Intestinal Parasitic Infections May Be Overlooked Drivers of the Tuberculosis Pandemic.

The burden of tuberculosis (TB) is disproportionate in tropical and subtropical regions, where parasitic coinfections are common. Given the significant geographical overlap between TB and intestinal parasitic infections, it is important to consider the implications of intestinal parasitic infections for the TB pandemic. Intestinal parasitic infections have been theorized to increase vulnerability to TB by altering the inflammatory milieu, inducing undernutrition that blunts the immune response, and affecting drug pharmacokinetics.

Prevalence of clustering of non-communicable disease risk factors in a highly urbanized district of India: findings of a cross-sectional survey in Puducherry.

Background: In an individual, the development and severity of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are determined by the presence or absence of clustering of NCD risk factors in them. We aimed to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with clustering of risk factors of NCDs in the district of Puducherry in India.

Methodology: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional survey among the adult population (18-69 years) of Puducherry district (N = 1114) between February 2019 and February 2020.

Traffic Noise Assessment in Urban Puducherry, South India.

Background Noise pollution is an emerging global problem that can affect people's well-being and mental and physical health. In India, six percent of people suffer hearing loss, and prolonged exposure leads to irreversible noise-induced hearing loss. Objective To assess the noise levels at selected residential, commercial, industrial, silence zones, traffic junctions, and related noise indices in urban Puducherry and compare them with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards.

Prevalence and the factors associated with microalbuminuria among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension in the urban areas of Puducherry district: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Microalbuminuria is an early indicator for renal and cardiovascular diseases, especially among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN). We determined the prevalence and the factors associated with microalbuminuria among patients with type 2 DM and/or HTN in the urban areas of the Puducherry district in India.

Methods: We included 225 patients aged 40-69 years with DM and/or HTN from a non-communicable diseases (NCDs) survey conducted during 2019-2020 in the urban areas of Puducherry district.

Perception of Noise Pollution Among Youths and Adults in Urban Puducherry, South India.

Objective The study seeks to assess the perceptions of people on evaluating the sources of noise, noise-induced health issues, and noise regulation awareness among the exposed population present in the study site of urban Puducherry, South India. Methods A cross-sectional survey using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was conducted between July and August 2021 in 32 study sites in urban Puducherry to evaluate how adults and youth perceive noise pollution. The questionnaire gathered details on their sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of the problems associated with noise pollution, source of noise pollution, effects of noise on health, and awareness of regulations related to noise pollution.

Hypertension Control Status Among Patients Receiving Treatment From Selected Primary Health Centres in Puducherry: A Cohort-Analysis Approach.

Background:  High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor contributing to 60% of premature deaths caused by non-communicable diseases. In India, a mere 15% of the hypertensive population achieves optimal blood pressure control. Effective monitoring of hypertension is crucial for mitigating the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Observer Performance Evaluation of a Deep Learning Model for Multilabel Classification of Active Tuberculosis Lung Zone-Wise Manifestations.

Background Chest X-rays (CXRs) are widely used for cost-effective screening of active pulmonary tuberculosis despite their limitations in sensitivity and specificity when interpreted by clinicians or radiologists. To address this issue, computer-aided detection (CAD) algorithms, particularly deep learning architectures based on convolution, have been developed to automate the analysis of radiography imaging. Deep learning algorithms have shown promise in accurately classifying lung abnormalities using chest X-ray images.

The hidden imbalance in neighbourhood nutrition environment: a perspective from lower-middle-income country setting.

Neighbourhood environment plays a pivotal role in determining the individual's nutrition through availability and accessibility of healthy food options. This community-based cross-sectional descriptive study examined neighbourhood spatial attributes using Geographical Information System (GIS) and describe perceived nutrition environment among adult residents in urban Puducherry, India. The density of grocery shops, fruits and vegetable shops, food outlets and restaurants were 64.

Not business as usual: Engaging the corporate sector in India's TB elimination efforts.

India has the highest global burden of tuberculosis (TB), accounting for a quarter of the worldwide TB disease incidence. Given the magnitude of India's epidemic, TB has enormous economic implications. Indeed, the majority of individuals with TB disease are in their prime years of economic productivity.

Adherence to medical nutrition therapy and it's challenges among antenatal women with gestational diabetes mellitus in South India- A sequential explanatory mixed-method study.

Background: Globally, one in ten pregnant women have diabetes; out of which, 90% contribute to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is the cornerstone for GDM treatment yet adherence to MNT among the masses is not adequately monitored as part of the routine antenatal services. The study aimed to estimate the proportion of adherence to MNT and determine the factors related toadherence among antenatal women with GDM.

Perceptions about controlled human infection model (CHIM) studies among members of ethics committees of Indian medical institutions: A qualitative exploration.

Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) studies provide a unique platform for studying the pathophysiology of infectious diseases and accelerated testing of vaccines and drugs in controlled settings. However, ethical issues shroud them as the disease-causing pathogen is intentionally inoculated into healthy consenting volunteers, and effective treatment may or may not be available. We explored the perceptions of the members of institutional ethics committees (IECs) in India about CHIM studies.

Correlation between Quality of Life and Burden in Caregivers of Advanced Stage Cancer Patients on Best Supportive Care.

Objectives: Patients with advanced cancer with incurable diseases are generally cared for by their families in India. There is a lack of data on the perceived caregiver burden, quality of life (QOL) of patients and caregivers in India, especially among cancer patients not on any oncologic management.

Material And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 220 patients of advanced cancer on best supportive care and their respective 220 family caregivers.

Development and Validation of Scale Assessing the Preparedness of Objective Structured Clinical Examination in Undergraduate Competency based Medical Education.

Background: Formative assessments methods such as objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) are reliable and valid assessment tools employed under the competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum. However, there was no uniform scale to assess the attributes of OSCE for any of the medical subjects. Hence, this study was done to develop and validate a scale to assess the attributes of OSCE and make sure that the intended objectives of the OSCE are achieved.

Deep learning classification of active tuberculosis lung zones wise manifestations using chest X-rays: a multi label approach.

Chest X-rays are the most economically viable diagnostic imaging test for active pulmonary tuberculosis screening despite the high sensitivity and low specificity when interpreted by clinicians or radiologists. Computer aided detection (CAD) algorithms, especially convolution based deep learning architecture, have been proposed to facilitate the automation of radiography imaging modalities. Deep learning algorithms have found success in classifying various abnormalities in lung using chest X-ray.

Accuracy of Timika X-ray scoring system to predict the treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients in India.

Background: Timika scoring system is a radiographic grading tool, widely employed for grading the severity of tuberculosis (TB). We evaluated the predictive accuracy of this tool for adverse treatment outcomes among TB patients in Indian setting.

Methods: We undertook a longitudinal analysis of cohort data under the RePORT-India consortium.

Geographical Information System-Aided Noise Pollution Mapping of Urban Puducherry, South India.

Context: Noise pollution and its influence on environmental and quality of human life are a major concern and hot topic of scientific research in the twenty-first century.

Aims: Spatial analysis of noise pollution in urban Puducherry, South India.

Settings And Design: Cross-sectional study conducted in 36 locations of urban Puducherry.

Corrigendum: Malnutrition leads to increased inflammation and expression of tuberculosis risk signatures in recently exposed household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.

Malnutrition leads to increased inflammation and expression of tuberculosis risk signatures in recently exposed household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Most individuals exposed to (Mtb) develop latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and remain at risk for progressing to active tuberculosis disease (TB). Malnutrition is an important risk factor driving progression from LTBI to TB. However, the performance of blood-based TB risk signatures in malnourished individuals with LTBI remains unexplored.

Development of prognostic scoring system for predicting 1-year mortality among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in South India.

Background: Development of a prediction model using baseline characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) patients at the time of diagnosis will aid us in early identification of the high-risk groups and devise pertinent strategies accordingly. Hence, we did this study to develop a prognostic-scoring model for predicting the death among newly diagnosed drug sensitive pulmonary TB patients in South India.

Methods: We undertook a longitudinal analysis of cohort data under the Regional Prospective Observational Research for Tuberculosis India consortium.

Impact of nutrition status and body mass index on mortality in hospitalized general medical patients: A prospective observational study.

Background: Malnutrition and low body mass index (BMI) are risk factors for mortality in hospitalized patients. Data substantiating this are unavailable for hospitalized general medical patients in our setting. We studied the prevalence of malnutrition among patients admitted to general medical wards in a tertiary care hospital and its role as a risk factor for 1-month mortality.

High prevalence of abdominal obesities and metabolically unhealthy individuals in a highly urbanized district of India: findings of a cross-sectional survey in Puducherry.

Background: Abdominal obesities are better markers for predicting cardiovascular abnormalities than risk stratification based only on body mass index (BMI). We aimed to estimate the prevalence of abdominal adiposities using predictive equations for Asian Indian adults and to determine the prevalence of metabolically healthy subjects among those overweight/obese and with normal BMI.

Methods: A community-based survey was conducted among those aged 18-69 years in the district of Puducherry between February 2019 and February 2020.

Outcomes of teleconsultation services and patient satisfaction among pregnant women delivering at a tertiary care center in South India during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has disrupted the antenatal care in low- and middle-income countries such as India. Telemedicine was introduced for the first time in India for continuing antenatal care. Hence, a questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study is done to assess the outcomes of teleconsultation services, factors influencing it, and patient's perceived satisfaction.

Performance of WHO updated cardiovascular disease risk prediction charts in a low-resource setting - Findings from a community-based survey in Puducherry, India.

Background And Aim: The World Health Organization has revised the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction charts in 2019 for each of the 21 Global Burden of Disease regions. These charts (non-lab and lab versions) estimate the total CVD risk in an individual, of which the non-lab is for low-resource settings. We aimed to estimate the burden of ten-year risk of fatal or non-fatal CVD event in the district of Puducherry in India using 'non-lab' and 'lab' versions of WHO CVD risk prediction charts, and to evaluate the agreement between them.