Novel genomic variants related to visceral adiposity index (VAI) and body adiposity index (BAI) in Indian sib-pairs.

Background: Obesity is among the leading public health threats globally. Over the last few years, visceral adiposity index (VAI), and body adiposity index (BAI), derived from anthropometric, and biochemical measures, have gained importance as a measure of obesity. However, unlike other common indices like body mass index, and waist circumference, the genetic predisposition of VAI, and BAI under-examined.

Field based research in the era of the pandemic in resource limited settings: challenges and lessons for the future.

The coronavirus pandemic that began in December 2019, has had an unprecedented impact on the global economy, health systems and infrastructure, in addition to being responsible for significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. The "new normal" has brought along, unforeseen challenges for the scientific community, owing to obstructions in conducting field-based research in lieu of minimizing exposure through in-person contact. This has had greater ramifications for the LMICs, adding to the already existing concerns.

Genetic architecture of adiposity measures among Asians: Findings from GWAS.

Adiposity has gradually become a global public threat over the years with drastic increase in the attributable deaths and disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Given an increased metabolic risk among Asians as compared to Europeans for any given body mass index (BMI) and considering the differences in genetic architecture between them, the present review aims to summarize the findings from genome-wide scans for various adiposity indices and related anthropometric measures from Asian populations. The search for related studies, published till February 2022, were made on PubMed and GWAS Catalog using search strategy built with relevant keywords joined by Boolean operators.

Relationship between serum lipids and depression: A cross sectional survey among adults in Haryana, India.

Introduction: Dyslipidemia and mental illnesses are significant contributors to the global noncommunicable disease burden and studies suggest an association between them.

Aim: Using data from a noncommunicable disease risk factor survey conducted in Haryana, India, we undertook a secondary data analysis to examine the association between lipids and depressive symptoms.

Methods: The survey involved 5,078 participants and followed the World Health Organisation STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance approach.

Guidelines for dyslipidemia management in India: A review of the current scenario and gaps in research.

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) have a high disease burden in India. Dyslipidemia, a major CVD risk factor, requires effective management. Our review describes the appropriateness of the international dyslipidemia guidelines in the Indian context.

Factors associated with differential COVID-19 mortality rates in the SEAR nations: a narrative review.

Objectives: Since December 2019, the world has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused severe loss of lives, the breakdown of health infrastructure, and disruption of the global economy. There is growing evidence on mortality patterns in high-income countries. However, similar evidence from low/middle-income nations is lacking.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Study of Health Risks Among E-waste Recyclers in Delhi.

Background: India is the fifth biggest producer of e-waste in the world, discarding 1.7 million tons in 2014. E-waste gets recycled mainly in the informal sector which means activities are largely unaccounted for.

Deciphering the COVID-19 cytokine storm: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic has affected more than 20 million people so far. Elevated cytokines and suppressed immune responses have been hypothesized to set off a cytokine storm, contributing to ARDS, multiple-organ failure and, in the most severe cases, death. We aimed to quantify the differences in the circulating levels of major inflammatory and immunological markers between severe and nonsevere COVID-19 patients.

Relative contribution of diet and physical activity to increased adiposity among rural to urban migrants in India: A cross-sectional study.

Background: In common with many other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), rural to urban migrants in India are at increased risk of obesity, but it is unclear whether this is due to increased energy intake, reduced energy expenditure, or both. Knowing this and the relative contribution of specific dietary and physical activity behaviours to greater adiposity among urban migrants could inform policies for control of the obesity epidemic in India and other urbanising LMICs. In the Indian Migration Study, we previously found that urban migrants had greater prevalence of obesity and diabetes compared with their nonmigrant rural-dwelling siblings.

Statin use and safety concerns: an overview of the past, present, and the future.

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disorders and contributes to significant morbidity and mortality associated with CAD and stroke worldwide. Statins are the most commonly prescribed drugs for the prevention and management of dyslipidemia globally. Although they provide immense therapeutic benefit, they are associated with clinically significant adverse effects, predominantly muscle, nerve, liver, and cognition-related besides new-onset diabetes.

Causal relationships between lipid and glycemic levels in an Indian population: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach.

Background: Dyslipidemia and abnormal glycemic traits are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Although the association between the two traits is well established, there still exists a gap in the evidence for the direction of causality.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the direction of the causal relationship between lipids and glycemic traits in an Indian population using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (BMR).

Validation of hindi version of Edinburgh postnatal depression scale as a screening tool for antenatal depression.

Background: Antenatal depression is recognized as one of the strongest predictors of postnatal depression, which itself is a strong predictor of mental disorders. The detection of antenatal depression is important and requires an accurate and valid screening tool. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is one of the most extensively studied screening instruments for assessing postnatal depression.

Non-communicable diseases risk factors and their determinants: A cross-sectional state-wide STEPS survey, Haryana, North India.

Background: Recent studies have documented high variation in epidemiologic transition levels among Indian states with noncommunicable disease epidemic rising swiftly. However, the estimates suffer from non-availability of reliable data for NCDs from sub populations. In order to fill the knowledge gap, the distribution and determinants of NCD risk factors were studied along with awareness, treatment and control of NCDs among the adult population in Haryana, India.

Satisfaction With Statin Treatment Among Adult Coronary Artery Disease Patients: An Experience From a Resource-Constrained Setting.

Background: Statins are the most widely prescribed hypolipidaemic drugs for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, but have been found to cause muscle and nerve related adverse effects which can affect patient satisfaction with treatment. Literature on treatment satisfaction among statin users, especially from resource-limited settings is inadequate. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the level of satisfaction with treatment among statin users and evaluate the relationship between adverse effects experienced by patients and their satisfaction with the medication.

Estimates of Indigenous Food Consumption and Their Contribution to Nutrient Intake in Oraon Tribal Women of Jharkhand, India.

Introduction: Oraon tribes of India have high levels of undernutrition. Dietary diversification is one of the food-based interventions to ameliorate malnutrition.

Objectives: This study assessed the awareness and availability of indigenous foods and estimated dietary intakes and nutritional status with emphasis on indigenous food consumption among women in the Oraon tribal community in Jharkhand, India.

Intensity of contact with frontline workers and its influence on maternal and newborn health behaviors: cross-sectional survey in rural Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: India is committed to improving maternal and newborn health in order to achieve the targets for India's Millennium Development Goal 4. Considering their role as a link between community and health systems, frontline workers (FLWs) can be effectively utilized in strengthening maternal and newborn care. In this paper, we set out to examine the effect of intensity of contact with FLWs on key maternal and newborn health behaviors and to determine if this association varies by status of Self Help Group (SHG) membership.

Statin related adverse effects and patient education: a study from resource limited settings.

Background: Statins are the most widely prescribed class of drugs for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and yet literature on the prevalence of statin related adverse effects (AEs) and gaps in patient education is quite limited especially in resource-limited settings of developing world.

Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of myopathy (muscle ailments) and other statin associated adverse effects among CAD patients on statin therapy. The study also aimed to assess patient perceptions, attitudes and awareness concerning the use of statins.

Predictors, help-seeking behaviour and treatment coverage for depression in adults in Sehore district, India.

Background: National Mental Health Survey found that in India, the point prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) was 2.7% and the treatment gap was 85.2%, whereas in Madhya Pradesh the point prevalence of MDD was 1.

Social correlates of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India: a review.

Understanding the epidemiological profiles of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders provides opportunities for the identification of high-risk population subgroups and for the development of effective country-specific prevention and intervention strategies. Guided by the Conceptual Framework for Action on the Social Determinants of Health by WHO we reviewed the literature to examine the association between a range of social correlates (eg, sex, age, education, income, urbanicity, marital status, and regional differences) and mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India, the most populous countries in the world. We looked for papers on mental, neurological, and substance use disorders with location identifiers and socioeconomic correlates published between 1990 and 2015 and our search found 65 relevant studies from China and 29 from India.

Contribution of indigenous foods towards nutrient intakes and nutritional status of women in the Santhal tribal community of Jharkhand, India.

Objective: The indigenous food environment, dietary intake and nutritional status of women in the Santhal tribal community of Jharkhand were assessed. Contribution of indigenous foods to nutritional status and nutrient intakes was explored.

Design: Exploratory cross-sectional study with a longitudinal dietary intake assessment component.

Associations of serum uric acid and SLC2A9 variant with depressive and anxiety disorders: a population-based study.

Background: Limited information exists regarding the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and psychiatric disorders. We explored the relationship between SUA and subtypes of major depressive disorder (MDD) and specific anxiety disorders. Additionally, we examined the association of SLC2A9 rs6855911 variant with anxiety disorders.

Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations between Body Mass Index and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adolescents in a Country of the African Region.

We assessed the association between several cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs) (blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and glucose) in 390 young adults aged 19-20 years in Seychelles (Indian Ocean, Africa) and body mass index (BMI) measured either at the same time (cross-sectional analysis) or at the age of 12-15 years (longitudinal analysis). BMI tracked markedly between age of 12-15 and age of 19-20. BMI was strongly associated with all considered CRFs in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, with some exceptions.