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The article focuses on a unique scholarship program, Indian Teachers of Psychiatry (IToP)-Scholarship for Teachers towards Enrichment in Psychiatry teaching Skills (STEPS) IToP-STEPS for psychiatry teachers in India. Topics include the need for psychiatry teachers in India with the importance of the faculty development program; and IToP-STEPS scholarship is tailored to psychiatry teachers in India and provides a faculty development program that rewards successful candidates.

Background: Frailty is vulnerability to adverse outcomes resulting from an interaction of physical, socioeconomic and co-morbidity factors. The study aims to find out the prevalence of Frailty and its association with risk factors and adverse outcomes associated with frailty in elderly Diabetes mellitus study subjects. Methodology: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was done at a tertiary care centre in Karnataka, India. 224 Elderly diabetics were recruited for the study using systematic random sampling from diabetic Registry. Frailty was assessed by using Multi-dimensional prognostic index by using questionnaire. Results: Proportion of Frailty and Pre-Frailty in elderly diabetics the were 9.3% and 55.8% respectively. Age, Duration of Diabetes Mellitus, number of Drugs were important determinants of frailty. Frailty associated with adverse health outcomes like hypoglycemic episodes, need for hospitalisation and duration of hospital stay. Conclusion: Recognizing and understanding frailty is important as it predicts long term outcomes and frailty may be reversible in early stage. Frailty also opens up a new conundrum and challenge for public health, incites research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus are two to three times more vulnerable to develop depressive symptomatology. Purpose: To report the association between depression and high-risk diabetes in India. Methods: A total of 1,606 adults were recruited for the study. A patient health questionnaire was used to determine the depression on the basis of score. A statistical analysis was done using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and binary logistic regression to determine the association between diabetes categories and four degrees of depression. Results: Out of 1,606 participants, 52.6% were males and 47.4% were females, 56.4% belonged to the urban area and 43.6% to the rural area. However, 19.5% (314) had diabetes; 29.1% of diabetes individuals had minimal depression, 38.7% had mild, 17.2% moderate, 12.0% moderately severe, and 3.1% had severe depression. In the self-reported diabetic participant group (N = 142), there was a significantly higher degree of severe depression (3.3%) in the uncontrolled group (HbA1c >7%) as compared to the well-controlled diabetes group (HbA1c <7%). ANCOVA in gender differences in the uncontrolled diabetes group showed that male gender had significantly (P = –.02) higher mean scores of depression. Conclusion: This study found that there is a positive association between depression and uncontrolled diabetes in male gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both intrinsic and environmental factors play a role in premature ageing of the skin. Natural extracts have been extensively used to reduce the signs of ageing in recent years. Pterostilbene is a natural analog of resveratrol with therapeutic properties against numerous diseases mainly due to its ability to reduce reactive oxygen species. Methods: We studied the anti-aging and skin brightening effect of a 0.4% formulation of natural pterostilbene in healthy volunteers (N=38) in an open-label, single-arm, monocentric study for 8 weeks. The melanogenesis inhibitory, anti-tyrosinase and anti-collagenase and anti-elastase properties of pterostilbene were evaluated in vitro. Results: Natural pterostilbene showed significant inhibition of melanogenesis in vitro. Pterostilbene cream (0.4%) was highly effective in reducing markers of aging and induces even skin tone. The product was effective in reducing wrinkles and fine lines, improved skin hydration elasticity and showed no adverse effects. Conclusion: Our results suggest that natural pterostilbene is a safe and effective ingredient for use in cosmetic preparation to reduce the markers of skin ageing and brighten the skin tone. Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registration India Identifier CTRI/2019/01/017160 [Registered on 18/01/2019]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bhat V, Girimaji SC, Mohan G, Arvinda HR, Singhmar P, Duvvari MR, Kumar A. Mutations in WDR62, encoding a centrosomal and nuclear protein, in Indian primary microcephaly families with cortical malformations. Primary microcephaly is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by smaller than normal brain size and mental retardation. It is genetically heterogeneous with seven loci: MCPH1-MCPH7. We have previously reported genetic analysis of 35 families, including the identification of the MCPH7 gene STIL. Of the 35 families, three families showed linkage to the MCPH2 locus. Recent whole-exome sequencing studies have shown that the WDR62 gene, located in the MCPH2 candidate region, is mutated in patients with severe brain malformations. We therefore sequenced the WDR62 gene in our MCPH2 families and identified two novel homozygous protein truncating mutations in two families. Affected individuals in the two families had pachygyria, microlissencephaly, band heterotopias, gyral thickening, and dysplastic cortex. Using immunofluorescence study, we showed that, as with other MCPH proteins, WDR62 localizes to centrosomes in A549, HepG2, and HaCaT cells. In addition, WDR62 was also localized to nucleoli. Bioinformatics analysis predicted two overlapping nuclear localization signals and multiple WD-40 repeats in WDR62. Two other groups have also recently identified WDR62 mutations in MCPH2 families. Our results therefore add further evidence that WDR62 is the MCPH2 gene. The present findings will be helpful in genetic diagnosis of patients linked to the MCPH2 locus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lifelong intervention is the mainstay of rehabilitation for individuals on the autism spectrum. The Lancet Commission on care and clinical research on autism has noted the prohibitive cost of intervention services in Low Middle Income Countries and has recommended active involvement of parents in the intervention process. However, there appear to be limited resources for parents to train themselves. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the state of Parent Mediated Interventions across India. Method: The study was carried out in two phases. In the first phase, professionals from centers across India were interviewed to understand the methods followed in their centers. In the second phase, focus group discussions were conducted with parents of children on the autism spectrum to understand their needs and challenges in working with their children. The findings from these two phases were then presented to an experienced professionals to corroborate the results. Results: Parent-mediated interventions were found to be limited and relying on manuals published in the West. Parents of children above the age of six continued to face challenges in teaching communication and managing difficult behaviors. Conclusion: Empowering parents by educating them right from the time of diagnosis of the child will ensure better adult outcomes among individuals with autism spectrum disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Effect of Yoga on Prakrti of the Children-A Randomized Control Study" by S. P. Suchitra and H. R. Nagendra is presented.