Abstract Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT), previously known as hemangiopericytoma, is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm usually arising from the pleura but can manifest anywhere in the body including the abdomen, meninges, trunk, extremities, and the head and neck. SFTs typically affect adults, with a peak incidence in the 5 th and 6 th decades of life. It is uncommon in pediatric population, especially in the head and neck. We present the case of a 6-month-old child presenting with gradually increasing painless scalp swelling in the occipital region. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested a likely diagnosis of soft-tissue sarcoma while histopathological examination revealed SFT with the differential diagnosis of deep fibrous histiocytoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, myofibroma, myopericytoma, fibromatosis, and nodular fasciitis. Our diagnosis was subsequently confirmed on immunohistochemistry by strong diffuse membranous CD34 positivity and negative desmin, myogenin, and pan-CK. This case report highlights an exceptionally rare presentation of SFT in an uncommon age group.
Abstract Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease (KFD), or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is an uncommon inflammatory disorder predominantly affecting young women, often mimicking lymphoma or infectious lymphadenitis. Its coexistence with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rare and diagnostically complex due to overlapping clinical and serological features. We report the case of a 29-year-old female presenting with a 5-week history of bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, low-grade fever, alopecia, and constitutional symptoms. Laboratory findings revealed mild anemia, leukopenia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and positive antinuclear antibody and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies with a homogeneous pattern at 1:160 titer, yielding an european alliance of associations for rheumatology / american college of rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) 2019 SLE score of 13. Lymph node excision biopsy demonstrated necrotizing lymphadenitis with abundant karyorrhectic debris and CD68+ histiocytic infiltrate. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography revealed hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy in cervical, supraclavicular, axillary, and iliac regions. The patient showed rapid clinical improvement with corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine. This case underscores the importance of histopathological evaluation in distinguishing KFD from lymphoma and recognizing SLE overlap.
H-type tracheoesophageal fistula is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by an abnormal connection between the oesophagus and trachea without oesophageal atresia. Typically diagnosed in infancy, its symptoms can range from intermittent coughing while swallowing liquids to recurrent lower respiratory infections. Surgical repair remains the definitive treatment, with open procedures being the conventional approach; however, thoracoscopic intervention has demonstrated efficacy in selected cases. This case highlights the need for heightened clinical suspicion and underscores the critical role of early bronchoscopy in diagnosing atypical or chronic respiratory presentations, potentially reducing diagnostic delays and improving patient outcomes.
Gingival enlargement and excessive gingival display have been a common problem postorthodontic therapy. The primary cause of this issue is the susceptibility of gingival tissues to inflammation, which results from inadequate plaque control and leads to both gingival enlargement and an unesthetic appearance. Various methods have been used over the years for better and proper plaque control. One such method is gingivectomy. This procedure removes the periodontal pocket and brings the marginal gingiva into a more favorable position for plaque control to be achieved by the patient and have a more esthetic appearance. Various methods have been used to perform gingivectomy as a management of chronic inflammatory gingival enlargement. In this case report, the gingivectomy procedure is done using a diode LASER and conventional scalpel technique to compare the efficacy of two modalities.
Cardiac memory is a highly prevalent condition observed in clinical practice. It typically arises after a period of abnormal depolarization, which can occur with right ventricular pacing, intermittent left bundle branch block, ventricular tachycardia, or intermittent preexcitation. It may also develop following catheter ablation of a manifest accessory pathway. Once normal conduction is restored, the T-wave retains a “memory” of the QRS vector from the previously aberrantly conducted complexes. This altered T-wave morphology can sometimes resemble ischemic changes on the electrocardiogram, making it essential for clinicians to be aware of prior electrocardiographic patterns when interpreting current findings. Here, we report a case of cardiac memory manifesting as new-onset T-wave inversion after conduction system pacing.
Background and Aim: Information and communication technology (ICT) tools are increasingly being integrated into medical education to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. This study evaluates students’ perceptions of Quizziz, a gamified assessment tool, in a medical education setting. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among medical students following a session that incorporated Quizziz as an assessment tool. Data regarding students’ experience, difficulties encountered, future preferences, and recommendations were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 95 students participated in the survey. The majority (72.6%) found Quizziz helpful for assessment, with 46.3% expressing strong agreement. Only 12.6% of students reported difficulties while using the application. A significant majority (94.7%) supported the use of similar ICT tools in future classes, and many provided recommendations for other applications. Conclusion: The findings suggest that Quizziz is well-received by medical students as an assessment tool. Its gamified approach appears to enhance engagement and promotes an interactive learning environment. Integration of such ICT tools in medical education could potentially improve student participation and learning outcomes.
Background and Aim: The Barthel Index is an ordinal scale used to evaluate performance in daily living activities. Maharashtra’s most popular language, “Marathi,” has to be improved as a tool for the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. In the Marathi-speaking population, it will help therapists analyse the effectiveness of treatment before and after. Hence, the Barthel Index needs to be translated into Marathi for the ease of its use. Materials and Methods: The Barthel index has been successfully translated into Marathi utilizing forward-backward translation and suggested criteria. To evaluate the reliability and validity of Marathi version of the Barthel index (BI-M), 57 stroke patients were involved. Test-retest reliability was examined on day 1 and day 3 to determine dependability. The Barthel Index scores and the FIM scores were compared to determine construct validity. Result: Barthel Index in Marathi (BI-M) has a reliability score of 0.997 according to Cronbach’s alpha, and test-retest results showed a highly significant association between days 1 and 3 of BI-M test-retest. When evaluating construct validity, an excellent correlation between BI-M and FIM was discovered (r-value = 0.952). Conclusion: Overall, the Marathi Barthel Index has proven to be accurate, trustworthy, tolerable, simple to comprehend, and quickly administrable. The translated Marathi version of Barthel Index questionnaire is reliable and valid measure for Marathi speaking stroke patients.
Background and Aim: Menstrual hygiene management includes a healthy choice of sanitary hygiene material that is user-friendly and sustainable. The choice of menstrual absorbent must be an informed decision. This study aimed to find the effect of an educational intervention offering the basket of choice for menstrual management to choose a Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene Material (MHM). Materials and Methods: It was an interventional study where medical undergraduate girls were assessed for their preference, knowledge, and practices regarding menstrual absorbent. Postassessment, an interactive intervention session was held where different menstrual absorbents, their health impact, and other relevant things were discussed. A postintervention session was held after 2 months of intervention, where the same assessment was performed regarding preference, knowledge, and practices. The data were analyzed for proportions, and the McNemar test was run to assess the change in knowledge at a 95% confidence interval. Results: Among 273 participants in the preintervention evaluation, the majority (97.4%) unanimously preferred and were using disposable sanitary pads. More than 40% had experienced discomfort or other health problems associated with its use, yet they never chose to use any other material. Although there was a lack of knowledge of various MHMs, around 90% of the users reported satisfactory practices with the MHM in use. Postintervention, 38% of the 256 participants had changed their preference. Knowledge of MHM has significantly increased (P = 0.03), as have better practices. Conclusion: An educational intervention focusing on the correct knowledge of menstrual absorbents should be provided before menarche to adopt the best suitable menstrual absorbent within their cultural context.
Background and Aim: Caregivers play a vital role in supporting patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) during treatment and recovery, influencing patient outcomes. Understanding caregivers’ awareness, attitudes, and preferred information sources regarding cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is essential for improving cardiovascular health literacy and participation in CR programs. The study aims to assess caregivers’ awareness of CR and identify their preferred sources of information for patients with CVDs. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 caregivers of patients with CVDs recruited from cardiac hospitals in Surat District. Participants were aged above 18 years, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 34.2 ± 11.6 years. Data were collected using a self-reported structured questionnaire evaluating awareness, attitudes, and information sources related to CR. Results: Among all the respondents, 50.09% were female and 44.5% were male. Overall, 55% of caregivers were aware of cardiac rehabilitation. However, 77% reported inadequate information about CR from healthcare providers, whereas only 23% received sufficient information. Nearly half of caregivers were unwilling to enroll patients in CR programs. Key barriers included limited knowledge of CR (22%), perception that CR was unnecessary (19%), cost concerns (18.5%), and logistical issues such as time constraints, program availability, travel distance, and feasibility of home-based CR. Healthcare professionals were the preferred source of CR information for 64% of caregivers. Conclusions: A significant gap exists between awareness, attitude, and practice related to cardiac rehabilitation among caregivers of patients with CVDs. Strengthening education, counseling, and communication by healthcare professionals may enhance engagement and improve patient participation in CR programs.
Background and Aims: Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is a technique of general anesthesia in which combinations of agents are given by the intravenous route without the requirement of an inhalational agent. TIVA could be beneficial in cases where the delivery of inhaled anesthetics is impossible or disadvantageous or in scenarios where the traditional anesthetic delivery systems may be unavailable or impractical. The aim was to compare the efficacy and convenience of target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol and inhalational agent (sevoflurane) for induction, maintenance, and recovery of anesthesia in adults. Materials and Methods: Forty adults were randomized into two groups. Group 1 received TCI propofol (target plasma concentration 3–8 mcg/ml) and Group 2 received sevoflurane (1.2–1.5 minimum alveolar concentration). The 21 qualities of induction and hemodynamic response (heart rate, systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], and mean arterial 22 blood pressure [MBP]) at various intervals of time and recovery profile were compared between the two groups. Results: Both the groups had comparable demographic characteristics. The incidence of involuntary movements, laryngospasm, and intubation response was higher in the sevoflurane group, though not statistically significant. However, sevoflurane resulted in significantly higher SBP, DBP, and MBP postintubation compared to TCI propofol (P < 0.05), indicating better hemodynamic stability with propofol. The highest intraoperative SBP and DBP were significantly elevated in the sevoflurane group (P < 0.001). TCI propofol demonstrated significantly faster emergence from anesthesia compared to sevoflurane (P < 0.001). Conclusion: TCI propofol offers a superior hemodynamic profile and emergence from general anesthesia compared to sevoflurane in adults, maintaining lower mean SBP, DBP, and MBP throughout the procedure.
Background and Aim: The curriculum and medical teaching in India have been revamped by the National Medical Council in 2019. While primarily addressing the cognitive aspect of the curriculum, the lecture also has the effect of introducing available, valid study materials, whether in textbook or electronic form. It imparts a procedure to plan, prepare and comprehend study material with guidance. However, the attendance at such classes has been dwindling over the years. This study was conducted with the objective to find out the extent of absenteeism from lecture classes and factors associated with it. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, observational type conducted between October 2024 to November 2024 among students in Phase two of a Government medical college. Pretested, valid questionnaire was extended to all students (248), data collected were entered and analysed in Jamovi software. Results: Response rate was 78%. 59.6% had attended <70% of lecture classes by self-admission with maximum preferring lab-based classes. On adjusting for all variables, it was seen that students who were oversleeping (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.21; confidence interval [CI] 1.56–6.66), believing teaching materials to be available on digital platform (AOR 2.57; CI 1.33–5.08) and actively subscribing to e-teaching media like online tuition, packaged education material of YouTube (AOR 2.18 CI 1.08–4.44) had a significantly greater odds of missing of classes or being absent. Conclusion: Technology is the proverbial double-edged sword but adjustments made in the curriculum to intelligently use technology may help revert students back to classes. Considerations can also be made to involve such platforms actively and uniformly keeping in mind the changing view of present-day students.
Background and Aim: Postoperative thirst is a frequently encountered yet under-recognized concern among surgical patients, particularly those undergoing abdominal procedures. Nil per os status, anesthetic agents, medications, and fluid restrictions contribute significantly to thirst and oral discomfort. Despite its prevalence, postoperative thirst is rarely addressed adequately in routine nursing care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured thirst care bundle in relieving postoperative thirst intensity and improving oral health among patients who have undergone abdominal surgery. Materials and Methods: A true experimental pretest–posttest control group design was used with 104 abdominal surgery patients randomly assigned to experimental (n = 52) and control (n = 52) groups. The intervention group received a two-phase thirst care bundle of oral wetting with sterile gauze, cold water spray, and lip moisturization at 3-h intervals. The control group received standard care. Thirst intensity and oral dryness were measured using the numerical rating scale and Challacombe Scale, respectively. Results: Overall, 100 patients completed the study. Postintervention, 30% of experimental group participants reported no thirst, and 70% reported mild thirst, whereas 76% of the control group experienced moderate thirst and 22% severe thirst (P = 0.001). The experimental group showed significantly lower thirst and oral dryness scores postintervention (P = 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between thirst and oral dryness in the control group, but not in the experimental group. Conclusion: A structured thirst care bundle effectively reduces postoperative thirst and oral dryness. Integrating this into routine care can promote comfort, recovery, and satisfaction.
Background and Aim: Transition in students’ lives occurs when they shift from the school environment to the college environment. Students go through different phases to adjust to their surroundings. Stress and loneliness are the factors that make their lives more challenging. Resilience is a main factor that helps students to overcome the stressors. This study aims to estimate and compare the magnitude of perceived stress and loneliness among day scholars and hostelers and to study the association and impact between perceived stress, individual academic resilience, and loneliness among hostelers and day scholars. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the professional colleges of Mysuru, Karnataka. Data were collected from 228 professional students of Mysuru using a prevalidated questionnaire. The Perceived Stress Scale-10, academic resilience scale (ARS-30), and loneliness scale (UCLA Version 3) were used. SPSS version 22 was utilized to calculate the mean, percentage, and standard deviation, as well as to generate charts. The Chi-square test, correlation, and multivariate test were used to check the impact and association between loneliness, stress, and academic resilience among hostellers and day scholars (P = 0.005). Results: Hostellers recorded higher stress levels compared to day scholars, with 85 (74.5%) experiencing stress, and the P = 0.017 indicating statistical significance. In terms of loneliness, 108 (94.7%) of hostellers reported feeling lonely, but the P = 0.141 suggested no significant difference in loneliness perception between day scholars and hostellers. Perceived stress and academic resilience showed a negative correlation (P = −0.072 and P = −0.095) among both groups. In addition, loneliness had a significant impact on stress, with P = 0.008 and 0.003 for hostellers and day scholars, respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, perceived stress negatively correlates with academic resilience, and loneliness significantly impacts perceived stress in both groups.
Psychological capital (PsyCap) is a concept from organizational psychology that refers to the development of positive psychological states that motivate behavior. It comprising hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism play a crucial role in enhancing well-being. The purpose of this review is to explore the relationship between PsyCap and mental health among undergraduate university students. A systematic review was conducted on the recent scientific production (i.e., published papers over the last 12 years) in Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect. For this, it was used the following search terms: “psychological capital,” “mental health,” “hope,” “optimism,” “resilience,” “self-efficacy,” and “students” in the title, abstract, or keywords, all entered in a single search and connected by the Boolean operator “AND.” This study identified 219 articles in the scientific literature, but only 13 articles were classified as eligible according to the previously established criteria, highlighting the lack of studies that address the theme under investigation. The findings indicate that higher PsyCap levels are strongly associated with improved mental health outcomes, suggesting that interventions aimed at enhancing PsyCap may significantly benefit students’ mental well-being and overall life satisfaction.
Background and Aim: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major health risks throughout the world. The burden of TB has increased in the post-COVID era. Various testing modalities available are microscopy, culture, and molecular methods. Gene xpert is a novel choice to overcome challenges in diagnosis and treatment. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of pulmonary TB (PTB) and extrapulmonary TB (EPTB), and also to determine the resistance to rifampicin using the Gene xpert ultra method. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted over a period of 1 year. All the patients suspected of TB were enrolled, and an appropriate sample was sent to the microbiology laboratory for GeneXpert testing. Results: The prevalence of PTB and EPTB was found to be 34.7 and 24.7%, respectively. Rifampicin resistance was found to be 14% and 15% for PTB and EPTB, respectively. The most common sample in EPTB was pus/lymph node aspirate, accounting for 64.7%. The mean age of suspected patients was 48.8 years. The male-to-female ratio of the study population was 1.7:1. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of TB cases is the first step to achieve the TB elimination goal. Gene xpert is emerging to become the most promising tool in the diagnosis of TB, especially EPTB, because of the paucibacillary status.
Background and Aim: The surgical approach in the treatment of periodontal bone defects involves either the use of flap surgery alone or along with a bone graft. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of surgical periodontal therapy with the use of bone graft in treatment of periodontal intrabony defects. Materials and Methods: This prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Periodontics and Implantology of dental college and hospital after obtaining ethical clearance from the institutional ethics committee. A total of 200 subjects belonging to both genders diagnosed with advanced periodontitis, i.e., minimum of one pocket which measured ≥5 mm in minimum 2 quadrants were selected using the randomized sampling technique. Subjects were categorized in two groups (a) Group A: Subjects who were treated using open flap surgical method with no bone graft while (b) Group B had undergone open flap periodontal surgery using bone graft. Plaque index, papillary bleeding index as well as probing periodontal pocket depth were observed at baseline, at 1 month and at 6 month intervals. Statistical Analysis: Observations were recorded in a Microsoft Excel worksheet and descriptive analysis was performed. Data were entered in the form of mean ± standard deviation Independent t-test was performed to evaluate the intragroup statistical significance which was set at <0.05. Results: Statistically significant improvements in all studied periodontal indices in both groups suggest that there is no difference in the outcome of periodontal surgery with or without the use of bone graft. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates no statistically significant difference between the use of bone graft or flap surgery alone in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defect.
Leadership in healthcare across India and Southeast Asia remains disproportionately low for women compared to their overall presence in the healthcare profession, reflecting a global trend. The present study examines the current status, challenges, and opportunities for leadership by women in healthcare in India and Southeast Asia. Using a qualitative narrative review methodology, this study analyzes existing literature, policy documents, and case studies to explore the topic. Cultural factors, traditional gender roles, and unconscious biases hinder career advancement. Structural barriers include limited access to leadership development and intersecting challenges faced by women. Difficulties in balancing professional and family responsibilities also pose obstacles. However, the success stories of prominent healthcare leaders, who are women, demonstrate the potential for change. A multifaceted approach is required, including targeted leadership-training initiatives, family friendly workplace policies, and efforts to address gender bias through diversity education. Increasing women’s leadership in healthcare can enhance their participation in health rewsearch, policy development, and community engagement, thereby harnessing their full potential to improve health outcomes and address regional challenges. The future outlook is promising but requires continued efforts to achieve gender equity in healthcare leadership.
