Stability and predictability of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development: evidence from a south Indian birth cohort prospective study.

Objectives: There is limited information about the stability and predictability of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID) assessing child development in low- and middle-income settings. The objective of the present study was to analyse stability and predictive validity of BSID using an existing birth cohort.

Design: Prospective birth cohort follow-up study.

Evaluation of opportunities to implement community-wide mass drug administration for interrupting transmission of soil-transmitted helminths infections in India.

Background: The World Health Organization Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) guidelines recommend control of soil transmitted helminth (STH)-associated morbidity with targeted deworming of preschool and school-aged children who are disproportionately affected by STH-associated morbidity. However, this strategy leaves many adults untreated and reinfection within communities perpetuates transmission even when mass drug administration (MDA) coverage of children is high. Evidence suggests that it may be possible to interrupt STH transmission by expanding MDA to a community-wide MDA (cMDA).

Omicron infection increases IgG binding to spike protein of predecessor variants.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission in India in 2020-2022 was driven predominantly by Wild (Wuhan-Hu-1 and D614G), Delta, and Omicron variants. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of infections on the humoral immune response and cross-reactivity to spike proteins of Wuhan-Hu-1, Delta, C.1.

Early Childhood Stimulating Environment Predicts Later Childhood Resilience in an Indian Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study.

Background: Human resilience is dynamic and generated through myriad interactions starting from early childhood. Resilience can improve quality of life and longevity.

Objective: The current analysis evaluates childhood resilience at 9 years of age and its associations with concurrent cognition and early childhood factors, using longitudinal follow-up of a community birth cohort in Vellore, south India.

Impact of the COVID-19 National Lockdown on a Rural and Tribal Population of Tamil Nadu, Southern India: A Mixed-Methods Survey.

We assessed the impact of the national lockdown on a rural and tribal population in Tamil Nadu, southern India. A mixed-methods approach with a pilot-tested, semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussions were used. The impact of the lockdown on health, finances, and livelihood was studied using descriptive statistics.

Are early childhood stunting and catch-up growth associated with school age cognition?-Evidence from an Indian birth cohort.

Background: Millions of children worldwide especially in the Asian subcontinent are vulnerable to early childhood stunting. There are contradictory reports of the association between catch-up growth in childhood and school age cognition.

Methods: A community-based birth cohort recruited between 2010 and 2012 from urban slums in Vellore, India was followed up until 9 years of age.

Soil-transmitted helminth infections after mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis in rural southern India.

Objectives: Targeted deworming is the current strategy for control of morbidity associated with soil-transmitted helminths (STH) among at-risk populations: preschool-aged children, school-aged children and women of childbearing age. We report the prevalence and intensity of STH in a district after lymphatic filariasis (LF) mass drug administration (MDA) in southern India where albendazole was co-administered from 2001.

Methods: Children aged 2 to 15 years and adults (defined as ≥15 years) in a rural administrative block of Tamil Nadu were recruited using a probability proportional to size method.

The Diagnostic Value of Congenital and Nevoid Cutaneous Lesions Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Indian Children- A Case-Control Study.

Background And Aims: Cutaneous lesions are the defining features of several neurocutaneous syndromes like neurofibromatosis1(NF1), tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), and Sturge Weber syndrome to name a few. With this background, we explored the possibility of identifying congenital and nevoid cutaneous markers that may help in the early recognition of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Indian children. The objective of this study was to measure the strength of association between congenital and nevoid cutaneous lesions and ASD among Indian children.

A Systematic Study of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of CKD in Uddanam, India.

Introduction: Despite reports of a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) from the coastal Uddanam region of Andhra Pradesh, India, there are no accurate data on the distribution of kidney function abnormalities and CKD risk factors in this region.

Methods: A total of 2419 participants were recruited through multistage cluster random sampling from 67 villages. Serum creatinine and urine protein creatinine ratio were measured using validated methodologies.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis, Seasonal Trends, and Climatic Influence: A Region-SpecificStudy.

Background And Purpose: Studies looking at seasonal variation on cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) are few with conflicting conclusions. In this region-specific study, we looked for climatic influence and seasonal trends on the incidence of CVT.

Methods: Imaging proven adult CVT cases treated over a period of 18 years from a specific geographical location with similar seasons and climatic conditions were studied.

Body iron and lead status in early childhood and its effects on development and cognition: a longitudinal study from urban Vellore.

Objective: Early childhood factors can have persisting effects on development and cognition in children. We propose to explore the trends of Fe deficiency and Pb toxicity in early childhood and their association with child development at 2 years of age and cognition at 5 years.

Design: Longitudinal birth cohort study.

Regular Low-Dose Oral Metronidazole Is Associated With Fewer Vesicovaginal and Rectovaginal Fistulae in Recurrent Cervical Cancer: Results From a 10-Year Retrospective Cohort.

Purpose: Anaerobic necrosis in cervical cancer can lead to malodor, fistulae, and treatment abandonment. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the association between maintenance metronidazole and the incidence of malignant fistulae in recurrent cervical cancer.

Methods: We screened all cervical cancer records registered between 2007 and 2016 in the local palliative care database at Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.

Risk factors for acquisition of scrub typhus in children admitted to a tertiary centre and its surrounding districts in South India: a case control study.

Background: Scrub typhus is a mite borne zoonosis common in the tropics with no good preventive strategy. Children are also affected leading to considerable morbidity and mortality. We conducted a case control study and a vector survey to determine the risk factors for acquisition of scrub typhus.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Vitamin A Deficiency in Children and Women of Childbearing Age in a Southern Indian Tribal Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Night blindness and keratomalacia continue to be a problem among the tribal children and pregnant women residing in Jawadhi hills.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among children aged 1-8 years and women of reproductive age in a southern Indian tribal population.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among children aged 1-8 years and women aged 15-45 years residing in Jawadhi hills.

Prevalence of Refractive Errors and Number Needed to Screen among Rural High School Children in Southern India: A Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Avoidable blindness is mainly due to uncorrected refractive errors (URE). School Eye Screening (SES) can be used as an initiative to address this issue.

Aim: To determine prevalence of URE and Number Needed to Screen (NNS) to find one child with low vision or blindness from URE among rural school children.

The effect of probiotics and zinc supplementation on the immune response to oral rotavirus vaccine: A randomized, factorial design, placebo-controlled study among Indian infants.

Background: Strategies are needed to improve oral rotavirus vaccine (RV), which provides suboptimal protection in developing countries. Probiotics and zinc supplementation could improve RV immunogenicity by altering the intestinal microbiota and immune function.

Methods: Infants 5weeks old living in urban Vellore, India were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a 4-arm factorial design to assess the effects of daily zinc (5mg), probiotic (10Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) or placebo on the immunogenicity of two doses of RV (Rotarix®, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) given at 6 and 10weeks of age.

Study design and baseline results of an open-label cluster randomized community-intervention trial to assess the effectiveness of a modified mass deworming program in reducing hookworm infection in a tribal population in southern India.

Introduction: Hookworm infection is a leading cause of iron deficiency anemia and malnutrition in resource-poor settings. Periodic mass deworming with anthelminthic drugs remains the cornerstone of hookworm control efforts worldwide. Reinfection following treatment occurs, reflecting the human host's inability to acquire immunity following exposure to an untreated reservoir of infection.

Natural History of Cryptosporidiosis in a Birth Cohort in Southern India.

Background: Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of moderate to severe childhood diarrhea in resource-poor settings. Understanding the natural history of cryptosporidiosis and the correlates of protection are essential to develop effective and sustainable approaches to disease control and prevention.

Methods: Children (N = 497) were recruited at birth in semiurban slums in Vellore, India, and followed for 3 years with twice-weekly home visits.

Epidemiology & risk factors of scrub typhus in south India.

Background & Objectives: Scrub typhus is a major public health threat in South and Southeastern Asian countries including India. Understanding local patterns of disease and factors that place individuals at risk is pivotal to future preventive measures against scrub typhus. The primary aim of this study was to identify specific epidemiological and geographical factors associated with an increased risk of developing scrub typhus in this region.

Factors determining anti-poliovirus type 3 antibodies among orally immunised Indian infants.

Background: Among the three poliovirus serotypes, the lowest responses after vaccination with trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) are to serotype 3. Although improvements in routine immunisation and supplementary immunisation activities have greatly increased vaccine coverage, there are limited data on antibody prevalence in Indian infants.

Methods: Children aged 5-11months with a history of not having received inactivated polio vaccine were screened for serum antibodies to poliovirus serotype 3 (PV3) by a micro-neutralisation assay according to a modified World Health Organization (WHO) protocol.

Measuring Poverty in Southern India: A Comparison of Socio-Economic Scales Evaluated against Childhood Stunting.

Introduction: Socioeconomic status (SES) scales measure poverty, wealth and economic inequality in a population to guide appropriate economic and public health policies. Measurement of poverty and comparison of material deprivation across nations is a challenge. This study compared four SES scales which have been used locally and internationally and evaluated them against childhood stunting, used as an indicator of chronic deprivation, in urban southern India.

The effect of azithromycin on the immunogenicity of oral poliovirus vaccine: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial in seronegative Indian infants.

Background: Oral poliovirus vaccine is less immunogenic and effective in low-income countries than in high-income countries, similarly to other oral vaccines. The high prevalence of intestinal pathogens and associated environmental enteropathy has been proposed to explain this problem. Because administration of an antibiotic has the potential to resolve environmental enteropathy and clear bacterial pathogens, we aimed to assess whether antibiotics would improve oral poliovirus vaccine immunogenicity.

Comparative evaluation of validity and cost-benefit analysis of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits in diagnosis of dengue infection using composite reference criteria: A cross-sectional study from south India.

Background & Objectives: Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits are widely used in India for the diagnosis of dengue infection. It is important to evaluate the validity and reliability of these RDTs. The study was aimed to determine the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of four commercially available RDTs [Panbio Dengue Duo cassette, Standard Diagnostics (SD) Bioline Dengue Duo, J.