Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains one of the most prevalent chronic bacterial infections globally, contributing significantly to the pathogenesis of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and gastric cancer. Over the past few decades, treatment regimens have evolved significantly due to increasing antibiotic resistance, varied geographic eradication rates, and emerging evidence-based strategies. This review focuses on first-line, second-line, and rescue medications and offers a thorough summary of current pharmacotherapeutic approaches to H. pylori infection. Conventional triple therapy, once the gold standard, is now being replaced in many regions by bismuth quadruple therapy and concomitant regimens due to declining efficacy. The role of novel agents such as vonoprazan, rifabutin and metronidazole in enhancing eradication rates is also discussed. Furthermore, the importance of antibiotic susceptibility testing, patient compliance, and regional resistance patterns in tailoring individualized therapy is highlighted. This insight aims to support rational therapeutic decision-making and promote optimized clinical outcomes in the management of H. pylori...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
Background: The internet has become an integral part of daily life, with its usage growing exponentially. However, excessive use may lead to addictive behaviors and mental health challenges. Medical undergraduates are particularly susceptible due to their extensive engagement with online platforms. Aim: To estimate the prevalence and pattern of internet addiction among medical undergraduates and explore perceived reasons for excessive internet use. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods study was conducted among 110 medical undergraduates across all academic phases between March and August 2024. Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to assess addiction levels, along with a structured questionnaire to collect related information. Qualitative open-ended question was included to gain deeper insights into students’ experiences with internet use. Quantitative data was analyzed by using proportions and chi square test. Thematic analysis was performed on transcribed qualitative responses, and a word cloud was generated to depict frequently occurring terms. Results: Among participants, 70.91% had mild addiction or were average users, 20.91% had moderate addiction and 8.18% were not addicted. Thematic...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
Introduction: Paratyphoid fever is an enteric infection caused primarily by Salmonella enterica serovars Paratyphi A, Paratyphi B and Paratyphi C. It accounts roughly for 20-30% of total enteric fever cases globally, and this proportion is rising, particularly where typhoid vaccination efforts are underway. The current study was planned to determine the seroprevalence of paratyphoid fever and the epidemiological details of the affected cases in our region. Material and Methods: The study was conducted for a period of eighteen months from January 2023 to July 2024 on serum samples from patients suspected of enteric fever were tested with Widal test. The results were interpreted based on regional baseline antibody titers and analyzed. Results: Out of 3310 samples, 1102 tested positive by Widal test. Forty five cases showed agglutinins for Paratyphi A or Paratyphi B or both. Twenty six were female (57.8%) and highest burden of infection was observed in age group less than 15 years (46.7%) followed by 16-45 years (42.2%) with a mean age of 18.9 years. Conclusion: Epidemiology...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
The present study evaluated the hepatoprotective potential of Barleria cristata extracts petroleum ether (BCL-PE) and ethanol (BCL-EE) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced toxicity in cultured Chang liver cells. CCl₄ is a known hepatotoxin that generates reactive oxygen species, causing oxidative damage and cell death in liver tissues. The cytotoxicity of CCl₄ was assessed using the MTT assay, which revealed an IC₅₀ value of 62.5 µg/mL and a 49.41% reduction in cell viability. A dose-dependent decline in viability was observed, with the lowest level of 7.05% at 1000 µg/mL. To evaluate the protective effects, cells were pre-treated with various concentrations of BCL-PE and BCL-EE before CCl₄ exposure. Both extracts demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in cell viability. At the lowest tested dose (7.2 µg/mL), BCL-PE and BCL-EE restored viability to 92.94% and 93.52%, respectively. Microscopic analysis supported these findings, showing improved cellular morphology in extract-treated groups compared to cells treated with CCl₄ alone. These results suggest that Barleria cristata possesses significant hepatoprotective properties, likely due to its antioxidant and cytoprotective constituents. The...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2025 in |
Background: The WHO has defined AEFI (Adverse events following immunization) as “any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the vaccine usage”. The incidence was 13.7% in our country. Vaccine safety surveillance studies are the need of the hour in developing countries to maintain public trust in vaccines since there are limited number of vaccine vigilance studies, the current study is being taken up. Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective observational study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics at Victoria Hospital attached to BMCRI. The study was conducted in November and December 2022. The data were collected from patient case records from the year 2018 to 2022. Totally 30 adverse events were reported in that time period. Results: Most of the AEFI were reported in the age group of 0-6 years (66.6%). Proportion of male was found to be more than female. Most of the AEFI were reported following Pentavalent (40%) followed by BCG (23.3%), and MR vaccine (20%)....
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