Chasing SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.16 Recombinant Lineage in India and the Clinical Profile of XBB.1.16 Cases in Maharashtra, India.

Background SARS-CoV-2 has evolved rapidly, resulting in the emergence of lineages with a competitive advantage over one another. Co-infections with different SARS-CoV-2 lineages can give rise to recombinant lineages. To date, the XBB lineage is the most widespread recombinant lineage worldwide, with the recently named XBB.

Long-term safety of COVID vaccination in individuals with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: results from the COVAD study.

Limited evidence on long-term COVID-19 vaccine safety in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) continues to contribute to vaccine hesitancy. We studied delayed-onset vaccine adverse events (AEs) in patients with IIMs, other systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (SAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs), using data from the second COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study. A validated self-reporting e-survey was circulated by the COVAD study group (157 collaborators, 106 countries) from Feb-June 2022.

A tale of two waves: Delineating diverse genomic and transmission landscapes driving the COVID-19 pandemic in Pune, India.

Background: Modern response to pandemics, critical for effective public health measures, is shaped by the availability and integration of diverse epidemiological outbreak data. Tracking variants of concern (VOC) is integral to understanding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in space and time, both at the local level and global context. This potentially generates actionable information when integrated with epidemiological outbreak data.

High fatigue scores in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a multigroup comparative study from the COVAD e-survey.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) confer a significant risk of disability and poor quality of life, though fatigue, an important contributing factor, remains under-reported in these individuals. We aimed to compare and analyze differences in visual analog scale (VAS) scores (0-10 cm) for fatigue (VAS-F) in patients with IIMs, non-IIM systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs). We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the data from the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) international patient self-reported e-survey.

Management and Outcome of Jeffrey Type 2 Fractures in Paediatric Patients: A Case Series and Review of Literature.

Introduction: Fractures of the radial neck are very uncommon in children, accounting for 5-8.5% of all fractures around the elbow in children, and are sometimes found with dislocation of the elbow joint. Jeffery carefully studied and classified these types of radial neck fractures with displaced radial head into several types.

Global disparities in the treatment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: results from an international online survey study.

Objectives: We aimed to explore current practice and interregional differences in the treatment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). We triangulated these observations considering countries' gross national income (GNI), disease subtypes, and symptoms using patient-reported information.

Methods: A cross-sectional ancillary analysis of the 'COVID-19 vaccination in auto-immune disease' (COVAD) e-survey containing demographic characteristics, IIM subtypes (DM, PM, IBM, anti-synthetase syndrome [ASSD], immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy [IMNM], overlap myopathies [OM]), current symptoms (surrogate for organ involvement) and treatments (corticosteroids [CS], immunomodulators [IM], i.

1-Year Incidence of Tuberculosis Infection and Disease Among Household Contacts of Rifampin- and Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

Background: Tuberculosis infection (TBI) and TB disease (TBD) incidence remains poorly described following household contact (HHC) rifampin-/multidrug-resistant TB exposure. We sought to characterize TBI and TBD incidence at 1 year in HHCs and to evaluate TB preventive treatment (TPT) use in high-risk groups.

Methods: We previously conducted a cross-sectional study of HHCs with rifampin-/multidrug-resistant TB in 8 high-burden countries and reassessed TBI (interferon-gamma release assay, HHCs aged ≥5 years) and TBD (HHCs all ages) at 1 year.

A multi-center, prospective cohort study of whole blood gene expression in the tuberculosis-diabetes interaction.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases tuberculosis (TB) severity. We compared blood gene expression in adults with pulmonary TB, with or without diabetes mellitus (DM) from sites in Brazil and India. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) performed at baseline and during TB treatment.

Association of Pregnancy and HIV Status With Molecular-Bacterial Vaginosis in Indian Women.

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a highly prevalent disorder of the cervicovaginal microbiota. Molecular-BV may put women at increased risk for adverse reproductive and obstetric outcomes. We investigated the association of HIV and pregnancy on the vaginal microbiota and associations with molecular-BV in women of reproductive age from Pune, India.

Clinical Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Cases in Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Background The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, within two months of its detection, replaced the Delta variant to become the dominant circulating variant globally. Therefore, it is essential to understand the characteristics of the disease caused by the variant and its impact on vaccination. Methods A total of 165 confirmed Omicron cases attending a tertiary care hospital in Pune, Maharashtra, between December 2021 to February 2022 were studied.

Integration of HIV care into maternal and child health services in the global IeDEA consortium.

The WHO recommends the integration of routine HIV services within maternal and child health (MCH) services to reduce the fragmentation of and to promote retention in care for pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV (WWH) and their infants and children exposed to HIV (ICEH). During 2020-2021, we surveyed 202 HIV treatment sites across 40 low- and middle-income countries within the global International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium. We determined the proportion of sites providing HIV services integrated within MCH clinics, defined as full [HIV care antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation in MCH clinic], partial (HIV care ART initiation in MCH clinic), or no integration.

Challenges with the use of Xpert HPV as a screening tool for oral HPV among people living with HIV (PLHIV): experiences from Pune, India.

Background: People living with HIV (PLHIV) are at higher risk for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancers compared to the general population. Xpert HPV test is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay capable of rapid HPV detection. Performing the assay requires minimal intervention by laboratory personnel.

Systemic sclerosis and COVID-19 vaccine safety: short-term insights from the global COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease (COVAD) survey.

The safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines is understudied in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We compared short-term adverse events (AEs) 7 days following vaccination in patients with SSc vs other rheumatic (AIRDs), non-rheumatic autoimmune diseases (nrAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs). The COVID-19 Vaccination in autoimmune diseases (COVAD) self-reporting e-survey was circulated by a group of > 110 collaborators in 94 countries from March to December 2021.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Laboratory-Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Cases Infected With Omicron Subvariants and the XBB Recombinant Variant.

Background SARS-CoV-2 has evolved to produce new variants causing successive waves of infection. Currently, six variants are being monitored by the World Health Organization that are replacing BA.5.

Flares in autoimmune rheumatic diseases in the post-COVID-19 vaccination period-a cross-sequential study based on COVAD surveys.

Objective: Flares of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) following COVID-19 vaccination are a particular concern in vaccine-hesitant individuals. Therefore, we investigated the incidence, predictors and patterns of flares following vaccination in individuals living with AIRDs, using global COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) surveys.

Methods: The COVAD surveys were used to extract data on flare demographics, comorbidities, COVID-19 history, and vaccination details for patients with AIRDs.

Persistent olfactory learning deficits during and post-COVID-19 infection.

Quantifying olfactory impairments can facilitate early detection of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite being a debated topic, many reports provide evidence for the neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2. However, a sensitive, specific, and accurate non-invasive method for quantifying persistent neurological impairments is missing to date.

Management of Pelvic Fractures and Hip Dislocation in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Introduction: Trauma is the leading non-obstetric cause of maternal mortality during pregnancy and pelvic fractures are challenging to manage in such cases due to the effect of trauma on the gravid uterus and altered maternal physiology. About 8-16% of pregnant females can have fatal outcome after trauma, with pelvic fractures contributing majorly to the same, and also can have severe fetomaternal complications. There are only two cases reported till date of hip dislocation in pregnancy, with very little literature available on its outcome.

Assessment of quality and reliability of YouTube videos for patient and physician education on inflammatory myositis.

Introduction: YouTube is the second most popular search website worldwide to access health information online. This study was undertaken to assess the reliability and quality of information about myositis on YouTube and delineate attributes of useful videos using standard metrics.

Methods: We conducted a thorough search on YouTube using 9 search terms related to myositis.

Vaccine hesitancy decreases in rheumatic diseases, long-term concerns remain in myositis: a comparative analysis of the COVAD surveys.

Objective: COVID-19 vaccines have a favorable safety profile in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) such as idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs); however, hesitancy continues to persist among these patients. Therefore, we studied the prevalence, predictors and reasons for hesitancy in patients with IIMs, other AIRDs, non-rheumatic autoimmune diseases (nrAIDs) and healthy controls (HCs), using data from the two international COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) e-surveys.

Methods: The first and second COVAD patient self-reported e-surveys were circulated from March to December 2021, and February to June 2022 (ongoing).