Evaluating the diagnostic performance of non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography sequences in the pre-procedural comprehensive analysis of direct carotid cavernous fistula.

Purpose: Endovascular treatment of direct carotid cavernous fistula (DCCF) requires invasive diagnostic cerebral angiography for diagnosis and planning; however, a less invasive modality like magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) can be useful, especially in high-risk cases. This single-centre study evaluated a newer MR angiography (MRA) sequence, silent MRA and the traditional time of flight (TOF) MRA for pre-procedural treatment planning of DCCF.

Methods: All consecutive DCCF patients who underwent TOF, silent MRA and diagnostic cerebral angiography were included in the study.

Real-Life Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) Capture the Disability of Epilepsy Better from an Individual's Perspective.

Background And Objective: For 1.3 billion population in India, there are only scarce reports on disability of epilepsy using disability-adjusted life year (DALY) as a measure. Our objective was to estimate DALY using real-life data over a period of time for a cohort of people with epilepsy (PWE) admitted to an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) of a tertiary care epilepsy center.

Optically active organic and inorganic nanomaterials for biological imaging applications: A review.

Recent advancements in the field of nanotechnology have enabled targeted delivery of drug agents in vivo with minimal side effects. The use of nanoparticles for bio-imaging has revolutionized the field of nanomedicine by enabling non-invasive targeting and selective delivery of active drug moieties in vivo. Various inorganic nanomaterials like mesoporous silica nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, magnetite nanoparticles graphene-based nanomaterials etc.

The emerging role of exosomes in innate immunity, diagnosis and therapy.

Exosomes, which are nano-sized transport bio-vehicles, play a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis by exchanging genetic or metabolic information between different cells. Exosomes can also play a vital role in transferring virulent factors between the host and parasite, thereby regulating host gene expression and the immune interphase. The association of inflammation with disease development and the potential of exosomes to enhance or mitigate inflammatory pathways support the notion that exosomes have the potential to alter the course of a disease.

A multicentric, 2 × 2 factorial, randomised, open-label trial to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of structured physical activity training and cognitive behavioural therapy versus usual care in heart failure patients: a protocol for the PACT-HF trial.

Heart failure (HF) is a multi-morbid chronic condition, which adversely affects the quality of life of the affected individual. Engaging the patient and their caregivers in self-care is known to reduce mortality, rehospitalisation and improve quality of life among HF patients. The PACT-HF trial will answer whether clinical benefits in terms of mortality and hospitalisation outcomes can be demonstrated by using a pragmatic design to explore the specific effects of physical activity, and cognitive behavioural therapy in HF patients in India.

Determinants of very low birth weight in India: The National Family Health Survey - 4.

Background Low birth weight (LBW) is susceptible to neonatal complications, chronic medical conditions, and neurodevelopmental disabilities. We aim to describe the determinants of very low birth weight (VLBW) in India and compare it with the determinants of LBW based on the National Family Health Survey - 4 (NHFS-4) Methods Data from the NFHS-4 on birthweight and other socio-demographic characteristics for the youngest child born in the family during the five years preceding the survey were used. Data of 147,762 infant-mother pairs were included.

The changing face of postgraduate anaesthesia teaching curriculum: Need of the hour!

The speciality of anaesthesiology is evolving rapidly. The recent pandemic witnessed anaesthesiologists as the front-liners catering not only as critical care physicians but also as trainers and even administrators. Today, anaesthesiologists are required to have not just sound clinical knowledge but also proficiency in skills and techniques and aptitude for leadership.

Clinical Features and Outcome of Stroke with COVID-19. COVID-19 Stroke Study Group (CSSG), India.

Background And Purpose: Occurrence of stroke has been reported among patients with COVID-19. The present study compares clinical features and outcomes of stroke patients with and without COVID-19.

Methods: The COVID-19 Stroke Study Group (CSSG) is a multicentric study in 18 sites across India to observe and compare the clinical characteristics of patients with stroke admitted during the current pandemic period and a similar epoch in 2019.

Advancement of Scaffold-Based 3D Cellular Models in Cancer Tissue Engineering: An Update.

The lack of traditional cancer treatments has resulted in an increased need for new clinical techniques. Standard two-dimensional (2D) models used to validate drug efficacy and screening have a low - translation potential. Recreating the tumor microenvironment at the three-dimensional (3D) level is essential to resolve these limitations in the 2D culture and improve therapy results.

Intracardiac extension of intravenous leiomyomatosis in a patient with vascular pelvic tumor and prior hysterectomy: A case report.

Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is the most common benign smooth muscle tumour of the premenopausal women. Rarely it shows malignant behaviour by metastasizing through the pelvic veins into systemic veins, inferior vena cava (IVC), there it is termed as intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL). IVL may restrict itself within the IVC or it may extend into right heart chambers reaching up to pulmonary arteries.

A Sustainable Community-Based Model of Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (Shraddha-Jagrithi Project): Protocol for a Cohort Study.

Background: India has a massive noncommunicable disease (NCD) burden, at an enormous cost to the individual, family, society, and health system at large, despite which prevention and surveillance are relatively neglected. If diagnosed early and treated adequately, risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease would help decrease the mortality and morbidity burden. Surveillance for NCDs, creating awareness, positive lifestyle changes, and treatment are the proven measures known to prevent the progression of the disease.

Role of family support and self-care practices in blood pressure control in individuals with hypertension: results from a cross-sectional study in Kollam District, Kerala.

: Despite the availability of effective drugs, blood pressure (BP) control rate is sub-optimal in individuals with hypertension in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The role of self-care in the management of BP is less studied in LMIC settings. : We conducted a community-based, cross-sectional study in individuals with hypertension in Kollam district, Kerala.

Calcium sulfate-based bioactive cement for periodontal regeneration: An study.

Background And Objective: Various types of osteoconductive graft materials are used for the management of alveolar bone defects arising out of periodontal disease. Inorganic, self-setting, bioactive bone cements are suggested to be most appropriate because they can conformally fill the bone defect and resorb progressively along with the regeneration of the host site. A new calcium sulfate-based bioactive bone cement (BioCaS) is developed, having simplicity and effectiveness for bone grafting applications.

BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation in human placenta: a hidden link with β-hCG expression.

Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) are group of pregnancy-related tumors characterized by abnormal levels of 'β-hCG' with higher incidence in South-East Asia, especially India. Our laboratory has reported that wild-type BRCA1 transcriptionally regulates β-hCG in triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs). These factors culminated into analysis of BRCA1 status in GTD, which would emanate into elucidation of BRCA1- β-hCG relationship and unraveling etio-pathology of GTD.

Experimental and theoretical insights on the effect of solvent polarity on the photophysical properties of a benzanthrone dye.

Benzanthrone derivatives show interesting solvent dependent photophysical properties. Understanding of their photophysical properties is essential for developing the fluorescence probes based on benzanthrone derivatives. The photophysical properties of 3-(N'-chlorophenyl)piperazino-7H-benzo[de]anthracen-7-one [ClPh-PBA] molecule are reported in different solvents and solvent mixtures.

Language lateralization in pre-adolescent children: FMRI study using visual verb generation and word pair paradigms.

Background: FMRI is a noninvasive tool for mapping language networks, especially in children. We conducted FMRI studies in children in the age group 8- 12 years using 2 different paradigms for assessing language networks and lateralization.

Aim: To map language networks in pre-adolescent children and to calculate lateralization index using two different visual paradigms.

Regulation of CNKSR2 protein stability by the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf2, and its role in breast cancer progression.

Background: Smurf2 E3 ubiquitin ligase physically associates with and regulate the stability of distinct cellular protein substrates. The multi-functional scaffold protein Connector enhancer of kinase suppressor of ras 2 (CNKSR2) plays a key role in regulating cell proliferation, and differentiation through multiple receptor tyrosine kinase pathways. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the interaction between Smurf2 and CNKSR2 has any significant role in the post transcriptional regulation of CNKSR2 expression in breast cancer.

Differential expression of transcription factors NF-κB and STAT3 in periodontal ligament fibroblasts and gingiva of healthy and diseased individuals.

Objective: Pathogens and host mediators can activate transcription factors in periodontal cells to bring about gene level alterations, thereby accentuating the periodontal disease process. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) are two pivotal transcription factors implicated in chronic inflammatory diseases. But their importance in periodontal pathogenesis has not been investigated in detail.

A Case of Evolving Bilateral Sphenoidal Meningoencephaloceles: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: The evolution of sphenoid sinus meningoencephaloceles and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is poorly understood.

Case Description: We present a case demonstrating the gradual evolution of encephaloceles from both the lateral walls of a previously normal sphenoid sinus in a patient with dural arteriovenous fistula; the CSF leak that developed after staged embolization of the dural arteriovenous fistula was managed by an endoscopic endonasal transpterygoid approach.

Conclusions: We suggest that over a period of time, chronic elevation of intracranial pressure can result in gradual erosion of the lateral wall of the sphenoid with development of meningoencephaloceles and CSF leaks.

An ex vivo evaluation of the efficacy of andrographolide in modulating differential expression of transcription factors and target genes in periodontal cells and its potential role in treating periodontal diseases.

Ethanopharmacological Relevance: Andrographolide is a herbal extract traditionally used in South Asian countries for treating inflammatory diseases.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the efficacy of andrographolide in management of periodontal disease which is a highly prevalent oral disease.

Materials And Methods: Periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) were cultured from healthy and diseased periodontium using explant culture methods.

Bovine aortic arch with supravalvular aortic stenosis.

A 5-year-old boy was diagnosed to have supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS). On evaluation of CT angiogram, there was associated bovine aortic arch (BAA). Association of BAA with SVAS has not been previously reported in literature, and to best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of SVAS with BAA.

The application of susceptibility-weighted MRI in pre-interventional evaluation of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Background And Purpose: Detection and characterization of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is important to plan appropriate therapeutic management. The aim of this study was to analyze the utility of susceptibility-weighted MRI (SWI) in the pre-therapeutic assessment of DAVF in comparison with gold standard digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Materials And Methods: Prospectively, 26 patients with DAVFs underwent a thorough clinical examination and MRI including SWI followed by cerebral DSA.