Evaluation of the Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) management component under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in Kerala, India, 2021-22.

Background And Objective: We evaluated the DR-TB component of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in a high-burden district in Kerala to identify the programmatic gaps, if any, in screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of notified DR-TB patients.

Methods: A mixed-methods design was used, and the evaluation was performed in two steps. In the first step, we reviewed the program documents and conducted stakeholder interviews to develop a detailed description of the program design and developed a logical framework to evaluate program performance.

Facilitators and barriers to the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine precaution dose among adult population: qualitative analysis across six different states of India.

Introduction: India launched the COVID-19 vaccination drive on 16th January 2021 by vaccinating the adult population above 18 years of age. This was followed by the introduction of an additional precaution dose. As on 18th October 2022, 1,02,66,96,808 (1.

Interventions to promote household waste segregation: A systematic review.

Waste segregation at source, particularly at the household level, is an integral component of sustainable solid waste management, which is a critical public health issue. Although multiple interventions have been published, often with contradictory findings, few authors have conducted a comprehensive systematic synthesis of the published literature. Therefore, we undertook a systematic review to synthesize all published interventions conducted in any country in the world which targeted household-level waste segregation with or without additional focus on recycling or composting.

Survival Analysis for Cohort of Bhopal Gas Disaster Victims during 1985-2015.

Context: After the gas tragedy on the night of December 2/3, 1984, at Bhopal, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) started following up on four population cohorts with different levels of post-disaster mortality from December 3-6, 1984.

Aims: The present study was undertaken to estimate the survival time of the cohort, and investigate the risk of mortality based on exposure, gender, and median age.

Settings And Design: Survival analysis is generally used to evaluate factors associated with the time to an event of failure or death among any covered population.

Feasibility assessment of crowdsourcing slogans for promoting household waste segregation in India: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Crowdsourcing is an emerging technique to engage or access a wider set of experts and multiple stakeholders through online platforms, which might effectively be employed in waste management. Therefore, we assessed the feasibility of the crowdsourcing method to provide an alternative approach that can improve household waste segregation using an "online-slogan-contest".

Methods: The contest was promoted via targeted emails to various governmental and non-governmental organizations and through social media platforms for around 4 weeks (25 days).

Composition analysis (pick analysis) of waste generated from household: A pilot study in Ujjain city, India.

Waste segregation is an essential function in improving waste management. Waste segregation not only facilitates recycling and reduces waste going to landfills, rather it can benefit our environment and human in various ways. A pick analysis of waste composition is used to characterize the household waste stream and thus can analyze the segregation rate among the residents.

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease among severely gas-exposed survivors in Bhopal, India.

Background The survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster frequently express concern of them being at higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a consequence of the long-term health effects of gas exposure. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of CKD among the survivors of severely gas-exposed cohort assembled in 1985 after the Bhopal gas disaster to study the long-term health consequences of gas exposure. Methods We did this cross-sectional study with a sample size of 215 systematically selected participants among the severely gas-exposed survivors in Bhopal to estimate the prevalence of CKD.

Platelet-albumin-bilirubin score - a risk stratification scoring system to predict outcome of acute variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Acute variceal bleed is a common complication of cirrhosis of liver. Up to 25% of patients with newly diagnosed varices will experience bleeding within 2 years. Of patients who have stopped bleeding, approximately one-third will rebleed within the next 6 weeks.

The perspectives of community members on COVID-19-related social stigma and mitigation strategies: A qualitative study in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Aim: Stigma is a well-documented impediment to health-seeking behaviors and treatment adherence. An explicit societal understanding is essential to halt the stigmatization. Studies documented COVID-19-associated stigma among healthcare personnel.

--Eleven tips for operational researchers working with health programmes: our experience based on implementing differentiated tuberculosis care in south India.

Due to the workload and lack of a critical mass of trained operational researchers within their ranks, health systems and programmes may not be able to dedicate sufficient time to conducting operational research (OR). Hence, they may need the technical support of operational researchers from research/academic organisations. Additionally, there is a knowledge gap regarding implementing differentiated tuberculosis (TB) care in programme settings.

Protocol for developing telephone-based brief psychosocial intervention for COVID-19 patients in India.

Introduction: The ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a huge mental health impact on people, especially the infected population. They are at greater risk of developing psychological symptoms due to the fear of death and developing severe disability, lack of proper treatment and social restrictions, stigma, and discrimination. The early psychological symptoms, if ignored, may have long-term consequences on the health and well-being of COVID patients.

Transcatheter management of aorto-right ventricular tunnel: A surprise in the catheterization laboratory.

Herein, we report successful device closure of aorto-right ventricular tunnel (ARVT) in a 2 year-old-boy presenting with recurrent respiratory tract infection and poor weight gain. He was initially diagnosed with coronary arteriovenous fistula after the clinical examination and echocardiogram. However, his cardiac catheterization revealed ARVT.

Utility of constructed wetlands for treatment of hospital effluent and antibiotic resistant bacteria in resource limited settings: A case study in Ujjain, India.

Increasing generation of wastewater and its indiscriminate disposal is detrimental to human and animal health. Resource-limited settings often struggle for efficient wastewater treatment systems owing to lack of funds and operational difficulties. Therefore, alternative treatment systems involving low expenditure and simplistic operations are need of the hour.

Dynamics of Household Waste Segregation Behaviour in Urban Community in Ujjain, India: A Framework Analysis.

Waste segregation practices must be socially acceptable, affordable, context-specific, and participatory, which is essential for promoting waste segregation. Therefore, this study explored the urban community members' motivation, opportunity, and household waste segregation ability. We performed a qualitative study in Ujjain city, India.

Removal of microplastics from wastewater: available techniques and way forward.

Microplastics are the newly emerged contaminants with a presence in almost every part of the globe. Despite being small in size, microplastic particles have proved to be harmful for plants, animals, humans, and for the ecosystem in general. Water is one of the most important routes through which microplastics transfer from one place to another.

Safety and efficacy of larger ASD devices in small children of less than 2 years.

We herein report our single center experience of safety and efficacy of device closure of large sized ostium secundum atrial septal defects (OS ASD) in small children with less than 2 years of age performed over the period of 10 years from 2009 to 2019.148 symptomatic children with ASD size of more than 8 mm were included in our study. We obtained a high rate of successful deployment (98 %) with no major complications.

Effects of improved information and volunteer support on segregation of solid waste at the household level in urban settings in Madhya Pradesh, India (I-MISS): protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Segregation of household waste at the source is an effective and sustainable strategy for management of municipal waste. However, household segregation levels remain insufficient as waste management approaches are mostly top down and lack local support. The realisation and recognition of effective, improved and adequate waste management may be one of the vital drivers for attaining environmental protection and improved health and well-being.

Ultra-structural and physico-chemical characterization of eggs and egg hairs (setae) of the new invasive pest, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) in India: A first report.

In this study, we report first time in India on the morphology, ultra-architectural pattern of the chorion in the egg and egg hair (setae). Further, physico-chemical characterizations of egg hairs (setae) were studied in the new invasive pest, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. The egg is dome shaped with flattened base and curves upward to a broadly rounded point at the apex.

Effectiveness of Mind Mapping Technique in Information Retrieval Among Medical College Students in Puducherry-A Pilot Study.

Background: The traditional teaching learning methods involve a one way process of transmission of knowledge leaving the students lacking behind in creative abilities. Medical schools need to change their teaching strategies to keep the interest of students and empower them for future self- learning and critical thinking.

Objective: To assess the impact of mind mapping technique in information retrieval among medical college students in Puducherry.

Microbial control of the invasive spiraling whitefly on cassava with entomopathogenic fungi.

The entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Lecanicillium lecanii and Isaria fumosorosea were tested for their efficacy in managing the exotic spiraling whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) on cassava (Manihot esculenta) during 2 seasons (2011-2012 and 2012-2013). The fungi I. fumosorosea and L.

Development of a controlled release formulation of an indigenous insect growth regulator, DPE-28, a substituted diphenylether, for controlling the breeding of Culex quinquefasciatus.

Background & Objectives: DPE-28, a substituted diphenyl ether (2,6-ditertiarybutyl phenyl-2',4'-dinitro phenyl ether) was reported to exhibit promising insect growth regulating activity against Culex quinquefasciatus, the vector of lymphatic filariasis. A controlled release formulation (CRF) of DPE-28 has been developed to control Cx. quinquefasciatus in its breeding habitats.

Efficacy of pirimiphos-methyl (50% EC), as a larvicide for the control of Culex quinquefasciatus.

Background & Objective: Pirimiphos-methyl, an organophosphorus insecticide is known to overcome resistance mechanisms of mosquitoes to other organophosphates. Information on the duration of efficacy of pirimiphos-methyl (50% emulsifiable concentrate) for the control of immatures of Culex quinquefasciatus, the vector of bancroftian filariasis, is scanty and hence site specific field trials are necessary to determine the field dosage. Pirimiphos-methyl (50% EC) was tested for its efficacy in cesspits and drains against the immatures of Cx.

Noninvasive prediction of large esophageal varices in chronic liver disease patients.

Background/aim: Esophageal varices (EVs) are a serious consequence of portal hypertension in patients with liver diseases. Several studies have evaluated possible noninvasive markers of EVs to reduce the number of unnecessary endoscopies in patients with cirrhosis but without varices. This prospective study was conducted to evaluate noninvasive predictors of large varices (LV).