A Study on Clinical Profile of Hemifacial Spasm in India and the Therapeutic Response to Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection as well as Pre and Postinjection Quality of Life

Background: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a distressing, involuntary, irregular tonic-clonic contraction of the facial muscles innervated by the seventh cranial nerve. It affects the quality of life. Botulinum toxin is a preferred symptomatic treatment option for the condition. However, there is a lack of study in the Indian scenario. Therefore, we observed the demographic profile, clinical spectrum, therapeutic response, and adverse effects of botulinum toxin and assessed the quality of life in the pre and postinjection phases in our subjects with HFS. Materials and methods: The study design is a prospective open-label observational study. Consecutive cases of HFS were selected from the general neurology outpatient department (OPD) and movement disorder clinic of a medical college hospital in Eastern India. Clinical and relevant neuroimaging studies excluded mimickers and secondary causes of HFS. Institutional Ethics Committee’s permission was obtained. Informed consent was taken from patients before botulinum toxin injection. The pre and postinjection assessment tools were spasm rate for a specific period of time, quantification of facial asymmetry, widening palpebral fissure by visual analog scale, Jankovic disability rating scale, HFS-7 scale, and videography. Results: A total of 250 cases of HFS (F:M = 138:112) were studied. The mean age of presentation was 47 years. The mean dose of botulinum toxin injection was 24.2 units per patient. The mean duration of improvement was 4 months. The spasm frequency was decreased by 90%, and the facial asymmetry was improved by 86%. The improvement in quality of life was 86%. Local adverse effects are seen in 10.4% of cases, and all were reversible. Conclusion: This is one of the largest studies on the effects of botulinum toxin in subjects with HFS in the Indian population. Periodic injection of botulinum toxin is a safe and effective therapy for subjects with HFS. There is a significant improvement in the quality of life following botulinum toxin therapy in subjects with HFS. Adverse effects were local, mild, well-tolerated, and reversible.

Entrepreneurial Intention: A Critical Review

Economic experts all over the world have regarded Entrepreneurship as the fourth factor, next to land, labour and capital; for the production of goods as well as services. Entrepreneurs are said to be the steering wheel for the economic development of a Nation. The contributions of an Entrepreneur for the Country as a whole and the society in particular is enormous. In this context, it is important to study about Entrepreneurship and explore in detail about its significance. This paper aims to draw special attention to the importance of Entrepreneurship. Further, the need of Entrepreneurial Intention and its scope taking students into consideration has also been highlighted.

Serum Electrolyte Level As A Marker Of Morbidity In Critically Sick Children: A Study From A Rural Tertiary Care Hospital

Objectives- To nd out the association between dyselectrolytemia and morbidity in critically ill children and also to evaluate the association between degree of hyponatremia and morbidity. Material And Methods- Children aged 1 month–12 yrs, admitted in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) were included in the study. This was a hospital based, observational, cross sectional study. Morbidity was dened as PICU stay > 5 days. Results-Total 200 children aged 1 mo-12 yrs were included in the study. Abnormal serum sodium level and abnormal serum potassium levels were signicantly associated with increased hospital stay (p value 0.000). Association between degree of hyponatremia and hospital stay was also signicant. (p value 0.003). Conclusion-Electrolyte abnormalities are common in critically ill children and contribute to signicant morbidity

Poland Syndrome With Some Rare Associations, And Brief Literature Review

Poland syndrome (PS) is a rare congenital condition with predominant unilateral chest wall deformity due to hypoplasia of the pectoralis muscles. However, its clinical features are highly variable as all the features may not be present in one individual or it may present with some rare associations or complications as being reported here. A 6-year-old boy was diagnosed, for the first time, as a case of PS but, detailed examination and work up revealed two rare associations and/or incidental findings of this disorder, namely, Dandy-Walker variant and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return. Hence, a detailed clinical examination and a through workup are mandatory to quantify the disease spectrum of this rare disorder

Potential of Pandanus odoratissimus as a CNS depressant in Swiss albino mice / Potencial de Pandanus odoratissimus como um depressor do sistema nervoso central em camundongos Swiss albinos

In this study, several neuropharmacological effects of methanolic leaf extract of Pandanus odoratissimus (PO) (family; Pandanaceae) were studied in albino mice using various experimental models. The effect of PO on the CNS was studied by using different neuropharmacological paradigms including spontaneous motor activity, rota-rod performance and potentiation of Pentobarbital sodium sleeping time in albino mice. Preliminary phytochemical evaluation and acute toxicity studies were also carried out where LD50 >2000 mg/kg was considered non-toxic through acute exposure in rats by the oral route. The methanolic leaf extract (50,100 and 200 mg/kg i. p.) produced a reduction in spontaneous motor activity, motor coordination and prolonged Pentobarbital sodium sleeping time. Preliminary qualitative chemical studies indicated the presence of steroids, saponins, terpinoids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and phenolics in the extract. These observations suggest that the leaf of Pandanus odoratissimus contains some active principles which possess potential CNS-depressant action.

Estudaram-se alguns efeitos neurofarmacológicos do extrato metanólico de Pandanus odoratissimus (PO) (família Pandanaceae) em camundongos albinos, usando vários modelos experimentais. O efeito do PO no SNC foi estudado por meio de diferentes paradigmas neurofarmacológicos, como atividade motora espontânea, desempenho na haste rotatória e a potenciação do tempo de sono em camundongos albinos pelo pentobarbital sódico. A avaliação fitoquímica preliminar e os estudos de toxicidade aguda foram realizados e a DL50 >2000 mg/kg é considerada não tóxica, por meio da exposição aguda, por via oral, em ratos. O extrato metanólico de folha (50,100 e 200 mg/kg i. p.) produziu redução da atividade motora espontânea, da coordenação motora e tempo prolongado de sono pelo pentobarbital sódico. Estudos químicos qualitativos preliminares indicaram a presença de esteróide, saponinas, terpenóides, glicosídios, taninos, flavonóides e fenólicos no extrato. As observações sugerem que a folha de Pandanus odoratissimus contém alguns princípios ativos com atividade potencial como depressores do SNC.