Prevention of nodules and enhancement of antibody response to genetically engineered recombinant vaccine against Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) for contraception.

Objective: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) plays a crucial role in embryo implantation and in maintenance of pregnancy. An immuno-contraceptive approach involves the use of a recombinant hCGβ-LTB vaccine formulated with adjuvant Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP), to prevent pregnancy without disturbing ovulation, hormonal profiles, and menstrual cycles in women. The present work in mice was designed to address issues encountered in clinical trials conducted with hCGβ-LTB vaccine, with focus on two primary concerns.

An Epiphrenic Diverticulum with Previous Perforation Excised Laparoscopically.

An epiphrenic diverticulum (ED) is a rare pseudodiverticulum commonly located at the lower end of the oesophagus. Surgical treatment is only required in patients with worsening dysphagia or repeated chest infection due to microaspirations, and most patients are now treated with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) using the laparoscopic or thoracoscopic approach. Laparoscopic surgery is considered difficult in the presence of previous perforation of the diverticula owing to the intraperitoneal and mediastinal adhesions and is associated with an increased incidence of complications.

Consensus Statement from India on the Renal Benefits of ARNi, SGLT-2i, and Bisoprolol in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in India. CKD often coexists with heart failure (HF), diabetes, and hypertension. All these comorbidities are risk factors for renal impairment.

Genetic Testing in Pediatric Epilepsy: Tools, Tips, and Navigating the Traps.

With the advent of high-throughput sequencing and computational methods, genetic testing has become an integral part of contemporary clinical practice, particularly in epilepsy. The toolbox for genetic testing has evolved from conventional chromosomal microarray and epilepsy gene panels to state-of-the-art sequencing techniques in the modern genomic era. Beyond its potential for therapeutic benefits through precision medicine, optimizing the choice of antiseizure medications, or exploring nonpharmacological therapeutic modalities, genetic testing carries substantial diagnostic, prognostic, and personal implications.

Dry Eye Disease: An Update on Changing Perspectives on Causes, Diagnosis, and Management.

Dry eye disease is a common clinical problem encountered by ophthalmologists worldwide. Interest in this entity has increased in recent years due to the consequences it has on the ocular surface after any surface procedure. With changing times, several new factors have come to light that can influence this disease.

Effective Surgical Site Infection Prevention Strategies for Diabetic Patients Undergoing Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a significant clinical challenge, with heightened risks and severe consequences for diabetic patients undergoing surgical procedures. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current evidence on effective prevention strategies for mitigating SSI risk in this vulnerable population. From inception to March 2024, we comprehensively searched multiple electronic databases (PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL) to identify relevant studies evaluating SSI prevention strategies in diabetic surgical patients.

Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors on Cardiovascular Events and Inflammatory Factors in Patients With Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Undergoing Dual Antiplatelet Therapy.

Introduction: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), vital post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to prevent cardiovascular events (CVEs) via aspirin and P2Y12 receptor antagonists, faces controversy when combined with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) due to potential impacts on bleeding risk and antiplatelet efficacy, prompting the need for further research to determine optimal co-administration practices. This work evaluated the effects of PPIs on CVEs and inflammatory factors in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) undergoing DAPT after PCI.

Materials And Methods: The data of 166 patients who underwent PCI and developed UGIB while on DAPT from April 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.

The curious case of light chain cast nephropathy in a renal allograft recipient.

Myeloma cast nephropathy in renal allograft recipients without pre-transplant diagnosis of multiple myeloma is rare. A 32-year-old hypertensive male presented to our institute as a prospective renal allograft recipient. Hemoglobin was 10.

Casirivimab-imdevimab monoclonal antibody treatment for an immunocompromised patient with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report.

Background: Persistent acute SARS-CoV- 2 infection is characterised by the persistence of symptoms of a COVID-19 illness and a persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR result. It is often seen in immunocompromised individuals. Currently, there are no approved treatment regimens or guidelines for management.

Pediatric cardiology in India - In search of a holistic solution.

In response to the survey among early career pediatric cardiologists from India and the accompanying editorial, we invited comments and suggestions from thought leaders and senior functionaries in the field. We have summarized the thoughts and suggestions as a mini-symposium.

Peri-operative outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy comparing an isolated Roux loop or single loop for reconstruction: An ambispective observational study.

Background: A post-operative pancreatic fistula is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. We compared two methods of reconstruction of pancreaticojejunal anastomosis, an isolated loop with a single loop, to assess their effects on the incidence and severity of fistula.

Methods: The data was collected in an ambispective manner.

A comparison of the accuracy of Tzanakis and Alvarado Score in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Acute appendicitis is one of the most commonly encountered surgical emergencies on a global level. Due to the requirement of an immediate clinical diagnosis and the presence of limited resources, clinicians and diagnosticians refer to scoring systems to diagnose this condition, among which Alvarado and Tzanakis scoring systems are widely used. This meta-analysis aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy of these two systems.

Comparison of Levosimendan Versus Milrinone After the Arterial Switch Operation for Infants ≤3 kg.

Various inotropes and inodilators have been utilized to treat low cardiac output syndrome after the arterial switch operation. The use of levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer has been limited in this setting. This study compares the effects of levosimendan with milrinone in managing low cardiac output after the arterial switch operation.

Allosteric inhibition of dengue virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase by phytochemicals: a computational study.

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is considered a potential drug target for dengue virus (DENV) inhibition and has attracted attention in antiviral drug discovery. Here, we screened 121 natural compounds from against DENV RdRp using various approaches of computer-based drug discovery. Notably, we identified four potential compounds (Ushinsunine, Cassameridine, (+)-Epiexcelsin, (-)-Phanostenine) with good binding scores and allosteric interactions with the target protein.

ABG Analyzer for Electrolyte Measurement in ICU Patients: To Do or Not to Do.

Tyagi N. ABG Analyzer for Electrolyte Measurement in ICU Patients: To Do or Not to Do. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(5):416-418.

The Mystery of Green Eyes.

A 27-year-old female with no known comorbidities presented to casualty with fever and loose stools for 7 days followed by shortness of breath and reduced urine output for 1 day. On examination, she was conscious-oriented. She had tachycardia, hypotension [blood pressure (BP) 72/56 mm Hg], and 82% saturation on room air.

Safety and Efficacy of Golimumab in Indian Patients with Active Spondyloarthritis of Ankylosing Spondylitis or Psoriatic Arthritis: A Multicenter, Noncomparative, Open-Label, Real-World Study.

Background: The safety and efficacy of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitor therapy for most common rheumatological diseases, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in controlled clinical trials is well-studied. This study evaluated subcutaneous (SC) golimumab in Indian patients with active spondyloarthritis (SpA) of AS or PsA in a real-world setting.

Materials And Methods: This phase 4, multicenter, prospective, non-comparative, interventional, 24-week study was performed in patients (age ≥18 years) with active SpA of AS or PsA (NCT03733925).

The Promise of Cilnidipine in Hypertension with Comorbidities: National Consensus Statement: National Consensus Group Comprises Cardiologists, Nephrologists, and Diabetologists from India in a National Meet at New Delhi held on 22 May 2022.

The rapidly increasing burden of hypertension is responsible for premature deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD), renal disease, and stroke, with a tremendous public health and financial burden. Hypertension detection, treatment, and control vary worldwide; it is still low, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). High blood pressure (BP) and CVD risk have a strong, linear, and independent association.