Background: Polycythemia (PC), defined as packed cell volume (PCV) ≥65% is seen in many admitted neonates. Apart from PCV, other red blood cell (RBC) indices may also be affected in these neonates with PC. These RBC indices can have clinical implications and may determine whether the baby becomes symptomatic or not and also play a role in deciding the severity of symptoms. The indices may affect the outcomes of these babies. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of PC on other RBC parameters in neonates and analyse whether they differ from babies without PC. Methods: We studied 73 neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with PC for the RBC indices. These indices of infants with PC were compared with controls (1:1) who were admitted infants with matched characteristics and no PC. Results: 73.9% of the total study subjects with PC had hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and/or were small for gestational age. The red cell distribution width (RDW) and RBC count in polycythemic neonates were significantly higher than in neonates without PC. A significant positive linear correlation was found between PCV at admission and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and RBC count. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) significantly increased with the severity of PC. Conclusion Our study highlights that PC is associated with changes in other RBC parameters as well. The RBC count and RDW in neonates with PC were significantly different from controls and the MCV varied with the severity of PC. The RBC parameters in polycythemic neonates can be studied further for clinical implications in these neonates.

Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing across the globe, more so in populous countries like India. We aimed to study the disease burden and epidemiological trends of IBD in India and look closer into the disease pattern across the country from 1990 to 2019. Methods: The burden of IBD was estimated in India using the data from the Global Burden of Disease estimate for 2019, which is a comprehensive worldwide project. The analysis included various parameters like incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years, years lived with disability, and years of life lost as age-adjusted rates (per 100,000 population). Using modeling, the prediction was also made for 2050 in India. Results: The age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability rates of IBD in India for 2019 were 2.34, 20.34, 0.40, and 13.04, respectively. These are lower than the global incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability rates of 4.97, 59.25, 0.54, and 20.15, respectively. The annual rates of change in incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability rates in India from 1990 to 2019 were 0.05, –0.02, –0.36, and –0.35, respectively. The annual rates of change in incidence and prevalence are higher than the global rate of –0.18 and –0.19, while the annual rates of change in mortality and disability are lower than the global rate of –0.19 and –0.26. Conclusions The incidence and prevalence of IBD in India are lower compared to the global population but are increasing at a faster rate than the global population.

Introduction: Congenital talipes equino-varus (CTEV) is amongst one of the most common paediatric foot deformities. Ponseti’s method is the standard way of treatment, however, some patients are left with residual or partially corrected deformities. Dynamic supination is one amongst them, where the foot supinates in swing phase of the gait cycle. It is due to a strong tibialis anterior and its weak antagonist. Materials and methods: We undertook a prospective interventional study in thirty patients of CTEV with residual dynamic supination deformity and treated them with tibialis anterior tendon transfer (TATT) using a button anchor. Minimum follow-up was six months after the surgery. Functional, subjective and objective evaluation was done using foot posture index (FPI), disease specific instrument (DSI) for clubfoot, clinician satisfaction grading and videotaped functional gait analysis. Statistical analysis was done using paired ‘t’ test and calculating p values. Results: We achieved good to excellent results in 93.3% of our patients and fair in 6.66%. None of our patients had poor results. Mean FPI improved from -1.93 to +0.3, DSI values also showed a significant reduction from 18.17 +/- 1.09 to 13.37 +/- 1.54 after surgery. A total of 90% had satisfactory gait post-surgery at 6 months follow-up. Conclusion: Tibialis anterior tendon transfer using a button anchor is effective in treatment of residual dynamic supination deformity.

Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping healthcare by improving diagnosis and treatment planning, increasing operational efficiency, and streamlining administrative workflows. This paper integrates findings from an extensive PubMed search (2015–2025) with bibliometric analysis using RStudio and VOSviewer to investigate the comparative applications of AI methods in healthcare, collaborative networks, and emerging trends. Methods: A total of 1,243 records were identified through the PubMed search, and after removal of 143 duplicates, 1,100 records were screened. Following full-text assessment and exclusion of ineligible studies, 986 articles were included in the final bibliometric analysis. Results: The main research areas included robotic-assisted surgery, predictive analytics, diagnostic imaging, and precision medicine, with particular emphasis on the prevalence of machine learning and deep learning in imaging and the increasing application of natural language processing to unstructured medical information. Conclusion The review emphasizes the need for greater budgetary allocation to scalable and pragmatic AI technologies and for interdisciplinary cooperation among researchers, industry, and healthcare providers. Despite this growth, challenges such as algorithmic bias, data integration, and ethical concerns persist. The paper also highlights the importance of equitable collaboration, accountable AI, and multinational partnerships in ensuring that AI can be used ethically and efficiently in healthcare over the long term to improve patient care and biomedical innovation. It does so by mapping international and regional trends, identifying the most influential authors, institutions, and funding sources, and evaluating methodological approaches.

Objectives: Patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) due to repeated blood exposure, vascular access procedures, and blood transfusions. The study aimed to determine the seroconversion rates of HBV and HCV among patients undergoing dialysis and to identify associated risk factors. Methods: A total of 220 adult patients receiving dialysis who were seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies at baseline were enrolled. Serologic testing was repeated at 6 months. Results: Sixteen patients (7.3%) seroconverted to HBsAg positivity, and 23 (10.5%) seroconvertedto anti-HCV positivity. HBV seroconversion was significantly associated with multiple dialysis center visits. HCV seroconversion was significantly associated with dialyzer reuse, multiple dialysis center visits, and dialysis duration ≥2 years. Elevated liver enzyme levels were stronglycorrelated with seroconversion for both viruses. Conclusion HBV and HCV seroconversion remain concerns in HD units. Standardized infection control practices, minimization of patient transfers, and strict adherence to nationalguidelines are essential to reducing risk.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an unprecedented global impact,resulting in both positive and negative consequences. The virus not only affected millions oflives worldwide but also caused long-term harm to multiple organ systems in many survivors,thereby substantially impairing quality of life. This persistent condition is now referred to as long COVID (LC). The aim of this study is to raise awareness of LC-related organ system impacts and to highlight the key role of artificial intelligence (AI) in mitigating these effects. The present research conducts a narrative review focusing on LC-related impacts. In this context, unstructured searches were conducted to identify a total of 69 relevant studies indexed in Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, or Scopus, each of which was reviewed by at least 2 experts with sufficient domain knowledge in health sciences. Based on the authors’ perspectives and insights, the review narratively examines damage to human organ systems attributable to LC and explores the role of AI in addressing LC-related challenges. Significant ethical, practical, and societal concerns arising from the extensive use of AI, particularly major issues such asdata privacy and algorithmic bias, are also discussed. LC has caused lasting impacts on humanorgan systems, while AI is offering substantial potential for LC-related care.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis and limited therapeutic options. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to tumor heterogeneity, therapy resistance, and recurrence through activation of developmental pathways such as Hedgehog, Wnt, Notch, JAK-STAT, and Hippo. Identifying CSCs is therefore essential for understanding pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) pathogenesis and advancing targeted therapies. This study compares the expression of key CSC-associated markers (CD44, CD117, OCT3/4, and c-Myc) in PDAC, fetal, and adult pancreas to elucidate CSC dynamics. Immunohistochemistry for CSC markers (CD44, CD117, OCT3/4, and c-Myc) was performed on PDAC tissues and control pancreatic samples (fetal pancreas 28–36 weeks and adult pancreas) to evaluate marker expression. Proliferative potential was assessed using CK7 and Ki-67 expression patterns. CD44 showed strong membranous and cytoplasmic expression in PDAC, moderate in fetal pancreas (epithelial/ductal regions), and minimal expression in adult tissue. CD117 was mainly restricted to stromal cells in PDAC, also present in fetal tissue but low in adults.c-Myc and Ki-67 were moderately expressed in PDAC, significantly higher than the control samples. CK7 demonstrated strong cytoplasmic staining in PDAC, moderate expression in adults, and weak expression in fetal samples. CD44 and c-Myc re-expression in PDAC supports their role as CSC-associated markers and potential drivers of tumor progression. CD117’s stromal localization suggests tumor–stroma interactions. These findings highlight developmental reactivation of CSC markers in PDAC, with implications for early detection and targeted therapy.

We present a rare anatomical variation of the deep femoral vein (DFV) originating from the popliteal vein (PV) with an associated aneurysm. The DFV arose from the PV at the adductor hiatus, exhibited an aneurysm, and coursed upward through the fourth osseo-aponeurotic opening of the adductor magnus muscle to enter the anterior thigh compartment before draining into the femoral vein. This unique variation likely resulted from developmental deviations during intrauterine life. The anomalous origin and aneurysm of the DFV may potentially cause venous hemodynamic disturbances, chronic venous insufficiency, increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, and potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism. Anatomical variations of the DFV in terms of origin, course, or termination are rare but clinically relevant, especially in the context of vascular surgeries, imaging, and interventional procedures involving the femoral region.This case highlights the importance of recognizing venous anatomical variations and their clinical implications.