Burden of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Madhya Pradesh, India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a global public health threat, with over 30 pathogens known to spread sexually. In 2020, the World Health Organization reported 374 million new cases, with varied prevalence in India, especially among at-risk groups.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea among the general population and blood donors in Madhya Pradesh.

Burden of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Rajasthan, India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: There is a notable gap persisting in the existing body of evidence regarding the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the general population in India.

Objectives: The primary aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive assessment and quantification of the burden of STIs within the state of Rajasthan.

Materials And Methods: The study findings conformed to the criteria outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Water, sanitation and infection control practices in rural health facilities of Jodhpur District, India: an intervention through supportive supervision.

Background: Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in rural healthcare facilities in India, poses significant challenges to effective infection control, contributing to the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and poor patient outcomes. Despite ongoing global efforts to enhance WASH standards, these facilities often lack the necessary resources and management systems to sustain improvements. Supportive supervision has emerged as a potential strategy to address these gaps.

Metabolic Imaging Parameters of F FDG PET/CT in Differentiating the Ki-67 Index in Carcinoma Breast.

Background: The proliferation index (Ki-67 index) is a known independent prognostic marker in carcinoma breast, and its expression is directly proportional to higher recurrence and worse prognosis. However, there is no standard cutoff of the Ki-67 index to determine its low or high expression. In this study, we aim to find the association of various metabolic parameters on F FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with Ki-67 index in carcinoma breast patients and further evaluate its correlation with low and high Ki-67 index groups.

Symptoms of Depression and Inhaler Adherence Among Adolescents With Asthma: Is There an Association?

Background: The prevalence of depression among adolescents with asthma is reported to be 27%-34% across different geographical regions. Asthma control depends on inhaler adherence. Studies on the association of depression and inhaler adherence among adolescents with asthma are few, especially in the Indian subcontinent.

Diagnostic performance of NIRADS on F-18 FDG PET/CT in the post-treatment assessment of head and neck malignancies - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This review aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System (NIRADS) categories using 2-deoxy 2-(Fluorine-18) fluoro D-glucose positron emission tomography integrated with computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) to diagnose recurrence or treatment failure in the post-treatment assessment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: A systematic search of the indexed medical literature was conducted till 7 November 2024 using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar to include studies reporting post-treatment recurrence rates on F-18-FDG PET/CT as per the NIRADS criteria. Studies were qualitatively assessed for risk of bias using the QUADAS-2 tool.

Assessment of the intensive phase 'Shakti Divas' initiative to combatting anemia in Rajasthan, India.

Introduction: Anemia is a global health concern, affecting over 2 billion people worldwide. Rajasthan state of India launched an intensive phase initiative to combat anemia comprehensively.

Objectives: To assess the intensive phase anemia control "Shakti Divas" initiative of Rajasthan government through process and outcome valuation, while understanding the challenges and barriers in the implementation.

Prevalence of pediatric and adolescent epilepsy in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Epilepsy is a widespread neurological disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, with a large proportion of cases emerging in childhood. Many children with epilepsy in low and middle-income countries, such as India, encounter obstacles to care despite effective treatments, which add to the treatment gap.

Methodology: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Role of femoral intima-media thickness in risk prediction and assessment of severity of coronary artery disease.

Background/objective: Atherosclerosis is a systemic multifocal disease which most commonly involves branching points of the large and medium-sized arteries. The carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) is an established marker for increased cardiovascular risk and cerebrovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to establish the role of femoral intima-media thickness (FIMT) in predicting cardiovascular risk in angiographically confirmed patients of coronary artery disease (CAD) when compared with apparently healthy patients (having normal coronary angiogram).

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy vs Chemoradiotherapy for Malignancy of Esophagus: A Prospective Comparative Study.

Introduction: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NACRT) followed by surgery has become the standard of care for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study compared the tolerability and oncological benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with those of NACRT for the treatment of ESCC.

Methods: A prospective quasi-experimental comparative study was conducted from July 2019 to August 2023 to assess the efficacy of the NACT regimen of two cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin as an alternative to standard NACRT.

Robotic versus open pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary neoplasm: a propensity matched analysis of peri-operative and oncologic outcomes.

Introduction: Though open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) is the gold standard, robotic pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) is on the rise due to its technical ease with robotic armamentarium and claim to decrease morbidity in the perioperative period. This study compares the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of RPD performed for periampullary neoplasms (PANs) with OPD.

Method: This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2018 to December 2023 for all the patients who underwent either OPD or RPD for PANs.

Utility of shear wave elastography in evaluation of children with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Shear wave elastography (SWE) is proven for liver fibrosis. However, there are challenges in assessing the kidney owing to its surrounding structures, retroperitoneal location, and visceral fat. Kidney biopsy is the gold standard for estimating fibrosis, but is associated with inherent risks of bleeding and sedation.

Expression of Programmed Death Ligand 1 [PD-L1] and Mismatch Repair Status in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of Cervix.

Background And Objectives: To assess mismatch repair (MMR) status and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix and their association with clinicopathologic parameters.

Material And Methods: Expression of PD-L1 and MMR status (MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, and PMS2) was assessed on 50 cases of SCCs of the cervix by immunohistochemistry.

Results: 80% of tumor cells and 84% of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes showed PD-L1 expression.

Ultrasound-guided short-axis out-of-plane versus long-axis in-plane technique of Posterior Tibial Artery Cannulation in adult patients: The POTACUT (POsterior Tibial Artery Access with Ultrasound Trial) Randomized Trial.

Background: No research has been conducted to compare long-axis in-plane and short-axis out-of-plane techniques for ultrasound-guided posterior tibial artery cannulation in adults. This study compared these two procedures for cannulating the posterior tibial artery.

Methods: This prospective randomized trial included 236 adult patients undergoing general anesthesia who required arterial cannulation.

Willingness to pay for a tobacco-free life: a contingent valuation assessment.

Tobacco, being an established risk factor for significant mortality and morbidity, causes over 7 million annual deaths globally. India is a country with over 270 million active tobacco users. On the one hand, although the willingness to quit amongst tobacco users is as high as 55.

Health care needs and barriers to care among the transgender population: a study from western Rajasthan.

Background: Transgender people comprise an estimated 0.3-0.5% (25 million) of the global population.

Challenges and Barriers Faced by People with TB and Healthcare Workers Providing TB Care and Management - A Qualitative Study.

Background: In tuberculosis (TB) care and management, there are practical challenges existing at the patient-provider level leading to implementation barriers at the primary care level.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to explore the challenges and barriers faced by people with TB and health-care workers in TB care and management.

Materials And Methods: This study was done as a part of a community intervention study between November 2021 and December 2022.

Provider's satisfaction with telemedicine services for tribals of Western Rajasthan: A qualitative analysis.

Background: There are significant barriers to healthcare access in tribal areas, even though for every 834 people, there is one public physician (registered allopathic and AYUSH doctors). More than 86% of hospital visits occur in rural areas. Furthermore, the bulk of them travel long distances to reach hospitals.

Increased Taxes and Regulation of Indian Cigarillos (Bidi) Industry: Effects on Revenue and Years of Life Lost.

Introduction: Indian cigarillos (bidi) are low-cost alternatives to cigarettes with only 22% imposed taxes, and turnover of up to INR 4 million per annum exempted from taxation.

Aims And Methods: This paper estimates revenue implications and potential loss of life years (YLLs) averted if the bidi industry is subjected to increased regulations and taxation. Revenue estimates at 10% increased regulation and 100% regulation were calculated, followed by estimates at taxes equivalent to cigarettes and World Health Organization-Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) recommendation.

Assessment of self-esteem and quality of life in patients with transtibial amputations using an exoskeletal prosthesis.

Background: Lower limb amputation can have profound physical, psychological, and social effects on individuals. Assistive aids like prosthetic lower limbs can help an individual regain mobility and thereby affect their self-esteem and quality of life.

Objective: To assess self-esteem and quality of life in patients with transtibial amputations who are using a transtibial prosthesis and explore the association between sociodemographic and amputation-related factors with self-esteem and prosthesis-related quality of life measures.

Diagnostic performance of F-18 FDG PET/CT in differentiating autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic cancer: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the utility of F-18 FDG PET/CT in the non-invasive diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and differentiating it from pancreatic cancer (CaP) based on the amount and pattern of FDG uptake, as well as involvement of extra-pancreatic sites.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar. Only those studies that compared the findings of F-18 FDG PET/CT in terms of SUVmax, pattern of FDG uptake and presence of FDG-avid extra-pancreatic sites in both AIP and CaP were included.