Categorisation of ventilatory pattern of response to bronchodilator therapy in airflow limitation

Improvement in lung function studies following bronchodilator inhalation leads to different pattern of response in ventilatory parameters which are helpful in categorizing the patients into groups for correct interpretation of bronchodilator response and assessment of prognosis of the disease.     

Early postnatal expression of L1 by retinal fibers in the optic tract and synaptic targets of the Syrian hamster

Previous immunohistochemical studies in mouse, rat, and chick have reported that the expression of the glycoprotein and cell adhesion molecule L1, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, shows regulation during development of retina and optic nerve. To extend our understanding of the role of L1 in developing neural circuitry, we have examined L1 expression in the optic tract and thalamic and midbrain synaptic targets of retinal fibers in the early postnatal Syrian hamster, a well-characterized developmental model of the primary visual projection. Metabolic labeling studies reveal that a synaptically targeted, sulfated, and glycosylated form of L1 undergoes rapid axonal transport from the retina. Retinofugal transport of L1 decreases commensurate with the decline in immunoreactivity of retinal fibers in the visual pathway. Retinal ganglion cell axons show intense L1 immunoreactivity as they navigate in highly fasciculated bundles in the optic tract overlying the lateral geniculate body and in the superior colliculus. We found no evidence of L1 immunoreactivity on retinal axon collaterals as they defasciculate from the optic tract and branch into target neuropils. L1 immunoreactivity wanes in optic tract as axon terminal arbors are elaborated in the lateral geniculate body and superior colliculus and as myelination in the visual pathway commences. This pattern of L1 expression suggests that, in the early postnatal period, L1 may support fasciculation of retinal fibers, maintaining them within the optic tract, and that subsequent down-regulation of L1 may facilitate their terminal arborization and myelination.     

Linear Nevus Sebaceus Syndrome with bilateral complex limbal choristomas and extraocular muscle involvement

A case of a child with bilateral fleshy limbal masses with a coloboma of the right upper lid is discussed. Systemic examination revealed two patches of alopecia on the right frontoparietal and right occipital areas of the scalp. Punch biopsy and histopathological examination led to the diagnosis of Linear Nevus Sebaceus Syndrome (LNSS) with bilateral complex limbal choristomas. The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relatioship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article. The authors also do not discuss the use of off-label products, which includes unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices.     

COVID-19-associated mucormycosis and treatments

In the current pandemic, COVID-19 patients with predisposing factors are at an increased risk of mucormycosis, an uncommon angioinvasive infection that is caused by fungi with Mucor genus which is mainly found in plants and soil. Mucormycosis development in COVID-19 patient is related to various factors, such as diabetes, immunocompromise and neutropenia. Excessive use of glucocorticoids for the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients also leads to opportunistic infections, such as pulmonary aspergillosis. COVID-19 patients with mucormycosis have a very high mortality rate. This review describes the pathogenesis and various treatment approaches for mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients, including medicinal plants, conventional therapies, adjunct and combination therapies.     

Molecular Dynamics of Rab7::REP1::GGTase-II Ternary Complex and Identification of Their Putative Drug Binding Sites

The structure-function correlation of membrane proteins have been a difficult task, particularly in context to transient protein complexes. The molecular simulation of ternary complex of Rab7::REP1::GGTase-II was carried out to understand the basic structural events occurring during the prenylation event of Rab proteins, using the software YASARA. The study suggested that the C-terminus of Rab7 has to be in completely extended conformation during prenylation to reach the active site of RabGGTase-II. Also, attempt was made to find putative drug binding sites on the ternary complex of Rab7::REP1::GGTase-II using Q-SiteFinder programme. The comprehensive consensus probe generated by the program revealed a total of 10 major pockets as putative drug binding sites on Rab7::REP:: GGTase-II ternary complex. These pockets were found on REP protein and GGTase protein subunits. The Rab7 was found to be devoid of any putative drug binding sites in the ternary complex. The phylogenetic analysis of 60 Rab proteins of human was carried out using PHYLIP and study indicated the close phylogenetic relationship between Rab7 and Rab9 proteins of human and hence with further in silico study, the present observations can be extrapolated to Rab9 proteins. The study paves a good platform for further experimental verifications of the findings and other in silico studies like identifying the potential drug targets by searching the putative drug binding sites, generating pharmacophoric pattern, searching or constructing suitable ligand and docking studies.     

Back to the Future: How Biology and Technology Could Change the Role of PTFE Grafts in Vascular Access Management

Although the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred mode of dialysis vascular access, AVF maturation failure remains a huge clinical problem, often resulting in a prolonged duration of use of tunneled dialysis catheters. In contrast, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts do not suffer from early failure, but have significant problems with later stenosis and thrombosis. This review will initially summarize the pathology and pathogenesis of PTFE graft dysfunction and will then use this as a basis for describing some novel therapies, which may have the potential to reduce PTFE graft dysfunction. Finally, we will emphasize that the introduction of such therapies could be an important first step toward individualizing overall vascular access care.