Videofluoroscopy Practice in India: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists.

Owing to differences in clinical approaches toward videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS), professional and governing bodies in some countries have implemented guidelines for performing VFSS. However, in India, the establishment of such practice guidelines is in initial stages of acceptance and there are no uniform guidelines. The aim of the current study was to investigate and describe the clinical practice patterns related to VFSS assessments among Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in India. An electronic survey consisting of 34 questions categorized into four main sections (demographic details and education; current practice; instrumental and technical considerations; protocol and assessment methods) was sent to SLPs registered with the Indian Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA) through email and social media from August 2020 to January 2021. A total of 129 eligible responses were received. More than 50% of the participants used a standard assessment and analysis protocol. Barium and water-soluble contrasts were mostly used, and 97% of participants did not know what percent weight to volume (w/v) or volume to volume (v/v) contrast to fluid were used. Considerable amount of variability was observed in the responses of our participants, which was consistent with international surveys of VFSS practice patterns. Lack of adequate radiation safety measures was also observed. Our findings suggest a need to increase awareness and training among Indian SLPs in technical and procedural aspects of VFSS, and more sensitization toward radiation safety. ISHA should consider forming a committee to develop and adopt uniform nationwide practices in VFSS. Future studies exclusively investigating barriers and facilitators to VFSS practice in the Indian scenario are necessary.

Identification and characterization of early human photoreceptor states and cell-state-specific retinoblastoma-related features.

Human cone photoreceptors differ from rods and serve as the retinoblastoma cell-of-origin, yet the developmental basis for their distinct behaviors is poorly understood. Here, we used deep full-length single-cell RNA-sequencing to distinguish post-mitotic cone and rod developmental states and identify cone-specific features that contribute to retinoblastomagenesis. The analyses revealed early post-mitotic cone- and rod-directed populations characterized by higher THRB or NRL regulon activities, an immature photoreceptor precursor population with concurrent cone and rod gene and regulon expression, and distinct early and late cone and rod maturation states distinguished by maturation-associated declines in RAX regulon activity. Unexpectedly, both L/M cone and rod precursors co-expressed NRL and THRB RNAs, yet they differentially expressed functionally antagonistic NRL and THRB isoforms and prematurely terminated THRB transcripts. Early L/M cone precursors exhibited successive expression of several lncRNAs along with MYCN, which composed the seventh most L/M-cone-specific regulon, and SYK, which contributed to the early cone precursors' proliferative response to RB1 loss. These findings reveal previously unrecognized photoreceptor precursor states and a role for early cone-precursor-intrinsic SYK expression in retinoblastoma initiation.

Controlled Release Technologies for Chronotherapy: Current Status and Future Perspectives.

The expression "as sure as night follows a day" emulates those certain cycles in the environment that are always stable. Circadian rhythms are a group of processes that occur within the body in synchronisation with the external factors in a 24 h cycle. Changes in lifestyle and work shifts have disrupted these stable rhythms, which is a leading cause of lifestyle diseases. Associations between these biological clocks and diseases are abundant. However, it is also known that certain drugs work more efficiently and have minimum toxicity when given during a particular phase of the circadian cycle. Chronotherapeutics focuses on treating diseases according to the endogenous processes which mediate xenobiotic metabolism and drug response at a cellular level. Therefore, treatment of those diseases that show aggravation of symptoms according to the circadian rhythms at a particular time is highly beneficial by chronotherapy. In this article, we have emphasised how the changes in rhythms caused diseases and how chronotherapeutic approaches such as controlled drug release technologies can be a better option for these circadian manipulations that seem to influence all types of disease conditions.

Developing a module on the care of LGBTQIA+ individuals for health professionals: Research protocol.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) people struggle to identify a healthcare service that understands their problems and needs. Additionally, healthcare professionals also find it difficult to care for LGBTQIA+ as very little is studied or heard about management. The article presents a protocol for a pilot study aimed at the development of an LGBTQIA+ care curriculum for health science professionals. The study includes Phase I: The development of a curriculum based on a literature review and focus group discussion among LGBTQIA+ individuals, and Phase II: Pilot testing of LGBTQIA+ care curriculum. The study outcome will reflect the improvement in the knowledge of healthcare professionals on LGBTQIA+ care.

Validation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Kannada Version of the Speech Handicap Index in Individuals with Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer.

The current study aimed to adapt and validate the speech handicap index into the Kannada language, and also to investigate its psychometric properties in Kannada speaking individuals with oral and oropharyngeal cancers. This is a cross-sectional study and it was carried out in two phases. The first phase dealt with the translation of the English version of SHI into the Kannada language, and its validation on 95 healthy individuals and 25 individuals with oral or oropharyngeal cancer. The second phase dealt with the investigation of speech-related quality of life among 50 Kannada speaking individuals with oral and oropharyngeal cancers. The SHI-K has very good internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha is 0.98) and exhibited good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.94). The mean scores of the disordered group, for the psychosocial scores (t (118) = 25.87, p < 0.01), for speech scores (t (118) = 19.74, p < 0.01), for total SHI scores (t (188) = 26.45, p < 0.01), for overall rating (t (118) = 16.81, p < 0.01) were statistically significant and greater than the healthy group (p < 0.01). A statistically significant association was found between clinical-stage, total SHI scores, and rating [χ2 (4, N = 50) = 3.82, p = 0.02], but not for sex, tumor site, and type of treatment received. SHI-K is a valid and reliable tool to assess the speech-related quality of life of individuals with speech disorders. This tool can allow clinicians to plan better rehabilitation, and it can be used as an outcome tool for any treatment studies. The findings of the study emphasize the importance of considering patient priorities before commencing surgical or therapeutic interventions.

Recent Updates on Nanocosmeceutical Skin Care and Anti-Aging Products.

Nanotechnology is an innovative area of science that deals with things smaller than 100 nanometers. The influence of nanotechnology in the cosmetic industry is overwhelming since it can enhance the properties attained by the particles at the nano level, including color, solubility, etc, and can also promote the bioavailability of API. A plethora of nanomaterials can be employed in cosmetics, including organic and inorganic nanoparticles. Unlike orthodox carriers, they facilitate easy penetration of the product into the skin, thereby increasing the stability and allowing a controlled drug release so that they can permeate deeper into the skin and start revitalizing it. Nanomaterials rejuvenate the skin by forming an occlusive barrier to inhibit the loss of water from the skin's surface and thereby moisturize the skin. Nano-cosmeceuticals are used to provide better protection against UV radiation, facilitate deeper skin penetration, and give long-lasting effects. Although they still have some safety concerns, hence detailed characterization or risk assessments are required to fulfill the standard safety requirements. In this review, an attempt is made to make a brief overview of various nanocosmeceuticals skincare and anti-aging products.

Herbal Products Regulations in a Few Countries-A Brief Overview.

Herbal medicines have been used by mankind from time immemorial. Moreover, many modern medicines are originated from plant sources. In earlier days, patients were dependent on herbs for treatment and well-being. However, due to the advent of the industrial revolution and modern science, the scenario of treating diseases has changed over a period of time. Majority of patients started preferring allopathy medicines due to their several advantages over herbal medicines. However, due to long term treatment by allopathic medicines for chronic diseases led to side effects, patients are now drifting back to the traditional medicines. Herbal medicines have their own drawbacks, viz., lack of safety and efficacy data, standardization difficulties, not well established legislative controls and a few issues with adverse drug reactions. Drug regulations per se were always the prime focus and they are said to be dynamic. There are a few differences in regulations of herbal drugs among various countries. Regulatory authorities of countries are working to evolve the regulations to govern herbal medicines more effectively. A brief overview of the regulations related to a few developing and developed countries have been dealt here.