Peripheral and Central Nervous System Involvement in Recently Diagnosed Cases of Hypothyroidism: An Electrophysiological Study.

Background: Hypothyroidism, one of the most common endocrine disorders, may induce neurological abnormalities at an early stage of the disease.

Aim: The study was designed to assess the electrophysiological alterations of some selected variables of nerve conduction, brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in hypothyroid patients.

Subjects And Methods: Sixty patients of newly diagnosed hypothyroidism and an equal number of age-matched controls were selected for the study.

Biomechanical Responses of Lamina Cribrosa to Intraocular Pressure Change Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma Eyes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure change in anterior lamina cribrosa depth (ALD) globally and regionally in glaucoma eyes at different intraocular pressures (IOP).

Methods: Twenty-seven glaucoma patients were imaged before and after IOP-lowering procedures using optical coherence tomography. The anterior lamina was marked in approximately 25 locations in each of six radial scans to obtain global and regional estimates of ALD.

Transcriptional dissection of melanoma identifies a high-risk subtype underlying TP53 family genes and epigenome deregulation.

Background: Melanoma is a heterogeneous malignancy. We set out to identify the molecular underpinnings of high-risk melanomas, those that are likely to progress rapidly, metastasize, and result in poor outcomes.

Methods: We examined transcriptome changes from benign states to early-, intermediate-, and late-stage tumors using a set of 78 treatment-naive melanocytic tumors consisting of primary melanomas of the skin and benign melanocytic lesions.

Lethal Congenital Malformations in Fetuses-Antenatal Ultrasound or Perinatal Autopsy.

Background: Congenital malformations (CMF) are major causes of fetal demise which can be detected antenatally by Ultrasonography (USG).

Methods: We studied 100 perinatal autopsies for CMF. Sensitivity of USG was determined and accuracy of USG with that of autopsy was compared.

Patterns of Gene Expression in Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) Neonates, Challenged with Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1 and Cry34/35Ab1, Based on Next-Generation Sequencing.

With Next Generation Sequencing technologies, high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNAseq) was conducted to examine gene expression in neonates of (LeConte) (Western Corn Rootworm, WCR) challenged with individual proteins of the binary insecticidal proteins, Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1, and the combination of Cry34/Cry35Ab1, which together are active against rootworm larvae. Integrated results of three different statistical comparisons identified 114 and 1300 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) in the Cry34Ab1 and Cry34/35Ab1 treatment, respectively, as compared to the control. No DETs were identified in the Cry35Ab1 treatment.

Maternofetal transport of vitamin B: role of TCblR/ and megalin.

Vitamin B deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia and neurologic disorder in humans. Gene defects of transcobalamin (TC) and the transcobalamin receptor (TCblR), needed for cellular uptake of the TC-bound B, do not confer embryonic lethality. TC deficiency can produce the hematologic and neurologic complications after birth, whereas TCblR/ gene defects appear to produce mild metabolic changes.

Diverse repetitive element RNA expression defines epigenetic and immunologic features of colon cancer.

There is tremendous excitement for the potential of epigenetic therapies in cancer, but the ability to predict and monitor response to these drugs remains elusive. This is in part due to the inability to differentiate the direct cytotoxic and the immunomodulatory effects of these drugs. The DNA-hypomethylating agent 5-azacitidine (AZA) has shown these distinct effects in colon cancer and appears to be linked to the derepression of repeat RNAs.

Cancer type predicts alloimmunization following RhD-incompatible RBC transfusions.

Background: Immunosuppressed, RhD-negative oncology patients tend to have lower rates of sensitization to the D antigen when they receive transfusion with RhD-positive blood components. Clinical factors associated with alloimmunization to the D antigen in RhD-negative oncology patients when they receive transfusion with RhD-positive red blood cells (RBCs) have not been well defined.

Study Design And Methods: This was a 4-year, retrospective analysis identifying RhD-negative oncology patients who received RhD-positive RBCs and were not previously alloimmunized to the D antigen.

Role of forensic odontology in the Indian Armed Forces: An unexplored arena.

Forensic odontology (FO) is a branch of forensic medicine that in the interest of justice deals with proper handling and examination of dental evidence. Teeth can survive in most conditions encountered at death and during decomposition, even when the body is exposed to extreme forces and/or temperatures. FO is being practiced worldwide since 1775, after which it has not only become an integral part of the judicial system of the developed countries but also been adopted by the armed forces and investigative agencies of these countries.

The Increasing Use of Cannabis Among Older Americans: A Public Health Crisis or Viable Policy Alternative?

Cannabis use among older Americans is increasing. Although much of this growth has been attributed to the entry of a more tolerant baby boom cohort into older age, recent evidence suggests the pathways to cannabis are more complex. Some older persons have responded to changing social and legal environments and are increasingly likely to take cannabis recreationally.

Effectiveness of student-led objective tutorials in pharmacology teaching to medical students.

Objectives: Current teaching in pharmacology is passive with less emphasis on clinical application. There is a need to incorporate newer instructional designs into pharmacology. Student-led objective tutorial (SLOT) is one of the novel designs to enhance interest among learners, provide opportunities for group learning, and facilitate self-directed learning.

Association of VDBP and CYP2R1 gene polymorphisms with vitamin D status in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a north Indian study.

Purpose: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine abnormality among women of reproductive age and is usually associated with oligo-ovulation/anovulation, obesity, and insulin resistance. Hypovitaminosis D may also be a primary factor in the initiation and development of PCOS. However, little is known about the role of genetic variation in vitamin D metabolism in PCOS aetiology.

Punishment of Minor Female Genital Ritual Procedures: Is the Perfect the Enemy of the Good?

Female genital alteration (FGA) is any cutting, removal or destruction of any part of the external female genitalia. Various FGA practices are common throughout the world. While most frequent in Africa and Asia, transglobal migration has brought ritual FGA to Western nations.

Improving Rates of Post-Essure Hysterosalpingography in an Urban Population Using Electronic Tracking Reminders.

Study Objective: To demonstrate the efficacy of electronic reminders for follow-up hysterosalpingography (HSG) after Essure hysteroscopic sterilization in an urban tertiary care hospital obstetrics and gynecology practice.

Design: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

Setting: Obstetrics and gynecology practice at a university-affiliated urban tertiary care teaching hospital.

Indel variant analysis of short-read sequencing data with Scalpel.

As the second most common type of variation in the human genome, insertions and deletions (indels) have been linked to many diseases, but the discovery of indels of more than a few bases in size from short-read sequencing data remains challenging. Scalpel (http://scalpel.sourceforge.

Pharmacological Inhibition of Host Heme Oxygenase-1 Suppresses Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection In Vivo by a Mechanism Dependent on T Lymphocytes.

Unlabelled: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress response antioxidant enzyme which catalyzes the degradation of heme released during inflammation. HO-1 expression is upregulated in both experimental and human Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and in patients it is a biomarker of active disease. Whether the enzyme plays a protective versus pathogenic role in tuberculosis has been the subject of debate.

Essential but Not Vulnerable: Indazole Sulfonamides Targeting Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase as Potential Leads against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A potent, noncytotoxic indazole sulfonamide was identified by high-throughput screening of >100,000 synthetic compounds for activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This noncytotoxic compound did not directly inhibit cell wall biogenesis but triggered a slow lysis of Mtb cells as measured by release of intracellular green fluorescent protein (GFP). Isolation of resistant mutants followed by whole-genome sequencing showed an unusual gene amplification of a 40 gene region spanning from Rv3371 to Rv3411c and in one case a potential promoter mutation upstream of guaB2 (Rv3411c) encoding inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH).

Genetic Determinants of Cisplatin Resistance in Patients With Advanced Germ Cell Tumors.

Purpose Owing to its exquisite chemotherapy sensitivity, most patients with metastatic germ cell tumors (GCTs) are cured with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. However, up to 30% of patients with advanced GCT exhibit cisplatin resistance, which requires intensive salvage treatment, and have a 50% risk of cancer-related death. To identify a genetic basis for cisplatin resistance, we performed whole-exome and targeted sequencing of cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant GCTs.

Synthesis and evaluation of functionalized benzoboroxoles as potential -tuberculosis agents.

Several derivatives of aminobenzoboroxole have been prepared starting from 2-boronobenzaldehyde. All of these derivatives have been evaluated for their -mycobacterial activity on and cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell line MCF7. Based on these studies, all the tested molecules have been found to be generally non-toxic and benzoboroxoles with unsubstituted (primary) amines have been found to exhibit good -mycobacterial activity.

Analysis of novel alleles of brother of tout-velu, the drosophila ortholog of human EXTL3 using a newly developed FRT42D ovo chromosome.

The FLP/FRT system permits rapid phenotypic screening of homozygous lethal mutations in the context of a viable mosaic fly. Combining this system with ovo dominant female-sterile transgenes enables efficient production of embryos derived from mutant germline clones lacking maternal contribution from a gene of interest. Two distinct sets of FRT chromosomes, carrying either the mini-white (w ), or rosy (ry ) and neomycin (neo ) transgenes are in common use.

Distraction osteogenesis in the treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis with mandibular micrognathia.

Aims: The aims of the study were to evaluate the efficacy of simultaneous interpositional arthroplasty with distraction osteogenesis (DO) as a single procedure and to give the patient acceptable functional rehabilitation with correction of the gross facial asymmetry.

Materials And Methods: Nine patients of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis with micrognathia were treated with interpositional arthroplasty and simultaneous DO and followed for a period of minimum 3 years. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, at the end of distraction, at 6 months and 3 years postdistraction consolidation radiographs were taken along with the clinical examination for mouth opening, deviation, length of the mandible and ramus, midline shift, occlusal cant, and occlusion.

Unilateral Glaucoma Associated with Conjunctival Angioma and Choroidal Thickening without Facial Angioma.

We report a case of a suspected Sturge-Weber syndrome variant diagnosed at the age of 58 with the help of enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain ocular coherence tomography (EDI-SDOCT). A 58-year-old female with unilateral glaucoma was suspected to have choroidal vascular lesion, conjunctival angioma, and no facial port-wine stain who presented to the clinic with bleb dysesthesia many years after trabeculectomy. EDI-SDOCT was performed and revealed markedly increased choroidal thickness in the affected eye.

Results From a Modified Bleb Needling Procedure With Continuous Infusion Performed in the Operating Room.

Purpose: Needling of a scarred trabeculectomy bleb is often performed in the office using a slit-lamp microscope as an alternative to additional surgery to lower intraocular pressure (IOP). However, the success rate in an office setting is highly variable, with reported success rates as low as 13%. We report a retrospective assessment of an intraoperative needling technique for reviving failed blebs.