Background and objectives: The symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) are nowadays being assessed with the Hamilton and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scales. However, there are few studies on the comparison of these two scales. Our study aimed to determine the correlation between the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores at baseline through 12 weeks. Methods: An ongoing randomized, open-label, three-arm study's interim analysis is portrayed here. The participants were assessed with HDRS and MADRS at baseline, four, eight, and 12 weeks after receiving oral tablets of either vilazodone (20-40 mg/d), escitalopram (10-20 mg/d), or vortioxetine (5-20 mg/d). This study is prospectively registered with the Clinical Trial Registry, India (CTRI/2022/07/043808). Results: Of 71 recruited individuals, 49 (69%) completed the 12-week visit. At baseline, the three groups' median HDRS scores were 30.0, 29.5, and 29.0 (p=0.76), and at 12 weeks, they reduced to 19.5, 19.5, and 18.0 (p=0.18). At baseline, the group-wise median MADRS scores were 36, 36, and 36 (p=0.79); at 12 weeks, they were 24, 24, and 23 (p=0.03). The Pearson correlation revealed that the association between the changes in scores from baseline was strongest for escitalopram (r=0.70, p=0.002) followed by vortioxetine (r=0.59, p=0.01) and vilazodone (r=0.59, p=0.02). The Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean difference between the scores was 5.11 (95% CI: 3.08-7.14). Conclusion: According to this interim study, HDRS and MADRS scores declined after 12 weeks of therapy. Both scores had strong positive correlation, and the difference between the scores reduced with time.

Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) is an extensively researched phytotherapeutic for the management of Type 2 diabetes without any associated side effects. The major anti-diabetic bioactive constituents present in the plant are furostanolic saponins, which are more abundantly available in the seed of the plant. However, the bioavailability of these components depends on the method of extraction and hence formulation of the phytotherapeutic constitutes a critical step for its success. The present study reports the efficacy of a novel, patented fenugreek seed extract, Fenfuro®, containing significant amount of furostanolic saponins, in an open-labelled, two-armed, single centric study on a group of 204 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus over a period of twelve consecutive weeks. Administration of Fenfuro^® in the dosage of 500 mg twice daily along with metformin and/or sulfonylurea-based prescribed antidiabetic drug resulted in a reduction of post-prandial glucose by more than 33% along with significant reduction in fasting glucose, both of which were greater than what resulted for the patient group receiving only Metformin and/or Sulfonylurea therapy. Fenfuro^® also resulted in reduction in mean baseline HOMA index from 4.27 to 3.765, indicating restoration of insulin sensitivity which was also supported by a significant decrease in serum insulin levels by >10% as well as slight reduction in the levels of C-peptide. However, in the case of the Metformin and/or Sulfonylurea group, insulin levels were found to increase by more than 14%, which clearly indicated that drug-induced suppression of glucose levels instead of restoration of glucose homeostasis. Administration of the formulation was also found to be free from any adverse side effects as there were no changes in hematological profile, liver function and renal function. The study demonstrated the promising potential of this novel phytotherapeutic, Fenfuro^®, in long-term holistic management of type-2 diabetes.

Background and objectives: Quality of life and medication adherence worsen in untreated depressed individuals. Studies examining how vilazodone, escitalopram, and vortioxetine affect these factors are few and far between. Our study’s objectives were to determine the change in SF-36 at 12 weeks and the association between treatment outcome and medication adherence. Methods: This is an interim analysis of a randomized, open-label, three-arm ongoing study. The participants were evaluated at baseline, four, eight, and 12 weeks after being randomly assigned to take either vilazodone (20-40 mg/d), escitalopram (10-20 mg/d), or vortioxetine (5-20 mg/d). This study is registered with CTRI, 2022/07/043808. Results: Of 71 recruited participants, 49 (69%) completed the 12-week visit. The median scores of physical components of SF-36 for the three groups were 35.5, 35.0, and 35.0 at baseline (p=0.76) and 51.0, 49.5, and 53.0 (p<0.001) at 12 weeks respectively. Their corresponding median SF-36 scores for mental components were 43.0, 43.0, and 44.0 at baseline (p=0.34) and 66.0, 63.5, and 70.0 (p<0.001) at 12 weeks. The post hoc analysis yielded a significant difference (p<0.001) regarding SF-36 scores. MMAS-8 scores among the participants were similar (p=0.22) at 12 weeks. Higher medication adherence was associated with lesser depressive symptoms (r= -0.46, p=0.001). Conclusion: As per this interim analysis, vortioxetine substantially impacted the SF-36 scores, juxtaposed with vilazodone and escitalopram. The participants’ clinical improvements were reflected by their adherence levels. These effects need to be probed further.

As one of the largest contributors of morbidity and mortality, psychiatric disorders are anticipated to triple in prevalence over the coming decade or so. Major obstacles to psychiatric care include stigma, funding constraints, and a dearth of resources and psychiatrists. The main thrust of our present-day discussion has been towards the direction of how machine learning and artificial intelligence could influence the way that patients experience care. To better grasp the issues regarding trust, privacy, and autonomy, their societal and ethical ramifications need to be probed. There is always the possibility that the artificial mind could malfunction or exhibit behavioral abnormalities. An in-depth philosophical understanding of these possibilities in both human and artificial intelligence could offer correlational insights into the robotic management of mental disorders in the future. This article looks into the role of artificial intelligence, the different challenges associated with it, as well as the perspectives in the management of such mental illnesses as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

Introduction: The troubling issues of conventional antidepressants are inadequate disease remission and potential adverse effects. There is a dearth of research findings comparing vilazodone, escitalopram, and vortioxetine. The objective of this analysis is to determine changes in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores and the incidence of adverse events at 12 weeks. Methods: This is an exploratory interim analysis of a randomized, three-arm, open-label ongoing study. The participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive either vilazodone (20-40 mg/d), escitalopram (10-20 mg/d), or vortioxetine (5-20 mg/d). Efficacy and safety assessments were done at baseline, four weeks, eight weeks, and 12 weeks. Results: Forty-nine (69%) of the 71 enrolled participants (mean age 43.9±12.2 years; 37 men (52%)) completed the 12-week follow-up. At baseline, the three groups' median HDRS scores were 30.0, 29.5, and 29.0 (p=0.76), respectively, and at 12 weeks, they amounted to 19.5, 19.5, and 18.0 (p=0.18), respectively. At baseline, group-wise median MADRS scores were 36, 36, and 36, respectively (p=0.79); at 12 weeks, they were 24, 24, and 23, respectively (p=0.03). In the post-hoc analysis, the inter-group comparison of the change in HDRS (p = 0.02) and MADRS (p = 0.06) scores from baseline did not reach statistical significance. No participants experienced serious adverse events. Conclusion: In this initial assessment of a continuing study, vortioxetine exhibited a clinically (not statistically) significant drop in HDRS and MADRS scores, compared to vilazodone and escitalopram. The antidepressant effects need to be investigated further.

Background and objectives: Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is the aftermath of aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions or stomach content. Mechanical ventilation and lowered immunity and consciousness facilitate the etiopathogenesis of SAP. Antibiotic prophylaxis and repeated culture and sensitivity testing dampen the drug susceptibility patterns of the pathogens. We accomplished this study to determine the bacteriological profile of patients with SAP and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the pathogenic bacteria. Methods: This cross-sectional study was executed from August 2022 to May 2024 at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, India. We included adult patients who endured treatment in the neurosurgery intensive care unit (ICU) throughout the study period due to a stroke and developed pneumonia within 48 hours of admission. The endotracheal tube (ET) aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid specimens collected from the eligible participants were analyzed. Enriched and selective media such as 5% sheep blood agar, chocolate agar, and MacConkey agar were used to culture pathogenic bacteria. The VITEK 2 system was used to identify isolates and assess antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). The pathogenic bacteria and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were gauged. We leveraged R software (version 4.4.1) for data analysis. Results: Two hundred forty bacterial isolates were found in the 181 eligible patients. Forty-eight (26.52%) participants were females. The median age of the study population was 64.50 (58.74-70.24) years. Fifty-nine (32.60%) participants had two different isolates in their culture reports. We found the following non-fermenters: Acinetobacter baumannii (55, 22.92%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (31, 12.92%), Burkholderia cepacia (6, 2.50%), and Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (4, 1.67%). Klebsiella pneumoniae (88, 36.67%) and Escherichia coli (15, 6.25%) were the most commonly noticed Enterobacterales. Other Enterobacterales were Proteus mirabilis (9, 3.75%), Serratia marcescens (8, 3.33%), Klebsiella oxytoca (3, 1.25%), Enterobacter aerogenes (1, 0.42%), Providentia stuartii (1, 0.42%), and Enterobacter cloacae complex (5, 2.08%). Staphylococcus aureus (14, 5.83%) was the only gram-positive cocci in our study population. The sensitivity of A. baumannii was maximum for minocycline. P. aeruginosa was highly sensitive to imipenem and completely resistant to tigecycline. Minocycline was the only effective drug against E. meningoseptica. Similarly, the Enterobacterales had the greatest sensitivity for tigecycline. All 14 specimens of S. aureus were sensitive to both vancomycin and linezolid. They were responsive to tigecycline as well. Conclusion: The most common pathogenic bacteria in our study were K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus. Enterobacterales were highly sensitive to tigecycline. A. baumannii and E. meningoseptica had maximum sensitivity for minocycline. All isolates of S. aureus were sensitive to both vancomycin and linezolid. We warrant further research with a larger sample size to investigate the bacteriological profile among other critically ill patients and their AST findings.