Exploration of spatial clustering in maternal health continuum of care across districts of India: A geospatial analysis of demographic and health survey data.

Introduction: The continuum of care (CoC) throughout pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery has recently been highlighted as an integrated intervention programme for maternal, new-born, and child health. Existing literature suggests the importance of continuum of care (CoC) for improved maternal and child health outcomes. However due to unavailability of data at the lowest administrative levels, literature on spatial pattern of uptake of full CoC is lacking.

Predictors of adherence to prescribed antihypertensive medications among Hypertensive (15-49 years) in India: A secondary data analysis of National Family Health Survey 4.

Background: Adherence to medications is one of the key determinants of therapeutic control of high blood pressure and is seen as a bottleneck in our fight against hypertension control. We have little scientific evidence from India that highlights the determinants of treatment adherence.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify the predictor adherence to the currently prescribed antihypertensive medications.

Stromal microenvironment namely angiogenesis, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and matrix metalloproteinase in invasive breast carcinoma: Do they have a prognostic role?

Background: The role of stromal microenvironment in growth, invasiveness, and metastatic potential of breast carcinoma (BC) is being recognized increasingly, both to predict prognosis and as potential therapeutic targets. The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation of angiogenesis, tumor-associated lymphocytes, and stromal CD10 expression with clinicopathologic parameters.

Materials And Methods: This study included 100 consecutive cases of invasive BC undergoing modified radical mastectomy.

The development of QERM scoring system for comprehensive assessment of the Quality of Empirical Research in Medicine - Part 1.

Purpose: Whereas a large number of features are mentioned to connote the quality of medical research, no tool is available to comprehensively measure it objectively across different types of studies. Also, all the available tools are for reporting, and none includes quality of the inputs and the process of research. The present paper is aimed to initiate a discussion on the need to develop such a comprehensive scoring system (in the first place), to show that it is feasible, and to describe the process of developing a credible system.

Smokeless tobacco industry's brand stretching through FM radio: A study from Delhi National Capital Region, India.

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption is associated with multiple adverse health effects and mortality, with the highest burden in India. The WHO FCTC has banned tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship Article 13. Indian laws also prohibit any kind of direct or indirect advertisements in all forms of audio, visual, and print media; brand promotion; and sponsorship of tobacco products.

Elucidation of Antiviral and Antioxidant Potential of C-Phycocyanin against HIV-1 Infection through and Approaches.

Antiretroviral therapy is the single existing therapy for patients infected with HIV; however, it has drawbacks in terms of toxicity and resistance. Thus, there is a continuous need to explore safe and efficacious anti-retroviral agents. C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) is a phycobiliprotein, which has been known for various biological properties; however, its effect on HIV-1 replication needs revelation.

Social desirability and under-reporting of smokeless tobacco use among reproductive age women: Evidence from National Family Health Survey.

Introduction: This study hypothesises that the presence of a third person during the interaction between the survey investigator and the woman respondent leads to underreporting of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use by Indian women, including pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2015-16 was analysed for SLT use among women aged 15-49. Multivariate logistic regression examined the odds of SLT use reporting by women respondents in the presence of their husbands and other male or female adults.

Drought and temporary migration in rural India: A comparative study across different socio-economic groups with a cross-sectional nationally representative dataset.

Vast stretches of India comes under meteorological drought this year or the other. A huge population base in rural India are rendered highly vulnerable to this drought because of their primary dependency on agriculture and in turn they may respond through temporary migration out of the drought affected rural areas in search of alternative livelihoods. This study aims to investigate the association between drought and temporary migration in rural India by fitting binary logistic regression models on a cross-sectional dataset involving both National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) 64th round data and India Meteorological Department (IMD) rainfall data.

Elucidation of Increased Cervical Cancer Risk Due to Polymorphisms in XRCC1 (R399Q and R194W), ERCC5 (D1104H), and NQO1 (P187S).

Genetic variations like single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with cervical carcinogenesis. In this study, SNPs have been identified that contribute toward changes in the function and stability of the proteins and show association with cervical cancer. Initially, literature mining identified 114 protein-coding polymorphisms with population-based evidence in cervical cancer.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and outcome of cervical lesions and high-risk HPV in women living with HIV (WLHIV): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Collating evidence on the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the outcome of cervical lesions or human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among women living with HIV (WLHIV) is essential to inform cervical cancer prevention in this vulnerable group.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies that were conducted between January 1, 1996 and January 31, 2022 and reported on the association of HAART with any of the outcomes: incidence, progression, or regression of cervical lesions or acquisition or clearance of HPV infection in WLHIV. Random-effect analysis was used for summary statistics and heterogeneity was assessed through I statistic.

The incidence, prevalence, and contributing factors of overweight and obesity among adolescent population of India: A scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity among the adolescent population are emerging as worldwide epidemics. Its increasing occurrence in India is highly concerning. Amidst the burden of malnutrition, where undernutrition is a long-standing health problem, the rising concerns around childhood overweight/obesity has several repercussions for this population.

Educational intervention on cervical and breast cancer screening: Impact on nursing students involved in primary care.

Introduction: Nurses are the foundation of the Indian health system. They play a crucial role in primary care and implementation of community-centered government health initiatives such as cancer screening. The purpose of this manuscript is to share the experience of this educational intervention study and emphasize the need for drastic medical education reforms to include curricula to strengthen knowledge about cancer screening among nursing students.

Association between timing and type of postnatal care provided with neonatal mortality: A large scale study from India.

Objectives: This study examines the association between quality Postnatal Care (PNC) considering timing and providers' type on neonatal mortality. The aim extends to account for regional disparities in service delivery and mortality including high and non-high focus states.

Methods: Ever-married women aged 15-49 years (1,87,702) who had delivered at least one child in five years preceding the survey date surveyed in National Family Health Survey (2015-16) were included in the study.

miRNA therapeutics in precision oncology: a natural premium to nurture.

The dynamic spectrum of microRNA (miRNA) has grown significantly over the years with its identification and exploration in cancer therapeutics and is currently identified as an important resource for innovative strategies due to its functional behavior for gene regulation and modulation of complex biological networks. The progression of cancer is the consequence of uncontrolled, nonsynchronous procedural faults in the biological system. Diversified and variable cellular response of cancerous cells has always raised challenges in effective cancer therapy.

Role of colposcopy in the management of women with abnormal cytology.

Cytology identifies the women who are at higher risk of harboring high-grade cervical premalignant lesions or invasive cancer. However, a diagnostic test such as colposcopy is crucial for women with abnormal cytology for localization of the abnormality, confirmation of diagnosis, and appropriate management. To standardize this subjective technique and to minimize the interobserver variations, Swede scoring system was introduced.

Impact of tobacco smoking on oral cancer genetics-A next-generation sequencing perspective.

This study identified a total of 28 genetic loci (comprising 31 genes), which were found to be altered in oral cancer patients having a habit of tobacco smoking. Three loci, that is, 17p13.1 (), 9p21.

Concurrent Cervical and Anal High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection in Women Living With HIV: An Observational Case-Control Study.

Background: To evaluate the prevalence and correlates of concurrent uterine cervical and anal HR-HPV infections in women living with HIV (WLHIV).

Setting: A cross-sectional study was undertaken at a tertiary care hospital and linked ART center.

Methods: One hundred and forty-one WLHIV and 161 HIV-negative women were enrolled for cervical and anal cytology as well as HR-HPV testing using the HC2 method.

Smokeless tobacco consumption induces dysbiosis of oral mycobiome: a pilot study.

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) alters the oral microbiome of smokeless tobacco users. Dysbiosis of oral bacteriome has been determined; however, the mycobiome of SLT users has not been characterized. The oral mycobiome was assayed by amplification and sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) region from oral swab samples of non-SLT users, SLT users (with or without oral lesions), and SLT with alcohol users.

Research and academic output evaluation for career initiation or progression: Critical issues for Health Professionals.

In current times, much stress is being laid on the evaluation of research productivity of researchers or faculty in addition to the academic qualifications and experience for the purposes of recruitment, promotion, and research grant funding. Over the years, several quantitative indices have been devised for this purpose. Some of these indices such as , impact factor and are being extensively used by research organizations, universities, accreditation bodies and funding agencies for basic scientists as well as health professionals.

Prioritization and Meta-analysis of regulatory SNPs identified IL6, TGFB1, TLR9 and MMP7 as significantly associated with cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is a leading women cancer globally with respect to both incidence and mortality. Its increased risk has been linked with HPV infection and genetic variations like single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Although, studies have been published which evaluates the effect of SNPs in a few candidate genes, however the role of number of regulatory SNPs (rSNPs) in cervical cancer is not available.

Structure-based study to identify alkaloids as promising cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1) inhibitors: An in silico approach using virtual screening, molecular dynamic simulations, and binding free energy calculation.

Carcinogens present in smokeless tobacco (SLT) like tobacco-specific nitrosamines can be metabolized by the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme. Functionally, the CYP450 enzyme resides in a heme pigment to perform the catalytic activity. The CYP1A1 is one of the main extrahepatic CYP450 enzymes known to detoxify toxic substances and activate carcinogens.