NTA Reports Over 96 percent Attendance of NEET 2024 applicants, Female Candidates More Than Males

New Delhi- For the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2024 examination the overall attendance has been reported to be over 96 per cent. With this, female candidates recorded higher attendance in appearing NEET UG 2024 compared to male and transgender candidates.

According to an Indian Express media news report, data shared by NTA shows that a total of 9,96,393 male candidates, 13,31,321 female candidates and 17 transgender candidates appeared for NEET UG 2024. While the total attendance has been recorded at 96.94 per cent, in which the attendance of male candidates has been 96.92 per cent, that of female candidates has been 96.96 per cent and that of transgender candidates has been 94.44 per cent.

Moreover, across India, 5 states recorded the highest number of female candidates appearing in NEET UG 2024 i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Following are the details as per the Indian Express report.

STATE WISE ATTENDANCE

S.NO

STATE

MALE

FEMALE

TRANSGENDER

TOTAL

1

Uttar Pradesh

167690

164779

1

332470

2

Maharashtra

118243

156795

2

275040

3

Rajasthan

104753

88367

193120

4

Tamil Nadu

53202

100398

5

153605

5

Karnataka

58429

92443

1

150873

6

Kerala

31755

106747

1

138503

7

Bihar

72661

63527

136188

8

West Bengal

61461

55847

117308

9

Gujarat

37873

49101

86974

10

Delhi

28120

37988

1

66109

Meanwhile, surpassing the record for the last 8 years, this year also, NEET UG 2024 has improved its record with 24 lakh registrations for the academic year 2024-25 for admission to Medical/Dental and Allied Health courses.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported around 23.3 lakh candidates out of the record 24 lakh registered candidates appeared for NEET UG 2024, as per NTA official’s report. With this, NEET-UG saw the highest-ever number of candidates sitting for any competitive exam in India this year and “probably” became the world’s largest single-sitting competitive exam.

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JP Institute of Ayurveda and Medical Sciences Opens Admission For BAMS Course 2024, Apply Now

Bihar- JP Institute of Ayurveda and Medical Sciences, Bihar has invited applications for the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course for the session 2024. Interested candidates can apply online through the official website of the ayurveda college.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1 Qualifying in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) with a valid score is mandatory.

2 The candidates must have successfully completed Class 12 (Intermediate) or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) as core subjects, meeting the minimum qualifying percentage set by the college.

ADMISSION PROCESS

1 Admissions to BAMS programs in the ayurveda institute are primarily managed through the centralised counseling process conducted by BCECEB.

2 Meet the eligibility criteria for admission to the BAMS programme.

3 Candidates who qualified NEET are eligible for admission to the BAMS programme

4 Admission to the BAMS programme is done through NEET score.

5 Candidates are shortlisted based on their performance in NEET followed by state NEET counselling.

6 Seats are allotted after verification of documents and fee payment.

Meanwhile, the fee for the BAMS course in the college is Rs. 13.91 lakh for (4.5+1 year internship), however, there is no fee for internship and Rs. 96000 annually for hostel fee. The college offers separate hostels for boys and girls, with food, are available.

For further announcements related to potential direct admission processes or college-specific requirements, accurate and up-to-date fee information candidates are requested to visit the college website or can directly contact the college.

The JP Institute of Ayurveda & Medical Sciences is located in a spacious 4,000 sq. ft. building, housing the JP Ayurveda Hospital & Research Institute, a super speciality Ayurvedic hospital in Bihar. The Hospital is a 100-bed, speciality hospital consisting of multiple facilities such as spacious and well-equipped OPD, room, IPD, clinical lab, OT & Labour, Panchkarma centre, NICU & Emergency Facilities.

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Bangalore Shoulder Summit 2024 at Manipal Hospital: 350 shoulder surgeons, 100 physiotherapists attended the summit

Bangalore: The 3rd annual edition of the ”Bangalore Shoulder Summit 2024” – a prestigious national-level conference dedicated to shoulder surgery and physiotherapy, was held from 4th to 6th May 2024. 

This three-day event was organized by Dr Ayyappan V Nair, Consultant – Shoulder Surgery, Sports Medicine & Arthroscopy, Manipal Hospital Whitefield garnered immense appreciation and acclaim from the medical fraternity.

Supported by national and state-level arthroscopic societies and associations, the conference received official representation from esteemed organizations – the Indian Arthroscopy Society, the Shoulder and Elbow Society of India, the Karnataka Orthopaedic Association, and the Bangalore Orthopaedics Society. Mr Prasanth Nair, IAS, Special Secretary, Government of Kerala – Department of Agriculture Development and Farmer’s Welfare, graced the event as the chief guest. The eminent leadership from the hospital was present, supporting this prestigious conference.

Also Read:Manipal Hospitals to acquire 87% stake in Medica Synergie for Rs 1.4K crore

The summit witnessed the footfall of over 350 shoulder surgeons and 100 physiotherapists from across the nation. International delegates and many Indian shoulder surgeons of international fame, including Dr Ashish Gupta (Australia), Dr Philip Landreau (Dubai), Dr Andy Wee (Singapore), conducted in-depth discussions, hands-on shoulder trauma training, and performed surgeries, enriching the knowledge and skills of attendees.

The conference featured 8 cadaver-based shoulder arthroscopic surgeries, offering hands-on experience to participants. Shoulder surgeons and physiotherapists were infused with paradigm-shifting techniques and knowledge that would not only percolate in their practice but also improve patient care.

Dr Ayyappan V Nair, the visionary behind the summit, expressed his delight at the overwhelming response and emphasized the mission to empower experts with shoulder surgery education. “The intent behind the program is to make shoulder surgery as well as physiotherapy and rehabilitation more accessible and popular among medical professionals. With the success of our third annual edition, we are closer to realizing this vision”, he remarked.

With keynote speeches, scientific commitments, and interactive sessions, the summit emerged as an environment for learning and collaboration, with organizers and participants alike looking forward to furthering the frontiers of shoulder surgery in the years to come.

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Diabetes stigma tied to food insecurity, disordered eating and lower psychosocial well-being in diabetes patients: Study

Health-related stigma is a personal experience of exclusion, rejection or blame resulting in an adverse social judgement about a person with a specific health condition. Diabetes stigma in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is associated with elevated HbA1c, female sex and some diabetes complications. AYAs with diabetes have an increased burden of psychological comorbidities, but little is known about how this interacts with diabetes stigma.

A recent study published in Diabetes Care concluded that there is an association between diabetes stigma and food insecurity, disordered eating and lower psychological well-being.

Researchers examined the association between diabetes stigma, socioeconomic status, psychosocial variables, and substance use in AYAs with a history of diabetes (type 1 or type 2).

This study analyzed diabetes-related stigma in AYAs using a survey from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study to generate a diabetes stigma score. Multivariable modeling examined the relationship between diabetes stigma and variables of interest, stratified by diabetes type.

Key findings in the study are:

  • One thousand six hundred eight respondents completed the diabetes-related stigma survey.
  • 78% had type 1 diabetes with a mean age of 21.7 years.
  • Higher diabetes stigma scores were associated with food insecurity, disordered eating, depressive symptoms and decreased health-related and diabetes-specific quality of life.
  • In those with type 1 diabetes, diabetes-related stigma scores were positively associated with current tobacco use and negatively associated with alcohol use.

Concluding further, Diabetes stigma is associated with food insecurity, disordered eating, and lower psychosocial well-being.

SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study is a multicenter cohort study. This cohort collected questionnaire, laboratory and physical exam data in youth and young adults. These were diagnosed with diabetes in childhood.

The study received funding from the CDC and was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Reference:

Eitel et al. Diabetes stigma and psychosocial outcomes in adolescents and young adults: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study. Diabetes Care. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-1453

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Timing of RBC transfusions linked to necrotizing enterocolitis risk in premature infants, reveals JAMA study

USA: Premature infants face a myriad of health challenges, among which necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) stands out as a particularly concerning gastrointestinal condition. In a recent development, a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial has shed new light on the relationship between the timing of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and the occurrence of NEC in these vulnerable neonates.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that compared with control periods, 72-hour hazard periods after exposure to RBC transfusions are not temporally associated with a higher NEC risk among extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants with the hemoglobin ranges outlined by the TOP trial.

“1690 ELBW infants experienced 4947 hazard periods of exposure to RBC transfusions and 5813 control periods of nonexposure,” the researchers reported. “With 133 NEC cases, there was no significant difference in NEC frequency between posttransfusion hazard periods and pretransfusion control periods (11.9 vs 12.7 per 1000 periods, respectively).”

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a serious gastrointestinal disease that primarily affects premature infants, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Among the various factors implicated in NEC development, the timing of RBC transfusions has garnered attention. Understanding the relationship between RBC transfusion timing and NEC occurrence is crucial for optimizing neonatal care protocols.

Against the above background, Ariel A. Salas, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues aimed to evaluate whether there is a temporal association between 72-hour hazard periods of exposure to RBC transfusions and NEC among ELBW infants randomized to either lower or higher hemoglobin transfusion thresholds.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a post hoc secondary analysis of 1690 ELBW infants who survived to postnatal day 10 and enrolled in the TOP randomized multicenter trial between 2012 and 2017.

The research team first examined the distribution of RBC transfusions and NEC occurrence up to postnatal day 60. Secondly, 72-hour posttransfusion periods were categorized as hazard periods and the pretransfusion periods of variable duration as control periods. Then, they compared the NEC risk in posttransfusion hazard periods with that in pretransfusion control periods, the risk was stratified based on the randomization group (higher or lower hemoglobin transfusion threshold group).

The primary outcome was NEC stage 2 or 3 incidence. Secondary outcomes included the incidence rates of NEC within five 10-day intervals, considering the number of days at risk.

Of 1824 ELBW infants randomized during the TOP trial, the analysis included 1690 infants (mean gestational age, 26.0 weeks; 53.2% were female). The key findings were as follows:

The study led to the following findings:

  • After categorizing 4947 hazard periods and 5813 control periods, the researchers identified 133 NEC cases. 44.4% of these cases occurred during hazard periods.
  • The baseline and clinical characteristics of infants with NEC during hazard periods did not differ from those of infants with NEC during control periods.
  • NEC risk was 11.9 per 1000 posttransfusion hazard periods and 12.7 per 1000 control periods (adjusted risk ratio, 0.95). This risk did not differ significantly between randomization groups, but the incidence rate of NEC per 1000 days peaked between postnatal days 20 and 29 in the lower hemoglobin transfusion threshold group.

“The findings suggest that among ELBW infants with the hemoglobin ranges occurring in the TOP trial, exposure to RBC transfusions was not temporally associated with a higher NEC risk during 72-hour posttransfusion hazard periods,” the researchers wrote.

“Given that the incidence rate of NEC peaked between postnatal days 20 and 29 among infants with lower hemoglobin values, a more in-depth examination of this at-risk period using larger data sets is warranted,” they concluded.

Reference:

Salas AA, Gunn E, Carlo WA, et al. Timing of Red Blood Cell Transfusions and Occurrence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(5):e249643. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9643

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Occlusal veneer can protect cracked teeth without preventive root canal therapy: Study

Occlusal veneer can protect cracked teeth without preventive root canal therapy suggests a study published in the Journal of American Dental Association.

The authors evaluated the prognostic factors associated with pulp status in patients with cracked teeth (CT) treated with occlusal veneer. An analysis of 80 cracked teeth (71 patients) with 1 or more crack lines (CLs) and normal pulp vitality or reversible pulpitis was performed. All patients received occlusal veneer and their demographic and clinical data were recorded. Pulp status and clinical features were recorded at 1 week and posttreatment at 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Results: Maxillary first molars were commonly involved (30 [38%]). The number of CLs on the finish line ranged from 1 through 7 and most had 3 CLs (24 [30%]). The number of CLs through preparation on the finish line ranged from 0 through 4, and 2 CLs (42 [53%]) were the most prevalent. During follow-up, 5 of 80 CT progressed to pulp disease, resulting in a success rate of 93.8%. Results of the Cox model and Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that probing depth greater than 6 mm, widening periodontal ligament of apical area, more than 4 CLs on finish line, and more than 2 CLs through preparation on the finish line were risk factors associated with pulp status (P < .05). Occlusal veneer can protect cracked teeth without preventive root canal therapy. The success rate and risk factors of pulp disease in cracked teeth restored with occlusal veneer are reported.

Reference:

Pu Y, Wang M, Hong Y, Bai J. Prognostic factors associated with pulp status in patients with cracked teeth treated with occlusal veneer: A 6- through 24-month prospective clinical study. J Am Dent Assoc. 2024 May;155(5):390-398.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2024.02.004. Epub 2024 Mar 27. PMID: 38530693.

Keywords:

Occlusal veneer, protect, cracked teeth, preventive, root canal therapy, study, Pu Y, Wang M, Hong Y, Bai J, Cracked tooth; minimally invasive dentistry; occlusal veneer; pulp survival; treatment prognosis, Journal of American Dental Association

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Vegan or vegetarian diet positively affects ammonia levels and metabolomic profiles in cirrhosis patients: Study

A recent study published in the Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology journal highlights the potential benefits of substituting meat-based meals with vegan or vegetarian alternatives in patients with cirrhosis. This research elucidates on how dietary choices can influence ammonia production and metabolomics in these patients by providing valuable insights for dietary management in cirrhosis.

The study focused on outpatients with cirrhosis who typically follow a Western meat-based diet. The participants with and without a history of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) were randomized into three groups. Each group received a burger containing 20 grams of protein, either from meat, vegan (V) or vegetarian (VG) sources. The study further monitored blood ammonia levels and conducted metabolomic analysis with the help of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry at baseline and hourly for three hours post-meal.

The study revealed significant differences in ammonia levels and metabolomic profiles between the groups. Also, serum ammonia levels increased in the meat group but remained stable in the vegan and vegetarian groups. This suggests that substituting meat with plant-based alternatives can reduce ammoniagenesis in the patients with cirrhosis.

The meat group experienced a decrease in metabolites associated with branched-chain amino acids and acylcarnitines, while lipid profile alterations were also observed. Also, higher levels of sphingomyelins and lower levels of lysophospholipids were observed in the meat group when compared to the vegan and vegetarian groups which highlighted the distinct changes of metabolomic analysis.

The findings indicate that intermittent substitution of meat-based meals with vegan or vegetarian alternatives can positively affect ammonia levels and metabolomic profiles in cirrhosis patients. This could be particularly beneficial in managing HE, a severe complication of cirrhosis characterized by elevated ammonia levels and cognitive dysfunction. The study found that stool microbiome composition was similar across all groups at baseline by suggesting that the observed metabolic changes were directly related to the dietary intervention than the underlying microbiome differences.

Overall, vegan and vegetarian meal substitutions could offer a practical dietary strategy for managing cirrhosis and preventing complications such as HE by reducing ammonia generation and favorably altering the metabolomic profiles. Further studies to explore long-term impacts and the mechanisms behind these dietary effects are imperative.

Reference:

Badal, B. D., Fagan, A., Tate, V., Mousel, T., Gallagher, M. L., Puri, P., Davis, B., Miller, J., Sikaroodi, M., Gillevet, P., Gedguadas, R., Kupcinkas, J., Thacker, L., & Bajaj, J. S. (2024). Substitution of One Meat-based meal with Vegetarian and Vegan Alternatives Generates Lower Ammonia and Alters Metabolites in Cirrhosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. In Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). https://doi.org/10.14309/ctg.0000000000000707

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Radiopharmaceutical therapy controls symptoms and reduces medications in insulinoma patients: Study

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is effective for clinical control of symptomatic metastatic insulinomas, according to new research published in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. In the largest study to date of metastatic insulinoma patients treated with PRRT, more than 80 percent of patients had long-lasting symptom control, and nearly 60 percent were able to reduce the use of other drugs to treat the disease.

Metastatic insulinoma is a rare malignant neuroendocrine tumor characterized by inappropriate insulin secretion. This results in life-threatening hypoglycemia, which is often difficult to treat. The severity of symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening hypoglycemic events, leading to coma and death. Most insulinomas are benign, but approximately six percent -develop metastases and are therefore considered malignant.

“Because of the rarity of the disease, the treatment strategies for malignant metastatic disease are ill-defined,” stated Damian Wild, MD, PhD, nuclear medicine physician at University Hospital Basel, in Basel, Switzerland. “There is currently limited data available about the efficacy of PRRT in patients with malignant insulinomas. Our research aimed to evaluate whether PRRT could improve symptoms and if it had an impact on medication needed to control hypoglycemia.”

The retrospective study included 26 patients with malignant insulinomas who were treated with a total of 106 cycles of 90Y-DOTATOC or 177Lu-DOTATOC. A scoring system was used to quantify the severity and frequency of hypoglycemic episodes, and the score before and after PRRT was analyzed. Information on medication needed to control hypoglycemia before and after PRRT was also collected, an overall and progression-free survival was recorded.

PRRT was effective in controlling hypoglycemia in 81 percent of the study population and enabled 58 percent of patients to reduce the use of other drugs to control hypoglycemic episodes, resulting in reduced potential drug side effects. Overall and progression-free survival were 19.7 and 11.7 months, respectively.

“Compared to the effectiveness of other drugs commonly used to control hypoglycemia, the results of PRRT are promising and will likely have an impact on guidelines for the treatment of metastatic insulinoma,” noted Wild. “They also imply that PRRT is indicated at an earlier time point, for example as a first or second line of therapy, for the treatment of metastatic insulinomas.”

Reference:

Liene Friebe, Martin T. Freitag, Martin Braun, Guillaume Nicolas, Andreas Bauman, David Bushnell, Emanuel Christ and Damian Wild, Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy Is Effective for Clinical Control of Symptomatic Metastatic Insulinoma: A Long-Term Retrospective Analysis, Journal of Nuclear Medicine,https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.123.265894.

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Physical Activity may ease symptom burden of postconcussion in children, suggests study

Determining the optimal volume of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity in the early stages postconcussion and its correlation with subsequent symptom severity is crucial for providing effective management opinions.

According to an Original Investigation on Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation published in JAMA Network Open, Children and adolescents with acute concussion who engaged in 259 minutes of cumulative moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (cMVPA) during the first week post-injury and 565 minutes of cMVPA during the second-week post-injury experienced lower symptom burden at one week and two weeks post-injury.
The study aims to explore the connection between physical activity and symptom burden in children postconcussion, including the likelihood of persisting symptoms at two and four weeks post-injury.
This study analyzed data from a randomized clinical trial conducted from March 2017 to December 2019 at 3 Canadian pediatric emergency departments. Participants aged 10-17 with acute concussion of less than 48 hours were included. Analysis was conducted from July 2022 to December 2023.
cMVPA after injury was measured using accelerometers worn on the waist 24 hours a day for 13 days after the injury. The measurements were valid if participants had at least four days of accelerometer data and, at most, three consecutive days of missing data. cMVPA at one week and two weeks post-injury was defined as cMVPA for seven days and 13 days post-injury, respectively.
Key findings from the study are:
  • 267/456 children were female, with a mean age of 12.9.
  • Participants with higher cMVPA had lower HBI scores at 1 and 2 weeks post-injury, but not at four weeks post-injury with differences of -5.45, -2.85 and -1.24, respectively (75th percentile vs 25th percentile).
  • Symptom burden did not decrease beyond the 75th percentile for cMVPA at 1 and 2 weeks post-injury. The odds ratio for the connection between the 75th and 25th percentiles of cMVPA and PSAC was 0.48 at two weeks.
Study strengths include a large sample, objective evaluation of cMVPA, enhanced generalizability, external validity, use of the standardized definition of PSAC, and enhanced reliability of results.
Children and adolescents with acute concussion who engaged in 259 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (cMVPA) during the first-week post-injury and 565 minutes during the second-week post-injury experienced lower symptom burden at one and two weeks post-injury. At two weeks post-injury, higher cMVPA volume was associated with a 48% reduced odds of PSAC compared to lower cMVPA volume.
Reference
Ledoux A, Sicard V, Bijelić V, et al. Optimal Volume of Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Postconcussion in Children and Adolescents. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(2):e2356458. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.56458

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Febuxostat Shows Renoprotective Effects in Gout Patients: Study

Researchers in a recent study have found that febuxostat, a medication commonly used for gout management, is associated with a decreased risk of kidney events and a slower decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with gout. This finding addresses existing questions regarding the outcomes of febuxostat therapy in this patient population. Febuxostat, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009 for the management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout, has been a stable therapy option. However, questions remained regarding its potential to delay the progression of kidney dysfunction and reduce kidney events.

This study was conducted by Yang XH and was published in Annals of Medicine. The study conducted a meta-analysis of 16 RCTs, analyzing data from various sources, including MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register for Randomized Controlled Trials. The key findings of the study were as follows:

  • Febuxostat demonstrates renoprotective effects in patients with gout, potentially delaying the progression of kidney function deterioration.

  • A meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) revealed that patients receiving febuxostat had a reduced risk of kidney events and a slower decline in eGFR compared to controls.

  • Compared to controls, patients treated with febuxostat showed a reduced risk of kidney events (relative risk [RR], 0.56) and a slower decline in eGFR (weighted mean difference [WMD], 0.90 mL/min/1.73 m2).

  • Febuxostat use was also associated with a decrease in urine albumin to creatinine ratio (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.21).

  • Notably, febuxostat therapy was not associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality, death from cardiovascular disease, or cardiovascular events, despite previous safety concerns.

The findings suggest that febuxostat may be an effective drug for delaying the progression of kidney function deterioration in patients with gout or hyperuricemia. However, further research, including larger multicenter trials with hard kidney endpoints, is needed to validate these results.

Febuxostat demonstrates renoprotective effects in patients with gout, with a decreased risk of kidney events and a slower decline in eGFR compared to controls. Despite previous safety concerns, febuxostat therapy was not associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality or cardiovascular events. These findings highlight the potential of febuxostat as a treatment option for patients with gout or hyperuricemia.

Reference:

Yang XH, Zhang BL, Cheng Y, Fu SK, Jin HM. Febuxostat provides renoprotection in patients with hyperuricemia or gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Med. 2024;56(1):2332956. doi:10.1080/07853890.2024.2332956

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