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The hippocampal circuitry is widely recognized as susceptible to ischemic injury and seizure generation. However, hippocampal contribution to acute non-convulsive seizures (NCS) in models involving middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) remains to be determined. To address this, we occluded the middle cerebral artery in adult C57 black mice and monitored electroencephalographic (EEG) discharges from hippocampal and neocortical areas. Electrographic discharges in the absence of convulsive motor behaviors were observed within 90 min following occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Hippocampal discharges were more robust than corresponding cortical discharges in all seizure events examined, and hippocampal discharges alone or with minimal cortical involvement were also observed in some seizure events. Seizure development was associated with ipsilateral hippocampal injuries as determined by subsequent histological examinations. We also introduced hypoxia-hypoglycemia episodes in mouse brain slices and examined regional hyperexcitable responses ex vivo. Extracellular recordings showed that the hippocampal CA3 region had a greater propensity for exhibiting single/multiunit activities or epileptiform field potentials following hypoxic-hypoglycemic (HH) episodes compared to the CA1, dentate gyrus, entorhinal cortical (EC) or neocortical regions. Whole-cell recordings revealed that CA3 pyramidal neurons exhibited excessive excitatory postsynaptic currents, attenuated inhibitory postsynaptic currents and intermittent or repetitive spikes in response to HH challenge. Together, these observations suggest that hippocampal discharges, possibly as a result of CA3 circuitry hyperexcitability, are a major component of acute NCS in a mouse model of MCAO.

Background: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) includes a wide spectrum of conjunctival and corneal intraepithelial neoplasia, which can manifest as mild, moderate, severe dysplasia, carcinoma-in-situ and invasive squamous cell carcinoma. OSSN can mimic many common indolent lesions like pterygium and have a potential for causing ocular and systemic morbidity and mortality. OSSN is more common in elderly males. ultraviolet-B light, human immune deficiency, and human papilloma virus have been proposed as major risk factors in aetiopathogenesis. Though diagnosis of OSSN is mainly based on clinical suspicion, definitive diagnosis needs histopathological evaluation. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography, ultrasonic bio microscopy, and impression cytology are nonsurgical tools used for diagnosis and management, of which anterior segment optical coherence tomography has brought about a paradigm shift in the diagnosis of OSSN. Aim: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the demographics, clinical profile, types of OSSN, management approaches, histopathology and the effectiveness of different approaches in patients with OSSN in a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu. Materials and Methods: It was a hospital-based prospective interventional study where 51 eyes of 50 patients with clinically suspicious OSSN were studied between July 2021 and January 2023 (over 18 months) with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Results: The age group for the patients ranged between 30 and 79 years. Out of 50 patients, 26 were men and 24 were women with no sex predilection in our study. Unilateral involvement was seen in 49 patients and only one patient had bilateral involvement. Twenty-nine patients presented with gelatinous-like lesions, six with leukoplakic lesions, five with papilliform like lesion, nine with pigmented lesions and one with nodulo ulcerative type lesion. On histopathological examination, majority (21 patients) were severe dysplasia. Majority (78.4%) underwent surgical clearance with no recurrence. Adjunctive therapy to reduce recurrence included intraoperative cryotherapy and postoperative topical chemotherapy using mitomycin C. Conclusion: In our series, the most common morphological type of lesion was gelatinous, and surgical management using Shield’s technique was commonly used as the management option for unifocal lesions less than 5 mm with less than 4 clock hours involvement. The demographic profile was comparable with other studies on OSSN. Being a potentially malignant condition, a study on OSSN helps us in understanding the disease better and helps in early detection, leading to timely intervention and improved treatment outcomes. Furthermore, research on OSSN contributes to enhancing our knowledge on ocular oncology.

Abstract Background and Aims Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are associated with significant morbidity and poor quality of life (QOL). Compression therapy and wound dressing are the mainstay treatment options. Technology Lipido‐Colloid Impregnated with Silver (TLC‐Ag) reduces bacterial load and Technology Lipido‐Colloid Nano‐Oligosaccharide Factor (TLC‐NOSF) reduces elevated matrix metalloproteinases and improve wound healing. However, evidence is scarce on the role of sequential therapy. This study aims to evaluate if sequential treatment with TLC‐Ag and TLC‐NOSF improves VLU wound healing and QOL. Methods This is a prospective cohort study from May 2020 to October 2021 on patients with VLUs who received sequential therapy, consisting of 2 weeks of TLC‐Ag followed by two‐layer compression bandage (2LB) with TLC‐NOSF until complete wound healing. Participants were followed‐up with weekly dressing changes. Our primary outcomes were wound area reduction (WAR) and Pressure Ulcer Scale of Healing (PUSH) score. Our secondary outcomes were QOL measures. Results There were 28 patients with 57.1% males (n = 16) with a mean age of 65.3 years. Mean duration of VLU was 13.9 ± 11.7 weeks before the initiation of sequential therapy. Mean baseline wound area was 8.44 cm2. Median time to wound healing was 10 weeks. 57.1% of patients achieved complete wound closure at 3 months. There was significant WAR after 1 month (mean area 8.44–5.81 cm2, 31.2% decrease) and after 3 months (mean area 8.44–2.53 cm2, 70.0% decrease). Mean monthly WAR was 28.9%. PUSH score also decreased at 1 month (16.5% decrease, p

Although the 'Kerala Model' is often viewed as a rare combination of higherorder human development and not so discernible patterns of consistent exponential economic growth, it appears that in recent times the health system in Kerala has been facing the emerging crisis in public health. This paper assesses the determinants of morbidity and hospitalisation here using NSSO 71st round data. While we compare the results with the extant literature, drawing cues from the results, we explore public policy options that are appropriate to the context of Kerala. Moreover, the paper also examines the disease profile of hospitalized households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The factor integral to the empowerment of children with intellectual disability is the presence and active involvement of support mechanisms such as their family and their caregivers. This study assesses both positive and negative impacts on parents/caregivers of children with intellectual disability in Oddanchatram block of Dindigul District in Tamil Nadu, India. Method: Mixed method techniques (quantitative and qualitative) were used. Results: Although many disturbing realities in the family situation were revealed, there were also positive impacts which are hopeful signs. Conclusion: Empowering the caregivers of children with intellectual disability is the first step towards inclusion of these special children in society. Various strategies to achieve this goal are discussed in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report outlines the importance of an interdisciplinary approach and a patient centric outcome for the treatment of facial asymmetry resulting from hemifacial microsomia. Different treatment modalities are available to treat asymmetries. However, the best treatment outcome can be achieved only when the treatment plan is individualized for every patient. This report portrays an adult patient with hemifacial microsomia, who had facial asymmetry from the level of supraorbital region with a Class II skeletal base. Orthodontic treatment, along with surgical management, was required to transform the patient into a symmetrical profile, which is esthetically pleasing. A sound knowledge of the various technologies and resources that are available to us and making the best use of it to bring out a drastic change in the patient's life. Combined effort of the orthodontists and oral surgeons are required to manage patient's with hemifacial microsomia that has caused the severe facial asymmetry. Moreover, special attention has to be given to a patient-centric outcome.

Immune cells exhibit low-level, constitutive signaling at rest (tonic signaling). Such tonic signals are required for fundamental processes, including the survival of B lymphocytes, but when they are elevated by genetic or environmental causes, they can lead to autoimmunity. Events that control ongoing signal transduction are, therefore, tightly regulated by submembrane cytoskeletal polymers like F-actin. The actin-binding proteins that underpin the process, however, are poorly described. By investigating patients with ARPC1B deficiency, we report that ARPC1B-containing ARP2/3 complexes are stimulated by Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP) to nucleate the branched actin networks that control tonic signaling from the B cell receptor (BCR). Despite an upregulation of ARPC1A, ARPC1B-deficient cells were not capable of WASP-mediated nucleation by ARP2/3, and this caused the loss of WASP-dependent structures, including podosomes in macrophages and lamellipodia in B cells. In the B cell compartment, ARPC1B deficiency also led to weakening of the cortical F-actin cytoskeleton that normally curtails the diffusion of BCRs and ultimately resulted in increased tonic lipid signaling, oscillatory calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and phosphorylated Akt. These events contributed to skewing the threshold for B cell activation in response to microbial-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). Thus, ARPC1B is critical for ARP2/3 complexes to control steady-state signaling of immune cells.

The incidence of seizures increases with old age. Stroke, dementia and brain tumors are recognized risk factors for new-onset seizures in the aging populations and the incidence of these conditions also increased with age. Whether aging is associated with higher seizure susceptibility in the absence of the above pathologies remains unclear. We used classic kindling to explore this issue as the kindling model is highly reproducible and allows close monitoring of electrographic and motor seizure activities in individual animals. We kindled male young and aging mice (C57BL/6 strain, 2–3 and 18–22 months of age) via daily hippocampal CA3 stimulation and monitored seizure activity via video and electroencephalographic recordings. The aging mice needed fewer stimuli to evoke stage-5 motor seizures and exhibited longer hippocampal afterdischarges and more frequent hippocampal spikes relative to the young mice, but afterdischarge thresholds and cumulative afterdischarge durations to stage 5 motor seizures were not different between the two age groups. While hippocampal injury and structural alterations at cellular and micro-circuitry levels remain to be examined in the kindled mice, our present observations suggest that susceptibility to hippocampal CA3 kindling seizures is increased with aging in male C57 black mice.