Tuberculosis continues to be among the leading causes of morbidity as well as mortality. It is appreciated that our aim of eliminating TB in the foreseeable future will not be realized until we have a new vaccine with significant efficacy among diverse populations and all age-groups. Although impressive strides have been made in more refined development of new TB vaccines based on learnings from past experiences, the substitute or a booster vaccine for the BCG vaccine is not available yet.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuropathic pain (NP) is characterized by hyperalgesia, allodynia, and spontaneous pain. Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel involved in neuronal hyperexcitability, has emerged as an important target for the drug development of NP. HCN channels exist in four different isoforms, where HCN1 is majorly expressed in dorsal root ganglion having an imperative role in NP pathophysiology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfection-related complications remain the most significant cause for morbidity and technique failure in infants, children and adolescents who receive maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD). The 2024 update of the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Peritoneal Dialysis Associated Infection in Children builds upon previous such guidelines published in 2000 and 2012 and provides comprehensive treatment guidance as recommended by an international group of pediatric PD experts based upon a review of published literature and pediatric PD registry data. The workgroup prioritized updating key clinical issues contained in the 2012 guidelines, in addition to addressing additional questions developed using the PICO format.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) forms an essential component of conditioning in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Due to the shift of donor preference to alternate donors, reliance on rabbit-ATG (rATG) has increased. Two different forms of rATG (Thymoglobuline and Grafalon) are available for clinical use but data to support the use of one over the other is sparse.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKey learnings from some landmark studies that the author has been associated with and their implications on program strategies are highlighted. Learnings from prevalence surveys provide justification for active TB Case finding (ACF), role of Chest X-ray screening, justification of the elderly as a key vulnerable population and suggest re-think of the methods of sub-national certification for progress towards tuberculosis free status. Risk of infection studies suggest 14 million people acquiring new tuberculous infection each year in India suggesting a re-think on the targets for TB elimination.
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