Determinants of vaccine uptake in HIV-affected families from West Bengal.

Children living with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV; CLH) have special vaccine needs. Determinants of household-level uptake of vaccines need to be examined in high-risk families with CLH. We previously conducted a study on the impact of type b conjugate vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) in 125 HIV-affected families and 47 HIV-unaffected families in West Bengal.

Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on the carriage density of and in children living with HIV: a nested case-control study.

Nasopharyngeal colonization density of (pneumococcus) is associated with disease severity and transmission. Little is known about the density of pneumococcal carriage in children with HIV (CLH). Pneumococcal vaccines may impact the density of pneumococcus and competing microbes within the nasopharynx.

Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Colonization and Impact of a Single Dose of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Indian Children With HIV and Their Unvaccinated Parents.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection increases risk of invasive disease from Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) prevent invasive disease and acquisition of vaccine type (VT) pneumococcus in the nasopharynx.

Objective: To look at the safety and impact of one dose of PCV13 on acquisition of VT pneumococcal carriage in Indian children with HIV.

Immediate access to antiretroviral therapy is important in children living with HIV.

This article reviews a case of a child with perinatal HIV followed for 30 months during a prospective cohort study on pneumonia prevention in HIV-infected children. The point of this case report is to illustrate how delayed access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected children impacts immunization response and growth. Given the WHO's early release guideline changes on ART recommendations and the expected full revised guidelines coming out this year, this article is a timely discussion on the need for access to ART for HIV infected Indian children regardless of CD4 count.

Impact of Haemophilus influenzae Type B Conjugate Vaccines on Nasopharyngeal Carriage in HIV-infected Children and Their Parents From West Bengal, India.

Background: In addition to reducing Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease in vaccinated individuals, the Hib conjugate vaccine (HibCV) has indirect effects; it reduces Hib disease in unvaccinated individuals by decreasing carriage. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children are at increased risk for Hib disease and live in families where multiple members may have HIV. The aim of this study is to look at the impact of 2 doses of the HibCV on nasopharyngeal carriage of Hib in HIV-infected Indian children (2-15 years) and the indirect impact on carriage in their parents.

Immunogenicity and safety of two doses of catch-up immunization with Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine in Indian children living with HIV.

Background: Children living with HIV are at increased risk of disease from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Data are limited on the immunogenicity of a two-dose, catch-up schedule for Hib conjugate vaccine (HibCV) among HIV-infected children accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) late.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to: (1) evaluate baseline immunity to Hib and the immunogenicity and safety of two doses of HibCV among HIV-infected Indian children; and (2) document the threshold antibody level required to prevent Hib colonization among HIV-infected children following immunization.

Surface EMG analysis and changes in gait following electrical stimulation of quadriceps femoris and tibialis anterior in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical feasibility and effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy of quadriceps femoris (QF) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles on improving gait and functional outcomes in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: Ten children with spastic diplegic/hemiplegic CP who were in the age group of 7 to 14 years recruited from a rehabilitation institute were randomly assigned either to a control group or a NMES group. Both groups obtained conventional physiotherapy and muscle strengthening exercises.

Associations between potential bacterial pathogens in the nasopharynx of HIV infected children.

Objective: To investigate bacterial associations of S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and H.

Oocyte quality reflected by follicular fluid analysis in poly cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): a hypothesis based on intermediates of energy metabolism.

There is no clear acceptance of specific follicular fluid biomarker and its correlation with oocyte quality or related embryo variable till now. Most of the studies analyze correlation between certain biomolecules and the oocyte quality using single variable, instead of multivariate analysis algorithms. Our hypothesis is not based on single biomarker discovery, but attempts to explain oocyte quality in terms of energy metabolic pathways by considering its various intermediates.

Isoniazid preventive therapy programmes for healthcare workers in India: translating evidence into policy.

Background: Occupational tuberculosis (TB) among healthcare workers (HCWs) is an important public health issue, especially in India where HCWs are exposed to a high burden of TB and infrastructural infection control procedures are inadequate. We examined the need for implementing isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) programmes to protect Indian HCWs from occupational TB.

Methods: Bardach's 8-fold path was followed to analyse and formulate the policy for introducing IPT programmes for HCWs in India.