Imaging, Pulmonary Function, and Histopathologic Findings of Persistent Fibrosis in a Longitudinal Cohort Three Years after Severe COVID-19 Infection.

Fibrotic-like abnormalities are present in 60% of a single-center, longitudinal, multi-ethnic cohort 3-years after severe COVID-19. They are independently associated with male sex, low BMI, shorter telomere length, increased severity of illness, and mechanical ventilation; Black race and asthma are protective. Participants with fibrotic-like abnormalities are more likely to have reduced diffusion capacity and 6-minute walk distance.

Do patients need additional coverage for chronic ailments? Insights from hospital data.

Background: Eliminating financial barriers and improving healthcare accessibility pertain to be key elements of the United Nation's sustainable development goals. These have directed health policymakers to advocate private health insurance as a health promotion strategy to enable patients to obtain absolute and affordable medical care when needed. Against this backdrop, the current study investigates the coverage trend and financial risk-protective nature of private health insurance plans.

Out-of-pocket expenses and healthcare service utilisation among maintenance haemodialysis patients: A study at a tertiary care hospital in Udupi, Karnataka.

Background: Financial burdens faced by patients in India suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) are linked to healthcare access and inadequate insurance coverage. This study analyses out-of-pocket expenses and explores their healthcare utilisation patterns.

Materials And Method: This time-bound hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Udupi district, Karnataka, among patients who have undergone haemodialysis (HD) treatment for at least a year.

Fabrication and Tribological Performance of Self-Lubricating Porous Materials and Composites: A Review.

Porous materials have recently attracted significant attention in the aerospace and biomedical fields for addressing issues related to friction and wear. Porous materials are beneficial in applications where continuous lubrication is not feasible or for components that operate under extreme conditions, such as high speeds, elevated temperatures, and heavy loads. The pores can serve as reservoirs for liquid lubricants, which are gradually released during the operation of the components.

High-frequency low-tidal volume ventilation improves procedural and long-term clinical outcomes in persistent atrial fibrillation ablation: Prospective multicenter registry.

Background: High-frequency, low-tidal volume (HFLTV) ventilation increases the efficacy and efficiency of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Whether those benefits can be extrapolated to RFCA of persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) is undetermined.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether using HFLTV ventilation during RFCA in patients with PeAF is associated with improved procedural and long-term clinical outcomes compared to standard ventilation (SV).

Derivation of novel metabolic pathway score identifies alanine metabolism as a targetable influencer of TNF-alpha signaling.

Background: Better understanding of the interaction between metabolism and immune response will be key to understanding physiology and disease. Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNFα) has been studied widely. However, despite the extensive knowledge about TNFα, the cytokine appears to induce not only variable, but often contradictory, effects on inflammation and cell proliferation.

Determinants of Good Glycemic Control among Individuals of Type II Diabetes Mellitus Seeking Treatment at a Rural Health-care Facility in Goa - A Cross-sectional Study.

Good glycemic control is the aim of managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which is crucial for the prevention of long-term complications in individuals with T2DM. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with good glycemic control in individuals with T2DM following up at a rural health-care facility (HCF) in Goa. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 individuals with T2DM who regularly followed up at a rural HCF in Goa.

Predictors of Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Mental Health Symptoms: A School-Based Study in Southern India.

Introduction: Mental illnesses are one of the major contributors to the overall burden of disease among the young. We investigated the predictors of emotional and behavioral problems among in-school adolescents in the Indian context.

Methods: Using stratified sampling, 1441 adolescents were recruited to participate in the study in Udupi taluk.

The impact of delayed diagnosis and treatment due to COVID-19 on Australian thyroid cancer patients: a qualitative interview study.

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the perceptions of patients with thyroid cancer on the potential impact of diagnosis and treatment delays during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: This study involved qualitative semi-structured telephone interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, analysed using the thematic framework analysis method and reported using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research.

Prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy to improve wound healing rates following ileostomy closure: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Reversal of ileostomy is associated with morbidity including wound infection and prolonged wound healing. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been shown to reduce time to wound healing by secondary intention. The aim of this study was to determine whether NPWT improved wound healing rates, compared with simple wound dressings, in patients undergoing reversal of ileostomy where the skin wound is closed with a purse-string suture.

Improved pulmonary function and exercise tolerance despite persistent pulmonary fibrosis over 1 year after severe COVID-19 infection.

We conducted a prospective single-centre cohort study of 104 multi-ethnic severe COVID-19 survivors from the first wave of the pandemic 15 months after hospitalisation. Of those who were assessed at 4 and 15 months, improvement of ground glass opacities correlated with worsened fibrotic reticulations. Despite a high prevalence of fibrotic patterns (64%), pulmonary function, grip strength, 6 min walk distance and frailty normalised.

Improving the emergency services using quality improvement project and Donabedian model in a quaternary teaching hospital in South India.

Introduction: The primary goal of quality improvement is to enhance patient outcomes, particularly in the emergency department (ED). Timely and effective care is crucial in these situations. By comprehending the challenges, evaluating current performance and implementing quality improvement projects, areas in need of enhancement can be pinpointed and addressed, resulting in better outcomes.

Antimony Compounds Associate with Atopic Dermatitis and Influence Models of Itch and Dysbiosis.

Compared to the myriad of known triggers for rhinitis and asthma, environmental exposure research for atopic dermatitis (AD) is not well established. We recently reported that an untargeted search of U.S.

Learnings from a prison-based drug treatment program on planning for release: A qualitative study.

Introduction: Prison-based drug and alcohol group treatment programs operate in all Australian jurisdictions. With more than two-thirds of people in prison having a history of substance use prior to incarceration, such programs are needed. There have been few published papers on the impact of attending group treatment programs in Australian prisons, and the research published to date has been predominately quantitative.