Artery of percheron infarct: a case report

Artery of Percheron is a part of the posterior circulation occlusion of which is relatively uncommon. It is classically characterised by bilateral infarcts in areas involving the rostral midbrain and/or ventromedial thalamus best seen by a diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequence using MRI. Clinical presentations are variable and include, amnesic impairment, aphasia, dysarthria, ocular movement disorders, motor deficit and cerebellar signs. Our case was a 60-year-old hypertensive and diabetic male with history of alcohol abuse who presented with sudden derangement of sensorium along with restriction of ocular movements and marked cerebellar signs. The diagnosis of werniche encephalopathy suggested initially by the radiologist was rejected because of the acute onset, history of hypertension and marked cerebellar signs which suggested a cerebrovascular accident. Bilateral infarcts with the occlusion of a single artery i.e. artery of percheron which supplies structures bilaterally can easily be confused with werniche encephalopathy which has similar clinical and radiological picture but are managed on different lines. This diagnosis should be kept in mind in drowsy patients with restricted ocular movements and bilateral thalamic and midbrain hyperintensities

Short Communication Effect of Rajyoga Meditation on Chronic Tension Headache

Abstract Chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is the most common type of headache with no truly effective treatment. This study was designed to correlate the additive effect of meditation on CTTH patients receiving medical treatment. 50 patients (aged 18-58 years) presenting with a clinical diagnosis of CCTH, were divided in 2 groups. Group 1 (n=30) received 8 lessons and practical demonstration of Brahmakumaris spiritual based meditation known as Rajyoga meditation for relaxation therapy, in addition to routine medical treatment (analgesics and muscle relaxants). Group 2 (n=20) patients received analgesics and muscle relaxants twice a day but no relaxation therapy in the form of meditation. Both groups were followed up for 8 weeks period. The parameters studied were severity, frequency and duration of CCTH, and their headache index calculated. Patients in both groups showed a highly significant reduction in headache variables (P<0.001) after 8 weeks. But the percentage of patients showing highly significant relief in severity of headache, duration & frequency in Group 1 was 94%, 91% and 97% respectively whereas in Group 2 it was 36%, 36% and 49% respectively. Headache relief as calculated by headache index was 99% in Group 1 as compared to 51% in Group 2. Even Short term spiritual based relaxation therapy (Rajyoga meditation) was highly effective in causing earlier relief in chronic tension headache as measured by headache parameter

Study of dermatomycoses.

555 clinically suspected cases of dermatomycoses were studied for causative fungi and their detailed clinical manifestations. The fungi were demonstrated on routine KOH mount and/or by culture in 464 cases (83.6%). Tinea corporis was the predominant fungal infection (30.6%) and T. rubrum was the main etiologic agent. Favus (T. schoenleini) was found only in cases from Jammu and Kashmir valleys. There was a high incidence of tinea capitis among children. Trichophyton tonsurans was isolated in cases of tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea pedis. Trichophyton ferrugineum and T. verrucosum were isolated from cases of tinea capitis; and Microsporum gypseum was isolated from tinea cruris infections

Digital resilience in higher education in response to COVID-19 pandemic: Student Perceptions from Asia and Australia

COVID-19 has transformed higher education learning and teaching practices globally. Tertiary students, internationally face both opportunities and challenges in learning and adapting to this paradigm shift in the delivery of education. It remains unclear how students in international contexts are responding to these changes in digital learning during and post-COVID-19. This paper aims to compare student perceptions of digital competence, confidence, and resilience in present times using data from surveys of tertiary students from Australia, Cambodia, China, India, and Malaysia. There are disparities not only in the teaching and learning pedagogies amongst these countries but also in the levels of technological advancement, infrastructure support, and pace of digital innovation in the delivery of courses. These differences have put in focus students’ both digital competencies and resilience as they pursue higher education on various digital learning platforms. Resilience includes the ability to bounce back or adapt from stress (Smith et al., 2008) Digital resilience is students’ tech-savviness and preparedness to adapt to different digital environments as they pursue higher education. This paper examines the perceptions of tertiary undergraduate students from these countries in this emerging new digital learning norm-. A total of 687 tertiary students from the aforementioned countries participated in a survey to questions related to digital competence, confidence in using and/or adapting to digital innovation, and resilience. Statistically significant attributes are identified to help better understand the challenges these culturally diverse students perceive in digital learning environments. This study will reveal barriers that impact the digital transformation of undergraduate students which can be used to recommend necessary teaching and learning support frameworks to enhance their digital competence and resilience. This will help tertiary institutions better equip all stakeholders in adapting to the new normal of higher education in the future