Evaluation of Immunohistochemistry Technique for Diagnosis of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Biopsy Tissue Specimen as Compared to Composite Diagnostic Criteria.

Introduction: Diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) has been challenging owing to its paucibacillary nature and diverse clinical manifestations. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) on biopsy specimens has presented a new perspective toward improving tuberculosis diagnosis. MPT64 is a unique antigen that has shown high sensitivity and specificity compared to other conventional techniques in its ability to diagnose tuberculosis as well as differentiate it from nontubercular mycobacteria.

Access to Geriatric Disability Care in India: A Roadmap for Research.

This paper presents an ontological review of the global research on access to geriatric disability care and a roadmap for future research to address the problem in India. First, the dominant research focus is on resources (human, financial, and spatial) that affect access to disability care; there is little focus on informational and technological resources. Second, functional disabilities are the dominant focus of the research, followed by cognitive, mental, and locomotor disabilities; there is little focus on speech, hearing, and visual disabilities.

The burden of active infection and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the general population: Results from a statewide sentinel-based population survey in Karnataka, India.

Objective: To estimate the burden of active infection and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in Karnataka, India, and to assess variation across geographical regions and risk groups.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 16,416 people covering three risk groups was conducted between 3-16 September 2020 using the state of Karnataka's infrastructure of 290 healthcare facilities across all 30 districts. Participants were further classified into risk subgroups and sampled using stratified sampling.

Quality of life (QOL) among older persons in an urban and rural area of Bangalore, South India.

Introduction: The increasing ageing population of India has unique challenges due to changing social structure, health issues and inaccessible healthcare facilities. These challenges can adversely affect the quality of life (QOL) of older persons. Hence, this study was undertaken with the objective of assessing the QOL among older persons in an urban and rural area of Bangalore.

Envisioning a learning surveillance system for tuberculosis.

Surveillance is critical for interrupting transmission of global epidemics. Research has highlighted gaps in the surveillance for tuberculosis that range from failure to collect real-time data to lack of standardization of data for informed decision-making at different levels of the health system. Our research aims to advance conceptual and methodological foundations for the development of a learning surveillance system for Tuberculosis, that involves systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and feedback of outcome-specific data.

'Have we missed reporting adverse drug reactions under Revised National TB Control Programme?' - A mixed method study in Bengaluru, India.

Objective: Prompt identification, reporting and management of ADRs during anti tuberculosis treatment can ensure better compliance and treatment outcomes. The study was conducted to identify the gaps and associated factors in reporting of ADRs under RNTCP; assess knowledge, attitude and practice of RNTCP staff regarding pharmacovigilance programme and explore the barriers in reporting of ADRs from provider's perspective.

Methods: Mixed method research with sequential explanatory design was carried out in Tuberculosis Units of RNTCP administrative district of Bangalore city during July to December 2017.

Estimation of time trends of incidence of prostate cancer--an Indian scenario.

Background: With increase in life expectancy, adoption of newer lifestyles and screening using prostate specific antigen (PSA), the incidence of prostate cancer is on rise. Globally prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and sixth leading cause of cancer death in men. The present communication makes an attempt to analyze the time trends in incidence for different age groups of the Indian population reported in different Indian registries using relative difference and regression approaches.