Department of Neurology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow: The journey continues.

King George Medical University is one of the oldest and most prestigious medical universities of India. The Department of Neurology has trained many illustrious neurologists who are offering yeoman's service to the nation. This brief review traces the history and milestones of the department and its current areas of focus.

Cytokines, MMP-2, and MMP-9 levels in patients with a solitary cysticercus granuloma.

Objectives: In patients with neurocysticercosis, perilesional inflammatory activity is thought to be responsible for seizures. This study was designed to evaluate the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of cytokines as well as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in patients with a solitary cysticercus granuloma.

Materials And Methods: The study included 47 patients suffering from seizures in whom a solitary cysticercus granuloma was detected on a computed tomography (CT) scan.

Spinal cord involvement in tuberculous meningitis.

Objectives: To summarize the incidence and spectrum of spinal cord-related complications in patients of tuberculous meningitis.

Setting: Reports from multiple countries were included.

Methods: An extensive review of the literature, published in English, was carried out using Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar databases.

Single dose intravenous methyl prednisolone versus oral prednisolone in Bell's palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Corticosteroids have been used in the treatment of Bell's palsy and several other postinfectious neurological conditions. We hypothesized that administration of a single dose of intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone might be an effective alternative to oral prednisolone.

Materials And Methods: In this open label, randomized trial, patients with acute Bell's palsy were randomized into two groups.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms working group consensus recommendations for diagnosis and management of primary myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, and essential thrombocythemia.

According to the 2008 revision of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of myeloid malignancies, philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) include clonal, hematologic disorders such as polycythemia vera, primary myelofibrosis, and essential thrombocythemia.Recent years have witnessed major advances in the understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of these rare subgroups of chronic, myeloproliferative disorders. Identification of somatic mutations in genes associated with pathogenesis and evolution of these myeloproliferative conditions (Janus Kinase 2; myeloproliferative leukemia virus gene; calreticulin) led to substantial changes in the international guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of Ph-negative MPN during the last few years.

Anti-leukemic activities of alcoholic extracts of two traditional Indian medicinal plants.

The present work aimed to investigate the anticancer in vitro activity of two plants commonly used in traditional Indian medicine: Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Nerium oleander L. The extracts of these plants were tested in vitro on several human leukemic cell lines, K562, THP-1, MOLT-4 and Jurkat. Cell growth inhibition was observed for both plant extracts with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging between 1 and 28 μg/mL using SRB (sulphorodamine B) and MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assays.

Seizures in patients with cerebral hemiatrophy: A prognostic evaluation.

Purpose: Cerebral hemiatrophy is a common childhood disease. It clinically manifests with seizures, hemiparesis and mental retardation.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study, previously untreated patients with seizures and cerebral hemiatrophy were recruited.

Definite (microbiologically confirmed) tuberculous meningitis: predictors and prognostic impact.

Background: Microbiological confirmation cannot be obtained in approximately two-third patients with tuberculous meningitis. In this study, we sought to identify epidemiological, clinical, cerebrospinal fluid, and imaging parameters that could indicate the possibility of microbiological confirmation among patients with suspected tuberculous meningitis.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients with tuberculous meningitis were evaluated for clinical, laboratory (cerebrospinal fluid microscopy, culture, and polymerase chain reaction), and neuroimaging parameters.

Spinal cord and spinal nerve root involvement (myeloradiculopathy) in tuberculous meningitis.

Most of the information about spinal cord and nerve root involvement in tuberculous meningitis is available in the form of isolated case reports or case series. In this article, we evaluated the incidence, predictors, and prognostic impact of spinal cord and spinal nerve root involvement in tuberculous meningitis.In this prospective study, 71 consecutive patients of newly diagnosed tuberculous meningitis were enrolled.

Serum and CSF cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases in spinal tuberculosis.

Aims And Objectives: Both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines play key roles in the pathogenesis of various forms of tuberculosis. In this study, we evaluated the role of various cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with spinal tuberculosis.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study, we enrolled 55 histopathologically/microbiologically confirmed patients with spinal tuberculosis.

Neurologic complications in dengue virus infection: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and clinical spectrum of neurologic complications, predictors of central and peripheral nervous system involvement, and their outcome in patients with dengue virus infection (DENV).

Methods: To determine the extent of neurologic complications, we used a hospital-based prospective cohort study design, which included laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue and follow-up for 3 months. We also analyzed clinical and laboratory data to assess predictors of neurologic involvement.

Serotonin syndrome following levodopa treatment in diffuse Lewy body disease.

Serotonin syndrome results from an acute hyperserotonergic state. It is a rare and potentially fatal complication of drugs that affect the central nervous system serotonin levels. It is characterised by a triad of clinical features comprising altered sensorium, autonomic instability and neuromuscular hyperexcitability, in different combinations.

A dosimetric comparison of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, volumetric-modulated arc therapy, and dynamic conformal arc therapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer using stereotactic body radiotherapy.

This study evaluates three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT), volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and dynamic conformal arc therapy (DCAT) planning techniques using dosimetric indices from Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) protocols 0236, 0813, and 0915 for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Twenty-five clinical patients, five per lung lobe, previously treated for NSCLC using 3D CRT SBRT under respective RTOG protocols were replanned with VMAT and DCAT techniques. All plans were compared using respective RTOG dosimetric indices.

IL-27 inhibits IFN-γ induced autophagy by concomitant induction of JAK/PI3 K/Akt/mTOR cascade and up-regulation of Mcl-1 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv infected macrophages.

Interleukin-27 (IL-27), a key immunoregulatory cytokine plays an important role in host response to mycobacterial infection as neutralization of IL-27 augments intracellular killing of mycobacteria. Autophagy has a pivotal role in host immunity and is regulated by various cytokines. Here, we report that IL-27 inhibits IFN-γ and starvation induced autophagy and as a result blocks phagosome maturation and promotes intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis acquires iron by cell-surface sequestration and internalization of human holo-transferrin.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), which requires iron for survival, acquires this element by synthesizing iron-binding molecules known as siderophores and by recruiting a host iron-transport protein, transferrin, to the phagosome. The siderophores extract iron from transferrin and transport it into the bacterium.

Moonlighting cell-surface GAPDH recruits apotransferrin to effect iron egress from mammalian cells.

Iron (Fe(2+), Fe(3+)) homeostasis is a tightly regulated process, involving precise control of iron influx and egress from cells. Although the mechanisms of its import into cells by iron carrier molecules are well characterized, iron export remains poorly understood. The current paradigm envisages unique functions associated with specialized macromolecules for its cellular import (transferrin receptors) or export (ferroportin, also known as SLC40A1).

Neuromodulation of perineally transposed antropylorus with pudendal nerve anastomosis following total anorectal reconstruction in humans.

Background: We have reported perineal antropyloric segment transposition with its pudendal innervation as a replacement for anal sphincter. Our aim herein was to neuromodulate this segment by electrical stimulation.

Methods: Eight patients with a permanent colostomy underwent perineal antropyloric segment transposition followed by neural anastomosis of its anterior vagus branch to pudendal nerve branch in the perineum.

Cerebrospinal fluid cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases in human immunodeficiency seropositive and seronegative patients of tuberculous meningitis.

Background: Some important clinical differences exist between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients. Alterations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokines and matrix metalloproteinase have been noted in tuberculous meningitis. In HIV-infected patients, the immunopathogenesis is expected to be different.

Nimotuzumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a multicenter, randomized, open-label Phase II study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy (docetaxel and carboplatin) versus chemotherapy alone in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

Methods: This multicenter, open-label, Phase II study randomized 110 patients to receive nimotuzumab plus chemotherapy (nimotuzumab group) or chemotherapy alone (control group), and comprised concomitant, maintenance, and follow-up phases. Nimotuzumab 200 mg was administered once weekly for 13 weeks during the first two phases with four cycles of chemotherapy and docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and carboplatin (area under the curve 5 mg/mL*min) every 3 weeks for a maximum of four cycles during the concomitant phase.

Prevalence of MR imaging abnormalities in vitamin B12 deficiency patients presenting with clinical features of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.

Background And Aims: Subacute combined degeneration (SACD) of the spinal cord, characterized by degeneration of lateral and posterior columns, is often found in vitamin B12 deficiency. Our aim was to look for sensitivity of imaging in depicting the spinal cord abnormality in vitamin B12 deficient patients and to find any correlation of vitamin B12 levels with clinical scores/severity at time of presentation.

Material And Methods: A total 54 patients with biochemically proven vitamin B12 deficiency were included in the study.

Fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery with volumetric modulated arc therapy (Rapid Arc) for reradiation in recurrent high grade gliomas.

Background: To evaluate 'Rapid Arc (RA)' technique for delivering fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (FSRS) in patients with recurrent high grade gliomas (HGGs) for minimizing the dose to previously radiated high dose brain volume.

Materials And Methods: Between April 2010 and February 2011, 16 consecutive patients with recurrent HGGs and previously treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and Temozolamide received FSRS. The median time between IMRT and FSRS was 10.