"Is it time to initiate scrub typhus surveillance in Karnataka?"-Lessons from a seroprevalence survey in a rural district.

Background: Scrub typhus, caused by , is a commonly occurring, but underdiagnosed rickettsial infection in India. Considering the high incidence of scrub typhus among patients with acute febrile illness in the hospital setting and the paucity of community seroprevalence studies, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of scrub typhus in the community in the Bengaluru Rural District.

Methods: A pilot cross-sectional survey was conducted between October and December 2022 among eligible asymptomatic adults from five randomly selected villages of the Bangalore Rural District after obtaining written informed consent.

Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines BBV152 (COVAXIN®) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (COVISHIELD™) in seronegative and seropositive individuals in India: a multicentre, nonrandomised observational study.

Background: There are limited global data on head-to-head comparisons of vaccine platforms assessing both humoral and cellular immune responses, stratified by pre-vaccination serostatus. The COVID-19 vaccination drive for the Indian population in the age group 18-45 years began in April 2021 when seropositivity rates in the general population were rising due to the delta wave of COVID-19 pandemic during April-May 2021.

Methods: Between June 30, 2021, and Jan 28, 2022, we enrolled 691 participants in the age group 18-45 years across four clinical sites in India.

Early neonatal hypoglycemia in exclusively breastfed babies in a developing country - India.

Background: Neonatal hypoglycemia has been a cause for concern due to increasingly frequent reports of long-term sequelae, leading to undue concern and inadvertent administration of formula feeds. Though hypoglycemia is usually encountered only in neonates with classical risk factors, hypoglycemia is also rarely seen even in babies with no known risk factors. These babies may present only with sequelae in later childhood.

A comprehensive review of dengue with a focus on emerging solutions for precision and timely detection.

Dengue is a global health problem, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), which belongs to the Flaviviridae family of viruses. The transmission of DENV occurs through vectors, Ae. aegypti and Ae.

Antibody titres in fully vaccinated healthcare workers with and without breakthrough infection during the Delta and Omicron waves.

Introduction: Assessment of antibody response to vaccination against SARS CoV2 has clinical, public health, and policy implications during the pandemic and in the context of future waves.

Method: In this repeated cross-sectional study, we estimated total binding antibody levels to the spike protein of the SARS CoV2 virus post two doses of Covishield vaccine among 133 health care workers (HCWs) (phase 1), followed by antibody levels among a subset ( = 61) of this group at 9 months after the second dose (phase 2). The time period of the first and second blood collection corresponds to Delta and Omicron waves, respectively.

Effectiveness of a Culturally Responsive mHealth Gaming Application to Improve Diabetes Health Literacy in India: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a culturally responsive interactive gaming mHealth educational application designed to improve diabetes health literacy among an underserved urban population in India when compared with a traditional approach of verbal education. In addition, relationships between participant sociodemographic variables and participant knowledge were assessed. A randomized controlled trial was conducted using a two-arm parallel, single-blinded intervention and control group design.

Seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 among children after the second surge (June 2021) in a rural district of South India: Findings and lessons from a population-based survey.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of SARS COV 2 among children in the Bangalore Rural district.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study after the second surge of COVID-19 from 14 June to 13 July 2021 and recruited 412 children through house to house visits from four villages in a rural district. We administered a questionnaire to collect demographics and details of COVID-19 infection and used the ABCHEK Antibody Card test (NuLifecare,India) which is an ICMR approved test for detecting antibodies (IgG & IgM) by immunochromatography using the finger prick method.

The Effect of Epidural Analgesia on the Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Mothers Undergoing Induction of Labour.

Introduction: Elective labour induction is associated with more pain, intrapartum interventions, cesarean deliveries, as compared with spontaneous labour, necessitating the use of labour analgesia. Epidural analgesia is one popular method for control of pain. This study was to determine the effect of epidural analgesia on the maternal and fetal outcomes in women undergoing induction of labour, as adequate data in this specific population is relatively sparse.

Mobile Health to Improve Hypertension and Diabetes Health Literacy Among Asian Indian Migrants to Hong Kong.

The use of mobile technologies to improve health outcomes or mobile health is rapidly evolving, and culturally relevant resources are needed to address health disparities among vulnerable populations. Noncommunicable disease health disparities among Asian Indian migrants to Hong Kong are prevalent. A mobile health application designed to improve hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus health literacy was tested using a mixed-methods design to determine its impact on improving health literacy among this subpopulation.

COVID-19 symptoms are reduced by targeted hydration of the nose, larynx and trachea.

Dehydration of the upper airways increases risks of respiratory diseases from COVID-19 to asthma and COPD. We find in human volunteer studies involving 464 human subjects in Germany, the US, and India that respiratory droplet generation increases by up to 4 orders of magnitude in dehydration-associated states of advanced age (n = 357), elevated BMI-age (n = 148), strenuous exercise (n = 20) and SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 87), and falls with hydration of the nose, larynx and trachea by calcium-rich hypertonic salts. We also find in a protocol of exercise-induced airway dehydration that hydration of the airways by calcium-rich salts increases oxygenation relative to a non-treatment control (P < 0.

Seroprevalence of COVID-19 infection among vaccine naïve population after the second surge (June 2020) in a rural district of South India: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of the SARS Cov 2 infection among vaccine naive population in a rural district of South India post-second surge.

Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the five villages of a randomly chosen sub-district in the Bangalore rural district. We did house to house surveys and recruited 831 vaccine naive adults in July 2021.

Are hospitals epicentres of COVID19 transmission? Findings of serial serosurveys among healthcare workers from a tertiary hospital in South India.

We conducted a serial cross-sectional study and used blood bank donors serosurvey and the ICMR serosurvey reports for comparison. Seroprevalence was 0% among HCWs (n-211) and blood bank donors (n-210) during the first phase while ICMR serosurvey reported 0.5% among general population in the district at the same time.

Seroprevalence of COVID-19 infection in a rural district of South India: A population-based seroepidemiological study.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 in a rural district of South India, six months after the index case.

Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 509 adults aged more than 18 years. From all the four subdistricts, two grampanchayats (administrative cluster of 5-8 villages) were randomly selected followed by one village through convenience.

Cross Cultural Team Collaboration: Integrating Cultural Humility in mHealth Development and Research.

The World Health Organization called for mobile health initiatives to improve population health outcomes, particularly in limited-resource settings. The aim of our study was to reflect upon approaches embedded in cultural humility and recognize areas where improvement was needed in the social innovation collaborative development of an mHealth app to improve hypertension health literacy in India. A qualitative descriptive case study approach was employed to elicit concepts of cultural humility and areas for improvement derived from communications between project stakeholders.

High seroprevalence of COVID-19 infection in a large slum in South India; what does it tell us about managing a pandemic and beyond?

People living in urban slums or informal settlements are among the most vulnerable communities, highly susceptible to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and vulnerable to the consequences of the measures taken to control the spread of the virus. Fear and stigma related to infection, mistrust between officials and the population, the often-asymptomatic nature of the disease is likely to lead to under-reporting. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of COVID-19 infection in a large slum in South India 3 months after the index case and recruited 499 adults (age >18 years).

Quality of wheelchair services as perceived by users in rural Bangalore district, India: a cross-sectional survey.

Background And Aim: This study investigated the current state of wheelchair services in Bangalore Rural district, as provided by Bangalore Baptist Hospital, and identified areas for improvement.

Method: a cross-sectional survey was held among 50 wheelchair users. Data was collected on demographics, satisfaction, wheelchair skills and level of disability using QUEST, WST-Q and CHART-SF questionnaires.

Challenges, experience and coping of health professionals in delivering healthcare in an urban slum in India during the first 40 days of COVID-19 crisis: a mixed method study.

Objectives: To describe the initial dilemmas, mental stress, adaptive measures implemented and how the healthcare team collectively coped while providing healthcare services in a large slum in India, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Setting: Community Health Division, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bangalore.

Study Design: We used mixed methods research with a quantitative (QUAN) paradigm nested in the primary qualitative (QUAL) design.

Can urine dipstick test be an alternative to detect urinary tract infection in limited resource setting? - A validity study from Bangalore, India.

Background: Diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) can be challenging as symptoms are nonspecific. The gold standard for the diagnosis of urine culture is not easily available in resource constrained settings. Hence, the need for affordable point of care diagnostic test could be an inexpensive alternative for urine culture or microscopy.

The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Improving Glycaemic Control in Diabetic Vitamin D-Deficient Pregnant Women: A Single-Blinded Randomized Control Trial.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus is one of the most common conditions complicating pregnancy. Vitamin D deficiency is closely associated with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: To study the effect of vitamin D supplementation on diabetic pregnant women with vitamin D deficiency.

Paternal involvement in feeding and its association with nutritional status of children in an urban slum in a low-resource setting: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: In India, childhood malnutrition continues to be a major public health problem, especially in slums. Research mostly focuses on the role of the mother in child feeding, as she spends significantly more time with children. However, the role of fathers, their parenting skills, and child-feeding practices may also affect child development and eating behavior, independent of maternal factors.

Health issues in a Bangalore slum: findings from a household survey using a mobile screening toolkit in Devarajeevanahalli.

Background: Slums are home to nearly one billion people in the world and are expanding at an exponential rate. Devarjeevanahalli is a large notified slum in Bangalore, South India which is characterised by poverty, overcrowding, hazardous living environment and social complexities. The poor living conditions not only affect the health of the people living there but also poses distinctive challenges to conducting health surveys.

Quality of life among migrant construction workers in Bangalore city: A cross-sectional study.

Context: The construction industry is one of the oldest industries in India, which employs a large number of workers of poor socioeconomic status. Bangalore has seen significant rise in the number of migrants from various parts of the country to work in construction industry. These workers suffer from lack of good accommodation, basic sanitation, health facilities, stressful working conditions, and poor social life.

Prevalence of complaints of arm, neck, and shoulders among computer professionals in Bangalore: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Complaints of arm, neck, and shoulders (CANS) is a common problem among patients whose work involves computer use, but often ignored most importantly by the physicians partly due to not being able to appreciate the importance of taking a careful detailed occupational history of exposure to a repetitive activity involving upper arms. Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders constitute a major portion of occupation-related illness with annual costs related to treatment and absenteeism from work ranging between $45 and 54 billion in the United States.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was done to assess the factors contributing to CANS among computer professionals in Bangalore.