digital Data Acquisition System to evaluate Cardiovascular Autonomic function testing including Heart Rate Variability. Psychophysiology studies facility including Sympathetic Skin Responses/Electro dermal Activity recorder and Stimulus Presentation System. Department research laboratory is also equipped with Anthropometry equipment – Body Fat Mass Analyzer, Skin-fold thickness calipers and hand dynamometer for evaluate the phenotypic biological biomarkers of ageing. Physiology department is carrying out collaborative research with clinical departments that include Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology and General Medicine. For Cognitive function studies using animal model, department collaborates with department of Pharmacology, Nitte University center for science education and research (NUCSER) and Mangalore University. The Department currently has ongoing extramural, intramural funded research projects and in last five years department has published 50 research papers in indexed journals.

List of related Research Projects (In last Five years)

Ongoing Research projects

Sl.No	Title of the Project	Funding agency
1	A novel dietary approach for foetal programming of major chronic disorders in adult life using albino wistar rats- a prospective case control study.	ICMR-Adhoc
2	Evaluation of Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in Relation to Serum Vitamin D Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study	Nitte University
3	Perinatal stress and dietary modulation on gut microbiota and their impact on cardio metabolic outcomes in Albino Wistar rats.	Nitte University

Completed Research projects in the Department

Sl.No	Title of the Project	Funding agency
1	Electrophysiological and Biochemical Indicators in Autism spectrum Disorders	ICMR-DHR
2	Correlation of salivary bio-markers with anthropometric indices for screening cardio metabolic risk in professional under graduates	Nitte University
3	Perinatal programming of adult health-an observational study	Nitte University

Number of Student short term projects funded by ICMR in last five years-11

Ph.D. Program

1. Number of Ph.D. awarded -03

2. Number of students pursuing Ph.D. - 05

Achievements

Dr. Damodara Gowda obtained in depth training on molecular techniques at Dr. Zhou’s lab, COP, University of Florida, USA
Dr. Damodara Gowda received best Research Paper Award, Nitte (Deemed to be University), 2019
Dr. Damodara Gowda received Best Paper Award, International Conference on Radiation Biology, 2018
Dr. Damodara Gowda, presented research paper entitled “Role of Maternal Astaxanthin Supplementation on Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Spatial Learning Behavior in Wistar Rat Offspring’s” in the international conference conducted by the Malaysian Society of Pharmacology and Physiology at University Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, between Aug 18-19th 2017
Dr. Shailaja Moodithaya Awarded partial travel grant for the participation of 15th Australasian Menopause Society Congress at Brisbane, Australia, held on 9th to 11th 2011
Dr. Shailaja Moodithaya Awarded Observership at Sensory Integration Lab, College of Health Professions Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Dr. Harsha H N Presented a paper entitled “A language-independent fMRI paradigm of prospective memory activates the bilateral rostral prefrontal cortices in healthy subjects” at the Annual Meeting of Society for Neuroscience – 2010 held between 13th Nov to 17th Nov at San Diego, USA. Paper was selected for the SfN Graduate Travel Award for the year 2010

Dr. AMRITH M. MIRAJKAR

Designation Professor & Head
Email ammirajkar9@nitte.edu.in
Contact No.
Joining date

Bharath R, Moodithaya SS, Halahalli H, Undaru SB, Nallilu SK, Mirajkar AM. Evaluation of sympathetic sudomotor responses to auditory stimuli in children with autism spectrum disorders. Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 1;62(5):494
Bharath R, Moodithaya SS, Bhat SU, Mirajkar AM, Shetty SB. Comparison of physiological and biochemical autonomic indices in children with and without autism spectrum disorders. Medicina. 2019 Jul;55(7):346
Hitha H, Gowda D, Mirajkar A. Serum ferritin level as an early indicator of metabolic dysregulation in young obese adults-a cross-sectional study. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology. 2018;96(12):1255-60.
Kishan A, Shastry N, Moodithaya SS, Mirajkar AM, Shetty PK. Diminished Vagal Tone and Enhanced Sympathetic Drive During Third Trimester of Gestation Among Healthy Women-A Cross Sectional Study. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2018;62(4):407-12
Shastry N, Mirajkar AM, Moodithaya SS, Halahalli HN. Resting heart rate variability and cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy young adults. Indian Journal of Medical Specialities. 2017 Jan 1;8(1):17-20.

Physiology

Vice Dean(Academics), KS Hegde Medical Academy, Deralakatte,Mangalore, Nitte (Deemed to be University) Chairman, Board of Studies(Pre Clinical), Nitte(Deemed to be University)

Dr. HARSHA H.N.

Designation Professor
Email harsha@nitte.edu.in
Contact No.
Joining date

John, J. P., Parekh, P., Halahalli, H. N., Menon, S., & Kutty, B. M. (2017). Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia: A Model for Aberrant Self-consciousness. In Self, Culture and Consciousness (pp. 123-149). Springer, Singapore
Shastry, N., Mirajkar, A. M., Moodithaya, S. S., & Halahalli, H. N. (2017). Resting heart rate variability and cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy young adults. Indian Journal of Medical Specialities, 8(1), 17-20
Halahalli, H. N., John, J. P., Lukose, A., Jain, S., & Kutty, B. M. (2015). Endogenous-cue prospective memory involving incremental updating of working memory: an fMRI study. Brain Structure and Function, 220(6), 3611-3626
Vijayakumari, A. A., John, J. P., Halahalli, H. N., Paul, P., Thirunavukkarasu, P., Purushottam, M., & Jain, S. (2015). Effect of polymorphisms of three genes mediating monoamine signaling on brain morphometry in schizophrenia and healthy subjects. Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience, 13(1), 68
Shakeel, M. K., Halahalli, H. N., Kumar, K., Jain, S., & John, J. P. (2014). Utility of a computerized, paced semantic verbal fluency paradigm in differentiating schizophrenia and healthy subjects. Asian journal of psychiatry, 7, 22-27.

Physiology

Director, Curriculum Development, NitteDU; IQAC Coordinator, NitteDU

Dr.(Mrs.) SHAILAJA S.MOODITHAYA

Designation Professor
Email Shailaja.moodithaya@nitte.edu.in
Contact No.
Joining date

M.Sc, Ph.D

Awarded partial travel grant for the participation of 15th Australasian Menopause Society Congress at Brisbane, Australia, held on 9th to 11th September 2011

4th APPICON held between 29th Nov to 1st Dec, 2018, at KMC,Manipal titled ' Oxidative Stress And Cellular Aging Biomarkers in Diabetes Mellitus Patients with and Without Insulin Therapy'
2nd International Conference on Aging and Gerontology held at San Diego, USA, on June 26-28, 2017, titled "Association of Tightness of Glycemic Control with Biomarkers of Ageing in Healthy and Diabetic Subjects"

Publications

Bharath R, ShailajaSM , Halahalli H,Undaru SB, Nallilu SK, Mirajkar AM. Evaluation of sympathetic sudomotor responses to auditory stimuli in children with autism spectrum disorders. Indian J Psychiatry 2020;62:494-500
Ashwini, Shailaja SM, Shetty PK, Mirajkar AM. Impact of maternal anthropometric parameters, physical activity level, and psychological stress on cardiac autonomic activity during the third trimester of pregnancy. Research J of Pharma Biol and Chem Sciences 2020; 11(4):73-82
Remya B , Shailaja SM, Shrinivasa U. Bhat, Amrit M. ,Sumanth BS. Comparison of Physiological and Biochemical Autonomic Indices in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders. Medicina 2019, 55: 346 doi:10.3390/medicina55070346 www.mdpi.com/journal/medicina
Shruthi Suvarna H I ,Shailaja SM , Raghava Sharma.Metabolic and Cardiovascular Ageing Indices in Relation to Glycated Haemoglobin in Healthy and Diabetic Subjects :Current Ageing Science. 2017 10 (3)201-210
Shailaja SM, Damodar G, Suchetha Kumari. Anti-aging role of Curcumin by modulating the inflammatory markers in albino Wistar rats -Journal of National Medical Association; 2017 vol 109, No 1, 9-13

Physiology

Grant of Rs. 12,50,000/- has been sectioned for a project entitled " Select electrophysiological and biochemical indicators in Autism spectrum disorders" Department of Health Research.ICMR-DHR -2016
Grant of Rs. 14,55,000/- has been sanctioned for the project titled "Comparative and synergistic Radioprotective Effects of Cocos nucifera water and Trans-Zeatin on Electron Beam Irradiated Swiss Albino Mice". This project is funded by Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Government of India.-2012

Dr. ASHWINI

Designation Associate Professor
Email prasadsahwini2@nitte.edu.in
Contact No.
Joining date

MBBS, MD

Women health research Psychological stress research

Publications:

Neetha Shastry, Ashwini, Namratha Shetty, Amrit M Mirajkar Cardiac Vagal Tone and Anthropometric Parameters in Healthy Young Adults- Can Altered Cardiac Vagal Tone Predict Development of Obesity?. Journal of Medical Science and Clinical Research 2017;5(7); 24967-72
Ashwini Kishan, Shailaja S Moodithaya, Amrit M Mirajkar Evaluation of association between psychological stress level during the menopausal transition period and serum estrogen level among middle-aged women: A cross-sectional study. National Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2017;7(10)
Ashwini, Nikitha M, Shailaja S Moodithaya, A M Mirajkar. Electrodermal response to Auditory stimuli in relation to menopausal transition period. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2018; 29(2): 123-129
Ashwini, Neetha Shastry, Shailaja S Moodithaya, Amrit M Mirajkar, Prasanna Kumar Shetty, Diminished Vagal Tone and Enhanced Sympathetic Drive During Third Trimester of Gestation Among Healthy Women - A Cross Sectional Study. Indian J Physiology and Pharmacology 2018; 62(3):407-12
Ashwini, Moodithaya S, Shetty PK, Mirajkar AM. Impact of maternal anthropometric parameters, physical activity level, and psychological stress on cardiac autonomic activity during the third trimester of pregnancy. Research J of Pharma Biol and Chem Sciences 2020; 11(4):73-82.

Conferences:

Presented a research paper entitled "Evaluation of association of Maternal Perceived stress level with autonomic and biochemical markers of stress" in 5th Annual National Conference of Association of Physiologists of India, organized by Department of Physiology, Pramukhswami Medical college, Karamsad, Gujarat held on 27th to 29th September 2018
Presented a research paper entitled "Evaluation of association of Maternal Prenatal Cardiac Autonomic Nervous function with Postnatal Psychological Stress Level" in 63rd Annual National Conference of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, Organized by Department of Physiology, JIPMER, Puducherry held on 12th to 14th October 2017

Physiology

Association of Maternal Psychological Stress with changes in Insulin Resistance during Antenatal and Postnatal period (self-funded) Investigators: Dr Ashwini, Dr Shailaja S Moodithaya, Dr Prasanna Kumar Shetty
The attitude, Compliance of preventive measures and psychological implications of evolving risk of coronavirus disease 2019 among elderly population (Nitte University) Investigators: Dr Pooja Nayak, Dr Ashwini
Association between Hemoglobin status and Blood Pressure Responses to Isometric Handgrip Test among young females (ICMR-STS-2018)
Influence of dietary fiber consumption on the severity of premenstrual symptoms, primary dysmenorrhoea among young adults - A cross sectional study (ICMR-STS-2017)

Dr. DAMODHAR GOWDA K.M.

Designation Associate Professor
Email dr_damodar@nitte.edu.in
Contact No.
Joining date

Best paper award-2018 during the oral presentation at International Conference on Radiation Biology (ICRB) held from 4th to 16th Oct 2018
Best research paper award-2018 published from KSHEMA by Nitte (Deemed to be University) for the publication of an original article in a Q2 Journal (Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, Impact Factor: 2.21)
Research Excellence award-2020 for the original article publication in a Q2 Journal (Nutritional Neuroscience, Impact Factor: 4.028). The article titled Role of Astaxanthin in the Modulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Spatial Learning Behaviour in Perinatally Undernourished Wistar Rats was published in Nutritional Neuroscience. 2020 Jun;23(6):422-31.

Presented a paper (oral) titled "Efficacy of Curcumin on metabolic disorders in the adult life of perinatally undernourished wistar rats" in 'BMS e-CON' organized by the Departments of Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology and Center for Biomedical Research, AVMCH, Puducherry, India held from 17th to 19th September, 2020
Presented a paper (oral) titled "Cognitive outcomes in perinatally undernourished rats and its modulation by Astaxanthin" in the International Conference on Neuroscience with a theme on Translational Research in Improving Mental Health at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India between October 29-31, 2018
Presented a paper (oral) titled "Nardostachys jatamansi protects radiation induced histochemical changes in albino wistar rats" in the International Conference on Radiation Biology (ICRB-2018) at K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University) between October 4-6, 2018.
Presented a paper (oral) titled "Modulation of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor by Astaxanthin in perinatally undernourished rats" in the International Conference of Malaysian Society of Pharmacology and Physiology-2017 (MSPP-2017) at School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia between August 18-19, 2017

Publications

Gowda KMD, Kumari NS, Ullal H. Role of Astaxanthin in the Modulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Spatial Learning Behavior in Perinatally Undernourished Wistar Rats. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2020 Jun;23(6):422-31. IF:4.03, Q2 Journal
Hitha H, Gowda D, Mirajkar A. Serum ferritin level as an early indicator of metabolic dysregulation in young obese adults - a cross-sectional study. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2018 Dec;96(12):1255-60. IF:2.21, Q2 Journal
Shailaja M, Damodara Gowda KM, Vishakh K, Suchetha Kumari N. Anti-aging Role of Curcumin by Modulating the Inflammatory Markers in Albino Wistar Rats. Journal of the National Medical Association. 2017;109(1):9-13. IF:0.47, Q3 Journal
Bindiya S, Gowda KMD, Ashwini K, Roshima PM. Comparison of fat percentage with muscle strength/endurance and blood pressure response in young adults. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2017;7(10):1070-3. IF: 0.12, Q3 Journal
Tenkanidiyoor YS, Vasudeva V, Rao S, Gowda KMD, Rao C, Sanjeev G, Nalilu SK. Hematopoietic, Antioxidant and Membrane Stabilizing Property of Diallyl Disulphide in Irradiated Mice. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Feb;10(2):BF01-5. IF: 0.8, Q4 Journal

Physiology

He has guided six medical undergraduates for their STS projects funded by ICMR. Currently guiding 02 scholars for their doctoral research. He is a Life member of various professional bodies like the `Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India (APPI), the Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists (IABMS), Indian Society of Radiation Biologists (ISRB), Indian Association of Neuroscience (IAN), and Institute of Scholars (InSc).

Mrs. VIJAYALAXMI B.M.

Designation Tutor
Email Vijirajbm1998@nitte.edu.in
Contact No.
Joining date

Medical MSc.(Physiology), Ongoing PhD

Molecular biology, Applied physiology , Animal experimental pharmacological study

Attended International Conference On Radiation Biology 04-10-2018to 6-10-2018 at NITTE(Deemed to be University)

Vijayalaxmi BM1, Lakshmi Manjeera2*, Suchetha Kumari N3, Prasanna Kumar Shetty2, Amrith M Mirajkar1, Shilpa Shetty4, Pravesh Hegde4, and Prajna Bhandary4. Association between Vitamin-D with Metabolic Parameters in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences. 2020. October 2020 RJPBCS 11(5) Page No. 134-138
Vijayalaxmi B.M., A.P.Krishna and Dr. Shrikanth L. Patil Evaluation and comparison of lifestyle and fitness among software and Non-Software Professionals. European journal of pharmaceutical and medical research2017,4(11)

Human Physiology

Self-funded
Ongoing PhD Project Association of Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with 25 hydroxy vitamin D and Sex hormone levels in women with and without polycystic ovarian Syndrome.

Admission 2024-25

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Department of Physiology