Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Among Smokeless Tobacco Users: Results of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Global Data.

Background: Use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products has been linked to multiple adverse effects, especially precancer and cancer of oral cavity. However, the association of SLT use with risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) is shrouded with controversy due to conflicting results in the literature. The present meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the risk of CHD among adult ever-users of SLT products along with sub-group analysis.

The Poorest of Poor Suffer the Greatest Burden From Smokeless Tobacco Use: A Study From 140 Countries.

Background: The full extent of global smokeless tobacco (SLT) use and its association with key demographic factors such as gender, place of residence, and household or country income status is not yet known.

Methods: The global burden of SLT use among adults was estimated using nationally representative data of 140 countries by gender and country income group. Countries were grouped in Group 1 (low and low-middle income countries combined) and Group 2 (upper middle and high income countries combined).

Smokeless Tobacco Use is "Replacing" the Smoking Epidemic in the South-East Asia Region.

Background: The sustained anti-tobacco campaign initiated in response to the mounting evidence against tobacco smoking has driven tobacco companies and smokers to look for alternative choices, such as smokeless tobacco (SLT) products. If this strategy advances, it could undermine several gains made by the campaign over the years. Our objective was to examine the trends in the prevalence of different tobacco types in three countries (Bangladesh, India, and Nepal) of South-East Asia.

Role of the Functional Polymorphism of Survivin Gene (-31G/C) and Risk of Breast Cancer in a North Indian Population.

Introduction: Survivin is an apoptosis inhibitor and plays a primary role in cancer development and progression. One of the most common polymorphism of the survivin promoter -31G/C (rs9904341) influences its expression and is associated with the risk of cancer development. This study was conducted to explore survivin promoter gene -31G/C (rs9904341) polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer.

Defining a global research and policy agenda for betel quid and areca nut.

Betel quid and areca nut are known risk factors for many oral and oesophageal cancers, and their use is highly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, betel quid and areca nut are associated with health effects on the cardiovascular, nervous, gastrointestinal, metabolic, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Unlike tobacco, for which the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provides evidence-based policies for reducing tobacco use, no global policy exists for the control of betel quid and areca nut use.

Experience of violence amongst female medical and nursing students and their perception regarding violence against women in Delhi, India.

Background Health care providers are often the first point of contact for the victims of violence against women (VAW). Therefore, it is important to understand their perception about VAW. Objective To assess the proportion of female medical students who experienced violence, and elicit their perception regarding the same.

Signature of genetic associations in oral cancer.

Oral cancer etiology is complex and controlled by multi-factorial events including genetic events. Candidate gene studies, genome-wide association studies, and next-generation sequencing identified various chromosomal loci to be associated with oral cancer. There is no available review that could give us the comprehensive picture of genetic loci identified to be associated with oral cancer by candidate gene studies-based, genome-wide association studies-based, and next-generation sequencing-based approaches.

Association of SNPs/haplotypes in promoter of TNF A and IL-10 gene together with life style factors in prostate cancer progression in Indian population.

Objective: Levels of proinflammatory (TNF A) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines play a key role in the progression of inflammation as well as cancer disease. We were investigating the potential association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)/haplotypes in proinflammatory (TNF A) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines locus with the development of PCa in Indian population.

Materials And Methods: We had genotyped 235 BPH/PCa samples (130 BPH and 105 cancer) along with 115 control samples for proinflammatory (TNF A -238G/A and -308G/A) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10 -1082A/G, -819C/T and -592C/A) cytokines SNPs in the gene promoter region using ARMS-PCR method.

Therapeutic startegies for human papillomavirus infection and associated cancers.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is linked to development of cancer of cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, ano-genital and non-genital oro-pharyngeal sites. HPV being a sexually transmitted virus infects both genders equally but with higher chances of pathological outcome in women. In the absence of organized screening programs, women report HPV-infected lesions at relatively advanced stages where they are subjected to standard treatments that are not HPV-specific.

miRNA as viral transcription tuners in HPV-mediated cervical carcinogenesis.

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are oncogenic DNA viruses that promote carcinogenic signaling by their oncoproteins mainly E6 and E7. A well-defined promoter regulates expression and enhancer region on HPV genome containing number of elements that essentially require a set of cognate host transcription factors to regulate viral promoter gene activity. Expression of these host factors is tightly regulated at multiple levels such as transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational level.

Predictors of Hypertension among Nonpregnant Females Attending Health Promotion Clinic with Special Emphasis on Smokeless Tobacco: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: To determine the predictors of hypertension among nonpregnant females attending a health promotion clinic.

Design And Setting: A cross-sectional study was conducted during March to June 2016, at the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, India.

Methods: The study included 319 nonpregnant females of age 20-70 years.

Diagnostic Performance of Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 in Endometrial Carcinoma: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Endometrial Cancer (EC) is a common female malignant disorder. To date, there are no specific tumour markers for EC that may be routinely used in clinical practice for diagnosis.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the serum Human Epididymis protein 4 (HE4) as biomarker for EC and to determine its association with clinicopathological variables.

Impact of maternal nutrition in hepatitis E infection in pregnancy.

Background And Aim: The basis of host response in hepatitis E virus (HEV)-related liver disease during pregnancy-is still unclear. The study aims to evaluate anthropometric parameters and biochemical nutritional parameters in hepatitis E infection during pregnancy and correlate it with severity of the disease.

Methods: A total of consecutive 267 pregnant women with jaundice were recruited.

Lycopene Prevents Mitochondrial Dysfunction during d-Galactosamine/Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Fulminant Hepatic Failure in Albino Rats.

Functional perturbation of mitochondria is associated with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). d-Galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (d-GalN/LPS)-induced FHF is a renowned model to evaluate the efficacy of hepatoprotective agents. Lycopene is an antioxidant and phytonutrient from the carotenoid family.

Non Communicable Disease Risk Factors and their Trends in India.

Background: India is a populous country of about 1.3 billion. Non communicable diseases (NCDs) contribute to around 5.

Optimizing secondary prevention of cervical cancer: Recent advances and future challenges.

Although human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines offer enormous promise for the ultimate control and possible elimination of cervical cancer, barriers to uptake and coverage of the vaccine both in high- and low/middle-income settings mean that advances in secondary prevention continue to be essential to prevent unnecessary deaths and suffering from cervical cancer for decades to come. While cytology (the Pap smear) has reduced cervical cancer incidence and prevalence in jurisdictions where it has been systematically implemented in population-based programs-mainly in high-income settings-limitations inherent to this method, and to program delivery, leave many women still vulnerable to cervical cancer. Recent evidence has confirmed that screening based on HPV testing prevents more invasive cervical cancer and precancerous lesions, and offers innovative options such as self-collection of specimens to improve screening uptake broadly.

Management algorithms for cervical cancer screening and precancer treatment for resource-limited settings.

Management algorithms for screen-positive women in cervical cancer prevention programs have undergone substantial changes in recent years. The WHO strongly recommends human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for primary screening, if affordable, or if not, then visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), and promotes treatment directly following screening through the screen-and-treat approach (one or two clinic visits). While VIA-positive women can be offered immediate ablative treatment based on certain eligibility criteria, HPV-positive women need to undergo subsequent VIA to determine their eligibility.

Cervical cancer stem cells manifest radioresistance: Association with upregulated AP-1 activity.

Transcription factor AP-1 plays a central role in HPV-mediated cervical carcinogenesis. AP-1 has also been implicated in chemo-radio-resistance but the mechanism(s) remained unexplored. In the present study, cervical cancer stem-like cells (CaCxSLCs) isolated and enriched from cervical cancer cell lines SiHa and C33a demonstrated an elevated AP-1 DNA-binding activity in comparison to non-stem cervical cancer cells.

Cervical Cancer Screening in Resource-Constrained Countries: Current Status and Future Directions.

Cervical cancer continues to be a major public health problem affecting large numbers of women in many developing countries. Limitations of various screening modalities and the lack of ready availability of a cost-effective point-of-care screening tool have hindered the efficient implementation of population-based screening programs in these settings. It has not proved possible for many countries to adopt cytology as a screening modality due to inadequate infrastructure and trained manpower.

Bacterial Vaginosis and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Is there an Association or is Co-Existence Incidental?

Objectives: To determine associations, if any, of bacterial vaginosis with cervical pre-neoplastic lesions and evaluate any effects of sub-categorization of smears with bacterial vaginosis. Methods: All cervico-vaginal smears reported as positive for bacterial vaginosis over a five-year period were reviewed and sub-categorized into ‘type I (dysbacteriosis)’ and ‘type II (pure Gardenerella infection)’ smears by two cytopathologists (PS, SG). The proportion of smears with healthy flora and pre-neoplastic lesions was compared with those having bacterial vaginosis in conjunction with such changes.

Risk factors for vertical transmission of hepatitis E virus infection.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can be vertically transmitted, but the factors that transmit the disease to foetuses are still unclear. We studied a total of 144 pregnant women with HEV infection. Cord blood and newborn samples were taken for analysis.

Evaluating the utility of syndromic case management for three sexually transmitted infections in women visiting hospitals in Delhi, India.

Utility of syndromic case management (SCM) in women visiting obstetrics & gynecology department needs to be evaluated as it is subjective and imperfect. Consequently, antibiotic resistance has accelerated along with increased risk of infection to the partners. To understand the effectiveness and/or inadequacies of SCM, 11000 women were recruited and examined by clinicians for infection by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and others.