Background: The survival of motor neurons is dependent upon neurotrophic factors both during childhood and adolescence and during adult life. In disease conditions, such as in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the mRNA levels of trophic factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), and vascular endothelial growth factor are downregulated. This was replicated in our in vivo experimental system following the injection of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of sporadic ALS (ALS-CSF) patients. Objective: To evaluate the protective role of BDNF in a model of sporadic ALS patients. Methods: The expressions of endogenous BDNF, its receptor TrkB, the enzyme choline acetyl transferase (ChAT), and phosphorylated neurofilaments were studied in NSC-34 cells. The calcium-buffering and proapoptotic effects were assessed by calbindin-D28K and caspase-3 expression, respectively. Results: ALS-CSF considerably depleted the endogenous BDNF protein, while its effect on IGF-1 and FGF-2 was inconsequential; this indirectly indicates a key role for BDNF in supporting motor neuronal survival. The exogenous supplementation of BDNF reversed autocrine expression; however, it may not be completely receptor mediated, as the TrkB levels were not restored. BDNF completely revived ChAT expression. It may inhibit apoptosis by restoring Ca²⁺ homeostasis, since caspase-3 and calbindin-D28K expression was back to normal. The organellar ultrastructural changes were only partially reversed. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that BDNF supplementation ameliorates most but not all degenerative changes. The incomplete revival at the ultrastructural level signifies the requirement of factors other than BDNF for near-total protection of motor neurons, and, to an extent, it explains why only a partial success is achieved in clinical trials with BDNF in ALS patients.

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Recently, there have been a plethora of judgments from courts across India, on the issue of adolescent consent for sexual decision-making and the POCSO Act’s criminalization of the same. This article begins with a brief overview of the socio-legal underpinnings of POCSO’s age of consent, the imperatives informing legislative intent to abstain from a lower statutory age, and crucially, ‘close-in-exceptions’ to legal consent. Subsequently, the authors discuss the implications of these age requirements, for POCSO’s implementation, from a child protection and criminalization perspective, and furthermore, highlight the imperative for the law to accommodate normative adolescent sexual development in its approach to consensual sexual engagement, as well as for consideration of the complexities of informed vis-à-vis manufactured consent in adolescent sexual engagements. The article concludes by highlighting the need for the application of transdisciplinary approaches, to developing methodologies, that assess adolescent consent in ways that resolve the consent-abuse dilemma.

Background: Bipolar affective disorder (BAD) is a multi-factorial disorder with various clinical presentations. ‘The manic episodes are manifestated by decreased sleep, irritability, aggression, dramatic fluctuation in mood or emotions caused to violent acts’. The clinical importance of hostility is in its close association with violence and non-adherence to treatment. BAD symptoms can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance that can seriously affect the lives of patients and their families. All caregivers share a similar fate; and they take responsibility for their mentally ill family members. Aim and Objectives: Aim was to examine the family interaction pattern and quality of life of caregivers having violent patients with bipolar affective disorder (current episode mania). Methodology: The Present study was a cross sectional hospital based and approved by ethical committee. Total 858 family members/caregiver interviewed for history of violence with diagnosed patient with BAD current episode mania (age 21 – 45 years) fulfilling ICD-10 criteria selected using probability sampling, when they brought patient in OPD. Total thirty (n=30) adult persons with BAD patient’s caregivers sample were recruited as per inclusion, exclusion-criteria for data collection tools such as Semi-structured socio-demographic data sheet, Family Violence Scale (Bhatti et al., 1985), Family interaction pattern scale (Bhatti et al., 1986) and WHO-Quality of Life Scale (WHO-QoL-BREF, 1998).  Results: There was no significant difference found in all domains of the Family Violence Scale. In correlation Physical violence domain positively correlated with Family Interaction Pattern’s domain of Leadership pattern at 0.05 level and Emotional violence positively correlated with Communication at 0.05 level and with Leadership pattern at 0.01 level. As well as Social violence positively correlated with the domain Leadership at 0.05 level. Also total score of family violence positively correlated with Leadership pattern at 0.01 level of the Family Interaction Pattern Scale. With QoL family violence domain emotional violence negatively correlated with the Psychological health, Social relationship and Environmental/Financial at 0.05 level and with Total score of QoL at 0.01 level. As well as total score of the family violence negatively correlated with the domain Social relationship at 0.05 level of the WHO – Quality of life Scale. Conclusion: It is very important for the mental health professionals to identify the needs of the family caregivers. Finding out areas need attention and strategies to restore the wellbeing of an individual and caregiver requires knowledge and skill based comprehensive assessment. Mental health issues need multidimensional approaches to bring fruitful outcomes. Engagement and implementation strategies, as well as the interventions themselves, must be tailored to local and cultural characteristics.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The outbreak of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) which emerged in December 2019 spread rapidly and created a public health emergency. Geospatial records of case data are needed in real time to monitor and anticipate the spread of infection. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This study aimed to identify the emerging hotspots of COVID-19 using a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach. Data of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients from March 15 to June 12, 2020, who visited the emergency department of a tertiary specialized academic hospital in Dubai were evaluated using ArcGIS Pro 2.5. Spatiotemporal analysis, including optimized hotspot analysis, was performed at the community level. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The cases were spatially concentrated mostly over the inner city of Dubai. Moreover, the optimized hotspot analysis showed statistically significant hotspots (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.01) in the north of Dubai. Waxing and waning hotspots were also observed in the southern and central regions of Dubai. Finally, there were nonsustaining hotspots in communities with a very low population density. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This study identified hotspots of COVID-19 using geospatial analysis. It is simple and can be easily reproduced to identify disease outbreaks. In the future, more attention is needed in creating a wider geodatabase and identifying hotspots with more intense transmission intensity.