Ancillary tests for brain death.

Background: Ancillary tests are often used in the determination of death by neurologic criteria (DNC), especially when the clinical examination is inconclusive. DNC is widely accepted, as defined by the comprehensive report of the World Brain Death Project. However, there are several medical, legal, religious, ethical, and social controversies.

Ambivalent partnership of the Drosophila posterior class Hox protein Abdominal-B with Extradenticle and Homothorax.

Hox proteins, a sub-group of the homeodomain (HD) transcription factor family, provide positional information for axial patterning in development and evolution. Hox protein functional specificity is reached, at least in part, through interactions with Pbc (Extradenticle (Exd) in Drosophila) and Meis/Prep (Homothorax (Hth) in Drosophila) proteins. Most of our current knowledge of Hox protein specificity stems from the study of anterior and central Hox proteins, identifying the molecular and structural bases for Hox/Pbc/Meis-Prep cooperative action.

A human induced pluripotent stem cell line, NIMHi016-A, established from fibroblasts of a neuromuscular disease patient carrying PGK1/p. Asn5Lys variant.

PGK1 (phosphoglycerate kinase-1) is required for ATP production in the body. Mutation in the PGK1 gene causes a rare, inherited metabolic disorder causing deficiency of enzyme PGK1, leading to hemolytic anemia, neurological symptoms, and muscle weakness. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient carrying a PGK1 variant by isolating fibroblasts from skin punch biopsy and reprogramming using CytoTune iPS 2.

Deep brain stimulation - A primer for psychiatrists.

Deep Brain Stimulation is a form of neurostimulation where electrical stimulation is delivered via intracranial electrodes over specific subcortical targets. It has been increasingly used as an alternative to ablative procedures for psychiatric disorders refractory to standard treatments. This review describes the common psychiatric indications for DBS, the current evidence base, putative mechanisms, and future directions.

Magnetic resonance imaging in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: deciphering the pattern of muscle involvement.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) constitute a group of immune-mediated disorders, affecting muscles. Our study aims to investigate the specific patterns of muscle involvement in subgroups of IIM. An ambispective and observational study was conducted.

Response to clozapine and its predictors in treatment-resistant schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A retrospective chart review.

The response rate to clozapine in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia spectrum disorders (TRSS) is around 40 %. But, in general, a better prognosis is noted for schizophrenia in developing countries, including India. Given the scarcity of related literature from India, this study aimed to evaluate the response rates to clozapine in TRSS and explore predictors of response.

Pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas- a prospective observational study from a tertiary care neurosurgical center.

Introduction: Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) in children comprises 80% of brainstem gliomas. In 2021, 5th edition of WHO CNS tumor classification defined H3K27M altered diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) which replaced this entity. Lesion location precludes resection and the only current option available is radiotherapy.

Clinical Reasoning: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Challenges in a 16-Year-Old With Early-Onset Ataxia.

A 16-year-old adolescent girl presented with progressive walking imbalance, uncoordination of her limbs, impaired proprioceptive sensation distal to her wrists and ankles, and sensorineural hearing loss. Her evaluation revealed diffuse cerebellar atrophy, a demyelinating neuropathy, and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. In this article, we present a systematic approach to a patient with early-onset ataxia, cerebellar atrophy, and demyelinating neuropathy.

Negative valence in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A worldwide mega-analysis of task-based functional neuroimaging data of the ENIGMA-OCD consortium.

Objective: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with altered brain function related to processing of negative emotions. To investigate neural correlates of negative valence in OCD, we pooled fMRI data of 633 individuals with OCD and 453 healthy controls from 16 studies using different negatively-valenced tasks across the ENIGMA-OCD Working-Group.

Methods: Participant data were processed uniformly using HALFpipe, to extract voxelwise participant-level statistical images of one common first-level contrast: negative vs.

Uncovering the hidden burden: A mixed methods study on the implementation of depression screening among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus seeking health care in an urban primary health center of South India.

Background: Diabetes is linked with depression, but screening rates for depression are low, indicating a need for periodic assessments among those with diabetes. The study aimed to determine depression prevalence and associated factors in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in an urban primary care setting of Karnataka, as well as implementation challenges in depression screening for persons with T2DM as perceived by healthcare providers.

Material And Methods: A mixed-methods study was performed for 6 months in 2022-2023 at an Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Bengaluru.

Navigating recovery in childhood OCD: a qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators.

Objective: The objective is to examine barriers and facilitators to recovery in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using a qualitative approach.

Methods: Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings were validated through investigator triangulation, peer validation and member check.

Correlation of Preoperative Hippocampal Volume Measured with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Emergence from General Anaesthesia in Elective Neurosurgical Patients: An Observational Study.

Background And Objectives: The electrophysiological process of emergence from general anesthesia (GA) commences from deeper structures of the brain rather than the cortex. The phylogenetically old parts of the brain (hippocampus) are the first to recover during emergence. Study objectives were to evaluate and predict the effect of preoperative hippocampal volume (HV) measured using MRI with emergence from GA and delayed extubation in patients undergoing elective neurosurgical procedures.

Structural Basis for the Essential Role of Ca in the Lytic Activity of Staphylococcus aureus PlyGRCS Endolysin Targeting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus causes a wide range of infections, from mild skin conditions to severe, life-threatening diseases. Bacteriophage endolysins exhibit a selective capacity to degrade the peptidoglycan layer of Gram-positive bacteria, making promising biotherapeutic agents against antibiotic-resistant infections. PlyGRCS, a specific endolysin derived from S.

Decoding Dystonia in Autoimmune Disorders: A Scoping Review.

Background: Dystonia is a common hyperkinetic movement disorder observed in various genetic, infective, drug-induced, and autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune disorders can present with isolated or combined acute or subacute dystonia. The pattern and approach to dystonia in autoimmune disorders are poorly described and have never been established in a structured manner.

Intraclass Correlation in Cluster Randomized Controlled Trials: A Meta-Analysis of Studies on Major Depression.

Background: Though cluster randomized trials (CRTs) provide robust evidence for intervention by controlling contamination of interventions, there could be some loss of statistical efficiency. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) recommends reporting intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) to understand this phenomenon, though not many studies follow this. This meta-analysis explored the compliance of CRTs in major depression for reporting ICC besides deriving the pooled ICC and pooled mean differences of intervention outcomes.

Caregivers' Perspectives on Reasonable Accommodation for Persons with Severe Mental Disorders at the Workplace.

Background: Reasonable accommodation (RA) refers to adjustments or modifications that an employer makes to the workplace to enable an employee with a mental illness to perform the essential functions of their job. Employer and employee should work together to determine the most beneficial accommodations that would not impose an undue hardship on the employer.

Materials And Methods: An exploratory study design with a purposive sampling technique was used in the current study.

Spectrum of Intracranial Hemorrhages in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Pictorial Case Series and Review of Pathophysiology and Management.

Objective: We aim to provide a pictorial representation of the broad spectrum of intracranial hemorrhages associated with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), emphasizing atypical locations and rare intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) types. We also hypothesize the pathophysiology leading to atypical locations of the ICH in CVT and the outcomes with anticoagulation therapy.

Background: ICH complicates about 40% of cases with CVT and is known to cause various types of ICH, including subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and subdural hemorrhage (SDH).

A non-autochthonous human rabies case in the historically rabies-free Andaman And Nicobar Islands, India.

Rabies, a fatal zoonotic viral disease claims numerous lives annually worldwide, particularly in Asia and Africa. Despite the high prevalence of rabies in India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have historically maintained a rabies-free status. This report documents the first non-indigenous case of human rabies in these islands, emphasizing the imperative for heightened surveillance measures.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with Dementia and their Caregivers: A Multiphase Observational Study from India.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had multifaceted and enduring impacts on people with dementia and their caregivers; however, our understanding of the long-term outcomes remains limited. We aimed to explore the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive symptoms and vaccination rates in people living with dementia.

Methods: This study was conducted as a part of a longitudinal study design in two specialized hospitals in South India.

Purely Endoscopic Subtemporal Keyhole Approach for Trigeminal Schwannomas: Surgical Techniques and Early Results.

Background And Objectives: In the past, microscopic transcranial approach was the mainstay of treatment of trigeminal schwannomas. In recent years, several endoscopic procedures have been reported for trigeminal schwannomas. For trigeminal schwannomas arising around the Meckel cave, we introduced a fully endoscopic procedure with a small temporal craniotomy in June 2020 and have performed radical tumor removal as in the conventional approach.

Intermittent episodes of acute severe encephalomyopathy and early death in two siblings caused by biallelic likely pathogenic variants in FASTKD2: Expanding phenotype and literature review.

Introduction: Combined oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) deficiency 44 (COXPD44; MIM# 618855) is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in FAS-activated serine-threonine kinase domain 2 (FASTKD2) (MIM# 612322). COXPD44 is characterized by variable clinical features-developmental delay, chronic epileptic encephalopathy, seizure disorder/status epilepticus and cerebellar ataxia. We ascertained one sib with episodic acute encephalomyopathy triggered by acute gastroenteritis and associated with haematological abnormalities, rhabdomyolysis leading to acute kidney injury, hypotensive shock leading to early death and a similarly affected sib with early death.

Validation and efficacy of a tele-yoga intervention for improving psychological stress, mental health and sleep difficulties of stressed adults diagnosed with long COVID: a prospective, multi-center, open-label single-arm study.

The objective of this study was to validate and test the efficacy of a 16-week tele-yoga intervention for perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia in individuals who had had COVID-19 infection in the previous year, and had reported moderately high levels of psychological stress (PSS ≥14). 25 and 50-min versions of the program were developed. They were then validated using Lawshe's content validity ratio after obtaining feedback from 20 yoga therapy experts.