Diagnosis is difficult and typically done by ruling out Parkinsons Disease (PD) or Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Symptoms include autonomic dysfunctions (supine hypertension and orthostatic hypotension, urinary incontinence). The disease leads to selective neuronal loss, myelin pallor, possible microglial activation and usually involves caudate, putamen, substantia nigra and cerebellum. Neuroimaging does show marked features in the putamen and 'hot cross bun' sign in the pons but these are not specific only to MSA. There are two broad groups MSA-P with more PD like features of bradykinesia and resting tremor and MSA-C with more limb/gait ataxia features. Treatment is symptomatic and definitive diagnosis is possible only post mortem (seen by high density oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions).
In her seminar, Rukmani MR discussed the challenges surrounding Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). This is a relatively rare disorder (1.9 to 4.9 per 100,000), has an adult onset. NIMHANS gets a few cases every month.
Diagnosis is difficult and typically done by ruling out Parkinsons Disease (PD) or Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Symptoms include autonomic dysfunctions (supine hypertension and orthostatic hypotension, urinary incontinence). The disease leads to selective neuronal loss, myelin pallor, possible microglial activation and usually involves caudate, putamen, substantia nigra and cerebellum. Neuroimaging does show marked features in the putamen and 'hot cross bun' sign in the pons but these are not specific only to MSA. There are two broad groups MSA-P with more PD like features of bradykinesia and resting tremor and MSA-C with more limb/gait ataxia features. Treatment is symptomatic and definitive diagnosis is possible only post mortem (seen by high density oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions). Dr. Pranay S. Yadav (M.Phil. Scholar) presented a seminar on Regulation of Respiration with special reference to pacemaker cells of the pre-Bötzinger Complex. Taking a reductionist approach, discussion proceeded from the most directly observable behaviour - breathing, to the microcircuit-level mechanistic models that explain rhythmogenesis. Key areas of discussion gravitated towards the following:
~ Rhythmogenicity - Pacemaker Hypothesis vs Group Pacemaker Hypothesis ~ Oscillatory Bursting Mechanisms: - Persistent Sodium Current-dependent [INaP] burst generation - Calcium-activated non-selective Cationic Current-dependent [ICaN] burst generation
Dr. Siju Vikhnan (M.Phil. Scholar) presented a seminar on Neurotransmitter Release.
Discussion progressed from a gross overview of neurotransmitters, to the mechanistic processes involved in neurotransmission, focusing on topics like:
Satadru De (M.Phil. Scholar) presented a seminar on Sensorimotor Interplay in Vocal Communication
The discussion involved topics such as:
~ Peripheral Phonation System ~ Neuroanatomical areas participating in speech perception ~ Functional pathways & Models for speech perception - Dual-route model, Hickok G. ~ The Wernicke-Geschwind Model of Language ~ Neuroanatomical areas participating in speech production ~ Models for speech production - Lemma Model, State Feedback Control
Suwarna Chakraborty (PhD Scholar) presented her seminar on "Neurobiological and psychological perspective of anxiety".
Nesin Mathew (PhD Scholar) presented her seminar titled "Neuroplasticity: functional recovery from stroke".
Some salient discussions:
Abhilash Parli (2nd yr PhD Scholar) presented his seminar titled "Microglia: Guardians of the Brain''.
He outlined his talk under the following headings:
The talk was thought provoking and brought in healthy discussions. Arun Sasidharan (5th yr PhD Scholar and ICMR-SRF) presented his seminar titled "Fundamentals of EEG and LFP".
He spoke on:
Kumaresan (2nd yr MPhil scholar) presented his seminar titled "Nuclear calcium signalling in the regulation of brain function".
Some important discussions:
Vijay Kumar (Senior Research Fellow) presented his seminar on the topic "Cholinergic Transmission in CNS-An Overview". It was very structured: sharing knowledge of cholinergic transmission from the results of various experimetal approaches used, sites of brain involved, disorders implicated, etc.
Some of the important points discussed included the following:
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