In the last couple of decades, dermatology has embraced various new dimensions with progress in dermatoscopy, skin imaging technique, immune-dermatology, laser and esthetic dermatology. Advances in ...technology and new inventions in rapid diagnostics are also revolutionizing how dermatologists approach patient care. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term used to describe machine software that can mimic human cognitive functions, such as learning and problem-solving. Machine learning achieves this via changes in the program algorithm that allow it to complete tasks more efficiently.1 AI research in the field of dermatology is advancing rapidly. Cutaneous lesion classification is an especially active area of research as computational approaches have recently achieved dermatologist-level diagnostic accuracy for melanoma.2 However, the basic knowledge of AI and its potential use in the specialty, is to date lacking amongst practicing dermatologists in India. In this context, the editorial team of the Indian Journal of Dermatology (IJD) thought a symposium on AI may be a need of the hour.
Color perception relies on comparisons between adjacent lights, but how the brain performs these comparisons is poorly understood. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we recorded spiking ...responses of individual V1 neurons in macaque monkeys to pairs of stimuli within the classical receptive field (RF). We estimated the spatial-chromatic RF of each neuron and then presented customized colored edges using a closed-loop technique. We found that many double-opponent (DO) cells, which have spatially and chromatically opponent RFs, responded to chromatic contrast as a weighted sum, akin to how other V1 neurons responded to luminance contrast. Yet other neurons integrated chromatic signals nonlinearly, confirming that linear signal integration is not an obligate property of V1 neurons. The functional similarity of cone-opponent DO cells and cone non-opponent simple cells suggests that these two groups may share a common underlying circuitry, promotes the construction of image-computable models for full-color image representation, and sheds new light on V1 complex cells.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) usually produces cytopathic effect (CPE) within 24-72 h post-infection (P.I.). Clinical isolates from recurrent HSV infections in patients on Acyclovir therapy were ...collected between 2016 and 2019 and tested in cell cultures for cytopathic effects and further in-depth characterization. Fourteen such isolates did not show any CPE in A549 or Vero cell lines even at 120 h P.I. However, these cultures remained positive for HSV-DNA after several passages. Sequence analysis revealed that the non-CPE isolates were all HSV-1. Analysis of the thymidine kinase gene from the isolates revealed several previously reported and two novel ACV-resistant mutations. Immunofluorescence and Western blot data revealed a low-level expression of the immediate early protein, ICP4. Late proteins like ICP5 or capsid protein, VP16 were almost undetectable in these isolates. AFM imaging revealed that the non-CPE viruses had structural deformities compared to wild-type HSV-1. Our findings suggest that these strains are manifesting an unusual phenomenon of being non-CPE herpesviruses with low level of virus protein expressions over several passages. Probably these HSV-1 isolates are evolving towards a more "cryptic" form to establish chronic infection in the host thereby unraveling yet another strategy of herpesviruses to evade the host immune system.
Optogenetic techniques for neural inactivation are valuable for linking neural activity to behavior but they have serious limitations in macaques. To achieve powerful and temporally precise neural ...inactivation, we used an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector carrying the channelrhodopsin-2 gene under the control of a Dlx5/6 enhancer, which restricts expression to GABAergic neurons. We tested this approach in the primary visual cortex, an area where neural inactivation leads to interpretable behavioral deficits. Optical stimulation modulated spiking activity and reduced visual sensitivity profoundly in the region of space represented by the stimulated neurons. Rebound firing, which can have unwanted effects on neural circuits following inactivation, was not observed, and the efficacy of the optogenetic manipulation on behavior was maintained across >1000 trials. We conclude that this inhibitory cell-type-specific optogenetic approach is a powerful and spatiotemporally precise neural inactivation tool with broad utility for probing the functional contributions of cortical activity in macaques.
Trichoscopy: A text and atlas De, Abhishek
Indian Journal of Dermatology,
11/2017, Letnik:
62, Številka:
6
Journal Article, Book Review
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
1 Since then, a volume of work had been published on trichoscopy in different hair and scalp disorders, and some works published from Indian subcontinent also emphasized the need and utility of ...trichoscopy in darker skin type. The book covers different aspects of trichoscopy from basics of trichoscopy to individual disorders and then dealt with some special situations such as pediatric trichoscopy and trichoscopy in hair transplant. Is trichoscopy a reliable tool to diagnose early female pattern hair loss?
Laser and Lights in Psoriasis Sarda, Aarti; Vaidyanathan, Varsha; Das, Sudip ...
Indian Journal of Dermatology/Indian journal of dermatology,
03/2024, Letnik:
69, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Over the years, various treatment modalities have been explored to alleviate the symptoms and improve ...the quality of life for patients with psoriasis. Among these treatment options, lasers and lights have emerged as promising non-invasive approaches with significant efficacy. This review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding and clinical applications of lasers and lights in the management of psoriasis. We have discussed the mechanisms of action behind different laser and light therapies and their impact on psoriatic plaques. Additionally, we discuss the various types of lasers and lights utilized, including excimer lasers, pulsed dye lasers, and narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy, highlighting their unique properties and clinical outcomes. Moreover, we have addressed important considerations related to patient selection, treatment protocols, and potential side effects associated with lasers and lights. We emphasize the need for proper evaluation, monitoring, and customization of treatment plans to ensure optimal outcomes and minimize adverse events.
Dengue diagnosis primarily relies on NS1 ELISA and serological (IgG/IgM) tests. There are reports of low and variable sensitivity of the widely used NS1 ELISA tests. Poor sensitivity has been ...attributed to patient’s infection status, prevalent serotypes, and the geographical origin of the samples. We investigated whether NS1 mutations directly have any impact on NS1 ELISA-based dengue virus (DENV) detection in clinical samples. Fifty-eight serum samples were collected from dengue-endemic area during 2015–2017 and tested with three commonly used NS1 ELISA kits. The samples were subjected to diagnostic RT-PCR and sequencing of structural gene(s). Sequencing of NS1 gene revealed amino acid changes which were transferred to respective wild type NS1 backbone to determine their effects on NS1 production and secretion in Huh-7, Vero, and A549 cells. Eighty-seven percent samples were virus RNA-positive but 65% of these were NS1 ELISA-positive. NS1-gene mutations like Val236➔Ala (DENV2) or Trp68➔stop codon in DENV3 were associated with decreased NS1 production and secretion. These mutations were originally identified in NS1 ELISA-negative clinical isolates. All DENV1 and > 80% DENV2 were NS1 ELISA-positive. The three NS1 ELISA could not detect recently circulating DENV3 single infections despite being RNA-positive. Among serotypes 1–3, wild-type NS1 production was highest for DENV1 and lowest for DENV3 in all cell lines tested. Mutations in circulating DENV directly correlated with NS1 production and secretion and, hence, ELISA-based NS1 detection. Further studies to define more NS1 mutations in clinical samples are needed to optimize ELISA kits for more sensitive dengue diagnosis.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic dermatological condition affecting ~10% of adults and ~20% of the paediatric population in high-income countries. There is a lack of comprehensive ...understanding of the disease burden of AD in India. In this systematic review, the primary objective was to review epidemiological data on AD in India based on articles published between 2011 and 2021. The secondary objective was to assess the disease burden from economic and quality of life (QoL) perspectives. A literature search was conducted using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using predefined search strings. Relevant studies published in English on AD between 2011 and 2021 were included. This review included 11 articles, of which nine reported demographic and clinical characteristics. The reported prevalence ranged from 3.1% to 7.21% among the paediatric population, up to 16 years of age. The prevalence of AD ranged from 0.98% to 9.2% in studies including paediatric and adult patients. The cost of medications was reported to be the major contributor to the economic burden associated with AD. Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety were frequently reported in association with AD. Although AD is a common disorder affecting all age groups, there is a lack of substantial epidemiological data. None of the current studies covers the entire country. Hence, studies with a wider geographic scope covering all aspects of disease burden are required to help clinicians and policymakers to understand the disease burden and devise appropriate preventive and management strategies.
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