Low glycemic index therapy in children with sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE): an experience from a measles-endemic country.

Introduction: Sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder, commonly seen in measles-endemic countries leading to progressive neuronal loss and death. Currently, there is no proven cure for this devastating disease. We started a low glycemic index therapy (LGIT) in children with SSPE using the same principle as per its role in intractable epilepsy. Methodology: Low glycemic index diet was started in children with a confirmed diagnosis of SSPE based on Dyken's criteria. All children were then classified into four stages according to disease progression. The response to diet was evaluated by improvement in their myoclonic jerks, motor activities, and changes in their stage of the disease. Results: A total of 12 children were enrolled. The mean age was 6.65 years (range 3.3-10 years), with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Five children were at stage IV, five were at stage III, and two were at stage II at the start of the diet. Nine (75%) children showed improvement in their stage of illness. Of three children who were at stage IV at the initiation of the diet, one improved to stage II and two to stage III. Four children at stage III reverted to stage II. Two children initiated at stage II went into total remission. Seven (58.3%) children showed a >50% reduction in myoclonic jerks with three (25%) having a 100% reduction. Three (25%) children died due to pneumonia. Conclusion: LGIT may play an effective role in the management of SSPE and gives hope to families having children with this potentially life-threatening disease.

Pituitary Stalk Interruption Syndrome: A Case Report.

Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome is a congenital abnormality. The triad of this syndrome comprises a thin pituitary stalk, an ectopic posterior pituitary gland, and an absent or hypoplastic anterior pituitary gland. The patient typically presents with a spectrum of symptoms secondary to anterior pituitary hormonal deficiency. The etiology of this syndrome is not established but is likely due to a genetic mutation. The prognosis is good if the syndrome is diagnosed early and hormonal therapy is started promptly. Early diagnosis is crucial in preventing adverse effects on growth and development. The diagnosis of pituitary stalk interruption syndrome is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. This study presents the case of a young girl who presented with complaints of short stature and amenorrhea and was diagnosed with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome following an MRI.

Corpus Callosum Infarct in the Background of Varicella-Zoster Infection: A Report of a Rare Case.

Infarctions of the corpus callosum are rare due to a rich blood supply. Corpus callosum derives its blood supply from four vessels from the anterior and posterior circulation and for this reason, they have a rare, atypical presentation. There is scarce literature regarding this pathology. Corpus callosum infarcts usually present with non-specific signs and symptoms. Here, we describe a case of corpus callosum infarction in a 5-year-old boy who was a known case of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. He presented with disseminated varicella infection and developed tonic-clonic seizures. MRI brain was performed and a diagnosis of corpus callosum infarct was made. The patient was treated conservatively.

A Rare Case of Bilateral Orbital Metastases From Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

Colorectal carcinoma is among the commonest malignancies in the World. However, metastases from rectal carcinomas to the orbit are extremely rare. Only a few such cases have been reported in the literature till date. We report a case of adenocarcinoma of the rectum in a 27-year-old male with bilateral orbital metastases who is currently undergoing palliative radiotherapy. Our aim is to highlight the role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of orbital metastatic disease.

Scanning diffracted-light microscopy.

Scanning the direction of the light that is diffracted by a sample permits the achievement of image diversity, which is necessary for implementing the Fourier ptychographic microscopy technique (FPM) using only perpendicular illumination. We also demonstrated that the same method allows for implementation of the illumination-direction-multiplexing FPM technique when the sample is illuminated using a ring-shaped condenser.

Subwavelength resolution scanning diffracted-light microscopy using plasmonic ultra-thin condensers.

We used a rotating slit placed at the back focal plane of the microscope's objective lens to scan the light diffracted by a plasmonic crystal, which had a period smaller than the resolution limit of the optical microscope. A set of images were collected at different orientations of the slit. A high-resolution image of the plasmonic crystal was obtained by processing the experimental images using a numerical Fourier ptychographic algorithm. Supporting simulations of the experiments are also presented.

Imaging photonic crystals using hemispherical digital condensers and phase-recovery techniques.

We describe experiments where Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) and dual-space microscopy (DSM) are implemented for imaging photonic crystals using a hemispherical digital condenser (HDC). Phase-recovery imaging simulations show that both techniques should be able to image photonic crystals with a period below the Rayleigh resolution limit. However, after processing the experimental images using both phase-recovery algorithms, we found that DSM can, but FPM cannot, image periodic structures with a period below the diffraction limit. We studied the origin of this apparent contradiction between simulations and experiments, and we concluded that the occurrence of unwanted reflections in the HDC is the source of the apparent failure of FPM. We thereafter solved the problem of reflections by using a single-directional illumination source and showed that FPM can image photonic crystals with a period below the Rayleigh resolution limit.

Scanning diffracted-light photography using white-light and thermal radiation sources.

A 4-f imaging arrangement of lenses with a camera and a rotating slit placed at the Fourier plane of the system was used to obtain the optical disturbance produced by a macroscopic sample. The sample was illuminated by collimated beams from white-light and thermal radiation sources. The agreement between simulated and experimental results, obtained by processing the captured images using a Fourier ptychographic algorithm, demonstrates that scanning with the slit the direction of the light diffracted by the sample permits achieving the image diversity necessary for successful implementation of the scanning diffracted-light imaging technique.