Background: To assess the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an adjunct to standard treatment in early-stage oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), focusing on mouth opening, burning sensation, pain, and systemic inflammation. Methods: A randomized comparative study was conducted on early-stage OSMF patients divided into two groups. Group 1 received HBOT along with intralesional triamcinolone, hyaluronidase, and oral antioxidants. Group 2 received only the standard intralesional therapy with antioxidants. Clinical parameters—interincisal distance, burning sensation, and pain—were recorded at baseline, first, and second followup. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured pre- and post-treatment. Statistical analysis included unpaired t-tests and chisquare tests. Results: Both groups improved clinically, but Group 1 showed significantly greater reductions in burning sensation (p= 0.020), pain, and CRP levels (p= 0.033). Although intergroup differences in mouth opening were not statistically significant, Group 1 showed greater improvement over time. Fibrotic band distribution remained unchanged in both groups. No complications were reported with HBOT. Conclusion HBOT provides enhanced symptomatic relief and anti-inflammatory effects in early-stage OSMF when used alongside conventional therapy. While it may not reverse fibrosis, its safety and noninvasive nature support its role in multimodal OSMF management.

Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects approximately 2% of individuals over the age of 60. With more than two billion Muslims observing Ramadan, individuals with PD encounter specific challenges, such as deteriorating motor skills, sleep disturbances, and an increased risk of falls during fasting. Methods: Our study focused on 75 patients with idiopathic PD divided into two groups: the Ramadan Regime group, which consisted of 50 patients whose medication was adjusted to twice daily at Suhoor and Iftar, and the Nontreatment group, which included 25 patients who abstained from medication for religious reasons. Both groups were instructed to wear a Parkinson’s KinetiGraph (PKG) wrist device. Results: The study findings revealed that motor function worsened in the Nontreatment group (p<0.001) but improved in the Ramadan Regime group (p=0.007). Daytime sleepiness also significantly increased in the Nontreatment group (p<0.001). Conclusion Overall, the findings suggest that the Ramadan regime significantly enhances patient health and quality of life.

Purpose: Addressing health inequities is an integral part of contemporary medical education (ME), yet traditional lecture-based formats often fail to develop students’ deeper understanding and engagement. This study examined how a project-based learning (PjBL) approach influenced students’ learning experiences related to health equity. Methods: This was a qualitative phenomenology study. We designed an elective course on health equity using the PjBL approach and active learning methods. All participating students were asked to complete a group project aimed at addressing a specific health inequity issue from the surrounding community. Data were collected through reflective writing at the end of the course and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Twenty-seven codings were identified from 259 meaningful quotes (interrater agreement 99.62%) and grouped into four categories: character, role, competence, and learning experience. Results: Three major themes emerged from data analysis: (1) key learning experiences during the ME course (active learning, role-modeling, collaborative learning, comprehensive learning, and affective learning); (2) topics that facilitated students’ understanding of health inequities and physicians’ roles, particularly in addressing health inequities in Indonesia; and (3) the influence of the ME course on students’ outlook and beliefs. Conclusion Although this study did not introduce a novel method of instruction, it underscores the value of PjBL in enhancing students’ capacity to understand and tackle health inequities.

Purpose: Addressing health inequities is an integral part of contemporary medical education (ME), yet traditional lecture-based formats often fail to develop students’ deeper understanding and engagement. This study examined how a project-based learning (PjBL) approach influenced students’ learning experiences related to health equity. Methods: This was a qualitative phenomenology study. We designed an elective course on health equity using the PjBL approach and active learning methods. All participating students were asked to complete a group project aimed at addressing a specific health inequity issue from the surrounding community. Data were collected through reflective writing at the end of the course and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Twenty-seven codings were identified from 259 meaningful quotes (interrater agreement 99.62%) and grouped into four categories: character, role, competence, and learning experience. Results: Three major themes emerged from data analysis: (1) key learning experiences during the ME course (active learning, role-modeling, collaborative learning, comprehensive learning, and affective learning); (2) topics that facilitated students’ understanding of health inequities and physicians’ roles, particularly in addressing health inequities in Indonesia; and (3) the influence of the ME course on students’ outlook and beliefs. Conclusion Although this study did not introduce a novel method of instruction, it underscores the value of PjBL in enhancing students’ capacity to understand and tackle health inequities.

Purpose: Addressing health inequities is an integral part of contemporary medical education (ME), yet traditional lecture-based formats often fail to develop students’ deeper understanding and engagement. This study examined how a project-based learning (PjBL) approach influenced students’ learning experiences related to health equity. Methods: This was a qualitative phenomenology study. We designed an elective course on health equity using the PjBL approach and active learning methods. All participating students were asked to complete a group project aimed at addressing a specific health inequity issue from the surrounding community. Data were collected through reflective writing at the end of the course and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Twenty-seven codings were identified from 259 meaningful quotes (interrater agreement 99.62%) and grouped into four categories: character, role, competence, and learning experience. Results: Three major themes emerged from data analysis: (1) key learning experiences during the ME course (active learning, role-modeling, collaborative learning, comprehensive learning, and affective learning); (2) topics that facilitated students’ understanding of health inequities and physicians’ roles, particularly in addressing health inequities in Indonesia; and (3) the influence of the ME course on students’ outlook and beliefs. Conclusion Although this study did not introduce a novel method of instruction, it underscores the value of PjBL in enhancing students’ capacity to understand and tackle health inequities.

Purpose: Addressing health inequities is an integral part of contemporary medical education (ME), yet traditional lecture-based formats often fail to develop students’ deeper understanding and engagement. This study examined how a project-based learning (PjBL) approach influenced students’ learning experiences related to health equity. Methods: This was a qualitative phenomenology study. We designed an elective course on health equity using the PjBL approach and active learning methods. All participating students were asked to complete a group project aimed at addressing a specific health inequity issue from the surrounding community. Data were collected through reflective writing at the end of the course and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Twenty-seven codings were identified from 259 meaningful quotes (interrater agreement 99.62%) and grouped into four categories: character, role, competence, and learning experience. Results: Three major themes emerged from data analysis: (1) key learning experiences during the ME course (active learning, role-modeling, collaborative learning, comprehensive learning, and affective learning); (2) topics that facilitated students’ understanding of health inequities and physicians’ roles, particularly in addressing health inequities in Indonesia; and (3) the influence of the ME course on students’ outlook and beliefs. Conclusion Although this study did not introduce a novel method of instruction, it underscores the value of PjBL in enhancing students’ capacity to understand and tackle health inequities.

The prevalence of renal diseases and its associated burden on healthcare have tremendously risen in the past few years. From simple markers assessing kidney function, current renal research delves into understanding the diseases at the cellular and molecular levels and not just at treating, but at improving quality of life, arresting progression and providing personalized diagnostics and therapy. This narrative review highlights the improvements in diagnostic applications of kidney disease and briefly discusses a few notable biomarkers emphasizing the high throughput omics technologies, as well as contemporary perspectives on renal research. A thorough literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline. Suitable Mesh terms were included for the search strategy, and relevant evidence was documented. Language models and pharmacognosy, along with other omics strategies, impose a better understanding of the renal disease, and the remarkable discoveries of noninvasive biomarkers, urine 273-peptide classifier, and urine peptides-based fibrosis classifier have unraveled the associations between mechanistic studies and novel therapeutic drugs. Strides in biomarker research have been able to delineate stages and types with superior specificity and sensitivity, thereby providing a better diagnosis. Renal research reflects a powerful, dynamic, and multifaceted field that drives better advancements and discoveries in personalized medicine, drug interventions, and patient-centered outcomes. Understanding the tangled relationship of the etiology of kidney disease, these developments and future research hold promise for individuals affected by kidney diseases

The prevalence of renal diseases and its associated burden on healthcare have tremendously risen in the past few years. From simple markers assessing kidney function, current renal research delves into understanding the diseases at the cellular and molecular levels and not just at treating, but at improving quality of life, arresting progression and providing personalized diagnostics and therapy. This narrative review highlights the improvements in diagnostic applications of kidney disease and briefly discusses a few notable biomarkers emphasizing the high throughput omics technologies, as well as contemporary perspectives on renal research. A thorough literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline. Suitable Mesh terms were included for the search strategy, and relevant evidence was documented. Language models and pharmacognosy, along with other omics strategies, impose a better understanding of the renal disease, and the remarkable discoveries of noninvasive biomarkers, urine 273-peptide classifier, and urine peptides-based fibrosis classifier have unraveled the associations between mechanistic studies and novel therapeutic drugs. Strides in biomarker research have been able to delineate stages and types with superior specificity and sensitivity, thereby providing a better diagnosis. Renal research reflects a powerful, dynamic, and multifaceted field that drives better advancements and discoveries in personalized medicine, drug interventions, and patient-centered outcomes. Understanding the tangled relationship of the etiology of kidney disease, these developments and future research hold promise for individuals affected by kidney diseases

Objectives: Malaria remains a serious public health challenge in tropical and subtropical regions, including Indonesia. Children under 5 years old face particular risk of contracting malaria due to low immunity. We examined potential factors associated with malaria infection among under-5 children in Papua Province, Indonesia. Methods: The study utilized secondary data from Indonesia Basic Health Research 2018.Multistage random sampling was employed, from the province level to census blocks (CBs).In Papua Province, interviews were conducted in 928 CBs. All 2,745 under-5 children wereselected. The dependent variable was laboratory-confirmed malaria positivity; independentfactors included residential area, socioeconomic characteristics, and behaviors such as sleepingunder an insecticide net impregnated ≤3 years ago and the use of ventilation barriers. We alsoexamined the conditions of the bedroom, kitchen, and living room according to the frequency ofwindow-opening, proportion of ventilation area to the floor, and radiance. Results: Not sleeping under an insecticide net impregnated within the last 3 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.518; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.391–0.685; p < 0.001); having a kitchen without windows (aOR, 0.491; 95% CI, 0.285–0.844; p = 0.01); rarely opening the living room window (aOR, 2.804; 95% CI, 1.232–6.383; p = 0.01), and having a windowless living room (aOR, 3.027; 95% CI, 1.369–6.696; p = 0.01) displayed significant relationships with malaria infection among under-5children. Conclusion Not using an insecticide-treated net impregnated ≤3 years ago, along with openingthe living room window daily and having a kitchen without windows, appear preventive of malaria infection among under-5 children.

Objectives: Malaria remains a serious public health challenge in tropical and subtropical regions, including Indonesia. Children under 5 years old face particular risk of contracting malaria due to low immunity. We examined potential factors associated with malaria infection among under-5 children in Papua Province, Indonesia. Methods: The study utilized secondary data from Indonesia Basic Health Research 2018.Multistage random sampling was employed, from the province level to census blocks (CBs).In Papua Province, interviews were conducted in 928 CBs. All 2,745 under-5 children wereselected. The dependent variable was laboratory-confirmed malaria positivity; independentfactors included residential area, socioeconomic characteristics, and behaviors such as sleepingunder an insecticide net impregnated ≤3 years ago and the use of ventilation barriers. We alsoexamined the conditions of the bedroom, kitchen, and living room according to the frequency ofwindow-opening, proportion of ventilation area to the floor, and radiance. Results: Not sleeping under an insecticide net impregnated within the last 3 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.518; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.391–0.685; p < 0.001); having a kitchen without windows (aOR, 0.491; 95% CI, 0.285–0.844; p = 0.01); rarely opening the living room window (aOR, 2.804; 95% CI, 1.232–6.383; p = 0.01), and having a windowless living room (aOR, 3.027; 95% CI, 1.369–6.696; p = 0.01) displayed significant relationships with malaria infection among under-5children. Conclusion Not using an insecticide-treated net impregnated ≤3 years ago, along with openingthe living room window daily and having a kitchen without windows, appear preventive of malaria infection among under-5 children.