A decision tree analysis to evaluate the optimal approach to screen allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in asthmatic patients.

Background: Various methods are available to screen for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in asthma, but their comparative performance remains uncertain.

Objectives: To identify the optimal screening algorithm for ABPA in asthmatic patients and evaluate the crude cost of various diagnostic approaches.

Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of prospectively collected data from consecutive adult asthmatic patients evaluated for ABPA.

Clinical Significance of Aspergillus Sensitisation in Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

Objective: Aspergillus sensitisation (AS) is seen in many patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). However, the clinical relevance of AS in CPA remains unclear. In this study, we assess the clinical significance of AS in CPA.

Understanding Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use in Young College Students: A Qualitative Work from India Based on Social Norms Theory.

Background And Objectives: Substance use among young college students in India poses public health challenges. This study seeks to uncover the motivation behind alcohol and illicit drug consumption, applying social norms theory.

Methods: This qualitative research utilized the framework method to analyze data from 14 college students (18-24 years) across various disciplines.

Effectiveness of digital screening and brief intervention for alcohol misuse among college students: A state-wide cluster randomized trial from India.

Background: Alcohol misuse is prevalent among college students globally, including in India. Digital screening and brief interventions (DSBI) promise to address this issue. This study assesses DSBI's effectiveness in a state-wide cluster randomized trial among college students in India.

Analysis of quality of life of patients with refractive errors in India.

Introduction: It is important to determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) to devise population-based cost-effective service delivery models. The present study aimed to evaluate the HRQoL of patients with refractive errors (RE) using generic and vision-specific instruments, identify the determinants of HRQoL, and examine the validity between the quality-of-life instruments for refractive errors.

Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 515 participants with RE using generic as well as vision-specific HRQoL measures.

The minimal important difference of one-minute-sit-to-stand test in subjects with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.

Background And Objective: There is a need for simple functional test to assess treatment response in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) in resource-constrained settings. The one-minute-sit-to-stand test (1-min-STS) is one such test. However, the minimal important difference (MID) for 1-min-STS in subjects with CPA remains unknown.

Population prevalence of aspergillus sensitization and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in COPD subjects in North India.

Background: Sensitization to Aspergillus fumigatus (AS) has been recently described in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, there is no data on the community prevalence of AS in COPD.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of AS among COPD subjects.

Incidence and prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with post-tuberculosis lung abnormality: Results from a community survey in North India.

Background: Post-tuberculosis lung abnormality (PTLA) is the most common risk factor for developing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). However, the prevalence and incidence of CPA in PTLA patients in India remain unknown.

Objectives: We aimed to ascertain the incidence and prevalence of CPA in subjects with PTLA.

Test and Treat Model for Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment among Household Contacts of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Selected Districts of Maharashtra: A Mixed-Methods Study on Care Cascade, Timeliness, and Early Implementation Challenges.

Tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) is an important intervention in preventing infection and reducing TB incidence among household contacts (HHCs). A mixed-methods study was conducted to assess the "Test and Treat" model of TPT care cascade among HHCs aged ≥5 years of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients (bacteriologically/clinically confirmed) being provided TPT care under Project Axshya Plus implemented in Maharashtra (India). A quantitative phase cohort study based on record review and qualitative interviews to understand the challenges and solutions in the TPT care cascade were used.

Effect of Various Lengths of Respiration on Heart Rate Variability during Simple Bhramari (Humming).

Background: Heart rate varies during breathing and the heart rate variability (HRV) facilitates the autonomic homeostatic capacity. The maximum HRV was observed at around 10 s of prolonged respiration as per HRV biofeedback literature. However, there is a gap in understanding the variations in HRV by different respiration lengths during simple Bhramari practice.

Outcomes and Challenges in the Programmatic Implementation of Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy among Household Contacts of Pulmonary TB Patients: A Mixed-Methods Study from a Rural District of Karnataka, India.

The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) of India is implementing tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) for all household contacts (HHCs) of pulmonary tuberculosis patients (index patients) aged <5 years and those HHCs aged >5 years with TB infection (TBI). We conducted an explanatory mixed-methods study among index patients registered in the Kolar district, Karnataka during April-December 2022, to assess the TPT cascade and explore the early implementation challenges for TPT provision. Of the 301 index patients, contact tracing home visits were made in 247 (82.

Prevalence of Aspergillus sensitization and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in bronchial asthma: A systematic review of Indian studies.

Background: The prevalence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in Indian asthmatic patients remains unknown. We systematically reviewed the literature for estimating the prevalence of Aspergillus sensitization (AS) and ABPA in Indian subjects with bronchial asthma.

Methods: We searched the PubMed and Embase databases for studies from India reporting the prevalence of AS or ABPA in at least 50 asthmatics.

Humming (Simple Bhramari Pranayama) as a Stress Buster: A Holter-Based Study to Analyze Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Parameters During Bhramari, Physical Activity, Emotional Stress, and Sleep.

Objective In this study, our goal was to understand the comparative impact of humming, physical activity, emotional stress, and sleep on several heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, including the stress index (SI), and to assess the effectiveness of humming (simple Bhramari) as a stress buster based on the HRV parameters. Methods This pilot study assessed the long-term HRV parameters of 23 participants in terms of four activities: humming (simple Bhramari), physical activity, emotional stress, and sleep. The single-channel Holter device measured the readings, and data was analyzed using Kubios HRV Premium software for time and frequency-domain HRV parameters, including the stress index.

Risk factors for pulmonary mucormycosis in subjects with diabetes mellitus-A case-control study.

Background: Factors associated with pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) among subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM) remain unclear. Following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis outbreak in India, specific environmental exposures (especially cattle dung exposure) were proposed as possible aetiology. We hypothesized that environmental factors are associated with PM.

Treatment outcomes and associated factors among patients with drug-sensitive tuberculosis on daily fixed-dose combination drugs: A cohort study from Ahmedabad, India.

Background And Aim: The National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) has been progressive in addressing the issues related to tuberculosis (TB) control in the country, with constant programmatic changes based on evidence available from operational research. Our objectives were 1. to assess the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and the treatment outcomes of patients on fixed-dose combination (FDC) daily regimen and 2.

Prevalence of Aspergillus Sensitization and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in Adults With Bronchial Asthma: A Systematic Review of Global Data.

Background: The prevalence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in asthmatic patients remains unclear and is likely different across geographic locales.

Objective: To systematically review the literature for estimating the prevalence of Aspergillus sensitization (AS) and ABPA in adults with bronchial asthma.

Methods: We searched the PubMed and Embase databases for studies reporting the prevalence of AS or ABPA in at least 50 asthmatic subjects.

Effectiveness of mHealth-based educational interventions to improve self-care during pregnancy: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial from northern India.

Objectives: To assess and compare the effectiveness of mHealth-based educational interventions on improving pregnancy self-care knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and the satisfaction in using the interventions.

Methods: We conducted a three-group, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial (July 2019-June 2020) among pregnant women (aged 20-45 years, gestation <20 weeks, and no pre-existing diseases) attending the prenatal clinic of a tertiary care hospital in northern India. Participants were randomly assigned to three arms (Group 1, specially developed mobile application; Group 2, Whatsapp, and Group 3, Control-Standard of care) using block randomization.

Digital screening and brief intervention for alcohol misuse in college students: A pilot, mixed-methods, cluster randomized controlled trial from a low-resourced setting.

Introduction: We examined the feasibility and acceptability of digital screening and brief intervention (d-SBI) for alcohol misuse in college students; the effectiveness of d-SBI was our secondary outcome. We also explored the barriers and facilitators of d-SBI.

Methods: The study design is a mixed-methods, pilot, and cluster randomized trial.