The hidden crisis: Health impacts of tobacco and nicotine products on Indian women.

Tobacco use among women in India is becoming a critical public health issue. Once viewed predominantly as a male habit, tobacco consumption among Indian women has seen a rising trend. This shift is driven by factors such as evolving societal norms, aggressive marketing by the tobacco industry, and increasing urbanization.

Experimental and numerical investigation of microdialysis probes for ethanol metabolism studies.

Microdialysis is an important technique for sampling of tissue's biochemical composition. Understanding the factors that affect the performance of the microdialysis probes and developing methods for sample analysis are crucial for obtaining reliable results. In this work, we used experimental and numerical procedures to study the performance of microdialysis probes having different configurations, membrane materials and dimensions.

Assessment of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes using the Indian diabetes risk score in an urban community in Chandigarh, India: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The urban poor is a group that is known to be vulnerable to the adoption of a more urbanized lifestyle that places them at a higher risk for diabetes. Identification of at-risk individuals using simple screening tools like the Indian diabetes risk score developed by Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF-IDRS) and appropriate lifestyle interventions could greatly help in preventing or postponing the onset of diabetes and thus reducing the burden of the disease on the community and the nation as a whole.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on individuals ≥30 years (n = 1533) of both genders in an urban colony of Chandigarh during a period of 1 year.

Iodine-125 brachytherapy for choroidal melanoma by using Ocuprosta seeds with indigenous non-collimated plaques: Our initial experience.

Purpose: Brachytherapy is the gold-standard treatment for choroidal melanoma. This study evaluated iodine-125 brachytherapy by using Ocuprosta seeds with indigenous non-collimated plaques in Asian patients.

Methods: Retrospective single-center study in a tertiary care hospital of 12 eyes with choroidal melanoma in 12 Asian patients who underwent brachytherapy with Ocuprosta seeds fixed on non-collimated plaques and had a follow-up of at least 32 months (mean: 42.

Vascular complications of chronic pancreatitis and its management.

Chronic pancreatitis is a chronic fibro-inflammatory disorder of the pancreas, resulting in recurrent abdominal pain, diabetes mellitus, and malnutrition. It may lead to various other complications such as pseudocyst formation, benign biliary stricture, gastric outlet obstruction; and vascular complications like venous thrombosis, variceal and pseudoaneurysmal bleed. Development of varices is usually due to chronic venous thrombosis with collateral formation and variceal bleeding can easily be tackled by endoscopic therapy.

A Rare Case of Cholecystoduodenal and Cholecystocolic Fistula with Gallstone Ileus.

Cholecystoduodenal and cholecystocolic fistula (CCF) is a rare condition, occurring in patients with cholelithiasis. Multiple complex fistulas are even rare. This is a case study done to detail such a rare case, very few such cases have been reported in the past studies, with cholecystoduodenal and CCF with gallstone ileus.

COVID-19 in patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease - predictors of outcomes.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease (CLD) in various ways. The maximum impact was seen on patients with underlying cirrhosis who have shown to have poor clinical outcomes in the form of increased risk of hepatic decompensation, acute-on-chronic liver failure, and even mortality. It is of paramount importance to identify various factors which are associated with unfavorable outcomes for prognostication and making informed management strategy.

Study of sexual assault cases among below 18 years age group during September 2018 to September 2020 in Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India: cross-sectional study.

Introduction: there are instances commonly reported where sexual offences are committed against persons below 18 years of age, who are deemed as children. The adverse effects of child sexual abuse are psychological, physical, behavioural and interpersonal.

Methods: this study was conducted in the casualty unit over a period of two years (September 2018 to September 2020), total 35 cases of sexual assault examined out of these 21 (60%) cases fall under the category where below 18 years age group is victim.

Anti-IgE therapy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in people with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder with an approximate prevalence of 1 in 3500 live births. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a lung disease caused by aspergillus-induced hypersensitivity with a prevalence of 2% to 15% in people with cystic fibrosis. The mainstay of treatment includes corticosteroids and itraconazole.

Court evidence via video conferencing by doctors: Savings of time, money and energy.

Background: . Doctors are called to courts to give evidence as experts. This is time-consuming and impedes routine patient care.

Clinical spectrum and predictors of severe Plasmodium vivax infections at a tertiary care center in North India.

Traditionally attributed only to Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax has recently been reported to cause a significant burden of complicated malaria cases. The present study aimed to delineate the clinical spectrum and identify predictors for severe disease. This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in North India.

Morphine decreases the function of primary human natural killer cells by both TLR4 and opioid receptor signaling.

Background: Opioids are commonly used to provide analgesia for cancer pain, and functional opioid receptors have been identified on natural killer (NK) cells, the lymphocytes responsible for surveillance and elimination of cancer cells. Opioids also bind to other lymphocyte receptors, such as Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4. Here, we characterized the effects of morphine on primary human NK cell cytotoxicity and mediator release, which occur through classical opioid receptor or TLR4 signaling.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of sodium benzoate in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.

Background Ulcerative colitis is a chronic mucosal inflammation of the large intestine mainly affecting the colon and rectum. The lack of effective and safe therapeutic agents led to the identification of new therapeutic agents to effectively manage the symptoms and complications of ulcerative colitis. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of sodium benzoate in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.

Prevalence and predictors of self-reported risk behaviors among male injecting drug users.

Background: Unsafe injecting drug use is a documented risk factor for the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Harm reduction strategy aims at reducing this deleterious consequence.

Objectives: To study the prevalence and predictors of injecting as well as sexual risk behavior among male injecting drug users (IDUs).

Role of Arthroscopic Surgery in Degenerative Knees with Mechanical Symptoms.

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate functional outcome in patients undergoing/underwent arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knees with mechanical symptoms or acute exacerbation of symptoms, not amenable to conservative measures.

Materials And Methods: This was a longitudinal type of study (prospective and retrospective). For the prospective cohort, followup was done at an interval of 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year to record visual analog scale (VAS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and short form-8 (SF-8) scores.

Suppression of Human Natural Killer Cells by Different Classes of Opioids.

Background: The use of regional and other opioid-sparing forms of anesthesia has been associated with a decrease in the recurrence of certain malignancies. Direct suppression of human natural killer cells by opioids has been postulated to explain this observation. However, the effect of different classes of opioids on suppression of natural killer cell cytotoxicity has not been systematically characterized.

Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and its Predictors among Tuberculosis Patients Currently on Treatment.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes are the world's leading public health issues. They are the cause of morbidity, mortality, and pose a burden on the healthcare system.

Aims And Objectives: The aim and objective of this study were to study the prevalence of diabetes and its predictors among TB patients currently on treatment.

Bilateral Metachronous Breast Carcinoma: A Rare Case Report.

The occurrence of bilateral breast cancer is rare. A second primary in the contralateral breast can either be synchronous or metachronous. Lobular carcinoma of the breast is known for its multicentricity and bilateral spread.

Anti-IgE therapy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in people with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder with an approximate prevalence of 1 in 3500 live births. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a lung disease caused by aspergillus-induced hypersensitivity with a prevalence of 2% to 15% in people with cystic fibrosis. The mainstay of treatment includes corticosteroids and itraconazole.

Patent Vitellointestinal Duct with Patent Urachus Presenting as Umbilical Discharge.

Patent urachus with patent vitellointestinal duct is a rare combination to present in the same patient. We present a rare case of one year old male child with such a condition presenting with complaint of discharge from umblicus along with severe anaemia and an umblical granuloma. On exploratory laparotomy, patent tracts joining umblicus to ileum and umblicus to apex of urinary bladder were found.

An Unusual Lesser Sac Collection Causing Gastric Outlet Obstruction with Coincidental Occurrence of Leriche's Syndrome: A Case Report.

Gastric outlet obstruction in adults is usually caused by pyloric stenosis secondary to peptic ulcer disease or malignancy. However, there are few other causes such as a foreign body and external compression due to pseudocyst pancreas. We present a rare aetiology of a large collection of pus in the lesser sac in our patient causing gastric outlet obstruction.

Anti-IgE therapy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in people with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder with an approximate prevalence of 1 in 3500 live births. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a lung disease caused by aspergillus-induced hypersensitivity with a prevalence of 2% to 15% in people with cystic fibrosis. The mainstay of treatment includes corticosteroids and itraconazole.

Anti-IgE therapy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in people with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder with an approximate prevalence of 1 in 3500 live births. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a lung disease caused by aspergillus-induced hypersensitivity with a prevalence of 2% to 15% in people with cystic fibrosis. The mainstay of treatment includes corticosteroids and itraconazole.