Browsing by Author "Sharma, P."

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Acute-on-chronic liver failure: consensus recommendations of the Asian Pacific Association for the study of the liver (APASL)
(Springer International, 2009) Sarin, S.K.; Kumar, A.; Almeida, J.A.; Chawla, Y.K.; Fan, S.T.; Garg, H.; de Silva, H.J.; Hamid, S.S.; Jalan, R.; Komolmit, P.; Lau, G.K.; Liu, Q.; Madan, K.; Mohamed, R.; Ning, Q.; Rahman, S.; Rastogi, A.; Riordan, S.M.; Sakhuja, P.; Samuel, D.; Shah, S.; Sharma, B.C.; Sharma, P.; Takikawa, Y.; Thapa, B.R.; Wai, C.T.; Yuen, M.F.
The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) set up a working party on acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in 2004, with a mandate to develop consensus guidelines on various aspects of ACLF relevant to disease patterns and clinical practice in the Asia-Pacific region. Experts predominantly from the Asia-Pacific region constituted this working party and were requested to identify different issues of ACLF and develop the consensus guidelines. A 2-day meeting of the working party was held on January 22-23, 2008, at New Delhi, India, to discuss and finalize the consensus statements. Only those statements that were unanimously approved by the experts were accepted. These statements were circulated to all the experts and subsequently presented at the Annual Conference of the APASL at Seoul, Korea, in March 2008. The consensus statements along with relevant background information are presented in this review.
A Comparative analysis of psychiatry curriculum at undergraduate level of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
(Indian Psychiatric Society, 2021) Arafat, S.; Kar, S.; Sharma, P.; Marahatta, K.; Baminiwatta, A.
No abstract available
Diagnosis and management of acute variceal bleeding: Asian Pacific Association for Study of the Liver recommendations
(Springer International, 2011) Sarin, S.K.; Kumar, A.; Angus, P.W.; Baijal, S.S.; Baik, S.K.; Bayraktar, Y.; Chawla, Y.K.; Choudhuri, G.; Chung, J.W.; de Franchis, R.; de Silva, H.J.; Garg, H.; Garg, P.K.; Helmy, A.; Hou, M.C.; Jafri, W.; Jia, J.D.; Lau, G.K.; Li, C.Z.; Lui, H.F.; Maruyama, H.; Pandey, C.M.; Puri, A.S.; Rerknimitr, R.; Sahni, P.; Saraya, A.; Sharma, B.C.; Sharma, P.; Shiha, G.; Sollano, J.D.; Wu, J.; Xu, R.Y.; Yachha, S.K.; Zhang, C.; Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) Working Party on Portal Hypertension.
BACKGROUND: Acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is a medical emergency and associated with a mortality of 20% at 6 weeks. Significant advances have occurred in the recent past and hence there is a need to update the existing consensus guidelines. There is also a need to include the literature from the Eastern and Asian countries where majority of patients with portal hypertension (PHT) live. METHODS: The expert working party, predominantly from the Asia-Pacific region, reviewed the existing literature and deliberated to develop consensus guidelines. The working party adopted the Oxford system for developing an evidence-based approach. Only those statements that were unanimously approved by the experts were accepted. RESULTS: AVB is defined as a bleed in a known or suspected case of PHT, with the presence of hematemesis within 24 h of presentation, and/or ongoing melena, with last melanic stool within last 24 h. The time frame for the AVB episode is 48 h. AVB is further classified as active or inactive at the time of endoscopy. Combination therapy with vasoactive drugs (<30 min of hospitalization) and endoscopic variceal ligation (door to scope time <6 h) is accepted as first-line therapy. Rebleeding (48 h of T (0)) is further sub-classified as very early rebleeding (48 to 120 h from T (0)), early rebleeding (6 to 42 days from T (0)) and late rebleeding (after 42 days from T (0)) to maintain uniformity in clinical trials. Emphasis should be to evaluate the role of adjusted blood requirement index (ABRI), assessment of associated comorbid conditions and poor predictors of non-response to combination therapy, and proposed APASL (Asian Pacific Association for Study of the Liver) Severity Score in assessing these patients. Role of hepatic venous pressure gradient in AVB is considered useful. Antibiotic (cephalosporins) prophylaxis is recommended and search for acute ischemic hepatic injury should be done. New guidelines have been developed for management of variceal bleed in patients with non-cirrhotic PHT and variceal bleed in pediatric patients. CONCLUSION: Management of acute variceal bleeding in Asia-Pacific region needs special attention for uniformity of treatment and future clinical trials.
DO BRANDS MATTER IN BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS MARKETING? A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF B2B BRANDING PRACTICES.
(Department of Marketing Management, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka., 2017) Mishra, S.S.; Sharma, P.
For major part of 20th century, prevailing paradigm in B2B research considered branding as less relevant. Most researches adapted B2C brand equity models to explain B2B branding. Though post 2000 onwards the subject received significant academic interest, there is lack of consensus about the relevance of brand information in organizational buying decisions. To address this, the present study aims to explore: 1) whether “brand” is an important decision criteria in B2B buying, 2) sources of brand equity for B2B firms and 3) key differentiators in building B2B brands. We conducted indepth interviews among 56 distributors and 65 customers of B2B products across 13 industry sectors followed by content analysis of all interviews. The analysis shows a variance in organizational buyers’ sensitivity towards brands depending upon: 1) type of application (criticality) of purchased product/ technology and 2) relevance of ingredient branding. Accordingly, buyers can be categorized into high and low brand sensitive groups. Secondly, just like consumer brands, B2B brand equity has both functional and psychological components. Functional component includes product availability, reliability, credit facility (payment terms) and after sales service. Psychological component includes distributor’s brand value, manufacturer’s origin and market visibility. Lastly, product customization, focus on margins and role of channel partners helps to build B2B brands. Managerially, results encourage firms to adopt a multi-faceted strategy (logistics, contract/ payment terms, product customization and innovation in its offerings) to increase brand value. By systematically examining the key deliberations of B2B buyers, this study offers a basis for market segmentation and adds knowledge to the field of B2B brand research.
Electroconvulsive therapy in South Asia: Past, present, and future
(Elsevier, 2024) Menon, V.; Kar, S.K.; Gupta, S.; Baminiwatta, A.; Mustafa, A.B.; Sharma, P.; Abhijita, B.; Arafat, S.M.Y.
The practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) varies both between and within countries. We aimed to review historical and current trends in ECT practices, perceptions, and legislations in South Asia, a region with a high burden of mental illness and suicide. We searched MEDLINE (PubMed) and Google Scholar databases for relevant literature on ECT from each country. Additionally, a team of country-specific investigators performed supplemental searches and contacted key country contacts for relevant information. Relevant data were abstracted under the following headings: ECT practices, perceptions, and legislations. Knowledge gaps and research priorities were synthesized. Modified bitemporal ECT, delivered using brief pulse devices, was most commonly offered across institutions. Schizophrenia, not affective illness, was the most common indication. Electroencephalographic monitoring of seizures was rarely practiced. Thiopentone or propofol was preferred for anesthetic induction, while the favored muscle relaxant was succinylcholine. In India and Sri Lanka, perceptions about ECT were largely favorable; not so in Pakistan and Nepal. Only India and Pakistan had laws that governed any aspect of ECT practice; ECT practice guidelines were available only in India. There is a lack of research on efficacy, ECT in special populations, continuation ECT practices, and interventions to improve ECT-related perceptions. Most regional institutions offered modified brief-pulse ECT, and schizophrenia was the most common indication. Knowledge of and attitude towards ECT varied between countries. There is a need to develop a regional ECT consortium to facilitate uniform training, advocacy efforts, and the development of regional practice guidelines.
Prevalence of suicidal behavior among students in south-east asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
(Informa Healthcare, 2024) Arafat, S.M.Y.; Baminiwatta, A.; Menon, V.; Sharma, P.; Htay, M.N.N.; Akter, H.; Marthoenis, M.; Dorji, C.
OBJECTIVES: Estimation of rates of suicidal behaviors (ideation, plan, and attempt) would help to understand the burden and prioritize prevention strategies. However, no attempt to assess suicidal behavior among students was identified in South-East Asia (SEA). We aimed to assess the prevalence of suicidal behavior (ideation, plan, and attempt) among students in SEA. METHODS: We followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered the protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42022353438). We searched in Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO and performed meta-analyses to pool the lifetime, 1-year, and point prevalence rates for suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts. We considered the duration of a month for point prevalence. RESULTS: The search identified 40 separate populations from which 46 were included in the analyses, as some studies included samples from multiple countries. The pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation was 17.4% (confidence interval [95% CI], 12.4%-23.9%) for lifetime, 9.33% (95% CI, 7.2%-12%) for the past year, and 4.8% (95% CI, 3.6%-6.4%) for the present time. The pooled prevalence of suicide plans was 9% (95% CI, 6.2%-12.9%) for lifetime, 7.3% (95% CI, 5.1%-10.3%) for the past year, and 2.3% (95% CI, 0.8%-6.7%) for the present time. The pooled prevalence of suicide attempts was 5.2% (95% CI, 3.5%-7.8%) for lifetime and 4.5% (95% CI, 3.4%-5.8%) for the past year. Higher rates of suicide attempts in the lifetime were noted in Nepal (10%) and Bangladesh (9%), while lower rates were reported in India (4%) and Indonesia (5%). CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal behaviors are a common phenomenon among students in the SEA region. These findings call for integrated, multisectoral efforts to prevent suicidal behaviors in this group.