Healthcare access and utilisation trends among the elderly in India: Evidence from the LASI Wave-1 survey.

Background: Population ageing is a global trend, driven by increased life expectancy, which has led to a rise in chronic diseases and greater healthcare needs among older persons. Despite the implementation of national policies and initiatives such as the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Policy 2017, older persons, particularly in rural areas, still face barriers to accessing healthcare, including cost, distance, and the quality of care. Socio-economic factors continue to play a key role in healthcare utilisation.

Management of acute variceal bleeding: updated APASL guidelines.

Acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is a common life-threatening complication of portal hypertension (PHT), having a six-week mortality of 10%-20%. Major advances in the hemodynamic management, risk stratification, pharmacotherapy, endoscopy techniques, hemostatic devices and radiological interventions have led to improved management and outcome of AVB patients in the recent past. Therefore, the APASL Portal Hypertension Working Party, chose a panel of experts, primarily from the Asia-Pacific region, to identify important developments and controversial areas in the field of AVB.

Unravelling Neuronal Death Mechanisms: The Role of Cytokines and Chemokines in Immune Imbalance in Alzheimer's Disease Progression.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, with emerging evidence highlighting the critical roles of cytokines and chemokines in its pathogenesis. Regulated cell death is a highly structured and meticulously coordinated series of molecular and signalling processes involving gene expression and protein activity. This mechanism is essential for normal developmental processes and the preservation of tissue homeostasis.

Middle meningeal artery embolisation in chronic subdural hematoma: A double-edged sword.

Chronic subdural hematoma is essentially managed by surgical intervention. In recent times, middle meningeal artery embolisation has emerged as a less invasive procedure in such cases. The use of fine catheters to selectively embolise the specific involved branches of the middle meningeal artery using polyvinyl alcohol particles looks promising; however, the presence of anastomotic arteries can result in reflux and embolisation of these atypical branches, causing a myriad of complications.

Machine Learning for Predicting Recurrent Course in Uveitis Using Baseline Clinical Characteristics.

Purpose: We developed and evaluated machine learning models for predicting the risk of recurrent uveitis using baseline clinical characteristics, to inform clinical decision-making and risk stratification.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the Ocular Autoimmune Systemic Inflammatory Infectious Study registry, including 966 patients (1432 eyes) with uveitis. Three machine learning classifiers-random Forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and radial basis function support vector classifier-were trained on preprocessed baseline demographic and clinical data.

Comparative analysis of pachymetry and assessment of corneal topography in pediatric congenital corneal opacities: A study of AS-OCT and UBM imaging modalities.

This study aimed to assess the interchangeability of pachymetry measurements obtained by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in children with congenital corneal opacity (CCO). In this single-centre, comparative case series, children with unilateral or bilateral CCO who underwent examination under anesthesia (EUA) were evaluated using both AS-OCT and UBM. Pachymetry values from both modalities were compared using Bland-Altman analysis, and topography maps from AS-OCT were examined.

How we implement a prehospital transfusion program.

Background: Prehospital blood transfusions are necessary in certain situations that involve significant bleeding to prevent fatality.

Study Design And Methods: Members of the AABB Donor and Blood Component Management Prehospital working group collaborated to provide a consensus review of best practices in the implementation of a prehospital transfusion program.

Results: Several logistic paradigms exist in terms of how blood products are provided to emergency medical services (EMS).

Expression of circulating p38 inhibited cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma-associated long non-coding RNA in rheumatoid arthritis: A descriptive study.

Background & objectives Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by joint destruction. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators in RA pathogenesis. This study explores the serum expression of p38-inhibited cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma-associated lncRNA (PICSAR lncRNA) as a potential non-invasive biomarker for RA.

Primary cardiac angiosarcoma - a diagnostic roller-coaster till fatality.

A 28-year-old male with a relatively short history of progressive dyspnea and a large pericardial effusion with tamponade was found to have an intracardiac mass localized in right atrium (RA) on echocardiography. Multimodality imaging revealed an irregular mass abutting the lateral wall of RA, with infiltration into surrounding pericardium and superior venacava. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan confirmed the mass as metabolically active lesion, along with uptake in mediastinal structures and lymph nodes.

Implementation Status and Usability of Digital Health Interventions Among Health Care Workers and End Users at the Primary Health Care Level in Chandigarh, North India: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Digital health interventions (DHIs) refer to the use of information and communication technologies to support or facilitate the achievement of health objectives. The Government of India has launched various DHIs at the primary health care level to improve health services and health-seeking behaviors. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the effectiveness of implementing these interventions and the user response from target end-users within the government health system setting.

Compound Heterozygous Hb Milledgeville With -α Thalassemia-A Rare and First Reported Cause of Primary Erythrocytosis in an Indian Family.

Recent review collated 22 rare and novel alpha globin gene variants amongst the Indian population published in the literature in the last 52 years. We report another rare high-oxygen affinity alpha-globin variant hemoglobinopathy in a compound heterozygous state with α thalassemia. The patient, a 42-year-old male, came for evaluation of JAK2 p.

Stem cell therapy in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Apart from therapeutic hypothermia, no treatment is approved for neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Stem cell therapy is a promising option, with a few studies conducted in recent years.

Methods: This systematic review assessed pooled 12-month survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates with HIE receiving stem cell therapy.

Demographics of plateletpheresis donors and session profile in a teaching institute of Punjab.

Background: Over decades, increased demand of platelet transfusions for patients with various conditions led to accelerated use of technologically advanced plateletpheresis.

Aims: Study the demographics of plateletpheresis donor and plateletpheresis session profile.

Setting And Design: Prospective, cross-sectional, open label study.

Restricted antibiotic use in the clinical center of montenegro.

Background: In this century, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a major public health problem, because it is a leading cause of death worldwide. Antimicrobial resistance is caused by the overprescription of antibiotics as well as self-medication. In 2010, antibiotics were the most commonly prescribed medications according to the Montenegrin Institute of Public Health.

Acute corneal hydrops secondary to acquired syphilis.

PurposeTo report a rare case of acute corneal hydrops and conjunctival ulceration secondary to acquired syphilis.MethodsA male in his late 30's presented with redness, pain, and watering in both eyes and sudden loss of vision in the left eye. Examination revealed bilateral conjunctival ulcers along with well-circumscribed corneal edema with blunt stunted intrinsic vessel in the left eye.

Cognitive Training Intervention for Heart Failure Patients: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of 'Cognitive Training' on cognitive functions, self-care, medication adherence, QOL, functional capacity and satisfaction level among HF patients.

Materials And Methods: In the current randomised controlled trial, 60 HF patients were enrolled from the cardiology outpatient department by total enumeration sampling technique and randomised into the 30 control and 30 experimental group participants using a random number table. A socio-demographic cum clinical profile sheet, Montreal cognitive assessment, self-care of HF index, Hill-Bone medication adherence scale, Minnesota living with HF questionnaire (MLHFQ), 6-min walk test and satisfaction questionnaire were used for collecting data and pre-test was done at the time of enrolment.