Prevalence of Wasting and its Associated Factors among Children Under 5 Years of Age in India: Findings from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey.

Background: The burden of wasting among under five children in India, has not reduced in the last decade.

Objectives: We used child-level data from the latest nationally representative Comprehensive National Nutritional Survey (CNNS) to estimate the prevalence of wasting at the national and state level in India.

Methods: We explored the association of wasting with maternal, child and household factors using multivariable logistic regression for the age group of 0-5, 6-23 and 24-59 months.

Impact of an integrated health, nutrition, and early child stimulation and responsive care intervention package delivered to preterm or term small for gestational age babies during infancy on growth and neurodevelopment: study protocol of an individually randomized controlled trial in India (Small Babies Trial).

Background: Preterm and term small for gestational age (SGA) babies are at high risk of experiencing malnutrition and impaired neurodevelopment. Standalone interventions have modest and sometimes inconsistent effects on growth and neurodevelopment in these babies. For greater impact, intervention may be needed in multiple domains-health, nutrition, and psychosocial care and support.

Effect of kangaroo mother care initiated in community settings on financial risk protection of low-income households: a randomised controlled trial in Haryana, India.

Introduction: Many families in low-income and middle-income countries have high out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPE) for healthcare, and some face impoverishment. We aimed to assess the effect of Kangaroo Mother Care initiated in community setting (ciKMC) on financial risk protection estimated by healthcare OOPE, catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) and impoverishment due to healthcare seeking for low birthweight infants, using a randomised controlled trial design.

Methods: We included 4475 low birthweight infants randomised to a ciKMC (2491 infants) and a control (1984 infants) arm, in a large trial conducted between 2017 and 2018 in Haryana, India.

Enteral Vitamin D Supplementation in Preterm or Low Birth Weight Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Many preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants have low vitamin D stores. The objective of this study was to assess effects of enteral vitamin D supplementation compared with no vitamin D supplementation in human milk fed preterm or LBW infants.

Methods: Data sources include Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, and Embase from inception to March 16, 2021.

Enteral Zinc Supplementation in Preterm or Low Birth Weight Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Evidence on the effect of zinc supplementation on health outcomes in preterm or low birth weight (LBW) infants is unclear. We estimated the effect of enteral zinc versus no zinc supplementation in human milk fed preterm or LBW infants on mortality, growth, morbidities, and neurodevelopment.

Methods: Data sources include PubMed, Cochrane Central and Embase databases through March 24, 2021.

Enteral Iron Supplementation in Preterm or Low Birth Weight Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Iron is needed for growth and development of infants globally, but preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants are at risk for severe iron deficiencies. To assess the effect of enteral iron supplementation on mortality, morbidity, growth, and neurodevelopment outcomes in preterm or LBW infants fed human milk. Secondary objectives were to assess the effect on biomarkers and dose and timing.

Enteral Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation in Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objectives: To assess effects of supplementation with 3 or more micronutrients (multiple micronutrients; MMN) compared to no MMN in human milk-fed preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants.

Results: Data on a subgroup of 414 preterm or LBW infants from 2 randomized controlled trials (4 reports) were included. The certainty of evidence ranged from low to very low.

Enteral Calcium or Phosphorus Supplementation in Preterm or Low Birth Weight Infants: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objectives: To assess effects of calcium or phosphorous supplementation compared with no supplementation in human milk-fed preterm or low birth weight infants.

Methods: Data sources include Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline and Embase. We included Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized trials (quasi-randomized).

Enteral Low-Dose Vitamin A Supplementation in Preterm or Low Birth Weight Infants to Prevent Morbidity and Mortality: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objectives: To assess effects of enteral "low" dose (daily doses of ≤10 000 international unit) vitamin A supplementation compared with no vitamin A supplementation in human milk-fed preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants.

Data Sources: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL from inception to 16 March 2021.

Study Selection: Randomized trials were screened.

Anthropometric Indicators as Predictors of Mortality in Early Life Among Low Birthweight Indian Infants.

Background: Low birthweight (LBW) babies (<2.5 kg) are at higher risk of mortality and weight for height score is currently recommended for identifying infants at risk of mortality.

Objective: To compare different anthropometric measures at 28-day of age in a cohort of LBW Indian infants for predicting mortality between 28-day and 180-day of age.

Linear Growth Trajectories, Catch-up Growth, and Its Predictors Among North Indian Small-for-Gestational Age Low Birthweight Infants: A Secondary Data Analysis.

Background: Low birthweight small-for-gestational-age (SGA-LBW) (birthweight below the 10th percentile for gestational age; SGA-LBW) infants are at an increased risk of poor postnatal growth outcomes. Linear growth trajectories of SGA-LBW infants are less studied in South Asian settings including India.

Objectives: To describe the linear growth trajectories of the SGA-LBW infants compared with appropriate-for-gestational-age LBW (AGA-LBW) infants during the first 6 months of life.

Health equity impact of community-initiated kangaroo mother care: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) can substantially enhance overall survival of low birthweight babies. In a large randomized controlled trial, we recently showed that supporting mothers to provide community initiated KMC (ciKMC) can reduce mortality among infants up to 180 days of life by 25% (hazard ratio (HR) 0.75).

Computational biomechanical modelling of the rabbit cranium during mastication.

Although a functional relationship between bone structure and mastication has been shown in some regions of the rabbit skull, the biomechanics of the whole cranium during mastication have yet to be fully explored. In terms of cranial biomechanics, the rabbit is a particularly interesting species due to its uniquely fenestrated rostrum, the mechanical function of which is debated. In addition, the rabbit processes food through incisor and molar biting within a single bite cycle, and the potential influence of these bite modes on skull biomechanics remains unknown.

Diagnostic measures for severe acute malnutrition in Indian infants under 6 months of age: a secondary data analysis.

Background: Weight for length z-score (WLZ) < - 3 is currently used to define severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among infants. However, this approach has important limitations for infants younger than 6 months of age as WLZ cannot be calculated using WHO growth standards if infant length is < 45 cm. Moreover, length for age z-score (LAZ) and weight for length z-score (WLZ) are least reliable measures, with high chances of variation, and less chances of detecting undernutrition in under 6 months infants.

Growth faltering in early infancy: highlights from a two-day scientific consultation.

Faltering of growth in early life has been recognized as a public health challenge among Indian babies. A two-day consultation on growth faltering in early infancy was organized to examine the data and evidence on identification and management of early growth failure and to identify knowledge gaps and future areas of research. The consultation was supported by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (Nutrition Chapter), Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, and the Society for Applied Studies.

Factors associated with the decline in under-five diarrhea mortality in India: a LiST analysis.

Background: India has achieved 86% reduction in the number of under-five diarrheal deaths from 1980 to 2015. Nonetheless diarrhea is still among the leading causes of under-five deaths. The aim of this analysis was to study the contribution of factors that led to decline in diarrheal deaths in the country and the effect of scaling up of intervention packages to address the remaining diarrheal deaths.

Utilisation, equity and determinants of full antenatal care in India: analysis from the National Family Health Survey 4.

Objectives: We examined the utilisation, equity and determinants of full antenatal care (ANC), defined as 4 or more antenatal visits, at least one tetanus toxoid (TT) injection and consumption of iron folic acid (IFA) for a minimum of 100 days, in India.

Methods: We analysed a sample of 190,898 women from India's National Family Health Survey 4. Concentration curves and concentration index were used to assess equity in full ANC utilisation.

Severe wasting among Indian infants <6 months: Findings from the National Family Health Survey 4.

Burden and risk factors for wasting in the first 6 months of life among Indian children are not well documented. We used data from India's National Family Health Survey 4 to estimate the prevalence of severe wasting (weight for length < -3 SD) among 18,898 infants under 6 months of age. We also examined the association of severe wasting with household, maternal, and child-related factors using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Delayed vaccination and its predictors among children under 2 years in India: Insights from the national family health survey-4.

Objective: Delayed vaccination increases the susceptibility window for vaccine preventable diseases. Our analysis estimates the proportion of children between 10 and 23 months of age with delayed vaccination in India and the associated socio-demographic, maternal and child related factors.

Methods: We used individual level data from the National Family and Health Survey 4, conducted in 2015-2016.

Cognitive and motor outcomes in children born low birth weight: a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from South Asia.

Background: South Asia contributes substantially to global low birth weight population (i.e. those with birth weight < 2500 g).

A comparison between fibrin sealant and sutures for attaching conjunctival autograft after pterygium excision.

Background: Use of conjunctival autograft following excision of primary pterygium has reduced the recurrence rate. This study evaluates the efficiency of fibrin glue as compared to sutures in attaching the conjunctival autograft with reference to surgical time, post operative comfort and recurrence during follow up.

Methods: 60 patients with primary pterygium were included and divided into two groups.