Strengthening facility-based integrated emergency care services for time sensitive emergencies at all levels of healthcare in India: An implementation research study protocol.

Background: The healthcare system in India is tiered and has primary, secondary and tertiary levels of facilities depending on the complexity and severity of health challenges at these facilities. Evidence suggests that emergency services in the country is fragmented. This study aims to identify the barriers and facilitators of emergency care delivery for patients with time-sensitive conditions, and develop and implement a contextually relevant model, and measure its impact using implementation research outcomes.

The effect of a behavioural intervention package on quality of life of pregnant women experiencing domestic violence: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Domestic violence during pregnancy is especially concerning due to its significant detrimental impact on a woman's health and that of her unborn child. The study aims to evaluate the effects of a behavioural intervention package (BIP) delivered during pregnancy on the quality of life (QOL), domestic violence (DV), and reproductive and child health (RCH) of women experiencing DV.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted on 211 pregnant women recruited between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and randomly assigned to one of two groups: intervention (n = 105) or control (n = 106).

A Comparative Study on Serum Levels of "Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin" Between Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris and Healthy Individuals: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine initially implicated to be associated with allergic disorders inducing Th2 response. Emerging studies have shown that TSLP is also involved in autoimmune diseases. In psoriasis, TSLP acts in synergy with T cell-derived CD40L to promote the release of IL-23 from dendritic cells.

Adherence to behavioural intervention in RCT study by the women experiencing domestic violence and attending ANC in a public hospital in India-an analysis.

Background: The paper aims to identify the factors for effective implementation and adherence to the behavioural intervention package by women experiencing domestic violence (DV) and attending ANC in a public hospital.

Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken with 211 pregnant women experiencing DV and attending antenatal care (ANC) at the LN Hospital, New Delhi. The intervention was given to women recruited under the RCT study.

Role of Yoga as an Adjunct in the Management of Migraine Headache-Current Status and Future Indications.

Migraine headache is a painful, disabling condition afflicting 7% of the population. The long-term effort of coping with a chronic headache disorder predisposes the individual to other psychiatric illnesses, ischemic cerebrovascular disease as well as medicine overuse headache. The use of nonpharmacological methods to reduce the stress and pain associated with headache can improve the overall quality of life and reduce the burden of the disease.

Case Report: A Fatal Case of Babesiosis in a Splenectomized Male Patient from Western India.

Human babesiosis is a rare disease, caused by Babesia species and commonly transmitted by tick bite. Although human babesiosis is known to be asymptomatic in immunocompetent hosts, clinical cases of severe babesiosis have been reported from splenectomized or immunocompromised individuals. To our knowledge, only one case of human babesiosis in India has been previously reported.

Domestic Violence during pregnancy as risk factors for stress and depression: The experience of women attending ANC at atertiary care hospital in India.

Domestic Violence (DV) during the antenatal period has major effects on the mother and pregnancy outcome and is associated with stress and mental health problems. The paper aims to examine the association of DV with stress and depression (S&D) during the first trimester of pregnancy attending antenatal care (ANC) at the Lok Nayak (LN) hospital, a tertiary healthcare hospital in New Delhi, India and address the response of the women. A mixed method was used to gain an in-depth understanding of the participants.

Development of Diabetic retinopathy screening guidelines in South-East Asia region using the context, challenges, and future technology.

Objective: To formulate guidelines for screening of diabetic retinopathy (DR) for the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR) aligned with the current infrastructure and human resources for health (HRH).

Design: A consultative group discussion of technical experts of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) from SEAR.

Participants: IAPB country chairs and DR technical experts from SEAR countries.

Recently updated global diabetic retinopathy screening guidelines: commonalities, differences, and future possibilities.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a global health burden. Screening for sight-threatening DR (STDR) is the first cost-effective step to decrease this burden. We analyzed the similarities and variations between the recent country-specific and the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) DR guideline to identify gaps and suggest possible solutions for future universal screening.

Rural-Urban Disparities in Access to Breast Cancer Screening: A Spatial Clustering Analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine rural-urban differences in access to breast cancer screening in a predominantly rural Midwestern state in the United States.

Methods: The study is a retrospective analysis of pooled cross-sectional data for the years 2008 to 2012. We conducted hot spot analyses of the rate of late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer at the census tract level in Nebraska for cases diagnosed between 2008 and 2012, using cancer registry data.

Global Perspectives on Children's Digital Opportunities: An Emerging Research and Policy Agenda.

Diverse international perspectives show that children can benefit greatly from digital opportunities. Despite widespread optimism about the potential of digital technologies, especially for information and education, the research reveals an insufficient evidence base to guide policy and practice across all continents of the world, especially in middle- and low-income countries. Beyond revealing pressing and sizeable gaps in knowledge, this cross-national review also reveals the importance of understanding local values and practices regarding the use of technologies.

The Relationship Between Uterine Artery two-dimensional Color Doppler Measurement and Pregnancy Outcome: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of uterine blood flow parameters measured by uterine artery two-dimensional (2D)-power color doppler (PCD) ultrasound in predicting fertility outcomes in women undergoing IVF-ET cycles.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, a total of 188 infertile women who underwent IVF-ET cycles were investigated. Uterine artery 2D-PD measurements were taken during early follicular phase and on day of trigger.

Mortality following pancreatectomy for elderly rural veterans with pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine rural/urban differences in post-operative mortality for elderly dually eligible Veteran patients with pancreatic cancer treated by surgery with or without adjuvant therapy.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective observational study, Medicare claims data were used to identify elderly dually eligible Veteran patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreatectomy with or without adjuvant therapy. Hierarchical logistic regression models adjusted for age, rurality of residence, post-operative complication rate, length of stay, blood transfusion during admission, and co-morbidity were examined to assess differences in mortality between rural and urban Veteran patients.

Formative evaluation of a teledentistry training programme for oral health professionals.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to conduct a formative evaluation of a teledentistry (TD) programme that was developed for a predominantly rural state in the Midwestern United States.

Materials And Methods: Formative evaluation data were collected on programme activities from the TD programme records. In addition, the effectiveness of the TD training programme was evaluated using a self-administered paper-based survey administered to the participants, immediately following completion of the training activity.

Elevated basal cytosolic calcium of endothelial cells influences the post-surgical outcome in diabetic CTS.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-induced neuropathy and ischemia-reperfusion post-surgery prolong carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) pathology, but the effect of T2DM on the prognostic outcome of carpal tunnel (CT) release surgery needs to be investigated. Materials and methods A total of 64 individuals with CTS underwent CT release surgery. HbA1c levels identified their diabetic status.

Isolated Hypoplasia of Left Pulmonary Artery with Agenesis of Left Lobe of Thyroid: A Case Report.

Isolated Unilateral hypoplasia or agenesis of a branch of pulmonary artery is very rare. It is usually seen associated with congenital heart diseases such as tetralogy of Fallot, atrial septal defect, coarctation of the aorta, right aortic arch, truncus arteriosus, patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary atresia. It occurs as a result of lack of embryological development of either the left or right sixth aortic arch and has been found to present itself with various clinical manifestations as during childhood it presents as contralateral pulmonary hypertension and in adults as haemoptysis.

Postoperative mortality following multi-modality therapy for pancreatic cancer: Analysis of the SEER-Medicare data.

Background And Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine post-operative mortality for elderly pancreatic cancer patients treated with multi-modality therapy.

Methods: Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Medicare linked data were used to examine differences in mortality between patients who underwent pancreatectomy alone and those who had early (within 12 weeks) and late (after 12 weeks) adjuvant therapy (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy).

Results: Among 4,105 patients who underwent pancreatectomy between 1991 and 2008, 1-year mortality (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.

Effect of Enhanced External Counter Pulsation Treatment on Aortic Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness and Ejection Fraction in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Introduction: Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive treatment option for patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The treatment has shown to augment diastolic pressure and reduce Left Ventricular (LV) after-load by reducing systemic vascular resistance. The effect of EECP in standard brachial blood pressure and central haemodynamic parameters are not known.

Readiness for Teledentistry: Validation of a Tool for Oral Health Professionals.

We validated a survey tool to test the readiness of oral health professionals for teledentistry (TD). The survey tool, the University of Calgary Health Telematics Unit's Practitioner Readiness Assessment Tool (PRAT) gathered information about the participants' beliefs, attitudes and readiness for TD before and after a teledentistry training program developed for a rural state in the Mid-Western United States. Ninety-three dental students, oral health and other health professionals participated in the TD training program and responded to the survey.

Acquired Platelet Dysfunction with Eosinophilia (APDE) Syndrome: A Case Report.

Acquired platelet dysfunction with eosinophilia (APDE) is a syndrome which has transient state of platelet dysfunction in the presence of marked eosinophilia. This bleeding disorder, otherwise known as "non-thrombocytopenic purpura with eosinophilia", occurs commonly in children from South-East Asia. We report an 11 years old male child, who presented with ecchymotic patches over lower limbs, of recent onset.

A systems biology and proteomics-based approach identifies SRC and VEGFA as biomarkers in risk factor mediated coronary heart disease.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death worldwide. The burden of CHD increases with risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Several studies have demonstrated the association of these classical risk factors with CHD.

Risk Factors for In-Hospital Mortality in Heart Failure Patients: Does Rurality, Payer or Admission Source Matter?

Purpose: Considering the high prevalence of heart failure and the economic burden of the disease, factors that influence in-hospital mortality are of importance in improving outcomes of care for this patient population. The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of in-hospital mortality for adult heart failure patients.

Methods: The study design is a retrospective observational study design using the 2010 Nebraska Hospital Discharge data set including 4,319 hospitalizations for 3,521 heart failure patients admitted to 79 hospitals in Nebraska.

Impact of Community-Based Dental Education on Attainment of ADEA Competencies: Students' Self-Ratings.

Fourth-year dental students at the College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center participate in a community-based dental education (CBDE) program that includes a four-week rotation in rural dental practices and community health clinics across Nebraska and nearby states. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of participation in the CBDE program on the self-rated competencies of these students. A retrospective survey was administered to students who participated in extramural rotations in two academic years.

A Performance Analysis of Long-term Acute-Care Hospitals Owned by Large, Multistate Investor-Owned Companies.

This study provides a descriptive assessment of the operating performance of for-profit long-term acute-care hospitals owned by multistate, investor-owned companies (large FP LTCHs) compared with FP LTCHs owned by smaller FP companies (small FP LTCHs) and nonprofit LTCHs (NP LTCHs). The study used the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cost report data for 290 LTCHs from 2010 through 2012 to compare the financial performance of large and small FP LTCHs and NP LTCHs. The study found that the median operating profit margin for large FP LTCHs was 8.