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Background: Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of Arylsulfatase A (ARSA) enzyme activity. Its clinical manifestations include progressive motor and cognitive decline. ARSA gene mutations are frequent in MLD. Methods and results: In the present study, whole exome sequencing (WES) was employed to decipher the genetic cause of motor and cognitive decline in proband’s of two consanguineous families from J&K (India). Clinical investigations using radiological and biochemical analysis revealed MLD-like features. WES confirmed a pathogenic variant in the ARSA gene. Molecular simulation dynamics was applied for structural characterization of the variant. Conclusion: We report the identification of a pathogenic missense variant (c.1174 C > T; p.Arg390Trp) in the ARSA gene in two cases of late infantile MLD from consanguineous families in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Our study utilized genetic analysis and molecular dynamics simulations to identify and investigate the structural consequences of this mutation. The molecular dynamics simulations revealed significant alterations in the structural dynamics, residue interactions, and stability of the ARSA protein harbouring the p.Arg390Trp mutation. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of this variant in MLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of Arylsulfatase A (ARSA) enzyme activity. Its clinical manifestations include progressive motor and cognitive decline. ARSA gene mutations are frequent in MLD. Methods and results: In the present study, whole exome sequencing (WES) was employed to decipher the genetic cause of motor and cognitive decline in proband's of two consanguineous families from J&K (India). Clinical investigations using radiological and biochemical analysis revealed MLD-like features. WES confirmed a pathogenic variant in the ARSA gene. Molecular simulation dynamics was applied for structural characterization of the variant. Conclusion: We report the identification of a pathogenic missense variant (c.1174 C > T; p.Arg390Trp) in the ARSA gene in two cases of late infantile MLD from consanguineous families in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Our study utilized genetic analysis and molecular dynamics simulations to identify and investigate the structural consequences of this mutation. The molecular dynamics simulations revealed significant alterations in the structural dynamics, residue interactions, and stability of the ARSA protein harbouring the p.Arg390Trp mutation. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of this variant in MLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advent of new sequencing technologies and modern diagnostic procedures has opened the door for a deeper understanding of disorders about which little was known previously. Discovery of novel genes, new genetic variants in previously known genes and better techniques of functional validation has immensely contributed to unraveling the molecular basis of genetic disorders. Availability of knockout animal models like the zebrafish and gene editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 has elucidated the function of many new genes and helped us to better understand the functional consequences of various gene defects. This has also led to better diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. In this context, a good body of research work has been done on X-linked recessive disorders with ocular findings. This review will focus on ocular and genetic findings of these rare disorders. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review encompassing ocular and genomic spectrum of X-linked recessive disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Conflict in Kashmir has a wider and deeper impact on all sections of Kashmiri society. The impact of conflict is experienced by people of all ages who suffer displacement, loss of home and property, loss or involuntary disappearances of close relatives, poverty and family separation and disintegration. This is compounded by the lifelong social, economic and psychologically traumatic consequences of armed conflict. The Paper highlights as to what extent the conflict has affected the Mental Health of Kashmiri people and the extent of help rendered by government/NGOs towards them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most of the societies mental illness carries a substantial stigma or mark of shame. Such stigma may keep families from acknowledging that a family member is ill. Some families may hide or overprotect a member with mental illness-keeping the person from receiving potentially effective care-or they may reject the person from family. When magnified from individuals to a whole society, such attitudes lead to underfunding of mental health services and terribly inadequate care. The Conflict situation has adversely affected the mental health of people in Kashmir, resulting in the significant increase in the psychological disorders. In the present study an attempt has been made to know the attitude of people towards Mental illness in Kashmir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of Twenty-years-old conflict on Kashmiri society has proved deeper, wider and has engulfed the totality of social dynamics. In actuality, every sector and every section of the Kashmiri society suffer in totality at the individual as well as group level. Education was the major causality as a result of the conflict .The major cause leading to the decreasing working days were incidents of violence and crumbling of the entire system of governance. This paper aims to focus on the impact of the conflict situation on education of youth in Kashmir. The present study has been limited to youth enrolled in various degree colleges covering the faculties of general science, social science, Humanities, Business/commerce and computer science. The respondents were selected from the colleges of six districts of Kashmir province of Jammu and Kashmir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigenetics is a powerful regulator of gene expression. With advanced discoveries in underlying molecular mechanisms that can alter chromatin response to internal and external signals, epigenetic alterations have been implicated in various developmental pathways and human disorders. The extent to which this epigenetic effect contributes to eye development and progression of ocular disorders is currently less defined. However, emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic changes are relevant in the development of eye and ocular disorders like pterygium, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and more. This brief review will discuss the relevance of epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation, histone modifications, polycomb proteins and noncoding RNAs in the context of eye development and selected ocular disorders., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)