Do educated politicians facilitate better public health? Evidence from India.

Political representatives and their directives are discredited when there is an instance of rising mortality. However, there is limited empirical evidence linking public health outcomes to the quality of politicians. We investigate whether electing political leaders with higher levels of formal education affects child survival.

Molecular and Functional Significance of Growth Differentiation Factor-15: A Review on Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Biomarker.

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is the association between obesity, diabetes, CKD (chronic kidney disease), and cardiovascular disease. GDF-15 mainly acts through the GFRAL (Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor Family Receptor Alpha-Like) receptor. GDF-15 and GDFRAL complex act mainly through RET co-receptors, further activating Ras and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways through downstream signaling.

Bibliometric Analysis of the Composition of Landmark Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Research.

Background: Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) is a relatively rare type of stroke, accounting for less than 3% of all stroke cases, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in young females. However, when promptly diagnosed and treated, it can have favorable outcomes. Several knowledge gaps remain regarding pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of CVST, so critical assessment of past and present research could help close these gaps or establish targeted future research goals.

1,3,5-Triformylphloroglucinol Derived β-Ketoenamine-Linked Functional Covalent Organic Frameworks with Enhanced Crystallinity and Stability-Recent Advances.

Crystallinity, stability, and complexity are significant factors to consider in the design and development of covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Among various building blocks used, 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) is notable for enhancing both crystallinity and structural stability in COFs. Tp facilitates the formation of β-ketoenamine-linked COFs through keto-enol tautomerism when reacted with aromatic amines.

'Paediatric Emergency Course' for nursing continuing professional development programme evaluation: ARCS Motivational Design Model.

Background: Paediatric emergency and critical care require skilled nurses, but they often face a lack of motivation during continuing professional development. Motivation-based, engaging activities in training programmes are essential to sustain interest and improve learning outcomes in these high-stress environments.

Aim: This study aims to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a Paediatric Emergency Course (PEC) using the ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) Motivational Design Model to equip nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to manage paediatric patients in emergency and critical care settings.

Use of Magtrace as an Alternative Approach in Staging the Axilla in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Single-Center Experience.

Background The sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard method used to determine the stage of breast cancer in patients with no clinical signs of axillary involvement. The current gold standard for the intraoperative assessment of the axilla involves the use of dual radioisotope and patent blue dye. However, researchers have been studying the use of superparamagnetic iron oxide Magtrace® (Endomagnetics Limited, Cambridge, United Kingdom) agents as an alternative to overcome the limitations of the standard SLNB technique.

The effect of supplementation with type I and type III collagen peptide and type II hydrolyzed collagen on pain, quality of life and physical function in patients with meniscopathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Menisci, one of the most important anatomical structures of the knee joint, plays a role in load transfer, stability, shock absorption, prevention of articular cartilage degeneration, and proprioception. Type I collagen, the main component of the meniscus, and type II collagen fibers play an important role in the stability of the knee joint. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Naturagen® 4 Joint product containing type I, II, and III collagen on pain, quality of life, and physical functions in patients with meniscopathy.

Recent Advancements and Applications of Nanosensors in Oral Health: Revolutionizing Diagnosis and Treatment.

Advances in the field of nanomaterials are laying the foundation for the fabrication of nanosensors that are sensitive, selective, specific, cost-effective, biocompatible, and versatile. Being highly sensitive and selective, nanosensors are crucial in detecting small quantities of analytes and early diagnosis of diseases. These devices, operating on the nanoscale, detect signals, such as physical, chemical, optical, electrochemical, or biological, and then transduce them into a readable form.

PhpC transcription factor infiltrates heterochromatin to generate cryptic intron-containing transcripts crucial for small RNA production.

The assembly of repressive heterochromatin in eukaryotic genomes is crucial for silencing lineage-inappropriate genes and repetitive DNA elements. Paradoxically, transcription of repetitive elements within constitutive heterochromatin domains is required for RNA-based mechanisms, such as the RNAi pathway, to target heterochromatin assembly proteins. However, the mechanism by which heterochromatic repeats are transcribed has been unclear.

Comparison of three different scoring systems in predicting success of retrograde intrarenal surgery in kidney stones larger than 20 millimeters.

Purpose: To evaluate stone free rate (SFR) predictivity of three different scoring systems in patients with kidney stones larger than 20 millimeters undergoing retrograde intrarenal surgery(RİRS).

Methods: Digital records of a total of 166 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Epidemiological characteristics (age, gender, medical history) of the patients, stone and affected kidney characteristics (size, volume, location, density, opaque, presence of urinary system anomaly, presence of stones in different calyx, number of stones, lower pole stone, renal infundibulopelvic angle (IPA), renal infundibulopelvic length (RIL), hydronephrosis), and operative characteristics (preoperative ureteral stent, operation duration, postoperative residual fragments, hospitalization time and complications were recorded.

Effect of supplementation with type 1 and type 3 collagen peptide and type 2 hydrolyzed collagen on osteoarthritis-related pain, quality of life, and physical function: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Naturagen® 4 Joint product, containing type 1, 2, and 3 collagen, on pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) and to evaluate its effects on quality of life and physical functioning.

Patients And Methods: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study included a total of 31 patients (8 males, 23 females; mean age: 53.5±9.

Early Intervention in Post-operative Infectious Spondylodiscitis: Outcome of Aggressive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Introduction: Conservative and surgical approach timeline in post-operative spondylodiscitis (POS) following lumbar disc herniation (LDH) surgery is ill defined, and patients have a protracted recovery phase with social, psychological, and financial implications.

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients operated by transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in POS was done. Confirmed clinico-radiological diagnosed POS cases, not responding within three to four weeks were included.

Seroconversion of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Pregnant Women During the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in India: A Longitudinal Study.

Aim This study aims to investigate the seroconversion of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women during their first and third trimesters, specifically during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology This is a longitudinal follow-up study of pregnant women during the second peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients in their first trimester (six to 12 weeks) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG levels, with a repeat test conducted in the third trimester (28-40 weeks) using the automated VIDAS® (bioMérieux SA, Marcy-l'Étoile, France) system.

CoCrMo nanoparticle induces neurotoxicity mediated via mitochondrial dysfunction: a study model for implant derived nanoparticle effects.

Toxicity associated with elevated levels of cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) nanoparticles in total hip replacement (THR) patients has been a rising concern. Recent investigations demonstrated that these particles can induce polyneuropathy in THR patients. The current study aims to address a detailed molecular investigation of CoCrMo nanoparticle-mediated mitochondrial dynamics using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons (iPSC neurons).

Attitudes Toward Patient Safety Among Final-Year Medical Students and Interns at a Teaching Hospital in Kerala: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: With the advancements in medicine, medical technologies, and diagnostics, patient safety is expected to be one of the priorities of modern medicine. However, in India, several medical error-related deaths have been recorded. Medical students today are the future healthcare providers, and hence, understanding their attitudes toward patient safety is crucial.

The Impact of Gastric Leptin and Leptin Receptor Expression on Metabolic Outcomes Post Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Purpose: Obesity is a growing global crisis, with predictions that nearly half of the world's population will be overweight or with severe obesity by 2030. Metabolic bariatric surgery, effective for those unable to lose weight through conventional methods, results in significant weight loss and alleviates associated medical problems. This study investigates changes in gastric leptin (LE) and leptin receptor (LER) expression following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and explores their metabolic contributions to surgical outcomes.

Salivary advanced glycated end products, their receptors, and aMMP-8 in periodontitis patients with varying glycemic levels: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their receptors (RAGE) have been implicated in developing periodontal complications in diabetic patients. This study aimed to identify salivary AGE, RAGE, soluble RAGE (sRAGE), and active-matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) levels at varying glycemic levels in periodontitis patients.

Methods: Ninety-eight participants were categorized into uncontrolled DM-PD group (n = 27)-periodontitis patients with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] ≥7%); controlled DM-PD group (n = 33)-periodontitis patients with controlled T2DM (HbA1c 5.

Reducing Unnecessary Laboratory Testing: A Quality Improvement Initiative at Wellstar Spalding Medical Center.

Objectives: The healthcare industry is grappling with escalating expenses, partially attributed to the inefficient use of medical resources, particularly by ordering unnecessary laboratory tests. Such practices not only increase costs but also result in extended hospital stays, patient discomfort, and potential clinical complications such as iatrogenic anemia. Blood tests, although essential for guiding medical decisions, are associated with significant clinical and financial costs.

A Mechanism-based Perspective on the Use of Flavonoids in the Treatment of Diabetes and its Complications.

Diabetes is a chronic, irreversible, non-infectious metabolic syndrome associated with low insulin production by the pancreas or due to insulin resistance. The management landscape for diabetes is swiftly evolving due to ongoing advancements. Conventional treatment approaches have struggled to fully address the root causes of the disease while also carrying significant risks of adverse effects.

Enhanced Bioactivity of Chitosan-Alginate-Riboflavin Liquid-Exfoliated Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheets for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications.

Bone tissue engineering is a growing field that provides solutions for the treatment of bone deformities, injuries, diseases, and anomalies by replacing autograft and allograft procedures. Various scaffolding materials have been used for the construction of bone tissue, including metals, ceramics, and polymers. This study investigates an innovative liquid exfoliation approach for the production of molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheets using riboflavin (RF-MoS) as an exfoliation agent and subsequently analytically characterized for the development of bone scaffolding system.

Photodynamic therapy for oral mucositis in cancer patients- a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in reducing the severity of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis, and associated symptoms in cancer patients compared to standard care or other interventions.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive literature search identified seven relevant studies (randomized controlled trials and non-randomized clinical trials) published between January 1, 2000, and May 31, 2024. The data analysis was carried out using the standardized mean difference as the outcome measure.

Application of functional metagenomics in the evaluation of microbial community dynamics in the Arabian Sea: Implications of environmental settings.

Ocean microbial communities form the base of marine food webs, facilitating energy transfer and nutrient cycling, thereby supporting higher trophic levels. We investigated their composition and functional profiles across depths (surface waters 0, 29, and 63 m and bottom waters 100, 150, and 200 m) in the central-eastern Arabian Sea (CEAS) using next-generation sequencing. It was hypothesized that the composition and functional diversity of these communities would be influenced by depth and environmental parameters.

Comparison of computational pose estimation models for joint angles with 3D motion capture.

Tools to calculate human movement patterns can benefit musculoskeletal clinicians and researchers for rehabilitation assessments. The research objective of this study was to compare two human pose estimation models (HRNet, MediaPipe) against the laboratory marker-based reference standard for joint angles and range of motion (ROM) for several movement parameters. Twenty-two healthy volunteers (Female n = 16, Male n = 6), participated to compare outputs for knee and elbow kinematics.