Expression of Emerging Novel Tumor markers in Oral Squamous cell carcinoma and their Clinical and Pathological correlation to determine the Prognosis and Usefulness as a Therapeutic target: A Systematic Review

Background: Inspite of 1000s of novel tumor markers in past 2 decades there is not even a single tumor marker which is proved to have diagnostic or prognostic value in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The purpose of this review is to examine the current status of the emerging novel tumor markers. Methods: This search strategy was in accordance with the Cochrane guidelines for systemic review. Articles were selected using Pubmed search. The article search included only those published in the English literature. Results: Total of 12 tumor markers were analyzed. None of the tumor markers analyzed has all the qualities for a tumor marker like good sensitivity, specificity for diagnosis or assessing the prognosis Conclusions: Thus far, studies, although inconclusive, have found that the likelihood of identifying a biomarker with such sensitivity and specificity may be slim, at least for the immediate future. Key words: oral squamous cell carcinoma, novel tumor marker

Nutrition, sarcopenia and frailty: an Asian perspective

Despite a growing body of evidence that nutrition plays a key role in the pathophysiology, prevention and intervention programs of frailty and sarcopenia, as well as in promoting brain health, the awareness and the need to study the relationship between nutrition and functional goals of healthy ageing have not received as much attention or support from research or policy makers. This review reports on the state of knowledge relating to availability of nutrition survey data for older people relating to prevalence of frailty and sarcopenia in Asia, using data from Netherlands for comparison. Data were obtained from a meeting of a group of nutrition experts from Asia supplemented by literature search using key terms of nutrition, frailty, and sarcopenia. Although nutrition surveys may be carried out regularly in several countries, surveys are mainly carried out for the general adult population rather than specifically among the elderly population, and little data is available relating to the impact of nutrition on sarcopenia and frailty. There is an urgent need for more nutritional data relating to maintaining function with age as opposed to disease prevention, to guide health promotion policies and clinical management of increasingly older population and patients. A shift in the gathering of national nutrition data may need to include such functional measurements in relation to older people, as the latter forms the rapidly growing sector of ageing populations world-wide

Basal ganglia dysfunction in OCD: subthalamic neuronal activity correlates with symptoms severity and predicts high-frequency stimulation efficacy

Functional and connectivity changes in corticostriatal systems have been reported in the brains of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD); however, the relationship between basal ganglia activity and OCD severity has never been adequately established. We recently showed that deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), a central basal ganglia nucleus, improves OCD. Here, single-unit subthalamic neuronal activity was analysed in 12 OCD patients, in relation to the severity of obsessions and compulsions and response to STN stimulation, and compared with that obtained in 12 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). STN neurons in OCD patients had lower discharge frequency than those in PD patients, with a similar proportion of burst-type activity (69 vs 67%). Oscillatory activity was present in 46 and 68% of neurons in OCD and PD patients, respectively, predominantly in the low-frequency band (1–8 Hz). In OCD patients, the bursty and oscillatory subthalamic neuronal activity was mainly located in the associative–limbic part. Both OCD severity and clinical improvement following STN stimulation were related to the STN neuronal activity. In patients with the most severe OCD, STN neurons exhibited bursts with shorter duration and interburst interval, but higher intraburst frequency, and more oscillations in the low-frequency bands. In patients with best clinical outcome with STN stimulation, STN neurons displayed higher mean discharge, burst and intraburst frequencies, and lower interburst interval. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis of a dysfunction in the associative–limbic subdivision of the basal ganglia circuitry in OCD's pathophysiology

Formation of m2G6 in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii tRNA catalyzed by the novel methyltransferase Trm14

The modified nucleosides N2-methylguanosine and N22-dimethylguanosine in transfer RNA occur at five positions in the D and anticodon arms, and at positions G6 and G7 in the acceptor stem. Trm1 and Trm11 enzymes are known to be responsible for several of the D/anticodon arm modifications, but methylases catalyzing post-transcriptional m2G synthesis in the acceptor stem are uncharacterized. Here, we report that the MJ0438 gene from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii encodes a novel S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase, now identified as Trm14, which generates m2G at position 6 in tRNACys. The 381 amino acid Trm14 protein possesses a canonical RNA recognition THUMP domain at the amino terminus, followed by a γ-class Rossmann fold amino-methyltransferase catalytic domain featuring the signature NPPY active site motif. Trm14 is associated with cluster of orthologous groups (COG) 0116, and most closely resembles the m2G10 tRNA methylase Trm11. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a canonical archaeal/bacterial evolutionary separation with 20–30% sequence identities between the two branches, but it is likely that the detailed functions of COG 0116 enzymes differ between the archaeal and bacterial domains. In the archaeal branch, the protein is found exclusively in thermophiles. More distantly related Trm14 homologs were also identified in eukaryotes known to possess the m2G6 tRNA modification

Consensus on the reporting and experimental design of clinical and cognitive-behavioural neurofeedback studies (CRED-nf checklist)

Neurofeedback has begun to attract the attention and scrutiny of the scientific and medical mainstream. Here, neurofeedback researchers present a consensus-derived checklist that aims to improve the reporting and experimental design standards in the field

Grit and Growth Mindset Contribution to School Counseling Services

School counselors are essential staff in an education setting, contributing to student success by delivering critical services when implementing a comprehensive school counseling program. The study examined the predictive relationships of school counselors’ level of grit and mindset with their activities performed in programmatic service delivery. This novel study contributed to the expansion of grit and mindset predictive relationship with school counselor’s activities performed in a comprehensive counseling program. Practical implications were discussed, and further research is warranted to identify other factors that are predictive of counselor’s job activities in a comprehensive school counseling program.</jats:p

Neurofeedback and Mindfulness in Peak Performance Training Among Athletes

Years of research have demonstrated that biofeedback, neurofeedback, and mindfulness, individually and in various combinations, have been employed to effectively improve sport performance. The present article discusses the literature supporting the combination of these techniques, the neurophysiologic measures that support the use of these techniques for performance enhancement, and practical methods for implementing a combination of biofeedback and mindfulness with athletes. Finally, a case study is presented to offer practical steps on implementing mindfulness and biofeedback for the purpose of performance enhancement.</jats:p

Knowledge and Perception about Health Risks Associated with Tobacco Habit — A Survey

Abstract Introduction: Nicotiana tabacum, a South American herb, is the main source of tobacco. The use of tobacco for medicinal purposes emerged in the 1400s, and later in 1800–1900, the presence of nicotine in tobacco was discovered, leading to tobacco abuse. Apart from tobacco use, manufacturing tobacco, packaging, and even disposal of cigarette butts and packages have an environmental effect. Tobacco is available in different types from manufactured cigarettes, hookahs, bidis, cigars, cheroots, and chewing tobacco. The main aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of health risks associated with tobacco habit in tobacco users. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among tobacco users visiting a private dental institution. A total of 100 participants were involved, and a questionnaire containing 21 closed-ended questions was prepared and distributed online using Google Survey Forms. The responses were collected, tabulated in excel, and statistically analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square test was done to assess the knowledge of the participants regarding the health risks of tobacco. Results: The majority of the participants smoked everyday for the past 3–10 years. Manufactured cigarettes were predominantly used among the 100 participants. The majority of the participants were aware that smoking causes lung and heart diseases in adults. Most of the participants were also aware of passive smoking. Conclusion: Immense programs regarding disposal of cigarette butts and awareness in young adults should be practiced to reduce the consumption of tobacco.</jats:p