People with a tobacco use disorder exhibit misaligned Bayesian belief updating by falsely attributing non-drug cues as worse predictors of positive outcomes compared to drug cues.

Adaptive behaviours depend on dynamically updating internal representations of the world based on the ever-changing environmental contingencies. People with a substance use disorder (pSUD) show maladaptive behaviours with high persistence in drug-taking, despite severe negative consequences. We recently proposed a salience misattribution model for addiction (SMMA; Kalhan et al.

Reward prediction-errors weighted by cue salience produces addictive behaviours in simulations, with asymmetrical learning and steeper delay discounting.

Dysfunction in learning and motivational systems are thought to contribute to addictive behaviours. Previous models have suggested that dopaminergic roles in learning and motivation could produce addictive behaviours through pharmacological manipulations that provide excess dopaminergic signalling towards these learning and motivational systems. Redish (2004) suggested a role based on dopaminergic signals of value prediction error, while (Zhang et al.

MIS retromuscular repair of lateral incisional hernia: technological deliberations and short-term outcome.

Background: Lateral abdominal wall hernias (LAWH) constitute about 1-4% of hernia surgical procedures. They represent a unique surgical challenge on account of their potential for anatomical complexity and consequent operative technical demand. Furthermore, LAWH repairs are currently not standardized, and remain contentious, despite a variety of approaches.

Correlation of Nuclear Morphometry with Clinicopathologic Parameters in Malignant Breast Aspirates.

Shilpa Garg  Nuclear size, shape, chromatin pattern, and nucleolar size and number have all been reported to change in breast cancer.  The aim of the study was to quantify nuclear changes on malignant breast aspirates using morphometry and to correlate the morphometric parameters with clinicopathologic features such as cytologic grade, tumor size, lymph node status, mitotic index, and histopathologic grade.  Forty-five cases of carcinoma breast diagnosed on cytology were included in this study.

Neural and computational processes of accelerated perceptual awareness and decisions: A 7T fMRI study.

Rapidly detecting salient information in our environments is critical for survival. Visual processing in subcortical areas like the pulvinar and amygdala has been shown to facilitate unconscious processing of salient stimuli. It is unknown, however, if and how these areas might interact with cortical regions to facilitate faster conscious perception of salient stimuli.

People with tobacco use disorder exhibit more prefrontal activity during preparatory control but reduced anterior cingulate activity during reactive control.

Reduced inhibitory control and a hypersensitivity to reward are key deficits in drug dependents; however, they tend to be studied in isolation. Here, we seek to understand the neural processes underlying control over reward and how this is different in people with a tobacco use disorder (pTUD). A novel variant of the monetary incentive delay task was performed by pTUD (n = 20) and non-smokers (n = 20), where we added a stop-signal component such that participants had to inhibit prepotent responses to earn a larger monetary reward.

Changes in peripheral blood in SARS CoV-2 patients and its clinico-pathological correlation: A prospective cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV2 can present from mild flu-like symptoms to acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is multi-organ involvement; particularly, hematopoietic system can be associated with morphological changes in blood cells of COVID-19 patients.

Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a cohort of 50 COVID-19 patients, confirmed on RT-PCR with documented cycle threshold (Ct) value.

Correlation of Nuclear Morphometry with Clinicopathologic Parameters in Malignant Breast Aspirates.

The primary objective of this study was to correlate nuclear morphometric parameters with clinicopathologic features such as cytologic grade, tumor size, lymph node status, mitotic index, and histopathologic grade. Secondary objective was to quantify nuclear changes on malignant breast aspirates using morphometry. Forty-five cases of carcinoma breast diagnosed on cytology were included in this study.

e-TEP repair for midline primary and incisional hernia: technical considerations and initial experience.

Introduction: The Enhanced-View Totally Extra Peritoneal Rives-Stoppa (e-TEP-RS) Technique for the repair of large, complex, ventral abdominal hernias has gained popularity especially in overcoming the disadvantages with Intra Peritoneal Onlay Mesh (IPOM) repairs and to enable siting of a large prosthetic mesh in an anatomical plane distinct from the abdominal cavity and its contents. Evolving variations of the original technique have allowed the definitive repair of such defects in a reproducible manner. We present our initial experience of this approach and detailed steps of our native technical modifications in overcoming the challenges in performing this complex and potentially challenging procedure.

A salience misattribution model for addictive-like behaviors.

Adapting to the changing environment is a key component of optimal decision-making. Internal-models that accurately represent and selectively update from behaviorally relevant/salient stimuli may facilitate adaptive behaviors. Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dopaminergic systems may produce these adaptive internal-models through selective updates from behaviorally relevant stimuli.

Plasma metabolomic profile in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

We aimed to characterize the plasma metabolome of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients using a high-throughput unbiased omics approach. We collected fasting plasma from a peripheral vein in 33 operable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients, 31 healthy controls, and 21 idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients matched for age, gender, and body mass index. Metabolomic analysis was performed using an untargeted approach (Metabolon Inc.

Laparoscopic management of gall bladder perforation secondary to typhoid-induced acalculous cholecystitis: A rare entity.

Gall bladder perforation as a sequel of typhoid-induced acalculous cholecystitis is a rare clinical encounter, reported sparsely in literature. Here, we discuss a case wherein successful laparoscopic management of typhoid-induced gall bladder perforation was performed. A 24-year-old female presented with a history of 5 days of fever and acute pain in the abdomen for 2 days.

Osteocartilaginous Choriostoma of Palatine Tonsil: a Rare Hidden Entity.

A choriostoma is an aggregate of microscopically normal cells or tissues which occurs in an aberrant location. It follows a benign course, rarely seen in head and neck region. A choriostoma of the palatine tonsil is very rare; less than 10 cases were reported till date.

Conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area.

The integration and utilization of feedback in order to determine which decision strategy to use in different contexts is the core of executive function. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is central to these processes but how feedback is made available to the ACC is unclear. To address this question, we trained rats with implants in the ACC and the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a dopaminergic brain region implicated in feedback processing, in a spatial decision reversal task with rule switching occurring approximately every 12 trials.

Evaluation of tracer labelled methionine load test in vitamin B-12 deficient adolescent women.

Background: Methionine loading test (MLT) has been used primarily to identify defects in transsulfuration of homocysteine in cystathionine beta synthase deficiency. It may not be as useful to evaluate remethylation pathway, in vitamin B-12 and folate deficiencies.

Objective: We used tracer isotope labelled MLT to interrogate transsulfuration and remethylation independently in vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Microbial Fermentation of Starch: Its Impact on the Range of Acceptable Carbohydrate Intake.

Starch, a major source of carbohydrates in human nutrition, is extensively hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract of children and adults. A small fraction of the ingested starch reaches the cecum and colon where it is fermented by the gut microbiome into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and other products. Recent data in humans and in animal models have demonstrated the extensive effects of short-chain fatty acids on whole body energy metabolism, appetite, insulin resistance, fatty acid oxidation, fat accretion, obesity, and diabetes.

Early dietary restriction in rats alters skeletal muscle tuberous sclerosis complex, ribosomal s6 and mitogen-activated protein kinase.

Intrauterine growth restriction is linked to decreased lean body mass and insulin resistance. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates muscle mass and glucose metabolism; however, little is known about maternal dietary restriction and skeletal muscle mTOR in offspring. We hypothesized that early dietary restriction would decrease skeletal muscle mass and mTOR in the suckling rat.

Sclerosing Stromal Tumor: A Rare Ovarian Neoplasm.

Ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors are relatively infrequent neoplasms that account for approximately 8% of all primary ovarian neoplasm. Sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary include granulosa cell tumors, fibrothecomas, Sertoli-Leydigcell tumors, steroid cell tumors, and sclerosing stromal tumors (SST). Sclerosing stromal tumors account for 2% to 6% of ovarian stromal tumors.

Trichoadenoma of Nikolowski- A Rare Tumour with Unusual Presentation Over Vulva.

Trichoadenoma is a rare benign, slowly growing, cutaneous tumour of the hair follicle first described by Nikolowski in 1958. It presents as a non-specific nodule over the face or buttocks. However, unusual sites such as the neck, upper arm, thigh, shoulder, and shaft of the penis may also be affected.

Plasma cathepsin D correlates with histological classifications of fatty liver disease in adults and responds to intervention.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by liver lipid accumulation and inflammation. The mechanisms that trigger hepatic inflammation are poorly understood and subsequently, no specific non-invasive markers exist. We previously demonstrated a reduction in the plasma lysosomal enzyme, cathepsin D (CatD), in children with NASH compared to children without NASH.

Low levels of IgM antibodies recognizing oxidation-specific epitopes are associated with human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Lipid oxidation of membrane phospholipids is accompanied by the formation of oxidation-specific epitopes (OSE). These epitopes are recognized by specific antibodies and represent danger-associated molecular patterns that are generated during chronic inflammatory processes. In a murine model for hepatic inflammation during non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), increased antibody levels targeting OSE were found to be protective.