Harsh Vardhan

US elections bring heightened volatility and sector shifts as markets respond to regulatory and economic policies that impact finance, technology, and energy.

The Open AGI Summit in Bangkok, co-located with DevCon, unites top AI and blockchain experts to discuss ethical AGI development and decentralization.

Apple predicts lower-than-expected holiday sales, citing China revenue struggles and increased competition. Revenue grows to $94.9B; services hit record high.

Delhi's AQI crosses 300, raising concerns about India's pollution crisis and its economic impact. The role of vehicular emissions, stubble burning, and temperature inversion worsen Delhi's air quality.

After discovering a shocking drop in his credit score, the author faces a frustrating battle against a mysterious fraudulent account. Despite efforts to rectify the situation, he finds himself trapped in an unresponsive system, highlighting the challenges many consumers face in India

Bitcoin surged past $75,000 amid close US election results. Trump leads in polls, raising hopes for crypto-friendly policies.

Hang Seng Index dropped over 3% as Trump took an early US election lead, dragging the MSCI Asia ex-Japan Index. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose on a weaker yen.

Donald Trump secures White House victory, vows stronger borders, economic recovery, and a fortified military. Republicans regain Senate control as markets rally.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been observed that acute kidney injury (AKI) especially requiring intervention support of hemodialysis has notably increased mortality rates among COVID-19-positive critically ill patients; however, comprehensive data regarding this from India, especially the eastern territory, remains sparse. This study aims to outline the demographic, clinical, and biochemical characteristics, along with the outcomes, of these patients.Methods: A retrospective study was performed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, from March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Included were patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and AKI necessitating hemodialysis during their intensive care unit (ICU) stay. These patients tested positive for COVID-19 and met the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria for AKI stages 1-3, requiring ICU admission and hemodialysis. Medical history, clinical features, laboratory results, comorbidities, and demographic data were collected and analyzed. Patients were tracked from admission to discharge or death. Gaussian-distributed values were compared using the unpaired t-test or Pearson's test, while non-Gaussian continuous variables were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test or Spearman's test. The study employed the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to assess Gaussian distribution, while categorical data were compared using the Chi-square test.Results: Among 773 patients with positive COVID-19 tests who were admitted to the ICU, 236 patients developed AKI, and among them, 139 patients required hemodialysis. The total mortality rate was 167 (70.7%) among people who had AKI and 102 (77%) in patients with AKI who required hemodialysis. AKI was also a risk factor associated with higher mortality rates in older patients (>45 years) (n=150 (73.2%)), those needing invasive ventilation (n=163 (88.1%)), and patients with elevated total leucocyte count (TLC) (n=130 (79.3%)), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (n=159 (72.9%)), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (n=153 (72.2%)), and serum ferritin (n=51 (73.7%)) and hypoalbuminemia (n=152 (73.1%)).Conclusion: AKI requiring hemodialysis significantly increases mortality risk in COVID-19 patients. Other risk factors for mortality with AKI in COVID-19-positive patients include age, elevated leucocyte count, invasive ventilation, and deranged inflammatory markers.

SpaceX, on December 10, conducted a static fire test of its Starship Super Heavy Booster at the Starbase facility in Texas.