NEET-UG 2024 Score Card now LIVE, More than 80 Students Score 720 Marks!

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the results for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 examination today i.e. on June 04, 2024.

The exam scorecard is now available on the official website of the NTA- exams.nta.ac.in. Those who appeared in the exam can download the scorecard using the link given in the official website.

Sharing that the results are now live, NTA mentioned on X (formerly Twitter), “Attention NEET UG 2024 Candidates! NEET UG 2024 results are now live! Check your scorecard at https://exams.nta.ac.in/NEET Enter your application number and DOB. Ensure your scorecard includes your photo and barcode, or re-download it if it is missing. Best of luck!”

How to Download NEET UG 2024 Results: 

Candidates can download their NEET UG 2024 results with the following steps:

1. Go to the official website i.e. exams.nta.ac.in

2. On the homepage, click on the scorecard link named “Click Here for Score Card”

3. A new login page would open

4. Enter the application number and date of birth

5. Access the result and download it.

Also Read: NEET 2024 Paper Leak matter reaches Supreme Court, Plea seeking Stay on Results declaration Junked

As per the latest media report by Times Now, the NTA NEET Cutoff 2024 is 720–164 for General/EWS candidates and 163-129 for SC/ST/OBC students. The previous year’s NEET qualifying scores were 136-107 for SC/ST/OBC, 136-121 for GN/EWS-PwD, and 720-137 for the GN/EWS category.

This year’s NEET UG 2024 exam was mired in controversies after a paper leak scam was revealed in Bihar. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported earlier around 13 people, including four examinees and their family members were arrested in Bihar for their alleged involvement in the paper leak of NEET-UG exam.

Patna police sources had previously claimed that the NEET-UG question papers along with their answers were provided to around 20 aspirants a day before the date of the exam i.e. May 5, 2024.

Then, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, which took over the investigation, revealed that the brokers involved in the NEET paper leak scam took between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh from each of the medical aspirants in exchange of giving them the question paper of the NEET UG 2024 question paper ahead of the examination.

In fact, a PIL had also been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the exam results. While the Apex Court refused to grant a stay on the exam results, it agreed to consider the matter and issue notice on the PIL seeking re-conduction of the NEET UG exams in light of the alleged malpractices and paper leak scam.

More than 80 Candidates Score 720/720 Marks: 

This year’s NEET UG 2024 results have come as a shock to many as a large number of students have reportedly scored perfect score of 720 out of 720 marks. It is being claimed that altogether 89 students have scored full marks in the exam, Times Now has reported.

Although NTA is yet to release the merit list for the NEET UG exam, this year’s cut-off is reportedly unexpectedly high. Due to this, candidates having a difference of only a few numbers have witnessed significant differences in ranks.

Raising the issue, the X (formerly Twitter) handle of ‘Indian Doctor’ shared that while a candidate scoring 700 marks has secured 2250 ranks, another candidate who secured 685 marks secured 6777 rank. Following this, candidates securing 675, 665, and 630 marks in the exam have allegedly secured 11600 rank, 17800 rank and 48600 rank respectively.

“After Unexpected #ElectionsResults Unexpected #NEET UG 2024 #Result,” read the X post by ‘Indian Doctor’.

Sharing the NEET results update, the Vice President of AIMSA (All India Medical Students’ Association) Dr. Syed Faizan Ahmad mentioned in an X post, “#NEET UG result 89 students secured 720/720 marks in NEET UG exam . So now Lottery system will decide who will get AIIMS delhi . in 2023 only 2 students secured 720/720.”

Also Read: NEET 2024 Final Answer Key OUT, results to be declared soon

Powered by WPeMatico

Remnant Cholesterol Key Risk Factor for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Study

A recent study published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases highlighted the role of remnant cholesterol (RC) as a significant risk factor for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Despite being recognized for its contribution to atherosclerosis, the exact link between RC and AIS has remained unclear until now. This research by Qian Feng and team determined whether fasting blood RC levels serve as an independent risk factor for AIS.

This comprehensive retrospective analysis examined a total of 650 patients diagnosed with AIS and 598 healthy control subjects and were observed during the same period. The team utilized binary logistic regression to explore the association between RC and AIS by employing Restricted Cubic Splines (RCS) to illustrate the link between RC levels and AIS risk.

The study revealed that RC levels were significantly higher in patients with AIS when compared to the healthy control group. Also, RC emerged as an independent risk factor for AIS even after adjusting for various covariates. For the RC concentrations below 0.69 mmol/L, the risk of AIS increased with rising RC levels which indicated a non-linear relationship in the RCS analysis. Also, at RC concentrations of 0.69 mmol/L or higher, the risk plateaued and became insignificant with further increases in RC.

Further analysis uncovered a marked association between RC and diabetes, as well as fasting glucose levels. Among diabetic patients, the incidence of AIS surged significantly with increased RC levels. Also, the RCS analysis highlighted that in diabetic patients, the risk of AIS increased continuously with RC levels above 1.15 mmol/L.

This study conclusively identifies RC as an independent risk factor for AIS by revealing a distinct non-linear association between RC levels and the risk of stroke. The findings illuminate the necessity for targeted AIS risk assessment strategies for diabetic patients who show an increased vulnerability to higher RC levels.

The researchers advocate for incorporating RC measurements into routine assessments for AIS risk stratification in populations with diabetes. This approach could lead to more personalized and effective prevention strategies by potentially reducing the incidence of AIS. Overall, this research highlights the pathogenic role of RC in AIS but also suggests that managing RC levels could be crucial in preventing strokes in diabetic individuals.

Source:

Feng, Q., Li, H., Zhang, R.-Y., Sun, L., Zhang, S.-Y., Chen, Y., Zhang, Y., Shan, B.-S., Zhao, Z., Zhou, H., & Xu, X. (2024). Elevated remnant cholesterol is a risk factor for acute ischemic stroke. In Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases (Vol. 33, Issue 8, p. 107773). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.107773

Powered by WPeMatico

Hearing loss and voice disorders increase the risk of depression: Study

A recent study published in the The Laryngoscope identified significant links between hearing loss, voice disorders and depression. This research utilized data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) to highlight the underexplored relationship between expressive communication impairments, like dysphonia and mental health.

The study analyzed data from over 8,500 individuals aged 19 to 80 years which was collected across two periods: 2008-2012 and 2019-2020. This comprehensive dataset from KNHANES included both audiometry and self-reported voice disorder information which allowed for a robust examination of the impacts on mental health.

The key findings of this study were;

Individuals with hearing loss, defined as a pure tone average of ≥25 dB, showed a 27% increased likelihood of depression when compared to the individuals without hearing loss. This finding illuminates the significant mental health risk associated with receptive communication impairments.

Self-reported voice disorders were found to be an even stronger predictor of depression where the affected individuals underwent a 48% higher chance of being diagnosed with depression. This emphasizes the pivotal role of expressive communication in mental well-being.

The participants who suffered from both hearing loss and a voice disorder underwent the highest risk. They were nearly 1.8 times more likely to undergo depression when compared to the individuals with neither impairment. This suggests a compounded effect where difficulties in both receiving and expressing communication significantly impact the mental health.

These findings reveal the substantial mental health risks posed by both hearing loss and voice disorders. While hearing loss has been previously acknowledged as a risk factor for depression, this research illuminates the significant yet overlooked impact of the voice disorders. The combination of these impairments poses an even greater risk that is likely due to the cumulative difficulty in both incoming and outgoing communication.

The outcomes of this study suggest that these results highlight the need for comprehensive healthcare strategies that address both types of communication impairments. Integrating mental health support with auditory and speech therapies could be beneficial in reducing the risk of depression among the affected individuals.

Overall, this study offers crucial insights into the interplay between communication disorders and mental health. This demonstration of the independent and combined effects of hearing loss and voice disorders on depression could pave way for more holistic approaches to treat, prevent and ensure better mental health outcomes for the individuals with communication impairments.

Reference:

Rameau, A., Tucker, L. H., Denham, M. W., Kang, Y. J., Choi, N., Lachs, M., Rosen, T. E., Stewart, M., Czaja, S., & Golub, J. S. (2024). Voice Disorders and Hearing Loss May Be Additive Risk Factors for Depression in a National Cohort. In The Laryngoscope. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.31536

Powered by WPeMatico

Early Statin initiation fails to reduce risk of ischemic stroke within 90 days due to atherosclerosis: Study

Early Statin initiation within 72 hours fails to reduce risk of stroke within 90 days in patients with acute cerebral ischemia from atherosclerosis suggests a new study published in the JAMA.

Comparisons are limited for immediate-intensive and delayed-intensive statin for secondary stroke prevention and neuroprotection in patients with acute mild ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) from atherosclerosis. A study was done to estimate whether immediate-intensive statin therapy is safe and can lower the risk of recurrent stroke compared with delayed-intensive statin in patients with acute mild ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA from atherosclerosis. The Intensive Statin and Antiplatelet Therapy for High-Risk Intracranial or Extracranial Atherosclerosis (INSPIRES) trial, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 × 2 factorial, randomized clinical trial enrolled patients from September 2018 to October 2022. The trial was conducted at 222 hospitals in China. Patients aged 35 to 80 years with mild ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA of presumed atherosclerosis within 72 hours of symptom onset were assessed. Patients were randomly assigned to receive immediate-intensive atorvastatin (80 mg daily on days 1-21; 40 mg daily on days 22-90) or 3-day delayed treatment (placebo for days 1-3, followed by placebo and atorvastatin, 40 mg daily on days 4-21, and then atorvastatin, 40 mg daily on days 22-90). The primary efficacy outcome was new stroke within 90 days, and a secondary efficacy outcome was poor functional outcome. Moderate to severe bleeding was the primary safety outcome. Results: A total of 11 431 patients were assessed for eligibility, and 6100 patients (median [IQR] age, 65 [57-71] years; 3915 men [64.2%]) were enrolled, with 3050 assigned to each treatment group. Within 90 days, new stroke occurred in 245 patients (8.1%) in the immediate-intensive statin group and 256 patients (8.4%) in the delayed group (hazard ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.80-1.13). Poor functional outcome occurred in 299 patients (9.8%) and 348 patients (11.4%) in the immediate-intensive and delayed-intensive statin groups, respectively (odds ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71-0.98). Moderate to severe bleeding occurred in 23 of 3050 patients (0.8%) and 17 of 3050 patients (0.6%), in the immediate-intensive and delayed-intensive statin groups, respectively. Immediate-intensive statin initiated within 72 hours did not reduce the risk of stroke within 90 days and may be associated with improved functional outcomes without significant difference in moderate to severe bleeding, compared with 3-day delayed-intensive statin in Chinese patients with acute mild ischemic stroke or TIA from atherosclerosis.

Reference:

Gao Y, Jiang L, Pan Y, et al. Immediate- or Delayed-Intensive Statin in Acute Cerebral Ischemia: The INSPIRES Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurol. Published online May 28, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.1433

Keywords:

Early, Statin, initiation, 72 hours fails, reduce risk, stroke, 90 days, patients, acute, cerebral ischemia, atherosclerosis, JAMA, Gao Y, Jiang L, Pan Y

Powered by WPeMatico

Time-averaged serum uric acid levels tied to long-term outcomes in IgA nephropathy patients: Study

China: Groundbreaking research has shed light on the intricate relationship between time-averaged serum uric acid (SUA) levels and clinicopathological information, as well as long-term outcomes in patients diagnosed with IgA nephropathy. The study, published in PeerJ, offers valuable insights into the management and prognosis of this prevalent kidney disorder. 

Despite prior uncertainty about its prognostic value in IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the findings suggest that time-averaged serum uric acid is an independent risk factor associated with IgAN progression.

Results showed that time-averaged serum uric acid levels were associated with triglyceride levels, renal function, complement component levels, and pathological severity, highlighting its potential value as a prognostic indicator in patients with IgA nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy, also known as Berger’s disease, is a chronic kidney condition characterized by the buildup of immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits in the kidneys, leading to inflammation and impaired kidney function. Despite its widespread prevalence, identifying factors that influence disease progression and outcomes has remained a challenge until now.

Against the above background, Mengjie Weng, Department of Nephrology, Blood Purification Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China, and colleagues aimed to investigate the relevant factors affecting time-averaged SUA (TA-SUA) and to assess its prognostic value in IgAN.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a retrospective study comprising 152 patients with IgAN. They analyzed the relationships between TA-SUA and clinicopathological features and renal outcomes (defined as the doubling of the baseline serum creatinine level or end-stage renal disease) in groups divided by quartiles of TA-SUA levels, the presence of hyperuricemia, and sex.

The study led to the following findings:

  • Patients with high TA-SUA levels had higher levels of baseline SUA, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), triglycerides, serum C3, and serum C4, and were more likely to be male and have proteinuria, hypertension, poor renal function, and pathological injuries, including high grades of tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T1–T2). These patients had a poorer prognosis compared with patients with low TA-SUA levels.
  • The TA-SUA level was positively correlated with baseline age and BUN, triglycerides, serum C3, and serum C4 levels and negatively correlated with baseline eGFR.
  • Survival curve analysis indicated that persistent hyperuricemia was associated with significantly poorer renal outcomes than normo-uricemia in both men and women.
  • The TA-SUA level was an independent predictor of renal outcome in patients with IgAN, with optimal cutoû values of 451.38 µmol/L (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.934) for men and 492.83 µmol/L (AUC = 0.768) for women.

The results showed that TA-SUA level is associated with serum TG, C3, and C4 levels, as well as renal function and the pathological severity of IgAN.

“According to our data, hyperuricemia significantly promotes IgAN progression, particularly in female patients, whereas its persistence in significant amounts is an independent risk factor for renal function loss in male and female patients,” the researchers wrote. “We recommend considering these findings in treatment planning and the design of prospective therapeutic trials.”

Reference:

Weng M, Fu B, Zhuo Y, Lin J, Zou Z, Chen Y, Cui J, Li G, Chen C, Xu Y, Jiang D, Wan J. 2024. Association of time-averaged serum uric acid level with clinicopathological information and long-term outcomes in patients with IgA nephropathy. PeerJ 12:e17266 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17266

Powered by WPeMatico

Upadacitinib Outperforms Dupilumab in Treating Atopic Dermatitis: Study

Researchers have found that upadacitinib (Rinvoq) was more effective than dupilumab (Dupixent) in treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in a phase 3b/4 trial, according to data from the LEVEL UP trial announced on April 25, 2024. The study demonstrated that a greater proportion of patients achieved relief and resolution of symptoms with upadacitinib than with dupilumab. This was announced by AbbVie and was conducted by Jonathan Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH, director of clinical research and professor of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin condition that can significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Both dupilumab and upadacitinib have become important treatments in managing AD, providing options for patients who do not respond adequately to other therapies. The LEVEL UP trial was initiated in 2022 to compare the effects of these agents and guide clinicians in their decision-making.

The LEVEL UP trial included patients aged 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe AD. Participants underwent a 16-week treatment period, followed by an additional 16-week period of treatment with protocol-defined adjustments. The primary endpoint was achieving both a 90% reduction in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI 90) and a Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale of 0 or 1 (WP-NRS 0/1) at the 16-week mark.

Patients in the trial received either upadacitinib starting at 15 mg daily (escalated to 30 mg based on response) or dupilumab at 600 mg initially, followed by 300 mg every two weeks for subjects weighing ≥60 kg. Those weighing less than 60 kg received an initial dose of 400 mg, followed by 200 mg every two weeks.

The key findings of the study were:

  • A significantly higher percentage of upadacitinib-treated patients achieved the primary endpoint compared to those treated with dupilumab (19.9% vs 8.9%, P < .0001).

  • Upadacitinib also outperformed dupilumab in terms of EASI 90 (40.8% vs 22.5%, P < .0001) and WP-NRS of 0/1 (30.2% vs 15.5%, P < .0001) at the 16-week mark.

  • The safety profile of upadacitinib was consistent with previous AD studies, with no new safety concerns identified.

  • Both medications had a similar rate of serious adverse events (0.9%).

The results from the LEVEL UP trial suggest that upadacitinib may be a more effective treatment option than dupilumab for patients with moderate-to-severe AD. This can help guide clinicians in selecting the most effective treatments for their patients.

The LEVEL UP trial provides evidence that upadacitinib outperforms dupilumab in treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, offering higher rates of symptom relief and skin clearance. The safety profile of upadacitinib remains consistent with previous studies, making it a promising option for AD management.

Reference:

New Data Show RINVOQ® (upadacitinib) Demonstrated Superiority Versus DUPIXENT® (dupilumab) Across Primary and All Secondary Endpoints in an Open-Label Head-to-Head Atopic Dermatitis Study. AbbVie. April 25, 2024. https://news.abbvie.com/2024-04-25-New-Data-Show-RINVOQ-R-upadacitinib-Demonstrated-Superiority-Versus-DUPIXENT-R-dupilumab-Across-Primary-and-All-Secondary-Endpoints-in-an-Open-Label-Head-to-Head-Atopic-Dermatitis-Study. Date accessed: April 25, 2024.

Powered by WPeMatico

Chennai outlet selling human breast milk at Rs 500 for 100 ml , sealed

In a significant crackdown, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sealed an outlet in Chennai that was selling human breast milk at ₹ 500 for 100 ml. Following a complaint, the outlet was under surveillance for ten days, culminating in a surprise raid that uncovered a stock of human breast milk. Dr. M Jagadish Chandra Bose, Designated Officer of the Food Safety Department in Tiruvallur, confirmed that bottles labeled as pasteurized human breast milk, including names of donor mothers, were found.
Dr. Bose stated, “We don’t know what procedure they adopted to pasteurise the milk. We will take further action after investigation.” This follows an advisory issued by FSSAI earlier in May, which warned against the commercialization of human milk, stating it is not permitted under the FSS Act 2006.

Powered by WPeMatico

56 confirmed deaths from heat stroke recorded in last 3 months in India: Health Ministry

India has experienced a significant number of heat-related deaths, with 56 fatalities reported from 24,849 suspected cases of heat stroke between March and May, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.
Of these, 46 deaths occurred in May alone. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recorded 19,189 suspected heat stroke cases between May 1 and 30. Notably, the data excludes fatalities from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Delhi, suggesting that the actual numbers could be higher.

Powered by WPeMatico

77th World Health Assembly: Union Health Secretary lauds India’s role in Global Health Security Agenda

New Delhi: Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra on Monday commends India’s role in the global health security agenda at the 77th World Health Assembly which agreed to the package of amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) based on 300 proposals made by member countries after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Finally, on 1st (June), the IHR was concluded, which was a big achievement… India’s contribution in that sense was good, getting the people together. Since we are respected by the global south and global north, I think we play a good mediatory role,” said Chandra, news agency ANI reported. 

The Union Health Secretary noted that these IHRs were first approved in 2005, and they are like international law, which all countries need to follow in terms of epidemics and pandemics.

Also Read:World Health Assembly approves amendments to enhance International Health Regulations

“One of the biggest outcomes of this World Health Assembly has been the approval of the International Health Regulations (IHR),” he said.

After the COVID pandemic, some of the amendments were proposed, and over 300 amendments were proposed by various countries, he said, adding that, however, these discussions had been going on for the past two years and there was not a conclusion on what these amendments were to be approved and in what form.

“Simultaneously, there is also a pandemic treaty, specifically for vaccines, and how these things will take place in the case of a pandemic,” he added.

The Union Health Secretary emphasised that these two agreements were being negotiated by two different groups.

“…We discussed this with all the stakeholders, and we proposed that instead of two groups, let there be one group, one drafting group. And that proposal was moved by me, which was accepted by all the countries,” he said.

“Then those, that one group, burned the midnight oil. Our delegates also participated. Most of the day the meetings went on until midnight. One day it went on till 02:00 am also. And finally, on the last day, that is, at 11:00 pm, the IHR was concluded, which was a very big achievement. This has been discussed for more than two years. And finally, this was approved,” he emphasised.

Referring to the other treaty, Health Secretary Chandra said that it was decided that the pandemic treaty would be taken up in the next World Health Assembly.

India is now respected a lot at the World Health Summit, as it has provided health facilities to 220 crore people, he said.

“We were able to give it to people in just 6 months and our entire digital format was such that people have an idea about it, everyone respects it a lot and honours the way we did this work in India,” he said.

“That is why today everyone listens to us in the World Health Seminar, whether it is from the Global North or the Global South, and in the Global South, we have delivered Covaxin to so many countries, so we have a good reach there too,” Chandra added.

According to an ANI report, The targeted amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) aimed at improving countries’ ability to prepare for and respond to Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) and Pandemic Emergencies (PE).

They included provisions for facilitating equitable access to relevant health products during PHEIC and PE, as well as mobilising financial resources to support developing countries in building, strengthening, and maintaining the core capacities required under the IHR (2005).

The Working Group on International Health Regulations (WGIHR) and Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on Pandemic treaty with country representations began the negotiation process in two separate groups almost two years ago and met several times including many resumed sessions on the issue.

The processes witnessed many close calls with seeming deadlocks over positions taken by the various stakeholders.

To finalise the package of amendments to IHR, a proposal was put forward in the form of a White Paper by Chandra as Chair of Committee A of the World Health Assembly on May 28, 2024.

It proposed to establish a single drafting group, to be co-chaired by one Bureau member from the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) and the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR) respectively, to consider the matters related to some of the most critical agenda items – the proposed amendments to the IHR (2005), followed by consideration of procedural matters on way forward related to INB negotiations on the Pandemic treaty. The said proposal was approved by all member states by consensus.

Powered by WPeMatico

Program supporting psychological well-being and parenting skills of mothers of children with ADHD proves effective

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by elevated levels of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that can impair academic and social functioning. ADHD is also associated with increased levels of parenting stress, less effective parenting practices, and can disrupt the parent-child relationship. The importance of support for parents of children with ADHD is widely acknowledged in Japan, but specialized parent training programs targeting ADHD have not been available.

Powered by WPeMatico