Multipronged strategy for protection and motivation of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a real-life study.

Objective: We aimed to assess risk of COVID-19 infection & seroprotection status in healthcare workers (HCWs) in both hospital and community settings following an intensive vaccination drive in India.

Setting: Tertiary Care Hospital.

Methods: We surveyed COVID-19 exposure risk, personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance, vaccination status, mental health & COVID-19 infection rate across different HCW cadres.

Rubella immunity among pregnant women and the burden of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in India, 2022.

Background: India aims to eliminate rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by 2023. We conducted serosurveys among pregnant women to monitor the trend of rubella immunity and estimate the CRS burden in India following a nationwide measles and rubella vaccination campaign.

Methods: We surveyed pregnant women at 13 sentinel sites across India from Aug to Oct 2022 to estimate seroprevalence of rubella IgG antibodies.

Molecular characterization and evolutionary dynamics of influenza A(H1N1) strains isolated from 2015 to 2017 in North India.

Background And Objectives: The influenza A(H1N1) virus is known for large outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics worldwide owing to its genome plasticity which evolves constantly. In the year 2015 and then in 2017, India witnessed an upsurge in cases.

Materials And Methods: The study was carried out in this period (2015-2017) with samples from 5 states across north India.

Whole genome analysis of Human Mastadenovirus D causing Keratoconjunctivitis in India - A multicentre study.

Introduction: Human mastadenovirus (HAdV) types 8, 37, 64 have been considered the major contributors in Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) epidemics, but recent surveillance data have shown the involvement of emerging recombinants, including HAdV-53, HAdV-54, and HAdV-56. In our initial work, positive samples for adenovirus revealed that our strains were closer to HAdV-54 than HAdV-8. Hence, the current study aimed to use whole genome technology to identify the HAdV strain correctly.

Clinical Course and Molecular Characterization of Human Bocavirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India.

Respiratory samples from 139 hospitalized children were screened for the human bocavirus (HBoV) genome. Positive samples were sequenced for the partial VP1/VP2 gene followed by molecular and phylogenetic analyses. HBoV positivity was noted in 7.

Outbreak investigation of acute febrile illness from the Himalayan foothills: Solving the puzzle of fever.

In September 2022, Panchkula Civil Hospital reported an outbreak of acute febrile illness (AFI) in Pinjore, located in the Himalayan foothills, Haryana, North India. There was an upsurge of fever cases. Blood samples were taken from suspected patients ( = 58) with AFI and subjected to serology of dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and scrub typhus.

Maternally transmitted anti-measles antibodies, and susceptibility to disease among infants in Chandigarh, India: A prospective birth cohort study.

Prior to the age of measles vaccination, infants are believed to be protected against measles by passively transferred maternal antibodies. However, the quantity and quality of such protection have not been well established in the Indian setting. We undertook this study to characterize the transfer and decline in maternal anti-measles antibodies among infants, and determine their susceptibility to measles.

Utility of CDC DENV1-4 real time PCR assay and trioplex assay for the diagnosis of dengue in patients with acute febrile illness.

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have revolutionized reliable detection of dengue virus (DENV) during acute phase of infection. The study evaluated performance of CDC DENV-1-4 real-time assay, trioplex RT-PCR and heminested conventional RT-PCR assay in the diagnosis of DENV. The three NAATs were performed on 107 consecutive samples collected from patients suspected of DENV infection during acute phase of illness.

Epstein Barr Virus-Related Acute Liver Failure and Hemophagocytosis in an Immunocompetent Individual: An Autopsy Report.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a nonhepatotropic virus. It causes mild self-limiting illness characterized by fever, oral ulcer, diarrhea, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Rarely it causes acute liver failure (ALF).

Profile of cardiac lesions among laboratory confirmed congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) infants: a nationwide sentinel surveillance, India, 2016-22.

Background: The phenotypical profile of cardiovascular malformations in patients with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is varied. We aimed to describe the profile of cardiac defects among CRS patients detected in the sentinel CRS surveillance in India during 2016-22.

Methods: Sentinel sites enrolled infants with suspected CRS based on presence of cardiac defects, hearing impairment, eye signs, or maternal history of febrile rash illness.

Dysregulated Genes and Signaling Pathways in the Formation and Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysm.

Intracranial aneurysm (IA) has the potential to rupture. Despite scientific advances, we are still not in a position to screen patients for IA and identify those at risk of rupture. It is critical to comprehend the molecular basis of disease to facilitate the development of novel diagnostic strategies.

Molecular detection of dengue and chikungunya viruses in surveillance of wild-caught Aedes mosquitoes in Punjab, North India.

Background: Dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses are transmitted mainly by Aedes mosquitoes and are responsible for a significant global healthcare burden. The current study aimed to detect arboviruses in the Aedes mosquitoes in close proximity of patients during the transmission season.

Methods: Both immature and adult mosquitoes were collected from in and around the patients' houses.

Paradigm shift of respiratory viruses causing lower respiratory tract infection in children during COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Introduction: Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs) are the commonest cause of mortality in children mostly attributed to respiratory viruses. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the dynamics and transmission of infections changed worldwide due to widespread public health measures. This study aimed to understand the pattern of respiratory viruses associated with ALRTIs in children pre and during COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Congenital rubella syndrome surveillance in India, 2016-21: Analysis of five years surveillance data.

Background: In India, facility-based surveillance for congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) was initiated in 2016 to estimate the burden and monitor the progress made in rubella control. We analyzed the surveillance data for 2016-2021 from 14 sentinel sites to describe the epidemiology of CRS.

Method: We analyzed the surveillance data to describe the distribution of suspected and laboratory confirmed CRS patients by time, place and person characteristics.

Role of Viral Load and Host Cytokines in Determining the Disease Severity of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of viral load, cytokines, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in determining the severity of RSV disease and identify potential biomarkers of disease severity. A total of 142 patients with RSV infection (aged between 2 months and 5 years) who presented with ALRTI between December 2013 and March 2016 were enrolled.

Modulation of autophagy and mTOR signaling pathway genes in respiratory epithelium by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infections.

The study was planned to carry out the molecular characterization of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating strains and to elucidate the gene expression of autophagy and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI). Nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) samples (n = 145) from children suffering from ALRTI were subjected to the detection of RSV. Of them, 31 RSV positive strains were subjected for sequencing.

Dengue Burden and Circulation of Dengue-2 Serotype Among Children Along With Clinical Profiling in Uttarakhand, India: A Cross-Sectional Study From 2018 to 2020.

Background: The multiple serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV) are always a major public concern for dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the demographic characteristics and circulating serotypes of dengue among the paediatric age group.

Methodology: One hundred forty-one clinically suspected children were enrolled in the study from 2018 to 2020 in a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand, India.

An insight into clinical and laboratory detections for screening and diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women caused by an unresolved long-term infection with distinct human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes. It is the fourth most common form of cancer among women worldwide. The two oncogenic genotypes, HPV 16 and 18, are responsible for >70% of all cervical cancers worldwide.

Avian influenza revisited: concerns and constraints.

Avian influenza (AVI) is being known for its pandemic potential and devastating effects on poultry and birds. The AVI outbreaks in domesticated birds are of concern because the Low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAI) tends to evolve into a High pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) resulting in the rapid spread and significant outbreak in poultries. The containment should be rapid and stringent precautions should be taken in handling the infected poultry cases or infected materials.