All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur

Yellow fever, a mosquito-borne viral hemorrhagic disease, remains a significant public health concern in endemic regions of Africa and South America. The development of the yellow fever vaccine marked a milestone in virology and immunization. In the 1930s, Max Theiler created the 17D live-attenuated vaccine, a breakthrough that has achieved global recognition and continues to underpin prevention strategies. This review outlines the historical evolution of the yellow fever vaccine, highlighting pivotal scientific advances, technological innovations, and global eradication initiatives. It examines the current landscape of immunization, focusing on the World Health Organization’s Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy, ongoing efforts to address vaccine supply constraints, and persistent surveillance gaps. Future directions in vaccine development, including next-generation platforms and improved delivery systems, are also discussed, alongside the need for sustained research investment and international collaboration. As yellow fever emerges in previously non-endemic areas due to climate change and globalization, strengthening vaccination programs remains critical to preventing outbreaks and ensuring effective disease control.

Background Third molar extraction is one of the most frequently performed procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery, yet postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus remain significant concerns influencing patient recovery. Flap design plays a critical role in determining postoperative morbidity, and evidence comparing commonly used envelope, triangular, and modified triangular flaps remains inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the postoperative outcomes associated with these three flap designs. Materials and Methods A prospective, randomized clinical trial was conducted involving 99 patients requiring mandibular third molar extraction. Participants were allocated into three equal groups: envelope flap, triangular flap, and modified triangular flap. All surgeries were performed under standardized protocols, and postoperative assessments were conducted by blinded evaluators. Pain was recorded using a Visual Analog Scale at multiple intervals, while swelling was quantified through linear facial measurements. Trismus, analgesic consumption, and early postoperative complications were also evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and chi-square tests as appropriate, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Armed conflict coverage by news media plays a significant role in keeping the public informed, but when reporting becomes sensational or emotionally charged, it may adversely impact mental health. This letter examines how such reporting during tensed events, like recent India-Pakistan conflict or Israel – Gaza conflict, can lead to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological disturbances among viewers. Drawing on national and international ethical guidelines, the paper argues that responsible journalism must avoid glorifying violence, ensure factual accuracy, including the potential psychological impact of the news coming up. The psychological effects of continued exposure to distressing content are higher in vulnerable populations, including children and individuals with pre-existing psychiatric conditions. Media organizations must adopt trauma-informed practices to safeguard public mental health during crisis situations.

OBJECTIVES:The menstrual cycle is the primary biological rhythm orchestrated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, subject to complex hormonal fluctuations. These hormonal changes modulate cardiovascular activity, changes in heart rate variability, blood pressure, and psychological states. They often appear as premenstrual syndrome in the luteal phase. Previous studies suggested that stress reactivity is different across menstrual stages but inconsistently. For the present study, we aimed to explore psychophysiological stress reactivity following the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in women aged 18 to 30 years. METHODS:Several menstrual phases were assessed by luteinizing hormone test. All participants underwent laboratory studies in the follicular and luteal stages as follows: basal blood pressure and heart rate measurements were taken, whereas psychological stress was measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Stress responses were elicited using the cold pressor test, and data were quantified using paired t-test and correlation analyses. RESULTS:Upon analysing the results, it was found that basal blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly different between the three phases. However, diastolic blood pressure rose considerably during the luteal phase following the cold pressor test. Trait anxiety scores were significantly increased during the luteal phase, and significant differences in state anxiety were detected only after the stressor in this phase. CONCLUSIONS:These findings indicated that the luteal phase could reflect maladaptive psychophysiological stress reactivity. Taken in aggregate, the findings highlight the relevance of menstrual cycle phases in stress assessments and treatment interventions, promoting individualized methods in women's healthcare.

INTRODUCTION:Smartphone applications offer innovative and accessible digital interventions to support tobacco cessation across diverse healthcare settings, especially in a country like India. This study aimed to evaluate the quality, evidence base, and rigor of tobacco cessation applications available on Indian mobile application stores using the novel BREATHE Framework. METHODS:The BREATHE Framework (Benchmark Rating and Evaluation Analysis of Tobacco-cessation Health E-applications) was developed based on guidelines from the NTCP (India) and NICE (UK). The framework evaluates applications across five domains using a 0-3 scale for 76 items (maximum score: 228). Framework reliability was confirmed through Cohen's κ (0.90) and Pearson's correlation (r=0.88). Through systematic searches on Google Play Store and Apple iOS store, 45 applications (9 for smoking, 36 for smokeless tobacco) were evaluated. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation were used for analysis. RESULTS:Most applications (48.9%) were rated "inadequate," with only one receiving a "good" rating and none achieving "excellent" status. Smoking cessation applications scored higher overall (107.44 ± 27.73) compared to smokeless tobacco applications (88.56 ± 37.79). Significant gaps were identified in behavioral science elements and technology utilization, particularly for smokeless tobacco applications. No significant correlations were found between application attributes and BREATHE scores. CONCLUSION:The study reveals suboptimal quality of tobacco cessation applications in India, with smoking cessation applications performing better than smokeless tobacco applications. The BREATHE Framework provides a standardized benchmark for evaluating and developing more evidence-informed cessation applications. Collaboration among researchers, healthcare professionals, developers, and policymakers are essential to create user-friendly, culturally relevant cessation tools. IMPLICATIONS:This study provides a structured understanding of the current landscape of tobacco cessation apps in India using the newly developed BREATHE Framework. It highlights opportunities to strengthen app design by integrating evidence-based content, behavioural support, and user-focused features. The framework offers a valuable benchmark for researchers, developers, and policymakers to guide the creation of more evidence-informed, engaging, and culturally appropriate cessation tools. These insights can contribute to improving digital tobacco control strategies and expanding accessible support for individuals seeking to quit.