Characterization and Molecular Insights of a Chromium-Reducing Bacterium .

Environmental pollution from metal toxicity is a widespread concern. Certain bacteria hold promise for bioremediation via the conversion of toxic chromium compounds into less harmful forms, promoting environmental cleanup. In this study, we report the isolation and detailed characterization of a highly chromium-tolerant bacterium, CRB14.

State-wise variation and inequalities in caesarean delivery rates in India: analysis of the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021) data.

Background: India's caesarean delivery (CD) rate of 21.5% suggests adequate national access to CD but may mask significant disparities. We examined variation in CD rates across states (geography), wealth, and health care sector (public versus private).

Computational Fluid Dynamic Optimization of Micropatterned Surfaces: Towards Biofunctionalization of Artificial Organs.

Modifying surface topography to prevent surface-induced thrombosis in cardiovascular implants allows endothelialization, which is the natural thrombo-resistance of blood-contacting surfaces, and is deemed to be the only long-term solution for hemocompatible materials. We adapted a simulation framework to predict platelet deposition on a modified surface and developed an optimization strategy to promote endothelial retention and limit platelet deposition. Under supraphysiological bulk shear stress, a maximum of 79% linear coverage was achieved.

Politics, policy and action: lessons from rural GP advocacy in Ireland.

Context: Ireland has one of the most rural populations in Europe. Rurality presents challenges when accessing health services but should not be perceived as problematic and in need of a structural fix. Structural urbanism where health care is viewed as a commodity for individuals, rather than an infrastructure for populations, innately favours larger urban populations and has detrimental outcomes for rural health.

Evaluation of the Activity of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease; A Comparison of Indocyanine Green Angiography Scoring, Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography, and Choroidal Vascularity Index.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between choroidal biomarkers using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) scoring for monitoring the activity of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH).

Methods: Patients who were not in the acute phase of VKH were recruited. Simultaneous EDI-OCT and ICGA were captured in seven patients only at baseline, in six patients at the 3-month follow-up, and in two patients at both the 6- and 9-month follow-ups.

Evaluation of Cyanoacrylate Tissue Adhesive Glue Application Outcomes in Corneal Thinning and Perforation.

Objectives: Corneal thinning and perforation are ocular emergencies necessitating urgent intervention to prevent visual impairment or enucleation. Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive is frequently used to maintain globe integrity in these cases. However, gaps remain in understanding the outcomes of corneal gluing and the factors influencing its efficacy.

Medical Healthcare Student's Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Hand Hygiene and Its Relation to Patient Safety - A Global Scoping Review.

Introduction: For more than a century, Hand hygiene (HH) has been known to be the most cost-effective hygienic method to minimize infection transmission and risk in healthcare settings. Even though 50% of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) can be prevented with proper HH, globally 7 per 100 patients from acute-care hospitals in high-income countries (HIC) and 15 per 100 patients in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) acquire at least one HAI during their hospital stay. Even though medical healthcare students do not have the primary responsibility of providing patient care, it is necessary to train, assess, and monitor HH as their interaction with patients could lead to an increased number of HAIs.

Early Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis Using Hematological Profiles.

Preterm and extremely low-birth-weight newborns are at a higher risk for early-onset neonatal sepsis (NN-SP). This condition is often linked to intrapartum fever, PROM, and sepsis occurring within the first day of life. The causal pathogen can be acquired through intrauterine transmission or from the mother's flora.

Challenges faced by dentists during provision of oral health care in children and adolescents with special health-care needs: A scoping review.

Introduction/background: Oral health care for children with special health-care needs (CSHCN) is often overlooked despite a substantial global population with disabilities or special needs. This scoping review delves into the challenges dentists face in delivering oral health care to CSHCN.

Methodology: The scoping review was conducted as per the guidelines of PRISMA-ScR with a search strategy based on the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) framework of the research question.

A Light Microscopic Study Comparing Pulp Histological Alterations Following Tooth Preparation Using a High-speed Handpiece and an Er: YAG Laser.

Introduction: Histological alterations were evaluated in this study after tooth preparation with carbide burs using a traditional handpiece and Er: YAG laser.

Methods: Tooth preparation was done on 30 intact maxillary first premolars of healthy patients. Ten maxillary first premolars were used as control, wherein no tooth preparation was done.

Global oral health policies and recommendations for children with special health care needs and their applicability and effectiveness during the COVID -19 pandemic: a systematic review.

Aim: This systematic review aims to assess effectiveness of oral health policies, recommendations and guidelines in safeguarding oral health of children with special healthcare needs during COVID-19.

Background: This systematic review evaluated the adaptation of global oral health policies for children with special healthcare needs (SHCN) during the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide evidence-based insights to inform policymakers and healthcare providers amid the ongoing global health crisis. The study focused on assessing the effectiveness of these adaptations in ensuring equitable access to quality dental care for this vulnerable group.

Delays in Cervical Cancer Treatment Initiation for Patients Living With or Without HIV in Botswana: An Observational Cohort Analysis (2015-2019).

Purpose: To assess delays in treatment initiation of chemoradiation or radiation alone for patients with advanced stage cervical cancer in Botswana.

Methods And Materials: Females with locally advanced cervical cancer (stages IB2-IVB) were prospectively enrolled in an observational cohort study from 2015 to 2019. We evaluated delays at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 or greater days between the date of diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Two-Year Study on the Impact of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents and Young Adults with Moderate to Severe Obesity.

Purpose: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG), the most commonly performed weight loss surgery in adolescents and young adults with moderate to severe obesity, is highly effective for weight loss. Current literature regarding depressive and anxiety symptomatology following SG in youth is sparse and conflicting. We evaluated changes in depressive and anxiety symptoms in adolescents and young adults with moderate to severe obesity 2 years following SG compared with non-surgical controls (NS) followed for a similar duration.

Enhancing early career professionals' representation and engagement at international conferences: WONCA "Rural Early Career Ambassador Integration" project.

Introduction: International conferences offer an excellent opportunity for career development and are global academic opportunities with the potential to foster educational and professional growth. However, equitable access to participation and meaningful involvement in such events remains an issue. In this article we describe the novel Rural Early Career Ambassador Integration project and its implications for the 2022 World Rural Health Conference, held at the University of Limerick, Ireland.

Validation of the Postnatal Growth and Retinopathy of Prematurity (GROP) screening criteria.

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in infants. The Postnatal Growth and ROP (G-ROP) study proposed new screening criteria for ROP. This study aimed to validate the G-ROP screening criteria in a group of Iranian premature infants who were treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for at least 40 days.

Home environment factors associated with early childhood development in rural areas of Bangladesh: evidence from a national survey.

Background: Knowing the relationship between the factors related to home environment and early childhood development (ECD) in Bangladeshi children aged 3 to 4  years would help to find out appropriate interventions for the children with lower ECD outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to understand the relationship between the home environment factors and ECD in rural Bangladeshi children aged 3 to 4  years.

Methods: We used data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019, and included 7,326 rural children aged 3 to 4  years.

Changes in Hepatic Fat Content by CT 1 Year After Sleeve Gastrectomy in Adolescents and Young Adults With Obesity.

Context: Obesity is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is an effective means of weight loss and improvement of NAFLD in adults; however, data regarding the efficacy of SG in the early stages of pediatric NAFLD are sparse.

Objective: To assess the impact of SG on hepatic fat content 1 year after SG in youth with obesity compared with nonsurgical controls with obesity (NS).

Two-year Skeletal Effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy in Adolescents with Obesity Assessed with Quantitative CT and MR Spectroscopy.

Background Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is effective in the treatment of cardiometabolic complications of obesity but is associated with bone loss. Purpose To determine the long-term effects of SG on vertebral bone strength, density, and bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) in adolescents and young adults with obesity. Materials and Methods This 2-year prospective nonrandomized longitudinal study enrolled adolescents and young adults with obesity who underwent either SG (SG group) or dietary and exercise counseling without surgery (control group) at an academic medical center from 2015 to 2020.

Insomnia and job stressors among healthcare workers who served COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh.

Background: The global outbreak of COVID-19 has created unprecedented havoc among health care workers, resulting in significant psychological strains like insomnia. This study aimed to analyze insomnia prevalence and job stressors among Bangladeshi health care workers in COVID-19 units.

Methodology: We conducted this cross-sectional study to assess insomnia severity from January to March 2021 among 454 health care workers working in multiple hospitals in Dhaka city with active COVID-dedicated units.

Biomechanical CT to Assess Bone After Sleeve Gastrectomy in Adolescents With Obesity: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is effective in treating cardiometabolic complications of obesity but is associated with bone loss. Our aim was to determine the effect of SG on the lumbar spine by biomechanical CT analysis in adolescents/young adults with obesity. We hypothesized that SG would lead to a decrease in strength and bone mineral density (BMD) compared with nonsurgical controls.

Reimagining rural cancer care - the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence (BCCOE) in Rwanda.

Introduction and Problem Statement: Long travel distance, lack of access to clinical trials and reduced availability of interdisciplinary treatments are some of the structural barriers in providing cancer care in rural areas, even in high-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such challenges are disproportionately exacerbated. It is estimated that 70% of all cancer-related deaths will occur in LMICs by 2040.