Intracranial Calcification and Seizure with Down Syndrome: A Case Report

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome number 21. New onset of seizure in adults with Down syndrome is rare. The exact pathogenesis of intracranial calcification and seizure in Down syndrome is unknown, however, a possible association between hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency in Down syndrome was reported. An 18-year-old girl with nasal bridge, mongoloid slants, clinodactyly and saddle gap of toes, and prominent Downs phenotypes was present with a low level of parathyroid hormone, calcium, and vitamin D. Due to a higher prevalence of intracranial calcification in people with Down syndrome, there is an increased possibility of hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency. Hence, serum levels of calcium and vitamin D should always be checked before starting treatment with anti-epileptic drugs

Synthesis Techniques and Applications of Perovskite Materials

Perovskite material is a material with chemical formula ABX3-type, which exhibits a similar crystal structure of CaTiO3. In this material, A and B are metal cations with ionic valences combined to +6, e.g., (Li+:Nb5+; Ba2+:Ti4+; Sr2+:Mn4+; La3+:Fe3+) and X is an electronegative anion with ionic valence (−2), such as O2−, S2−, etc. The properties of a perovskite material strongly depend on the synthesis route of materials. The perovskite materials may be oxides (ABO3:CaMnO3), halides (ABX3:X = Cl, Br, I), nitrides (ABN3:CaMoN3), sulfides (ABS3:LaYS3), etc. and they may exist in different forms, such as powders, thin films, etc. There are various routes for the synthesis of several perovskites, such as solid phase synthesis, liquid phase synthesis, gas phase synthesis, etc. In this chapter, we discuss various techniques for the synthesis of oxide perovskites in powder form using solid, liquid and gas phase synthesis methods and we also present an overview on the other type of perovskite materials. The X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and optical techniques are used to study the purity of crystallographic phase, morphology and photoluminescence properties of the perovskites. Some applications of the perovskite materials are also discussed

Hearing our Voices: Pathways from Oppression to Liberation through Community-Based Participatory Research

A number of qualitative-based participatory approaches have been used to analyse and address structural inequalities and intersectional gender oppression. This has been broadly evident in the academic environment and, particularly, in social work education and practice. However, more participatory aspects of social justice research, such as inviting and supporting disenfranchised and vulnerable populations to become more intimately involved in identifying their issues, together with developing remedial strategies and acting upon them, are still generally marginal, leaving both researchers and practitioners travelling on the uneven ground. In an attempt to level these troughs in social work education (and, by extension, practice), the paper will explore the transformative outcomes associated with participatory action research conducted as emancipatory and liberatory tools in research undertaken in collaboration with trafficking survivors in Nepal. The purpose of this paper is to explore the collective experiences of growing critical consciousness around social injustice and structural inequalities that contributed to survivors being “doubly victimisedâ€. Hence, in this paper, their resiliency in the face of that victimisation is not discussed. The goal of the paper is three-fold: (1) share the study process/approaches that supported an increase in the survivors’ critical thinking about their own oppression; (2) consider the impact of survivors’ solidarity in social and political action; and (3) examine the applicability of an emerging model of survivors’ liberatory practice. Overall, this paper will explore new and potentially liberatory ways to address the multiple and complex issues facing survivors upon return, and promote transformative praxis to support healthy individual and collective development

Attitude Towards Online Education During Covid-19 Pandemic Among Bachelor Level Students of Jumla

Background: Health science students, since long time, have been using digital technology mainly for the research purposes only. Due to global spread of corona virus disease (COVID-19), education system has changed and adopted online education which was a solution for the continuity of teaching and learning process during COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective of this study was to assess the attitude towards online education among bachelor level health science students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Jumla. Complete enumeration was done. Total 68 bachelor level students were taken for the study. A pretested self administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 16. Frequency and percentage were also computed for demographics variables. Chi-square test was applied to assess the association between socio-demographic variables and attitude level. Results: The study illustrated that, among the 68 bachelor level students, nearly two third (63.2%) students had negative attitude towards online education during COVID-19 pandemic. There was statistically significant association of attitude level with ethnicity, type of program and strength of internet connection (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Majority of students of Karnali Academy had negative attitude towards online education; and they had faced many difficulties like internet and electricity problem etc. Administration and faculty members should take necessary measures for improving online education

"Like sugar in milk": reconstructing the genetic history of the Parsi population.

BACKGROUND: The Parsis are one of the smallest religious communities in the world. To understand the population structure and demographic history of this group in detail, we analyzed Indian and Pakistani Parsi populations using high-resolution genetic variation data on autosomal and uniparental loci (Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA). Additionally, we also assayed mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms among ancient Parsi DNA samples excavated from Sanjan, in present day Gujarat, the place of their original settlement in India. RESULTS: Among present-day populations, the Parsis are genetically closest to Iranian and the Caucasus populations rather than their South Asian neighbors. They also share the highest number of haplotypes with present-day Iranians and we estimate that the admixture of the Parsis with Indian populations occurred ~1,200 years ago. Enriched homozygosity in the Parsi reflects their recent isolation and inbreeding. We also observed 48% South-Asian-specific mitochondrial lineages among the ancient samples, which might have resulted from the assimilation of local females during the initial settlement. Finally, we show that Parsis are genetically closer to Neolithic Iranians than to modern Iranians, who have witnessed a more recent wave of admixture from the Near East. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the historically-recorded migration of the Parsi populations to South Asia in the 7th century and in agreement with their assimilation into the Indian sub-continent's population and cultural milieu "like sugar in milk". Moreover, in a wider context our results support a major demographic transition in West Asia due to the Islamic conquest

Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs and reproduction

Rheumatic diseases in women of childbearing years may necessitate drug treatment during a pregnancy, to control maternal disease activity and to ensure a successful pregnancy outcome. This survey is based on a consensus workshop of international experts discussing effects of anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and biological drugs during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, effects of these drugs on male and female fertility and possible long-term effects on infants exposed to drugs antenatally are discussed where data were available. Recommendations for drug treatment during pregnancy and lactation are given

Origin and spread of human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U7

Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U is among the initial maternal founders in Southwest Asia and Europe and one that best indicates matrilineal genetic continuity between late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer groups and present-day populations of Europe. While most haplogroup U subclades are older than 30 thousand years, the comparatively recent coalescence time of the extant variation of haplogroup U7 (~16–19 thousand years ago) suggests that its current distribution is the consequence of more recent dispersal events, despite its wide geographical range across Europe, the Near East and South Asia. Here we report 267 new U7 mitogenomes that – analysed alongside 100 published ones – enable us to discern at least two distinct temporal phases of dispersal, both of which most likely emanated from the Near East. The earlier one began prior to the Holocene (~11.5 thousand years ago) towards South Asia, while the later dispersal took place more recently towards Mediterranean Europe during the Neolithic (~8 thousand years ago). These findings imply that the carriers of haplogroup U7 spread to South Asia and Europe before the suggested Bronze Age expansion of Indo-European languages from the Pontic-Caspian Steppe region

Quantifying risks and interventions that have affected the burden of diarrhoea among children younger than 5 years : an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Many countries have shown marked declines in diarrhoea! disease mortality among children younger than 5 years. With this analysis, we provide updated results on diarrhoeal disease mortality among children younger than 5 years from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017) and use the study's comparative risk assessment to quantify trends and effects of risk factors, interventions, and broader sociodemographic development on mortality changes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017. Methods This analysis for GBD 2017 had three main components. Diarrhoea mortality was modelled using vital registration data, demographic surveillance data, and verbal autopsy data in a predictive, Bayesian, ensemble modelling tool; and the attribution of risk factors and interventions for diarrhoea were modelled in a counterfactual framework that combines modelled population-level prevalence of the exposure to each risk or intervention with the relative risk of diarrhoea given exposure to that factor. We assessed the relative and absolute change in diarrhoea mortality rate between 1990 and 2017, and used the change in risk factor exposure and sociodemographic status to explain differences in the trends of diarrhoea mortality among children younger than 5 years. Findings Diarrhoea was responsible for an estimated 533 768 deaths (95% uncertainty interval 477 162-593 145) among children younger than 5 years globally in 2017, a rate of 78.4 deaths (70.1-87.1) per 100 000 children. The diarrhoea mortality rate ranged between countries by over 685 deaths per 100 000 children. Diarrhoea mortality per 100 000 globally decreased by 69.6% (63.1-74.6) between 1990 and 2017. Among the risk factors considered in this study, those responsible for the largest declines in the diarrhoea mortality rate were reduction in exposure to unsafe sanitation (13.3% decrease, 11.2-15.5), childhood wasting (9.9% decrease, 9.6-10.2), and low use of oral rehydration solution (6.9% decrease, 4-8-8-4). Interpretation Diarrhoea mortality has declined substantially since 1990, although there are variations by country. Improvements in sociodemographic indicators might explain some of these trends, but changes in exposure to risk factors-particularly unsafe sanitation, childhood growth failure, and low use of oral rehydration solution-appear to be related to the relative and absolute rates of decline in diarrhoea mortality. Although the most effective interventions might vary by country or region, identifying and scaling up the interventions aimed at preventing and protecting against diarrhoea that have already reduced diarrhoea mortality could further avert many thousands of deaths due to this illness. Copyright (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe