Cost of screening, out-of-pocket expenditure & quality of life for diabetes & hypertension in India.

Background & Objectives: The Government of India has initiated a population based screening (PBS) for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). A health technology assessment agency in India commissioned a study to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening diabetes and hypertension. The present study was undertaken to estimate the cost of PBS for Type II diabetes and hypertension.

Gender differences in COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, and public stigma among the general community: Findings from a nationwide cross-sectional study in India.

Introduction: Individual and community characteristics predictive of knowledge, perception, and attitude on COVID-19, specifically on gender, have not been adequately explored.

Objective: To examine the gender differences in COVID-19 knowledge, self-risk perception and public stigma among the general community and to understand other socio-demographic factors which were predictive of them.

Method: A nationally representative cross-sectional multi-centric survey was conducted among adult individuals(≥18 yrs) from the community member (N = 1978) from six states and one union territory of India between August 2020 to February 2021.

Efficacy of Fluoride Varnish with Casein Phosphopeptide and Amorphous Calcium Phosphate vs Fluoride Varnish in Prevention of White Spots Lesion in fixed Orthodontic Patients: Study.

Aim: The aim of the study is to compare the efficiency of Michigan (MI) varnish containing casein phosphopeptide (CPP) and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and Fluoritop containing sodium fluoride (5% NaF) in the prevention and remineralization of white spot lesions (WSLs) around orthodontic brackets at days 28 and 56 after bonding.

Materials And Methods: A total of 30 patients were selected and divided into two groups I (MI varnish) II (Fluoritop varnish) of 15 patients in each group. All the patients were bonded and then varnish was applied around the brackets.

Can Students Learn from Their Co-Students About Tuberculosis? Outcomes from Student-Friendly Quasi-Experimental Intervention Study in India.

Background: The World Health Organization's "End TB Strategy" aims to end global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic through a holistic combination of health and social interventions placing the patients and communities at the heart of the response. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of utilizing school children as ambassadors in TB advocacy.

Materials And Methods: We adopted a quasi-experimental intervention design where students' awareness level was assessed before and after the intervention.

Ultrasensitive detection of ineradicable and harmful antibiotic chloramphenicol residue in soil, water, and food samples.

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is a harmful antibiotic that inevitably enters our food chain through natural or manmade means. Its ineradicable residue pollutes soils and water, accumulates in plants and animal products, and eventually affects human health. An ultrasensitive method for detecting and monitoring CAP is therefore urgently required.

A national-level analysis of life expectancy associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Background: From a demographic perspective, the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on life expectancy is not clear. Hence, there is a need to study the number of years of life lost concerning the existing average life expectancy due to COVID-19 in India.

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the impact of life expectancy due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Cost Effectiveness of a Shorter Moxifloxacin Based Regimen for Treating Drug Sensitive Tuberculosis in India.

Globally efforts are underway to shorten the existing 6-month tuberculosis (TB) treatment regimen for drug-sensitive patients, which would be equally effective and safe. At present, there is a lack of evidence on the cost implications of a shorter 4-month TB regimen in India. This economic modeling study was conducted in the Indian context with a high TB burden.

Application of mobile phone technology as intervention for the management of tuberculosis patients diagnosed through community survey.

Background & Objectives: The delay in communicating the results to tuberculosis (TB) patients leads to increased rates of initial loss to follow up of treatment. The gap in communication among healthcare providers requires application of new tools that will address the challenges. Mobile phone technologies could be a useful tool in this context for the delivery of information.

Lanthanum tin oxide-modified sensor electrode for the rapid detection of environmentally hazardous insecticide carbaryl in soil, water, and vegetable samples.

The growing population and global food demands have encouraged the use of pesticides to increase agricultural yields; however, the irrational use of pesticides threatens human health and the environment. Carbaryl (CRBL) is the most widespread insecticide and severely affects soil, water systems, and human health. Thus, it is crucial to monitor CRBL residues in the environment and vegetable samples.

Development of database structure and indexing for siddha medicine system - A platform for siddha literature analytics.

Background: Siddha Medicine system is one among the oldest traditional systems of medicines in India and has its entire literature in the Tamil language in the form of poems ( in tamil). Even if the siddha poems are available in public domain, they are not known to other parts of the world because, researchers of other languages are not able to understand the contents of these poems and there exists a language barrier. Hence there is a need to develop a system to extract structured information from these texts to facilitate searching, comparing, analysis and implementing.

Effect of the NiTeO phase in a NiTeO/expanded graphite composite on the electrochemical monitoring of metribuzin residue in soil and water samples.

Growing food demand and climate change have led to the development of various pest control agents to increase crop yields. Although pesticides help meet the food demand, they cause harm to human health and the environment. Metribuzin (MTBZ) is one of the common herbicides used for controlling weeds.

Diagnostic accuracy of mercurial versus digital blood pressure measurement devices: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aims to systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of a digital blood pressure measurement device compared to the gold standard mercury sphygmomanometer in published studies. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, EBSCO, EMBASE and Google Scholar host databases using the specific search strategy and filters from 1st January 2000 to 3rd April 2021. We included studies reporting data on the sensitivity or specificity of blood pressure measured by digital devices and mercury sphygmomanometer used as the reference standard.

An economic evaluation of implementing a decentralized dengue screening intervention under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme in Tamil Nadu, South India.

Background: Lack of effective early screening is a major obstacle for reducing the fatality rate and disease burden of dengue. In light of this, the government of Tamil Nadu has adopted a decentralized dengue screening strategy at the primary healthcare (PHC) facilities using blood platelet count. Our objective was to determine the cost-effectiveness of a decentralized screening strategy for dengue at PHC facilities compared with the current strategy at the tertiary health facility (THC) level.

Estimating TB diagnostic costs incurred under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme: a costing study from Tamil Nadu, South India.

Background: The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) of India is aiming to eliminate TB by 2025. The programme has increased its services and resources to strengthen the accurate and early detection of TB. It is important to estimate the cost of TB diagnosis in India considering the advancement and implementation of new diagnostic tools under the NTEP.

Economic evaluation of implementing a decentralised Hepatitis B virus diagnostic intervention under National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme in Tamil Nadu, South India.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of decentralised diagnostic programme for hepatitis B virus (HBV) implemented in Tamil Nadu, South India with specific focus on a selected key population at increased risk of HBV.

Methods: A combination of decision tree and Markov model was developed to compare cost-effectiveness of the new and standard strategy. Cost and health outcomes were calculated based on the proportion of cohort in each respective health state.

Studies on the sonochemical polymorphism of SbO on activated graphite for the electrochemical determination of imipramine.

This work reports the simultaneous sonochemical activation of graphite and sonohydrolysis of antimony chloride (SbCl) in the alkaline medium. The experiments conducted by bath sonicator operated at 37 kHz of frequency and a maximum power of 150 W. The simple sonohydrolysis of SbCl alone produced an orthorhombic phase of SbO, whereas, it produced mixed phases of cubic and orthorhombic SbO when introduced with graphite.

Association of Tuberculosis With Household Catastrophic Expenditure in South India.

Importance: The high household costs associated with tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment can create barriers to access and adherence, highlighting the urgency of achieving the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy target that no TB-affected households should face catastrophic costs by 2020.

Objective: To estimate the occurrence of catastrophic costs associated with TB diagnosis and treatment and to identify socioeconomic indicators associated with catastrophic costs in a setting where TB control strategies have been implemented effectively.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this cross-sectional study, 455 patients with TB in the Chennai metropolitan area of South India who were treated under the TB control program between February 2017 and March 2018 were interviewed.

TB diagnostic cascade among patients registered under the Revised National TB Control Programme in Chennai, South India.

Objective: To discern and quantify the TB diagnostic cascade among patients registered under the Revised National TB Control Programme, Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, South India.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in metropolitan Chennai from February 2017 to March 2018. We interviewed TB patients retrospectively on their diagnostic attempt in different health facilities.

Catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis in South India: comparison between active and passive case finding.

Background: To measure and compare economic burden at the household level for tuberculosis (TB) patients who were detected through active case finding (ACF) and passive case finding (PCF) in rural areas.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Thiruvallur district from October 2016 to March 2018. TB patients diagnosed through ACF were included in this study.

Effect of cavitation erosion in the sonochemical exfoliation of activated graphite for electrocatalysis of acebutolol.

This study mainly covered the cavitation erosion in probe sonication and its electrochemical behavior. The activated graphite was exfoliated by the probe sonication wherein the titanium alloy (TA) is used as a probe (micro-tip). The sonication performed in the aqueous solution contains a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid (1:1).

Effectiveness of TB sensitization initiatives in improving the involvement of self help group members in rural TB control in south India.

Background: The 'End TB strategy' has highlighted the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration and community mobilization for achieving zero TB deaths by 2020.

Objective: The aim of the study was to develop and test a model TB sensitization programme involving self help groups (SHGs).

Methodology: This experimental study was conducted in two blocks (intervention and control), in Tiruvallur district.

Sonochemical Synthesis of Sulfur Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Supported CuS Nanoparticles for the Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensor Applications.

Over the present material synthesis routes, the sonochemical route is highly efficient and comfortable way to produce nanostructured materials. In this way, the copper sulfide (CuS-covellite) and sulfur doped reduced graphene oxide (S-rGO) nanocomposite was prepared by sonochemical method. Interestingly, the structure of the as-prepared S-rGO/CuS was changed from the covellite to digenite phase.