Comparison of the analgesic efficacy of intra-articular steroid injections and its combination with suprascapular nerve block for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder joint: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Adhesive capsulitis is a distressing ailment that progressively limits the active and passive mobility of the shoulder joint. Physical therapy (PT) combined with intra-articular steroid (IAS) injection and suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) has shown improved functional outcomes. We aimed to assess whether providing both IAS injection and SSNB improved outcomes compared with IAS injection alone.

Relation between heart rate variability and spectral analysis of electroencephalogram in chronic neuropathic pain patients.

Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is a complex condition often arising from neural maladaptation after nerve injury. Understanding CNP complications involves the intricate interplay between brain-heart dynamics, assessed through quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) and heart rate variability (HRV). However, insights into their interaction in chronic pain are limited.

Detection of Wuchereria bancrofti DNA in wild caught vector and non-vector mosquitoes: implications for elimination of lymphatic filariasis.

Background: Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) is the WHO recommended method used for decision-making to stop or continue the MDA in lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination programme. The WHO has also recommended Molecular Xenomonitoring (MX) of LF infection in vectors as an adjunct tool in settings under post-MDA or validation period. Screening of non-vectors by MX in post-MDA / validation settings could be useful to prevent a resurgence of LF infection, as there might be low abundance of vectors, especially in some seasons.

Mapping of Palliative Care Services and Challenges in Implementation of National Program for Palliative Care in Puducherry.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to map ongoing palliative care services and describe the characteristics of providers, recipients, level of care, and approach. Second, it seeks to investigate the difficulties encountered in implementing NPPC in the Puducherry district of UT Puducherry. This study aims to review the challenges in its implementation.

Ease of lumbar epidural catheter insertion with prepuncture ultrasound as guidance compared with conventional palpatory technique when performed by anesthesiology residents: A randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Lumbar epidural catheter insertion is conventionally performed by anesthesia residents by palpation of anatomical landmarks with relatively blind localization of epidural space which may lead to an increase in failure rate. We aim to compare the ease of lumbar epidural catheterization using prepuncture ultrasound as guidance with that of conventional palpatory technique. Comparisons were made with reference to number of insertion attempts, total time taken for the procedure, frequency of dural puncture, and overall satisfaction score as assessed by Likert's scale.

Local computational methods to improve the interpretability and analysis of cryo-EM maps.

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps usually show heterogeneous distributions of B-factors and electron density occupancies and are typically B-factor sharpened to improve their contrast and interpretability at high-resolutions. However, 'over-sharpening' due to the application of a single global B-factor can distort processed maps causing connected densities to appear broken and disconnected. This issue limits the interpretability of cryo-EM maps, i.

Comparative Evaluation of IV Paracetamol Versus IV Dexmedetomidine in Inpatient Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Study.

Purpose: Reconstructive surgeries following fractures in the maxillofacial region often involve considerable bone manipulation, and paracetamol is a commonly used analgesic medication in both intraoperative and postoperative periods. Dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, has both sedative and analgesic properties with minimal cardiorespiratory effects and has been used primarily for its sedative properties in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Aims And Objectives: To compare the intraoperative analgesic requirements among patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery who receive IV paracetamol versus IV dexmedetomidine.

National Burden Estimates of healthy life lost in India, 2017: an analysis using direct mortality data and indirect disability data.

Background: Many countries, including India, seek locally constructed disease burden estimates comprising mortality and loss of health to aid priority setting for the prevention and treatment of diseases. We created the National Burden Estimates (NBE) to provide transparent and understandable disease burdens at the national and subnational levels, and to identify gaps in knowledge.

Methods: To calculate the NBE for India, we combined 2017 UN death totals with national and subnational mortality rates for 2010-17 and causes of death from 211 166 verbal autopsy interviews in the Indian Million Death Study for 2010-14.

Comparison of total intravenous anesthesia vs. inhalational anesthesia on brain relaxation, intracranial pressure, and hemodynamics in patients with acute subdural hematoma undergoing emergency craniotomy: a randomized control trial.

Background: The major goals of anesthesia in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are-maintenance of hemodynamic stability, optimal cerebral perfusion pressure, lowering of ICP, and providing a relaxed brain. Although both inhalational and intravenous anesthetics are commonly employed, there is no clear consensus on which technique is better for the anesthetic management of severe TBI.

Methods: Ninety patients, 18-60 years of age, of either gender, with GCS < 8, posted for emergency evacuation of acute subdural hematoma were enrolled in this prospective trial, and they were randomized into two groups of 45 each.

Effectiveness of different methods of health education on knowledge and attitude regarding palliative care among college students in urban Puducherry: a pre-post intervention study.

Background: The World Health Organization estimates that around 6 million people need palliative care in India but not even 1% of the patients have access to it.

Objective: To find the prevalence of knowledge on palliative care and compare the effectiveness of different methods of health education on attitude regarding palliative care among urban college students in southern India.

Subjects: A pre-post intervention study was conducted in three different arts, science and commerce colleges in urban Pondicherry in August 2017.

Deep Learning for Validating and Estimating Resolution of Cryo-Electron Microscopy Density Maps .

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is becoming the imaging method of choice for determining protein structures. Many atomic structures have been resolved based on an exponentially growing number of published three-dimensional (3D) high resolution cryo-EM density maps. However, the resolution value claimed for the reconstructed 3D density map has been the topic of scientific debate for many years.

Measurement of changes in optic nerve sheath diameter using ultrasound and computed tomography scan before and after the ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery in patients with hydrocephalus - A prospective observational trial.

Background: The standard methods for measuring intracranial pressure (ICP) are invasive in nature. Non invasive methods such as ONSD may help circumvent these complications and may serve as a surrogate marker for increased ICP. The primary aim of this study was to assess the ONSD (optic nerve sheath diameter) changes using ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) scan in hydrocephalus patients before and after the insertion of VP shunt.

Tuberculosis among the homeless in Chennai city, South India.

Background: In India from a national perspective, the incidence/prevalence of active tuberculosis (TB) among the homeless are unknown.

Methods: Homeless individuals, aged 15 years and above, were screened for TB by radiography and smear examination in Chennai city.

Results: 301 individuals were enrolled and screened for TB; 8% (24/301) had chest symptoms; 5.

Dose-reversal effect relationship of three different doses of neostigmine in obese patients: A randomised clinical trial.

Background And Aims: Previous studies suggest that administration of vecuronium based on total body weight rather than ideal body weight (IBW) in obesity results in overdosing with prolonged recovery times. We hypothesised that larger doses of neostigmine could result in faster recovery in obese patients administered vecuronium based on total body weight.

Methods: Forty-five obese American Society of Anesthesiologists' II patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomised into 3 groups to receive neostigmine 30, 40 and 50 μg/kg.

Estimation of Need for Palliative Care among Noncancer Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Context: Palliative care services, until recently, were mainly restricted to cancer patients with incurable diseases. Hence, evaluative studies of palliative care are sparse in areas other than oncology.

Aims: To estimate what proportion of patients attending the Departments of Neurology, Cardiology, and Nephrology of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, required palliative care and to identify the palliative care needs of those patients.

Role of bacille Calmette-Guérin in preventing tuberculous infection.

Setting: Rural community in South India.

Objective: To determine the role of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in preventing tuberculous infection in children.

Design: A prevalence survey was undertaken in 1999-2001 in a representative rural population in Tiruvallur District in South India using cluster sampling.

Comparison of intubation success and glottic visualization using King Vision and C-MAC videolaryngoscopes in patients with cervical spine injuries with cervical immobilization: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Glottic visualization can be difficult with cervical immobilization in patients with cervical spine injury. Indirect laryngoscopes may provide better glottic visualization in these groups of patients. Hence, we compared King Vision videolaryngoscope, C-MAC videolaryngoscope for endotracheal intubation in patients with proven/suspected cervical spine injury.

Impact of Health Awareness Campaign in Improving the Perception of the Community about Palliative Care: A Pre- and Post-intervention Study in Rural Tamil Nadu.

Background And Objective: The only way to provide palliative care to a huge number of people in need in India is through community participation, which can be achieved by improving the awareness of the people about palliative care. We conducted a study to assess the impact of health awareness campaign in improving the awareness of people about palliative care.

Materials And Methods: This was a pre- and post-intervention study conducted in Kadaperikuppam village of Vanur Taluk in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu.

Postoperative analgesia after inguinal hernia repair - Comparison of ropivacaine with bupivacaine: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative pain management by surgical site infiltration has an edge over other methods of analgesia as it is simple and has lesser side effects. This study was designed to compare the analgesic effects provided by bupivacaine, a classical long-acting local anesthetic and ropivacaine, a new amino amide local anesthetic agent.

Subjects And Methods: Ninety patients scheduled for elective inguinal herniorrhaphy were randomly allocated to one of the three groups: Group I - R 0.

Psycho-Socio-Economic Issues Challenging Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis Patients: A Systematic Review.

Background: Limited treatment options, long duration of treatment and associated toxicity adversely impact the physical and mental well-being of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. Despite research advances in the microbiological and clinical aspects of MDR-TB, research on the psychosocial context of MDR-TB is limited and less understood.

Methodology: We searched the databases of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and Google Scholar to retrieve all published articles.

Physiological and pharmacologic aspects of peripheral nerve blocks.

A successful peripheral nerve block not only involves a proper technique, but also a thorough knowledge and understanding of the physiology of nerve conduction and pharmacology of local anesthetics (LAs). This article focuses on what happens after the block. Pharmacodynamics of LAs, underlying mechanisms of clinically observable phenomena such as differential blockade, tachyphylaxis, C fiber resistance, tonic and phasic blockade and effect of volume and concentration of LAs.

Pulmonary tuberculosis among tribals in India: A systematic review & meta-analysis.

Background & Objectives: There has been limited investigation on the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in tribal communities in India, a vulnerable section of Indian society. The lack of a population-based estimate prompted us to conduct a meta-analysis of existing studies to provide a single, population-based estimate of the TB prevalence for tribals.

Methods: Literature search was conducted in PubMed using the keywords - "tuberculosis", "tribals", "India", "prevalence", and "survey".