Publications by authors named "S G Smitha"

Background: Rabies is a neglected tropical disease endemic in 150 countries, including India where it is present in all states and union territories except Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep. Kerala reports high incidence of animal bites. This article discusses the preventable death of a 17-year-old tribal girl due to rabies in Kerala and the equity concerns it raises.

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The use of nanopores for the single-molecule sensing of folded proteins and biomacromolecules has recently gained attention. Here, we introduce a simplified synthetic α-helical transmembrane pore, pPorA, as a nanoreactor and sensor that exhibits functional versatility comparable to that of engineered protein and DNA nanopores. The pore, built from the assembly of synthetic 40-amino-acid-long peptides, is designed to contain cysteine residues within the lumen and at the pore terminus for site-specific chemical modification probed using single-channel electrical recordings.

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Introduction: Griscelli syndrome (GS) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder, belongs to group of "silvery hair syndromes" which includes Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) and Elejalde syndrome. Hair light microscopy helps in the differentiation of GS and CHS, as both manifest with clinical features. Trichoscopy is useful in the diagnosis of many hair shaft disorders.

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Article Synopsis
  • Confluent reticulated papillomatosis (CRP), terra-firme-forme-dermatitis (TFFD), and dermatitis neglecta (DN) are benign skin conditions that cause hyperpigmented lesions, making them difficult to distinguish and treat based on appearance alone.
  • A study of 62 patients revealed distinct dermoscopic patterns for each condition, with CRP showing a cerebriform pattern, while TFFD and DN presented patterns resembling a “mosaic” and “cornflake-like” appearance, respectively.
  • The findings suggest dermoscopy is an effective, noninvasive tool for diagnosing these similar-looking conditions, helping physicians identify them based on unique features like the color and formation of pigment globules.
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