Search

Abstract Diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI) is a widely used neuroimaging modality that permits the in vivo exploration of white matter connections in the human brain. Normative structural connectomics – the application of large-scale, group-derived dMRI datasets to out-of-sample cohorts – have increasingly been leveraged to study the network correlates of focal brain interventions, insults, and other regions-of-interest (ROIs). Here, we provide a normative, whole-brain connectome in MNI space that enables researchers to interrogate fiber streamlines that are likely perturbed by given ROIs, even in the absence of subject-specific dMRI data. Assembled from multi-shell dMRI data of 985 healthy Human Connectome Project subjects using generalized Q-sampling imaging and multispectral normalization techniques, this connectome comprises ~12 million unique streamlines, the largest to date. It has already been utilized in at least 18 peer-reviewed publications, most frequently in the context of neuromodulatory interventions like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound. Now publicly available, this connectome will constitute a useful tool for understanding the wider impact of focal brain perturbations on white matter architecture going forward.

Deep brain stimulation programming for Parkinson’s disease entails the assessment of a large number of possible simulation settings, requiring numerous clinic visits after surgery. Here, the authors show that patterns of functional MRI can predict the optimal stimulation settings.

Scombrids are the important component of pelagic fishery resources which include 54 species under 15 genera commonly known as mackerels, bonitos, and tunas. Due to the high commercial value attained, there are real chances of fraudulent substitution by species of inferior value. DNA based species identification methods can be applied to detect product adulteration, as well as to better contribute to the conservation and management of these species by providing accurate species identification independently of the age of the individuals or the tissue processed. In this study, a total of 15 commercially important scombrid species from Indian waters were analyzed. Due to the inadequacy of mitochondrial COI barcoding gene in discriminating between some Thunnus species, cytochrome b sequences were used instead. For all the 15 species, we propose a DNA character-based keys which uses a diagnostic combination of nucleotides and respective probes, including the first character-based keys and probes to differentiate between Thunnus albacares and T. obsesus.

Background: Panic attacks affect a sizeable proportion of the population. The neurocircuitry of panic remains incompletely understood. Objective: To investigate the neuroanatomical underpinnings of panic attacks induced by deep brain stimulation (DBS) through (1) connectomic analysis of an obsessive-compulsive disorder patient who experienced panic attacks during inferior thalamic peduncle DBS; (2) appraisal of existing clinical reports on DBS-induced panic attacks. Methods: Panicogenic, ventral contact stimulation was compared with benign stimulation at other contacts using volume of tissue activated (VTA) modelling. Networks associated with the panicogenic zone were investigated using state-of-the-art normative connectivity mapping. In addition, a literature search for prior reports of DBS-induced panic attacks was conducted. Results: Panicogenic VTAs impinged primarily on the tuberal hypothalamus. Compared to non-panicogenic VTAs, panicogenic loci were significantly functionally coupled to limbic and brainstem structures, including periaqueductal grey and amygdala. Previous studies found stimulation of these areas can also provoke panic attacks. Conclusions: DBS in the region of the tuberal hypothalamus elicited panic attacks in a single obsessive-compulsive disorder patient and recruited a network of structures previously implicated in panic pathophysiology, reinforcing the importance of the hypothalamus as a hub of panicogenic circuitry.

Mullet species belongs to the family, Mugilidae. Traditional taxonomic characters failed to differentiate mullet species due to the possibility of cryptic species and morphological similarity among mullet species. This study aimed to differentiate the selected mullet species using molecular markers. A total of 95 mullet samples (M. cephalus, P. macrolepis, and P. tade) were collected from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. For this study, 5 RAPD primers (OPA1, OPA10, OPA11, OPA15, and OPA16) were chosen from a set of 30 universal primers. The Nei's unbiased genetic distance was calculated with the help of the software "POPGEN version 1.32". The genetic distance between P. tade and P. macrolepis was lower, while the distance between M. cephalus and P. tade was greater, measuring 43.37 %. For the PCR-RFLP marker, the restriction enzyme was chosen based on in-silico analysis. The Alu I enzyme displayed species-specific patterns in M. cephalus at 190 bp, 200 bp, and 210 bp for the 16S rRNA gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin E is one of the most important vitamins in aquatic animal breeding, larval growth, and development. It is also considered to be a functional feed addtitive for its antioxidant and immunity-improvement role resulting in better survival and growth during early life stages. However, the role of vitamin E in the diet of milkfish larvae has not been studied in detail. Moreover, the optimal requirement of vitamin E for improved survival and growth in the larval stages of milkfish is yet to be ascertained. A 45-day feeding experiment was conducted to elucidate the effect of dietary vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) supplementation on the growth, survival, and fatty acid composition of milkfish, Chanos chanos, larvae. During the trial, five iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic (~580 g kg−1 crude protein, 120 g kg−1 crude lipid) experimental larval diets with varying levels of vitamin E 0 (control E0), 100 (E100), 200 (E200), 300 (E300) and 400 (E400) mg kg−1 were tested in 18 days posthatch larvae (mean weight: 48.25 ± 0.08 mg). Milkfish larvae (1,500) were randomly distributed into 15 fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) rectangular tanks of 100 L capacity (n = 100) in a flow-through rearing system. The results revealed that larvae fed with a diet containing vitamin E supplementation at 200 mg (E200) enhanced (p <.05) the growth performance, final body weight (371.7 ± 12.80 mg), weight gain percentage (628.76 ± 63.12%), and specific growth rate (4.31 ± 0.80%) compared with the E0 fed diet. Also, fish feed with E200 diet had a significantly higher protein efficiency ratio (0.53 ± 0.08) than the control (E0) (0.40 ± 0.01). Vitamin E and lipid content of postfed whole larvae were linearly correlated (R2 = 0.956) with dietary vitamin E inclusions up to 300 mg kg−1. Histological examinations revealed that the length of intestinal villi and the concentration of lymphoid cells in the lamina propria of the treatments E200, E300, and E400 were higher, compared to E0 and E100 treatments. Red blood cell (p < 0.05) and white blood cell (p < 0.01) counts were significantly higher in E200 treatment than in the rest of the treatments. Larvae fed with an E200 and E300 diet showed significantly (p < 0.05) increased total lymphocyte count, while myelocyte count was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). Based on a curvilinear (polynomial) regression analyses, the optimum specific growth rate, final body weight, weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, and feed efficiency ratio were obtained at dietary vitamin E levels of 210, 205, 207, 243, and 242 mg kg−1 diet, respectively. Accordingly, the optimum dietary vitamin E required for milkfish in a range of 205 to 243 mg kg−1 is beneficial for better health, survival, and growth. The findings of this study can be used as the baseline scientific information on the vitamin E requirement for the formulation of a cost‐effective diet for milkfish larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Back ground: How frequently metabolic syndrome occur in type 1 diabetes is uncertain and so is the effect of metabolic syndrome among type 1 diabetics. Objectives 1. To find out the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among type I diabetes mellitus patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Tamilnadu. 2. To find out the association of metabolic syndrome with complications of type 1 DM. Material and methods: The present study was a cross sectional study carried out in the Institute of Diabetology in Stanley Medical College between August 2023 to November 2023 among type I diabetes mellitus patients who were either attending to the out-patient department or admitted to the wards of the Diabetology department. All the patient who has severe complications of diabetes and those who were bed ridden were excluded from the study. Sample size was calculated to be 270. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants included into the study. Chi square test was applied to find out the association between two qualitative variables. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The proportion of metabolic syndrome among the participants was 17.9%. Metabolic syndrome was in higher proportion among those with more age than those with lesser. Among those with no metabolic syndrome, 44.1% reported to be physically active while among those with metabolic syndrome, the proportion was 23.1%. Among those with metabolic syndrome, 67.3% had complications and among those without metabolic syndrome the proportion was 29.8%. Being physically inactive and complications of DM was found to be associated with metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Promoting healthy behaviours like no alcohol consumption and being physically active would decrease risk of metabolic syndrome among Type 1 Diabetics. Presence of metabolic syndrome increases the probability of occurrence of diabetes complications. Hence addressing metabolic syndrome in type 1 diabetics is vital to increase their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]