Causes and risk factors for stillbirth in India: A systematic review protocol.

Objectives: Stillbirths, the tragic loss of a baby before or during delivery, presents a profound global health concern. Investigating the diverse causes and risk factors is essential to develop targeted interventions, enhance perinatal care, and reduce the incidence of this devastating outcome. The aim of this study was to identify the causes and possible risk factors of stillbirths in India.

Crime against women in India: district-level risk estimation using the small area estimation approach.

Background: The global prevalence of crimes against women has made it an enduring public health challenge that has persisted over time. The achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is intricately tied to the actions taken to prevent these crimes as their repercussions directly affect progress across various SDGs. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive examination of the prevalence of crimes against women across districts and states in India, analyzing changes from 2020 to 2022, and subsequently identifying associated factors.

Effect of Structured Exercise-Based Intervention on Upper Quadrant Dysfunction among Fish Processing Workers with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the major causes of morbidity, which affect particularly the upper quadrant in industrial settings and so upset the quality of life (QoL). The influence of the protocol of exercise-based programs at the workplace on the well-being of the worker is contradictory. The objective of the study was to find the effect of the structured exercise-based intervention on upper quadrant dysfunction among fish processing workers with work-related MSDs.

Comparison of Submental Surface Electromyography during Dry Swallow between Irradiated Head and Neck Cancer Survivors and Normal Individuals.

Introduction: This study compared the submental surface electromyography (sEMG) duration and amplitude during dry swallowing between irradiated head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and age-matched normal individuals. Further, the relationship between submental and infrahyoid sEMG in the irradiated HNC group was explored.

Method: Forty participants (20 HNC survivors and 20 age-matched normal individuals) participated in this study.

Effect of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation among late-subacute and chronic stroke survivors with fatigue: A randomized-controlled crossover trial protocol.

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a commonly overlooked symptom that impacts daily functioning and quality of life. It is caused by altered functional connectivity within the brain networks, which can potentially be influenced by neuromodulation. Multiple cortical regions have been targeted to reduce PSF, but the most efficient ones remain uncertain.

Effect of Febuxostat versus Allopurinol on the Glomerular Filtration Rate and Hyperuricemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We compared febuxostat versus allopurinol in the progression of CKD and hyperuricemia in 101 patients with Stage 3-4 CKD treated with febuxostat or allopurinol for at least 6 months for hyperuricemia (>7 mg/dL) between January 2012 and December 2016. Baseline characteristics, serum uric acid (SUA), serum creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at entry and 6 months were compared.

Effectiveness of an Intensive, Functional, and Gamified Rehabilitation Program on Upper Limb Function in People With Stroke (EnteRtain): A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background1: Despite a growing interest in gaming rehabilitation for upper limb (UL) recovery post-stroke, studies investigating the effects of game-based rehabilitation incorporating functional games are lacking.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of an intensive, functional, gamified rehabilitation program compared to task-based training on UL motor function in acute/sub-acute stroke survivors.

Methods: This randomized, multicenter, single-blind, clinical trial comprises 120 participants with unilateral stroke who were randomized to receive either gamified training (n = 64) using the ArmAble™ [experimental group (EG)] or task-based training (n = 56) in conjunction with conventional therapy for 2 hours per day, 6 days per week for 2 weeks, followed by UL rehabilitation for another 4 weeks at home.

Change in Antimicrobial Therapy Based on Bronchoalveolar Lavage Data Improves Outcomes in ICU Patients with Suspected Pneumonia.

Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) is often performed in critically ill patients with suspected pneumonia. It is assumed that there will be an association with improved outcomes when bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) data lead to a change in antimicrobial therapy. This study included a retrospective cohort of intensive care unit (ICU) patients who underwent FB for a diagnosis of suspected pneumonia.

Do kinematic measures, added to clinical measures, better predict upper extremity motor impairments at three months post-stroke?

Objective: Predicting post-stroke recovery through prediction models is crucial for choosing appropriate treatment options. However, the existing models predominantly incorporate clinical measures although measurement of movement quality using kinematic measures is essential for distinguishing various types of recovery. Thus, this study aimed at determining if, by considering varied aspects of recovery, adding kinematic measurements over clinical measures would better predict upper extremity (UE) motor impairments at three months post-stroke.

Kannada Translation and Validation of the ESAS-r Renal for Symptom Burden Survey in Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease.

Objectives: End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is a life-limiting illness that leads to significant health-related suffering for the patients and their caregivers. Moreover, disease-directed options such as dialysis and renal transplant might not be universally accessible. Inadequate assessment and management of symptoms often lead to diminished quality of life.

Should Dentists Mandatorily Wear Ear Protection Device to Prevent Occupational Noise-induced Hearing Loss? A Randomized Case-Control Study.

Objectives: Dentists are constantly exposed to high-frequency noise at their workplace that increases the risk of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL). Even though dentists acknowledge about the noisy dental workplace, hearing protection devices or ear protection devices (EPD) are not commonly used by dentists. No study has yet provided any evidence on how effective EPDs can be in reducing the temporary threshold shift and damage to the outer, middle and inner ears.

Understanding the Change in the Prevalence and Factors Influencing the Childhood Stunting Using District-Level Data from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in India.

To compare the district level prevalence of childhood stunting between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 and to explore the correlates of it at the district level. Although malnutrition rates in India have decreased over a period, country is still a home for the highest number of stunted and wasted children in the world. Among the South Asian countries, India has the second highest number of stunted children.

Effectiveness of a Nursing Intervention Module on Adherence, Knowledge, Quality of Life, and Complications Among Patients Receiving Anticoagulation therapy-a Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major causes of mortality at the global level. They account for approximately 17.9 million deaths per year.

Sperm characteristics in normal and abnormal ejaculates are differently influenced by the length of ejaculatory abstinence.

Background: No association between the length of ejaculatory abstinence (LEA) and semen characteristics has been confirmed. A short LEA has been linked to improved sperm characteristics and a higher pregnancy rate, but its negative influence on sperm chromatin maturity and longevity may adversely affect reproductive outcomes.

Objectives: We sought to determine the influence of LEA on (i) semen parameters in normozoospermic and abnormal ejaculates; and (ii) the outcomes of sperm-preparation methods in a large number of subfertile men undergoing infertility workups.

Recurrence in malaria: a prospective cohort study with long follow-up from a coastal region in South-West India.

 India is endemic for malaria. Despite a decrease in incidence, its elimination is hampered by recurrences. This study aimed to characterize recurrences in malaria and study its association with primaquine (PQ) usage.

Potential Drug-Drug Interactions Between Anti-Cancer Drugs and Other Medications in Lung Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Cancer patients are more vulnerable to developing drug-drug interactions as multiple medications are administered concomitantly with cytotoxic agents to treat the underlying comorbidities. These drug-drug interactions often receive less medical attention and consequently are associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

Objective: We intended to comprehensively characterize the drug-drug interactions among anticancer drugs and other concomitantly prescribed drugs in hospitalized lung cancer patients.

A ten-year retrospective analysis of nocardiosis in a tertiary care center of South-coastal India.

Nocardiosis is an uncommon life-threatening infection caused by spp. This study aimed to review the distribution of risk factors, clinical characteristics, microbiological findings, treatment and outcome of patients diagnosed with nocardiosis. This study was a retrospective case record review of all nocardiosis cases that were diagnosed at our tertiary care hospital from January 2008 to December 2019.

Non-pharmacological interventions to reduce anxiety among children undergoing surgery: A systematic review.

A hospitalized child experiences anxiety more frequently as compared to non-hospitalized children. Surgery can be emotionally distressing for children, and subsequently their parents and caregivers, this distress can cause profound adverse impacts on children. We aimed to identify the effect of non-pharmacological interventions on children's (1-18 years) anxiety undergoing surgery.

Effect of Bronchoscopist-Directed Sedation and Other Factors on Patient Comfort during Diagnostic Flexible Bronchoscopy.

Background: The factors affecting patient comfort during flexible bronchoscopy are not sufficiently addressed in resource-limited countries, and a need to devise strategies to improve patient experience is felt. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of sedation and other factors on patient comfort during flexible bronchoscopy.

Methods: A total of 374 patients, aged ≥18 years undergoing flexible bronchoscopy, were enrolled in this prospective, single-center, cross-sectional study.

Predicting post-stroke motor recovery of upper extremity using clinical variables and performance assays: A prospective cohort study protocol.

Background And Purpose: Measurement of movement quality is essential to distinguish motor recovery patterns and optimize rehabilitation strategies post-stroke. Recently, the Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable Taskforce (SRRR) recommended four kinetic and kinematic performance assays to measure upper extremity (UE) movements and distinguish behavioral restitution and compensation mechanisms early post-stroke. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a prediction model to analyze the added prognostic value of performance assays over clinical variables assessed up to 1-month post stroke for predicting recovery of UE motor impairment, capacity and quality of movement (QoM) measured at 3 months post-stroke onset.

Radiologic Outcomes of Bilateral and Unilateral Perthes Disease: A Comparative Cohort Study.

Introduction: This study was undertaken to compare the radiologic outcomes of bilateral and unilateral Perthes disease and also to evaluate the outcome of synchronous and metachronous bilateral Perthes disease.

Methods: Of 353 children with Perthes disease followed up from presentation to healing during the last 10 years, 37 had bilateral involvement (11 synchronous and 26 metachronous onset). The radiologic outcomes of each hip of children with bilateral disease were compared with outcomes of 148 children with unilateral disease who were matched for age, sex, and treatment.

Clinical usefulness of intermediate-dose dexmedetomidine (0.75 μg/kg) in flexible bronchoscopy - A prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.

Background: Dexmedetomidine, although an effective drug for conscious sedation during flexible bronchoscopy, has occasional side effects on the cardiovascular system which need to be addressed.

Materials And Methods: Patients between 18 and 65 years, requiring diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy, found eligible, after screening, were randomized to either receive 0.75 μg/kg intravenous dexmedetomidine over 10 min or intravenous midazolam 0.

Psychological stress and health-related quality of life among tuberculosis patients: a prospective cohort study.

Economic, social and psychological distress is common in individuals affected by tuberculosis (TB). However, the magnitude of distress, psychological interventions and their effect on the treatment outcomes are often under-evaluated. We examined the level of psychological stress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of such patients and the effect of antituberculosis therapy on them.

Characteristics of musculoskeletal pain among employees of fish processing factory in Udupi City, Karnataka.

Fish processing employees are exposed to various occupational risk factors that result in musculoskeletal pain (MSP). The objective of the study was to determine the characteristics of MSP among them and its association with the nature of the job and work condition. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 364 employees of five fish processing factories using standard questionnaires.