NEET 2025: NTA notifies Advance Intimation of Exam City for candidates

New Delhi- The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting the National Eligibility and Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET UG) for the academic year 2025 at different locations throughout the country (552 Cities) and abroad (14 Cities) on 04 May 2025 (Sunday) from 02:00 P.M. to 05:00 P.M. in Pen and Paper mode. Through a recent notice, NTA has informed about the advance Intimation of the Examination City for the Applicants of NEET UG 2025.

The advanced Intimation of Examination City has been released on the NTA website; candidates can check/download their Examination City Intimation slip for NEET UG 2025 using the login credentials.

The Candidates must note that Examination City Intimation slip is not the Admit Card for NEET UG 2025. This is advance information for the allotment of the City where the Examination Centre will be located, to facilitate the candidates. The Admit Card of NEET (UG) 2025 shall be issued later, the notice informed.

STEPS TO DOWNLOAD NEET CITY INTIMATION SLIP

STEP 1- Visit the official website of NTA.

STEP 2- Search for the ‘Download NEET UG 2025 City Intimation Slip’ tab from the candidate activity section.

STEP 3- Enter your NEET 2025 credentials, i.e. application number and date of birth, or password.

STEP 4- Download the NEET 2025 city allotment slip and save it for future reference.

The allotment slip of the NEET-UG 2025 is an important document that mentions the exam city of the candidates. However, the NEET 2025 exam city intimation slip or advanced intimation city slip only contains the name of the exam city. 

Candidates willing to appear for the said exam can download the admit card from the NTA website from May 01, 2025. The result is expected to be declared by June 14, 2025.

To view the notice, click the link below

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nta-neet-ug-284218.pdf

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Medanta Hospital issued show cause notice in sexual assault case

Gurugram: The Haryana government has issued a show-cause notice to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram following serious allegations of violating human dignity and privacy, after a female patient on ventilator support was allegedly sexually assaulted in the hospital’s ICU.    

According to the PTI report, the show cause notice to the medical director of the upscale hospital was issued by Gurugram Civil Surgeon Dr Alka Singh on the directions of Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Arti Singh Rao.    

According to officials, the hospital has been directed to submit its reply within five working days.   

A technician at Medanta Hospital has been arrested in connection with the sexual assault of patient. The incident came to light after the 46-year-old flight attendant lodged a complaint on April 14.   

Also Read:Gurugram Hospital Sexual Assault Case: Accused entered patient’s cubicle thrice

The woman alleged that she was admitted to Medanta Hospital on April 5 for some treatment. The next day, a man carried out digital rape on her in the hospital ICU room, where two other nurses were also present who did nothing to stop him, she has claimed.   

The show cause notice stated that according to the Charter of Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities under Section 6 of the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, confidentiality, human dignity and privacy have to be observed during treatment.    

Under Section 7 of the Act, the presence of a woman has to be ensured by the male doctor during the physical examination of a female patient, it said.    

“In this case, both the clauses have been violated by the establishment Through the notice, it is directed that the Medanta Hospital submit its reply within five working days under Section 40 of the CEA Act (2010),” the notice read, reports PTI.        

Also Read:Gurugram Hospital technician arrested for sexual assault on patient

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Will 48-hour work week for doctors become a reality?

New Delhi: After introducing the Central Residency Scheme in 1992, this is the first time that the Central Government has arranged a review meeting to introduce modifications to the already existing scheme.

One of the modifications that the Government is planning to introduce is to fix the duty hours of resident doctors to 48 hours per week, a long-pending demand raised by the members of the medical fraternity, especially those working as junior and senior resident doctors in the medical colleges.

While the Director General of Health Services, Dr. Atul Goel has informed that no final decisions were made during the meeting, the National President of United Doctors’ Front (UDF), Dr. Lakshya Mittal and Chief Patron of FAIMA Doctors Association informed that the DGHS has agreed to modify the rules to clearly mention the fixed duty hours as 48 hours per week.

Also Read: After 33 years, Centre to review Residency Scheme: Here Are The Key Details

However, Dr. Atul Goel informed The New Indian Express that the Ministry would take a final call on the recommendations. “We held the first meeting today and discussed various issues. We will meet again,” Dr. Goel added.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that after the long wait of 33 years, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare scheduled a high-level meeting to review and update the Central Residency Scheme, 1992. 

Accordingly, the review meeting took place on April 22, 2025, at 2.30 pm, as scheduled and it was chaired by the newly appointed Additional Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr. Sunita Sharma. Directors of all major Delhi-based government hospitals, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and representatives from leading resident doctors’ associations including the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors’ Network (IMA-JDN) and the United Doctors’ Front (UDF) also attended the meeting.

This review meeting was scheduled amid continuous demands to the Government authorities to clarify fixed duty hours for the resident doctors. The Medical Profession, especially the period of residency, is extra demanding due to the commitment required from the doctors to stay full-time present in the hospital throughout the day. 

Doctors undergoing Junior Residency during the period of Postgraduate medical education complain of long work hours, low pay, almost inhuman working conditions, lack of basic necessities, and even lack of a clear structure of what is expected.

They complain that despite the efforts to address the long working hours, the police remained on pen-and-paper only. Taking cognisance of the issue, the Supreme Court, back in the 1990s, had directed for the formation of a Uniform Central Residency Scheme that would set up a defining base for all functioning of resident doctors in the country. Taking note of the same, the government formed a scheme in the year 1992. Even though the scheme addressed several issues and suggested 48-hour per week duty roster for the junior residents, allegedly, these rules remained on paper only and resident doctors were made to work for at least 70-80 hours a week. In case of a high workload, the duty hours can further be extended. The situation is worse for clinical branches, where certain weeks the work hours can even reach 100 hours.

Recently, addressing the issue, the United Doctors Front (UDF) submitted a letter to the Prime Minister, requesting for proper implementation of the Directives of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) dated 05 June 1992 for fixed duty hours of resident doctors in medical colleges/Institutions. They demanded strict enforcement of fixed duty hours for resident doctors by introducing a “Uniform Residency Scheme”.

Amid this, the review meeting was held on Tuesday. UDF National President Dr. Mittal, who was present during the meeting, informed in a press release that “We are pleased to announce that DGHS has positively responded to our demands and has agreed to clearly mention the fixed duty hours — 48 hours per week — instead of the vague term “reasonable duty hours”. This is a major step toward ensuring uniform working hours across all government and private medical colleges.”

“We also raised other key points, including the need to display the 1992 duty hour directives at all medical colleges, and the provision of at least five days of family/vacation leave annually for resident doctors — apart from the existing leave structure. Both suggestions were well received.” the release further mentioned.

Dr. Mittal further mentioned that DGHS has approved the revision of allowances, such as book, thesis and resident-related allowances, which were outdated since their 1992 fixation. UDF also proposed quarterly or six-monthly audits to monitor compliance, and while DGHS has not yet confirmed punishable clauses or enforcement mechanisms.

“If these reforms are implemented strictly and without delay, it will truly be a historic shift for the welfare of resident doctors across the country,” said Dr. Mittal. He also informed Medical Dialogues that UDF is also taking the matter to the Supreme Court for the strict implementation of the 1992 directives and accountability. 

Meanwhile, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) mentioned in its release that during the meeting, several issues, from duty hours of resident doctors to thesis grants to health benefits for resident doctors were discussed. FAIMA further mentioned in the release that many of the suggestions submitted by the association, including 48-hour per week duty hours, thesis grant for residents, salary of Assistant Professors etc, were taken up by the DGHS and officials.

The association has suggested that the duty hours for resident doctors should not be more than 48 hours a week with at least one day off every week on rotation basis. It also suggested increasing the thesis grant and announced in the release that the DGHS had agreed to increase the thesis grant of Rs 10,000 for every resident. “Best part is that it will be given to *All* the residents unanimously, so the residents will not have to follow a long procedure of applying for the grant,” the release mentioned.

Further, pointing out how currently, the salary of Assistant Professors is less than that of Senior Residents, the association mentioned that now the salary of Assistant professors will be increased to more than that of SR3. Regarding the issue of book grants for all postgraduates, the association informed that the authorities have promised to increase it by 15 thousand for the entire duration, a one-time purchase. FAIMA also suggested granting CGHS Health scheme benefits to all JRs and SRs. 

Regarding the issue of provision of adequate hostel facilities for residents, the release mentioned, “At Present Hostel Facilities at Central Government Hospitals are not upto the requirements, with Hospitals like Safdarjung which has 1800 Residents and accommodation for only 700 residents makes it difficult for the residents to work in a safe and sound accommodation. D.G.H.S. Has ensured that no other building projects will be sanctioned at Safdarjung unless the Hostel upto the requirements is met.”

Commenting on the matter, Dr. Rohan Krishnan, the Chief Patron of the FAIMA, who was also present during the meeting, told Medical Dialogues, “We appreciate the government’s efforts to bring changes in the residency scheme. During the RG Kar strike, one of the demands of the FAIMA Doctors Association was that the central residency scheme, which was established in 1992, must be revised and the National task force constituted by the Supreme Court also recommended that the residency scheme should be revised. This was one of the first meeting which took place under the chairmanship of DGHS in the presence of the Directors of all the hospitals of GOI and the additional DGHS and other officials involved in framing in central residency scheme.”

“I was there, representing FAIMA as the Chief Patron and many other organisations such as FORDA, AIIMS RDA etc. attended the meeting. I think this is a very welcoming move. We hope that the new residency scheme will be much more doctor friendly catering to the basic needs of the doctors,” he added.

Meanwhile, the IMA JDN and FORDA have officially submitted their recommendations to the Union Health Minister Shri J.P Nadda on various issues after the extensive nationwide consultations with postgraduate resident doctors. A delegation from IMA JDN comprising Dr. Karan Juneja, Dr. Meet Ghonia, and Dr. Dhruv Chauhan actively participated in the meeting, presenting key insights and reiterating the need for systemic reforms to protect the academic, mental, and professional well-being of resident doctors across India.

Their recommendations revolved around regulated duty hours, elimination of clerical workload, a uniform stipend policy, mental health support systems, safety measures, and transparent academic structures. Other recommendations were given on fair leave policies, quality hostel accommodations, centralised grievance redressal, recruitment reforms, government-funded research scholarships in line with the National Education Policy, etc.

FORDA also submitted its recommendations on various issues, including duty hours, maternity leave benefits, CGHS benefits for resident doctors, Uniform bond policy, PG seat leaving penalty, leave policies, accommodations etc.

Also Read: Doctors demand fixed duty hours, urge PM Modi to end 36-hour shifts

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Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital fined Rs 10 lakh over patient’s death

Mumbai: Holding Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune responsible for violating multiple regulations that allow patients to get treatments in emergencies, the Maharashtra government-appointed committee has slapped a Rs 10 lakh fine on the hospital after being found guilty in connection with the tragic death of the mother of twin babies who lost her life after being denied admission due to non payment of Rs 10 lakh advance. 

After collecting the Rs 10 lakh fine, the government will deposit Rs 5 lakh each as Fixed Deposits in the names of the deceased woman’s twin daughters. The girls will receive the money when they turn 18. Until then, the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund will cover all their medical expenses.

The action has been taken against the hospital after the committee, led by Joint Charity Commissioner Rajni Kshirsagar, found that the hospital violated key provisions under the Maharashtra State Public Charitable Trust Scheme by refusing to provide treatment to the woman as her family could not pay the advance deposit, which led to her unfortunate death. 

Also read- Enrollment in Government Health Schemes Mandatory: Maha Govt tells Charitable Hospitals

According to the inquiry, the hospital’s refusal to provide immediate care directly violated Clause III of Maharashtra’s charitable hospital norms. These rules clearly state that hospitals cannot ask for advance payments during emergencies and must begin treatment without delay.

The committee also found that the hospital broke another important law under Section 41AA of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. This law requires charitable hospitals with annual expenses over ₹5 lakh to set aside 2% of their billing for an Indigent Patients’ Fund (IPF). The IPF is meant to provide free or low-cost treatment to poor patients. Investigators found that Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital did not meet this obligation.

The inquiry committee’s report, submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday, noted that Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital not only failed to meet these legal responsibilities but also contributed to a tragic and avoidable loss of life, exposing serious flaws in the system meant to safeguard underprivileged patients. 

The government has also directed multiple departments, including Home, law and judiciary and the corporation to initiate ‘strong action’ against doctors, employees and administration officials for alleged criminal negligence in the death of 37-year-old Tanisha Bhise last month.

The Indian Express source said, “The Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital has been subjected to a penalty of Rs 10 lakh as punishment. Of this, Rs 5 lakh each will be kept as a Fixed Deposit for the two girls she gave birth to before she died. The amount will be handed over to the two girls when they turn 18. Till then, all expenditures incurred on their treatment will be borne by the CM Relief Fund. To ensure better planning and monitoring, central planning through the CM charity cell has been recommended.”

Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, a registered public charitable trust and multi-speciality facility, failed to uphold its charitable responsibilities when a gynaecologist in the hospital demanded advance payment from the families of the deceased woman before starting her treatment. Instead of providing immediate care during the critical golden hour, the doctor allegedly chose to delay treatment, and she died, leaving behind her two twin babies.

Enrollment in Government Health Schemes Mandatory

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the Maharashtra government has made it mandatory for all charitable hospitals in the state to enroll in government health schemes. These include the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MPJAY), the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), and the National Child Health Programme.

The new GR mentioned that the updated information regarding the Indigent Patient Fund (IPF) account of charitable hospitals should be updated regularly on the charity commissioner’s website. All charitable hospitals must immediately treat a patient coming to the emergency ward, including pregnant women seeking medical attention.

The GR also stated that many charitable hospitals transferred a major source of their income to external sources like pharmacy and diagnostic tests (pathology, radiology or microbiology). As a result, the main hospital’s income appeared lower, and less money was going into the Indigent Patient Fund (IPF), which is meant to support poor patients. To fix this, the government has now said that even outsourced services must contribute 2% of their yearly income to the IPF. Under the charity scheme, a hospital has to reserve 2% of the annual gross bill for the IPF account.

Why no arrest till now?

Even though the Pune police registered an FIR against the gynaecologist, who resigned from his position two weeks ago, no arrests have been made so far in connection with the case. 

The Pune police took this action following a recent report submitted by the Sassoon General Hospital committee, which confirmed that the attending doctor had been negligent in handling the woman’s case. The report stated that the doctor had deliberately delayed her treatment, and this lack of timely medical intervention led to complications that ultimately caused her death.

While the doctor has been booked, he cannot be arrested now since the BNS does not mandate an arrest, said a senior police officer. Therefore, the police took a record of his detailed statements and launched an investigation in this regard.

Also read- FIR against Gynaecologist in pregnant woman’s death case

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GPAT 2025- NBE To Open Correction Window On April 25

New Delhi- The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has ended the registration for the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test 2025 (GPAT) for the academic year 2025 on April 21. With this, NBEMS is going to start the correction window for GPAT 2025 soon.

NBEMS is going to open the correction window for GPAT 2025 from April 25 to 28, 2025, on the official website of NBEMS. The exam will be conducted on May 25, 2025, in a computer-based platform at various exam centres across India. Therefore, the admit card is likely to be released on May 21, and the result is expected to be released by June 25, respectively.

Meanwhile, as per the information bulletin, no new application can be registered or payment can be made during the edit window. However, the balance fee required, if any, in case of a change in candidate category and/or PwD status can be paid during the edit window. Any information/document can be changed/corrected during the edit window except for Name, Test City, Nationality, Mobile Number and Email ID. Information can be edited any number of times before the closure of the window. The last submitted information will be saved in the records.

Following this, the final Edit Window will be opened from 09th May 2025 to 11th May 2025 for the candidates to enable them to rectify the images as per image upload guidelines.

GPAT exam is a national-level entrance exam in India conducted by natboard for admission to the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) course across the country. Its scores are accepted by many government and private universities that offer MPharm programs in their respective institutions. GPAT is a three-hour computer-based online test. Until 2018, this test was conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). NTA has been conducting this test since 2019.

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Bedtime snacking with delayed insulin delivery increases risk of overnight hyperglycemia in hospitalized diabetes patients: Study

A new study published in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics showed that one of the main causes of postprandial and nocturnal hyperglycemia in hospitalized inpatients is delayed insulin delivery after meals and snacking before bed without insulin administration.

For those with diabetes, controlling blood glucose levels is essential, and timing insulin boluses during meals and eating before bed are important factors in this process. Better decisions about insulin dosing and glucose stability at night are made possible by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), which offers real-time insights into glucose changes.

Optimizing glycemic regulation and lowering the risks of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be achieved by comprehending how these variables interact. It might be difficult to provide prandial insulin with meals on time for hospitalized inpatients. Moreover, no prior research has examined the glycemic effects of post-dinner snacking, sometimes known as “bedtime snacking,” in the absence of prandial insulin treatment. This study was by Sara Alexanian and colleagues examined the effects of bedtime eating and delayed insulin delivery on inpatient glycemic control.

The In-Fi study, compared Fiasp with insulin aspart (Novolog) in inpatients with type 2 diabetes, was the subject of a post hoc analysis by researchers. The Dexcom G6 PRO continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device was used to measure the glucose results. A total of 122 randomized participants who finished the primary trial protocol (which involved wearing a CGM for at least 4 meals) had their CGM and insulin delivery data examined. This study assesses the effects of bedtime eating and postponed insulin injection on glucose regulation.

Insulin boluses given before meals (n = 149) had a 4-hour postprandial time in range (TIR70–180) of 48%, while those given more than 5 minutes after a meal had a TIR70–180 of 24%. When controlling for bedtime sensor glucose, eating between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. was linked to a considerably lower overnight (9 p.m. and 6 a.m.) TIR70–180 and a significantly higher fasting glucose the following morning.

After controlling for initial bedtime sensor glucose, bedtime eating was linked to greater overnight glucose percentage coefficient of variation and higher overnight glucose standard deviation. Overall, one of the main cause of post-meal and nocturnal hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients is the delayed administration of insulin during meals and the consumption of insulin-free snacks before bed. 

Reference:

Alexanian, S. M., Cheney, M. C., Bello Ramos, J. C., Spartano, N. L., Wolpert, H. A., & Steenkamp, D. W. (2025). Impact of meal insulin bolus timing and bedtime snacking on continuous glucose monitoring-derived glycemic metrics in hospitalized inpatients. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. https://doi.org/10.1089/dia.2025.0027

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Women With High Genetic and Female-Specific Risks Face Greater Cardiometabolic Disease Risk: Study Finds

China: A recent cohort study highlights the significant role of female-specific health conditions in shaping the risk of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) and their interaction with genetic predisposition. The UK Biobank study involving 150,413 women identified a strong association between female-specific factors, including premature menopause and adverse pregnancy outcomes, and an increased risk of CMD.

“Each one-unit increase in the female-specific risk score (FSRC) was linked to a 24% rise in CMD risk, with the highest risk (243%) observed in individuals with both high genetic susceptibility and female-specific risk factors. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating FSRC into risk assessments for more accurate disease prediction and prevention strategies,” the researchers reported in the BMJ Journal Heart.

The influence of female-specific health factors on the development and progression of cardiometabolic disease remains an area of ongoing research, particularly in the context of genetic susceptibility. While traditional risk models primarily consider lifestyle and metabolic factors, the impact of conditions such as premature menopause, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not fully understood. Recognizing this gap, Jiayu Yin, Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China, and colleagues aimed to comprehensively evaluate how these female-specific factors contribute to CMD risk and interact with genetic predisposition, providing valuable insights for enhancing risk assessment and developing more effective preventive strategies for women.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a prospective cohort study involving 150,413 women from the UK Biobank. They examined various female-specific factors, including premature menopause, adverse pregnancy outcomes, early or late menarche, multiparity, infertility, use of oral contraceptives or hormone therapy, and autoimmune diseases. A weighted female-specific risk score (FSRS) ranging from 0 to 6 was developed to quantify these risks.

The researchers analyzed the association between these female-specific factors and the occurrence and progression of cardiometabolic disease across different levels of genetic susceptibility.

The study led to the following findings:

  • Over a median follow-up of 13.7 years, 16,636 cardiometabolic disease events were recorded
  • Each one-point increase in the female-specific risk score (FSRS) was linked to a 24% higher risk of developing CMD.
  • FSRS remained consistently associated with progression to the first CMD event, cardiometabolic multimorbidity, and mortality.
  • Female-specific factors and genetic susceptibility had a synergistic effect on CMD risk.
  • Women with both high female-specific and genetic risk had a 243% greater likelihood of developing CMD compared to those with low risk in both categories.
  • FSRS demonstrated a strong predictive value for CMD, particularly in individuals with higher genetic susceptibility, and modestly enhanced the performance of two established cardiovascular risk algorithms.
  • Phenotypic aging, inflammation, metabolic factors, renal function, and estradiol collectively accounted for 21.6% of the association between FSRS and CMD.

The findings highlight the significant role of female-specific health factors in influencing cardiometabolic disease risk, particularly in combination with genetic susceptibility.

“Integrating these factors into risk assessment models could improve predictive accuracy, allowing for more personalized and effective prevention strategies, especially for women with a high genetic predisposition to CMD,” the authors concluded.

Reference:

Yin J, Li T, Yu Z, et al. Synergistic effects of female-specific conditions and genetic risk on cardiometabolic disease: a cohort studyHeart Published Online First: 26 March 2025. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2024-325355

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ABC-AF Risk Scores Offer Superior Stroke Prediction in AF Patients: Study

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that the patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) on oral anticoagulation, which includes NT-proBNP and high-sensitivity troponin outperforms clinical ratings in predicting stroke.

The risk of ischemic stroke is a major factor in stroke prevention therapy recommendations for people with atrial fibrillation (AF). It is known that a patient receiving direct oral anticoagulant treatment today still has a chance of having a stroke, which might range from 0.3% to 0.9% annually.

The true vision for the future was that if patients treated with a direct oral anticoagulant still had a high risk of stroke, they might benefit from additional treatment such as left atrial appendage occlusion [LAAO] devices, or perhaps have a more liberal indication for ablation to eliminate A-fib or lessen the burden of A-fib as a stroke risk indicator.

This was because the risk of stroke still varies during oral anticoagulant treatment. Thus, this study was to assess the biomarker-based Age, Biomarkers, Clinical history (ABC)-AF-stroke risk score. Lars Wallentin and colleagues also created a modified ABC-AF-istroke risk score to predict total stroke and ischemic stroke in AF patients, respectively.

The ABC-AF-stroke score and the modified ABC-AF-istroke score were calculated using data clinical history of stroke, on age, and levels of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide and troponin in 26,452 AF patients who were assigned to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or warfarin.

There were 756 incidents of stroke or systemic embolism (SEE) throughout the follow-up period, including 534 cases of ischemic stroke/SEE. In comparison to the ATRIA (Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation) score of 0.632 and the CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0.614, the ABC-AF-stroke score, C-index, demonstrated greater discrimination of total stroke/SEE. With a C-index for ABC-AF-istroke of 0.677 when compared to 0.642 for the ATRIA and 0.624 for the CHA2DS2-VASc score, the outcomes for ischemic stroke/SEE were comparable (P < 0.001 for both).

For both total and ischemic stroke, the ABC-AF-stroke scores demonstrated satisfactory calibration. In the pertinent subgroups, the results were consistent. Analysis of decision curves revealed a net advantage with regard to decision thresholds for stroke prevention. Overall, when it came to predicting total and ischemic stroke, the biomarker-based ABC-AF risk scores were well-calibrated, demonstrated superior discrimination over clinical risk scores, and offered significant decision assistance for stroke-prevention therapies in AF patients.

Reference:

Wallentin, L., Lindbäck, J., Hijazi, Z., Oldgren, J., Carnicelli, A. P., Alexander, J. H., Berg, D. D., Eikelboom, J. W., Goto, S., Lopes, R. D., Ruff, C. T., Siegbahn, A., Giugliano, R. P., Granger, C. B., & Morrow, D. A. (2025). Biomarker-based model for prediction of ischemic stroke in patients with Atrial Fibrillation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 85(11), 1173–1185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.11.052

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Smartphone eye photos may help detect anemia in children, finds study

Anemia, a condition marked by low levels of hemoglobin in the blood, affects nearly 2 billion people worldwide. Among them, school-age children in low- and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable.

Left untreated, anemia in children can interfere with growth, learning, and overall development. Detecting the condition early is essential, but standard diagnostic methods require blood samples and lab equipment—resources that are often unavailable in low-income areas.

A new study reported in Biophotonics Discovery offers a promising alternative: using simple grayscale photos of the eye’s conjunctiva—the inner surface of the eyelid and the white part of the eye—to predict anemia. Researchers from Purdue University, Rwanda Biomedical Center, and University of Rwanda used standard smartphones to take over 12,000 eye photos from 565 children aged 5 to 15. They then applied machine learning along with a technique called radiomics, which mathematically analyzes patterns and textures in medical images, to identify features linked to anemia.

First author Shaun Hong, a Purdue University PhD student, notes, “Unlike previous efforts that rely on color analysis or special imaging tools, this method doesn’t require color data. Instead, it uses black-and-white photos to examine tiny structural changes in the eye’s blood vessels. This approach avoids problems caused by different light conditions or camera models, making it more practical for use in a variety of settings.”

The results show a strong connection between specific spatial features and anemia status, pointing to the possibility of screening for anemia using just a smartphone and basic software. This could be especially useful in remote or under-resourced communities, offering a fast, noninvasive, and affordable way to identify children at risk.

Corresponding author Professor Young L. Kim of Purdue University remarks, “The technology isn’t meant to replace traditional testing but could help prioritize who needs further evaluation and treatment. With more development, the method could be integrated into mobile health tools to support early intervention in areas where healthcare access is limited.”

For details, see the original Gold Open Access article by S. G. Hong et al., “Radiomic identification of anemia features in monochromatic conjunctiva photographs in school-age children,” Biophotonics Discovery 2(2), 022303 (2025), doi: 10.1117/1.BIOS.2.2.022303.

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Block Pain: Study Unleashes Power of Suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block for Proximal Femur Fracture Relief

Analgesic management for pain following proximal femur fractures is critical to enhancing patient recovery. In a recent controlled study involving 60 adult trauma patients scheduled for surgical fixation of proximal femur fractures, the effectiveness of three analgesic techniques was compared: the continuous fascia iliaca plane block using a suprainguinal approach (SFICB), the continuous fascia iliaca plane block using an infrainguinal approach (IFICB), and a femoral nerve block (FNB). Participants were randomized into one of the three groups, receiving ultrasound-guided blocks with 0.2% ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia, followed by a continuous infusion at 10 mL/h for the first 24 hours.

Study Objectives

The primary aim was to assess the number of rescue analgesic (RA) doses required within the first 24 hours post-surgery to maintain a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score below 4. Secondary objectives included total morphine consumption, duration of analgesia, pain scores over time, quality of pain relief, and the assessment of any adverse effects.

Results Overview

Results showed that patients in the SFICB group had a significantly lower need for RA doses: only 15% required additional morphine, compared to 40% in the IFICB group and 50% in the FNB group. Furthermore, median morphine consumption was notably less in the SFICB group (3 mg) than the IFICB (6.5 mg) and FNB (9.0 mg) groups, indicating better analgesic efficacy. SFICB patients reported lower median VAS scores and higher quality of pain relief, with a significant proportion noting excellent pain relief compared to those in the other two groups.

Methodological Considerations

Methodologically, patients were carefully selected based on specific criteria to ensure reliability. Those with any prior analgesic therapies, infections, pregnancy, or other relevant comorbidities were excluded. Each block’s feasibility and performance time were recorded along with patient-reported side effects. Patients in all groups underwent monitoring for hemodynamic stability during the procedure.

Efficacy of SFICB

Results demonstrated the superior analgesic efficacy of the SFICB approach due to its more extensive local anesthetic spread, successfully covering the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, and obturator nerves. While both the FNB and IFICB techniques were effective, they lagged behind SFICB in terms of overall effectiveness and patient satisfaction.

Clinical Implications

The findings emphasize the clear advantage of using a continuous suprainguinal fascia iliaca compartment block as a preferred technique for postoperative pain management in patients with proximal femur fractures. The implications suggest that implementing SFICB can lead to reduced opioid consumption and better pain management, providing a more effective strategy for enhancing recovery in surgical patients. This study supports the notion that optimized regional anesthesia techniques can play a pivotal role in improving postoperative care outcomes and patient satisfaction. Further investigations could expand to assess long-term effects and explore the potential for additional adjunct therapies to augment analgesic strategies.

Key Points

– A controlled study with 60 adult trauma patients evaluated three analgesic techniques for postoperative pain management following proximal femur fractures: continuous fascia iliaca plane block using a suprainguinal approach (SFICB), continuous fascia iliaca plane block using an infrainguinal approach (IFICB), and femoral nerve block (FNB). Each participant received ultrasound-guided blocks with 0.2% ropivacaine followed by a continuous infusion for the first 24 hours post-surgery.

– The primary objective was to analyze the number of rescue analgesic doses needed within the first 24 hours to maintain a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score below 4. Secondary objectives assessed total morphine consumption, duration of analgesia, pain scores over time, quality of pain relief, and side effects.

– Results indicated that only 15% of patients in the SFICB group necessitated additional morphine for pain relief, significantly lower than 40% in the IFICB group and 50% in the FNB group, suggesting superior effectiveness of the SFICB technique.

– Median morphine consumption was significantly reduced for the SFICB group (3 mg), compared to the IFICB (6.5 mg) and FNB (9.0 mg) groups, demonstrating the SFICB’s enhanced analgesic efficacy.

– The superior analgesic performance of SFICB is attributed to its broader local anesthetic spread, covering essential nerves including the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, and obturator nerves, resulting in lower median VAS scores and improved patient satisfaction in pain management.

– The findings suggest that SFICB is a preferred postoperative pain management technique for proximal femur fractures, potentially leading to reduced opioid consumption and improved patient recovery outcomes. The study indicates a need for further exploration of long-term effects and adjunct therapies to enhance analgesic strategies.

Reference –

Nidhi Bhatia et al. (2025). Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block In Patients With Proximal Femur Fracture: A Randomised Comparison Of Three Techniques. *Indian Journal Of Anaesthesia*. https://doi.org/10.4103/ija.ija_1095_24.

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