Publications by authors named "Brar M"

Drug courts are specialized programs from the courts that aim to offer a chance to individuals with substance-related problems encountering law enforcement to take treatment rather than face incarceration. The aim of this debate is to critically debate the utility, applicability, and feasibility of drug courts in India. This is a theoretical debate based on the existing evidence and considerations of ground realities in the country.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has re-emerged as a significant global health concern, particularly during the widespread outbreak of 2022. As an orthopoxvirus related to the eradicated smallpox virus, mpox has been primarily managed with smallpox vaccines and treatments, including the antiviral agent Tecovirimat. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Tecovirimat in treating mpox, focusing on its use during the 2022 outbreak, especially among high-risk populations, including men who have sex with men and people living with HIV.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The PediCenter and Niles Children's Clinic provide pediatric primary and urgent care services in central California. We remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing scheduled well child-care and sick visits.

Methods: Beginning in September 2020, we implemented a COVID-19 screening program.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • People living with HIV (PLWH) face increased mortality risks from air pollution due to chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction, a link that has not been widely studied.
  • A systematic review analyzed nine studies, primarily from China, revealing that long-term exposure to pollutants like particulate matter significantly correlates with higher AIDS-related and overall mortality rates in PLWH, with certain populations being more susceptible.
  • The findings indicate that targeted interventions to lessen air pollution exposure could benefit vulnerable groups, emphasizing the need for further research in this area.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious effects on maternal and neonatal health, prompting a systematic review to assess how it influences respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in newborns from infected mothers.
  • The review analyzed 22 studies and found that 11.5% of newborns from COVID-19-positive mothers experienced RDS, with a risk ratio of 2.69 indicating a significantly higher risk compared to newborns from non-infected mothers.
  • The findings stress the importance of closely monitoring and managing pregnant women with COVID-19 to reduce potential health issues in their newborns.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • E-cigarettes are becoming popular as a way for people to quit smoking, but there are concerns about their use alongside traditional cigarettes, particularly among pregnant women, who may face increased health risks.
  • A systematic review analyzed data from 18 studies involving nearly 6 million pregnant women, finding that 4.6% of them reported using both e-cigarettes and traditional tobacco.
  • The findings suggest that dual use is a significant health issue, highlighting the need for further research and public health measures to inform and protect pregnant women from the risks of tobacco.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Prostate cancer is a common cancer among men, and this study investigates whether glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), usually used for treating type 2 diabetes, can reduce the risk of developing this cancer.
  • The research included a systematic review of five studies from various countries, which found that GLP-1 RA use is associated with a significant 28% reduction in prostate cancer risk compared to other treatments.
  • The study concludes that GLP-1 RAs could play a role in reducing prostate cancer risk, especially for men with diabetes, but further research is needed to understand how these drugs work in this context and to examine different patient variables.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Fistulas, abnormal connections between two anatomical structures, significantly impact the quality of life and can result from a variety of causes, including congenital defects, inflammatory conditions, and surgical complications. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising alternative due to its potential for regenerative and immunomodulatory effects. This overview of systematic reviews aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy in managing fistulas, drawing on the evidence available.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Opioid prescriptions for chronic non-cancer pain raise concerns of addiction risks. Understanding the nuanced intersection of chronic pain and opioid use is crucial in clinical settings. We present four case studies from two tertiary care hospitals illustrating the phenomenon of "pseudoaddiction" in CNCP referred to addiction specialists for management.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The rapidly growing body of research investigating media influence on body image in Latin America has not been previously comprehensively synthesised. We systematically reviewed studies of the relationships between media use/influence, body image, and sociocultural appearance ideals in Latin America (CRD42021254607). We searched PsycINFO/Medline, Pubmed, Web of Science, ERIC, Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations, SciElo, and LILACS for quantitative and qualitative peer-reviewed articles and doctoral theses in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Increased understanding of dementia risk-reduction and early detection of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders has spurred interest in the identification of risks for dementia, underlying putative biologies, or dementia itself. Implementation of such approaches require acceptability to the public. Research prior to 2012 indicated limited acceptability for population dementia screening.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a primary care-based intervention for improving post-diagnostic dementia care and support (PriDem), and implementation study procedures.

Design: A non-randomised, mixed methods, feasibility study.

Setting: Seven general practices from four primary care networks (PCNs) in the Northeast and Southeast of England.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Rifampicin (RIF) is considered the backbone of TB treatment, but adverse effects often limit its use.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined patients treated for TB disease at our institution, and compared those who received RIF to those who were intolerant to RIF.

Results: A total of 829 patients were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To examine social factors associated with the 5-year risk of glaucoma suspects (GS) converting to open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Subjects: We screened for participants diagnosed with GS in the All of Us database.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: There is significant practice variation with respect to the use of bowel preparation to reduce surgical site infection (SSI) following colon surgery. Although intravenous antibiotics + mechanical bowel preparation + oral antibiotics (IVA + MBP + OA) has been shown to be superior to IVA + MBP and IVA, there are insufficient high-quality data from randomized controlled trails (RCTs) that directly compare these options. This is an important question, because if IVA + OA has similar effectiveness to IVA + MBP + OA, mechanical bowel preparation can be safely omitted, and the associated side effects avoided.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: There is ongoing debate about whether ileal pouch-anal anastomosis needs temporary diversion at the time of construction. Stomas may reduce risk for anastomotic leak (AL) but are also associated with complications, emergency department visits and readmissions. This treatment trade-off study aims to measure patients' preferences by assessing the absolute risk of AL and pouch failure (PF) they are willing to accept to avoid a diverting ileostomy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF