health $wellness blog

Srinagar:  Dr Mir Mushtaq, Nodal Officer of National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) has been awarded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for his outstanding services in Tobacco control in Kashmir. Dr Mir Mushtaq is the first doctor in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to receive such a distinguished award from the WHO. Dr Mushtaq, who is a Nodal Officer of National Tobacco Control Programme Directorate of Health Service Kashmir (NTCP DHSK), has been honored with the prestigious WHO Award for his outstanding contributions to tobacco control in the Kashmir Division, news agency UNI reported. Also Read:KGMU Prof Kausar Usman conferred with Brian Chapman Scholarship by UK Royal College of Physicians The award celebrates Dr Mushtaq's relentless dedication and impactful work in the field of tobacco control, reflecting his commitment to public health and the well-being of the community. This award signifies progress made in tobacco control in Kashmir and serves as an ...

Boosters that target the omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 are still providing reasonably durable protection against infection, hospitalization and death from COVID-19, according to new data from a study led by researchers at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study found that COVID-19 boosters targeting the XBB.1.5 subvariants were most effective one month after receiving one. After four weeks, the vaccines were 52.2% effective at preventing infection and 66.8% effective at preventing hospitalization. The vaccines were also highly effective at preventing death, but exact certainty was hard to quantify given the small number of deaths reported during the study period. After peaking at four weeks, booster effectiveness waned over time. Effectiveness at preventing infection decreased to 32.6% after 10 weeks and 20.4% after 20 weeks, while effectiveness at preventing hospitalization decreased to 57.1% after 10 w...

A recent study from the Moli-sani study cohort revealed that low levels of serum albumin are significantly associated with increased mortality risk among the individuals over 65 years. The findings published in the Lancet eClinicalMedicine illuminate the importance of serum albumin as a potential biomarker for mortality in the context of cancer and vascular diseases. This comprehensive study analyzed data from a population-based cohort that comprised a total of 17,930 individuals of 35 years and above. Over a median follow-up period of 13.1 years this research meticulously examined the relationship between serum albumin levels and cause-specific mortality using competing-risk survival analysis. Hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin levels of 35 g/L or lower) was found in 2.3% of the study participants. Among the 1428 recorded deaths, 574 were attributed to cancer and 464 to vascular causes. The analysis revealed that hypoalbuminemia was independently associated with mortality when compare...

USA: Physical activity has long been hailed as a cornerstone of good health, but its specific impact on cardiovascular health continues to interest researchers. A recent study published in JAMA Cardiology has shed light on the relationship between physical activity and coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression in both men and women, offering valuable insights into preventive measures against cardiovascular diseases. The cohort study involving 8771 apparently healthy adults 40 years and older revealed that ongoing leisure-time physical activity (PA), even at high volumes is not related to CAC progression, a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). "High and very high volumes of physical activity during follow-up were unrelated to CAC progression," the researchers reported. Moreover, higher baseline volumes of physical activity were not associated with clinically meaningful CAC at follow-up. Previous cross-sectional studies have suggested that very ...

Bulgaria: In a quest to unravel the intricate links between metabolic health and cardiovascular risk, a recent study has delved into the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) in individuals with prediabetes and those newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The findings, published in the Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, offer valuable insights into early vascular changes associated with these conditions, potentially paving the way for enhanced risk stratification and preventive interventions. The study found significantly greater intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and a greater frequency of abnormal CIMT values in patients with new-onset diabetes compared to those with prediabetes and normoglycemia. "CIMT has a high predictive value for the presence of sudomotor dysfunction, diabetic neuropathy, and the risk of new-onset diabetes," the researchers wrote. Antoaneta Gateva, University Hospital Alexandrovska, Bulgaria, ...

USA: Advancements in medical technology are rapidly transforming the landscape of cardiovascular health screening and diagnosis. Among these breakthroughs, artificial intelligence (AI) is taking center stage, particularly in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An artificial intelligence-based cardiac MRI interpretation outperformed cardiologists in diagnosing pulmonary arterial hypertension and showed promise in a proof-of-concept study. "This proof-of-concept study holds the potential to substantially advance the scalability and efficiency of CMR interpretation, thereby improving screening and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD)," the researchers wrote in their study published in Nature Medicine. Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide, underscoring the critical need for accurate and timely detection. Traditional screening and diagnosis methods often rely on invasive procedures or lack the precision necessary for early intervent...

Researchers have found that suprazygomatic maxillary nerve (SZMN) blocks can significantly reduce postoperative opioid consumption and pain in children undergoing intracapsular adenotonsillectomy. This recent study was conducted to address the complications arising from opioid use in pediatric pain management post-surgery. The study was published in JAMA Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery and was conducted by Carole Lin and colleagues. Adenotonsillectomy, a common pediatric surgical procedure, often necessitates effective pain management. Traditional methods include opioids, which carry risks of adverse effects and potential complications. The use of nerve blocks presents an alternative for managing postoperative pain without relying heavily on opioids. This prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial was conducted at a single tertiary pediatric hospital from November 2021 to March 2023. Sixty pediatric patients aged 2-14 years, scheduled for intracapsular adenotonsillectom...

Researchers have found that prophylactic azithromycin does not improve survival rates or reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD) in preterm infants born at less than 30 weeks’ gestation, according to the results of the AZTEC trial. This multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial challenges previous findings and suggests that azithromycin should not be recommended for preventing CLD in this population. This study was published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal by John Lowe and colleagues. Chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD), a major health concern in preterm infants, can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. There has been conflicting evidence on whether macrolide antibiotics like azithromycin could potentially reduce the rates of CLD in at-risk infants, particularly those colonized with pulmonary Ureaplasma spp.. The AZTEC trial was conducted across 28 neonatal intensive care units in the UK. The study included i...

Intravenous glibenclamide, a drug capable of reducing cerebral edema, did not improve functional outcome at three months in patients with large hemispheric infarction, a new study shows. The international randomised controlled trial did however confirm that the drug is safe and that there may be a beneficial signal in less severely affected stroke patients. The CHARM study, presented today at the European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) 2024, was a global, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 141 hospitals. Patients who presented with large hemispheric infarction within 10 hours of last seen well were randomised to intravenous glibenclamide or placebo. The researchers primarily focused on the functional outcomes in both groups at three months, but also studied safety outcomes. The group of patients who received intravenous glibenclamide (n=217 patients) did not have a lower likelihood of a poor functional outcome (common odds ratio [OR] 1.17; 95% con...

Gestational weight gain may mediate the effect of exercise on the prevention of incident macrosomia, suggests a study published in the BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. They sought to investigate the impact of individualized exercise guidance during pregnancy on the incidence of macrosomia and the mediating effect of gestational weight gain (GWG). A randomized clinical trial was conducted from December 2021 to September 2022 to compare the effects of standard prenatal care with individualized exercise guidance on the incidence of macrosomia. Results: In all, 312 singleton women were randomized into an intervention group (N = 162) or a control group (N = 150). Participants who received individualized exercise guidance had a significantly lower incidence of macrosomia (3.73% vs. 13.61%, P = 0.002) and infants large for gestational age (9.94% vs. 19.73%, P = 0.015). However, no differences were observed in the rate of preterm birth (1.86% vs. 3.40%, P = 0.397) or the average gestational ag...

USA: In a groundbreaking development, a recent randomized clinical trial has unveiled promising findings regarding remote physical therapy programs for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The study, published in the Journal of Arthroplasty , challenges traditional notions of in-person, supervised therapy post-surgery. The study found that compared to patients in the electronic remote perioperative management (ERPM) + outpatient physical therapy (OPT), patients in the ERPM + remote physical therapy (RPT) had lower costs, similar outcomes, and saved time after same-day discharge (SDD) total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Comparing remote physical therapy to traditional outpatient physical therapy following same-day discharge TKA, researchers found no major differences in outcomes between the two groups. "At the 6, 12 & 52-week follow-ups, the RPT group showed comparable knee range of motion, functional assessments, pain scores, and satisfaction levels to those rece...

Lucknow- King George’s Medical University (KGMU) has informed through a circular that the University is going to organise a “Scientific Program on Robotic Surgery” on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 3:00 PM at Brown Hall, Admin Block, KGMU, Lucknow. As per the circular, Prof. Ashutosh Tiwari, MD, Chairman, Milton and Carrol Petrie Department of Urology at Medicine Mount Sinai, New York, USA will deliver a Guest Lecture on the topic "Journey of a Surgeon Scientist Through Neural Pathways, Genomic Complexity, Cancer Immunology and 10,000 Robotic Prostatectomies". Besides, Dr Amit Agarwal, Former Head of the Department of Endocrine Surgery, SGPGIMS, Lucknow, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Department of Surgery, AIIMS, New Delhi and Dr. Anupma Bahadur, Department of Obst. & Gynae, AIIMS, Rishikesh will also deliver lectures. Also Read:  KGMU notifies on workshop organised by IISE Lucknow, Science-Tech Institute, Faculties, residents can participate The Program details are as follow...

APRI Score Novel may Predict Severe Dengue Complications, suggests a study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. The AST/platelet ratio index (APRI) is a well-researched indicator of liver fibrosis. Some studies have shown that APRI can be used as a predictor of severe dengue, but the data is limited. As dengue epidemics are common in our country with limited healthcare resources, we believe APRI can help emergency physicians/primary physicians in predicting the severity of dengue and plan for the appropriate use of limited healthcare resources. A study was done to determine the utility of APRI as a predictor of severe dengue. 2) To determine the association of APRI with length of hospital stay and platelet requirement. A retrospective cross-sectional study was done on patients presented to the Emergency Medicine department at Travancore Medicity Medical College with a positive Dengue NS1 antigen or IgM antibody. Results: They found from the univariate analy...

Recently published research paper compares the analgesic efficacy of two different fascial blocks, transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and retrolaminar block (RLB), in patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery. The study aims to evaluate postoperative pain relief in patients receiving either ultrasound-guided TAP block or RLB under general anesthesia. The primary outcome is the postoperative cumulative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score on movement after 24 hours. The study was a randomized controlled trial conducted on 42 male patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status Ⅰ and Ⅱ, aged 18–65 years, who received TAP or RLB following laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery. The results showed that postoperative cumulative VAS scores at rest at 24 hours were similar in both groups, but VAS scores on movement were lower in the TAP block group. The study concluded that TAP block and RLB had similar postoperative cumulative pain scores on movemen...

Researchers have found in phase 3 QWINT-2 and QWINT-4 trials that Once-weekly insulin efsitora alfa was as effective as daily basal insulin in adults with type 2 diabetes. In the treat-to-target clinical trials, efsitora showed non-inferior A1C reduction compared to the most commonly used daily basal insulins globally. "The results of QWINT-2 and QWINT-4 are a significant milestone for the diabetes community and demonstrate that efsitora as a weekly insulin provides blood sugar control equivalent to daily basal insulins," said Jeff Emmick, MD, Ph.D., senior vice president, product development, Lilly. "With efsitora, we have an opportunity to provide an innovative once-weekly solution that safely achieves and maintains A1C control, reduces treatment burden of traditional daily injections and potentially improves adherence for people with diabetes." QWINT-2 evaluated the efficacy and safety of once-weekly efsitora compared to once-daily insulin degludec for 52 wee...

Recently published research paper focuses on the management of gynecomastia in males, particularly the case of a 24-year-old male with long-standing left breast gynecomastia who underwent surgery. The paper discusses the pathophysiology of gynecomastia, its prevalence, and treatment, emphasizing that surgical resection of the breast tissue is a common approach. Novel Anesthetic Methods for Breast Procedures The paper also presents the utilization of thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia and erector spinae plane block as alternative anesthetic methods for breast procedures, highlighting their benefits such as regulation of the neuroendocrine stress response, lower need for analgesics post-surgery, and decreased postoperative nausea and vomiting. The authors suggest that these methods offer a compelling substitute for general anesthesia, with potential for expanded application in varied surgical scenarios through additional research and clinical experience. Successful Application of N...

Guwahati: A nurse has been booked by the police following accusations from the family of a 10-year-old boy that their son suffered serious burns due to the alleged use of acid instead of antiseptic during a dressing of wound at Dolong Ghat Model Hospital in Morigaon district.  The family alleged in their complaint that the nurse had poured a liquid on the boy which caused him extreme agony and distress. They claimed that the liquid was acid. After reporting the matter to the doctor who was on duty at the hospital, they alleged that the latter tried to suppress the matter. The boy's mother alleged that the area where the liquid was poured became swollen, dark and appeared burnt. The family are in fear that it could lead to serious injuries or become life-threatening for their son. However, the police confirmed the boy's condition to be stable now.  Also read- Infant Dies Within 36 Hours At Rajkot Civil Hospital, Family Alleges Medical Negligence Accusing the nurse of...

Periodontitis is an inflammatory gum disease driven by bacterial infection and left untreated it can lead to complications including tooth loss. The disease also been associated with diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. One of the chief bacterial culprits behind periodontitis is Porphyromonas gingivalis, which colonizes biofilms on tooth surfaces and proliferates in deep periodontal pockets. Matcha, a finely ground green tea powder, may help keep P. gingivalis at bay. This week in Microbiology Spectrum , an open-access ASM journal, researchers in Japan report that matcha inhibited the growth of P. gingivalis in lab experiments. In addition, in a clinical study involving 45 people with periodontitis, people who used matcha mouthwash showed significantly lower levels of P. gingivalis in saliva samples than at the start of the study. “Matcha may have clinical applicability for prevention and treatment of periodontitis,” the authors n...

USA: In a groundbreaking development in healthcare, a recent randomized clinical trial has unveiled promising results regarding an adaptive behavioral intervention for weight loss management. This innovative approach offers new hope for individuals struggling with weight-related health issues, providing a tailored and dynamic strategy to support their journey towards healthier lifestyles. The adaptive, noninferiority randomized clinical trial of 400 adults with obesity or overweight showed that a wireless system that provided daily feedback on progress in weight loss and lifestyle change is not noninferior to the same system with human coaching. "In the study, the mean 6-month weight change was −2.8 kg with the wireless system alone and −4.8 kg with the wireless system with coaching (difference in weight change, −2.0 kg)," the researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In clinical practice, lifestyle interventions for weight loss are...

Having an epidural during labour is associated with a marked reduction in serious complications in the first few weeks after giving birth, finds a study published by The BMJ today. Doctors refer to these complications as severe maternal morbidity (SMM), which can include heart attack, heart failure, sepsis, and hysterectomy. Epidural analgesia is recommended for women with known risk factors for SMM, such as obesity, certain underlying conditions, or having more than one baby. These women are said to have a ‘medical indication’ for epidural analgesia in labour. Women delivering prematurely also carry a higher risk of SMM. Some research suggests that epidural analgesia in labour may reduce the risk of SMM, though evidence is limited. To address this, a team from the University of Glasgow in collaboration with the University of Bristol set out to determine the effect of labour epidural on SMM and explore whether this was greater in women with a medical indication for epidural in la...

Researchers have investigated the efficacy and safety of andexanet alfa, a reversal agent for factor Xa inhibitors, in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage. Hematoma expansion is a significant concern in these patients, particularly those on anticoagulant therapy. Patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage who are receiving factor Xa inhibitors are at risk of hematoma expansion, which can lead to worse outcomes. Andexanet alfa has been proposed as a reversal agent for factor Xa inhibitors, but its efficacy and safety in this population have not been well studied. This study was published in The New England Journal Of Medicine by Stuart J. and colleagues. In this randomized controlled trial, patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage within 15 hours of taking factor Xa inhibitors were assigned to receive either andexanet or usual care. The primary endpoint was hemostatic efficacy, defined by limited hematoma volume expansion, improvement in neurologic deficit, and no rec...

A recent cohort study published in the Journal of American Medical Association provided reassuring findings for dermatomyositis (DM) patients regarding the safety of methotrexate (MTX) usage. DM is a condition characterized by muscle weakness and skin rash, often presents with interstitial lung disease (ILD) as a complication by affecting about 23% of DM patients in North America. The study was conducted within the NIH-sponsored All of Us Research Program to investigate the link between MTX use and ILD development in DM patients. Despite MTX being a first-line treatment for DM, the concerns over its potential pulmonary toxicity have made clinicians to hesitate its use in this patient group. This research analyzed data from a total of 315 DM patients, of whom 163 met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 58 patients received MTX, while the other 105 did not. The study found that 17% of MTX-exposed patients and 16% of MTX-unexposed patients developed ILD, showing no significant differe...

Aerobic training is known to regulate blood pressure more effectively when practiced in the evening than in the morning. Researchers who conducted a study of elderly patients at the University of São Paulo’s School of Physical Education and Sports (EEFE-USP) in Brazil concluded that evening exercise is better for blood pressure regulation thanks to improved cardiovascular control by the autonomic nervous system via a mechanism known as baroreflex sensitivity. An article on the study is published in The Journal of Physiology. “There are multiple mechanisms to regulate blood pressure, and although morning training was beneficial, only evening training improved short-term control of blood pressure by enhancing baroreflex sensitivity. This is important because baroreflex control has a positive effect on blood pressure regulation, and there aren’t any medications to modulate the mechanism,” Leandro Campos de Brito, first author of the article, told. The study was part of Brito’s postdoct...

Elevated serum androgen levels in patients with PCOS associated with multiple metabolic abnormalities suggest a study published in the Gynecological Endocrinology. This study aimed to investigate the impact of serum androgen levels on metabolic profiles in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). They included 216 patients with PCOS and 216 healthy individuals selected as the control group. According to the measured serum androgen levels, patients with PCOS were divided into the hyperandrogenism group and non-hyperandrogenism group. Clinical metabolic indicators were assessed and compared between the two groups. Additionally, they assessed the correlation between androgen levels and clinical metabolic indicators. Results: The body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, mF-G score, and acne score, as well as T, LH, LSH/FSH, FPG, Cr, UA, TG, TC, and LDL-C levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the control group. The incidence of hyperandrogenism and clinical hypera...