Effects of almond consumption compared with the consumption of traditional isocaloric cereal/pulse-based snacks on glycaemic control and gut health in adults with pre-diabetes in rural India: protocol for a 16-week, parallel-arm, cluster randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Almonds have prebiotic potential to maintain gut health and regulate glycaemia. Western studies have shown their positive effects on preventing non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, there is a lack of research involving Asian Indians, who have a higher predisposition to diabetes due to their unique 'Asian phenotype'.

Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on lifestyle habits and self-care practices of diabetic and hypertensive patients in rural Shimla and Udaipur - Findings from the India program.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of mortality among patients with noncommunicable diseases. Maintaining a good metabolic control, lifestyle modification along with improved self-care practices are not only associated with less severe COVID-19 infections but also with a high recovery rate.

Objectives: This research article explores the changes in lifestyle habits, self-care practices, and metabolic control among patients enrolled in the HealthRise program.

COVID-19 associated with diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases led to a global health crisis.

COVID-19 has gravely threatened high-risk populations, such as people with diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases, leading to disproportionate hospitalizations and deaths worldwide. It is well documented from previous outbreaks that diabetes increases the risk for poor outcomes due to SARS infection. In the present review, we bring evidence that the country and global level health crisis caused by COVID-19 could have been avoided or extremely minimized if measures to protect high-risk populations were implemented timely.

Community-based interventions for detection and management of diabetes and hypertension in underserved communities: a mixed-methods evaluation in Brazil, India, South Africa and the USA.

Introduction: As non-communicable disease (NCD) burden rises worldwide, community-based programmes are a promising strategy to bridge gaps in NCD care. The HealthRise programme sought to improve hypertension and diabetes management for underserved communities in nine sites across Brazil, India, South Africa and the USA between 2016 and 2018. This study presents findings from the programme's endline evaluation.

Experience of a 'Screen and treat' program for secondary prevention of cervical cancer in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Aim: Considering the burden of cervical cancer in India, innovative approaches are needed to improve coverage of cervical cancer screening.

Methods: From May 2014 to January 2017, we implemented a project in 10 cities in Uttar Pradesh, India using World Health Organization-recommended 'screen and treat' approach for cervical cancer prevention. We involved private practitioners (obstetricians and gynecologists and general practitioners) in these cities to provide affordable cervical cancer screening to women mobilized by our community health workers.

Knowledge and Skills of Ayurvedic and Homeopathic Practitioners to Provide Skilled Birth Attendance in India: An Observational Study.

Background: To overcome the dearth of trained skilled birth attendants, mainstreaming of doctors from the alternative systems of medicine has been adopted by some states in India.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to explore the adequacy of knowledge and clinical skills of AYUSH practitioners (APs) (ayurvedic and homeopathic) engaged by the state governments to provide maternity care services, with a view to identify gaps if any, and to suggest measures for improvement.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in three states of India (Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Odisha).

Clinical research training and capacity building for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases: A programme in India.

Background.: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)-a term which includes diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental illness-are now the major cause of death in India and pose healthcare and economic challenges. There is an urgent need for enhanced clinical research training and capacity building for NCD prevention and control in India.

Implementing a STEMI system of care in urban Bangalore: Rationale and Study Design for heart rescue India.

Background: A system of care designed to measure and improve process measures such as symptom recognition, emergency response, and hospital care has the potential to reduce mortality and improve quality of life for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Objective: To document the methodology and rationale for the implementation and impact measurement of the Heart Rescue India project on STEMI morbidity and mortality in Bangalore, India.

Study Design: A hub and spoke STEMI system of care comprised of two interventional, hub hospitals and five spoke hospitals will build and deploy a dedicated emergency response and transport system covering a 10 Km.

Feasibility of using partograph by practitioners of Indian system of medicine (AYUSH): An exploratory observation.

Objective: to understand the use of the partograph by Skilled Birth Attendance/Basic Emergency Obstetric Care (SBA/BEmOC) trained practitioners from Indian systems of medicine called AYUSH practitioners (APs).

Design: mixed method observational study, including an exploration of the views of APs, programme managers and SBA trainers on the necessity, feasibility and barriers to the use of partograph.

Setting: primary and community health centres in two purposively selected districts in each of the three states (Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Odisha) in India where SBA/BEmOC trained APs are deployed to provide SBA services.

Task-shifting challenges for provision of skilled birth attendance: a qualitative exploration.

Background: Shortage of skilled birth attendants (SBA) is one of the determinants of maternal mortality in India. To combat this shortage, innovative task-shifting strategies to engage providers of the Indian system of medicine (Ayurveda and Homeopathy), called AYUSH practitioners (AP), to provide SBA services is being implemented.

Methods: Engagement of APs for SBA service provision was assessed in 3 states of India (Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Odisha) through 73 in-depth interviews (37 with APs and 36 with programme managers).

Co-morbidities among silicotics at Shakarpur: A follow up study.

Context: Studies have revealed high morbidity and mortality among agate stone workers of Shakarpur due to silicosis. Besides the fatal disease, the workers also suffer from debilitating co-morbidities especially tuberculosis and under nutrition.

Aims: The present study describes few co-morbidities and their influence in mortality in cases of silicosis that were followed for 30 months at Shakarpur.

Silicosis among agate workers at Shakarpur: An analysis of clinic-based data.

Background: There is a high prevalence of silicosis and other morbid conditions leading to early death among agate workers at Khambhat of Gujarat.

Aims: The present study describes the prevalence of X-ray positive silicosis in a sample of a high-risk group visiting a clinic at Shakarpur of Khambhat.

Settings And Design: A cross-sectional study among 123 clinically suspected cases was conducted over 6 months.

Educational intervention to improve death certification at a teaching hospital.

Background: Information recorded in the 'cause of death' section of death certificates is an important source of mortality statistics. It is used for policy decisions, development of healthcare programmes and health research. Errors in death certificates can lead to inappropriate allocation of resources.