Knowledge of Accredited Social Health Activists in India: a systematic review and meta analysis of evidence drawn from primary studies published between 2005 and 2022.

Background: Since the inception of the ASHAs in the year 2005, their work horizons have increased from Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent health (RMNCH + A), Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (CD & NCD) to oral health, ophthalmologic care, and other supportive community level healthcare services. The present literature lacks comprehensive understanding and synthesis of domain-wise knowledge of ASHAs and the factors affecting their knowledge. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize and collate the relevant evidence to understand the overall knowledge of ASHAs.

Navigating the Needles: Unveiling the Risks of Acupuncture: A Case Report.

Acupuncture, an increasingly popular alternative medical therapy, has heightened the demand for information on its safety profile. This is a case report involving a 28-year-old female who presented with intense right-sided chest pain and breathlessness after an acupuncture session where needles were inserted into her chest wall. The immediate medical evaluation revealed a tension pneumothorax with radiographic evidence of a mediastinal shift, compelling, urgent intervention via chest tube insertion.

Evaluating manganese removal in groundwater using pilot scale biofilters: The role of filter media characteristics during start-up.

This study investigated the influence of filter media characteristics on manganese (Mn) removal in groundwater biofilters during the start-up phase. Six pilot scale biofilters containing three different granular activated carbons (GAC), two anthracite, and one sand media were run for 133 days to examine their Mn removal performance at a drinking water utility, while also monitoring ATP and bacterial growth as indicators of biological activity. Key findings demonstrate the critical role of media characteristics, especially for GAC media.