Comparative Analysis of Supratentorial Intraventricular Tumors in Adults and Pediatrics in a Developing Country: Clinicopathological Features, Surgical Management, and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Supratentorial intraventricular tumors, encompassing lateral and third ventricular tumors, are uncommon intracranial neoplasms, typically slow-growing and benign, manifesting symptoms only upon reaching a substantial size. This study aims to identify optimal surgical approaches, assess the prevalence and characteristics of these tumors, and evaluate postoperative outcomes among pediatric and adult age groups. METHODS: A retrospective comparative study at a tertiary care hospital from January 2014 to June 2020 included 165 patients (68 pediatrics, 97 adults) meeting inclusion criteria for intraventricular tumor management. Data covered demographic factors, clinical history, neurological assessments, neuroimaging, surgical approaches, histopathological diagnoses, immunohistochemical features, adjuvant therapies, follow-up status, postoperative complications, and morbidity/mortality. RESULTS: Ventricular tumor incidence showed male preponderance in both adults (M:F = 1.2:1) and pediatrics (M:F = 3:1). Lateral ventricles were the most common location. Pediatric cases exhibited more frequent calcifications on computed tomography scans (35.6% vs. 29.5%). Grade II and III tumors were more prevalent in adults within the lateral ventricle (27.1 and 1.9%) compared with pediatrics (6.5 and 8.4%). The third ventricle predominantly featured benign lesions, with pediatric patients experiencing significantly longer hospital stays (16.12 ± 21.94 days vs. 9.58 ± 6.21 days) (p = 0.006). Adults and pediatric patients showed a significant difference in high-grade lateral ventricle tumors (p-value = 0.002*). CONCLUSIONS: Supratentorial ventricular tumors are relatively more prevalent in children than adults, presenting challenges due to size and bleeding risks. Surgical resection is the primary treatment, with a focus on the optimal approach for gross total excision to reduce recurrence risk.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of Bi-doped TiO2 under sunlight and UV light: mechanistic insights and comparative analysis.

Bismuth-doped metal oxides exhibit favourable photocatalytic features when exposed to both sunlight and UV light. In this approach, Bi0/TiO2 and Bi+3/TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared and their structural and optical properties are analysed using various characterization techniques. These developed photocatalysts were further tested for the photocatalytic elimination of Nitrobenzene in UV light and sunlight and compared with the performance of bare TiO2. The catalyst Bi+3/TiO2 performed better in UV light with 72.31% degradation, and 4.74 × 10-6 mol.litre-1.min-1 initial rate of reaction. However, when exposed to sunlight, Bi0/TiO2 outperformed with 73.85% degradation, and 4.63 × 10-6 mol.min-1 initial rate of reaction. This significant increase in photocatalytic activity of Bi0/TiO2 under sunlight could be accredited to increased light harvesting and enhanced efficiency in charge carrier separation, both of which were made possible by bismuth-induced surface plasmon resonance.

Isolated ipsilateral abducens nerve palsy and contralateral homonymous hemianopsia associated with unruptured posterior cerebral artery aneurysm: A rare neurological finding.

Cranial nerve palsies can be presenting signs of intracranial aneurysms. There is a classic pairing between an aneurysmal vessel and adjacent nerves leading to cranial neuropathy. Isolated abducens nerve palsy can be a localizing sign of an unruptured vertebrobasilar circulation aneurysm. Aneurysms involving Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (AICA) and Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA) have been reported to be associated with abducens nerve palsy. The symptoms in unruptured aneurysms are due to the mass effect on adjacent neurovascular structures. Most of the abducens nerve palsy resolves following microsurgical clipping. Here, we present a rare case of an unruptured Posterior Cerebral Artery (PCA) aneurysm presenting with abducens nerve palsy and diplopia associated with contralateral hemianopsia which markedly improved following endovascular coil embolization.

A comparative study of low voltage, low contrast cerebral computed tomography angiography with iterative reconstruction and conventional cerebral computed tomography angiography.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral computed tomography angiography (CTA) has revolutionized the diagnosis of neurovascular emergencies. Strategies to reduce radiation, a concern for cancer, involve tube voltage and current reduction but with increased noise and inferior image quality. Hence, the objective of the study was to evaluate the quality of images obtained through low-dose radiation and low-contrast volume CTA with an iterative reconstruction (IR) technique versus standard CTA without IR. METHODS: This prospective trial involved 100 adults requiring cerebral CTA for cerebrovascular diseases. They were split into two groups: one with 120 kVp tube voltage and 80 mL contrast using filtered back projection, and the other with 80 kVp and 30 mL contrast with IR. Evaluation criteria included attenuation values, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, and subjective assessments. RESULTS: Compared to 120 kVp, 80 kVp showed higher vessel attenuation in the internal (272.91 ± 30.59 vs 405.52 ± 53.08; p < .001) and middle cerebral artery (247.55 ± 29.84 vs 372.55 ± 49.02; p < .001) regions. Brain parenchymal attenuation at the centrum semiovale was lower with 80 kVp (29.12 ± 1.87 vs 24.78 ± 2.94; p < .001), accompanied by higher noise. Signal-to-noise ratio (p < .001) and contrast-to-noise ratio (p < .05) were lower at 80 kVp. Image quality didn't significantly differ, and radiation exposure reduced significantly by 70% in the 80 kVp group, suggesting its diagnostic feasibility. CONCLUSIONS: The 80 kVp protocol for CTA of the cerebral vessels combined with lower contrast volume produces images with similar image quality with significant radiation effective dose and total iodine dose reduction. The 80 kVp protocol holds significant promise for replacing the standard 120 kVp protocol in cerebral CTA.

Coevolution based immunoinformatics approach considering variability of epitopes to combat different strains: A case study using spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

In the recent past several vaccines were developed to combat the COVID-19 disease. Unfortunately, the protective efficacy of the current vaccines has been reduced due to the high mutation rate in SARS-CoV-2. Here, we successfully implemented a coevolution based immunoinformatics approach to design an epitope-based peptide vaccine considering variability in spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The spike glycoprotein was investigated for B- and T-cell epitope prediction. Identified T-cell epitopes were mapped on previously reported coevolving amino acids in the spike protein to introduce mutation. The non-mutated and mutated vaccine components were constructed by selecting epitopes showing overlapping with the predicted B-cell epitopes and highest antigenicity. Selected epitopes were linked with the help of a linker to construct a single vaccine component. Non-mutated and mutated vaccine component sequences were modelled and validated. The in-silico expression level of the vaccine constructs (non-mutated and mutated) in E. coli K12 shows promising results. The molecular docking analysis of vaccine components with toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) demonstrated strong binding affinity. The time series calculations including root mean square deviation (RMSD), radius of gyration (RGYR), and energy of the system over 100 ns trajectory obtained from all atom molecular dynamics simulation showed stability of the system. The combined coevolutionary and immunoinformatics approach used in this study will certainly help to design an effective peptide vaccine that may work against different strains of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, the strategy used in this study can be implemented on other pathogens.

Development of QSAR model using machine learning and molecular docking study of polyphenol derivatives against obesity as pancreatic lipase inhibitor.

In developed countries and developing countries, obesity/overweight is considered a major problem, in fact, it is now recognized as a major metabolic disorder. Additionally, obesity is connected with other metabolic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, etc. Therefore, the development of novel drugs/medications for obesity is essential. The best target for treating obesity is Pancreatic Lipase (PL), it breaks 50-70% triglycerides into monoglycerol and free fatty acids.The major aim of this in silico study is to generate a QSAR model by using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and to inhibit pancreatic lipase by polyphenol derivatives mainly flavonoids, plant secondary metabolites shows good inhibitory activity against PL, maybe with less unpleasant side effects.In this in silico study, a potent inhibitor was found through calculating drug likness, QSAR (Quantitative structure-activity relationship) and molecular docking. The docking was performed in Maestro 12.0 and the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties (drug-likeness) of compounds/ligands were predicted by the Qikprop module of Maestro 12.0. The QSAR model was developed to show the relationship between the chemical/structural properties and the compound's biological activity. We have found the best interaction between pancreatic lipase and flavonoids. The best docked compound is Epigallocatechin 3,5,-di-O-gallate with docking score -10.935 kcal/mol .All compounds also show drug-likeness activity.The developed model has satisfied all internal and external validation criteria and has square correlation coefficient (r2) 0.8649, which shows its predictive ability and has good acceptability, predictive ability, and statistical robustness.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Adrenal Gland.

OBJECTIVES: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a mesenchymal neoplasm that can arise at various anatomic locations. It is characterized by inv12(q13q13)-derived NAB2::STAT6 fusion, resulting in the nuclear expression of STAT6. Primary SFT of the adrenal gland is rare. We launched a multi-institutional collaboration to comprehend the overarching demographics, clinical and follow-up, macroscopic, microscopic, IHC, and FISH features of 9 patients with SFT of the adrenal gland. METHODS: We added a series of 9 patients to the collection of adrenal SFTs where the clinicopathologic parameters, including clinical presentation, imaging, histopathology, IHC, molecular profiles, and management and follow-up data, were analyzed comprehensively. A modified 4-variable risk stratification model, including age, tumor size, and necrosis, was applied. RESULTS: Our series consisted of 6 male and 3 female patients, ranging in age from 19 to 64 years (mean, 49.3 years). Abdominal pain (4) and fever with abdominal pain (1) were the presenting symptoms in 5 patients. In the remaining 4 patients, the tumors were detected by abdominal imaging for hypertension and diabetes. The size of the tumor ranged from 2 cm to 10.5 cm in maximum dimension. All tumors exhibited the morphology of a spindle cell SFT with a patternless architecture; 3 had a focal storiform arrangement. STAT6 positivity was observed in all tumors, and 7 were positive for CD34. Surgical resection was the primary modality of treatment. No adjuvant therapy was administered. Follow-up ranging from 7 months to 23 months was available for 7 patients. All were alive without disease recurrence or metastasis. Risk stratification placed 8 (88.9%) patients into a low-risk category and 1 into an intermediate-risk category. CONCLUSIONS: This series is the largest of adrenal SFTs to date. These tumors of the adrenal gland are predominantly spindle cell neoplasms with indolent behavior, with a wide age distribution and a slight male preponderance. Combining our cohort with the previously published cases, the majority of tumors fall into the low-risk category for the propensity to develop metastases. Owing to the rarity and age distribution associated with these tumors, the differential diagnosis is wide and requires a systematic approach for ruling out key differential diagnoses aided by STAT6 IHC.

Interaction of glucosamine with uracil and thymine: a computational study.

The present study delves into the interaction of the monomer of glucosamine with uracil and thymine in vacuum and in different phases by density functional theory (DFT). Both the molecular geometries were optimized at B3LYP with a 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The binding energy, interaction energy, and solubility were calculated from the optimized molecular geometry. The dipole moment and the electronic energies were found of the optimized product in different solvents (water, ethanol, methanol, heptane, cyclohexane, and CCl4) which describes the solubility of the interactive molecule in polar and non-polar solvents. The electronic energies are nearly the same for all the solvents. Observed theoretical results are expected to guide future relevant experimental research on gene delivery by glucosamine. This will also help in enhancing pharmaceutical research as carrier drug delivery, tissue repair, gene delivery, spermicidal activity, anti-tumor, and anti-microbial resistance.