Role of serum procalcitonin in differentiating disease flare and systemic bacterial infection among febrile children with known chronic rheumatic diseases: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of serum procalcitonin (PCT) as a diagnostic tool to differentiate bacterial sepsis from flare-ups during febrile episodes in children with known rheumatic disorders compared to other inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Methods: Previously diagnosed patients with known rheumatic disorders presenting in emergency or outpatient departments with febrile episodes were included in the study. Blood samples were collected upon admission to test for signs of infection, including serum PCT levels with routine laboratory and radiological tests.

Enhancing Infection Control in ICUS Through AI: A Literature Review.

Introduction: Infection control in intensive care units (ICUs) is crucial due to the high risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which can increase patient morbidity, mortality, and costs. Effective measures such as hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), patient isolation, and environmental cleaning are vital to minimize these risks. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities to enhance infection control, from predicting outbreaks to optimizing antimicrobial use, ultimately improving patient safety and care in ICUs.

Enhancing Anemia Detection With Non-invasive Anemia Detection With AI (NiADA): Insights From Clinical Validations and Physician Observations.

Background Anemia, a critical public health issue, affects nearly two billion people globally. Frequent monitoring of blood hemoglobin levels is essential for managing its burden. While point-of-care testing (POCT) devices facilitate hemoglobin testing in resource-limited settings, most are invasive and have inherent limitations.

Haematological parameters as predictors of severe dengue: a study from northern districts of West Bengal.

Background Objectives: A hike in dengue cases was recorded in last two years, resulting from both single and multiple-serotypes of dengue virus (DENV) and secondary infections, culminating in significant hospitalizations and deaths in India. This study focuses on evaluating symptomatic and haematological parameters in acute dengue patients of the northern part of West Bengal to predict disease severity early on and also to analyze the correlation between circulating DENV serotypes with severity.

Methods: Dengue patients (N=540) diagnosed as NS1 positives were categorized into 13.

The power of three: Retatrutide's role in modern obesity and diabetes therapy.

The increasing prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus has resulted in a significant challenge to public health throughout the globe. It required the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Retatrutide is a groundbreaking triple agonist that targets glucagon receptors, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, and glucagon-like peptide-1.

Serum Uric Acid and Iron Status: Exploring a Complex Interaction in Metabolic Syndrome Patients of Eastern India.

Background: Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of illnesses including insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and central obesity, is affecting roughly a quarter of the world population. Dysregulation of iron homeostasis may be associated with insulin resistance, leading to metabolic syndrome. Uric acid is an antioxidant currently studied in relation to several metabolic disorders.

Monteggia Equivalent Variant Type 1 in an Adult, its Management and Functional Outcome with Literature Review.

Introduction: In 1814, Giovanni Battista Monteggia first described the fracture pattern which was further characterized by Luis Bado in 1967. Bado also coined the term Monteggia equivalent which includes a spectrum of complex fracture patterns and dislocations of the proximal ulna and radius. Monteggia equivalent lesions in adults are rare with different injury mechanisms compared to children, and thus having different management procedures.

Overview of dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) occur due to the abnormal proliferation of one or more terminal myeloid cell lines in peripheral blood. Subjects suffering from MPNs display a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors, and thrombotic events are often the cause of death in this population of patients. Herein, we provide a brief overview of dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome and their epidemiology in MPNs and examine the common molecular mechanisms between dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and MPNs, with a special focus on cardiovascular risk, atherosclerosis, and thrombotic events.

Nursing Personnel Workload and Staffing Need for Rural Hospitals of Darjeeling District, India: Assessment by Application of Workload Indicators of Staffing Need Tool (World Health Organization).

Background: The Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) human resource planning and management tool developed by Shipp (1998) and popularized by the World Health Organization gives health managers a way to analyze and calculate correct staffing levels in health facilities.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the current workload and staffing need of staff nurses for rural hospitals in Darjeeling district, West Bengal.

Materials And Methods: Primary data were collected by interviews with nursing personnel using a semi-structured interview schedule.

FDA-Approved Janus Kinase-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (JAK-STAT) Inhibitors for Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex autoimmune disease causing chronic joint inflammation and, in more serious cases, organ involvement. RA typically affects people between the ages of 35 and 60; however, it can also afflict children younger than the age of 16 years and can also demonstrate a pattern of remission later in the disease course. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, exercise, and patient education are all used in the management of RA, which is divided into symptomatic management and disease-modifying management (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) to reduce pain and inflammation, thereby preserving joint function.

Variations in platelet indices in patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension: A case-control study from a tertiary hospital in North Bengal.

Background: Platelet indices (PI) have emerged as a useful tool for identifying platelet dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in various diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the variation of PI in patients with DM and hypertension in the northern part of West Bengal.

Materials And Methods: A case-control study was conducted, which included 1096 participants, comprising 264 healthy controls, 472 individuals with DM, 220 individuals with hypertension, and 140 individuals with both hypertension and DM.

The Roles of USG and NCCT in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis: A Study in a Tertiary Care Center in North Eastern India.

Background: Acute appendicitis is a common cause of hospital admission and emergency laparotomy among children and young adults. Although the diagnosis is clinical, the use of radiological imaging has emerged over the past decades. Its principal use is as a problem-solving tool in equivocal cases.

Extracellular vesicle-mediated drug delivery in breast cancer theranostics.

Breast cancer (BC) continues to be a significant global challenge due to drug resistance and severe side effects. The increasing prevalence is alarming, requiring new therapeutic approaches to address these challenges. At this point, Extracellular vesicles (EVs), specifically small endosome-released nanometer-sized EVs (SEVs) or exosomes, have been explored by literature as potential theranostics.

Association between Statin Use and Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Meta-Analysis.

Chemotherapy-induced cardiac dysfunction (CIC) is a significant and concerning complication observed among cancer patients. Despite the demonstrated cardioprotective benefits of statins in various cardiovascular diseases, their effectiveness in mitigating CIC remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aims to comprehensively evaluate the potential cardioprotective role of statins in patients with CIC.

Exploring the Role of Serum Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) Levels in Manic Depressive Psychosis in Terms of Its Association, Diagnostic Ability, and Severity Prediction: Findings From a Tertiary Care Center in North Bengal.

Introduction: Manic depressive psychosis (MDP) or bipolar disorder, a prevalent psychiatric condition globally and in the Indian population, has been attributed to various pathological mechanisms. Hydrogen sulphide (HS), a member of the gasotransmitter family, may be linked to the development of bipolar disorder because it plays a crucial role in maintaining proper neuronal function in terms of excitability, plasticity, and homeostatic functions. There is very little data regarding the role of the gasotransmitter HS in MDP in terms of its association, diagnostic ability, and severity prediction, which led us to conduct this study among MDP patients in the Sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal.

Efficacy of Laser-assisted Periodontal Therapy vs. Conventional Scaling and Root Planing.

Background: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of laser-assisted periodontal therapy (LAPT) with conventional scaling and root planing (CSRP) in the treatment of periodontal disease. The objective was to assess the outcomes of these two treatments on a sample of 30 patients in each group.

Materials And Methods: In this study, a total of 60 patients diagnosed with periodontal disease were divided into two groups: the LAPT group and the CSRP group, with 30 patients in each group.

Association between testosterone replacement therapy and cardiovascular outcomes: A meta-analysis of 30 randomized controlled trials.

Background: The Cardiovascular safety of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) among men with hypogonadism is not well established to date. Hence, we sought to evaluate the cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes among patients receiving testosterone therapy by using all recently published randomized controlled trials.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, and Clinicaltrial.

Association between rheumatoid arthritis and atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder with a varying range of organs involved leading to adverse outcomes. However, very little is known, with conflicting results about the association between RA and atrial fibrillation (AF). We aim to evaluate the association between RA and AF, and other clinical outcomes.

The paradoxical role of cytokines and chemokines at the tumor microenvironment: a comprehensive review.

Tumor progression and eradication have long piqued the scientific community's interest. Recent discoveries about the role of chemokines and cytokines in these processes have fueled renewed interest in related research. These roles are frequently viewed as contentious due to their ability to both suppress and promote cancer progression.

Efficacy of lenvatinib sorafenib in the primary treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Molecular-targeted agents such as lenvatinib and sorafenib have been approved to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the choice between these two agents in the primary treatment for advanced HCC is still under debate with conflicting results. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of lenvatinib and sorafenib in patients with HCC.

A Cross-Sectional Study To Assess Knowledge of Monkeypox Among Medical Students and Graduates in India.

Background and aim Monkeypox outbreaks in several nations have brought focus to the emerging virus. The clinical presentation of monkeypox is less severe than smallpox but is fairly comparable, presenting with fever, headache, lymphadenopathy, back discomfort, myalgia, and skin rashes. The misinformation spread on social platforms had a major impact on the effectiveness of outbreak control measures.