Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines BBV152 (COVAXIN®) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (COVISHIELD™) in seronegative and seropositive individuals in India: a multicentre, nonrandomised observational study.

Background: There are limited global data on head-to-head comparisons of vaccine platforms assessing both humoral and cellular immune responses, stratified by pre-vaccination serostatus. The COVID-19 vaccination drive for the Indian population in the age group 18-45 years began in April 2021 when seropositivity rates in the general population were rising due to the delta wave of COVID-19 pandemic during April-May 2021.

Methods: Between June 30, 2021, and Jan 28, 2022, we enrolled 691 participants in the age group 18-45 years across four clinical sites in India.

Prevention of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Young Children: Consensus Statement from Infant and Young Child Feeding Chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics.

Justification: Micronutrient deficiencies have significant impact on the overall health and well-being of society and potential targets for supplementations. It is important to formulate a consensus statement in view of current evidence, and put in place strategies to meet targets.

Objective: To formulate by endorsement or adoption and disseminate a consensus statement for prevention of micronutrients deficiencies in young children for office practices from an Indian perspective.

Infant and Young Child Feeding Guidelines, 2016.

Justification: Shaping up the post-2015 development agenda is of crucial importance in the development process around the Globe as 2015 was the last year of milllionium development goals. It is the right time to asses our own progress vis-a-vis the Millennium Development Goals and these Guidelines are an attempt in that regard.

Process: The Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics invited a group of experts for National Consultative Meet for discussing and contributing on latest scientific advances and developments.

Influence of maternal vitamin B12 and folate on growth and insulin resistance in the offspring.

The burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease is shifting rapidly to low- and middle-income countries. It calls for a review of the classic 'dogma' of genetic predisposition, precipitated by adult lifestyle. The paradigm of early life origins of chronic disease has focused attention on maternal health and nutrition as major determinants of the health of the offspring.

Fetal programming: maternal nutrition and role of one-carbon metabolism.

India is world's capital for low birth weight (LBW), which is ascribed to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) rather than prematurity. An average Indian mother is short and thin and gives birth to a light and thin baby. Maternal undernutrition is thought to be a major factor in the aetiology of IUGR, and the undernutrition is usually thought to be a low macronutrient intake.

Nutrigenetic determinants of neural tube defects in India.

Justification: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the commonest birth defects with a high incidence in India. However, few studies have systematically looked into the etio-pathogeneis of NTDs, which mainly includes nutritional deficiencies and genetic predisposition. Efforts are afoot for universal food fortification with folic acid in the hope of preventing NTDs, without factual evidence of folate deficiency in the target population.

Maternal nutrition, intrauterine programming and consequential risks in the offspring.

It is traditionally believed that genetic susceptibility and adult faulty lifestyle lead to type 2 diabetes, a chronic non-communicable disease. The "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease" (DOHaD) model proposes that the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes originates in the intrauterine life by environmental fetal programming, further exaggerated by rapid childhood growth, i.e.