Latest news with #AMPA
Time Out
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A brand new museum for the performing arts is coming to Melbourne, showcasing rare objects
What do Nick Cave's handwritten journal, Kylie Minogue's iconic gold hot pants, and Peter Allen's maracas have in common? They are all part of the extraordinary collection that has found a new home at Melbourne's brand new Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA). Located at Arts Centre Melbourne's beloved Hamer Hall, overlooking the Yarra River, AMPA promises to immerse visitors in Australia's glittering performing arts legacy. From circus spectacles and operatic grandeur to theatrical masterpieces and pop culture throwbacks, the museum will showcase over 850,000 treasured items from the nation's largest performing arts collection. Visitors and Victorians alike will get the chance to marvel at extraordinary items, including Dame Edna Everage's ostentatious 'Scream Dress', Dame Nellie Melba's exquisite silk stage cloak, and Bon Scott's leather jacket. Additionally, memorable props and sets from legendary Australian productions such as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll will also be on display. AMPA will launch in phases, initially unveiling almost 500 square metres of exhibition space in December 2025, with a future expansion planned to reach approximately 800 square metres. The museum will blend exclusive pieces from its permanent collection with internationally acclaimed touring exhibitions, enhancing Melbourne's standing as a cultural powerhouse.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
AUTOIMMUNE CNS DISORDERS
Autoimmune Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders develop when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its healthy brain cells/ neurons, leading to inflammation of the brain. This may be associated with antibodies to proteins located either on the surface of nerve cells or within nerve cells. Antibody-mediated CNS disorders are increasingly recognized as neurologic disorders that can be severe and even life-threatening but with the potential for reversibility with appropriate treatment. The expanding spectrum of newly identified autoantibodies and associated clinical syndromes (ranging from autoimmune encephalitis to CNS demyelination ) has increased diagnostic precision and allowed critical reinterpretation of non-specific neurological syndromes historically associated with systemic disorders. Detection of neural autoantibodies with accurate laboratory assays in patients with compatible clinical-MRI phenotypes allows a definite diagnosis of antibody-mediated CNS disorders, with important therapeutic and prognostic implications. A large spectrum of diseases is covered in these disorders depending on the target site against which Antibodies develop. These include Limbic encephalitis, Morvan syndrome, Facio-brachial dystonic seizures, Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome, Demyelinating Syndromes, Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, Optic neuritis, anti-MOG-associated encephalitis – to name the few. Other autoimmune syndromes may be associated with various cancers. This group of conditions may have various neurologic and/or psychiatric symptoms. Symptoms may start with psychiatric manifestations followed by symptoms may include psychosis, aggression, inappropriate sexual behaviours, panic attacks, compulsive behaviours, euphoria, or fear. The disorders may start with flu-like conditions & develop further into neurological manifestations. Neurologic symptoms may include impaired memory and cognition, abnormal movements, seizures, and/or problems with balance, speech, or vision. There are two major requirements for a correct diagnosis of antibody-mediated CNS disorder to be made: (1)a reliable identification of one or more specific neural autoantibodies; and (2)a compatible clinical-MRI phenotype. Over the years, there has been an ongoing discovery of newer antibodies against various proteins. NMDA, LG -i1, CASPR-2, AMPA, GABA A, GABA B, GAD65 DPPx, IGNOL-5 causing Limbic antibodies and MOG autoantibodies cause Optic neuritis, Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis & Myelitis lesions. Certain neural autoantibodies are strongly associated with specific types of cancer. Sophisticated technology which includes Neural Autoantibody Testing by Indirect Cell-Based Immunofluorescence assay, immunoblot assay, ELISA, and Cell cultures allows for accurate laboratory diagnosis. These tests can be performed on Blood & CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). Although autoimmune CNS disorders are often treatment-responsive, they can lead to serious complications if left untreated or if there is a delay in treatment. Timely diagnosis and treatment, therefore, becomes important to avoid complications of the disease. Treatment may include Immunotherapy (e.g., plasmapheresis, intravenous Immunoglobulin, and corticosteroids) and tumour resection if the disease is associated with the tumour. Patient education is necessary to understand the etiology, acute and chronic clinical progression of the condition, and its probable association with underlying malignancy. They should be educated about the variable course of the disease, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis. Furthermore, patients should be encouraged to follow up after hospital discharge with their respective neurologist /oncologist due to concerns about relapse and screening for malignancy. This article is written by Dr. Geeta Chopra, Chief of Lab – North India Operations, Metropolis Healthcare Limited. (DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and does not necessarily subscribe to it. shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly)
