Association of Body Mass Index between Adolescents and their Parents in Mumbai and Kolkata: A Population-based Study.

Introduction: Adolescent overweight and obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI) seem to be increasing at an alarming rate in urban populations. Parental BMI plays an important role in their adolescent's BMI. Overweight and obesity coexisting with undernutrition in adolescents is an important public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Exploring the Potential of Saffron as a Therapeutic Agent in Depression Treatment: A Comparative Review.

Depression is a significant mental health challenge globally. While traditional antidepressants are effective, they often have unwanted side effects. Saffron, a natural spice derived from L.

Association Between Cigarette and Bidi Purchase Behavior (Loose vs Pack) and Health Warning Label Exposure: Findings From the Tobacco Control Policy India Survey and In-Depth Interviews With People Who Smoke.

Background: The sale of loose cigarettes or bidis can undermine the purpose of requiring health warning labels (HWLs) on cigarette packs and bidi bundles by diminishing their visibility and legibility.

Objective: This mixed-methods study aims to examine the association between purchase behavior (loose vs pack or bundle), HWL exposure, and responses to HWLs among Indian adults who smoke.

Methods: Data were analyzed from the 2018-2019 India Tobacco Control Policy Survey and from 28 in-depth interviews conducted with Indian adults who smoked in 2022.

Variability in addictive and carcinogenic potential of smokeless tobacco products marketed in Mumbai, India: a surveillance study.

Background: India has the highest incidence worldwide of smokeless tobacco (SLT)-associated oral cancer, accounting for nearly 70% of all SLT users globally. Nicotine and tobacco-specific -nitrosamines (TSNA) play critical roles in the addictive and carcinogenic potential, respectively, of SLT products. Our group has previously reported substantial variability in nicotine and TSNA levels across a small SLT product sample in India, calling for systematic surveillance.

"The ban is there, but it is not there": perceptions of cigarette users and tobacco vendors regarding ban on the sale of loose cigarettes in India.

Introduction: Banning the sales of loose cigarettes is recommended by Article 16 of the World Health Organization - Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This study aims to understand the perceptions of cigarette users and tobacco vendors regarding such a ban.

Methods: Using a systematic recruitment and interview protocol, we interviewed cigarette users ( = 28) and tobacco vendors ( = 28) from two Indian cities where sales of loose cigarettes were banned (Mumbai) or not banned (Delhi).

Diabetes and gastric cancer incidence and mortality in the Asia Cohort Consortium: A pooled analysis of more than a half million participants.

Background: Evidence suggests a possible link between diabetes and gastric cancer risk, but the findings remain inconclusive, with limited studies in the Asian population. We aimed to assess the impact of diabetes and diabetes duration on the development of gastric cancer overall, by anatomical and histological subtypes.

Methods: A pooled analysis was conducted using 12 prospective studies included in the Asia Cohort Consortium.

Microbiology proficiency testing in fish and fishery products: detection of and .

This paper presents the results of two proficiency testing (PT) rounds conducted by the Export Inspection Agency (EIA) Chennai laboratory in 2021 for food testing laboratories in India. The PT program was designed in accordance with ISO/TS 22117, a standard for proficiency testing in food microbiology, and targeted and as the organisms of focus. The samples were found to be stable and recoverable during the analysis, and all PT sample packages were delivered to participant laboratories in good condition.

Lung Cancer Risk Prediction Models for Asian Ever-Smokers.

Introduction: Although lung cancer prediction models are widely used to support risk-based screening, their performance outside Western populations remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the performance of 11 existing risk prediction models in multiple Asian populations and to refit prediction models for Asians.

Methods: In a pooled analysis of 186,458 Asian ever-smokers from 19 prospective cohorts, we assessed calibration (expected-to-observed ratio) and discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]) for each model.

Upscaling a behavioural intervention program for tobacco use cessation - A randomised controlled study.

A randomised control trial was conducted among school teachers in Bihar, India for upscaling a tested, evidence-based tobacco intervention using train-the-trainer model. Six blocks in three districts were selected and randomised into intervention and control blocks. Cluster coordinators in intervention blocks were given training in the details of intervention.

The Burden and Correlates of Waterpipe (Hookah) Smoking among Adolescents and Youth: A Systematic Review.

Background: This systematic review evaluated the available medical literature on the prevalence and trends of waterpipe tobacco smoking among adolescents and youth in jurisdictionally representative populations.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched for relevant studies from inception until 31 December 2022 that reported the burden of waterpipe smoking among adolescents and youth (10-24 years of age). We extracted qualitative data on the demographic characteristics, burden, and correlates of waterpipe smoking (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022310982).

Awareness and Use of e-cigarettes among Adolescents and Their Adult Caregivers in Two Cities of India.

Introduction/objective: E-cigarette use poses an additional risk for individuals who are not cigarette smokers, especially adolescents. The marketing tactics of the industry have substantially increased the prevalence of e-cigarettes, use among adolescents. India banned e-cigarette in September 2019 that has been criticized by interested groups.

Common assumptions in tobacco control that may not hold true for South-East Asia.

Tobacco is a threat to public health in South-East Asia and its control should be a priority. However, many common assumptions about tobacco control may not hold true for the region and can misdirect policy. The substantial health risks associated with smokeless tobacco have been largely misunderstood and neglected.

Smoking-related psychosocial beliefs and justifications among smokers in India: Findings from Tobacco Control Policy (TCP) India Surveys.

Background: Previous research in high-income countries (HICs) has shown that smokers reduce their cognitive dissonance through two types of justifications over time: risk minimizing and functional beliefs. To date, however, the relationship between these justifications and smoking behaviors over time has limited evidence from low- and middle-income countries. This study examines these of justifications and their relation to quitting behavior and intentions among smoking tobacco users in India.

South Asia's evolving tobacco hydra: moving from quandary to hope.

The South Asian region occupies a unique place in global tobacco control because of a broad spectrum of widely used tobacco products and the consequent mix of local and transnational tobacco industries. Cigarette use is especially high among males in many countries, while bidis are widely used in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and are very inexpensive. Smokeless tobacco use is a global problem, but the bulk of use is in South Asia and there is emerging promotion of newly developed tobacco and nicotine products across the region.