Comparative efficacy and safety of co-amoxiclav, cefpodoxime proxetil, and levofloxacin in patients with acute uncomplicated bacterial tonsillitis: A prospective, open-label, parallel group study.

Background: No clinical trials have compared the efficacy and safety of beta-lactam antibiotics and fluoroquinolones in acute uncomplicated bacterial tonsillitis. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid), cefpodoxime proxetil, and levofloxacin monotherapy in patients with acute uncomplicated bacterial tonsillitis.

Methods: This was a prospective, open-label, parallel-group study where 90 patients with acute uncomplicated bacterial tonsillitis were equally divided into three groups to receive either tablet co-amoxiclav 625 mg thrice daily, tablet cefpodoxime proxetil 200 mg twice daily, or tablet levofloxacin 500 mg once daily for five days.

The Complexities of Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy: A Clinical Case and Review of Inflammatory Pathways and Potential Therapeutic Targets.

Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) is a life-threatening complication of sepsis characterized by myocardial dysfunction. SICM significantly increases mortality rates in sepsis. Despite its clinical relevance, SICM lacks a unified definition and standardized diagnostic criteria, complicating early identification and treatment.

Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Urine Albumin-Creatinine Ratio As Indicators of Microvascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a high risk of developing microvascular complications such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy (DN), and diabetic retinopathy (DR), leading to significant morbidity. Early detection of these complications is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) show promise as cost-effective and accessible biomarkers for the early detection of microvascular complications in T2DM.

Imaging in atypical van der knaap disease with subependymal nodular heterotopia: A case report.

Here, we discuss a rare and to our knowledge, the first case of an atypical Van der Knaap's disease in a 6-year-old boy who presented with motor difficulties, developmental delay, cognitive impairment, seizures. The objective of this report is to highlight its unusual findings on MRI including internal capsule, brainstem, cerebellum involvement; subependymal nodular heterotopia, subependymal cysts, cortical laminar necrosis along with typical findings of megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy and subcortical cysts. The study also underscores the clinical implications of this complex pathology, with emphasis on comprehensive neuroradiological evaluation for atypical presentations to guide better diagnostic and management outcomes.

The challenges of frontline health managers during the COVID-19 pandemic in India: A framework analysis study.

Background: Coronavirus was first officially reported in Wuhan city of China in December 2019. As this novel coronavirus spread rapidly throughout the world, health care workers faced many difficulties addressing the pandemic. In the present study, we explored the challenges faced by front-line health managers on human resource management, execution of the central policies, and training and in formulating innovative approaches during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in India.

Imaging in Zinner Syndrome, A Case Series: The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.

Zinner syndrome is a rare congenital malformation of the Wolffian duct with seminal vesicle cyst, ipsilateral renal agenesis and ejaculatory duct obstruction, seen in less than 0.002 % of the male population. An increased awareness among clinicians, urologists, and radiologists is essential, as early diagnosis and management can impact fertility outcomes.

Pre- & post-vaccine trends in pneumococcal serotypes & antimicrobial resistance patterns.

Background & objectives The Pneumococcal vaccines were introduced under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in 2021 in India. Drawing from the collective experience of various nations, it is anticipated that there will be a substantial shift in serotype patterns following the introduction of this vaccine. The available data is limited to years until 2018 when the vaccine was introduced in only five States.

Adults with low opsonic natural antibody levels against show enhanced response to PPSV23 vaccination.

Background: Pneumococcal diseases pose a significant public health concern globally, particularly among young children and the elderly. Vaccination plays a crucial role in their prevention. This study evaluated the functional immune responses to Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine serotypes in healthy Indian adults before and after administering a single dose of PPSV23 immunization.

Safety and immunogenicity of a pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine versus a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine in adults in India: an observer-blind, randomised, active-controlled, phase 2/3 study.

Background: Meningococcal disease remains an important public health problem globally. We assessed the non-inferiority and the lot-to-lot consistency of a pentavalent meningococcal ACYWX conjugate vaccine (NmCV-5; Serum Institute of India, Pune, India) versus a quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-D) in healthy adults.

Methods: In this observer-blind, randomised, active-controlled, phase 2/3 study, healthy adults aged 18-85 years were recruited from nine hospitals across seven cities in India.

A clinical comparative study on carbamylated haemoglobin as a surrogate marker to differentiate acute kidney injury from chronic kidney disease.

Introduction: Carbamylated haemoglobin is the result of reaction of isocyanate with N-terminal valine residues of the α and β chains of haemoglobin. Carbamylated haemoglobin concentration is dependent on the degree and duration of uraemia and thus may potentially serve as a marker to differentiate acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: A hospital-based prospective clinical comparative study was conducted in an urban tertiary medical care centre.

Diversity, functional classification and genotyping of SHV β-lactamases in .

Interpreting the phenotypes of alleles in genomes is complex. Whilst all strains are expected to carry a chromosomal copy conferring resistance to ampicillin, they may also carry mutations in chromosomal alleles or additional plasmid-borne alleles that have extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) activity and/or β-lactamase inhibitor (BLI) resistance activity. In addition, the role of individual mutations/a changes is not completely documented or understood.

Medical Students' Readiness for Prescription Communication Skills Training: A Needs Assessment Study.

Background and objectives The quality of doctor-patient communication plays a crucial role in determining positive medical outcomes. Medical educators may be able to develop effective programs to orient the students toward learning communication skills with the aid of assessment of the attitude of medical students toward such learning. Recently, the National Medical Commission's updated syllabus strongly emphasized on the value of training in prescription communication skills (PCS), in pharmacology.

Cardio-Oncology's Modern Approaches to Prevent Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Systematic Review.

Advances in the field of oncology have led to the advent of doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline chemotherapeutic agent, through which cancer survival rates have remarkably improved. There has, however, been a rise in adverse effects from the use of DOX, most notably cardiotoxicity. DOX-induced cardiotoxicity is thought to arise through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing mitochondrial dysfunction in the cardiomyocytes.

A prospective study on health seeking behaviour and post exposure prophylaxis received by animal bite victims at the anti-rabies clinic in a tertiary care centre of urban Bangalore.

Background: Rabies is 100% preventable by administering early and complete post exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Animal bite victims must have the knowledge and attitude necessary to seek appropriate medical care at the earliest to receive the required PEP.

Objectives: The present study sought to ascertain the health-seeking behavior of animal bite victims, their knowledge and attitude regarding rabies prophylaxis, the PEP they received, and their level of compliance with the full course of anti-rabies vaccination.

TB and HIV induced immunosenescence: where do vaccines play a role?

This paper tackles the complex interplay between Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and (. ) infections, particularly their contribution to immunosenescence, the age-related decline in immune function. Using the current literature, we discuss the immunological mechanisms behind TB and HIV-induced immunosenescence and critically evaluate the BCG ( Calmette-Guérin) vaccine's role.

Spatial Mapping the Dengue and Chikungunya Burden in a Rural Area near Bangalore: a Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The burden of dengue and chikungunya diseases across geographical regions of India is poorly quantified more so during Covid19 pandemic and from hospital-based studies. The objective was to assess the prevalence of dengue and chikungunya in the study mainly area and to visualize the spatial distribution of dengue and chikungunya cases using the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS).

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the population in villages coming under a medical college's rural field practice area near Bangalore.

Intranasal Tapentadol Versus Intravenous Paracetamol for Postoperative Analgesia in Lower Limb Orthopaedic Surgeries Under Spinal Anaesthesia: A Single Blind RCT.

Objective: We aimed to compare the analgesic effectiveness of intranasal tapentadol nasal spray 44.5 mg and intravenous (IV) paracetamol 1 gm during the postoperative period in patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries under spinal anesthesia.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial was carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Optimizing the Clinical Direction of Artificial Intelligence With Health Policy: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the ability to completely transform the healthcare industry by enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and resource allocation. To ensure patient safety and equitable access to healthcare, it also presents ethical and practical issues that need to be carefully addressed. Its integration into healthcare is a crucial topic.

Sputum Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin as a Biomarker in Asthma-COPD Overlap.

Background: Asthma COPD overlap (ACO) is a consensus-based phenotype having characteristics of both COPD and asthma. Distinguishing ACO from other diseases is even more important as it is related to low health-related quality of life, augmented exacerbation rate and hospital admission, a rapid deterioration in lung function, and increased morbidity and mortality. But it cannot be diagnosed explicitly based on spirometry tests, patient demographics, radiology, or by-sputum cytology.