Polymorphisms Influence the Expression of the Fas and FasL Genes in COVID-19.

The apoptotic molecule Fas and its ligand FasL are involved in the process of T-lymphocyte death, which may lead to lymphopenia, a characteristic of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we investigated the influence of polymorphisms in the and genes, and gene expression, and plasma cytokine levels on COVID-19 severity and long COVID occurrence. A total of 116 individuals with severe COVID-19 and 254 with the non-severe form of the disease were evaluated.

Implementation of 2% Chlorhexidine Bathing to Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections Among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly increase morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stays, and costs, particularly among ICU patients. Despite standard interventions, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) remain major HAI contributors. This study evaluated the efficacy of daily 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing in reducing HAI incidence, specifically CAUTI, CLABSI, and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), in a 20-bed ICU at a regional hospital.

A longitudinal blended learning curriculum for bedside ultrasound education in pulmonary and critical care fellowship.

Background: There exists no standardized longitudinal curriculum for teaching bedside ultrasonography (US) in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) fellowship programs. Given the importance of mastering bedside US in clinical practice, we developed an integrated year-long US curriculum for first-year PCCM fellows.

Methods: 11 first-year PCCM fellows completed the entire seven-step Blended Learning Curriculum.

Role of cardiac and lung ultrasonography in predicting weaning failure in patients of acute kidney injury requiring mechanical ventilation: a pilot study.

Purpose: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) has an incidence of 20-50% in patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit. As weaning failure is associated with increased morbidity, its prediction and understanding of its physiological basis holds extreme importance in guided management and prognostication of these patients. We conducted this prospective, observational, single - center study to evaluate the efficacy of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and lung ultrasonography (LUS) in predicting weaning failure in patients with AKI requiring mechanical ventilation.

Comparative Sensitivity of MRI Indices for Myelin Assessment in Spinal Cord Regions.

Although multiple magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indices are known to be sensitive to the noninvasive assessment of myelin integrity, their relative sensitivities have not been directly compared. This study aimed to identify the most sensitive MRI index for characterizing myelin composition in the spinal cord's gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM). MRI was performed on a deer's ex vivo cervical spinal cord.

AI-Enhanced Healthcare: Integrating ChatGPT-4 in ePROs for Improved Oncology Care and Decision-Making: A Pilot Evaluation.

Background: Since 2023, ChatGPT-4 has been impactful across several sectors including healthcare, where it aids in medical information analysis and education. Electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) play a crucial role in monitoring cancer patients' post-treatment symptoms, enabling early interventions. However, managing the voluminous ePRO data presents significant challenges.

Efficacy of spray flushing in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes.

This article comments on the article by Du , who conducted a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of a novel spray flushing system in cleaning flexible endoscopes while minimizing damage to the working channels. We share our perspective on the importance of improving endoscope reprocessing methods. The findings highlight the spray flushing system's capacity to improve cleaning efficacy while minimizing damage, suggesting that it might be important in enhancing endoscope reprocessing procedures.

Consensus Based Indian Guidelines for the Management of Pemphigus Vulgaris and Pemphigus Foliaceous.

Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disorder characterized by the presence of intraepidermal blisters and erosions, primarily affecting the mucosa and/or skin. There are no established Indian guidelines for the management of pemphigus, and Western guidelines cannot be directly applied due to differences in clinicodemographic profiles, comorbidities, and resource limitations. These guidelines aim to provide Indian dermatologists with evidence-based and consensus-driven recommendations for the management of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceous (PF), taking into account the unique challenges posed by the Indian healthcare setting.

Protective effects of against hepatocyte apoptosis and liver fibrosis induced by high palmitic acid diet.

Background: Fatty Liver Disease (FLD) progresses from steatosis to steatohepatitis and, if left untreated, can lead to irreversible conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. The etiology of FLD remains unclear, but factors such as overconsumption, poor diet, obesity, and diabetes contribute to its development. Palmitic acid (PA) plays a significant role in FLD progression by inducing apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in hepatocytes.

Long-term follow-up result of short metaphyseal femoral stem in primary total hip arthroplasty: A retrospective study.

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has increased along with an increasing demand for improved quality of life. Combined with prolonged life expectancy, the number of revision surgeries is expected to increase. Stress shielding is a significant issue with traditional femoral stems used in THA, making revision surgeries particularly challenging in younger patients.

A Survey of the Congenital Glaucoma Surgery Practice Patterns in the Indian Pediatric Glaucoma Society.

Purpose: To assess the practice patterns among the Indian Pediatric Glaucoma Society (IPGS) members in the management of children with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG).

Methods: An anonymous 74-question survey was administered online via Qualtrics (Qualtrics, Provo, Utah, USA) using a link sent by email to the 88 IPGS members. The questionnaire comprised five sections and was designed to gather information regarding respondent demographics and specialty training, clinic composition and volume, surgical practices and preferences, follow-up practices, and additional services.

A pre- and post-course survey of an elective Chinese medicine curriculum among junior Western medical students in Taiwan.

Background: Demonstrating a positive impact of educational programs on clinical care outcomes is challenging. We assess students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors as short-term outcomes of integrating a structured Traditional Chinese Medicine course within a Western medical school.

Methods: A prospective questionnaire survey was conducted among first-year and second-year undergraduate medical students who participated in the "Introduction to Chinese Medicine" course in 2020.

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions.

Enhancing ophthalmology education through a mobile flipped classroom: a new teaching method.

Objective: Glaucoma is a major cause of irreversible blindness globally. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) aids early glaucoma diagnosis. Interpreting OCT scans requires familiarity with the technology and image analysis.

Outcomes of OCT imaging-based reoperations in strabismus.

Purpose: Reoperations in strabismus are reportedly needed in 20-40% of cases undergoing surgery. The present study investigated the outcomes of reoperations based on preoperative imaging of extraocular muscle insertions, and whether the Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (ASOCT) was of value.

Methods: Patients with strabismus requiring reoperation with/without previous surgical records at the Advanced Eye Centre, PGIMER, Chandigarh were recruited.

Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: Pathophysiology and Treatment Modalities.

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) is a critical complication that significantly contributes to the morbidity and mortality of sepsis patients. This narrative review explores the complex and multifactorial pathophysiology of S-AKI, which involves hemodynamic alterations, microcirculatory dysfunction, endothelial damage, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and direct tubular injury. Conventional perspectives linking S-AKI primarily to reduced renal blood flow are now being reconsidered, with growing insights highlighting the significance of microcirculatory dysfunction and endothelial activation as key contributors.

The diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care nucleic acid-based isothermal amplification assays for scrub typhus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The diagnosis and detection of pathogens such as and is a cause of major concern among the public health community. Unavailability of rapid, cost-effective diagnostic assays contributes to delayed diagnosis and timely treatment. Using the methodology of systematic reviewing and meta-analysis, the study aimed to synthesize and compare the diagnostic performances of all the available isothermal assays for the detection of classical rickettsial diseases.

Exploring effects of a booster workshop on progression and retention of resuscitation skills of residents when added to regular low-dose simulation.

Background: Improving the resuscitation and teamwork skills of residents is key to better outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest events. This study aims to explore the effects of regular low-dose simulation combined with a booster workshop on the progression and retention of resuscitation skills and teamwork among residents.

Methods: This comparative study took place at a teaching hospital in Northern Taiwan from August 2019 to June 2021.

Perceptions and barriers to the use and training of point-of-care ultrasound among Finnish emergency physicians - a nationwide survey.

Background: Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has become integral to emergency medicine (EM) as a critical diagnostic support tool. In Finland, where EM was formally recognised as a specialty as recently as in 2013, a historical lack of systematic training for POCUS has existed. Such training has largely depended on individual initiative rather than a standardised program while many other areas of EM training have already seen the introduction of structured education.

Elastographic evaluation for fatty liver disease in north Indian children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Objectives: The prevalence and predisposing factors to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in children with type 1 Diabetes (T1D) living in developing countries are unknown.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in children with T1D. The presence of liver fat and tissue stiffness were assessed by ultrasonography and shear-wave elastography (SWE), respectively.

Efficacy of shared decision making in tobacco cessation among health facilities of Haryana, India - A double blinded, parallel group Randomized Controlled trial Protocol.

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) incorporates evidence, patient values, and preferences into medical decision-making. SDM and decision aids might promote health professional engagement and patient knowledge of tobacco cessation therapy, improving usage and results. The SDM facilitates talks that lead to better-informed judgements that align with patients' priorities, unlike individual decision-making.

Development and Preliminary Validation of a Novel Instrument to Assess Re-Injury Associated Anxiety Following Traumatic Orofacial and Dental Injury in Young Boxers.

Background/aim: An injury sustained during sports activity can lead to the development of reinjury anxiety and hamper performance. Although tools exist to assess re-injury anxiety, a domain of interest in the field of sports medicine, research in the psychological impact of an orofacial injury is rudimentary. The present study envisaged to develop an instrument to assess the presence of reinjury anxiety following orofacial and dental injury in boxers aged between 10 and 16 years.