A retrospective study of 72 cases diagnosed with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia in indian populace

Context: Trigeminal neuralgia is as a chronic, debilitating condition, which can have a major impact on quality of life. There are few reports of trigeminal neuralgia in oriental populations. Objectives: To evaluate the retrospective data of the patients diagnosed with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia and to understanding the disorder in the Indian populace. Methods: The retrospective data of 72 patients with typical idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia regarding age of onset, gender, site of involvement, clinical presentations and treatment received during three years of the follow up was collected and analyzed. Results: In the present retrospective study, the mean age was 54.9 years; female to male ratio was 2.13:1; rural to urban ratio 1.76:1 with 62.5% suffered trigeminal neuralgic pain on the right side. Carbamazepine was found to be highly effective in 60.8% of the cases on long-term basis with maintenance doses. Other treatment modalities were employed in more refractory cases including add-on of gabapentin, which relieved the symptoms for an additional duration of 13±3months. The neurolytic alcohol bloc was given in 30% of patients who stopped responding to com - bination of carbamazepine and gabapentin and relieved pain for a mean duration of 17.25±2.95 months. Twenty three percent of the patients (23%) required peripheral neurectomy. Conclusions: Carbamazepine was found to be highly effective in trigeminal neuralgia. Other treatment modality includes add-on of gabapentin, neurolytic alcohol blocs and peripheral surgical intervention in more refractory cases. Only limited cases needed further neurological consideration

Detection of Type VII collagen in odontogenic keratocyst : an immunohistochemical study

Separation of the epithelial lining from the underlying connective tissue wall has been a frequently observed and unique feature in odontogenic keratocysts (OKC), but not in other odontogenic cysts nor neoplasms. No study on OKC has been reported evaluating the role of type VII Collagen, the anchoring fibrils, which function in stabilising the epithelial structure. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of type VII collagen in the fragility of the epithelium leading to a high recurrence rate in OKCs. Immunohistochemical staining with Abcam® Monoclonal Mouse Anti-Collagen VII Antibody [LH7.2] (used at a dilution of 1:200) on 30 tissues of OKC. The chi-square test was applied to confirm the statistical significance between the control and test groups. The frequencies of the pattern of distribution for the staining characteristics of collagen VII were calculated in the OKC samples. Out of the 30 OKC samples 22 (73.3%) showed negative staining for type VII Collagen. Among the infected cases, 7 showed a positive basement membrane staining and one of the non-infected OKC showed positive basement membrane staining. However, none of the syndrome associated or recurrent OKCs showed any evidence of type VII collagen reactivity. Considering the distribution of type VII collagen in OKCs it can be concluded that type VII collagen expression is altered in OKCs, leading to destabilisation of the epithelium connective tissue interface thus rendering the epithelium-connective tissue interface fragile

Engagement in Consensual Non-monogamy and Multi-partner Sex During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights From a National Sample of Single Americans

For many, the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing gave people time to think about their sex lives. Previous research by Lehmiller and colleagues (2021), showed correlations between loneliness and stress with increased sexual risk taking and new sexual desires during the pandemic. In the present study, we examined the prevalence of engagement in consensual non-monogamy and multi-partnered sex during the COVID-19 pandemic taking into account sociodemographic factors and living arrangements. We analyzed data from a national sample of people who are currently single in the U.S. as part of The Kinsey Institute’s annual Singles in America study (N = 3,622; 60.7% identified as women; 39.3% identified as men; 88% identified as heterosexual/straight people; 12% identified as lesbian/gay/bisexual). Data were collected in June-August in 2021 when vaccinates were widely available in the U.S. We found that a small, but sizable proportion of single people engaged in diverse types of multi-partnered relationships and sexual acts during the pandemic. Specifically, 8.1% of single Americans indicated that they had engaged in a consensually non-monogamous relationship during the pandemic followed by 3.8% and 3.1% who indicated that they had a threesome or group sex, respectively. Men and sexual minorities (lesbian, gay, and bisexual people) were more likely to have engaged in consensual non-monogamy and multi-partner sex during the pandemic than women and heterosexual people, respectively (Brange: 0.53-0.89, pvalues \u3c 0.01). Associations between living arrangements and desire for socializing will also be discussed as individual difference factors. These data suggest that engagement in consensual non-monogamy and multi-partnerd sex during the COVID-19 pandemic is more prevalent than some people may expect

Engagement in Diverse Sexual Behaviors and Desire for Different Types of Relationships Among Single Heterosexual People when COVID-19 Vaccines were First Available

Background Decades of research have found a consistent gender difference in sexuality: men tend to desire short-term and casual relationships, and women desire monogamous relationships (Petersen & Hyde, 2010; Moors et al., 2013). The COVID-19 pandemic provides a context that may shift a person’s desires for sexual activities or types of relationships. Recent research suggests that the pandemic allowed people to reevaluate their intimate lives, including lowered interest in monogamy and increased exploration of sexual activities (Lehmiller et al., 2021; Masterson et al., under review). Method: In the present study, we analyzed data from a national sample of single people in the U.S. as part of The Kinsey Institute’s 2020 annual Singles in America study (N = 2,151; 53.2% heterosexual women; 46.8% heterosexual men). Data were collected in June-August in 2021 when the first series of COVID-19 vaccines became available to the public. Using Chi-Square analysis, we analyzed gender differences across the desire for different types of relationships and the engagement in diverse sexual behaviors when vaccines were available. We predicted that, contrary to previous research, there would be minimal gender difference in sexually diverse behaviors and desire for casual relationships. Results: To compare single heterosexual men’s and women’s interests in different types of relationships and sexual acts, we conducted a series of chi-square analyses. Results show that single heterosexual men reported higher desire for casual (e.g., one-night stands, friends with benefits) and CNM relationships (e.g., polyamory, open relationship) and were less likely to desire monogamous relationships than single heterosexual women, X2(2, N = 2,151)=75.64, pConclusion Although this was inconsistent with our hypotheses, the differences in desire for casual and CNM relationships were small. However, the difference in desire for monogamous relationships was medium-large. Findings reveal decreased gender differences in desired relationship types and sexual behaviors. These findings are important for social psychologists, sex therapists, and individuals pursuing romantic and sexual relationships to understand current trends and diversity in desired relationship types

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer: a case report and literature review

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is a rare, yet significant clinical entity which presents itself during pregnancy or within one year postpartum. This case report and literature review discusses the case of a 33-year-old G1P0 woman diagnosed with PABC at 38 weeks’ gestation with an uncomplicated pregnancy and no significant risk factors. Fine needle aspiration revealed a left-sided metaplastic grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma with heterogeneous mesenchymal differentiation and focal ductal carcinoma in situ, and an uncomplicated nipple-sparing mastectomy was undertaken at three weeks’ post-partum. This case report emphasises the need for early diagnosis and the importance of screening for breast cancer during pregnancy, and advocates for a low threshold to screen for PABC in all pregnancies. The literature review also provides updated insights into the presentation, diagnosis, and management of PABC. We explore the diagnostic challenges associated with PABC, including physiological changes in breast tissue during pregnancy, limitations of imaging modalities, and the importance of considering PABC as a differential diagnosis

The Changing Presentation of Choledochal Cyst Disease: An Incidental Diagnosis

Background. Choledochal cysts are uncommon biliary lesions. Due to the evolution of imaging and laparoscopic surgery, we sought to describe our last 3 years experience with the presentation and management of choledochal cysts in adults. Methods. A retrospective review of a prospectively established database of adults who were managed for primary choledochal cyst disease between 2005 and 2008 was performed. Results. Between 8/2005 and 8/2008, 14 adults were managed for primary choledochal cyst disease. The average age was 41 years (range 17–86) and 79% were female. Presentations included biliary sepsis (3), pancreatitis (2), abdominal pain (3), or painless jaundice (1). Three patients had the cyst found during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and two had an incidental finding after CT scan for an unrelated issue. The length of stay for those who had the cyst removed was 7.8 days (range 5–11). There were no operative or post-operative complications. Conclusions. Over the last 3 years 36% of our patients with choledochal cysts presented after incidental finding, either during a laparoscopic operation or after a CT scan for an unrelated problem. Increasing utilization of laparoscopy and CT scan for abdominal complaints has lead to a change in the pattern of presentation

From nanoliter to large-scale bioreactors: How integrated technologies bring antibody treatments to patients faster

Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Pursuing structural characterization of membrane proteins in peptidisc

Classical methods for reconstitution of membrane proteins in detergent-free buffer require extensive optimization and multiple purification steps. The recently developed membrane mimetic system - peptidisc - uses a short amphipathic peptide for fast and effective capture of membrane proteins in a single step. We demonstrate a new method to reconstitute proteins into the peptidisc, the on gradient reconstitution. This method works well for large and/or labile complexes. Using this method, we were able to capture a wide range of proteins from 100 kDa – 628 kDa. We have also been able to capture transient interactions with this method demonstrated by the reconstitution of the holo-translocon (HTL). Recent advances in cryo-EM have opened a whole new realm of membrane protein structural biology with a need for membrane protein preparations that are monodispersed and in a native membrane like state. Given its compositional homogeneity and packing density, the peptidisc may be advantageous for cryo-EM structural studies. Here we present the first sub-nm resolution structure of a membrane protein in peptidisc. With this, we demonstrate that the peptide conforms to the shape of the protein showing the versatility of the peptidisc. The peptidisc is a powerful tool on its own, but when combined with the advances in cryo-EM it can push the boundaries of membrane protein structural biology.Medicine, Faculty ofBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department ofGraduat

Characteristics of Malignant Pleural Effusion Resident CD8+ T Cells from a Heterogeneous Collection of Tumors

While T cell-based cancer immunotherapies have shown great promise, there remains a need to understand how individual metastatic tumor environments impart local T cell dysfunction. At advanced stages, cancers that metastasize to the pleural space can result in a malignant pleural effusion (MPE) that harbors abundant tumor and immune cells, often exceeding 108 leukocytes per liter. Unlike other metastatic sites, MPEs are readily and repeatedly accessible via indwelling catheters, providing an opportunity to study the interface between tumor dynamics and immunity. In the current study, we examined CD8+ T cells within MPEs collected from patients with heterogeneous primary tumors and at various stages in treatment to determine (1) if these cells possess anti-tumor activity following removal from the MPE, (2) factors in the MPE that may contribute to their dysfunction, and (3) the phenotypic changes in T cell populations that occur following ex vivo expansion. Co-cultures of CD8+ T cells with autologous CD45― tumor containing cells demonstrated cytotoxicity (p = 0.030) and IFNγ production (p = 0.003) that inversely correlated with percent of myeloid derived suppressor cells, lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) within the MPE. Ex vivo expansion of CD8+ T cells resulted in progressive differentiation marked by distinct populations expressing decreased CD45RA, CCR7, CD127, and increased inhibitory receptors. These findings suggest that MPEs may be a source of tumor-reactive T cells and that the cellular and acellular components suppress optimal function