Accuracy study of Angiotensin 1-7 composite index test to predict pulmonary fibrosis and guide treatment.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary fibrosis can develop after acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The hypothesis is we are able to measure phenotypes that lie at the origin of ARDS severity and fibrosis development. The aim is an accuracy study of prognostic circulating biomarkers. METHODS: A longitudinal study followed COVID-related ARDS patients with medical imaging, pulmonary function tests and biomarker analysis, generating 444 laboratory data. Comparison to controls used non-parametrical statistics; p < 0·05 was considered significant. Cut-offs were obtained through receiver operating curve. Contingency tables revealed predictive values. Odds ratio was calculated through logistic regression. RESULTS: Angiotensin 1-7 beneath 138 pg/mL defined Angiotensin imbalance phenotype. Hyper-inflammatory phenotype showed a composite index test above 34, based on high Angiotensin 1-7, C-Reactive Protein, Ferritin and Transforming Growth Factor-ß. Analytical study showed conformity to predefined goals. Clinical performance gave a positive predictive value of 95 % (95 % confidence interval, 82 %-99 %), and a negative predictive value of 100 % (95 % confidence interval, 65 %-100 %). Those severe ARDS phenotypes represented 34 (Odds 95 % confidence interval, 3-355) times higher risk for pulmonary fibrosis development (p < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: Angiotensin 1-7 composite index is an early and objective predictor of ARDS evolving to pulmonary fibrosis. It may guide therapeutic decisions in targeted phenotypes.

TCM2COVID - Anti-COVID-19 Traditional Chinese Medicine Database

The TCM2COVID database is designed to explore Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for COVID-19 treatment. It offers a collection of TCM herbs, compounds, and formulas with potential activity against COVID-19. The platform provides curated data on herbs and their therapeutic properties, linking traditional remedies to modern drug discovery. Researchers can access predictive models, herbal analysis, and molecular mechanisms to identify key TCM interventions for managing COVID-19 symptoms. The database supports comparative studies and detailed investigations of TCM-based antiviral strategies.

Prolonged Grief, Posttraumatic Stress and Depression Symptoms Before and After COVID-19 in Brazil.

This study aims to explore the differences in prolonged grief (PDG), posttraumatic stress (PTSD), and depression symptoms (MDD) following the loss of a loved one before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a cross-sectional design, 888 bereaved individuals were classified on different groups according to the cause of death. Results indicate that participants who experienced a loss during the pandemic, regardless of the cause, presented higher levels of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress and depression when compared to those who lost a loved one before the pandemic. This study sheds light on the environmental influences (ex: the COVID-19 pandemic) on the grieving process, emphasizing the need to take the context into account when tailoring interventions in bereavement and mental health care.

Investigation of the potential molecular mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of long COVID: a bioinformatics approach.

Long COVID is a poorly understood condition characterized by persistent symptoms following the acute phase of COVID-19, including fatigue, cognitive impairment, and joint pain. Acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine treatment, has shown potential in alleviating long COVID symptoms. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain largely unknown. In this study, we employed bioinformatics approaches to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of acupuncture's therapeutic effects on long COVID symptoms. We screened protein targets of active ingredients produced by the body after acupuncture and identified potential therapeutic targets of long COVID. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to identify key targets and pathways. Our findings provide valuable insights into the potential molecular mechanisms of acupuncture's therapeutic effects on long COVID symptoms and may contribute to the development of targeted therapies for managing this challenging condition.

The Incidence of Extreme Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Levels During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in decreased prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer screening and its impact remains uncharacterized. Our objective was to compare incident PSA testing rates, PSA levels, and prostate cancer treatment rates before and during the pandemic after the state of emergency (SoE) was declared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a population-based, retrospective cohort study among men 50-80 years of age in Ontario, Canada undergoing incident PSA testing from November 23, 2018 to July 9, 2021. Working backwards and forwards from the date of the province-wide SoE (March 17, 2020), 30-day time periods were constructed during which incident PSA testing rates were measured. Our primary outcome was the rate of incident PSA testing. Secondary endpoints included comparison of incident PSA levels and prostate cancer treatment rates. RESULTS: We identified 835,402 men who underwent incident PSA testing. There was a 20% decrease in PSA testing after the SoE (RR = 0.80,95% CI: 0.800.81, P < .001). There was a higher proportion of extreme PSA levels after the SoE with a higher proportion of patients with a PSA >20 ng/mL (rate ratio = 1.63,95% CI: 1.54-1.73, P < .0001) and >100 ng/mL (rate ratio = 1.98,95% CI: 1.77-2.20, P < .0001). This effect was highest for those aged 50-59 years. More patients required active treatment (5,201,59.5% prior to the pandemic vs. 5,072,64.2%, P < .001 after the SoE declaration). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 SoE resulted in patients experiencing a 2-fold increase in the risk of having an extreme PSA level and higher odds of treatment. Future studies are needed to assess the impact on the rates of advanced prostate cancer and cancer-specific mortality.

Responding to Domestic Violence and Abuse during COVID-19 through Remote Interventions: An Evaluation of the Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) Service.

Aim: To explore the perspectives of patients/service users receiving specialist domestic violence and abuse (DVA) support from the Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) service during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Design: A qualitative approach was used to conduct this study. Methods: Thematic analysis of data collected via in-depth individual interviews with 11 patients/service users who received DVA support following their disclosure of abuse to a health-care professional in general practice (GP) and subsequent referral to the IRIS service. Findings: Six themes were identified-experience of DVA during COVID-19; awareness of the IRIS service; pathway to care; accessibility, safety, and remote consultations; adequacy of telephone support; and impact of IRIS support. Participants reported feeling supported by the GP team and the DVA specialists from the IRIS service. Conclusion: The pandemic had a significant impact on health care and specialist DVA service providers. The swift shift to remote consultations proved to be an effective way to identify DVA, determine the support needs of those experiencing DVA from their own perspective, and make appropriate referrals for specialist support. Further research is needed to understand the views of health-care professionals and those working in the IRIS service to explore factors affecting their ability to provide remote services. The study highlighted the need for health-care professionals other than doctors (including nurses, midwives, and others) to build knowledge, confidence, and competence in asking about DVA.

Symptom burden, coagulopathy and heart disease after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in primary practice.

SETANTA (Study of HEarT DiseAse and ImmuNiTy After COVID-19 in Ireland) study aimed to investigate symptom burden and incidence of cardiac abnormalities after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/COVID-19 and to correlate these results with biomarkers of immunological response and coagulation. SETANTA was a prospective, single-arm observational cross-sectional study condcuted in a primary practice setting, and prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT04823182). Patients with recent COVID-19 infection (≥ 6 weeks and ≤ 12 months) were prospectively enrolled. Primary outcomes of interest were markers of cardiac injury detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), which included left ventricular ejection fraction, late gadolinium enhancement and pericardial abnormalities, as well as relevant biomarkers testing immunological response and coagulopathy. 100 patients (n = 129 approached) were included, amongst which 64% were female. Mean age of the total cohort was 45.2 years. The median (interquartile range) time interval between COVID-19 infection and enrolment was 189 [125, 246] days. 83% of participants had at least one persistent symptom, while 96% had positive serology for prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Late gadolinium enhancement, pericardial effusion, was present in 2.2% and 8.3% respectively, while left ventricular ejection fraction was below the normal reference limit in 17.4% of patients. Von Willebrand factor antigen was elevated in 32.7% of patients and Fibrinogen and D-Dimer levels were found to be elevated in 10.2% and 11.1% of patients, respectively. In a cohort of primary practice patients recently recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection, prevalence of persistent symptoms and markers of abnormal coagulation were high, despite a lower frequency of abnormalities on CMR compared with prior reports of patients assessed in a hospital setting.Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04823182 (prospectively registered on 30th March 2021).

Oculomic stratification of COVID-19 patients' intensive therapy unit admission status and mortality by retinal morphological findings.

To investigate if retinal thickness has predictive utility in COVID-19 outcomes by evaluating the statistical association between retinal thickness using OCT and of COVID-19-related mortality. Secondary outcomes included associations between retinal thickness and length of stay (LoS) in hospital. In this retrospective cohort study, OCT scans from 230 COVID-19 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ITU) were compared with age and gender-matched patients with pneumonia from before March 2020. Total retinal, GCL + IPL, and RNFL thicknesses were recorded, and analysed with systemic measures collected at the time of admission and mortality outcomes, using linear regression models, Pearson's R correlation, and Principal Component Analysis. Retinal thickness was significantly associated with all-time mortality on follow up in the COVID-19 group (p = 0.015), but not 28-day mortality (p = 0.151). Retinal and GCL + IPL layer thicknesses were both significantly associated with LoS in hospital for COVID-19 patients (p = 0.006 for both), but not for patients with pneumonia (p = 0.706 and 0.989 respectively). RNFL thickness was not associated with LoS in either group (COVID-19 p = 0.097, pneumonia p = 0.692). Retinal thickness associated with LoS in hospital and long-term mortality in COVID-19 patients, suggesting that retinal structure could be a surrogate marker for frailty and predictor of disease severity in this group of patients, but not in patients with pneumonia from other causes.

Alliaceae-Derived Supplementation Improves the Severity of COVID-19 Symptoms among Elderly Nursing Home Residents.

This study investigates the effect of daily consumption of a concentrated garlic and onion extract on COVID-19 symptoms among elderly nursing home residents. Volunteers consumed a daily capsule of the concentrated powder rich in organosulfur compounds over 36 weeks during lunch. The incidence and severity of COVID-19 symptoms between the treatment and control groups were compared, along with monitoring the safety of consumption, incidence of other diseases, and medicine usage. The treatment group showed a significant reduction in both the number and severity of COVID-19 symptoms compared to the control group, with no significant adverse effects observed. No significant reduction in symptom duration was detected. This study provides preliminary evidence that concentrated garlic and onion extract may aid in the treatment of COVID-19 among older adults. These findings suggest potential public health benefits, emphasizing the need for further research to explore the immunomodulatory properties of these natural compounds.

Commercial Opportunity or Addressing Unmet Needs-Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) as the Future of Rapid Diagnostic Testing?

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) technology is emerging as a rapid pathogen testing method, potentially challenging the RT-PCR "gold standard". Despite recent advancements, LAMP's widespread adoption remains limited. This study provides a comprehensive market overview and assesses future growth prospects to aid stakeholders in strategic decision-making and policy formulation. Using a dataset of 1134 LAMP patent documents, we analyzed lifecycle and geographic distribution, applicant profiles, CPC code classifications, and patent claims. Additionally, we examined clinical developments from 21 curated clinical trials, focusing on trends, geographic engagement, sponsor types, and the conditions and pathogens investigated. Our analysis highlights LAMP's potential as a promising rapid pathogen testing alternative, especially in resource-limited areas. It also reveals a gap between clinical research, which targets bacterial and parasitic diseases like malaria, leishmaniasis, and tuberculosis, and basic research and commercial efforts that prioritize viral diseases such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. European stakeholders emphasize the societal impact of addressing unmet needs in resource-limited areas, while American and Asian organizations focus more on research, innovation, and commercialization.

Feature Identification Using Interpretability Machine Learning Predicting Risk Factors for Disease Severity of In-Patients with COVID-19 in South Florida.

Objective: The objective of the study was to establish an AI-driven decision support system by identifying the most important features in the severity of disease for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with Mechanical Ventilation (MV) requirement, ICU, and InterMediate Care Unit (IMCU) admission for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in South Florida. The features implicated in the risk factors identified by the model interpretability can be used to forecast treatment plans faster before critical conditions exacerbate. Methods: We analyzed eHR data from 5371 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from South Florida Memorial Healthcare Systems admitted between March 2020 and January 2021 to predict the need for ICU with MV, ICU, and IMCU admission. A Random Forest classifier was trained on patients' data augmented by SMOTE, collected at hospital admission. We then compared the importance of features utilizing different model interpretability analyses, such as SHAP, MDI, and Permutation Importance. Results: The models for ICU with MV, ICU, and IMCU admission identified the following factors overlapping as the most important predictors among the three outcomes: age, race, sex, BMI, diarrhea, diabetes, hypertension, early stages of kidney disease, and pneumonia. It was observed that individuals over 65 years ('older adults'), males, current smokers, and BMI classified as 'overweight' and 'obese' were at greater risk of severity of illness. The severity was intensified by the co-occurrence of two interacting features (e.g., diarrhea and diabetes). Conclusions: The top features identified by the models' interpretability were from the 'sociodemographic characteristics', 'pre-hospital comorbidities', and 'medications' categories. However, 'pre-hospital comorbidities' played a vital role in different critical conditions. In addition to individual feature importance, the feature interactions also provide crucial information for predicting the most likely outcome of patients' conditions when urgent treatment plans are needed during the surge of patients during the pandemic.

Identification of highly conserved surface-exposed peptides of spike protein for multiepitope vaccine design against emerging omicron variants: An immunoinformatic approach.

The COVID-19 pandemic, originating in Wuhan in 2019, was caused by SARS-CoV-2, leading to significant global fatalities. Despite the development of vaccines, the virus mutates, creating variants that evade vaccine-induced immunity. To address SARS-CoV-2's evolving nature, a multiepitope vaccine was developed using immunoinformatics approach, specifically targeting the Omicron variant's spike protein. This vaccine includes six CD8 + and eleven CD4 + epitopes selected for their immunogenicity, non-toxicity, and significant conservation among former Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Variants of Interest (VOIs), such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Lambda, Mu, R1, and Zeta, as well as current Variants Under Monitoring (VUMs) like XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, EG.5, BA.2.86, and JN.1. Notably, certain epitopes like ELLHAPATV and PYRVVVLSFELLHAP were fully conserved across all tested variants in the spike protein's receptor binding domain (RBD). Others, such as NATRFASVYAWNRKR, were fully conserved in all former VOCs and VOIs and 93.33 % in current VUMs, while ERDISTEIYQAGNKP was entirely conserved in current VUMs within the RBD region. The study went on to model, refine, and validate the vaccine prototype's tertiary structure. Docking experiments and molecular dynamic simulations revealed robust and stable interactions with Toll-like receptor 4. Cloning and codon optimization confirmed successful expression in E. coli. Subsequently, the immunological reaction of the multiepitope vaccine demonstrated that the three-time administration of the prototype significantly enhanced the antibody response while decreasing the number of antigens. The designed vaccine's epitopes showed significant combined global population coverage of 100 % with 89.75 % for CD8 + and 99.98 % for CD4 + epitopes and conservation across SARS-CoV-2 variants especially in current monitoring omicron subvariants, supporting its broader applicability and potential efficacy. Although, this promising vaccine candidate needs to undergo clinical trials to determine its effectiveness in neutralising SARS-CoV-2.

Development of aptamer-based lateral flow devices for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 S protein and uncertainty assessment.

The outbreak and spread of COVID-19 have highlighted the urgent need for early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Nucleic acid testing as an authoritative tool, is cumbersome, time-consuming, and easy to cross-infect, while the available antibody self-testing kits are deficient in sensitivity and stability. In this study, we developed competitive aptamer-based lateral flow devices (Apt-LFDs) for the quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. Molecular docking simulation was used to analyze the active binding sites of the aptamer to S protein, guiding complementary DNA (cDNA) design. Then a highly efficient freezing strategy was applied for the conjugation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and DNA probes. Under optimal conditions, the linear range of the constructed Apt-LFDs was 0.1-1 µg/mL, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 51.81 ng/mL. The cross-reactivity test and stability test of the Apt-LFDs showed good specificity and reliability. The Apt-LFDs had recoveries ranging from 89.45 % to 117.12 % in pharyngeal swabs. Notably, the uncertainty of the analytical result was evaluated using a "bottom-up" approach. At a 95 % confidence level, the uncertainty report of (453.37±54.86) ng/mL with k = 2 was yielded. Overall, this study provides an important reference for the convenient and reliable detection of virus proteins based on LFDs.

Integrating the Attachment, Regulation, and Competency Trauma-Informed Framework in Inpatient, Day Treatment, Partial Hospitalization,and Residential Treatment Settings.

Pediatric mental health needs are currently on the rise across all levels of care. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated concerns within our mental health system, not only for those requiring care, but also for care providers. One particular area of concern is access to care for those that require acute care or crisis stabilization (eg, emergency department visits or stays on crisis stabilization units). The Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) approach, a flexible trauma-informed treatment framework, provides equitable and effective treatments for youth as well as systems to support health care professionals caring for these youth. Trauma-informed care, particularly that which incorporates restorative practices, increases equity for racially and ethnically minoritized youth and informs the creation of upstream, midstream, and downstream policy interventions.

Federal, State, and Local Mental Health Policy Interventions in Response to the Pediatric Mental Health Crisis following the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The state of pediatric mental health in the United States has been declining prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and was also acutely exacerbated by it as well. Federal, state, and local governments have increasingly prioritized pediatric mental health by investing critical resources through the implementation of policies at all levels of government to reverse this disturbing trend. Despite these investments, there remains a need to improve access to critical pediatric mental health prevention and interventions. When all stakeholders are actively and authentically engaged in the creation and implementation of policy, there is the greatest potential for widespread impact.

Longitudinal genomic analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae transmission dynamics in Australia.

N. gonorrhoeae, which causes the sexually transmissible infection gonorrhoea, remains a significant public health threat globally, with challenges posed by increasing transmission and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The COVID-19 pandemic introduced exceptional circumstances into communicable disease control, impacting the transmission of gonorrhoea and other infectious diseases. Through phylogenomic and phylodynamic analysis of 5881 N. gonorrhoeae genomes from Australia, we investigated N. gonorrhoeae transmission over five years, including a time period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a novel cgMLST-based genetic threshold, we demonstrate persistence of large N. gonorrhoeae genomic clusters over several years, with some persistent clusters associated with heterosexual transmission. We observed a decline in both N. gonorrhoeae transmission and genomic diversity during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggestive of an evolutionary bottleneck. The longitudinal, occult transmission of N. gonorrhoeae over many years further highlights the urgent need for improved diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies for gonorrhoea.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of severe COVID-19 in hospitalized neonates with omicron variant infection: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Reports on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in neonates are limited, especially in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) Omicron variant. This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics and identify risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 in neonates infected with Omicron variant. METHODS: The study population was represented by neonates with COVID-19, who were admitted to The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University in northwest China, from December 10, 2022 to January 20, 2023. Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that all local COVID-19 cases were infected with Omicron variant during the study period. Clinical and laboratory data were collected retrospectively. We used logistic regression analysis to investigate the risk factors for severe COVID-19, and derived odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 108 neonates, with median age of 18.1 days (interquartile range 9.4-23.0), were affected by COVID-19, of whom 84 had a mild disease, while 24 a severe one (22.2%). Of them, 6.5% were premature. No deaths were observed in the study population. The most common clinical manifestations were fever (88.9%) and cough (55.6%), with 5 cases (4.6%) complicated by pneumonia. 4 cases (3.7%) received respiratory support, including 2 cases of high-flow oxygen and 2 cases of continuous positive airway pressure. Gestational age at birth (OR: 0.615; 95% CI: 0.393-0.961), neutrophil count (NEU) (OR:0.576; 95% CI : 0.344-0.962) and lymphocyte count (LYM) (OR: 0.159; 95% CI: 0.063-0.401) were independent risk factors for severe COVID-19. The combination of NEU and LYM had the largest receiver operating characteristic area under the curve [0.912 (95% CI:0.830-0.993)] for identifying severe COVID-19, with a sensitivity of 0.833 and a specificity of 0.917. CONCLUSIONS: The general presentations and outcomes of neonatal COVID-19 caused by Omicron variant were not severe, and very few patients required respiratory support. The simultaneous decrease in NEU and LYM can be used to identify severe infection.

Reappraisal Mitigates, While COVID-19 Burnout Exacerbates the Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Suicidal Ideation Among Chinese College Students.

Background: Suicide is a global public health issue. This study examined the role of COVID-19 burnout and reappraisal in suicidal ideation caused by depressive symptoms among Chinese college students. Methods: 587 students (261 boys, M age = 19.53, SD = 1.42) were assessed using the Short Depression-Happiness Scale (SDHS), Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) inventory, and Emotion Regulation Scale (ERS). Results: Correlation analysis indicated depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with reappraisal and positively correlated with suicidal ideation and COVID-19 burnout. Reappraisal was negatively correlated with suicidal ideation and COVID-19 burnout. The moderated mediation model showed COVID-19 burnout enhanced the direct effect of depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation and indirectly enhanced this effect by weakening the protective role of reappraisal. Conclusion: These finding show that reappraisal acts as a protective factor against suicidal ideation in individuals with depressive symptoms, while COVID-19 burnout exacerbates this effect by weakening reappraisal's protective role.

"Modernizing Cervical Cytology Screening with Liquid-Based Methods at Community-Level Hospitals: A Much-Needed Breakthrough for India".

Introduction: Cervical cancer still ranks highest causing cancer-related morbidity and mortality in women in India. It is prudent to emphasise and implement cervical cancer screening strategies in the population efficiently and with regular intervals. Conventionally, PAP smear cytology is obtained by wooden spatula-Ayre's spatula. To improve sensitivity and specificity of the procedure and detection rate, better techniques of cells retrieval are available mainly liquid-based cytology (LBC), with help of cyto-brush. Literature has consistently proven efficiency of the technique and also reduced the proportion of inadequate sampling. We conduct this study to compare both the techniques and efficiency in a community hospital from data over 6 years, to asses its role and benefits among Indian women. Aims and Objectives: To compare conventional PAP smear and liquid-based cytology techniques analysing detection rates of positive lesions (CIN and also includes ASCUS and malignant), incidence of inadequate sampling, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Methods: This is retrospective study at tertiary care obstetric hospital affiliated to government-run medical college in a metropolitan city of Mumbai. Data are retrieved from the Pathology Department, Medical Records Department, laboratory books and OPD registers. Pap's smear sampling was done mainly from OPD with all indications including routine tests as a part of gynaecological evaluation and screening, as well as for suspicious lesions on inspection. Group A consists women who had conventional PAP smear test for 3 years (Dec 2015-Nov 2018) and Group B had women who benefited by LBC method for 3 years (Dec 2018-Nov 2021). COVID-19 pandemic majorly affected the routine gynaecological OPD practice during 2021 as hospital was COVID facility hospital. Results: Demographic parameters and presentations were comparable and similar. LBC methods have higher detection rate for positive reports, including ASCUS. But results were comparable in both groups and not statistically different. Importantly, incidences of inadequate sampling are reduced significantly with the LBC method. Unsatisfactory smears war high in Group A (7.752%) compared to Group B (3.712%) p-value 0.005, stating the increased rate of requirement of sending repeat smears, which involves higher engagement of time, resources and active participation from healthcare personnel. Conclusion: Good detection rates and significantly low rates of unsatisfactory smears make LBC rational and cost-effective. These are the times to switch to liquid-based cytology techniques, especially at the community level hospitals; in order to detect more women with cervical premalignant as well as malignant neoplastic lesions and to save lives. This can be made possible by emphasising the policy makers to incorporate these services through quality resources.