Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference.

It has long been theorised that there are two temporally distinct forms of self-reference: extended self-reference linking experiences across time, and momentary self-reference centred on the present. To characterise these two aspects of awareness, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine monitoring of enduring traits ('narrative' focus, NF) or momentary experience ('experiential' focus, EF) in both novice participants and those having attended an 8 week course in mindfulness meditation, a program that trains individuals to develop focused attention on the present. In novices, EF yielded focal reductions in self-referential cortical midline regions (medial prefrontal cortex, mPFC) associated with NF.

Ruptured ovarian cystic teratoma in pregnancy with diffuse peritoneal reaction mimicking advanced ovarian malignancy: a case report.

Introduction: This case illustrates the unusual complication of granulomatous peritonitis following rupture of a dermoid cyst in pregnancy resembling disseminated ovarian carcinoma. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of this complication during advanced pregnancy in the literature.

Case Presentation: A dermoid cyst ruptured during surgical removal in the second trimester of pregnancy in a 27-year-old primigravida.

Syndromic and non-syndromic deafness, molecular aspects of Pendred syndrome and its reported mutations.

Deafness means partial or complete hearing impairment and is one of the most prevalent sensory defects in humans. It can be due to genetic or environmental causes or a combination of both and may be Syndromic (associated with additional clinical features) or nonsyndromic (no other recognizable abnormal associated phenotype). The overall impact of hearing impairment is greatly influenced by the severity of hearing defect and by the age of onset.

Identification of alpha-galactosyl epitope mimetics through rapid generation and screening of C-linked glycopeptide library.

A general methodology has been established for rapid generation and screening of combinatorial glycopeptide library and subsequent mass spectrometric sequencing to identify the mimetics of Galalpha(1,3)Gal epitopes. Using this approach, several active glycopeptide sequences were recognized and found to inhibit the binding of human natural anti-Gal antibodies with comparable IC(50)s to synthetic Galalpha(1,3)Gal oligosaccharides. The most active glycopeptides detected from the library included Gal-Tyr-Trp-Arg-Tyr, Gal-Thr-Trp-Arg-Tyr, and Gal-Arg-Trp-Arg-Tyr.

Knee pain amongst the poor and affluent in Pakistan.

The frequency of joint symptoms was determined amongst 2022 affluent and 2210 poor adults in Karachi, Pakistan. Joint pain was significantly (P = 0.025) more common amongst the affluent (6.

The frequency of known diabetes, hypertension and ischaemic heart disease in affluent and poor urban populations of Karachi, Pakistan.

The high frequency of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease among people of South Asian extraction living in the West is well established. The prevalence of these disorders in Southern Asia is less certain. No previous attempt has been made to estimate their occurrence in Pakistan.

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in affluent and poor urban communities of Pakistan.

Using previously applied methods a survey of joint symptoms was undertaken among 4232 adults, evenly distributed between affluent and poor areas of Karachi, Pakistan. Only six cases of definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1958 ARA criteria) were identified in the 245 persons who complained of joint problems of at least 4 weeks duration. The prevalence was 0.