Brain- and neuroscience-related diseases and research are an important aspect to be discussed and explored at public interest. International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) is an international organization that is involved in spearheading both these activities. Brain Awareness Week (BAW) was never organized in a city which gave rise to the foundation of “Indian Academy of Neurosciences (IAN).” Stalwarts like Professor P. N. Saxena, Professor Om Chandra, Professor Mahdi Hasan, Professor K. C. Singhal, etc. did some significant efforts to promote neuroscience and brain research in Aligarh. They also established “Interdisciplinary Brain Research Centre” at Aligarh Muslim University and organized many scientific events including the Fifth Annual Conference of the IAN from December 7 to December 9, 1986. They also established “Interdisciplinary Brain Research Centre” at Aligarh Muslim University. Likewise, Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences is another institution where a large number of publications on neuroscience exist. With this background, BAW with a theme, “Neuroscience through the ages to modern times” was organized by the courtesy of IBRO-APRC Brain Awareness Week Grant. The exhibition of publications extant at Ibn Sina Academy (depicting history of neuroscience since medieval era specially the works of medieval Arabs who played a significant role in the growth of neurosurgery) and public awareness lectures on importance of neuroscience research helped in some extent to increase public awareness, foster public enthusiasm and interest in the younger generation. Students of all science disciplines including Unani medicine were invited to participate at various events such as presentation of postal stamps on neuroscience, paintings, essay writing competition, and poetry on brain and neuroscience.

Background:Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Itsprevention and regulation depends on dietary pattern and lifestyle. Thereare numerous studies which have been conducted to elucidate the relationshipbetween type of diet consumption and sugar levels. The objective of thisstudy was to enumerate the distribution of the staple food consumed in sevenzones across India and their association with sugar levels.Methods:A pan-India multicentered screening, covering the 63 districts, 29 states,and 4 union territories per populations, was undertaken. A speciallydesigned questionnaire was administered for data collection, which comprisedspecific questions for diet 17,280 sample was analyzed across seven zones ofIndia. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS; 21.0) software wasused to analyze the data.Results:The survey suggested that rice and wheat are the major staple food consumedacross different regions of India. In Jammu, North, East, South, and centralzones, consumption of rice was more than wheat. However, in North and Westzones, consumption of wheat was observed to be more than rice. Mean valuesof fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) were high inthe group consuming Bajra (128.3 & 160.5). Similarly, FBS mean was lessin group consuming rice (114.6), and PPBS was low in group consuming ragi(149.2).Conclusion:Staple food has significant effect on FBS, PPBS and glycated haemoglobincholesterol levels and anthropometric measurements.

Syringomyelia (SM) with Chiari malformation is a rare disease with an unpredictablecourse. Surgery and other interventions help reduce the severity of symptoms, but over 50%patients require re-operation. Auto-resolution is rare in this type of SM, and most casesprogress to complications, which may amount to a great burden. The patient of SM withArnold-Chiari malformation type 1 in a 54-year-old Russian woman who was treated withindividualized classical homeopathy for over eight years with remarkable improvement inthe clinical signs and symptoms of the condition and comorbidities. On MRI, the syrinxcompletely resolved, which further confirmed the benefit of this therapy. This case of SMwith Arnold-Chiari malformation type 1 seemed to benefit from individualized classicalhomeopathy. Scientific investigation into an individualized classical homeopathic approachtowards SM is necessary to establish its relevance in this condition.

Background and Objectives:Migraine is one of the major headache disorders. Epidemiological studies have shown its high prevalence and negative impact on personal and socioeconomic aspects. It is currently ranked 19th by the “World Health Organization” amongst all diseases, leading to disability worldwide. Inflammatory mediators, which include adipokines, have been analyzed in migraine pathophysiology. Nevertheless, their role is not well recognized. This study is aimed to assess serum high molecular weight adiponectin (HMW-ADP) levels in migraineurs: during the ictal phase, prior to, and postabortive treatment.Methods:This was a hospital-based interventional case-controlled study, checking the peripheral blood samples from migraineurs during an acute attack and after one hour of treatment with naproxen sodium (10–15 mg/kg). Age, sex, and BMI matched controls without headache were taken, and a single blood sample was drawn in them. HMW-ADP levels were evaluated by immunoassays.Results:A total of 120 patients which included 60 migraine patients along with 60 controls without headache were involved in the study. HMW-ADP was higher in migraine patients (9.89 ± 5.04 mcg/mL) than in patients without headache history (4.63 ± 2.98 mcg/mL; P = < .001); along with this, serum HMW-ADP (6.4 ± 4.09 mcg/mL; P = <.001) was found to be significantly lower in responders 60 min after acute abortive treatment.Conclusion:HMW-ADP levels were raised in migraineurs. Additionally, among responders following abortive treatment a considerable reduction in the levels was noted. These results recommend that the HMW-ADP might be a possible “novel biomarker of acute remedy response in acute migraineurs”.

Rationale:India has a high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which can be lowered by regular physical activity. To understand this association, recent population data is required which is representative of all the states and union territories of the country.Objective:We aimed to investigate the patterns of physical activity in India, stratified by zones, body mass index (BMI), urban, rural areas, and gender.Method:We present the analysis of physical activity status from the data collected during the phase 1 of a pan-India study. This (Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata 2017) was a multicenter pan-India cluster sampled trial with dual objectives. A survey to identify all individuals at a high risk for diabetes, using a validated instrument called the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), was followed by a two-armed randomized yoga-based lifestyle intervention for the primary prevention of diabetes. The physical activity was scored as per IDRS (vigorous exercise or strenuous at work = 0, moderate exercise at home/work = 10, mild exercise at home/work = 20, no exercise = 30). This was done in a selected cluster using a mobile application. A weighted prevalence was calculated based on the nonresponse rate and design weight.Results:We analyzed the data from 2,33,805 individuals; the mean age was 41.4 years (SD 13.4). Of these, 50.6% were females and 49.4% were males; 45.8% were from rural areas and 54% from urban areas. The BMI was 24.7 ± 4.6 kg/m2. Briefly, 20% were physically inactive and 57% of the people were either inactive or mildly active. 21.2% of females were found physically inactive, whereas 19.2% of males were inactive. Individuals living in urban localities were proportionately more inactive (21.7% vs. 18.8%) or mildly active (38.9% vs. 34.8%) than the rural people. Individuals from the central (29.6%) and south zones (28.6%) of the country were also relatively inactive, in contrast to those from the northwest zone (14.2%). The known diabetics were found to be physically inactive (28.3% vs. 19.8%) when compared with those unaware of their diabetic status.Conclusion:20% and 37% of the population in India are not active or mildly active, respectively, and thus 57% of the surveyed population do not meet the physical activity regimen recommended by the World Health Organization. This puts a large Indian population at risk of developing various NCDs, which are being increasingly reported to be vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. India needs to adopt the four strategic objectives recommended by the World Health Organization for reducing the prevalence of physical inactivity.

Background:Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. PD hasbeen traditionally perceived as a motor disorder. However, it is frequentlyassociated with pulmonary dysfunction which has been assessed by Spirometry,an effort-dependent technique.Purpose:To evaluate in patients with PD the effect of disease severity on respiratoryimpedance using Impulse Oscillometry (IOS) and to correlate withSpirometry.Methods:The study was conducted on 30 patients diagnosed with PD. Pulmonary functionwas assessed by IOS and spirometer. IOS is an effort-independent techniquethat uses sound waves of different frequencies to measure airway resistance.Spirometer measures the lung volume and generates flow–volume andvolume–time relationship.Results:The mean age of patients was 60.1±9.45. Resistance at 5 Hz (R5) was found tobe negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume in the first secondof the FVC manoeuver (FEV1) (r = –0.628,P = .002), FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity)(r = –0.487, P = .025), and PEF(r = –0.599, P = .004), and resistanceat 20 Hz (R20) with FEV1 (r = –0.474,P = .029) and PEF (r = –0.522,P = .015). There was significant increase in R5(0.32(0.36–0.28) vs 0.47(0.60–0.36); P = .04) and R20(0.25(0.28–0.20) vs 0.30(0.40–0.25); P = .04) in stage IIas compared to stage I of Hoehn–Yahr scale.Conclusion:IOS might be a promising tool for diagnosis of respiratory dysfunction inaddition to Spirometry, especially in cases where patients are not able toperform forced manoeuvers.

Background: Diabetes-instigated nerve damage is a chronic complication including impaired peripheral nerve function with lowered nerve conduction velocity (NCV), demyelination of nerve fibres and alterations in the behaviour. Many clinical and experimental studies have proved that Phyllanthus amarus and esculetin have potential effects against various diseases.Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the neuroprotective role of hydro-ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus amaras (PAE) and esculetin (ESC) on NCV, metabolism, behavioural and structural changes in diabetic rats.Methods: The extent of protection using PAE and ESC in diabetic rats was determined by checking the HbA1c, NO, myeloperoxidase (MPO), total calcium, protein content, Na+-K+ ATPase activity, acetylcholine content and behavioural alterations using rotarod and maze learning tests on 7, 14 and 21 days. NCV was measured on the 21st day.Results: The diabetic rats showed increased HbA1c, nitrite, MPO, calcium and decreased protein, Na+-K+ ATPase activity, NCV, acetylcholine, behavioural alterations and morphological changes of sciatic nerve so that diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is manifested. Continuous treatment for three weeks with Phyllanthus amarus and esculetin significantly minimized the damage to axons and myelin sheath and enhanced the sciatic NCV by reversing all the mentioned parameters.Conclusion: Phyllanthus amarus and esculetin showed the anti-diabetic as well as anti-inflammatory characteristics by prevention of initiation of adverse processes of the sciatic nerve morphology, internal cell functions leading to improved coordination, behavioural and physiological functions in STZ-induced diabetic rats. PAE has shown similar effects with the ESC. However, further studies are essential to confirm their detailed therapeutic effects.