Faculty Requirement not Fulfilled! Kanakapura, Ramanagara Medical Colleges Unlikely to Begin in 2025-2026

Bengaluru: With a few months left for the National Medical Commission‘s (NMC) inspection, the Medical Education Department in Karnataka is struggling to fill the vacancies in the newly set up medical colleges in Kanakapura and Ramanagara.

Amid this, referring to the insufficient time available for recruiting all the required faculty members for these two new medical colleges, multiple sources have opined that it is unlikely these new medical colleges will start functioning in the next academic year as well, The Hindu reported.

The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) has been given the responsibility of filling up all the vacancies in 16 government medical colleges and two new medical colleges in Kanakapura and Ramanagara by appointing senior residents and other faculty members in the next three months.

Also Read: At least 27 Karnataka medical colleges penalised by NMC

As per the media report by The Hindu, the Director of Directorate of Medical Education, Dr. B.L. Sujatha Rathod informed that the Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil chaired a meeting over the issue on Thursday. She added, “It has been decided that required senior residents will be appointed from the Directorate’s funds and a proposal for recruitment of the remaining staff will be submitted to the Finance Department.”

The direction has been issued to fill up the vacancies after the NMC recently imposed fines on 16 government medical colleges for vacancies and rejecting applications for opening new medical colleges in Kanakapura and Ramanagara over the non-recruitment of teaching faculty and infrastructure in 2024-2025.

After the Commission imposed the fine, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar chaired a meeting in 2024 and directed the Department to ensure that the faculty shortage is fixed by 2025-2026. 

However, The Hindu has reported that it was only after the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) pressurized the Department that the issue was taken up.

In this regard, the Registrar of RGUHS wrote to the Department of Medical Education stating that further steps would be taken to apply to NMC seeking to start colleges in Kanakapura and Ramanagara only if the Government submitted an undertaking regarding the staff recruitment within the stipulated time frame. 

Responding to this, the Principal Secretary of the Medical Education Department on January 13 replied, “The recruitment of teaching posts in these institutions will be completed within the specified time frame.”

Dr. Rathod referred to the undertaking and informed, “As per the undertaking, teaching staff will be appointed for these colleges within the stipulated time frame.”

NMC last year imposed a huge penalty from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 15 lakh on these sixteen government medical colleges including Chikkamagaluru Institute of Medical Sciences, Chitradurga Institute of Medical Sciences, and others. Now, all the teaching vacancies have to be filled up to avoid any restrictions being imposed for admissions in these colleges for 2025-2026. 

Also Read: NMC slaps penalty on 27 Karnataka Medical Colleges, 5 institutes fined Rs 15 lakh each

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Reduce Fees! Telangana PG medical, dental Aspirants Urge Govt

Hyderabad: Expressing their frustration with the exorbitant fee structure at the private medical and dental institutes across Telangana, the MBBS and dental graduates pursuing medical specialty and PG dental courses have urged the State Government to intervene.

They urged the State’s intervention last Thursday to address the fee hike affected by private fee increase affected by private healthcare institutes on specialty medical and dental courses, Telangana Today has reported.

The students taking admission to medical and dental PG courses in the State under Category B management quota seats have to pay a fee ranging between Rs 13 lakh to Rs 24 lakh. Meanwhile, the students getting admitted to Category A quota medical and dental PG seats, a portion of which falls under the Convener quota, have to pay Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

However, in the neighbouring State of Andhra Pradesh, the fees for medical and dental PG courses under Category A and B are much lesser. While for the Category A seats, the fee ranges from Rs 3.41 lakh to Rs 4.9 crore, for the Category B management quota seats, it ranges from Rs 6.83 crore to Rs 9.93 crore.

Also Read: Provide Relief from Fee Hike in Private Institutes: Telangana PG Medical, Dental Students Urge Govt

As per the latest media report by Telangana Today, last week, the All India Dental Students and Surgeons Association wrote a letter to the Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha and urged the State Government to intervene to reduce the fee.

Commenting on the matter, the National President of All India Dental and Surgeons Association Dr Md Manzur Ahmed said, “Not all dental and medical students of Telangana State can afford such expensive medical seats in Category A and B. There is a need for the State government through the Health Minister to intervene on this issue and issue a Government Order that aligns fee structure for Category A and Category B seats with other neighboring States. This will ensure parity and reduce the financial stress in students while maintaining uniformity in medical education and fee across the region.”

“Medical and dental students of Telangana State are under severe financial burden and difficulties due to fee hike for medical courses in private institutions. The State government must intervene on this issue,” Dr. Manzur added.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in January, the dental and medical students aspiring for speciality PG seats in private institutes in Telangana had sought the State Government’s intervention for the high fees for medical and dental courses at the private medical and dental institutes.

In this regard, the All India Dental Students and Surgeons Association had urged the State Government to repeal Government Order 107, which was released last year. Through this order, the annual tuition fee for dental and PG medical seats in private medical and dental institutes was increased.

Further, the Association also urged the State Government to mandate stipends for PG dental students in private dental colleges. In this regard, Dr. Manzur had argued that such a provision would significantly alleviate the financial burden on the students allowing them to focus on their education and professional development.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that by issuing the G.O. No. 107 dated July 28, 2023, the State fixed the fees for altogether 19 medical colleges, where the fees for the Category-A clinical seats ranged between Rs 7,00,000 to Rs 7,75,000. The fees for the Category-B seats ranged between Rs 23 lakh to Rs 24 lakhs.

In the case of the 11 private dental institutes, the fees for the Category-A seats ranged between Rs 5,15,000 and Rs 6,00,000, and in respect of the seats under Category-B, the fees ranged between Rs 8,00,000 and Rs 13,62,000.

However, altogether 222 PG medical and dental students challenged this order before the Telangana High Court, which had last year partially stayed the decision to increase the fees at private medical and dental colleges in the State.

Back then, the HC bench of Justice Chillakur Sumalatha asked the institutes to collect only 60 per cent of the fees specified in the Government Order No. 107 from the Category-A candidates and 70 per cent from the Category-B candidates.

Also Read: NEET PG, MDS Admissions in Telangana: HC orders private institutes to collect only 60-70 percent of specified fee

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Rajasthan’s Healthcare Crisis: 40 percent Doctor Deficit, 38.5 percent specialists shortage

Jaipur: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has raised serious concerns over the shortage of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff in Rajasthan, highlighting a 40% deficit in the required number of doctors based on the World Health Organization (WHO) benchmark.

The performance audit report on Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services in Rajasthan underscores critical gaps in healthcare staffing, particularly in rural, desert, and tribal areas of the state.

Acute Shortage of Doctors in Rajasthan

The CAG report states that Rajasthan requires 82,506 doctors to meet the WHO-recommended doctor-population ratio of 1:1000. However, as per the Indian Medical Register of the National Medical Commission (NMC), only 49,242 doctors were registered in Rajasthan as of 2021, leading to an alarming doctor-population ratio of 1:1676. The report highlights:

“There was a 40 per cent shortage of doctors in the State.”

The shortage is more severe in government hospitals, with many medical institutions operating with only 65% of the required doctors.

Human Resource Deficit Across Healthcare Sectors

The CAG report identifies significant shortfalls in human resources across various healthcare levels:

Primary and Secondary Healthcare: The shortage of doctors is 35.51%, while nurses and paramedics face a deficit of 18.56% and 55.88%, respectively.

Tertiary Healthcare Institutions: There is a 21.45% shortfall of doctors, a 24.89% shortage of specialist doctors, and a 44.93% shortage of paramedics.

Contractual Staff: The most acute deficit is in contractual staff, with a 50.19% shortage​.

District-Wise Disparities in Doctor Availability

The report highlights severe regional disparities, with Pratapgarh, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Dholpur, Jalore, and Barmer facing the worst shortages. In Jaipur, the sudden increase in sanctioned posts in 2021 could not be filled, worsening the crisis.

“The vacancies were more pronounced in the desert and tribal areas of the State.”

Shortage of Specialist Doctors in Hospitals

The availability of specialist doctors in government hospitals is critically low. As of March 2024, the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare (DMH&FW) reported a 38.55% shortfall in specialist doctors across various departments.

The highest shortages were observed in:

Orthopedic Surgeons (44.74%)

General Surgeons (41.54%)

Ophthalmologists (40.09%)

Pediatricians (28.54%)

Gynecologists (32.26%)

The report criticizes this staffing crisis, stating:

“The vacancies among Surgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Ophthalmologist were more than 40 per cent.”

Non-Functional Trauma Centers Due to Staff Shortages

The state government approved 101 trauma centers across Rajasthan. However, only 74 are operational, while 27 function with minimal staff in existing hospital buildings. Shockingly, 50% of the test-checked district hospitals lacked a functioning trauma center, leading to delays in emergency care.

“A high percentage of the patients in accident cases were being referred to the nearest operational Trauma Care Centers. Precious time was thus lost in transferring the patients, which in turn delayed their medical care.”

Even in operational trauma centers, the staffing shortage remains severe, with 294 out of 498 sanctioned doctor/specialist posts vacant​.

Recruitment Failures and Government Response

Despite recruiting 6,537 doctors and 28,300 nurses between 2016-2022, the staffing shortage persists, and no long-term recruitment plan has been formulated. The state government admitted that recruitment follows budget announcements and temporary directives but has no structured plan.

“The Government of Rajasthan did not have a long-term plan for recruitment and staffing in the health sector.”

The CAG rejected the government’s justification, stating:

“The reply is not tenable as the GoR did not prepare a recruitment plan for filling up the vacancies of doctors.”

Recommendations for Addressing the Crisis

The CAG has urged the Rajasthan government to prioritize doctor recruitment and distribution to improve healthcare accessibility. The report strongly recommends:

“The State Government should address the shortage of healthcare professionals in a time-bound manner by adopting a clearly defined recruitment strategy as well as ensuring their equitable distribution across the State.”

It further highlights the urgent need for increased staffing in trauma centers, medical colleges, and district hospitals to prevent delays in treatment and improve patient outcomes.

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Addition of Metformin to SGLT2 Inhibitors Lowers Kidney Disease Risk in Diabetes Patients: Study

Researchers have found in a new study that patients receiving a combination of metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors experienced a significant reduction in kidney disease progression and mortality compared to those treated with SGLT2 inhibitors alone. This suggests that combining these medications provides greater protective benefits for kidney health. The study was published in Cardiovascular Diabetology by Agur T. and colleagues.

Although SGLT2 inhibitors are recognized for their cardio-renal protective effects, the additional benefit of combining them with metformin has been uncertain. The current retrospective cohort study, comparing outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes treated with SGLT2 inhibitors monotherapy and with SGLT2 inhibitors plus metformin, using data from 2016 to 2021 from Clalit Health Services, sought to determine this.

The analysis involved 45,545 patients, 6,774 patients per group after propensity score matching for balanced baseline characteristics. The median follow-up was 1,166 days. The primary outcomes examined were:

• Composite kidney outcome: 40% reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

• All-cause mortality.

• Other safety outcomes like hospitalizations, acute kidney injury (AKI), and metabolic acidosis were also assessed.

Key Findings

• Patients taking combination therapy (SGLT2 inhibitors + metformin) had 26% reduced risk of all-cause mortality (aHR 0.74; 95% CI 0.64-0.84).

• Combination therapy lowered the risk of progression of kidney disease (aHR 0.65; 95% CI 0.48-0.87), even when mortality was considered as a competing risk (aHR 0.67; 95% CI 0.5-0.9).

• Risk of hospitalization was marginally decreased with combination therapy (aHR 0.93; 95% CI 0.87-0.99).

• Acute kidney injury episodes were lower in the combination group (aHR 0.72; 95% CI 0.54-0.96).

• Metabolic acidosis episodes were 42% lower in combination therapy patients (aHR 0.58; 95% CI 0.4-0.83).

This research provides compelling evidence that metformin combination with SGLT2 inhibitors dramatically cuts mortality and development of kidney disease in type 2 diabetes. Healthcare clinicians must prioritize combination therapy to improve patient outcomes, regardless of glycemic control and pre-existing cardio-renal risk factors.

Reference:

Agur, T., Steinmetz, T., Goldman, S. et al. The impact of metformin on kidney disease progression and mortality in diabetic patients using SGLT2 inhibitors: a real-world cohort study. Cardiovasc Diabetol 24, 97 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-025-02643-6

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Berberine Ursodeoxycholate Shows Promise in Type 2 Diabetes Treatment: JAMA

A phase II clinical trial in China has found that berberine ursodeoxycholate (HTD1801) effectively improved HbA1c levels in adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to a placebo. The higher-dose group also showed improvements in metabolic and liver markers. Additionally, the treatment was safe and well-tolerated, highlighting its potential as a promising therapy. The trial findings have been published in the Journal of American Medical Association by Linong Ji and colleagues.

The trial was double-blind, placebo-controlled to assess the safety and efficacy of HTD1801 in adults with T2D. The participants had an HbA1c value between 7.0% and 10.5% and an FPG value less than 250.5 mg/dL. Participants were randomly divided into three groups: placebo (n=38), HTD1801 500 mg twice a day (n=37), and HTD1801 1000 mg twice a day (n=38). The main outcome was the difference in HbA1c from baseline to 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes were differences in glycemic, hepatic, and cardiometabolic parameters. Analysis of results used a mixed-effects model for repeated measures.

Key Findings

• The participants’ mean age was 54.3 years and 63.7% were male.

• The mean HbA1c at baseline was 8.2%, BMI was 25.5, and FPG was 160.7 mg/dL.

• At week 12, HbA1c decrease was significant in both groups of HTD1801:

• 500 mg group: -0.4% (95% CI, -0.79% to -0.03%; p=0.04)

• 1000 mg group: -0.7% (95% CI, -1.10% to -0.35%; p<0.001)

FPG improved:

• 500 mg group: -13.0 mg/dL

• 1000 mg group: -18.4 mg/dL

• Lipid profiles and liver injury markers also improved in the 1000 mg group.

• HTD1801 was tolerable, as 97.3% of participants completed the study.

• There were mild adverse effects in 52.2% of subjects, but nobody stopped treatment due to side effects.

• There was a serious adverse event (retinal hemorrhage) in a single patient receiving 500 mg, but this was considered to be unrelated to the treatment.

This phase 2 trial showed that HTD1801 significantly reduces HbA1c and FPG levels, as well as liver and cardiometabolic markers, in T2D patients. The drug was well tolerated, with no significant safety issues. These results indicate that HTD1801 may provide a novel oral treatment for diabetes management beyond glycemic control. More studies are required to validate these advantages in larger populations.

Reference:

Ji L, Ma J, Ma Y, et al. Berberine Ursodeoxycholate for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(3):e2462185. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.62185

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Healthy Habits and Antioxidant Intake Linked to Reduced Mortality in Stroke Survivors: Study Finds

China: A recent study published in Scientific Reports has highlighted the potential benefits of maintaining a higher oxidative balance score (OBS) in reducing the risk of all-cause mortality among stroke survivors. The analysis of stroke survivors from NHANES (1999–2018) revealed that a higher Oxidative Balance Score (OBS), which reflects diet and lifestyle factors, was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality.

“Those in the highest OBS quartile had a 41% reduced mortality risk (HR = 0.59) compared to those in the lowest quartile, emphasizing the positive impact of antioxidant-rich diets and healthy lifestyle choices on stroke recovery and survival,” the researchers reported.

The researchers note that oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants in the body, is a significant contributor to various chronic diseases, including stroke, which remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. Given its crucial role in stroke development, assessing oxidative balance is essential for understanding risk factors and potential interventions. The Oxidative Balance Score is a valuable tool to measure the combined effects of diet and lifestyle on the body’s antioxidant capacity, offering insights into how maintaining a favorable oxidative balance may help reduce stroke risk and improve overall health outcomes.

Against the above background, Haipeng Li, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, China, and colleagues used NHANES data to examine the association between OBS and all-cause mortality in stroke survivors across the United States.

The study analyzed stroke survivors from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2018), including 1,781 participants with a median follow-up of 6.5 years. During this period, 786 participants (39.59%) died. The association between OBS and all-cause mortality was evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

The key findings of the study were as follows:

  • Higher OBS quartiles were associated with lower mortality rates.
  • Individuals in the fourth OBS quartile had a 41% lower risk of all-cause mortality than those in the first quartile (HR = 0.59).
  • Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a linear inverse relationship between OBS and all-cause mortality.
  • Subgroup analysis confirmed that the inverse association remained consistent across different population subgroups.

The researchers found that a higher Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality in stroke survivors, highlighting the protective role of antioxidant-rich diets and healthy lifestyle choices. Their analysis revealed a negative correlation between OBS and mortality, suggesting that greater exposure to antioxidant factors relative to pro-oxidant factors contributes to improved survival outcomes.

“By providing new evidence on the impact of diet and lifestyle in stroke recovery, our study emphasizes the need for further longitudinal and interventional research to validate and expand these findings for better clinical guidance,” they concluded.

Reference:

Lei, J., Liao, Z., Duan, W., Li, Q., Duan, L., Tang, H., Luo, H., Huang, H., & Li, H. (2025). Association between oxidative balance score and all-cause mortality in stroke survivors. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91721-6

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Plant-rich, low saturated-fat diet associated with reduced psoriasis severity, finds study

A diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods and lean meats, low in salt and sugar, is associated with reduced psoriasis severity, new research finds.

The new study by researchers at King’s College London, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, has found significant associations between diet quality and the severity of psoriasis. The findings provide novel insights into how dietary patterns may be related to psoriasis severity in non-Mediterranean populations.

Psoriasis is a long-lasting inflammatory skin disease which causes flaky patches of skin that form scales. It affects millions worldwide and is believed to be caused by a problem with the immune system.

The research analysed data from 257 adults with psoriasis who had completed an online survey. Participants’ adherence to various diet quality scores, including the Mediterranean Diet Score, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score, and the Healthy Plant-based Diet Index, was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Psoriasis severity was self-assessed using a validated questionnaire.

Key findings from the study indicate that individuals with very low adherence to the DASH diet index and the Healthy Plant-based Diet Index were significantly more likely to report higher psoriasis severity.

Further analysis of the different elements of the DASH dietary pattern revealed that greater red and processed meat intake was associated with more severe psoriasis even when body mass index (BMI) was considered. Fruits, nuts and legume intakes were also associated with less severe psoriasis, but this relationship was not independent of BMI.

The study was published as part of the Asking People with Psoriasis about Lifestyle and Eating (APPLE) project and funded by the Psoriasis Association.

“Our findings point to the potential benefits of dietary interventions in improving patient outcomes,” said Sylvia Zanesco, PhD student from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London who led the research. “Given the impact of psoriasis on physical and psychological well-being, incorporating dietary assessments into routine care could offer patients additional support in managing their condition.”

The DASH dietary pattern was originally designed to lower blood pressure and emphasises fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods and lean meats while limiting salt, sugar, and saturated fats. A high Healthy Plant-based Diet Index characterises a dietary pattern rich in healthy plant foods including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes and plant oils rich in unsaturated fats, as well as being low in animal foods and unhealthy plant foods such as sugary foods and drinks and refined starches.

The study accounted for several confounding factors, including age, sex, smoking status, alcohol, energy intake, and mental health, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of dietary patterns that are independently associated with psoriasis severity.

Emphasising the broader implications of the findings, Professor Wendy Hall, Professor of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London and senior author of the study, said: “This research brings much-needed evidence that there may be a role for dietary advice, alongside standard clinical care, in managing symptoms of psoriasis. Our next steps will be to explore whether diets rich in healthy plant foods can reduce symptoms of psoriasis in a controlled clinical trial.”

The findings of the study contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting dietary modification as a complementary strategy in psoriasis management to potentially alleviate disease severity and improve patients’ quality of life.

Dr Thivi Maruthappu, a consultant dermatologist and key investigator on the study, said: “People with psoriasis often ask about how the food they eat affects their skin, and whether changing their diet helps; this research brings us closer to answering these important questions.”

Reference:

Zanesco S, Maruthappu T, Griffiths CEM, Dalrymple KV, Gibson R, Hall WL. Associations between diet quality indices and psoriasis severity: results from the Asking People with Psoriasis about Lifestyle and Eating study. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2024;83(OCE4):E415. doi:10.1017/S0029665124006530

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Early Phosphate Changes May Signal ICU Patients’ Unreadiness for Artificial Feeding, Study Suggests

Belgium: A secondary analysis of the EPaNIC RCT (Early Parenteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Patients) has unveiled early phosphate changes as a potential indicator of patients’ unreadiness for artificial feeding.

The study, published in the BMC journal Critical Care revealed early shifts in phosphate levels could help identify ICU patients who may be adversely affected by early parenteral nutrition (PN). Relative hypophosphatemia (RHP), defined as a decrease in phosphate levels greater than 0.16 mmol/L within the first two days of ICU admission, has been associated with poorer outcomes, including a lower chance of early ICU discharge, in patients receiving early PN. However, predicting RHP based on baseline characteristics remains difficult.

In the EPaNIC randomized controlled trial (RCT), early parenteral nutrition prolonged ICU dependency compared to withholding PN until one week after ICU admission. Conversely, the Refeeding RCT demonstrated improved outcomes by implementing temporary macronutrient restriction in ICU patients who developed refeeding hypophosphatemia, characterized by a phosphate decrease of greater than 0.16 mmol/L, reaching levels below 0.65 mmol/L.

Based on these findings, M. P. Casaer, Clinical Division and Laboratory of Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, and colleagues hypothesized that early phosphate changes could serve as an indicator for critically ill patients who are adversely affected by early PN. Furthermore, they propose that dynamic phosphate fluctuations may be more predictive of harm than an absolute threshold for hypophosphatemia.

In this secondary analysis of the EPaNIC RCT, Dr. Casaer and colleagues examined whether absolute hypophosphatemia (AHP; < 0.65 mmol/L on the second ICU day), relative hypophosphatemia (RHP; > 0.16 mmol/L decrease over the first two ICU days), or a combination of both (CHP) influenced outcomes based on the randomized nutritional strategy, while adjusting for risk factors. In the case of a significant interaction, we further explored whether baseline characteristics could predict the respective phosphate changes.

The study revealed the following findings:

  • Among 3520 patients with available phosphate measurements, 9.1% developed absolute hypophosphatemia (AHP), 23.7% developed relative hypophosphatemia (RHP), and 5.3% developed a combination of both (CHP).
  • RHP, but not AHP or CHP, interacted significantly with the randomized intervention for its impact on outcomes.
  • In patients with RHP, early parenteral nutrition (PN) was independently associated with a lower likelihood of earlier discharge alive from the ICU (adjusted HR 0.75).
  • In patients without RHP, early PN did not significantly associate with this outcome (adjusted HR 0.93).
  • The development of RHP was poorly predicted by admission characteristics (adjusted pseudo R-squared = 1.7%).

This secondary analysis of the EPaNIC RCT identified that an early decrease in phosphate levels, rather than absolute hypophosphatemia, highlighted patients particularly harmed by early parenteral nutrition.

“These findings suggest the potential for incorporating phosphate changes into a “ready-to-feed” indicator, paving the way for more individualized nutritional support. However, further prospective studies are needed to validate this approach and confirm its applicability in clinical practice,” the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Lauwers, C., Langouche, L., Wouters, P.J. et al. Early phosphate changes as potential indicator of unreadiness for artificial feeding: a secondary analysis of the EPaNIC RCT. Crit Care 29, 48 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-025-05273-2

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Interpregnancy Intervals of 24-29 Months Reduce Preterm Birth Risk, finds study

A new study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth found that the interpregnancy interval (IPI) of 24-29 months decreases the risk of preterm birth, making it a crucial factor to consider in family planning and clinical guidance. This study was conducted by Xueheng and fellow researchers.

Systematic literature search was done in PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Embase through June 2, 2023. Studies included IPI and preterm birth outcomes data, with quality assessment based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A Bayesian network meta-analysis was carried out to establish the relationship between IPI length and risk of preterm birth. The meta-analysis comprised 34 studies involving data from 8,646,679 individuals, one of the largest reviews conducted so far on this issue.

Key Findings

  • An IPI of 24-29 months was found to be the ideal interval with the least risk of preterm birth.

  • Compared with IPIs of < 5 months, a 24-29 month IPI reduced the risk of preterm birth at:

  • Less than 32 weeks of gestation (OR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.50 – 0.62)

  • Preterm birth less than 37 weeks of gestation (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.59 – 0.63)

  • Brief IPIs, particularly those of less than 5 months, were linked with a higher risk of preterm birth.

  • The results highlight the need for spacing pregnancies to reduce unfavorable birth outcomes.

Intervals of less than 5 months are associated with a high risk of preterm birth, further supporting the importance of adequate counseling and advice for pregnant women. Best IPI guidelines should be incorporated by medical practitioners in prenatal and postnatal care to improve fetal and maternal health outcomes.

The study authors establish that 24-29 months of interpregnancy interval significantly decrease the risk of preterm birth, and it gives very important information for family planning and guidelines on maternal health. Birth spacing should be encouraged by healthcare professionals in order to avoid poor pregnancy outcomes and enhance neonatal well-being.

Reference:

Wen, X., Liang, W., Zhai, J. et al. The association between interpregnancy intervals and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 25, 226 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07259-y

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Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension Tied to Increased Long-Term Risk of Autoimmune Diseases: Study Finds

Taiwan: A recent study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology highlights a significant association between pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and an elevated long-term risk of developing autoimmune diseases.

The study, which analyzed data from 289,564 women, revealed that those with pregnancy-induced hypertension faced a 1.87-fold higher risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus, along with an elevated likelihood of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases. The risk increased with the severity of hypertension and remained consistent across different age groups. With follow-up data extending up to 18 years, the findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring for affected women.

PIH, characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy, includes conditions such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. While its immediate risks to both mother and baby are well-documented, emerging research suggests that its implications extend far beyond pregnancy, potentially predisposing affected women to autoimmune disorders in later life.

Against the above background, Chia-Chi Lung, PhD, Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan, and colleagues aimed to investigate the link between hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and the future risk of developing autoimmune diseases.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using TriNetX, a federated network of real-world data. They analyzed electronic medical records from 102 healthcare organizations within the Global Collaborative Network, covering 131 million patient records from 2006 to 2020. The study focused on women aged 16–45 years, comparing two cohorts: those with pregnancy-induced hypertension (including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or eclampsia) and those with normotensive pregnancies. Women with preexisting autoimmune diseases, hypertension, or complications before 20 weeks of gestation were excluded. Propensity score matching was applied to balance the groups.

The primary outcome assessed the long-term risk of autoimmune diseases over a follow-up period of up to 18 years, while the secondary outcome examined the impact of age and hypertension severity on this risk.

The study led to the following findings:

  • Pregnancy-induced hypertension was observed in 13.4% of the study population.
  • After propensity score matching, women with pregnancy-induced hypertension had a significantly higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases during long-term follow-up.
  • The risk of systemic lupus erythematosus was notably higher (hazard ratio 1.87).
  • Increased risks were also observed for multiple sclerosis, Addison disease, antiphospholipid syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, mixed connective tissue disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Women of advanced maternal age with pregnancy-induced hypertension had a similar risk of developing autoimmune diseases as younger women.
  • The severity of pregnancy-induced hypertension was directly associated with a higher risk of autoimmune diseases.

The researchers found that women with a history of pregnancy-induced hypertension face a higher long-term risk of developing autoimmune diseases. Their findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring and early intervention, especially for those who experienced more severe forms of the condition. They emphasize the importance of further research to understand the underlying mechanisms better and develop targeted strategies to improve long-term health outcomes for these women.

Reference:

Shih, Yu-Hsiang MD; Yang, Chiao-Yu MPH; Lung, Chia-Chi PhD. Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Association With Future Autoimmune Diseases. Obstetrics & Gynecology ():10.1097/AOG.0000000000005871, February 27, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005871

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