SCTIMST DSpace (Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology)
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Interaction of nanoparticles with central nervous system and its consequences
No full textNanotechnology has gained a non-replaceable role in a host of applications in biomedical,
agricultural, consumer, military, and in industrial sectors. However, when observed
through the perspective of the central nervous system (CNS) particularly, studies
evidently provide data on both beneficial and detrimental effects of nanoparticles
(NPs). While there exist a milieu of beneficial applications like axonal regeneration,
CNS imaging, neurological surgeries etc., NPs open the doorway for an array of toxic
reactions in CNS centers because of their effortless passage through brain barriers. Even
though literature endow with generalized toxic mechanisms mediated by NPs in varying
tissues, specific toxic reactions in CNS are still lacking. Present review mainly focuses on
different routes through which NPs get access into the brain and certain modes of toxic
mechanisms exhibited by NPs in CNS. A number of applications of NPs in the diagnosis
and treatment of CNS disorders also will be reviewed in concise
Prevalence and Determinants of Non-Motor Fluctuations in Indian Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Experiencing Motor Fluctuations
No full textEvaluation of a training program of hypertension for accredited social health activists (ASHA) in rural India.
No full textBackground: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of premature death and
disability in India. Since access to health services is poor in rural India and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs)
are available throughout India for maternal and child health, a potential solution for improving hypertension control is
by utilising this available workforce. We aimed to develop and implement a training package for ASHAs to identify and
control hypertension in the community, and evaluate the effectiveness of the training program using the Kirkpatrick
Evaluation Model.
Methods: The training program was part of a cluster randomised feasibility trial of a 3-month intervention to improve
hypertension outcomes in South India. Training materials incorporated details on managing hypertension, goal setting,
facilitating group meetings, and how to measure blood pressure and weight. The 15 ASHAs attended a five-day
training workshop that was delivered using interactive instructional strategies. ASHAs then led community-based
education support groups for 3 months. Training was evaluated using Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model for measuring
reactions, learning, behaviour and results using tests on knowledge at baseline, post-training and post-intervention,
observation of performance during meetings and post-intervention interviews.
Results: The ASHAs’ knowledge of hypertension improved from a mean score of 64% at baseline to 76% post-training
and 84% after the 3-month intervention. Research officers, who observed the community meetings, reported that ASHAs
delivered the self-management content effectively without additional assistance. The ASHAs reported that the training
materials were easy to understand and useful in educating community members.
Conclusion: ASHAs can be trained to lead community-based group educational discussions and support individuals
for the management of high blood pressure.
Trial Registration: The feasibility trial is registered with the Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI) CTRI/2016/02/006678
(25/02/2016)
Abnormal cerebellar processing of the neck proprioceptive information drives dysfunctions in cervical dystonia.
No full textThe cerebellum can influence the responsiveness of the primary motor cortex (M1) to undergo spike timing-dependent plastic changes through a complex mechanism involving multiple relays in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway. Previous TMS studies showed that cerebellar cortex excitation can block the increase in M1 excitability induced by a paired-associative stimulation (PAS), while cerebellar cortex inhibition would enhance it. Since cerebellum is known to be affected in many types of dystonia, this bidirectional modulation was assessed in 22 patients with cervical dystonia and 23 healthy controls. Exactly opposite effects were found in patients: cerebellar inhibition suppressed the effects of PAS, while cerebellar excitation enhanced them. Another experiment comparing healthy subjects maintaining the head straight with subjects maintaining the head turned as the patients found that turning the head is enough to invert the cerebellar modulation of M1 plasticity. A third control experiment in healthy subjects showed that proprioceptive perturbation of the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle had the same effects as turning the head. We discuss these finding in the light of the recent model of a mesencephalic head integrator. We also suggest that abnormal cerebellar processing of the neck proprioceptive information drives dysfunctions of the integrator in cervical dystonia
Decompressive Hemicraniectomy: Predictors of Functional Outcome in Patients with Ischemic Stroke After Surgery-A Retrospective Study in Single Institute
No full textCorrelation of the Optic nerve sheath diameter & the Trans Cranial colour Doppler indices with direct measurement of intracranial pressure
No full textIn vitro interaction and biocompatibility of titanate nanotubes with microglial cells
No full textTitanate nanotubes (TiONts) are promising agents for biomedical applications. Microglial activation and associated oxidative burst are major challenges in drug delivery applications across the brain. Here, TiONts were designed for drug delivery systems by functionalizing them with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), their interactions and biocompatibility were studied in vitro using murine microglial BV-2 cells. TiONts-APTES exposure resulted in increased ROS production and transient mitochondrial hyperpolarization. However, there was no indication of microglial proliferation in BV-2 cells as suggested by cell cycle analysis and morphology evaluation. The endocytosis as well as passive diffusion mediated TiONts-APTES internalization were proved by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with and without amiloride, an endocytosis inhibiting agent. In addition, the TiONts-APTES exhibited good biocompatibility on microglial BV-2 cells as revealed by the plasma membrane integrity, lysosmal membrane integrity, morphology and viability analysis
A STUDY OF SUPERIOR VENACAVA, HEPATIC VENOUS PULSE WAVE DOPPLER IN OSTIUM-SECUNDUM ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT PATIENTS -- BEFORE AND AFTER DEVICE CLOSURE.
No full textForensic application of fluorescence spectroscopy: An efficient technique to predict the presence of human saliva
No full textIn this study, we aim to use the fluorescence spectroscopic data as a preliminary forensic evidence for the detection of saliva stains from the surface of drinking glass, to see the potential of utilizing a comparatively simple method to trace the presence of saliva from inanimate objects such as cigars, papers, cloths and envelopes. Since dried stains of saliva are invisible to human eyes, detection of saliva from such sources is a challenge in forensic analysis. The fluorescence emission spectra of dried saliva samples collected from drinking glass were compared to that of undiluted liquid saliva of the same volunteers. The deposition of saliva was predicted based on the emission spectra of the enzyme amylase around 350 nm, which is present in high concentrations in saliva. The dried saliva stains and undiluted liquid saliva showed an emission peak at 350 ± 5 nm and 345 ± 5 nm, respectively. The fluorescence emission spectra obtained from the dried saliva samples confirmed well to those of undiluted liquid saliva and amylase.The fluorescence intensity and area underneath the fluorescence peak of undiluted liquid saliva as well as dried saliva were also studied. The study concludes that by correlating fluorescence emission peak, fluorescence intensity and area under the curve, saliva can be detected from dried stains. The potential of fluorescence spectroscopy is also emphasised to detect the presence of saliva from inanimate objects like that of drinking glass, by identifying the emission peak of amylase, one of the prominent saliva components. Thus by using this simple technique, the best possible samples for a detailed DNA analysis may be screened and selected, which could significantly contribute to forensic identification
