bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of Lianhuaqingwen capsules in high-risk common type COVID-19 pneumonia: A multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Liu Bin , Li Liang , Liu Lei , Ye Min , Zhang Wei , Zhou Xiangdong , Li Qi 
Published: September 2023

Objective:
To evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of Lianhuaqingwen (LHQW) capsules in patients with high-risk common type COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods:
A retrospective multicenter study on 383 high-risk common type COVID-19 pneumonia cases was conducted. Patients were categorized as the standard treatment (SDT) group (n=168) and the LHQW+SDT group (n=215). The primary endpoint was the rate of symptom (fever, fatigue, coughing) recovery and the secondary endpoints included the time to symptom recovery, the proportion of patients with improvement in chest CT images, the proportion of patients with clinical cure, the timing and rate of negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 RNA assay.

Results:
The recovery rate was significantly higher in the LHQW+SDT group as compared with the SDT group (89.7% vs. 72.0%, P<0.01). The combined use of LHQW+SDT also showed shorter time for symptom recovery, as well as shorter time for individual symptom of fever, fatigue and coughing recovery than use of SDT alone. A higher proportion of patients in the LHQW+SDT group with improvements in chest CT images and clinical cure (77.7% vs. 57.1%, P<0.01) but the proportion of patients deteriorating to severe cases (1% vs. 25%, P<0.01) in this group was significant lower than those in the SDT group. No significant difference in negative conversion rate of viral assay results was observed (76.8% vs. 75.0%, P>0.05). No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions:
LHQW capsules could be recommended to ameliorate clinical symptoms and reduce the rate of deteriorating to severe cases for high-risk common type COVID-19 pneumonia.
Disparities in Health-Related Quality of Life among Adults with Ischemic Heart Disease, Stroke, and Both Conditions
Authors: Jacobs Molly M. , Evans Elizabeth , Ellis Charles 
Published: September 2023

Background:
Notable disparities exist in ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke outcomes. Studies have identified several causal factors that contribute to these disparities, but few have assessed the disparate quality of life (QOL) among individuals living with IHD, stroke, or both. This study evaluated the impact of IHD, stroke, and both conditions on health-related QOL (HRQOL) and quantified existing disparities.

Materials and Methods:
Using the data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey, we calculated the health and activities limitation index — a generic HRQOL measure comprising perceived health and activities limitations — for 29,482 adults. Adjusting for sex, age, income, education, urbanicity, marital status, household size, region of residence, and insurance status, the differences in HRQOL between racial and ethnic groups were estimated as well as racial/ethnic differences in the HRQOL of IHD, stroke, or both conditions.

Results:
Compared to those with neither condition, individuals with IHD (−0.214, Standard Error (SE)=0.015, stroke (−0.291, SE=0.028), and both (−0.438, SE=0.040) had 20% to 44% lower HRQOL. Blacks (−0.014, SE=0.004) and hispanics (−0.012, SE=0.003) had lower HRQOL compared to whites even after sample heterogeneity. Diagnosis with stroke (−0.182, SE=0.082), IHD (−0.137, SE=0.052), or both (−0.208, SE=0.126) lowered the HRQOL more for black individuals compared to white individuals, while other subgroups showed no statistically significant difference in HRQOL. In general, sex, age, and household composition showed little difference in adjusted HRQOL.

Conclusion:
While IHD and stroke are independently associated with significantly low HRQOL, their co-occurrence has a substantially negative impact on HRQOL, particularly among minoritized racial groups.
COVID-19 and the Experience of Mothers in Perinatal Psychiatry Services: An Explorative Study in the UK
Authors: Almas Saima , Kar Nilamadhab , Kennedy Vanathi 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background/Objective:
As the health services were reorganized during the COVID-19 restricting access to family caregivers, we explored the experience of women in the perinatal period, attending a specialist perinatal mental health service.

Methods:
Patients (n = 38) in the outpatient list for review were assessed over phone based on a predesigned, semi-structured questionnaire, comprising both quantitative (demographic, clinical variables) and qualitative open-ended questions regarding their experience of services during COVID-19.

Results:
The responses provided insight into how the pandemic affected the experience of pregnancy of mentally ill women and the impact of changes in perinatal mental health services. The main concerns centered around reduced support from close family members during the perinatal period due to the lockdown, anxiety regarding COVID transmission, absence of a supporting persons in antenatal clinics, difficulty accessing support from midwives, and health visitors as well as the use of virtual clinics for mental health consultations.

Conclusions:
The results suggested possible methods of improving perinatal mental health support during challenging times, which included ensuring in-person consultations, access to family even remotely, increasing accessibility through alternative means; providing and close monitoring of additional psychosocial support when needed.
A nationwide survey on the preference of Indian undergraduate medical students to go abroad for higher studies and residency
Authors: Kansal Rohin , Singla Ankur , Bawa Ashvind , Malhotra Kashish , Lalchandan Janvi , Grewal Jasneet , Mehta Madhav , Kaur Navreet , Jain Samarvir , Mondal Himel 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Context:
Getting residency training abroad is a critical motivator in the emigration of Indian medical students. Brain drain is an emerging issue, especially for developing countries as it causes a shortage of trained staff in the donor country.

Aim:
We aimed to survey Indian medical students to know about their intentions to get trained abroad and to understand the factors influencing their decision.

Materials and Methods:
In this cross-sectional observational study, we surveyed Indian undergraduate medical students of all professional years, including internship. A validated questionnaire collected data on students’ demographics and educational characteristics, intention to study overseas or stay back in India, and factors influencing their decision.

Results:
Out of a total of 1199 responses (51.1% males, 48.9% females), 45.0% partakers had planned to pursue their residency abroad, while 33.8% wanted to stay in India and 21.2% were undecided. Better lifestyle and higher pay grades overseas were viewed as the most significant barriers to staying back in India and a key influencer in decision-making among the maximum number of students (412; 76.3%). On the other hand, a whopping 58.2% of participants opined that they wanted to stay back in India for taking care of their parents.

Conclusions:
Source countries with better healthcare facilities and better incomes tend to attract medical students. Awareness among medical educators regarding constantly changing curricula, a shift to a competency-based education system, better pay grades, limited working hours, and interventions to mitigate workplace violence could help prevent brain drain among Indian medical students and graduates.
The correlation between helicobacter pylori and idiopathic achalasia: A case control study
Authors: Yaseri Hashem F. , Yaseri Amirhossein F. 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:
Idiopathic achalasia is a common and well-recognized primary esophageal motility disorder with unknown etiology and is characterized by the abnormality of esophageal body peristalsis associated with an impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between Helicobacter pylori and idiopathic achalasia.

Methods:
This study was conducted on 700 patients, with dysphagia, regurgitation, and non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP), who met our inclusion criteria. The mean ± SD age was 39.8 ± 11 (13–80 years), and 60% (420) of the participants were female. Of the participants, 108 had idiopathic achalasia and 105 were normal participants who were placed in the case and control groups, respectively. They were enrolled in the study based on high-resolution manometry. H. pylori was confirmed by a histological study. In the biopsy, specimens were taken by esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

Results:
Our results revealed that 71.3% and 45% of the participants were H. Pylori positive in the case and control groups, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) was 3.3 (95% CI: 1.80–5.99, P < 0.05), indicating a statistically significant association between H. Pylori infection and the group classification. The dominant presenting symptoms in achalasia were dysphagia (97.2%) and NCCP (80.5%), but regurgitation (65.7%) was a dominant symptom in the normal participants.

Conclusions and Inferences:
Diverse autoimmune and apoptotic phenomena induced by H. Pylori influence the pathogenesis of idiopathic achalasia, suggesting an underlying link between H. Pylori infection and idiopathic achalasia. This correlation should be confirmed by other clinical and experimental studies.
Study of pre-conception care (PCC) amongst women in the first trimester coming to the obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGY) outpatient department (OPD) of a hospital in a rural area
Authors: Phalke Rucha D. , Patil Riddhi T. , Jain Pawni , Patil Pratikesh S. , Ambekar Harshada G. , Phalke Vaishali D. 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:
Pre-conception care (PCC) is a set of interventions that aim to identify and modify biomedical, behavioural and social risks to women’s health and pregnancy outcomes.

Materials and Methods:
It was an observational descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGY) outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care teaching institute in a rural set-up. Two hundred women in the first trimester of pregnancy were interviewed using a pre-designed and pretested questionnaire following informed verbal consent. The study was conducted between May and September 2019. The study excluded women in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy, inpatient department (IPD) patients and those unwilling to participate.

Results:
The study revealed that 25.5% of the women had conceived between 14 and 19 years of age. Fifty-four percent of the pregnancies were unplanned. Merely 14.5% had consulted and 15% had their laboratory investigations performed before pregnancy. Only 11% had received pre-conception folic acid supplementation. Pregnancies with birth spacing <2 years accounted for 15%. The proportion of women with known risk factors was 38% being underweight, 9.5% being overweight, 8% being of short stature (height ≤145 cm), 63% having anaemia (haemoglobin <12 g/dL), 10% with a previous history of abortion, 3.5% with systemic diseases, 4.5% with poor oral hygiene, 1% with domestic violence, 3% with medication, 3% with tobacco addiction and 4.5% with radiation/environmental toxin exposure. One percent had the hepatitis B vaccine and 0.5% had the influenza vaccine.

Conclusion:
From our study, we conclude that the PCC services are meagre, and unhealthy women who conceive without adequate PCC are prone to maternal and foetal health complications.
How much do we follow birth preparedness? A community-based snapshot study from rural Delhi, India
Authors: Parija Pragyan Paramita , Tiwari Poornima , Sahoo Soumya Swaroop 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
Maternal healthcare remains a challenging public health problem in low and middle-income countries like India. The comprehension and services regarding practices related to birth preparedness and its complications in rural areas of India remain poor and underused. In view of this, we conducted this study to explore the preparedness of the pregnant women in the community residing in rural settlements of Delhi.

Methods:
This cross-sectional community-based study was carried out in 165 currently pregnant women selected through proportionate sampling from rural Delhi. A semi-structured questionnaire adapted from Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness (BPCR) tool kit was used. Binary and multivariate regression analysis was applied to identify the predictors of BPCR.

Results:
In our study, BPCR index was found to be 25.78%. Only 17.6% pregnant women were well prepared. Multigravida, literacy, and higher socioeconomic status were found significant predictors for well preparedness for child birth and complication readiness in bivariate analysis. In multivariate logistic regression, multigravida and literacy were found to be predictors for well preparedness.

Conclusion:
The skill and knowledge level of the mother-in-laws and other women along with husband in the family needs to be improved in context of pregnancy and child birth. Frontline health workers can assist the to-be mothers and their family members in informed decision-making for better feto-maternal outcomes.
Does hyponatremia pose a risk factor for hip fractures in the elderly? Can a primary physician prevent it?
Authors: Kumar R Vijay , Manchekar Mayur P. , Kashid Manoj , Rajauria Surbhi , Rai Sanjay K. 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Objective:
Fracture around the hip is amongst the most common and serious fractures in the elderly, which leads to significant morbidity and mortality. In literature, many authors noted that even mild hyponatremia adversely affects bone, leading to an increased incidence of fractures. We aim to determine whether chronic hyponatremia (>90-day duration) increases the risk of hip fracture in the elderly and whether primary care physicians can help to prevent it.

Materials and Methods:
During the period from January 2020 to March 2022, we identified 145 patients aged between 65 and 90 years who were admitted to the hospital with hip fractures following a fall and compared them with 140 healthy controls. We recorded sodium (Na) serum levels in all included patients at the time of arrival and consequently for 3 days and compared them with those of controls. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs). We measured serum Na levels for 3 days and took the average to ascertain hyponatremia.

Result:
In the study, the odds of hyponatremia were 70.3% with a confidence interval of 95% versus 3.6% in controls (P = 0.05). Age and hyponatremia were strongly associated with hip fractures following a fall. With a 5-year increase in age, the univariate OR for hip fracture increased by 5.67 (P < 0.0001). After adjusting for age, cases were nearly six times more likely to be hyponatremic than controls (OR = 4.90, P = 0.04).

Conclusion:
In our study, we noted that even mild chronic hyponatremia in old age increased the chance of falls. Addressing hyponatremia in the elderly may reduce the risk of falls and minimize hip fractures.
Household-level food insecurity and its correlates in rural Bihar: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Naik Bijaya N. , Verma Manisha , Rao Rajath U. R. , Nirala Santosh K. , Singh Chandramani , Pandey Sanjay , Ranjan Alok , Kumar Pragya 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
Bihar has experienced high nutritional public health problem among children and women over the years. In this background, this study was planned to find the level of food insecurity and identify contributing factors in rural Bihar.

Material and Methods:
We conducted community-based cross-sectional study among 255 families residing in villages catered by RHTC, Naubatpur. A pretested semi-structured interview schedule and HFIAS were used.

Result:
A total of 27.8% of the 255 households were food insecure, of which 73.3% were severely food insecure. Kutcha houses, dispossession of agricultural land, and lower SES were found to be predictors.

Conclusion:
Around one in three families experienced food insecurity, and it was more among families residing in kutcha houses, without possession of agricultural land and belonging to lower socioeconomic status.
Assessment of lung involvement using HRCT among vaccinated and non-vaccinated elderly COVID-19 patients admitted in a designated hospital, Tamil Nadu – A retrospective study
Authors: Nivetha Rajaraman , Rajarajeswari Neethiselvan , Arumugam Balaji , Sivagurunathan Chinnaian , Iyer Ramesh Harihara 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
The COVID-19 pandemic is considered one of the most devastating situations globally, the worst affected were the senior citizens. A number of initiatives were carried out to control the COVID-19 pandemic; one such important measure is the development of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent the disease. But the continuous emergence of new SARS-COV2 variants (antigenic drift) and its demographic variation in virulence makes the vaccine’s efficacy questionable. This study is intended to evaluate the association between the degree of lung involvement and the effectiveness of vaccination against the disease in cases admitted to a designated hospital in Tamil Nadu.

Materials and Methods:
A hospital records-based-retrospective research was conducted among COVID-19 patients admitted from the 1st of April 2021 to the 31st of May 2021, and information was gathered regarding their vaccination status, comorbid conditions, and CT severity score (CTSS) in the HRCT lung report. A consecutive sampling technique was used to choose the study participants; about 120 participants were included in the study. The Chi-square test and Fisher’s extract test were used to evaluate the hypothesis. The relationship between a dependent variable and independent factors was estimated using multiple linear regression.

Results:
Among 120 participants, about 60.2% were males and 39.8% were females. Vaccination status and comorbid conditions had a significant association with severe lung involvement in COVID-19 patients.

Conclusion:
Non-vaccinated patients had severe lung involvement based on the HRCT lung scan findings than the vaccinated patients. To reduce mortality, it is essential to ensure universal coverage of COVID-19 vaccination.
Study on knowledge of front-of-pack labeling and food group-based dietary intake among chronic gastritis patients
Authors: Nagireddi Tejaswi , Reddy B Venkatashiva , Kollimarla Mounika , Kamala Veerabathina , Desu Sai Subhakar , Pentapati Siva Santosh Kumar , Aravindakshan Rajeev , Gupta Arti 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
Chronic gastritis is one of the most prevalent disorders affecting individuals, which affects hundreds of millions of people in different ways around the world. The significant incidence of poor dietary quality and diet-related illnesses may be addressed by orienting customers toward healthier food options. The objective of the study was to estimate the knowledge of front-of-package labels (FoPLs) and food group-based dietary intake of nutrients among patients with chronic gastritis.

Materials and Methods:
The study design was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that was done in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. The study population included 208 chronic gastritis patients between 20 to 60 years of age selected by systematic sampling. Detailed information on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors was collected using a questionnaire and 24-h dietary recall was done. The objective assessment of Knowledge of FoPLs was assessed mock package images representing a fictional brand to prevent other factors from interfering with product evaluation.

Results:
A total of 208 patients were studied with a near-equal proportion of males and females. Among participants, more than half (57.2%) can interpret FoPL, more than three-fourths (77.4%) have a belief that they eat a healthy diet mostly and only half (52.4%) of participants are somewhat knowledgeable about nutrition, and finally almost half (46.6%) of participants are not seeing the FoP label during food purchase. The mean score of knowledge of FoP labeling was 0.92 ± 1.135. Knowledge of FOPL was positively associated with the age of study participants OR 0.178 (95% CI: 0.178 to 0.856) with P value = 0.02. Grains have the maximum intake among all the food groups with a mean intake of 123.21 g/day.

Conclusion:
The majority of participants do not know the food labeling, thus methods of education that focus on dietary interventions are urgently needed to raise awareness among the people.
How safe is COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women and its outcome – A hospital-based retrospective study in Indian population
Authors: Pandit Niraj B. , Fulmali Purvi R. , Chandrayan Piyusha , Chauhan Kishor , Bhil Dipika L. , Rasania Manish N. 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT

Background:
Although getting the Covid infection is equal for every person, during pregnancy, the women’s immunity is a little lower than usual, so they are more prone to infection. That is why they should be taken care of with more precautions. A vaccine is the best weapon to fight such infection. Covishield and Covaxin are the two vaccines first introduce in country India including for pregnant women. The safety of the vaccine was a big concern as one of them is a newer type of vaccine. The current study was planned with objectives to understand the safety aspect of Covid19 vaccine on pregnancy outcome and Adverse events following immunization (AEFI) following vaccination.

Materials and Methods:
This was a hospital-based retrospective cohort study. The sample size was all the pregnant women who delivered a baby from July 2021 to April 2022 at the tertiary care hospital in Vadodara. These women were retrospectively assessed for the status of vaccination based on the record and other information related to ANC from the record. Total of 1974 women were eligible for study after inclusion–exclusion criteria. The collected data was analysed.

Result:
Of the 1974 pregnant women, 531 (27%) took any of one covid19 vaccine and 1443 (73%) did not take vaccine. There were 511 (96%) women opted for Covishield vaccine and 20 (4%) women who opted for Covaxin. Of 531 women who took vaccination, 46% women had AEFI. The risk of low birth weight (LBW) baby was 40% among vaccinated v/s 39% among non-vaccinated and congenital malformation was 0.6% among vaccinated v/s 1% among non-vaccinated women. On the contrary, the risk of premature birth was 8% among the vaccinated group v/s 13% among the non-vaccinated group and NICU admission following delivery was 8% among the vaccinated group v/s 12% among the non-vaccinated group.

Conclusion:
AEFI among pregnant women were found less compared to the general population. The study also revealed that both Covishield and Covaxin are found safe for pregnancy outcomes and can be given to pregnant women during any trimester of pregnancy message for a family physician.