Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Teriparatide Versus Alendronate in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Alendronate, a second-generation bisphosphonate, remains the first-line therapeutic option for postmenopausal osteoporosis. It acts on the bone resorbing osteoclasts causing their apoptosis. This is achieved by producing toxic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) analogues and interfering with the mevalonate pathway.

Cannabinoids as a Natural Alternative for the Management of Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials.

Dysfunction or damage to the nervous system may develop into and result in a chronic pain condition known as neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is defined as the structural and functional alteration of the somatosensory component of the nervous system. The treatment of neuropathic pain is a complex endeavor, which often requires specialist care and intensive drug therapy.

Medicated Foley Catheters Do Not Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Infections of the urinary tract are among some of the most common infections treated in clinical practice. Numerous risk factors play an intrinsic role in the development of such infections, namely: age, sexual intercourse, prolonged use of feminine hygiene products, instrumentation, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, obstructive uropathy such as prostatic enlargement or urethral strictures, compromised immunity, and constipation. A major cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in hospitalized patients is catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).

A Rare Case of Sporadic Hemiplegic Migraine Mimicking Stroke: A Diagnostic Challenge Solved by Comprehensive History Taking.

Migraine, a common affliction, manifests as debilitating headaches often accompanied by auras. However, hemiplegic migraine presents an unusual symptomatology, inducing unilateral paralysis during attacks. This condition, occurring in two forms, familial and sporadic, merits attention due to its rarity.

Need for evidence synthesis for quality control of healthcare decision-making.

Systematic reviews that are out-of-date delay policymaking, create controversy, and can erode trust in research. To avoid this issue, it is preferable to keep summaries of the study evidence. Living evidence is a synthesis approach that provides up-to-date rigorous research evidence summaries to decision-makers.

Post COVID syndrome: A novel challenge and threat to international health.

The global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has affected every continent worldwide. The novelty of this virus, its mutations and the rapid speed and unprecedented rate at which it has torn through the global community has in turn lead to an innate lack of knowledge and information about the actual disease caused and the severity of the complications associated with COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been infecting individuals since 2019 and now as of 2022 has been circulating for just over 2 years within the global populous.

A survey of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety and Depression among Flood Affected Populations in Kerala, India.

Background: Globally, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses following a disaster. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the socio-economic and flood exposure factors with PTSD, depression and anxiety among the flood-affected populations in Kerala, India.

Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted from November 2019 to January 2020 in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India.

The Growing Importance of Mixed-Methods Research in Health.

This paper illustrates the growing importance of mixed-methods research to many health disciplines ranging from nursing to epidemiology. Mixed-methods approaches requires not only the skills of the individual quantitative and qualitative methods but also a skill set to bring two methods/datasets/findings together in the most appropriate way. Health researchers need to pay careful attention to the 'best' approach to designing, implementing, analysing, integrating both quantitative (number) and qualitative (word) information and writing this up in a way offers greater insights and enhances its applicability.

Omicron: The pandemic propagator and lockdown instigator - what can be learnt from South Africa and such discoveries in future.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes the disease termed COVID-19 ripped through the globe in the latter part of 2019 and has left a state of fear, death and destruction in its wake. The Omicron variant was officially announced by the South African authorities on the 24th of November 2021, with the first confirmed sample of the infection being collected on the 9th of November 2021. The initial cases were flagged as a possible new variant due to the stark differences in the presentation and clinical features of the patients.