Molecular characterization of Mumps virus genotype C detected from Dibrugarh district of Assam, India.

Background & objectives Mumps, a contagious disease caused by the mumps virus (MuV) involves parotid gland inflammation, with potential complications affecting organs other than the parotid glands and central nervous system. Despite successful vaccination, a resurgence of mumps occurred, raising concerns about vaccine effectiveness. This study aimed to examine the entire genome of a representative MuV genotype C from Dibrugarh, Assam, and compare it with references to detect genetic variations in the circulating strain.

Co-circulation of two Mumps virus genotypes in Assam, India.

Mumps is a vaccine-preventable disease, and research on the vaccine's efficacy has recently indicated declining efficacy that has failed to protect against primary infections or reinfections, leading to a global resurgence in nations that use mumps vaccine in their national immunization programmes (NIPs). Lack of reports on its infection, documentation and published studies prevents it from being recognized as a public health issue in India. The waning of immunity is ascribed to the changes between the circulating and vaccine strains.

Cohort profile of the largest health & demographic surveillance system (Dibrugarh-HDSS) from North-East India.

Dibrugarh Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Dibrugarh-HDSS), was started in the year 2019 with the objective to create the health and demographic database of a population from a defined geographical area and a surveillance system for providing technical assistance for the implementation of programmes and formulating intervention strategies for reducing disease morbidities and mortalities in the population. Dibrugarh-HDSS adopted a panel design and covered 60 contiguous villages and 20 tea gardens. Line listing of all the households was conducted and a unique identification number detailing State, district, village/tea garden and serial number was provided along with geotagging.

Predictors of Low Birth Weight: A Study in a Health and Demographic Cohort from Assam, India.

Low birth weight is associated with morbidities and mortality in the later life. Prevalence of anemia and under nutrition in Assam were reported to be high which may correlate with low birth weight of infants. The present study assessed prevalence and risk factors for low birth weight in a health and demographic cohort established in Dibrugarh district, Assam.

Correlates of Breastfeeding in Villages and Tea-Gardens in Assam, India.

Objective: To observe and compare breastfeeding practices in villages and tea-gardens.

Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study among mothers of infants in a health and demographic surveillance site in Dibrugarh, Assam.

Results: 1435 mothers (855 from tea-gardens, 580 from villages); and 1437 infants (857 from tea-gardens, 580 from villages), were included in study.

Pre-therapeutic Biomarkers for Ranibizumab Therapy among Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema.

Significance: A differential outcome in randomized controlled trials of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, including ranibizumab, for diabetic macular edema is a major dilemma for planning, optimizing, and managing clinical usage. The variable outcome of the therapeutics necessitates the importance of finding a predictive biomarker for anti-VEGF therapy to improve subject selection.

Purpose: Our study correlates the baseline pro- and anti-VEGF isoforms and its three receptors (VEGFReceptor1, VEGFReceptor2, and VEGFReceptor3) for circulatory candidate protein molecules among diabetic patients with macular edema, with the clinical outcome of ranibizumab therapy.

Distribution of hypertension subtypes in a hill tribe of Mizoram, Northeast India.

Objective: Hypertension is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. With increasing age there is differential rise of systolic and diastolic blood pressure leading to development of various hypertension subtypes which have its own clinical implications. Present study assessed distribution and risk factors of hypertensive subtypes in the hill tribe of Mizoram.

Salt-sensitive phenotypes: A community-based exploratory study from northeastern India.

Background: Salt sensitivity is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in both normotensive and hypertensive subjects. The population in the northeastern region of India consumes excess dietary salt but their saltsensitive phenotype is not known.

Methods: We did a community-based exploratory study using volunteers in the northeastern region of India to determine salt-sensitive (SS) and salt-resistant (SR) phenotypes.

An information, education and communication module to reduce dietary salt intake and blood pressure among tea garden workers of Assam.

Objective: High salt diet increases blood pressure. Tea garden workers (TGW) of Assam, India have high (60.8%) prevalence of hypertension (HTN), which may be due to consumption of extra salt (salt as side dish) and salted tea at work place and home.

Pro- and antiangiogenic VEGF and its receptor status for the severity of diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: Alteration of pro- and antiangiogenic homeostasis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms in patients with hyperglycemia seems crucial but substantially unexplored at least quantitatively for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Therefore, in the present study we aimed to estimate the difference between the pro- (VEGFa) and antiangiogenic (VEGFb) VEGF isoforms and its soluble receptors for severity of DR.

Methods: The study included 123 participants (diabetic retinopathy: 81, diabetic control: 20, non-diabetic control: 22) from the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Kolkata.

Dimension and Socio-demographic Correlates of Domestic Violence: A study from Northeast India.

Present study was aimed to find out dimension and socio-demographic correlates of domestic violence in Assam, Sikkim and Meghalaya, Northeast India. Two districts from each state were selected at random and women aged 18-35 years from rural and urban localities were interviewed to obtain relevant information. The study included a total of 2249 participants (Rural = 1577 and Urban = 672) from Assam (650), Sikkim (1148) and Meghalaya (451).

Insertion/Insertion Genotype of Angiotensin I-Converting-Enzyme Gene Predicts Risk of Myocardial Infarction in North East India.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is common in India and the disease occurs at a relatively younger age. We wanted to look for association of Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene with MI in North East India. We also wanted to examine possible environmental interaction of ACE gene with established cardiovascular risk factors in causation of MI.

Distribution of blood pressure & correlates of hypertension in school children aged 5-14 years from North East India.

Background & Objectives: Elevated blood pressure (BP) in the young predicts serious cardiovascular events in the adults. High prevalence of adult hypertension reported from Assam, North East (NE) India may be linked with elevated blood pressure in the childhood. The present study was an attempt to describe the distribution of BP and correlates of hypertension in children aged 5-14 yr.

Interaction of tobacco smoking and chewing with Angiotensin converting enzyme (insertion/deletion) gene polymorphisms and risk of lung cancer in a high risk area from northeast India.

Background: Association of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms with lung cancer susceptibility remains uncertain and varies with ethnicity. Northeast India represents a geographically, culturally, and ethnically isolated population. The area reports an especially high rate of tobacco usage in a variety of ways of consumption, compared with the rest of the Indian population.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms and the risk of hypertension in an Indian population.

Genetic variants of eNOS gene play a significant role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Many environmental factors have, also, been implicated in the aetiology of hypertension. We carried out an age-matched case-control study among adults.

Role of household exposure, dietary habits and glutathione S-Transferases M1, T1 polymorphisms in susceptibility to lung cancer among women in Mizoram India.

Background: A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the effect of household exposure, dietary habits, smoking and Glutathione S-Transferases M1, T1 polymorphisms on lung cancer among women in Mizoram, India.

Materials And Methods: We selected 230 newly diagnosed primary lung cases and 460 controls from women in Mizoram. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratio (OR).

Population attributable risk estimates for risk factors associated with hypertension in an Indian population.

Background: Little evidence exists regarding the magnitude of contribution of risk factors associated with hypertension in India. Determination of potentially modifiable risk factors is necessary to focus prevention strategies.

Design: Age-matched case-control study.

The prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of beta-hemolytic streptococci colonizing the throats of schoolchildren in Assam, India.

Introduction: Studies on the carriage rate of beta-hemolytic streptococci among children form an important component of public health practice to prevent disease complications such as rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease, nephritis, and other local or systemic infections.

Methodology: Throat swabs collected from asymptomatic schoolchildren were inoculated into appropriate media for isolation of beta-hemolytic streptococci. They were identified by standard biochemical methods and sero-grouped.