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Introduction. Recurrence rates for ventral hernia repairs are practically negligible because of advancements in surgical procedures. Pain and suffering, which significantly lowers patients’ quality of life, are currently the main concerns with ventral hernia repair rather than the possibility of recurrence. This study used “EuraHS-QoL” score for evaluating the quality of life of patients before and after ventral hernia repair. Methods. A prospective observational study involving patients with ventral hernias receiving surgery from May to December 2023. Using the EuraHS-QoL questionnaire, patients’ quality of life was evaluated both before and after surgery. Results. Of the 53 patients, 17 (32%) were men and 36 (68%) women, with a mean age of 49.71±10.9 years (range, 32–68 years). BMIs averaged 25.4±3.4 kg/m2, range (21.25 to 35.4 kg/m2). The majority of pain was from regular duties. By frequency, umbilical (22%), infraumbilical (43.3%), supraumbilical (5.7%), and numerous (19%) hernia sites exist. Three patients suffered surgery site infections and one had skin dehiscence. All patients showed overall improvement of QoL at the end of 90 days.

Abstract Background: Camp approach has been advocated as an effective means of motivating the target population to adopt vasectomy as a method of permanent sterilization. There is a high degree of acceptance of Non-scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) among physicians and laypersons. With this knowledge, we organized camps and found good results which we share in this article. Methods: Four NSV camps were organized in four different villages across India on a vehicle-mounted mobile operation theater. The meticulous and detailed planning, dissemination of information, careful execution, and post-procedure follow-up is enumerated. Results: A total of 76 individuals underwent the operation in these camps. The mean age of the participants was 35 ± 5.2 years (range, 27–44 years). The complication rate was negligible and there was no failure of vasectomy. There was a high level of satisfaction among those who underwent this procedure as seen by the increased number wanting to undergo the procedure from places where camps were located. Conclusion: NSV as a procedure is perceived as being simple and pain-free. Re-enforcing this fact and removing doubts, and conducting operations at the camp in an environment the client is familiar with achieved rewarding results.

Anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) drugs are the mainstay of management of tuberculosis worldwide. These medicines are used extensively across the globe in treating tubercular infections of any organ. The life-threatening complications of pseudomembranous enterocolitis (PMC) associated with ATT, especially with capsule Rifampicin is not known to most practitioners. An early suspicion during the onset of loose stools in a patient on ATT is essential for managing this life-threatening condition. This fatal case report is to create awareness among the healthcare professionals and sensitize the clinicians, about the possibility of PMC in patients on ATT. We discuss our case and the lessons learnt in this case report.

Background: Limbs are most commonly involved in combat trauma. There is insufficient data on limb injuries sustained in the combat zone of Indian Armed Forces. This study aims to analyze limb injuries in 166 cases at a tertiary care center in counter insurgency operational area. Materials and Methods: All casualties with limb injuries who presented to the center from January 2014 to December 2019 were included in the study. Data were obtained from admission and discharge registers, central registry, and operation theater registers. Casualties who were killed in action were excluded from the study. The extremity involved, wounding agent, type of injury, length of hospital stay (LOHS), number of surgical interventions, and type of reconstruction undertaken were recorded. Results: Limb injuries accounted for 61% of all casualties, with a mean age of 30.45% ± 6.72 years. Nearly 67% of all injuries were caused by fragmentation device, 61% were of soft-tissue (ST) type, and 39% were of ST injuries with fractures (STFs). The LOHS and number of surgical interventions for STFs were statistically significantly higher (P < 0.001). There was a moderate correlation between the grades of injuries, LOHS, and number of surgeries. The most common reconstruction undertaken was split skin graft in 32% cases. Conclusion: This study for the first time evaluates limb injuries in combat-related trauma in Indian Armed Forces. It also analyzes the LOHS, and number of surgeries with the type of injuries and their correlation.

Here we share an interesting case of severe trauma with tissue loss to nearly half of the back and a lacerated perineum in a Covid-19 positive patient in septic shock. This article highlights our experiences and hard lessons learnt in successful management of this complicated injury. Managing severe trauma is a challenge especially with respiratory failure resulting from Covid-19 infection. The patient reported to the hospital during a very difficult period, when proper medical care was difficult as hospitals and wards were filled with Covid positive patients. Managing patients was difficult especially wearing personal protective equipment round the clock. It’s a challenge when an entire team of surgeon, anesthesiologist, nursing staff and paramedics, rose above their daily call of duty to save the patient for her children. It was a fight against time and an many unknown enemy over three months for the entire team. The challenge to save a middle-aged patient from the claws of death against all odds was really miraculous. It was highly rewarding to see the patient going back to the family with a smile.

Globally, there is a rising prevalence of infertility, and it has a negative consequence on the quality of life of women. The researchers aimed to understand the knowledge, attitude, and practice of women with infertility toward exercises. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 332 women aged between 18 and 45 years attending an infertility clinic in a tertiary hospital in Southern India. Participants filled a self-developed, content validated, pilot-tested questionnaire. Informants perceived stress and weight gain to be the major causes of infertility. Exercise was believed to improve fertilization by 55.4% of the participants, and walking and yoga were the preferred mode of exercises.

During the initial stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the community spread of the virus had efficiently been prevented in Kerala, India. The present study aimed to assess fear and its predictors among the general public following the unforeseen surge of COVID-19 cases in July, 2020 using a reliable and validated tool, the 'Fear of COVID-19 Scale', administered through social media. Of 1,100 responses, 1,046 responses were included in the analysis. The majority of the respondents expressed mild fear 44.6%; moderate fear was found in 39.4% of the respondents, severe fear in 13.6% and very severe fear in 2.4% of the respondents. The mean fear score was found to be 15.93±5.81. Statistically significant (P≤0.05) associations were found between fear and sociodemographic variables, such as age, sex, education and occupation, along with predictors, such as the district of residence, healthcare stakeholders in the family, and the presence of an infected individual in the family. Women and students were found to be the most affected. On the whole, the present study provides sufficient insight into the fear associated with COVID-19. The findings presented herein may enable authorities to take adequate measures to prevent the aftermath., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Baby et al.)

Rationale: The therapeutic promise of trans-resveratrol (tRes) is limited by poor bioavailability following rapid metabolism. We hypothesise that trans-arachidin-1 (tA1) and trans-arachidin-3 (tA3), peanut hairy root-derived isoprenylated analogs of tRes, will exhibit slower metabolism/enhanced bioavailability and retain biological activity via cannabinoid receptor (CBR) binding relative to their non-prenylated parent compounds trans-piceatannol (tPice) and tRes, respectively., Results: The activities of eight human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) toward these compounds were evaluated. The greatest activity was observed for extrahepatic UGTs 1A10 and 1A7, followed by hepatic UGTs 1A1 and 1A9. Importantly, an additional isoprenyl and/or hydroxyl group in tA1 and tA3 slowed overall glucuronidation. CBR binding studies demonstrated that all analogs bound to CB1Rs with similar affinities (5-18 µM); however, only tA1 and tA3 bound appreciably to CB2Rs. Molecular modelling studies confirmed that the isoprenyl moiety of tA1 and tA3 improved binding affinity to CB2Rs. Finally, although tA3 acted as a competitive CB1R antagonist, tA1 antagonised CB1R agonists by both competitive and non-competitive mechanisms., Conclusions: Prenylated stilbenoids may be preferable alternatives to tRes due to increased bioavailability via slowed metabolism. Similar structural analogs might be developed as novel CB therapeutics for obesity and/or drug dependency.

Diabetes is one of the nation's most prevalent, debilitating and costly diseases. For diabetes, frequent insulin treatment is very expensive and may increase anti-insulin antibody production, which may cause unwanted side effects. Corosolic acid may also have some efficacy in the treatment of diabetes, but without induction of anti-insulin antibodies. Recently, corosolic acid from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaf extracts has been reported to act via an indirect mechanism (unlike insulin) in animal experiments. The insulin-complementary anti-diabetic therapeutic value observed in these Japanese preliminary clinical trials has led to renewed interest in the biosynthesis of this compound. So far, there has been no clear evidence for a corosolic acid biosynthetic pathway in plants. This article provides possible roles of corosolic acid and hypothetical information on the biosynthetic pathway in plants.

The expression and functionality of a resveratrol synthase (RS) gene from peanut (Arachis hypogaea) was studied using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient expression system in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Functional analysis of RS was demonstrated by tracking its expression during 96 h. To measure the transcripts levels of RS transgene, real-time qRT-PCR was used and revealed that the highest level of transcripts was at 48 h post-transfection. Western blot analyses showed that RS protein was accumulated to the highest levels at 72 h post-transfection. Finally, HPLC and mass spectrometry analyses revealed the production of trans-piceid (resveratrol glucoside) as the major stilbenoid compound confirming the functional activity of the RS enzyme in planta. No activity of RS transgene was detected in negative controls. This strategy showed advantages over conventional systems because it does not require establishment of cell cultures, feeding with appropriate substrates or generation of stable transgenic plants. This transient system proved to be a rapid and direct approach to perform functional analysis of stilbene synthases, such as resveratrol synthase. Furthermore, this approach can be useful to study the metabolic effects of over-expressing or silencing specific genes within a short period of time.