Comparison of the Effectiveness of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in the Management of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus is one of the most common cardiac conditions affecting the neonates. Considering the lack of studies done on this topic in healthcare settings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, this study aims to find out the comparative effectiveness of paracetamol and ibuprofen in management of PDA in our healthcare setting to conclude a better management option for the condition.

Objective: To find and compare the effectiveness of paracetamol and ibuprofen in the closure of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates.

Gene Therapy for Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a devastating, aggressive primary brain tumor with poor patient outcomes and a five-year survival of less than 10%. Significant limitations to effective GBM treatment include poor drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier, drug resistance, and complex genetic tumor alterations. Gene therapy uses a mechanism different from other GBM therapies to reduce tumor growth and enhance antitumor immunity.

Pediatric Intensive Care Provider Attitudes About Children with Medical Complexity and Neurologic Impairment: A Qualitative Study.

(1) Background: Children with medical complexity (CMC) and neurologic impairment (NI) are a growing population in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). (2) Objective: Our aim was to explore and describe the experiences and beliefs of PICU providers caring for CMC with NI. (3) Methods: A qualitative interview-based study was conducted.

Influence of different priming treatments on germination potential and seedling establishment of four important hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivars.

Medicinal hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is gaining popularity due to its natural products with potential therapeutic properties, and its cultivation has recently been initiated in developing countries such as Turkey, Iran, India, and Pakistan. The crop is primarily grown using feminized seeds or popular varieties to achieve higher cannabidiol (CBD) yields, with seeds costing approximately $5-10 each.

Characteristics of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and their association with treatment outcomes: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: There are few data on the treatment of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant (MDR) or rifampicin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis, especially with more recently available drugs and regimens. We aimed to describe the clinical and treatment characteristics and their associations with treatment outcomes in this susceptible population.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Analysis of seroprevalence and risk factors for syphilis and HIV among female sex workers and transgender individuals in different cities of Sindh, Pakistan.

Introduction: Co-infections of syphilis and HIV have been found to exacerbate the impact on sexual and reproductive health, especially among key population groups such as Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and Transgender Individuals (TGs). The data on the prevalence and determinants of syphilis and HIV in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh province, is limited. This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for HIV and syphilis infections among FSWs and TGs in different cities of Sindh, Pakistan.

How Often Is Rifampin Therapy Initiated and Completed in Patients With Periprosthetic Joint Infections?

Background: Rifampin therapy is indicated for the treatment of staphylococcal periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients who have undergone debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) or one-stage revision as per the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guideline. Given the well-established effectiveness of rifampin as adjunctive therapy in staphylococcal PJI, it is crucial to evaluate its utilization in practice and identify factors that contribute to its underuse or incomplete administration, as these deviations may undermine treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.

Questions/purposes: Among patients who met clear indications for rifampin use having undergone DAIR or one-stage revision for staphylococcal PJI, (1) what proportion of patients did not receive it? (2) What proportion of patients started it but did not complete the planned course? (3) Where documented in the medical record, what were the common reasons for not using it or prematurely discontinuing it, and in what percentage of the patients' charts was no reason given? (4) What proportion of patients were taking a medication that put them at risk for a drug-drug interaction (DDI)?

Methods: Using an institutional database, patients who underwent DAIR or revision arthroplasty for PJI from January 2013 to April 2023 were identified (n = 935).

Treatment Patterns and Economic Burden of Ulcerative Colitis in Japan: A Retrospective Claims Analysis.

Introduction: This retrospective claims analysis characterized contemporary ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment patterns and investigated the economic burden of UC in Japan.

Methods: This study used anonymized claims data in the Medical Data Vision database. Patients were included if they had a confirmed UC diagnosis and ≥ 1 claim of systemic treatment for UC (index date) between June 2018 and December 2022, in addition to continuous enrollment for ≥ 6 months before and ≥ 12 months after the index date.

Tacrolimus- and Mycophenolate-Mediated Toxicity: Clinical Considerations and Options in Management of Post-Transplant Patients.

Tacrolimus and mycophenolate are important immunosuppressive agents used to prevent organ rejection in post-transplant patients. While highly effective, their use is associated with significant toxicity, requiring careful management. Tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, is linked to nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, metabolic disturbances such as diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular complications such as hypertension and arrhythmias.

Consensus Based Indian Guidelines for the Management of Pemphigus Vulgaris and Pemphigus Foliaceous.

Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disorder characterized by the presence of intraepidermal blisters and erosions, primarily affecting the mucosa and/or skin. There are no established Indian guidelines for the management of pemphigus, and Western guidelines cannot be directly applied due to differences in clinicodemographic profiles, comorbidities, and resource limitations. These guidelines aim to provide Indian dermatologists with evidence-based and consensus-driven recommendations for the management of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceous (PF), taking into account the unique challenges posed by the Indian healthcare setting.

Recent advances in engineering non-native microorganisms for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer that belongs to a group of polymers called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHB can be synthesized from renewable resources, making it a promising alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. It is also considered non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible, which makes it suitable for various applications in the medicine and biomedicine.

Semaglutide in obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and type 2 diabetes across baseline HbA levels (STEP-HFpEF DM): a prespecified analysis of heart failure and metabolic outcomes from a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: About half of patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have type 2 diabetes. In the STEP-HFpEF DM trial of adults with obesity-related HFpEF and type 2 diabetes, subcutaneous once weekly semaglutide 2·4 mg conferred improvements in heart failure-related symptoms and physical limitations, bodyweight, and other heart failure outcomes. We aimed to determine whether these effects of semaglutide differ according to baseline HbA.

Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis - A Case Report and Literature Analysis.

We describe a case of a 67-year-old man with bioprosthetic aortic valve endocarditis secondary to , a rare Gram-negative plant pathogen. The initial source was assumed to be due to soil exposure. The patient was successfully managed with ceftriaxone following aortic valve replacement.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Stem Cell Therapies for Pain in Diabetic Neuropathy, Osteoarthritis, and Spinal Cord Injuries.

Purpose Of Review: The use of stem cell therapy is a rapidly evolving and progressing frontier of science that has been used to treat illnesses such as malignancies, immunodeficiencies, and metabolic syndromes. This review aims to give an overview of the use of stem cell therapy in the treatment of pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, osteoarthritis, and other spinal cord pathologies.

Recent Findings: Pain is defined as a generalized or localized feeling of distress related to a physical or emotional stimulus and can be caused by a multitude of pathologies.

Parvalbumin interneurons in the anterior cingulate cortex exhibit distinct processing patterns for fear and memory in rats.

The anterior cingulate cortex is responsible for multiple cognitive functions like fear, pain management, decision-making, risk and reward assessment, and memory consolidation. However, its cell-type-specific functions are not clearly understood. To reveal the selective functional role of Parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic interneurons in the ACC, we knocked down (KD) the PV gene in-vivo in rats.

Redefining the Reference Interval and Cut-Off Values of the Hematological and Biochemical Parameters and Deriving a Sensitive Predictive Marker for Crisis Events in Sickle Cell Disease.

Unlabelled: The heterogeneity in clinical presentations in sickle cell disease (SCD) alters between crisis and steady state phases. Considering the pathophysiology, it is crucial to establish a disease-specific reference interval for hematological and biochemical parameters and identify the sensitive predictive markers for crisis. The case-control study included fifty-four healthy control, forty SCD cases in crisis state, and forty-six steady state cases.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of Postgraduate Medical Trainees Regarding Patient Care in Diabetes and Hypertension.

Background: Diabetes and hypertension are common chronic illnesses that need to be effectively managed. To improve patient outcomes, healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) are essential.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the KAP of postgraduate medical trainees regarding the management of diabetes and hypertension.

SyncGenie: A programmable event synchronization device for neuroscience research.

In neuroscience, accurately correlating brain activity with stimuli and other events requires precise synchronization between neural data and event timing. To achieve this, purpose-built synchronization devices are often used to detect events. This paper introduces SyncGenie, a programmable synchronization device designed for a range of uses in neuroscience research-primarily as a "trigger box" to align neurophysiological data with physical stimulus events, among other possibilities.

Efficacy and safety of ivermectin-albendazole combination versus ivermectin or albendazole monotherapy in soil-transmitted helminthiasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminthiasis remains a daunting challenge to global health, exerting its greatest toll on resource-limited regions of the world. A dual drug approach using the co-administration of ivermectin and albendazole has shown promising results in comparison to the traditional monotherapy strategy. In light of this, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted.

Friend or Foe? Safety and Efficacy of Hepatitis B Viremic Solid Organ Allograft into Seronegative Recipients.

Background: Long-term outcomes of HBV nucleic acid test (NAT)-positive (+) allograft use in seronegative liver transplant (LT) and kidney transplant (KT) recipients remains unknown despite being incorporated into practice by select centers. This study compares long-term outcomes between HBV NAT+ and NAT-negative (-) allografts in seronegative recipients.

Study Design: All recipients of an HBV core antibody-positive (HBcAb+) LT or KT were prospectively evaluated at a single transplant center from 6/2015-3/2023 and compared by NAT status.

Beyond the Scalpel: Unravelling the Anaesthetic Maze in Elective C-Section for Placenta Accreta Spectrum.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders pose significant challenges in the anaesthetic management of elective caesarean section. This article explores the anaesthetic considerations for patients with PAS focusing on the optimal techniques to ensure maternal safety and surgical success. The analysis examines the advantages and disadvantages of general anaesthesia, neuraxial anaesthesia, and combined techniques to inform considerations of anaesthetic management in this high-risk population.

Definition of cage subsidence in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) approach and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) approach - A systematic review.

Background: Although cage subsidence is one of the most common phenomenona associated with interbody fusions and was characterized more than 70 years ago, a standardized method for its measurement, detection, and reporting among different lumbar fusion procedures does not exist. Here, we review previously published literature on cage subsidence to present the most common methods for defining subsidence in the posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) techniques.

Methods: A search was completed in PubMed and Embase with inclusion criteria focused on identifying any study that provided descriptions of the method, imaging modality, and subsidence threshold used to define the presence of cage subsidence in study articles published between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2022.

Recombinant expression systems for production of stabilised virus-like particles as next-generation polio vaccines.

Polioviruses have caused crippling disease in humans for centuries, prior to the successful development of vaccines in the mid-1900's, which dramatically reduced disease prevalence. Continued use of these vaccines, however, threatens ultimate disease eradication and achievement of a polio-free world. Virus-like particles (VLPs) that lack a viral genome represent a safer potential vaccine, although they require particle stabilization.

The Quality of Veterans Healthcare Administration Cardiovascular Care.

A total of 9 million veterans receive care in a unique healthcare system, the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA), with nearly 50% reporting at least one cardiovascular disease. Despite evidence for high quality of health care in the VHA, more veteran care is being moved to the non-VHA community. An assumption of this shift in care is that the quality of non-VHA care is at least comparable to VHA care.