Seizure prediction : ready for a new era

Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge colleagues in the international seizure prediction group for valuable discussions. L.K. acknowledges funding support from the National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1130468) and the James S. McDonnell Foundation (220020419) and acknowledges the contribution of Dean R. Freestone at the University of Melbourne, Australia, to the creation of Fig. 3.Peer reviewe

PGC-1α and exercise in the control of body weight

The increasing prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities represents a major threat to human health globally. Pharmacological treatments exist to achieve weight loss, but the subsequent weight maintenance is prone to fail in the long run. Accordingly, efficient new strategies to persistently control body weight need to be elaborated. Exercise and dietary interventions constitute classical approaches to reduce and maintain body weight, yet people suffering from metabolic diseases are often unwilling or unable to move adequately. The administration of drugs that partially mimic exercise adaptation might circumvent this problem by easing and supporting physical activity. The thermogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) largely mediates the adaptive response of skeletal muscle to endurance exercise and is a potential target for such interventions. Here, we review the role of PGC-1α in mediating exercise adaptation, coordinating metabolic circuits and enhancing thermogenic capacity in skeletal muscle. We suggest a combination of elevated muscle PGC-1α and exercise as a modified approach for the efficient long-term control of body weight and the treatment of the metabolic syndrome

Cardio-pulmonary status of treated cases of pulmonary tuberculosis

A preliminary study to assess the cardio-pulmonary status of the treated cases of pulmonary tuberculosis was undertaken at ICMR Tuberculosis Research Centre, Madras. The study was carried out in 40 cases of treated pulmonary tuberculosis. These patients were selected from the follow up clinic of the Tuberculosis Research Centre and were all sputum negative for A.F.B, for a period of varying from one to four years, with radiographic evidence of parenchymal lesions in the lungs and all complained of dyspnoea of varying grades. Pulmonary function tests were carried out and electrocardiograms were recorded in all patients. In 75% of cases the FVC was markedly reduced (below 75% predicted). However in 75% of cases, the FEV1% was within normal limits. Eighteen percent patients studied had electrocardiographic evidence of Cor-pulmonale. Another interesting finding in the electrocardiograms was the presence of tall T waves in leads V2 and V3 in 37% of cases, the significance of which was unknown

A study of microbiology in diabetic foot infections

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers and infections are a common complication of diabetes. Holistic patient care requires dissemination of knowledge about prevention to avoid amputation and associated morbidity, early diagnosis and apt treatment. Healthcare costs of diabetic ulcers are high as complete treatment requires long term monitoring and high cost of rehabilitation in amputees. Methods: The study design is retrospective observational study. All data was retrospectively procured from the Medical Record Department. From January 2019 to December 2019, two hundred and twenty patients with diabetic foot infections who had been treated with oral or parenteral antibiotics in the previous 5 to 15 days were chosen. Results: The gram negative bacteria (88%) were most commonly isolated. Gram positive organisms contributed to 11% and candida spp. to 1% of swab culture. All patients with Staphylococci in wound swab were 100% sensitivity to vancomycin &amp; linezolid. Teicoplanin, vancomycin, and clindamycin had 100% sensitivity against MRSA in wound swab. Patients with E. coli in wound swab had maximum sensitivity to colistin. Ceftriaxone which has been used conventionally was found less sensitive for E. coli and Klebsiella. Conclusion: Piperacillin tazobactam combination for gram negative coverage in accordance to sensitivity pattern of community acquired infection is recommended because conventionally used ceftriaxone is less sensitive. For gram positive diabetic foot ulcers/ infections which were seen to be hospital acquired, linezolid is recommended for full course.</jats:p

SANS from micellar solutions of CTAB and sodium salicylate

SANS from 0.1M solution of CTAB without and with addition of varying concentrations of NaSal has been studied. The measured spectra show that on addition of NaSal two or more of CTAB micelles join together to form a bigger micelle. These micelles disintegrate to smaller ones on heating

Insulin‐like growth factors and their potential role in cardiac epigenetics

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) constitutes a major public health threat worldwide, accounting for 17.3 million deaths annually. Heart disease and stroke account for the majority of healthcare costs in the developed world. While much has been accomplished in understanding the pathophysiology, molecular biology and genetics underlying the diagnosis and treatment of CVD, we know less about the role of epigenetics and their molecular determinants. The impact of environmental changes and epigenetics in CVD is now emerging as critically important in understanding the origin of disease and the development of new therapeutic approaches to prevention and treatment. This review focuses on the emerging role of epigenetics mediated by insulin like‐growth factors‐I and ‐II in major CVDs such as heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy and diabetes