The effect of antidepressants on rodent brain glucocorticoid systems

The aetiology of depression and mechanisms of action of antidepressant drugs continue to be evasive. Evidence suggests that alterations in brain corticosteroid receptors may be a crucial factor in these events. Previous measurements of corticosteroid receptors (CR) and CR mRNA in animal tissues following stress and/or antidepressant administration have not attempted to measure CR in intact animals using different antidepressants, in various tissues or in putative animal models of stress. The following investigations were aimed at quantifying CR and plasma corticosterone concentrations using radioligand binding and high performance liquid chromatography or radio-immunoassays, respectively. Behavioural investigations conducted in animal models of stress were extended to study the effects of antidepressants. Antidepressant administration to intact animals had various effects. Cortical CR were increased after 14 days of DMI; paroxetine induced a reduction in cortical CR after 14 days; no changes were observed following venlafaxine for up to 28 days. There were no significant changes in CR binding parameters in the hippocampus, striatum or hypothalamus following antidepressant administration. CR in the thymus were reduced following paroxetine. No significant effects of olfactory bulbectomy or antidepressant administration were observed on CR binding parameters. However, significant increases in locomotor activity were observed in bulbectomised rats, which were attenuated by chronic, antidepressant treatment. In a putative stress model involving chronic exposure of mice to predator odour, no significant effects were observed on locomotor activity following predator exposure and/or antidepressant administration. Sucrose intake was decreased, representing a possible anhedonic response to chronic predator stress. Predator stress and/or antidepressant administration had no significant effects on cortical or hippocampal CR binding or plasma corticosterone concentrations. The results of these investigations demonstrate that CR alterations observed in stress/depression are not reflected in the chosen animal models. CR changes following chronic antidepressant administration, though forming part of a biochemical cascade, are not likely to constitute a common mechanism of action for antidepressant drugs

Developmental delay in children with severe acute malnutrition and its association with Vitamin B12 deficiency

Background: There are high rates of developmental delay (DD) in children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Vitamin B12 is mandatory for the myelination of brain during the early childhood period. Objective: The objective of the study was to find out the percentage of DD in SAM and its association with Vitamin B12 deficiency. Materials and Methods: A prospective, observational study was done in SAM children aged 0–60 months who were admitted in Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre. Developmental assessment was done by Vineland Social Maturity Scale and developmental quotient <70 was considered as DD. Results: DD was found in 55.3% of children. Vitamin B12 deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency were found in 14.6%, 24.3%, and 50.5% of children, respectively, and Vitamin B12 level was not significantly associated with DD in children with SAM (p=0.290). Conclusion: More than half of SAM children had DD and it was not significantly associated with Vitamin B12 levels

Evaluation of iron overload and adequacy of packed red blood cells transfusion in children with thalassemia major

Background: Transfusion therapy in patients with thalassemia major needs to address the common questions such as what should be the optimal hemoglobin (Hb) level for effective transfusion and how do transfusion requirements affect the success of iron chelation therapy. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate iron overload and adequacy of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfusion in children with thalassemia major along with the correlation of serum ferritin level with transfusional iron load and pre‑transfusion Hb level. Materials and Methods: This single‑center retroprospective observational study was carried out in thalassemia day care center of tertiary care hospital for 1 year over 32 transfusion‑dependent β‑thalassemic patients up to 18 years of age. Data including pre‑transfusion hemoglobin level, number and volume of PRBC transfused, and serum ferritin level for 1 year were analyzed, and annual transfusion iron load was calculated. Correlation of serum ferritin level with transfusional iron load and pre‑transfusion Hb level was determined using Pearson coefficient (r) and p-value. Results: The mean pre‑transfusion hemoglobin level was 6.4±0.23 g%. The average number and volume of PRBCs transfused in a year were 12.5±3.02 and 112 ml/kg, respectively, with the average annual transfusional iron load of 121.3 mg/kg ±28.9 or 0.3 mg/kg/day. A significant positive (r=0.4184, p=0.017) correlation was observed between serum ferritin level and transfusional iron load with the mean serum ferritin level of 1744±604.6 ng/ml. Negative correlation was observed between serum ferritin and pre‑transfusion Hb level (r=−0.2624 and p=0.1537). Conclusion: All patients were undertransfused and this undertransfusion further leads to more accumulation of iron in the body through increased absorption of dietary iron as a result of anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis

Caffey Disease in Infancy: A diagnostic dilemma for primary care physicians

Caffey disease is a rare and self-limiting condition characterised by cortical hyperostosis with inflammation of adjacent fascia and muscles. It usually presents in infancy and clinical features include hyperirritability, acute inflammation with swelling of overlying soft tissues and subperiosteal new bone formation. Awareness of the existence of this rare condition and its typical clinical and radiological profile will avoid unnecessary investigations and treatment and help the physician to explain its good prognosis to parents of affected children. We report a three-month-old male infant who presented to the Outpatient Paediatrics Department at Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad, India, in 2018 with a right shoulder mass, decreased upper limb movements and irritability. The patient was treated with ibuprofen and paracetamol. Irritability and limitation of movement improved over a treatment period of two weeks.Keywords: Caffey Disease; Infant; Prostaglandin E1; Thrombocytosis; Case Report; India

A comparison of immunohistochemical assays and FISH in detecting the ALK translocation in diagnostic histological and cytological lung tumor material.

Introduction:Detection of the ALK rearrangement in a solid tumor gives these patients the option of crizotinib as an oral form of anticancer treatment. The current test of choice is fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), but various cheaper and more convenient immunohistochemical (IHC) assays have been proposed as alternatives.Methods:Fifteen FISH-positive cases from patients, seven with data on crizotinib therapy and clinical response, were evaluated for the presence of ALK protein using three different commercially available antibodies: D5F3, using the proprietary automated system (Ventana), ALK1 (Dako), and 5A4 (Abcam). A further 14 FISH-negative and three uncertain (<15% rearrangement detected) cases were also retrieved. Of the total 32 specimens, 17 were excisions and 15 were computed tomography-guided biopsies or cytological specimens. All three antibodies were applied to all cases. Antibodies were semiquantitatively scored on intensity, and the proportion of malignant cells stained was documented. Cutoffs were set by receiver operating curve analysis for positivity to optimize correct classification.Results:All three IHC assays were 100% specific but sensitivity did vary: D5F3 86%, ALK 79%, 5A4 71%. Intensity was the most discriminating measure overall, with a combination of proportion and intensity not improving the test. No FISH-negative IHC-positive cases were seen. Two FISH-positive cases were negative with all three IHC assays. One of these had been treated with crizotinib and had failed to show clinical response. The other harbored a second driving mutation in the EGFR gene.Conclusions:IHC with all three antibodies is especially highly specific (100%) although variably sensitive (71%-86%), specifically in cases with scanty material. D5F3 assay was most sensitive in these latter cases. Occasional cases are IHC-positive but FISH-negative, suggesting either inaccuracy of one assay or occasional tumors with ALK rearrangement that do not express high levels of ALK protein

CRITICAL MENTORING IN STEM LAB**

There is a lack of effective approaches and guidelines for mentoring undergraduate students who experience marginalization in STEM research in culturally responsive ways. The dearth of research in this area poses the following question: What mentoring practices are used on undergraduates who experience marginalization in STEM research? To address this issue, we will use a mixed-methodology approach to observe, measure, and understand how students, faculty, and staff at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) engage in culturally responsive mentoring (CRM) practices. The Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST) will be used as a guide to understand undergraduates who experience marginalization in STEM. The undergraduates who experience marginalization in STEM is analyzed through the results of the College Student Mentoring Scale (CSMS) survey. Data from the CSMS survey was collected on the experiences of undergraduate research fellows, faculty, and staff and will be used to aid in program development by highlighting mentoring components that undergraduate students may not be receiving at their institutions. Demographic information is also considered when looking at the CSMS data, such as the ways in which mentoring practices differ according to gender. The results of this study will provide insight on the current mentoring practices and how they are impacting undergraduate students who experience marginalization in STEM, which can lead to further studies on this topic

CRITICAL MENTORING IN STEM LAB**

There is a lack of effective approaches and guidelines for mentoring undergraduate students who experience marginalization in STEM research in culturally responsive ways. The dearth of research in this area poses the following question: What mentoring practices are used on undergraduates who experience marginalization in STEM research? To address this issue, we will use a mixed-methodology approach to observe, measure, and understand how students, faculty, and staff at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) engage in culturally responsive mentoring (CRM) practices. The Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST) will be used as a guide to understand undergraduates who experience marginalization in STEM. The undergraduates who experience marginalization in STEM is analyzed through the results of the College Student Mentoring Scale (CSMS) survey. Data from the CSMS survey was collected on the experiences of undergraduate research fellows, faculty, and staff and will be used to aid in program development by highlighting mentoring components that undergraduate students may not be receiving at their institutions. Demographic information is also considered when looking at the CSMS data, such as the ways in which mentoring practices differ according to gender. The results of this study will provide insight on the current mentoring practices and how they are impacting undergraduate students who experience marginalization in STEM, which can lead to further studies on this topic

Synthesis, characterisation and catalytic activities of vanadium complexes containing ONN donor ligand (E)-4-[(2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino] methyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyridin-3-ol

1562-1573Reaction between [VIVO(acac)2] and the ONN donor ligand (E)-4-[(2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino]methyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyridin-3-ol (Hpydx-dmen) results in the formation of the complex [VIVO(acac)(pydx-dmen)] (1). In (1), the vanadium center adopts a distorted six-coordinated octahedral geometry where the ligand coordinates through one O and two N atoms; the oxo and two Oacac atoms complete the coordination sphere. The poorly stable oxidoperoxidovanadium(V) complex [VVO(O2)(pydx-dmen)] (2) has been prepared by the treatment of (1) with aqueous 30 % H2O2. Its formation has also been demonstrated in solution by treating (1) with H2O2 in methanol. Treatment of the ligand with vanadium(IV)–exchanged zeolite-Y followed by aerial oxidation gives the dioxidovanadium(V) complex encapsulated in the nano-cavity of zeolite-Y, [VVO2(pydx-dmen)]-Y (3). The encapsulated complex, [VVO2(pydx-dmen)]-Y (3), catalyses the oxidation of styrene, methyl phenyl sulfide, diphenyl sulfide and cyclohexene using H2O2 as oxidant in good yield

INFANTILE TREMOR SYNDROME IN CHILDREN AND MATERNAL VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY: A TIME FOR PRIMARY PROPHYLAXIS

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the percentage of Vitamin B12 deficiency in mothers of children suffering from infantile tremor syndrome (ITS). Other objectives were to determine the percentage of Vitamin B12 deficiency in children and to look for percentage of children having neurological changes in contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of brain. Methods: Data of children between 1 and 60 months admitted between April 2019 and December 2019 with ITS in a tertiary care hospital were collected. Serum Vitamin B12 levels of both mother and child were determined. Vitamin B12 deficiency and insufficiency were defined as levels &lt;200 pg/ mL and 200–350 pg/mL, respectively. The primary outcome was percentage of mother with Vitamin B12 deficiency and the secondary outcomes were percentage of children with Vitamin B12 deficiency and percentage of children with cerebral atrophy on contrast-enhanced CT of brain. Results: Forty-five children were enrolled in our study. Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 29 (64.4%) children and 22 (55%) of their mothers. Cerebral atrophy in CT scan was found in 29 (70%) out of 41 children. Conclusion: The most of the mothers of children with ITS are also Vitamin B12 deficient. ITS occurs in infants and toddler with underlying Vitamin B12 deficiency and causes early cerebral atrophy in children, which is crucial period of brain growth. Hence, screening and supplementing anemic pregnant women with vitamin B12 can be one of the primary prevention in India