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Background: Investigating the core component of social cognition, known as the theory of mind (ToM), becomes imperative in patients with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) as they may present with social cognitive deficit-related disability interfering with patients' functional and behavioral status. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the neurocognitive and behavioral predictors of the ToM in patients with traumatic brain injury (PtTBI). Settings and Design: Thirty PtTBI and 30 healthy controls (HCs) were assessed on a set of tasks. Methods and Material: The assessment included ToM tasks (cognitive and affective, verbal and nonverbal, and first-order and second-order) along with various neuropsychological (NP) assessments to explore their memory, executive functioning, and intelligence. Further, TBI participants also underwent behavioral and functional outcome measures using the Functional Status Examination (FSE) and the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale (NBRS). Statistical Analysis: The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analyses. Results: Findings confirmed ToM deficit across all modes of ToM tasks in PtTBI and implicated the role of executive function and working memory in the expression of ToM in this group. While cognitive faux pas (FPC) and first-order false belief together could explain poor performance on NBRS, the nonverbal ToM task predicts functional outcome in PtTBI. Conclusions: These findings have practical implications as they promote cognitive remediation intervention focused on restoring ToM, which may improve functional limitations and resulting disability in PtTBI.
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Rationale: Gorlin-Goltz syndrome (GGS) has a wide range of expressivity, with a majority of cases being first diagnosed from the oral findings. Early intervention can reduce its severity. Patient Concerns: The primary complaints of all the patients were pain and swelling. Clinical examination with radiological and histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis. Diagnosis: This series presents the six cases of GGS treated over a time frame of five years (2018-2022). Treatment: The treatments range from enucleation, chemical cauterisation and peripheral ostectomy to aggressive modalities such as resection and reconstruction. Outcomes: This series comprises of six patients with ages ranging from 12 to 42 years, four of which were female and two were male presenting minimal expression to highly aggressive forms and its unpredictable frequent manifestation. Take-Away Lessons: This emphasises the significance of long-term periodic follow-up and genetic screening for early detection, thereby reducing the intensity and aggressiveness of the disease.
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Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder caused by a single point mutation within the beta globin gene. As a result of this mutation, hemoglobin polymerizes under low oxygen conditions causing red blood cells to deform, become more adhesive, and increase in rigidity, which affects blood flow dynamics. This process leads to enhanced red blood cell interactions with the endothelium and contributes to vaso-occlusion formation. Although traditionally defined as a red blood cell disorder, individuals with SCD are affected by numerous clinical consequences including stroke, painful crisis episodes, bone infarctions, and several organ-specific complications. Elevated cardiac output, endothelium activation along with the sickling process, and the vaso-occlusion events pose strains on the cardiovascular system. We will present a review of the cardiovascular consequences of sickle cell disease and show connections with the vasculopathy related to SCD. We will also highlight biophysical properties and engineering tools that have been used to characterize the disease. Finally, we will discuss therapies for SCD and potential implications on SCD cardiomyopathy.
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BACKGROUND: In the Indian setting, several studies have documented that dissociative disorders (DDs) are more common in females, and the most commonly elicited stressors are interpersonal. However, much of the research up to now has been quantitative. There is a notable paucity of qualitative studies exploring the subjective experiences of women with DD. Therefore, the present study sought to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of women diagnosed with DD. METHODS: Five women were recruited who were seeking psychological treatment for dissociative symptoms at a tertiary care neuropsychiatric institute in North India. In-depth interviews were conducted with each, and the transcripts were analyzed using the analytic method of interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Three superordinate themes that emerged were: patients' illness perspectives, the salience of relationships, and dealing with relationship conflicts. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the role of culture in influencing the participants' illness perspectives. Women with DD tend to define their self in relational terms and, thus, inhibit the expression of one's needs and opinions, to avoid conflict and to maintain harmony in relationships.