A qualitative analysis to identify the issues of tuberculosis management in tribal areas of Rajasthan.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease with social issue. Tribal people are disproportionately affected by TB. There is a scarcity of data on issues of TB management among the tribal groups of India.

Air Quality Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors in Urban Areas of Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Air pollution poses a significant health hazard in urban areas across the globe, with India being one of the most affected countries. This paper presents environmental monitoring study conducted in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, to assess air quality in diverse urban environments. The study involved continuous indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring, focusing on particulate matter (PM) levels, bioaerosols, and associated meteorological parameters.

Strengthening breast cancer screening program through health education of women and capacity building of primary healthcare providers.

Background: Globally and in India, breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy. India saw 178,361 new cases and 90,000 deaths in 2020. Timely detection is vital, highlighting the importance of Breast Self-Examination (BSE), especially in low-income settings.

Serum Trace Elements in Children with Well-Controlled and Drug Refractory Epilepsy Compared to Controls: An Observational Study.

Background: Trace elements have been implicated in pathogenesis of epilepsy. Studies till date have shown altered levels of serum trace elements in children with epilepsy.

Objective: The objective of the current was to estimate serum levels of trace elements in children with well-controlled and drug refractory epilepsy and compare it with controls.

Prevalence of micronutrient deficiency and its impact on the outcome of childhood cancer: A prospective cohort study.

Background & Aims: Impact of micronutrient deficiency on childhood malignancy is unexplored. We estimated the prevalence of baseline micronutrient deficiency in children with cancer and its impact on event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS).

Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted at a tertiary cancer centre in India.

Structured Lifestyle Modification Interventions Involving Frontline Health Workers for Population-Level Blood Pressure Reduction: Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in India (DISHA Study).

Background Population-wide reduction in mean blood pressure is proposed as a key strategy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the effectiveness of a task-sharing strategy involving frontline health workers in the primary prevention of elevated blood pressure. Methods and Results We conducted DISHA (Diet and lifestyle Interventions for Hypertension Risk reduction through Anganwadi Workers and Accredited Social Health Activists) study, a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 12 villages each from 4 states in India.

Global Hunger Index does not really measure hunger - An Indian perspective.

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is calculated and disseminated annually. India, which is the 5 largest economy in the world and has a good ranking in many other indicators, has a poor ranking based on this index. After a critical review of the appropriateness of the indicators used in GHI, the Indian Council of Medical Research has the viewpoint that the indicators of undernourishment, stunting, wasting and child mortality do not measure hunger per se.

Seroprevalence of Dengue Infection Using IgG Capture ELISA in India, 2017-2018.

We conducted a nationally representative population-based survey in 60 districts from 15 Indian states covering all five geographic regions during 2017-2018 to estimate the age specific seroprevalence of dengue. Of the 12,300 sera collected, 4,955 were positive for IgG antibodies against dengue virus using IgG Indirect ELISA indicating past dengue infection. We tested 4,948 sera (seven had inadequate volume) positive for IgG antibodies on indirect ELISA using anti-dengue IgG capture ELISA to estimate the proportion of dengue infections with high antibody titers, suggestive of acute or recent secondary infection.

Evaluation of Serum Levels of Trace Elements in Children with Biliary Atresia and their Correlation with Liver Histopathology.

Background: Children with biliary atresia (BA) have impaired metabolism of trace elements (TEs) (i.e., zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese), leading to an alteration in the serum levels.

Hepatitis-B virus infection in India: Findings from a nationally representative serosurvey, 2017-18.

Introduction: India introduced a hepatitis-B (HB) vaccine in the Universal Immunization Program in 2002-2003 on a pilot basis, expanded to ten states in 2007-2008 (phase-1), and the entire country in 2011-2012 (phase-2). We tested sera from a nationally representative serosurvey conducted duing 2017, to estimate the seroprevalence of different markers of HB infection among children aged 5-17 years in India and to assess the impact of vaccination.

Methods: We tested sera from 8273 children for different markers of HB infection and estimated weighted age-group specific seroprevalence of children who were chronically infected (HBsAg and anti-HBc positive), and immune due to past infection (anti-HBc positive and HBsAg negative), and having serological evidence of HB vaccination (only anti-HBs positive).

Efficacy of Ketogenic Diet, Modified Atkins Diet, and Low Glycemic Index Therapy Diet Among Children With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The ketogenic diet (KD) has been used successfully to treat children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Data assessing the efficacy of the modified Atkins diet (MAD) and low glycemic index therapy (LGIT) diet compared with the KD are scarce.

Objective: To determine whether the MAD and LGIT diet are noninferior to the KD among children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Nutritional Status of Adolescent Girls in Tribal Blocks of Maharashtra.

Context: Undernutrition among adolescents in tribal areas is an area of concern in India.

Aims: This study aims to assess nutritional status of adolescent girls and to study their hygienic practices and awareness regarding adolescent programs.

Settings And Design: Two blocks (Palghar and Dahanu) in Palghar district of Maharashtra.

Prolonged consumption of grass pea (64 g/Cu/day) along with millets and other cereals causes no neurolathyrism.

To assess the safe limit of L. sativus (grass pea) consumption along with cereals and millets. A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in three districts (Bilaspur, Durg and Raipur) of Chhattisgarh state.

Burden of dengue infection in India, 2017: a cross-sectional population based serosurvey.

Background: The burden of dengue virus (DENV) infection across geographical regions of India is poorly quantified. We estimated the age-specific seroprevalence, force of infection, and number of infections in India.

Methods: We did a community-based survey in 240 clusters (118 rural, 122 urban), selected from 60 districts of 15 Indian states from five geographical regions.

A review of selected nutrition & health surveys in India.

Assessment of the status of health and nutrition of a population is imperative to design and implement sound public health policies and programmes. The various extensive national health and nutrition surveys provide national-level information on different domains of health. These provide vital information and statistics for the country, and the data generated are used to identify the prevalence and risk factors for the diseases and health challenges faced by a country.

Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in India & way forward.

Deficiency of vitamin D or hypovitaminosis D is widespread irrespective of age, gender, race and geography and has emerged as an important area of research. Vitamin D deficiency may lead to osteoporosis (osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children) along with calcium deficiency. Its deficiency is linked with low bone mass, weakness of muscles and increased risk of fracture.

Prevention & control of fluorosis & linked disorders: Developments in the 21 Century - Reaching out to patients in the community & hospital settings for recovery.

The review on fluorosis addresses the genesis of the disease, diagnostic protocols developed, mitigation and recovery through nutritional interventions. It reveals the structural and functional damages caused to skeletal muscle and erythrocytes, leading to clinical manifestations in fluorosis. Hormonal derangements resulting in serious abnormalities in the health of children and adults are discussed.

Micronutrient status of Indian population.

Micronutrients play an important role in the proper growth and development of the human body and its deficiency affects the health contributing to low productivity and vicious cycle of malnutrition, underdevelopment as well as poverty. Micronutrient deficiency is a public health problem affecting more than one-fourth of the global population. Several programmes have been launched over the years in India to improve nutrition and health status of the population; however, a large portion of the population is still affected by micronutrient deficiency.

Current scenario of consumption of Lathyrus sativus and lathyrism in three districts of Chhattisgarh State, India.

Lathyrism is a disease caused by excessive consumption of grass pea, Lathyrus sativus especially under conditions of severe drought. Grass pea contains 3-N-oxalyl-L-2, 3-diaminopropanoic acid (β-ODAP) a putative neurotoxin which acts through excitatory mechanism causing Neurolathyrism. Due to awareness of the disease, availability of food and levels of consumption of L.