health $wellness blog

Jharkhand: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS Deoghar) has released the timetable for the 1 st professional MBBS supplementary examination 2022 batch. The exams are starting from 03-02-2024 and continue till 17-02-2024. The theory exams will be conducted from 03-02-2024 to 14-02-2024, and practical exams will be conducted from 15-02-2024 to 17-02-2024. Detailed schedule – Theory - Venue - Examination Hall, 2nd Floor, Academic Building, AIIMS, Deoghar. DATE DAY TIME SUBJECT 03-02-2024 Saturday 10:00 am — 01:00 pm Anatomy- I 06-02-2024 Tuesday 10:00 am — 01:00 pm Anatomy- II 08-02-2024 Thursday 10:00 am — 01:00 pm Physiology- I 10-02-2024 Saturday 10:00 am — 01:00 pm Physiology- II 12-02-2024 Monday 10:00 am — 01:00 pm Biochemistry- I 14-02-2024 Wednesday 10:00 am — 01:00 pm Biochemistry- II Also Read: AIIMS Nagpur Releases PG Course 1st, 2nd Internal Assessment Exa...

Marlborough:  Boston Scientific Corporation has initiated the AVANT GUARD clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System* as a first-line treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Outcomes of ablation with the FARAPULSE PFA System – a nonthermal treatment in which electric fields selectively ablate heart tissue – will be compared to outcomes following use of anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy, which is commonly prescribed for patients living with persistent AF. Unlike paroxysmal AF, which describes symptoms that last for seven days or fewer, persistent AF is a sustained arrhythmia that lasts for more than a week. Early treatment of persistent AF can reduce the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart failure, and may prevent the disease from becoming permanent. Patients are often treated with AADs as frontline therapy for heart rhythm maintenance, though some can experience adverse effects and limited efficacy....

London: An Indian-origin doctor with the UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) decided to get musical over the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, but what started as a one-man bedroom project has been gaining popularity with booked-out shows.  Gulzar (Gulz) Singh Dhanoya, 25, started the indie-rock band named Gulz during his university days as a medical student. Now the lead vocalist and songwriter of the group has a four-member group made up of fellow NHS medical professionals.  Also Read:Music training may improve attention and working memory in children: Study “It was a lot easier when I was at university. I had a lot more time,” Gulz told the BBC Asian Network this week. “I decided to release some stuff I’d been working on (over the pandemic). I was really nervous and I put it out on socials, then deleted it all off my phone for a week. I was worried my mates were going to give me stick for it. Luckily, it went pretty well,” he said. Once some of his tracks got...

Puducherry: Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER) has announced the conduction of the 9th CNE Workshop Based Short Term Course on Research Methodology & Publication for Nurses. As per the notice, the CNE Workshop will be conducted from 29.01.2024 to 04.02.2024 at Multipurpose Hall, College of Nursing, JIPMER. The Workshop is funded by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and organized by the College of Nursing, JIPMER, Puducherry. The Tamil Nadu Nurses & Midwives Council, Chennai will award credit hours. Only 30 participants can participate. Registration confirmation is based on a First come, first served basis. No registration fee is to be paid. The link for registration is enclosed in the notice below. The participants will have to fill out a Google form. TA Rs.500 for 7 days with the submission of documents and whichever is minimum, DA Rs.300/day, Lunch and refreshments will be arranged as per MOHFW (Nur...

Hair restoration surgeries have witnessed a transformative breakthrough with the introduction of stabilized, super-oxidized hypochlorous acid (HOCl). This compound, renowned for its potent efficacy against a spectrum of microorganisms, is proving to be a game-changer in both intraoperative and postoperative care for hair transplant procedures. The trial results were published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. Also Read:  Extreme pubic hair removal to cause recurrent urinary tract infections Stabilized HOCl is no ordinary solution; it stands out for its remarkable effectiveness against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Moreover, its application enhances tissue oxygenation, a crucial factor in facilitating optimal wound healing. This makes it an ideal candidate for surgeries involving thousands of small wounds, characteristic of hair restoration procedures. Hence, researchers conducted a trial to assess the perceived efficacy of stabilized, super-oxidized hypochlorous acid (...

A recent study uncovered critical insights into the long-debated association between hysterectomy and osteoporosis risk, specially among women from 40 to 59 years. The findings were published in Journal of American Medical Association. The data from Korean National Health Insurance was analyzed to overcome limitations of previous research and provide a more precise understanding of this health concern. The research analyzed a total of 25,910 female patients from 2003 to 2011 and matched through propensity score, with half having undergone benign hysterectomy and the other half indicating no history of the procedure during regular health checkups. The participants were tracked until December 31, 2020, to make up a median follow-up period of 10.9 years. The results were based on whether hysterectomy was performed with or without adnexal surgical procedures. The findings revealed that patients who underwent hysterectomy without adnexal surgery faced a higher risk of osteoporosis withi...

USA: A recent study published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery has revealed an association between increased preoperative blood glucose level (BGL) and an increased risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Hyperglycemia, high blood sugar or high blood glucose, has been identified as a risk factor for periprosthetic joint infection after THA. However, there is no consensus about the preoperative blood glucose level on the day of the surgical procedure linked with increased risk. Therefore, Julian Wier, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, and colleagues aimed to identify preoperative BGL thresholds associated with an increased risk of PJI. For this purpose, the Premier Healthcare Database was retrospectively assessed for adult patients who underwent primary, elective total hip arthroplasty and had a measurement of the preoperative BGL recorded on the day of the surgical proced...

In a groundbreaking clinical trial spanning 222 hospitals across China, researchers have discovered a potentially game-changing treatment for individuals with mild ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) of presumed atherosclerotic origin. The trial found that among patients with mild ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA of presumed atherosclerotic cause, combined clopidogrel–aspirin therapy initiated within 72 hours after stroke onset was associated with a lower risk of new stroke at 90 days compared to aspirin therapy alone. The trial results were published in the journal The New England Journal of Medicine. Also Read:  DAPT de-escalation strategy suitable for stabilized MI patients with high ischemic risk: JAMA Initiating dual antiplatelet treatment within the first 24 hours following an acute mild stroke has demonstrated a reduction in the risk of recurrent stroke compared to aspirin alone. However, there is limited research on the comparative effects of ...

France: Findings from a recent case series published in JAMA Dermatology have shown the effectiveness of bimekizumab for palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), SAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis) syndrome, and palmoplantar plaque psoriasis with pustules. In the multicenter case series 21 patients with PPP or palmoplantar plaque psoriasis with pustules were treated with bimekizumab for at least three months. The study showed that 17 patients achieved complete clearance ((Investigator Global Assessment [IGA] score of 0) in 1 to 4 months, 3 patients had an IGA score of 1 implying almost clear and 1 had an IGA score of 2 (mild). Two patients with SAPHO syndrome had completed clearance of skin lesions and improvement in joint pain. Among the types of localized pustular psoriasis, PPP is defined as persistent (>3 months), primary, sterile, macroscopically visible pustules on palms or soles that can occur without or with psoriasis vulgaris according to a consensus sta...

Clear aligners may provide stable positive overbite in anterior open bite treatment suggests a new study published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. This study aimed to examine the stability of anterior open bite (AOB) treatment with clear aligners. This retrospective cohort study included 52 adult AOB patients (aged >18 years; 15 males, 37 females) who underwent nonextraction clear aligner treatment and were at least 1 year posttreatment. Eleven cephalometric measurements were evaluated at pretreatment, end of active treatment, and at least 1-year posttreatment. Overbite change, the primary outcome variable, and other cephalometric changes during treatment and retention were calculated, and repeated measures analysis of variance were performed. Stepwise multiple regression was used to make a prediction equation for open bite relapse. Results The mean retention period was 2.1 ± 1.1 years. The mean change in overbite during treatment was 3.3 ±...

USA: Dual treatment with metformin and SGLT2 inhibitor reduced hepatic complications and improved survival in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with cirrhosis, a recent study published in BMC Gastroenterology has shown. "Those on dual metformin and SGLT2 inhibitor therapy had a reduced risk for mortality (HR 0.57), less than half the risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HR 0.43), and reduced composite risk of becoming decompensated (HR 0.63), compared to those on mono metformin therapy," the researchers reported. Metformin is a standard initial treatment for T2D, though some patients require additional glucose-lowering agents due to disease progression. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2-I) have been recommended as part of stepwise combination therapy for T2D patients with established heart failure (HF), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), kidney disease, or those at risk for cardiorenal comorbidities. Newer guidelines now recommend using ...

New Delhi: The drug major Biological E has got the go-ahead from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to conduct the Phase-III clinical trial of the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) Vaccine (Variant XBB.1.5) This came after Biological E presented the Phase –III Clinical trial protocol titled “ A prospective single-blind randomized Phase-III comparative study to evaluate immunogenicity and safety of Biological E’s XBB 1.5-RBD subunit Covid-19 vaccine in 5-80 years old Individuals.” The COVID-19 Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 has become more prevalent due to a potent combination of mutations that facilitate its transmission, even among individuals who have already been vaccinated or infected. The COVID-19 Omicron strain has undergone several subvariants' mutations. It was BA.1 at first, and subsequently the Omicron subvariant of BA.5. After a while, it transformed into BQ.1.1 and BQ.1. Next, there is XBB.1.5, sometimes kno...

Ultrasound-guided ESWL may be first treatment choice for distal ureteral stones suggests a new study published in the Urolithiasis. The study aimed to analyze the factors influencing the efficacy of ultrasound-guided extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the treatment of ureteral stones. The clinical data of 8102 patients (6083 men and 2019 women) who presented with ureteral stones were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated with ultrasound-guided ESWL. The stone-free rate (SFR) was calculated to evaluate the effect of ESWL. The characteristics of the patients and their stones, and the ESWL parameters applied were compared to identify the factors affecting the treatment outcomes. The SFR and that following one ESWL session were 94.6% (7663/8102) and 75.4% (6107/8102), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that stone location (OR 0.656, p < 0.001), stone size (OR 1.103, p < 0.001), and degree of hydronephrosis (OR 1.952, p < 0.001) independent...

Recently, there has been mounting clinical evidence supporting the metabolic and weight-loss benefits of bariatric surgery for obese patients, which leads to improved cardiac structure. However, its effectiveness in enhancing the cardiac function of heart failure patients remains controversial. A recent study published in Obesity Surgery found bariatric surgery to have beneficial cardiac effects on non-HFpEF (heart failure and preserved ejection fraction) obese patients. However, it did not substantially improve the pooled analysis of cardiac parameters. The extent of improvement may be influenced by factors such as the patient's baseline age and BMI and BMI loss extent. Shi-jing Lu et al. led the study. This meta-analysis assessed BS's effect on cardiac function by examining LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction) and NYHA  (New York Heart Association) changes in non-HFpEF patients post-surgery. Articles were sourced from PubMed and Embase, starting from their inceptio...

India: Findings of the association between unbound bilirubin (UB) and acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE) indicate that bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND) scoring with UB measurement may be useful for evaluating ABE in ≥ 34 weeks GA infants. The study, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, emphasizes the importance of incorporating UB measurement into BIND scoring for a more accurate evaluation in this patient cohort. Sanjiv B Amin, Department of Pediatrics, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, India, and colleagues conducted the study to compare the association of unbound bilirubin, total serum bilirubin (TSB), and bilirubin: albumin molar ratio (BAMR) with acute bilirubin encephalopathy as assessed by BIND score, in infants with significant hyperbilirubinemia (TSB ≥ 20 mg/dL or underwent exchange transfusion). The prospective cohort study involved infants ≥ 34 weeks gestational age (GA) with significant hyperbilirubinemia during the first two postnatal weeks. Those ...

USA: Compared to no exercise, exercising at low to moderate exercise intensity for 1 h sufficiently attenuated a fat meal-induced postprandial hypertriglyceridemia (PHTG), a recent study published in the Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness has shown. Moderate exercise intensity was also effective in mitigating insulin resistance. "An acute bout of exercise at 40 %, 60 %, and 70 % VO2 max 12 h before intake of a fat-meal had similar effects on PHTG attenuation," the researchers reported. "Also, there was an improvement in insulin sensitivity among all exercise trials, leading to decreased insulin response to fat-rich meal." The randomized controlled trial found that compared to no exercise, low-intensity exercise on a treadmill for 1 hour significantly lowered serum triglyceride levels following a fat-rich meal that was ingested 12 hours post-exercise Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the foremost cause of death worldwide. Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia ...

Italy: Findings from a pilot study have shown the utility of a novel model for predicting diabetes remission after bariatric surgery (BS) based on serum C-peptide and creatinine measurement. The findings were published online in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases on December 16, 2023. The researchers revealed the potential clinical application of ln(C-peptide/creatinine) ratio in assessing the likelihood of type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission after bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is effective for type 2 diabetes treatment in obese patients. However, a significant proportion of these patients fail to achieve diabetes remission after the surgery, even after significant metabolic improvement and weight loss. C-peptide is a valuable marker of insulin secretion and beta cell function, but renal function must be considered when interpreting measurements in T2D patients. Santo Colosimo, School of Nutrition Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy, and colleagues aimed ...

DPP-4 inhibitors may Significantly improve BMD and Reduce Osteoporosis Risk in Diabetes patients suggests a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Densitometry Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) frequently coexists with osteoporosis and reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), a class of antihyperglycemic agents, are commonly employed in T2DM treatment. However, the influence of DPP-4i on bone health remains unclear and debated. This meta-analysis is conducted to explore the relationship between the use of DPP-4i and changes in BMD, as well as the prevalence of osteoporosis among T2DM patients. They conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases for relevant studies published up until June 2023. Studies included in the meta-analysis were those investigating T2DM patients under DPP-4i treatment, and examining the effects on BMD and osteoporosis. Random-effects models and fixed-effect m...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease whose main symptoms are redness, swelling, and itchy rashes. It is more common in people with a genetic predisposition. Manifestation of symptoms depends on interactions among the immune system, environmental factors and gut microbiota. Many pieces of this complex jigsaw puzzle are still undiscovered, but recent research has identified relevant factors. For example, alterations in gut microbiota composition can contribute to the severity of the disease; environmental factors such as allergens and pollution can also make it worse; genetic variations are associated with susceptibility; and both diet and fecal transplantation are promising strategies for treatment. Knowing how these factors correlate is fundamental to a better understanding of the disease and serves as a basis for novel therapies, according to a review article published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences by researchers at the University of Sã...