Three decades of research in lymphatic filariasis-lessons learned.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF), one of the 21 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) which is the second leading cause for disability globally. , and are the parasites causing this infection. World Health Assembly in 1997 declared LF to be eliminated and the Global Program to eliminate LF (GPELF) was launched by WHO in 2000 with the two strategies viz, 1) stop transmission of infection through Mass Drug Administration (MDA) and 2) to alleviate the suffering of the people affected with the disease through Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP.

Managing Lymphedema Induced by Lymphatic Filariasis: Implementing and Improving Care at the Individual and Programmatic Levels.

Providing and improving the care of patients suffering from lymphedema remains an essential goal for the clinical management of populations affected by lymphatic filariasis. Although the Essential Package of Care (EPC) recommended by the WHO leads to important positive benefits for many of these lymphedema patients, it is important to continue to address the challenges that remain both in quantifying these effects and in ensuring optimal care. This report, based on the authors' scientific and field experience, focuses on the impact and significance of lymphedema, its clinical presentation, current treatment approaches, and the importance of lymphedema care to the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis.

A Cadaveric Study on the High Origin of the Radial Artery.

Introduction: Among the upper limb's vascular variations, the radial artery's high origin from the axillary artery is rare, and literature regarding the same is limited. Anomalous origin of radial artery can cause failure of radial approach to coronary angiography and reconstructive surgeries of upper limbs and hence is of clinical significance. With this background, the current cadaveric study was planned to describe the branching pattern of the axillary artery and its variations.

Analyzing Mortality Patterns and Location of Death in Patients With Malignant Esophageal Neoplasms: A Two-Decade Study in the United States.

Background Esophageal neoplasm carries significant implications for end-of-life care. Despite medical advancements, disparities in the location of death persist. Understanding the factors influencing the place of death for esophageal neoplasm patients is crucial for delivering patient-centered care.

A Case Report of Plasmacytoma in a 28-Year-Old Patient: Bridging the Age Gap in a Rare Presentation.

Plasmacytoma, an uncommon malignancy originating from plasma cells, predominantly manifests in the elderly demographic. However, its incidence among young adults remains infrequent. Herein, we present a case involving a 28-year-old young adult diagnosed with solitary bone plasmacytoma.

Unraveling Abdominal Migraine in Adults: A Comprehensive Narrative Review.

Abdominal migraine is a condition characterized by recurrent episodes of abdominal pain accompanied by migraine-associated symptoms, primarily affecting pediatric populations. Its occurrence in adults is often overlooked due to limited literature on adult abdominal migraine. This article provides an overview of the current understanding and management of abdominal migraine in adult populations, including the diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, differentiating features of other associated gastrointestinal pain syndromes, and various treatment approaches based on available literature.

The Sociodemographic Profile of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Serious Mental Illness in Kerala - A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Older adults with serious mental illness (OASMI) have to manage the twin challenges of old age and mental illness. Understanding their characteristics will help policymakers and researchers plan tailored interventions. The profile of OASMI is not described in any publication from India, and this paper addresses that gap.

Clinicoetiological study on vaginal discharge among sexually active women attending a tertiary center in North Kerala, India.

Background: Vaginal discharge is a common complaint among women attending the sexually transmissible infections (STIs) clinic and is a cause for concern and mental distress. It can be attributed to physiological or pathological causes. This study aims to understand the prevalence of various etiologies of vaginal discharge, which would help frame health policies based on local needs.

Leiomyoma of Kidney.

Renal leiomyomas are rare benign mesenchymal tumors of kidney that affect adults of second to sixth decade. They can present as small asymptomatic multifocal lesions that are identified only in autopsy, or as large solitary lesions that cause pain and abdominal distention. Histomorphologically it appears exactly like its counterpart in other soft tissues.

Use of Anti-epileptic Drugs for Post Traumatic Seizure: A Global Survey.

Background: Post traumatic seizures (PTS) and post traumatic epilepsy (PTE) are potential consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). There is no consensus regarding its management among treating doctors.

Purpose: We have undertaken a global survey to assess the variability of management practices of PTS and PTE and highlight the pressing need to formulate uniform practice guidelines.

Genetics of Ataxias in Indian Population: A Collative Insight from a Common Genetic Screening Tool.

Cerebellar ataxias (CAs) represent a group of autosomal dominant and recessive neurodegenerative disorders affecting cerebellum with or without spinal cord. Overall, CAs have preponderance for tandem nucleotide repeat expansions as an etiological factor (10 TREs explain nearly 30-40% of ataxia cohort globally). The experience of 10 years of common genetic ataxia subtypes for ≈5600 patients' referrals (Pan-India) received at a single center is shared herein.

Complementary administration of curcumin in PCOS: a systematic review.

Introduction: The clinical benefit of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, among women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is unclear. In this systematic review, we aim to provide a brief review of the existing literature on the association between curcumin supplementation and PCOS.

Evidence Acquisition: Published articles relevant to the topic was obtained through extensive search using relevant keywords such as "polycystic ovarian syndrome," "PCOS," "turmeric," and "curcumin.

The species distribution of ticks & the prevalence of Kyasanur forest disease virus in questing nymphal ticks from Western Ghats of Kerala, South India.

Background & Objectives: Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) is a zoonotic tick-borne disease across the Western Ghats of India. With the discovery of a cluster of human KFD cases in the Wayanad district of Kerala, the present study was focused on detecting KFD virus (KFDV) in tick populations. To manage this disease, it is necessary to understand the diversity of the tick species and factors influencing the distribution, abundance and prevalence of infected ticks in Wayanad district.

A Cross-sectional Study on Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease.

It is well known that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, predominantly due to cardiovascular complications. Recent literature report pulmonary hypertension (PH) as a common accompaniment of CKD and in majority of these cases, secondary causes of PH are not evident. In this study, we looked at the prevalence and possible risk factors of PH in stage 5 CKD patients with a special focus on unexplained PH.

Scaling-up filariasis lymphoedema management into the primary health care system in Kerala State, Southern India: a case study in healthcare equity.

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) remains one of the world's most debilitating parasitic infections and is a major contributor to poor health in many endemic countries. The provision of continuing care for all those affected by LF and its consequences is an important component of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The aim of this study is to integrate lymphedema care into the primary health care system of the State by developing lymphedema clinics at each district, through training of health personnel to fulfill WHO recommendation for morbidity management and disability prevention.

Validation of an Ultrashort Screening Tool for Specific Learning Disorder Among School-Going Children.

Background: Specific learning disorder (SLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in reading, written expression, and arithmetic. It can be identified during early school days itself. There is a lack of a screening tool for SLD that is properly validated and easy to administer.

Rat skeletal muscle-nerve preparation to teach skeletal muscle physiology.

This sourcebook update describes a variation of a previous sourcebook experiment that used isolated extensor digitorum longus muscle from mouse to teach skeletal muscle properties (Head SI, Arber MS. 37: 405-414, 2013). Gastrocnemius-sciatic nerve preparation in an anaesthetized rat was developed and muscle contractions were recorded in a computerized data acquisition system using an isometric force transducer.

Varicella gangrenosa: A rare chickenpox complication.

Varicella gangrenosa is a rare but life-threatening dermatological complication of infection with varicella-zoster virus. A healthy 37-year-old male who had been diagnosed with varicella 20 days back was admitted to our hospital with complaints of fever and painful necrotic skin lesions. Physical examination revealed multiple round to oval ulcers covered with eschar predominantly over arms, lower limbs, back of trunk and flanks.

Grinker's myelinopathy: The rarely reported consequence of hypoxic brain injury.

A 68-year-old woman presented with chest pain and loss of consciousness following an anterior wall myocardial infarction. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed features of hypoxic brain injury. She subsequently developed memory deficits, drowsiness and behavioral changes.

Molecular characterization of chikungunya virus isolates from two localized outbreaks during 2014-2019 in Kerala, India.

After the 2005-2009 chikungunya epidemic, intermittent outbreaks were reported in many parts of India. The outbreaks were caused by either locally circulating strains or imported viruses. Virus transmission routes can be traced by complete genome sequencing studies.

Morpholine-based chalcones as dual-acting monoamine oxidase-B and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: synthesis and biochemical investigations.

Nine compounds () containing the morpholine moiety were assessed for their inhibitory activities against monoamine oxidases (MAOs) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Most of the compounds potently inhibited MAO-B; most potently inhibited with an IC value of 0.030 µM, followed by (0.

Chandipura Virus' Oncolytic Potential in Experimentally Induced Tumor in Mice.

Chandipura virus (CHPV) is a tropical pathogen, suggesting its involvement in childhood encephalitis syndrome in India. No reports are available in adult human beings for its pathogenicity. Similarly, in adult mice, the virus does not develop pathogenesis by parenteral route except for intracranial route of infection.