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Longitudinal validation of King's Sarcoidosis Questionnaire in a prospective cohort with mild sarcoidosis

Background

Quality of life is impaired in patients with sarcoidosis. The King's Sarcoidosis Questionnaire (KSQ) is a brief questionnaire assessing health-related quality of life in patients with sarcoidosis, comprising subdomains of General Health Status (GHS), Lung, Medication, Skin and Eyes. The aim of this study was to enhance the validation of the KSQ, incorporating longitudinal validation and known-groups validity in a cohort with mild sarcoidosis.

Methods

The KSQ was linguistically validated according to guidelines. Patients with sarcoidosis completed KSQ and other questionnaires at baseline, after 2 weeks and at 12 months. Forced vital capacity (FVC) was measured. Concurrent validity, reliability and responsiveness were assessed.

Results

In patients (n=150), the KSQ had moderate to strong correlations with the Short Form-12 (Mental Component Summary), the King's Brief Interstitial Lung Disease questionnaire and the Fatigue Assessment Scale (r=0.30–0.70) and weak correlations with the Short Form-12 (Physical Component Summary) and FVC (r=0.01–0.29). The KSQ GHS and Lung domains were able to discriminate between groups of patients stratified according to fatigue, treatment and FVC. The KSQ had high internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.73–0.90) and repeatability (interclass correlation coefficients 0.72–0.81). Correlations to comparable questionnaires at baseline were moderate or strong for the GHS, Lung and GHS–Lung subdomains and weak or moderate for FVC. The KSQ was responsive to changes over time.

Conclusion

This study strengthened the validation of the KSQ by introducing known-groups validity and assessments of responsiveness over 12 months in patients with mild sarcoidosis.




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Validation of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Prediction Model Using 5 External PET/CT Datasets of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

The aim of this study was to validate a previously developed deep learning model in 5 independent clinical trials. The predictive performance of this model was compared with the international prognostic index (IPI) and 2 models incorporating radiomic PET/CT features (clinical PET and PET models). Methods: In total, 1,132 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients were included: 296 for training and 836 for external validation. The primary outcome was 2-y time to progression. The deep learning model was trained on maximum-intensity projections from PET/CT scans. The clinical PET model included metabolic tumor volume, maximum distance from the bulkiest lesion to another lesion, SUVpeak, age, and performance status. The PET model included metabolic tumor volume, maximum distance from the bulkiest lesion to another lesion, and SUVpeak. Model performance was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) and Kaplan–Meier curves. Results: The IPI yielded an AUC of 0.60 on all external data. The deep learning model yielded a significantly higher AUC of 0.66 (P < 0.01). For each individual clinical trial, the model was consistently better than IPI. Radiomic model AUCs remained higher for all clinical trials. The deep learning and clinical PET models showed equivalent performance (AUC, 0.69; P > 0.05). The PET model yielded the highest AUC of all models (AUC, 0.71; P < 0.05). Conclusion: The deep learning model predicted outcome in all trials with a higher performance than IPI and better survival curve separation. This model can predict treatment outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma without tumor delineation but at the cost of a lower prognostic performance than with radiomics.




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Validation of a Simplified Tissue-to-Reference Ratio Measurement Using SUVR to Assess Synaptic Density Alterations in Alzheimer Disease with [11C]UCB-J PET

Simplified methods of acquisition and quantification would facilitate the use of synaptic density imaging in multicenter and longitudinal studies of Alzheimer disease (AD). We validated a simplified tissue-to-reference ratio method using SUV ratios (SUVRs) for estimating synaptic density with [11C]UCB-J PET. Methods: Participants included 31 older adults with AD and 16 with normal cognition. The distribution volume ratio (DVR) using simplified reference tissue model 2 was compared with SUVR at short scan windows using a whole-cerebellum reference region. Results: Synaptic density was reduced in AD participants using DVR or SUVR. SUVR using later scan windows (60–90 or 70–90 min) was minimally biased, with the strongest correlation with DVR. Effect sizes using SUVR at these late time windows were minimally reduced compared with effect sizes with DVR. Conclusion: A simplified tissue-to-reference method may be useful for multicenter and longitudinal studies seeking to measure synaptic density in AD.




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Preclinical Investigation of [212Pb]Pb-DOTAM-GRPR1 for Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in a Prostate Tumor Model

The role of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in various diseases, including cancer, has been extensively studied and has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. In this study, we successfully achieved the use of [212Pb]Pb-DOTAM-GRPR1, comprising the α-particle generator, 212Pb, combined with a GRPR-targeting peptide, GRPR1, in a prostate cancer model. Methods: Pharmacokinetics, toxicity, radiation dosimetry, and efficacy were assessed in GRPR-positive prostate tumor–bearing mice after intravenous administration of [212Pb]Pb-DOTAM-GRPR1 (where DOTAM is 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). Results: Preclinical studies have shown tumor targeting of up to 5 percent injected dose per gram over 24 h, and optimization of the drug formulation and quantity has led to minimized oxidation and off-target binding, respectively. Particularly, an increase in peptide amount from 28 to 280 ng was shown to reduce off-target uptake, especially at the level of the pancreas, by about 30%. Furthermore, dosimetry studies confirmed the kidney as the dose-limiting organ, and toxicity studies revealed that a nontoxic dose of up to 1,665 kBq could be injected into mice. Efficacy studies indicated a median survival time of 9 wk in the control group, which received only a buffer solution, compared with 19 wk in the group that received 4 injections of 370 kBq at 3-wk intervals. Conclusion: Taken together, these combined data demonstrate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of [212Pb]Pb-DOTAM-GRPR1, thus warranting further exploration in clinical trials.




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Reimagining Biologically Adapted Somatostatin Receptor-Targeted Radionuclide Therapy: Perspectives Based on Personal Experience and Observations on Recent Trials




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Cyclic Aspiration in Mechanical Thrombectomy: Influencing Factors and Experimental Validation [RESEARCH]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Mechanical thrombectomy is a fundamental intervention for acute ischemic stroke treatment. While conventional techniques are effective, cyclic aspiration (CyA) shows potential for better recanalization rates. We aim to investigate factors affecting CyA and compare them with static aspiration (StA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

StA setup consisted of an aspiration pump connected to pressure transducer. CyA was tested with 5 subsequent iterations: single solenoid valve with air plus saline (i1) or saline alone (i2) as aspiration medium; 2 solenoid valves with air plus saline (i3) as aspiration medium; complete air removal and saline feeding (i4); and pressurized saline feeding (i5). To assess the efficacy of clot ingestion, the pressure transducer was replaced with a distal aspiration catheter. Moderately stiff clot analogs (15 mm) were used to investigate the ingestion quantified as clot relative weight loss. Additionally, the aspiration flow rate was assessed for each setup.

RESULTS:

With CyA i1, the amplitude of the achieved negative pressure waves declined with increasing frequencies but progressively increased with each subsequent iteration, achieving a maximum amplitude of 81 kPa for i5 at 1 Hz. Relative clot weight loss was significantly higher with i5 at 5 Hz than with StA (100% versus 37.8%; P = .05). Aspiration flow rate was lower with CyA than with StA (i5 at 5 Hz: 199.8 mL/min versus StA: 311 mL/min; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

CyA with the appropriate setup may represent an encouraging innovation in mechanical thrombectomy, offering a promising pathway for improving efficacy in clot ingestion and recanalization. The observed benefits warrant confirmation in a clinical setting.




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Correction to "Validity of diagnoses of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canadian administrative health data: a multiprovince, population-based cohort study"




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Planet Coaster 2 is out now, adding water slides and pools to the theme park construction sim

We'll have a review of Planet Coaster 2 soon, but I keep making Brendy do other tasks so he's not had enough time yet to ride the rails. That means it falls to me to at least let you know that Frontier's theme park builder is out now.

Read more




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Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will have new dialogue, and EVA’s actor reveals why she chose a pseudonym based on her pet dog

Putting aside my natural annoyance at Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater for almost beating out the Twarhammer series in the headline real estate wars, I am more than a little excited to play. Some days, you simply must feast on a tree frog, and while we still don’t have a solid release date, that day doesn’t feel too far away. Good news for stealth fans, and perhaps gooder news for a dozen strapline writers sweating profusely, soiling themselves in anticipation of using “kept you waiting, huh?”.

Until then, I at least have a steady drip feed of new information to keep me sated, the latest of which is the substantial hint that there'll be some new dialogue in the game, as per the video below. Alongside that, the previously pseudonymous Suzetta Miñet - who was credited with voicing EVA in MGS3 and Peace Walker - has revealed herself to be Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Cheers for the spot, Automaton West.

Read more




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First breathtaking images from Euclid telescope's map of the universe

The Euclid space telescope's massive “cosmic atlas” promises to shed light on fundamental questions in physics and cosmology




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Hurricane Helene Battered the 'Salamander Capital of the World' With Floods and Landslides. Will the Beloved Amphibians Survive the Aftermath?

The storm decimated a region rich with dozens of species already struggling with habitat loss and disease





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Whoopi Goldberg Endorses Harris Voters Avoiding Holidays with Trump-Supporting Family — 'It Might Not Be the Time to Gather'


Whoopi Goldberg told her co-hosts Tuesday on ABC's "The View" that she agrees with Vice President Kamala Harris voters who want to avoid family members who voted for President-elect Donald Trump during the holidays.

The post Whoopi Goldberg Endorses Harris Voters Avoiding Holidays with Trump-Supporting Family — ‘It Might Not Be the Time to Gather’ appeared first on Breitbart.




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Galaxies collide in stunning picture

A NEW image captured by NASA Hubble space telescope shows ‘doomed duo’ galaxies colliding and then trying to destroy one another.




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Holiday in Greenland? New airports aim to entice tourists

The Arctic territory hopes that three new airports will pave the way for direct flights from the US and Europe.




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Bolt drivers win right to holiday and minimum wage

Thousands of drivers on ride-hailing and food delivery app Bolt have won a legal claim to be classed as workers.




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Using SAS Simulation Studio to Test and Validate SAS/OR Optimization Models

This paper begins with a look at both optimization modeling and discrete-event simulation modeling, and explores how they can most effectively work together to create additional analytic value. It then considers two examples of a combined optimization and simulation approach and discusses the resulting benefits.




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Holiday Inn Express� Brand Introduces First All Breakfast Emoji Keyboard - Rob Riggle Announces BREAKFA-mojis for Days

Actor/comedian Rob Riggle announces his next breakfast move as the Holiday Inn Express brand�s Creative Director � BREAKFA-mojis!





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[ yellow tail ] Celebrates the Holidays with Ali Fedotowsky and the 12 Days of Giveaways - Kicking off the 12 Days of Giveaways

Former star or ABC�s The Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky and [ yellow tail ], America�s go-to holiday wine, team up to Spread Holiday Cheer in New York City to kick-off [yellow tail ] wine�s 12 Days of Giveaways. Starting Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, people can visit Facebook.com/yellowtail to find out more ways to win exciting prizes.




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OVER THE HILLS AND THROUGH THE WOODS � TO GRANDMOTHER�S HOUSE WE GO�FOR THE HOLIDAYS! - Enjoy the Road This Winter with Helpful Tips

Enjoy the Road This Winter with Helpful Tips




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Ziploc� Brand Helps Bring a Chaos-Free Holiday to Travelers across the Country - Ziploc� Brand Holiday Tollbooth Video (Extended)

Bad traffic, tired drivers and cranky kids; life makes holiday travel anything but a holiday. Watch what happens when Ziploc� takes over a tollbooth and surprises real holiday travelers with gifts.




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Goodwill� Encourages Holiday Giving With #GiveGoodwill Campaign - Meet Hannah and Orbi

With the support of mentor Orbi Rosario, Hannah Strope overcame financial and family instability to become the first in her family to graduate high school. She is currently a college student.




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Holiday Inn Express� Brand Reunites With Actor/Comedian Rob Riggle For Latest Stay Smart� Campaign - Coffee Tasting Commercial

With a Keurig� in every room at Holiday Inn Express� hotels, smart travelers � like actor/comedian Rob Riggle � can get a great cup of coffee with just the push of a button.




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The Holiday Inn� Brand Partners With Small Business Owners In Next Evolution Of Its Journey To Extraordinary Campaign - Sword & Plough Commercial

When traveling, the hotel becomes Sword & Plough�s mobile office, and Holiday Inn� hotels have become an integral extension of their team while on the road.






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La Carne de Cerdo es la Estrella de las Fiestas junto a la Célebre Chef Lorena Garcia - Holiday Pork Loin

Holiday Pork Loin: Nothing says Christmas like a traditional recipe that brings the family closer with a flavor-filled celebration of aromas, textures, ingredients and, of course, pork. Ingredients: pork loin roast, oranges, garlic, chipotle chilies...




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YouTube Beauty Stylist Andrea Brooks Reveals Holiday Party Beauty Tips in Latest Colgate� Optic White� Smile Show� Episode �� - Video Sneak-Peek

Exclusive sneak-peek of how Andrea gets her #BrilliantSmile holiday ready in Episode 7 of The Smile Show.




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Clarification on Insurance Amount and Bond Value for CCSPs andvalidity of Bond for AEO-LO-reg

Government of IndiaMinistry of FinanceDepartment of RevenueCentral Board of Indirect Taxes and CustomsCustoms Policy Wing**** Room No. 252A, North Block, New Delh





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Holiday 100: This year’s trending gifts

Browse 2024’s most popular gift ideas with Google Shopping’s Holiday 100.




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Democrats Abandoned the Working Class: Robin D.G. Kelley on Trump's Win & Need for Class Solidarity

We speak with historian Robin D. G. Kelley about the roots of Donald Trump’s election victory and the decline of Democratic support among many of the party’s traditional constituencies. Kelley says he agrees with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who said Democrats have “abandoned” working-class people. “There was really no program to focus on the actual suffering of working people across the board,” Kelley says of the Harris campaign. He says the highly individualistic, neoliberal culture of the United States makes it difficult to organize along class lines and reject the appeal of authoritarians like Trump. “Solidarity is what’s missing — the sense that we, as a class, have to protect each other.”




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Provisional Attachment under Section 83 valid when prima facie view arises that attachment is necessary to protect revenue interest

The Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of JV Creatives (P.) Ltd. v. Principal Additional Director General, DGGI, Gurugram Zonal Unit [W.P. (C) No. 10042 of 2024 dated July 23, 2024] dismissed the writ petition filed against the order of provisional attachment passed under Section 83 of the Central




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FTR Trucking Conditions Index shows solid sequential improvement, to start 2023

For January, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI came in at -1.71, a significant improvement over December’s -6.1 and November’s -7.94. That was preceded by October’s -11.25, its lowest level since the April 2020 all-time low, at -28.66. The September TCI reading came in at -2.35.




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CodeSOD: Uniquely Validated

There's the potential for endless installments of "programmers not understanding how UUIDs work." Frankly, I think the fact that we represent them as human readable strings is part of the problem; sure, it's readable, but conceals the fact that it's just a large integer.

Which brings us to this snippet, from Capybara James.

    if (!StringUtils.hasLength(uuid) || uuid.length() != 36) {
        throw new RequestParameterNotFoundException(ErrorCodeCostants.UUID_MANDATORY_OR_FORMAT);
    }

StringUtils.hasLength comes from the Spring library, and it's a simple "is not null or empty" check. So- we're testing to see if a string is null or empty, or isn't exactly 36 characters long. That tells us the input is bad, so we throw a RequestParameterNotFoundException, along with an error code.

So, as already pointed out, a UUID is just a large integer that we render as a 36 character string, and there are better ways to validate a UUID. But this also will accept any 36 character string- as long as you've got 36 characters, we'll call it a UUID. "This is valid, really valid, dumbass" is now a valid UUID.

With that in mind, I also like the bonus of it not distinguishing between whether or not the input was missing or invalid, because that'll make it real easy for users to understand why their input is getting rejected.

[Advertisement] ProGet’s got you covered with security and access controls on your NuGet feeds. Learn more.




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24 Funniest Feline Posts for Meme-Loving Cat Pawrents to Meow Caturday Cheer Throughout the Holiday Season

Hey, I Can Has-ers. Now that Meowlloween is over, it's officially time for us to start prepping for the meowlidays. Every Caturday is a holiday for us, and the fact that we get to have tasty meals and days off from work on other holidays is just an added bonus. Heck, even Christmas could use some Caturday energy. How should we do that, you ask? Well, by adding cat memes to our meowlidays and enjoying the best of both worlds while remaining chonky, cheery, and pawsitively ameowzing.

These funny feline posts are for meme-loving cat pawrents, and meme-loving cat pawrents only! If you're not one of these, you can just close the screen. Be gone!

Okay, now that it's just us, let's scroll through these hisstercal kitties in the form of digital delights. Are you in your jammies? Are you purrfectly snuggled under a blankie? Are you ready to meow Caturday cheer for the next two months? Good. Now let's get to work! And by work, we mean giggling. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it! 




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Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

This guest review is from Danielle Fritz. Danielle is a former librarian who has a special affection for children’s lit and books about the funeral industry. She first cut her criticism teeth as a fanfic writer. A resident of the upper midwest, she’s learned to love beer and tater tot casserole and tolerate long winters. Most nights will find her cuddled up with her pups and wearing out her wrists with yet another crochet project. … Continue reading Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday




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20 In-Law Memes To Help Prepare You for the Holiday Season

Let's face it: Some of us are blessed with really sweet, endearing in-laws, and the rest are faced with parents-in-law who seem to possess a likeness of an underworld ruler. There is simply no in-between. Whether you said something they disagreed with and have written you off as a lost cause or they are simply entitled individuals who care more about their happiness rather than their child's, in-law qualms are more common than not.

To ring in the holiday season, we thought what better way to get festive than to prepare folks for the hectic and chaotic scenes they enter every year during November and December. Though you can't change who your in-laws are, there's no shame in poking fun at your sticky situation. You can love your partner to the ends of the earth and it still wouldn't be enough to combat some families. Know that you've done your best, and your best bet is to take a sip of a yummy drink and watch the fire from the couch this Thanksgiving. Sit this one out, folks! Scroll below.




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Would you let AI plan your next holiday?

Artificial intelligence is being developed to help organise holidays, but is it any good?




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My dream holiday was a $30,000 scam

Social media is helping travel agents to impress clients, and sometimes to scam them.




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Tax-News.com: OECD Reports Solid Progress On BEPS Action 5 And 14

The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS has published the outcome of more reviews into territories' preferential tax regimes and on tax dispute resolution through the Mutual Agreement Procedure.




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Tax-News.com: OECD Reports Solid Progress On BEPS Action 5 And 14

The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS has published the outcome of more reviews into territories' preferential tax regimes and on tax dispute resolution through the Mutual Agreement Procedure.






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Food Safety Tips for the Holidays

Highlights: Many individuals are unaware that food safety is the most crucial factor to consider when preparin




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Sunrise Senior Living Becomes an Authorized Validation Organization to Greatly Enhance Memory Care for More Than 10,000 Residents

Sunrise Senior Living Becomes an Authorized Validation Organization to Greatly Enhance Memory Care for More Than 10,000




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Genoptix Reports Solid Results for the First Quarter 2010

Genoptix Reports Solid Results for the First Quarter 2010




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First Validated iPhone Medical Application for Depression and Anxiety

First Validated iPhone Medical Application for Depression and Anxiety




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IHG Hotels & Resorts to debut in Ujjain with signing of a Holiday Inn hotel

The 100-key new-build hotel is set to open in 2028, bringing world-class hospitality to the city. IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of a management agreement with Peachery LLP to launch Holiday Inn Ujjain. Scheduled to open in 2028, the new property aligns with IHG’s strategic focus on expanding its footprint in high-growth secondary markets across India. A major Hindu pilgrimage center, Ujjain is renowned for hosting the Kumbh Mela, with the next event set for 2028. The city is also home to the famous Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas shrines respected as sacred abodes of Shiva, making it a significant attraction for pilgrims. With over 70 years of trusted hospitality, Holiday Inn is set to launch in Ujjain and offer unique stay experiences tailored to both spiritual travellers and those celebrating weddings in the culturally rich city. Holiday Inn Ujjain will feature 100 well-appointed rooms, i...