Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) is a medical college located in Gulbarga, Karnataka and run by the Government of Karnataka. The institution is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.
Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among reproductive-age women and is frequently associated with metabolic derangements. The coexistence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in PCOS increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, making early detection clinically essential. Aim: To determine the prevalence of PCOS and its association with Metabolic Syndrome in reproductive-age women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 180 women aged 18-40 years attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. PCOS was diagnosed using Rotterdam criteria (2003), while MetS was defined according to NCEP ATP III guidelines. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipid profile were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25.0, with χ² and t-tests applied as appropriate; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 27.9 ± 4.2 years, with a mean BMI of 26.8 ± 3.9 kg/m². The overall prevalence of PCOS was 34.4% (95% CI: 27.9-41.6%), while MetS prevalence was 26.7% (95% CI: 20.9-33.3%). Among women with PCOS, 41.9% had concurrent MetS compared to 18.6% among non-PCOS women (RR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.40-3.63; p = 0.0008). Central obesity (56.5% vs 35.6%), elevated triglycerides (51.6% vs 33.1%), and low HDL-C (61.3% vs 42.4%) were significantly more common in the PCOS group. The prevalence of PCOS rose progressively with increasing BMI (p = 0.007). Conclusion: A strong association exists between PCOS and MetS in reproductive-age women, driven mainly by central obesity and dyslipidemia. Screening for metabolic risk factors should form an integral part of PCOS management to prevent future cardiometabolic complications. Key words: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Metabolic Syndrome, Reproductive-age Women
Orthopaedic disorders, including fractures, osteoporosis, and implant-associated complications, represent a major global health burden requiring effective therapeutic interventions. Conventional drug delivery approaches often suffer from limited bioavailability, systemic toxicity, and inadequate localization at the target site, resulting in suboptimal clinical outcomes. Advanced drug delivery systems (DDS) have emerged as promising strategies to overcome these limitations by enabling targeted, controlled, and sustained release of therapeutics directly at the site of injury or disease. Recent advancements in nanotechnology, biomaterials, and smart delivery platforms have significantly improved the precision and efficacy of orthopaedic treatments. This review explores the evolving landscape of advanced drug delivery systems in orthopaedic surgery, highlighting their role in enhancing bone regeneration, reducing postoperative complications, and improving patient recovery. Various delivery platforms, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, scaffolds, and implant-integrated systems, are discussed in the context of their mechanisms and clinical relevance. Furthermore, the application of these systems in fracture healing, infection control, pain management, and degenerative bone diseases is critically examined. Emerging trends such as stimuli-responsive systems, 3D/4D printing, and artificial intelligence-driven therapeutics are also addressed. The review emphasizes current challenges, including translational barriers, regulatory concerns, and scalability issues, while outlining future directions for personalized and precision orthopaedic care.
Background: Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and neutrophil–lymphocyte-to-albumin (NLA) ratio are inexpensive, readily available biomarkers reflecting inflammatory and synthetic status. Objective: To evaluate the prognostic utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and neutrophil–lymphocyte-to-albumin (NLA) ratio in predicting 30-day and 90-day mortality in ALD.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over 18 months (June 2024–November 2025) at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. Seventy consecutive male patients aged >18 years with alcohol-related liver disease were enrolled. NLR was calculated as the ratio of absolute neutrophil count to absolute lymphocyte count, and NLA as NLR divided by serum albumin. Patients were followed up for 90 days after discharge with mortality assessed at admission, 30 days, and at 90 days. Results: In-hospital mortality was found to be 71.4%, with cumulative mortality of 20.0% at 30 days and 31.2% at 90 days among patients discharged from the hospital. NLR and NLA demonstrated high predictive performance at all time. At admission, NLR ≥8.6 (AUC 0.92) and NLA ≥32.5 (AUC 0.89) were found to be significantly associated with mortality (p≤0.001). Both markers maintained high sensitivity and specificity at 30 and 90 days.Conclusion: NLR and NLA are simple, cost-effective prognostic markers that can reliably predict short-term mortality in alcohol-related liver disease. Their integration into routine clinical assessment will enhance early risk stratification and guide timely management decisions in cases of alcoholic liver disease.
INTRODUCTION:Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) continues to be one of the most important preventable causes of under-five morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in South Asia, a significant proportion of which is contributed by India. Nutritional rehabilitation centers (NRCs) deliver standardized care for children with SAM using guidelines derived from the World Health Organization (WHO); however, there is a paucity of data regarding their functioning in Karnataka and Southern India. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to assess the clinico-epidemiological profile, identify risk factors, and evaluate the treatment outcomes of SAM children admitted to NRC in Kalaburagi. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This was a retrospective record-based cross-sectional study conducted among all under-five children admitted with SAM at the NRC of a tertiary care center in Kalaburagi. Data were collected from the available medical records of 150 admitted children, and analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS:Out of the 150 cases analyzed, 51% were boys, with the majority (72%) belonging to the 1-24-month age group. Laboratory findings revealed a high burden of anemia, with 44% of children having moderate-to-severe anemia. Overall, 88% of the children achieved a weight gain of more than 5 g/kg/day prior to discharge. Around 80% of admitted SAM children were discharged with an improvement in their grade of malnutrition. CONCLUSION:Hospital-based management of SAM children in NRC with adherence to the updated WHO standard guidelines has helped in reducing mortality and morbidity among undernourished children.
Background: Although injuries from fishhooks are uncommon, fishing represents a significant source of income and is a popular recreational activity in India. Several methods for removing fishhooks exist and are dependent on the hooks, site of injury and type of fishhook. Methods: A prospective analytical study was conducted in our emergency department over eight years to identify the most common sites of fishhook injuries and the predominant method involved in their removal. Results: A total of 51 patients were studied. Most fishhook injuries are presented to the emergency department within four hours. Barbed fishhooks were found to be more common, with hands identified as the most frequent site of fishhook injury. The string method of removal was the most commonly employed and proved successful in the majority of our patients. Conclusion: While fishhooks can typically be removed under local anaesthesia, other techniques may necessitate admission and operating room removal using the appropriate methods.
