Oral Acantholytic Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Case of Mandibular Alveolar Ulceration.

Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is an atypical form of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Although it is well known that ASCC typically appears in sun-exposed regions of the face and neck, oral cavity cases are incredibly rare. In this case report, we present a rare case of a 50-year-old male who developed an ulcer on his right mandibular alveolus, diagnosed with ASCC post-biopsy. On histopathological analysis, acantholytic cells with a pseudo-glandular appearance were observed. Subsequently, the tumor was resected by modified radical neck dissection with a split-thickness graft. The patient responded well to surgery and had no complications post-surgery.

The Rarity of Maxillary Osteomyelitis: Insights From a Unique Case Report.

Maxillary osteomyelitis is a rare bone infection and is rarer to come across with the advent of advanced antibiotic therapies. It is often linked to immunocompromised conditions, namely diabetes mellitus, cancer, and chronic alcoholism, as they increase the chances of developing osteomyelitis. We present a rare case of maxillary osteomyelitis along with an infraorbital abscess in a 32-year-old male patient with uncontrolled diabetes. The patient complained of dental pain, facial swelling, and visual disturbances. The patient was managed with sequestrectomy along with curettage, incision, and drainage of orbital abscess. The patient responded well to surgery and had no complications post-surgery. As radiographic signs may present late, the authors aim to highlight the significance of thorough clinical examination and good patient history. Prompt radical treatment is necessary to avoid any severe consequences.

Tackling Anemia in Pregnant Women in India: Reviewing the Obstacles and Charting a Path Forward.

This study examined the obstacles and factors influencing the prevention and treatment of anemia among pregnant women in India. Maintaining antenatal care is essential, leading to favorable birth outcomes and healthier offspring. However, inadequate consumption of essential nutrients is widespread among pregnant women, particularly in lower and middle-income economies such as India, contributing to high maternal and infant mortality rates. The factors influencing anemia prevention and treatment are categorized into individual, socioeconomic, interpersonal, and organizational levels. This study discussed the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in different states of India. It highlights the interventions and initiatives the government and World Health Organization (WHO) have implemented to address the issue while also emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches that effectively address the multiple levels of influence needed to prevent and treat anemia. It calls for increased awareness, improved education, and better healthcare services to ensure proper nutrition and iron supplementation. Strengthening healthcare systems and involving family members and healthcare providers in supporting pregnant women are crucial for successful anemia prevention and treatment programs.

The Application of Deep Learning to Electroencephalograms, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Implants for the Detection of Epileptic Seizures: A Narrative Review.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures affecting millions worldwide. Medically intractable seizures in epilepsy patients are not only detrimental to the quality of life but also pose a significant threat to their safety. Outcomes of epilepsy therapy can be improved by early detection and intervention during the interictal window period. Electroencephalography is the primary diagnostic tool for epilepsy, but accurate interpretation of seizure activity is challenging and highly time-consuming. Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms enable us to analyze complex EEG data, which can not only help us diagnose but also locate epileptogenic zones and predict medical and surgical treatment outcomes. DL models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), inspired by visual processing, can be used to classify EEG activity. By applying preprocessing techniques, signal quality can be enhanced by denoising and artifact removal. DL can also be incorporated into the analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, which can help in the localization of epileptogenic zones in the brain. Proper detection of these zones can help in good neurosurgical outcomes. Recent advancements in DL have facilitated the implementation of these systems in neural implants and wearable devices, allowing for real-time seizure detection. This has the potential to transform the management of drug-refractory epilepsy. This review explores the application of ML and DL techniques to Electroencephalograms (EEGs), MRI, and wearable devices for epileptic seizure detection. This review briefly explains the fundamentals of both artificial intelligence (AI) and DL, highlighting these systems' potential advantages and undeniable limitations.

Scientific Evolution of Artificial Heart Valves: A Narrative Review.

Cardiovascular disorders have always been the top contributors to the number of mortality occurring worldwide. But the last few decades have seen a drop in those numbers as the lives of millions of people have been saved due to ground-breaking advances in both therapeutic and surgical treatment modalities. Achieving this level of scientific glory in cardiology was a challenging feat. The credit goes to the scientists and physicians of the previous century who, despite their time's technological limitations, made discoveries and laid a solid foundation for modern medicine. Valvular complications are a major part of the global burden of cardiac diseases. The ongoing development of heart valve replacements remains a fascinating subject, as it continues to progress. Valve replacements comprise either mechanical heart valves or bioprosthetic heart valves. Both types of valves have their merits and demerits; their usage depends mostly on individual patient requirements. This article aims to review the evolution of the implantation of heart valves, and it is the objective of this article to give credit to scientists and physicians for their contributions. The article highlights the research gaps in finding more durable materials and the scope of further research in creating a heart valve that can be universally used for better patient outcomes.

Immunological Nuances and Complications of Pediatric Organ Transplant: A Narrative Review.

Organ transplantation is considered an exaggerated immune state in which the body reacts in an elaborate cascade of reactions against the lifesaving graft transplanted. Unrepairable organ damage is the main indication for a pediatric patient to undergo a transplant. The host and the donor must fulfill the criteria for a successful transplant to have as few side effects as possible. There has been much-needed research in the domain of surgery of organ transplantation, thereby extending into the pediatric age group. This article elaborates on the post-transplant management, the immuno-biochemistry aspect, and its post-surgery treatment. The post-surgery period requires great emphasis as morbidity and mortality are highest. There is much to understand about managing transplant patients to avoid complications such as infections, hypertension, or side effects of immunosuppressive drugs. The treating clinician faces the challenges of managing the dose and frequency of immuno-suppressive medicines to prevent complications in the patients. If the dose is inadequate, there are chances of graft rejection. If the immuno-suppression is prolonged, there may be chances of infections in the patient. This article aims to summarize the mechanism of graft rejection and put forth the need for further research about creating a universal protocol for managing a patient's immune system post-transplant. The authors hope this protocol will help the clinician better understand the patient's current state and help in appropriately using immuno-suppressive drugs. It calls upon the need for a reliable and easily repeatable battery of investigations that will help solve this dilemma.

Resistance to Resilience: Understanding Post-surgical Hormone Therapy in Breast Cancer Care.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting women worldwide. Over the years, breast cancer has become a major public health concern, and its incidence is rising globally. The treatment of breast cancer does not stop with surgical intervention, but adjuvant therapies are administered to improve patient outcomes post-surgery based on the type of breast cancer diagnosed. This review focuses on the value of hormone therapy (HT) in improving the prognosis of breast cancer patients and why adhering to adjuvant treatment post-surgery is difficult for patients. HT aims to reduce the chances of breast cancer recurrence after surgical treatment. Even though HT is life-saving, patients tend to not adhere to the therapy due to various factors such as side effects, age-related issues, and socioeconomic status. Most patients stop adhering to the therapy as the duration can be as long as 5-10 years, and the quality of life is greatly impacted due to the side effects of the treatment. This review examines the possible factors leading to non-adherence to HT and tries to propose possible interventions that might improve patient compliance with the treatment. This article not only focuses on the impact of side effects of HT on patients' quality of life but also tries to understand the problems faced by breast cancer patients in adhering to HT.

National Hypertension Guidelines: A Review of the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) and Future Prospects.

Hypertension is a silent killer; however, the treatment of hypertension is simple, effective, readily available, and needs to be continued lifelong. It is a significant health problem that is included under the umbrella of non-communicable disease conditions and has a strong alliance with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) is an extensive program in India that involves the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Government of India), the state governments of India, and World Health Organization Country Office for India (WHO-India). The IHCI is a multi-partner initiative carried forward systemically across various states. The states are categorized into Grade I and Grade II. There is the involvement of specialized teams of cardiovascular experts and health officials to insure precise execution and seamless healthcare service.  The implementation of the free and easy-to-use mobile application and software, Simple (Resolve to Save Lives, New York City, United States), in the analysis and storage of data, is a novel step taken to insure safe record keeping and follow-ups. Emphasis is on the adoption of demography-specific interventional methods and drugs, and proper acquisition and storage of these drugs is the key step. Treatment modalities involve the adoption of medicines and lifestyle modifications as a combined recipe. Advancements have been made in the area of drug development like gene therapies but they seem to show low success rates at the given moment. Adoption of lifestyle modifications along with medications is the gold standard treatment option. This review article aims to shed light on the current status of IHCI, its milestones, and the future of the initiative in India.

Diet and Vitiligo: The Story So Far.

Vitiligo is an acquired skin pigmentation disease with a global burden of 0.5 to 2 percent of the population. Vitiligo therapy frequently poses a difficulty, which has sparked interest in alternative treatment modalities, including multivitamins and herbal supplementation. It has previously been established that nutrition plays a crucial role in developing, amplifying, or rehabilitating an array of human disorders. However, the correlation between diet diversity and immune-mediated skin diseases is still up to interpretation. Several supplements have been studied, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements. Most studies agree that combining vitamin B12, folic acid, and sun exposure is good for inducing repigmentation. Supplementation of zinc and phenylalanine when used in conjunction with topical steroids or UV-B (ultraviolet B) treatment shows therapeutic effects on vitiligo due to their role in the melanin synthesis pathway. Investigations conducted on herbal supplements have revealed that most of them contain antioxidants, which aid in repigmentation. This narrative review's purpose is to discuss nutrition's function in immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases from the perspective of the most recent and reliable information available.

The Actions of Lithium on Glaucoma and Other Senile Neurodegenerative Diseases Through GSK-3 Inhibition: A Narrative Review.

Glaucoma can be described as a set of progressive optic neuropathies. They cause a gradual, irreversible loss of the field of view, which concludes in complete blindness. Evidence suggests that patients who have glaucoma face a greater risk of suffering from senile dementia. Dementia is a group of conditions that occur in old age individuals. Neurodegeneration is a characteristic pathological feature of dementia, the progression of which causes a decline in cognition, which may be accompanied by memory loss. Severe dementia in old individuals usually presents as Alzheimer's disease, which significantly contributes to a load of dementia in India. Parkinsonism is another common neurodegenerative disease that is known to occur in the elderly. The WNT (Wingless-related integration site)/ß-catenin pathway is a multistep process that is responsible for the regulation of various cellular functions. Lithium can up-regulate this pathway by disrupting Glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß). This action of Lithium can effectively counteract neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The current use of Lithium remains majorly confined to its use for episodes of mania in bipolar disorder (BD). However, recent literature gives insight into how Lithium can improve the visual field in glaucomatous eyes. Symptomatic improvement after lithium administration is seen as it has neuroprotective actions on the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Prolonged lithium use improves axonal regeneration and neuronal survival. Lithium also improves the worsening of symptoms in other dementia-related neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinsonism. The physiological actions of Lithium can be utilized in providing effective, holistic therapy options in pathologically related senile degenerative disorders. Significantly better results can be obtained if Lithium therapy is given in conjunction with the drugs used to manage these disorders.

Calcaneal Spurs: A Potentially Debilitating Disorder.

Feet are often the most neglected part of the body, all the while being the highly dependent part of daily work and mobility. The lack of attention to them can lead to painful conditions such as calcaneal spurs and associated conditions. Calcaneal spurs are bony projections that form around the calcaneal bone, the strongest, most significant, and posterior-most bone in the feet. The classic symptom of the calcaneal spur is talalgia, commonly known as heel pain. There are many causes of heel pain, which are usually associated with calcaneal spurs. Hence it becomes imperative to diagnose and treat them effectively. The development of calcaneal spur is shrouded in mystery, and why a few individuals are more prone to developing the condition than others depends on their gender, age, occupation, and lifestyle. Calcaneal spurs are seen in association with many diseases. It is also regarded as the etiological factor in plantar fasciitis and increasing body weight and as a complication in arthropathies, Gout, pes cavus, and pes planus. This review article aims to highlight a relationship between those factors while also summarizing the treatment modalities present today. Hence, it promotes the usage of a model for administering treatment based on a tier-wise follow-up procedure, where the response to a particular treatment is recorded. If it does not resolve the spur, the treatment progresses to the next tier. This review article hopes to shed light on the understanding and treatment of calcaneal spurs.

Analyzing the Complicated Connection Between Intestinal Microbiota and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Relentless human curiosity to understand the basis of every aspect of medical science has led humanity to unlock the deepest secrets about the physiology of human existence and, in the process, has reached milestones that a century ago could only be imagined. Recent ground-breaking breakthroughs have helped scientists and physicians all over the world to update the scientific basis of diseases and hence further improve treatment outcomes. According to recent studies, scientists have found a link between intestinal flora and the pathogenesis of diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Any change in the typical habitat of gut microbiota has been shown to result in the culmination of various metabolic and cardiac diseases. Therefore, gut microbiota can be credited for influencing the course of the development of a disease. Any change in the composition and function of bacterial species living in the gut can result in both beneficial and harmful effects on the body. Gut microbiota achieves this role by numerous mechanisms. Generations of various metabolites like TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide), increased receptibility of various bacterial antigens, and disruption of the enzyme action in various metabolic pathways like the bile acids pathway may result in the development of metabolic as well as cardiovascular diseases. Even if they may not be the only etiological factor in the pathogenesis of a disease, they may very well serve as a contributing factor in worsening the outcome of the condition. Studies have shown that they actively play a role in the progression of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerotic plaque formation and rising blood pressure. The focus of this review article is to establish a relation between various cardiovascular diseases and gut microbiota. This could prove beneficial for clinicians, health care providers, and scientists to develop novel therapeutic algorithms while treating cardiac patients.