Clinical Presentations and Surgical Outcomes in Patients With Nontraumatic Acute Abdominal Pain: A Prospective Analysis.

Background:  Nontraumatic acute abdominal pain is a common presentation in emergency settings, often requiring surgical intervention. This study aimed to explore the clinical presentations, surgical management, and outcomes in patients with nontraumatic acute abdominal pain, providing insights for improving management strategies.

Methods: This observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in North India and included 433 patients who underwent elective and emergency abdominal surgeries from June 2021 to May 2023.

Predictive metabolite signatures for risk of progression to active TB from QuantiFERON supernatants of household contacts of TB patients.

The identification of individuals with the greatest risk of progression to active tuberculosis (TB) disease from the huge reservoir of () infected individuals continues to remain an arduous ascent in the global effort to control TB. In a two-year prospective study, we analysed metabolic profiles in the unstimulated and TB antigen stimulated QuantiFERON supernatants of 14 healthy household contacts (HHCs) who progressed to TB disease (Progressors) and 14 HHCs who remained healthy (Non-Progressors). We identified 21 significantly dysregulated metabolites in the TB antigen-stimulated QuantiFERON supernatants of Progressors, of which the combination of Malic acid and N-Arachidonoylglycine had maximum AUC of 0.

Tracking KP.2 SARS-CoV-2 Variant in India and the Clinical Profile of KP.2 Cases in Maharashtra, India.

Background:  Following the emergence of the JN.1 SARS-CoV-2 variant, variants with key mutations in the spike protein, such as L455F, F456L, and R346T, were identified. In early January 2024, the KP.

Evaluating Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid Obesity: A Prospective Follow-Up Study.

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become a primary option within bariatric surgery (BS), exhibiting favorable outcomes in terms of weight reduction and improvement of associated health conditions. This study was conducted to assess the outcomes of LSG in morbid obesity (MO) in terms of weight reduction and improvement of comorbidities. Materials and methods A prospective follow-up study was conducted from January 2021 to January 2023 at the Department of Surgery, 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur.

Post-Marketing Surveillance of the World's First Novel Cocktail of Rabies Monoclonal Antibodies: TwinRab™ in Real \-World Setting.

Rabies presents with a high fatality rate, which imposes a significant global public health challenge, and therefore the use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is crucial for prevention. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have emerged as a promising substitute for rabies immunoglobulins (RIGs) due to their high efficacy and standardized manufacturing process. A prospective, open-label, post-marketing surveillance study (PMS) was conducted at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College (BJMC), Pune.

The Burden and Characteristics of Post-COVID-19 Conditions Among Laboratory-Confirmed Delta and Omicron COVID-19 Cases: A Preliminary Study From Maharashtra, India.

Background: Post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC) have emerged as a significant global health concern due to their potential impact on patients' quality of life and healthcare resources. The present study aims to understand the burden and characteristics of PCC in Maharashtra, India, and compares its prevalence among cases infected with Delta and Omicron variants.

Material And Methods: A retrospective observational study included 617 laboratory-confirmed Delta and Omicron variant cases.

Exploring Cardiovascular Manifestations in Vasculitides: An In-Depth Review.

Systemic vasculitides encompass a cluster of autoimmune diseases that affect blood vessels, and are characterized by immune-mediated injury to either small- or large-sized blood vessels. Individuals afflicted with systemic vasculitides experience notable morbidity and mortality attributable to cardiovascular manifestations. Noteworthy among these are ischemic heart disease, venous thromboembolism, aortic involvement, valvular irregularities, myocarditis, and pericarditis.

Ultrafiltration in Heart Failure: A Review.

Ultrafiltration is an effective method to get rid of fluid retention and congestion in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) without affecting the circulating volume. Although its efficacy in comparison to diuretics is debatable, the evaluation of our analysis is based on various studies that comprise published clinical trials on ultrafiltration and studies comparing the efficacy of diuretics and ultrafiltration. Apart from this, we also look at literature that provides shortcomings of the said procedure and its scope for future advancements.

Verification of Reference Interval of Thyroid Hormones With Manual and Automated Indirect Approaches: Comparison of Hoffman, KOSMIC and refineR Methods.

Introduction: The interpretation of quantitative test results requires the availability of appropriate reference intervals (RIs). Every laboratory has been advised by scientific literature and reagent manufacturers to establish RIs for all analytes. Measuring RIs using direct methods is very costly, and it poses ethical and practical challenges.

Role of Oral Retinoids in Treatment of Acne Vulgaris With a Bioinformatics-Based Perspective of Personalized Medicine.

Acne vulgaris is a skin condition characterized by the inflammation or hyperactivity of sebaceous glands on the skin, which results in the creation of comedones, lesions, nodules, and perifollicular hyperkeratinization. Increased sebum production, follicular blockage, and bacterial colonization may contribute to the disease etiology. Environmental factors, hormonal imbalance, and genetic predisposition can alter the severity of the disease.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: A Scoping Review of the Positive Implications on Cardiovascular and Renal Health and Dynamics for Clinical Practice.

Cardiorenal benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have been demonstrated in patients with type 2 diabetes in multiple trials. We aim to provide a comprehensive review of the role of SGLT2i in cardiovascular disease. Reducing blood glucose to provide more effective vascular function, lowering the circulating volume, reducing cardiac stress, and preventing pathological cardiac re-modeling and function are the mechanisms implicated in the beneficial cardiovascular effects of SGLT2 inhibitors.

Waterpipe Use and Its Cardiovascular Effects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control, Cross-Sectional, and Non-Randomized Studies.

Approximately 100 million people globally smoke cigarettes, making it a significant and quickly spreading global tobacco epidemic. Substance use disorders are frequently evaluated by non-randomized studies. Tobacco use and its impacts on the cardiovascular system were the subjects of a comprehensive search across five electronic databases: Cochrane, MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and PubMed.

Virological failure among people living with HIV receiving second-line antiretroviral therapy in Pune, India.

Background: The number of people receiving second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) has increased as global access to ART has expanded. Data on the burden and factors associated with second-line ART virologic failure (VF) from India remain limited.

Methods: We conducted cross-sectional viral load (VL) testing among adults (≥ 18 years) who were registered at a publicly funded ART center in western India between 2014 and 2015 and had received second-line ART for at least 6 months.

Challenges and Barriers for Accessing Online Education Amongst School Children in an Urban Slum Area of Pune, India.

Background COVID-19 has restricted the education of students on a global scale. With the nationwide stay-at-home directives, schools, colleges and universities have been shut down. Online education is a measure for continuing the learning of the students in times of pandemic.

Clinical Profile of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Neonates.

Background There are conflicting data on the mother-to-child transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and few studies have described the clinical course of neonates infected with SARS-CoV-2. Objectives This study investigates the mother-to-child transmission rate and clinical profile of SARS-CoV-2-infected newborns. Methods Data on 304 newborns of 301 mothers with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were prospectively collected and analyzed.

Smokeless tobacco use and oral potentially malignant disorders among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Pune, India: Implications for oral cancer screening in PLHIV.

Introduction: In India, smokeless tobacco (SLT) is a predominant form of tobacco used among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Despite SLT being a risk factor for oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), no prior studies have quantified the association of OPMDs with SLT use among PLHIV. This limits the planning of preventive and control strategies for oral cancer among PLHIV, who are at higher risk for the disease.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of Hospitalized Confirmed Cases of Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2 Among Children in Pune, India.

Background The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 infection was seen to be more infectious but less severe in children than adults with reduced hospitalization rates. There is a paucity of data on hospitalized children with confirmed Omicron variant. Objective We describe demographic, epidemiologic, clinical, radiological, laboratory features and outcomes of children with confirmed Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital in Pune, India.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Conservative Versus Surgical Treatment.

The most frequent type of ligament injury is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The mechanisms of an ACL injury are classified as direct contact, indirect contact, and non-contact. Physical examination for the assessment of the ACL is commonly used in routine care in the evaluation of the knee and is part of the diagnostic process.

Factors associated with mortality among moderate and severe patients with COVID-19 in India: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: Large data on the clinical characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 in the Indian population are scarce. We analysed the factors associated with mortality in a cohort of moderately and severely ill patients with COVID-19 enrolled in a randomised trial on convalescent plasma.

Design: Secondary analysis of data from a Phase II, Open Label, Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Convalescent Plasma to Limit COVID-19 Associated Complications in Moderate Disease.

Persistent Cannabis Abuse and Risk for Hospitalization for Acute Pancreatitis: A Cross-Sectional Study in United States Hospitals.

Objectives To explore the independent association between cannabis abuse and subsequent hospitalizations for acute pancreatitis (AP) and delineate the demographic differences among AP in patients with and without persistent cannabis abuse. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using the nationwide inpatient sample and included 50,444,133 patients (age 18-50 years) with a primary discharge diagnosis for medical illnesses and further grouped by presence of AP (N = 666,248). We used the logistic regression model to measure the odds ratio (OR) of the association between cannabis abuse and hospitalization for AP and adjusted it for demographic confounders and comorbid risk factors.

Association of Vegetable and Animal Flesh Intake with Inflammation in Pregnant Women from India.

In pregnant women, studies are lacking on the relationship of vegetable and animal flesh (poultry, red meat and seafood) intake with inflammation, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a cohort study of pregnant women receiving antenatal care at BJ Medical College in Pune, India. The dietary intake of pregnant women was queried in the third trimester using a validated food frequency questionnaire.

Challenges in conducting trials for pediatric tuberculous meningitis: lessons from the field.

TBM-KIDS is a phase I/II trial enrolling children with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in three tertiary referral centers in India and Malawi. To describe the challenges encountered in conducting the first randomized clinical trial of antimicrobial agents in pediatric TBM. The sources of the data were primarily monthly trial reports, non-enrollment case report forms, study diaries and registers maintained for recruitment, experiences shared by key team members during regular study calls and comments from site review visits.