Challenges in Implementing Competency-based Medical Education in India - Stakeholders' Perspective: A Mixed-method Analysis.

Introduction: Competency-based Medical Education (CBME) was introduced in the year 2019 in India. It has brought about major changes in medical education. The curriculum is learner centric, outcome based, focuses on the development of core competencies and professionalism.

Inhibition of Oral Biofilms and Enhancement of Anticancer Activity on Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cells Using Caffeine-Coated Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles.

The fungus Candida albicans is a prominent cariogenic fungal agent that works in association with Streptococcus mutans to accelerate the formation of oral cancer and tooth decay. This study evaluates caffeine-encapsulated titanium oxide nanoparticles (CF-TiO2 NPs) for their potential to prevent biofilm formation on teeth and enhance oral anticancer treatment by influencing apoptotic gene regulation. The synthesized CF-TiO2 NPs were characterized using UV, SEM, EDAX, and FTIR analyses, and their antioxidant activity was confirmed through free radical quenching studies.

Rolling down the pilus formation of gram-positive bacteria: underlining the importance of Sortase C as a drug target.

Bacteria possess hair-like projections on their surface termed pili. The primary function of a pilus is to enable bacterial cell attachment to the host. Since pili are associated with cell adhesion, they play a major role in bacterial colonization and infection.

Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) afflicted more than 8.5 million people globally in 2019, as the prevalence of the condition more than doubled during the preceding 25 years. Both non-motor symptoms, such as mood disorders and cognitive impairment, and motor symptoms, such as tremors and rigidity, are indicative of this progressive neurodegenerative disease.

sp. nov. isolated from a Mars 2020 spacecraft assembly facility and genomic potential for lasso peptide production in .

Unlabelled: During microbial surveillance of the Mars 2020 spacecraft assembly facility, two novel bacterial strains, potentially capable of producing lasso peptides, were identified. Characterization using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, whole-genome sequencing and phylogenomic analyses revealed a close genetic relationship among two strains from Mars 2020 cleanroom floors (179-C4-2-HS, 179-J1A1-HS), one strain from the Agave plant (AT2.8), and another strain from wheat-associated soil (V4I25).

Role of traditional healers in the management of microbial keratitis in eastern Nepal.

Background: Microbial Keratitis (MK) is a leading cause of corneal blindness due to infection and its consequences, with a higher incidence in resource-limited nations. Hospital-based patient records from different parts of Nepal suggest patients often use traditional eye medicine to treat MK. Traditional healers (TH) within the community are often the first point of care for MK management.

Structures, processes and outcomes between first referral and referral hospitals in low-income and middle-income countries: a secondary preplanned analysis of the FALCON and ChEETAh randomised trials.

First referral hospitals, often known as district hospitals, are neglected in the discourse on universal health coverage in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, these hospitals are important for delivering safe surgery for 313 million people. This study aims to understand the structures, processes and outcomes of patients undergoing surgery in these centres in LMICs.

Active Quantum Biomaterials-Enhanced Microrobots for Food Safety.

Timely disruptive tools for the detection of pathogens in foods are needed to face global health and economic challenges. Herein, the utilization of quantum biomaterials-enhanced microrobots (QBEMRs) as autonomous mobile sensors designed for the precise detection of endotoxins originating from Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) as an indicator species for food-borne contamination globally is presented.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Expert Consensus on the Multidisciplinary Management and Resectability of Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: The contemporary management and resectability of locally advanced lung cancer are undergoing significant changes as new data emerge regarding immunotherapy and targeted treatments. The objective of this document is to review the literature and present consensus among a group of multidisciplinary experts to guide the determination of resectability and management of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the context of contemporary evidence.

Methods: The Society of Thoracic Surgeon Workforce on Thoracic Surgery assembled a multidisciplinary expert panel composed of thoracic surgeons and medical and radiation oncologists with established expertise in the management of lung cancer.

An Study to Evaluate and Compare Anxiety and Behavior Management of Pediatric Patients Using Distraction Techniques.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) glasses and on-screen distraction techniques in managing anxiety and behavior in children receiving dental treatments.

Materials And Methods: Forty patients aged 4-8 years requiring restoration were divided into two groups: group I with 20 members using audio-visual distraction aid in the form of VR glasses and group II with 20 participants utilizing on-screen distraction techniques. Each child underwent two appointments one week apart; their anxiety and behavior levels were assessed at each visit using the Facial Image Scale and Frankel's Behavior rating scale.

Emerging Role of Low-dose Loop Diuretics in the Management of Heart Failure Patients to Maintain Euvolemia.

The current scenario of employing loop diuretics in combination with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) demonstrates a comprehensive approach to improving clinical outcomes in individuals with heart failure (HF). GDMT uses four types of drugs: angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), beta-blockers (BBs), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). Torsemide, furosemide, and bumetanide are common loop diuretics used to control fluid overload in HF and provide symptomatic relief.

Evaluation of gastroschisis feeding protocol: A retrospective cohort study.

Aim: The primary objective of this study is to determine the impact of a standardised feeding protocol for infants with gastroschisis on early enteral feeds, suck feeds, management of gastric residuals and breastfeeding at discharge. Secondary objectives were evaluation of growth, length of stay in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the duration of total parental nutrition (TPN), blood-culture confirmed sepsis and serum bilirubin level (SBR).

Methods: This single-centre retrospective quality improvement project included infants admitted to a quaternary care NICU for management of gastroschisis from 2010 to 2021.

Global treatment of haemorrhoids-A worldwide snapshot audit conducted by the International Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

Aim: There is no universally accepted treatment consensus for haemorrhoids, and thus, management has been individualized all over the world. This study was conducted to assess a global view of how surgeons manage haemorrhoids.

Methods: The research panel of the International Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ISUCRS) developed a voluntary, anonymous questionnaire evaluating surgeons' experience, volume and treatment approaches to haemorrhoids.

Microglia signaling in health and disease - Implications in sex-specific brain development and plasticity.

Microglia, the intrinsic neuroimmune cells residing in the central nervous system (CNS), exert a pivotal influence on brain development, homeostasis, and functionality, encompassing critical roles during both aging and pathological states. Recent advancements in comprehending brain plasticity and functions have spotlighted conspicuous variances between male and female brains, notably in neurogenesis, neuronal myelination, axon fasciculation, and synaptogenesis. Nevertheless, the precise impact of microglia on sex-specific brain cell plasticity, sculpting diverse neural network architectures and circuits, remains largely unexplored.

Role of GeneXpert in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

The World Health Organization endorsed the cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test Xpert MTB/RIF (GXP) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). Studies about GXP efficiency in extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) are scarce. Hence, we decided to study the role of GXP in EPTB.

Comparative evaluation of cognitive behavioural therapy versus standard treatment in temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review.

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint and associated structures. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has emerged as a potential intervention for TMDs, but its comparative effectiveness against standard treatments remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of CBT versus standard treatment interventions in managing TMDs.

Development and external validation of Indian population-specific Garbhini-GA2 model for estimating gestational age in second and third trimesters.

Background: A large proportion of pregnant women in lower and middle-income countries (LMIC) seek their first antenatal care after 14 weeks of gestation. While the last menstrual period (LMP) is still the most prevalent method of determining gestational age (GA), ultrasound-based foetal biometry is considered more accurate in the second and third trimesters. In LMIC settings, the Hadlock formula, originally developed using data from a small Caucasian population, is widely used for estimating GA and foetal weight worldwide as the pre-programmed formula in ultrasound machines.