The differential formation of excitatory (glutamatergic) and inhibitory (GABAergic) synapses is a critical step for the proper functioning of the brain. Their imbalance may lead to various neurological disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, Tourette syndrome and epilepsy [1][2][3][4] . Synapses are formed through the communication between the appropriate synaptic partners 5-8 . However, the molecular mechanisms that mediate the formation of specific synaptic types are not known. Here we show that two members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, FGF22 and FGF7, promote the organization of excitatory and inhibitory presynaptic terminals, respectively, as target-derived presynaptic organizers. FGF22 and FGF7 are expressed by CA3 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus. The differentiation of excitatory or inhibitory nerve terminals on dendrites of CA3 pyramidal neurons is specifically impaired in mutants lacking FGF22 or FGF7. These presynaptic defects are rescued by postsynaptic expression of the appropriate FGF. FGF22-deficient mice are resistant and FGF7-deficient mice are prone to epileptic seizures, as expected from the alterations in excitatory/inhibitory balance. Differential effects by FGF22 and FGF7 involve both their distinct synaptic localizations and use of different signaling pathways. These results demonstrate that specific FGFs act as target-derived presynaptic organizers and help organize specific presynaptic terminals in the mammalian brain.

One of the most common types of epilepsy in adults is temporal lobe epilepsy. Temporal lobe epilepsy is often resistant to pharmacological treatment, requiring urgent understanding of its molecular and cellular mechanisms. It is generally accepted that an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory inputs is related to epileptogenesis. We have recently identified that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 7 is critical for inhibitory synapse formation in the developing hippocampus. Remarkably, FGF7 knockout mice are prone to epileptic seizures induced by chemical kindling (Terauchi et al., 2010). Here we show that FGF7 knockout mice exhibit epileptogenesis-related changes in the hippocampus even without kindling induction. FGF7 knockout mice show mossy fiber sprouting and enhanced dentate neurogenesis by 2 months of age, without apparent spontaneous seizures. These results suggest that FGF7-deficiency impairs inhibitory synapse formation, which results in mossy fiber sprouting and enhanced neurogenesis during development, making FGF7 knockout mice vulnerable to epilepsy.

Objectives: Antibiotics widely used now a day in dental practice for treatment of acute odontogenic, non-odontogenic infections and as a prophylactic purpose for focal infections in patients at possibility for infective endocarditis development as well as prevention of surgical infection of wound and controlling of orofacial infections. Studies of prescribing trends provide information about the quality & pattern of use causes of drug use, and their outcomes. The main objective of this study was to assist trends and the rational utilization of antibiotics in dental practice. Study Design: Descriptive study. Settings: The current study was conducted among the different private dental clinical settings of Sialkot. Period: Eight months study (Jan-Aug 2018). Material and Methods: Sample size was 700 prescriptions which were gathered during. A purposive sampling was used for collection of prescription. A proforma was used for recording all required demographic & prescribing data was designed to collect all information associated to antibiotic prescribing trend. The data was collected, compiled, & analysed on MS Excel and descriptive statistics was used for analysing the result of the study. Results: A total of 700 prescriptions were collected from various Dental clinics. Among the study, 58.7% patients were male and 41.3 % females and more frequent age group was 51-68 (37%). Mostly patients have pervious medication history (38.8%) and most common diagnosis was periodontal abscess (16.6%) observed during our study followed by pulpitis (15.9%). The trend observed was that majority 35.3% would prescribe antibiotics for patients who presented with elevated body temperature. Commonly 5 drugs per prescription prescribed (26.7%) least numbers of drugs prescribed per prescription is 2(5.9%). Total 3445 drugs were prescribed in 700 prescriptions. Analgesics are frequently prescribed drug category (22.3%) followed by antibiotics (21.8%) Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid was mostly used (31.9%) in these dental centres. Conclusion: This study show that most prevalent dental disease for which doctors prescribed antibacterial was periapical or periodontal abscess and Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid used as a 1st choice for oral infections.

Background Elderly persons have been more prone to depression, anxiety and stress during COVID−19 pandemic. They need more care and support towards mental health during these difficult times. Methodology This was a cross−sectional and quantitative study conducted in the state of Madhya Pradesh, during the month of March 2021 to August 2021. Participants were recruited from a population aged more than 60 years, those who were able to read and write Hindi or English or having at least one family member; reporting to a tertiary care teaching hospital during the second wave of COVID−19 in India. Those who were confirmed COVID−19 cases & undergoing treatment, with diagnosed mental health disorders and who didnot give consent were excluded. A semi−structured questionnaire along with DASS−21 scale was completed by participants online. Results Out of 690 subjects, 7·25 percent had mild and moderate depression, 0·58percent had severe and extremely severe depression. Mild and moderate anxiety symptoms were reported by 9·56percent, 2·46percent reported severe and extremely severe anxiety. Mild and moderate stress was reported by 4·78percent, while 0·42percent were severely and extremely stressed. A positive statistical association was found between alcohol addiction and depression (p=0·028). The elderly subjects had a nap the day time were significantly less depressed during COVID−19 pandemic (p=0·033). It was found that older the subjects, more were they anxious during the pandemic (p=0·042). An association was found between alcohol addiction and stress (p=0·043). Conclusions Depressive symptoms in participants were positively correlated with alcohol addiction. Females reported higher level of stress. There is a felt need to formulate psychological interventions for elderly to improve their mental health and psychological resilience. We need to tackle and fight the stigma, fear and anxiety related to the COVID−19, which is greater than disease itself.

Introduction: Drug plays a fundamental role in disease prevention and ultimately promotes healthy society. Inappropriate prescribing traditions are not only goes toward useless & unsafe treatment but also prolongation of illness and distress the patient and increased economic burden. Therefore evaluation of drug-drug interactions are considered a necessary starting in forming an effective drug utilization stewardship program with the leading objectives of upgrade the efficacy of treatment and reducing the microbial resistance; this study can also be helped as a pharmaco-epidemiological extent for carrying out of a national preventive drug policy. Objectives: To assess Drug-Drug interactions among dental prescriptions at different clinical settings of Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. Study Design: A descriptive observational study. Settings: A hospital based study was conducted in different clinical settings of Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. Period: Six months from January to June 2018 according to study criteria. Materials and Methods: The Sample size is 500 prescriptions were collected randomly in six months from January to June 2018 according to study criteria. A structured data form was used for collecting demographics, diagnosis, complications, present medications prescribed for each patient and find out number of prescriptions which shows drug-drug interactions and level of severity as well. MS Excel and descriptive statistics was used for find out the result of the study. Results: The current study finding shows that males have more prevalence i.e. 55.8% of dental problems compared to females (44.2%). Mostly patients were included in 51-60 age group (30.2%). 50.2% patients have pervious medication history and most common diagnosis was acute periapical infection (26.8%). Further mostly analgesics (26%) were prescribed followed by antibiotics (21.5%) with elevated body temperature (29.4%). Commonly six drugs per prescription prescribed (34.2%) least numbers of drugs prescribed per prescription is 2(8.2%). 30.6% prescriptions reported with drug-drug interaction in which 26.8% were prescribed in acute periapical infections. More frequently was observed between Glimepiride – Levofloxacin (25.5%) followed by levofloxacin-prednisolone (24.8%). Conclusion: It was concluded that the frequency of drug-drug interactions in prescriptions by dentist in private dental clinics of Sialkot is high but majority of drug interactions with other drugs were found to be of significant minor occurring at pharmacodynamics level.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global challenge to the health care system. A novel agent to combat this deadly virus is still a matter of research. Herbal molecules have served humanity since the beginning. Objectives: This narrative review aims to study the antiviral properties of medicinal plants, which are already effectively used in the past against various viruses. It derives the importance of exploration of such phytochemicals, which can be complementarily used to treat COVID-19. Methods: Studies related to traditional medicine and treatment for viruses were retrieved from databases including PubMed, Google scholar until December 2020 using the keywords SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Immunological, Phyto-chemicals, Traditional Medicine. The resulting publications were analyzed to develop a narrative review on the traditional Indian phytochemicals that have been shown to effectively treat various viral infections and potentially treat or prevent COVID-19. Results: Many of the researches are showing that Indian herbal compounds have a significant potential against viral diseases. Plants like Azadirachta indica, Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, Ocimum basilicum, and many more have been shown tremendous antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory activities. Conclusion: Phytochemicals obtained from the herbs can be helpful in the treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2via various modes such as inhibition of attachment, penetration, uncoating, replication, assembly, and release of respiratory viruses. Further analysis of the potential phytochemicals in treating SARS-CoV-2 in clinical trials is warranted.

Objective: The objective of the study is to explore the frequency of mal-practicing in terms of giving and accepting honorary authorships among dentists in private dental colleges of Lahore Method: This descriptive crossectional study was conducted to collect data from dentists working in private dental colleges of Lahore regarding plagiarism practices. Three private dental colleges were targeted from where data of 95 dentists was obtained. Data was collected using questionnaire to assess the questionable research practices. Results: Refusal on data sharing with legitimate colleagues was never practiced by majority of participants (46.1%). Addition of author(s) to a research paper who have not contributed in study was sometimes practiced by majority of participants (27.9%). Majority of participants reported that they occasionally accept honorary authorship for which you did not qualify (26.26%). Majority of participants reported that they never demanded any honorary authorship (48.41%). Refusal to give authorship to the person who had worked in the study was never practiced by majority of participants (62.11%). Majority of participants reported that they never submission without taking consent from other authors of a manuscript or grant application (65.26%). Majority of the participants reported that they never do a submission of single manuscript to more than one journals at one time (56.84%). Conclusion: Among dentist, mal-practicing in terms of collaboration and authorship is quite low as compared to in other health professional education as per literature. Keywords: Dental education, Ethical policies, Honorary authorships

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