Childhood cancers are associated with a psychological burden to the parents and hence, decline their mental and physical health and overall quality of life. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the impact of 12-weeks yoga based lifestyle intervention on psychological stress and quality of life in the parents of children affected with retinoblastoma. Single arm prospective clinical trial conducted from October 2015 to October 2017 at the Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. A pre-tested 12-weeks yoga based lifestyle intervention included asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), dhyana (meditation), relaxation techniques, lectures and films on yoga, interactive sessions and individualized advice was administered to the participants. 12-weeks of yoga based lifestyle intervention programme leads to a significant improvement in psychological stress and overall quality of life in the parents of retinoblastoma patients. There was a significant improvement in all the domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment) of WHOQOL-BREF from baseline (day 0) to 12-weeks of yoga based lifestyle intervention. Yoga based lifestyle intervention also led to a significant increase in the levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, sirtuin 1 and decreased the cortisol and IL-6 levels. Yoga based lifestyle intervention reduced the severity of psychological stress and resulted in improvement in overall quality of life and upregulation in levels of systemic biomarkers of neuroplasticity. YBLI may serve as a beneficial therapy and may also act as an effective medium for better stress management to develop better coping strategies in the parents of retinoblastoma patients.

Government initiatives and schemes for global healthcare improvement require efficient implementation which can transform the quality standards. We redefined the purview of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) in the basic research investigations in order to create a benchmark of quality standards for conducting translational research. We propose Zero effect-Zero defect Youth Oriented GLP (ZED-YOG) as a management tool for funding agencies to monitor data generated in labs funded by them. This strategy can not only promote enhanced data scrutiny, validation but also health awareness. YOG will ensure the communication of audited research data generated from publically funded national agencies.

Plants have been suggested as safest source of therapeutic agents, with multi targeted mode of action and least side effects. Tinospora cordifolia, commonly known as Guduchi in India, is one of the most highly valued herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. It possesses potential anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, immune-stimulatory and various other beneficial activities. The present study was aimed to investigate the differentiation inducing potential of chloroform and hexane extracts of T. cordifolia using U87MG glioblastoma and IMR-32 neuroblastoma cell lines as model system. Chloroform (Chl-TCE) and hexane (Hex-TCE) extracts significantly reduced the rate of proliferation and induced cell differentiation as evidenced by MTT assay and immunostaining for GFAP and MAP-2 in glioblastoma and neuroblastoma, respectively. Further these extracts increased the expression of stress markers HSP70 and Mortalin and induced senescence. Chloroform and hexane extracts also inhibited the migration of U87MG glioblastoma and IMR-32 neuroblastoma as indicated by wound scratch assay and supported by reduced expression of NCAM. Furthermore these extracts are not toxic to normal cells as they showed no inhibitory effects on primary astrocytic and neuronal cultures. The present study suggests that chloroform and hexane extracts of T. cordifolia retard the rate of proliferation, induce differentiation and inhibit migration of human glioblastomas and neuroblastomas, thus may act as potential phytotherapeutic intervention in treatment of neural cancers.

Motor response suppression can be regarded as an important aspect of the executive control, as a way of changing the behavioral pattern depending on the internal state or external factors. The aim of our study was to examine whether there were differences in the ability of cortical inhibition of triggered motor program (in the context of the Stop-Signal task) between females and males. We examined differences in the patterns of event-related EEG synchronization/desynchronization (ERS/ERD) in young volunteers under the conditions of complete inhibition of the triggered motor program of a manual movement. Thirty-six male and thirty-eight female (ages of 19 to 21) took part in the tests. The ERS and ERD indices were estimated within the EEG frequency range 8-35 Hz in frontal, central and parietal leads. In both gender groups, as a global pattern, the prevalence of connected phenomena with the EEG synchronization event in the range of α-activity of the EEG, apparently associated with inhibition of the running motor program was noted. Cortical electrical activity acquired certain specific features of the frequency-spatial organization, which could indicate the course of somewhat different brain processes of men and women.

Background: Stroke is a devastating and disabling cerebrovascular disease with some amount of residual deficit leading to economic loss. Recent Indian studies have shown a stroke prevalence rate of 471.58/100,000 populations. Hypertension has been known to be the main risk factor for causing stroke. Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of hypertension in first-ever stroke patients and its comparison with the previous stroke registry. Methods: The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients, who were admitted in the Neurology ward of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India, were recruited for the study from the period July 2012 to January 2014. The stroke units consisted of a computerized record containing the details of all the admitted patients. Results: A total of 260 patients were recruited in which 194 (74.6%) were ischemic and 66 (25.4%) were hemorrhagic stroke patients. Hypertension was present in 169 (65%) patients. When compared with the previous stroke registry of 2,628 patients, hypertension was recorded in 1,503 (57.2%) patients. Conclusion: Our data show that there is an increase in the proportion of hypertension among first-ever stroke patients reported in AIIMS in the years 2012–2014 as compared to that reported in during the period 1998–2011.

Background: Stroke rehabilitation that is based on the patients’ needs, experiences, and priorities requires extensive knowledge and skills to capture and integrate the perspectives of the subject. Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the acute effect of an occupational therapy protocol associated with virtual reality (VR) on the symmetry of body temperature (BTP), balance, and functionality of patients with stroke sequelae. Methods: Ten patients (69.84 ± 7.55 years) diagnosed with stroke between 2 and 10 years earlier were evaluated during clinical care sessions integrated with VR games. Associated with games, all patients were stimulated to use both upper and lower limbs and distribute body weight symmetrically, and perceptual stimuli of body-half training, alignment, postural control, and balance were given. The variables of thermography (temperature [°C] and body asymmetry) of the upper and lower limbs, balance (Berg scale), and functionality were analyzed before and after the test. Results: BTP was reduced in the 4 upper and lower limb body regions of interest: the right arm (p = 0.024, Cohen’s d = 1.02), previous direct hand (p = 0.034, Cohen’s d = 1.22), right back hand (p = 0.003, Cohen’s d = 1.85) and Left (p = 0.013, Cohen’s d = 0.92), right thigh (p = 0.035, Cohen’s d = 1.32), and left thigh (p = 0.047, Cohen’s d = 0.92). The mean of the bilateral asymmetry variation of the arm in the anterior position at the pre test was classified according to the level of attention monitoring (which means that the asymmetry rate is above normal), changing its state at the end of the intervention to normal. There was an increase in the functional independence score (p = 0.015, Cohen’s d = 0.50) and in the static and dynamic balance function (p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.07). Conclusion: VR associated with occupational therapeutic planning can amplify and potentiate neurological recovery following stroke.

Background: Neuronal tissue has a limited potential to self-renew or get repaired after damage. Cell therapies using stem cells are promising approaches for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) injuries. However, the clinical use of embryonic stem cells is limited by ethical concerns and other scientific consequences. Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC) could represent an alternative source of stem cells for replacement therapy. Indeed, many studies have demonstrated that MSCs can give rise to neuronal cells as well as many tissue-specific cell phenotypes. Purpose: Motor recovery by transplantation of bone marrow MSCs in rat models of spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Bone marrow was collected from the femur of albino Wistar rats. MSCs were separated using the Ficoll-Paque density gradient method and cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum. Cultured MSC was characterized by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry and neuronal-induced cells were further characterized for neural markers. Cultured MSCs were transplanted into the experimentally injured spinal cord of Wistar rats. Control (injured, but without cell transplantation) and transplanted rats were followed up to 8 weeks, analyzed using the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) scale and electromyography (EMG) for behavioral and physiological status of the injured spinal cord. Finally, the tissue was evaluated histologically. Results: Rat MSCs expressed positivity for a panel of MSC markers CD29, CD54, CD90, CD73, and CD105, and negativity for hematopoietic markers CD34, CD14, and CD45. In vitro neuronal transdifferentiated MSCs express positivity for β III tubulin, MAP2, NF, NeuN, Nav1.1, oligodendrocyte (O4), and negativity for glial fibrillary acid protein. All the treated groups show promising hind-limb motor recovery BBB score, except the control group. There was increased EMG amplitude in treated groups as compared to the control group. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled MSC survived and differentiated into neurons in the injured spinal cord, which is responsible for functional recovery. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that BM-MSC has the potential to repair the injured cord in rat models of SCI. Thus, BM-MSC appears to be a promising candidate for cell-based therapy in CNS injury.

Background: Chronic vulnerability characterizes substance abuse disorder with consequent relapse. The process of abstinence depends on cognitive recovery. Hence, behavioral intervention should account for cognitive dimension of substance abusers. Recent studies highlight yoga-based intervention as a promising add-on therapy for treating and preventing addictive behaviors. Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a yoga-based intervention as an add-on in enhancing cognitive functions, compared with physical exercise to newly admitted substance abusers seeking an inpatient treatment program. Methods: The study was a single-blind, randomized, comparative design that included 96 male participants, between 18 and 40 years in a residential rehabilitation treatment unit. Partakers in the yoga or physical exercise group received supervised daily training for 12 weeks, in addition to standard rehabilitation treatment. Raters blind to the study assessed the patients on digit span task, cancellation test, and Stroop tests at the baseline and following 12 weeks of intervention. Results: A significant enhancement in digit forward (yoga – p < 0.0005, d = 0.81; exercise – p < 0.0005, d = 0.73), digit backward (yoga – p < 0.0005, d = 0.88; exercise – p < 0.0005, d = 0.58), and letter cancellation test scores (yoga – p < 0.0005, d = 1.31; exercise – p < 0.0005, d = 1.4) were observed in both the yoga and the exercise groups. Stroop word and color task scores were seen significantly higher following yoga (p < 0.005, d = 0.74; p < 0.005, d = 1.13) and exercise (p < 0.0005, d = 0.62; p < 0.0005, d = 0.61). Furthermore, Stroop color-word test showed significant enhancement after yoga (p < 0.0005, d = 1.10) and exercise (p < 0.0005, d = 0.42), with degree of variation higher in the yoga group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the add-on yoga or exercise-based intervention show enhancement of cognitive functions. These findings provide the utility of yoga and exercise-based intervention in improving cognitive functions among substance abusers. Furthermore, rigorous trials are needed to explore the potential long-term effects of these procedures.