bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Health Belief Model to Comprehend Adherence to COVID-19-appropriate Behavior among COVID-19 Vaccinees in Himachal Pradesh
Authors: Gupta Prajakti , Mahajan Anjali , Chander Vishav , Barwal Vijay Kumar
Published: July 2024

Background:

The augmentation of precautionary behaviors through the application of health belief model (HBM) constructs could help in curbing the current pandemic.

Objectives:

The objectives are to assess adherence to CAB and to evaluate its predictors using the constructs of HBM among COVID-19 vaccinees in Himachal Pradesh.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study using a telephone survey, with two-step stratified random sampling, was employed to acquire a sample of 441 respondents from Himachal Pradesh. Formal interviews were conducted using pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaires.

Results:

The mean age of respondents was 32.16 years (standard deviation = 12.77; range = 18–78 years). Maximum adherence was seen for wearing masks at 83% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 79.3%–86.3%), followed by maintenance of respiratory hygiene at 72.3% (95% CI 68%–78.4%). Nearly 42.2% (95% CI 37.6%–47.8%) conformed to social distancing norms. We observed minimum adherence for handwashing practices of 12.9% (95% CI 10%–16.3.0%). On bivariate analyses, except for perceived severity, all HBM constructs were significantly associated with CAB. However, after adjusting for gender, age, education, area of residence, and reduced income in multivariate analysis, perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, and exposure to cues to action remained significant predictors of CAB.

Conclusions:

The study highlights the empirical evidence of the application of HBM constructs to enhance behavioral adherence to COVID-19 precautionary measures.
Exploration of Barriers and Possible Solutions for Nonutilization of Facility-based Integrated Counseling and Testing Center Using the Delphi Technique
Authors: Mohan Reenaa , Surendran Pravin , Rajalakshmi M. , Ganapathy Kalaiselvan
Published: July 2024

Background:

A major group of the population, especially antenatal checkup (ANC) mothers and their spouses, people admitted for surgery, and people attending STI clinics, are reluctant to pretest counseling.

Objectives:

This study has been taken up to explore the barriers and possible solutions to improve the utilization of Facility based integrated counseling and testing center (F-ICTC) counseling services.

Materials and Methods:

Phase 1: In-depth interview and ranking with stakeholders from the F-ICTC center (n = 13) were conducted to identify the barriers to utilization of F-ICTC and solution for the same. Phase 2:

A

Delphi panel with experts (n = 17) was invited through mail to find out the potential solution to improve the utilization of F-ICTC counseling services.

Results:

Possible barriers from the stakeholders’ perspectives were fear of the disease, violate the privacy, unacceptance, gender bias, fear of social stigma and discrimination, and neglect attached to the disease. At third round of Delphi experts had arrived at a consensus regarding of following possible potential solutions: 1. Those who refuse pretest counseling they should be asked to answer a set of questions(which are usually told during counseling), only those questions not answered correctly by them can be corrected, 2.conducive hospital environment, 3.zero discrimination policy, 4. group counseling for ANC mothers and patients in waiting area of the hospital,5. phone counseling for unwilling patients and relocation of testing center and health education camping.

Conclusion:

Context-specific proactive evidence-based intervention will help in improving the proper utilization of the F-ICTC center.
Cancer Burden in India: A Statistical Analysis on Incidence Rates
Authors: Shafi Lubna , Iqbal Pervaiz , Khaliq Rubeena
Published: July 2024

Background:

Cancer incidence rates are rising at an alarming rate in India and are expected to rise by 12% in the next 5 years. Hence, a thorough knowledge of the existing scope of the cancer problem is required to provide an approach for analyzing and regulating the impact of cancer across the country.

Objectives:

This study aimed to determine whether the cancer incidence rates of all the states and union territories across the six geographical regions of India are statistically different from each other or not and also to identify the highly cancer-affected states.

Materials and Methods:

The data have been obtained from the website www.indiastat.com from 2009 to 2020. The one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s test and t-test, is used for the statistical evaluation.

Results:

The multiple comparison tests revealed that the difference between the cancer incidence rates is significant in all the states and union territories in every region of India. The highly affected states in the six geographical regions of India are Uttar Pradesh (UP), Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. The most highly affected state among them is UP. These states contributed to nearly half of India’s cancer burden in 2020.

Conclusion:

This study offers significant information on the current status of cancer incidence rates in India for 12 years. As India is observing an increase in cancer incidence, therefore, additional efforts are required to strengthen cancer prevention and control strategies, particularly in India’s most cancer-affected states.
Electrophoresis of Amplicons is a Better Method to Understand the Performance of Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Screening the Presence of Escherichia coli in Water
Authors: Kaur Sumanpreet , Kumar Deepak , Chowdhary Sheemona , Bhattacharyya Rajasri , Banerjee Dibyajyoti
Published: July 2024

LAMP assay is widely used for detecting pathogens. We observed that the conventional and gradient polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could not detect the extracted Escherichia coli DNA; real-time PCR was able to detect up to a certain limit (10−8 bacterial dilution). At the same time, the LAMP assay could detect the bacteria at a much lower concentration (10−14 dilution). The results of the LAMP assay were evaluated using agarose gel electrophoresis and DNA binding dye (PicoGreen), but only gel electrophoresis gave reliable results. Therefore, we propose using electrophoresis-based amplicon detection to overcome the limitations of dye-based detection. We believe that this amplicon detection will go a long way in the screening of potable drinking water.
Growth and Puberty Attainment of Girls with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Devi Ningthoujam AnilBala , Kaur Harvinder , Suri Deepti , Bhalla Anil K.
Published: July 2024

Pattern of physical growth and pubertal changes among 59 girls, aged 8–15 years, diagnosed as cases of HIV on anti-retroviral therapy was cross-sectionally studied. Besides, measurement of body weight, height, and body mass index, breast development stage, presence or absence of pubic and axillary hair, and age of attainment of menarche were also noted in these subjects in the growth clinic of the department. With the advancement of age, the weight and height of HIV girls increased; however, they were lighter and shorter compared to their normal peers. 15.3% of HIV girls were short-statured and underweight. None of the study participants were found to be overweight or obese. 40.7% of HIV girls had attained menarche (mean age: 12.58 ± 1.349 years). The appearance of pubic (13.45 ± 1.64 years) and axillary hair (13.73 ± 1.41 years) occurred around 1 year later. The delayed physical growth and puberty attainment of HIV girls than their normal counterparts may be due to the influence of the disease.
Determinants of Good Glycemic Control among Individuals of Type II Diabetes Mellitus Seeking Treatment at a Rural Health-care Facility in Goa – A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Kankonkar N. Prajoth , Dsouza B. Delia , Kankonker N. Manisha , Vadivel Dineshrajan
Published: July 2024

Good glycemic control is the aim of managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which is crucial for the prevention of long-term complications in individuals with T2DM. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with good glycemic control in individuals with T2DM following up at a rural health-care facility (HCF) in Goa. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 individuals with T2DM who regularly followed up at a rural HCF in Goa. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. It was found that the participants belonging to the 60–89 years of age group and those on mono/dual oral therapy were more likely to have good glycemic control. Participants’ glycated hemoglobin A1c decreased by 0.083% for every year of increase in age and increased by 0.044% for every centimeter increase in abdominal girth.
Essential Public Health Functions of Public Health Personnel in Subdistrict Health-promoting Hospitals, Thailand
Authors: Yodkong Wonpen , Wongsawat Pramote
Published: July 2024

Background:

In Thailand, public health service roles have been defined by the Ministry of Public Health, while essential public health functions (EPHFs) were not assigned as necessity health-care service activities responding to the missions of primary care units.

Objectives:

The aims were to determine the EPHFs and compare the necessity of performance and the actual performance according to the EPHFs of public health personnel in the subdistrict health-promoting hospitals (SHPHs).

Materials and Methods:

The exploratory sequential design of mixed methods was employed. The first phase consisted of three methods: a focus group discussion, a nominal group technique, and a cross-sectional survey used to determine the EPHFs. The second phase was to compare the necessity of performance and the actual performance according to the EPHFs of the personnel using a cross-sectional survey. The 285 SHPH directors in the second health region as samples were selected by random clusters.

Results:

The findings revealed that 14 EPHFs and the necessity of performance average were higher than the actual performance average in the 14 EPHFs and 212 indicators with significance at a level of 0.05. The means of health assessment and primary medical care (EPHF3) presented the smallest difference, whereas Thai traditional and alternative medicines (EPHF11) indicated the largest average difference.

Conclusions:

EPHFs would be applied for setting a framework of working scope as policies and EPHFs could be recommended for use as individual guidelines or organizational assessment manuals to develop organizations efficiently.
Comparison of Prevalence of Metabolic Disorders of Urban and Rural Adults of Punjab, India
Authors: Bakhetia Poonam , Bains Kiran , Cheema Sukhinder
Published: July 2024

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in urban and rural areas of Ludhiana district, Punjab. A total of 1000 subjects aged 25–65 years were selected for screening. The study found that both urban and rural areas had an average body mass index above 23.0 kg/m2, with rural populations having higher waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist–hip ratios. Abdominal obesity was more prevalent in women in both areas. Rural men and women had higher fasting blood glucose and systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure levels. MetS prevalence in urban areas is lower among men (7%) and women (10%) compared to rural areas (34% and 26%). The timely detection of metabolic disorder risk factors and intervention can effectively address MetS in the Indian population, thereby improving the country’s health statistics.
Assessment of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy and Incidence of Tuberculosis among People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Seeking Care in an Anti-retroviral Therapy Center, Puducherry
Authors: Kannusamy Sivaranjini , Sahu Swaroop Kumar , Udayashankar C. , Sarveswaran Gokul , Roy Gautam
Published: July 2024

Background:

One in three deaths among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) is due to Tuberculosis. Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) was implemented in antiretroviral therapy (ART) center Puducherry in July 2017.

Objectives:

We have determined the proportion of PLHIV who were eligible, initiated, completed IPT and also the incidence of tuberculosis before and after implementation of IPT.

Materials and Methods:

It was a facility based longitudinal descriptive study. All PLHIV, aged 10 years and above, seeking care in ART Centers was included. The number of PLHIV eligible, initiated and completed IPT was summarized as proportion with 95% CI.

Results:

Among the registered PLHIV (999), the proportion of PLHIV those were found eligible for IPT was 93% [95% CI (91.24%-94.67%)] and initiated on IPT was 92% [95% CI (90.20%-93.95%)]. Completion rate of IPT was 96.3% [95% CI (94.59%-97.63%)].

Conclusion:

Initiation of IPT was relatively less among newly registered PLHIV as compared to older cohort of PLHIV.
Overview of Child Violence in the Family in Padang Indonesia
Authors: Neherta Meri , Fajria Lili , Mansur Arif Rohman
Published: July 2024

Background:

Violence against children within the family context is a global issue that has serious implications for children’s well-being. In Indonesia, like the tip of an iceberg, this violence is often underreported. However, this issue is prevalent in many countries worldwide. It is estimated that up to 1 billion children aged 2–17 years experienced physical, sexual, and emotional violence in the past year. Most of this violence occurs within the family, and this trend is also apparent in Indonesia.

Objectives:

This research aims to describe the types, forms, and perpetrators of violence against children in Padang, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods:

This study utilizes a descriptive design with a population of elementary school-age children in Padang City. The population consists of 16,747 individuals, with a margin of error of 3%. The sample size was determined using the Slovin formula, resulting in a sample of approximately 1000 individuals. Data were collected from October to December 2022 through two types of questionnaires, one describing respondent demographics and the other containing questions about the forms of violence perpetrated by parents. Data collection was facilitated by enumerators from elementary school teachers who had undergone training.

Results:

The study involved 1200 participants, with 1000 providing complete data. The results showed that 95.1% of children had experienced violence within the family, including physical violence (94.60%), psychological violence (95.10%), sexual violence (22.10%), and social violence (31.60%). Mothers were the most common perpetrators (80%), followed by fathers (61.3%), grandfathers (14.8%), brothers (35.4%), and uncles (13.1%).

Conclusion:

This research underscores the alarming prevalence of violence against children within the family context in Padang. Addressing and preventing violence against children should be a priority to protect their rights and create a safe environment for their development.
Behavioral Interventions in Hypertension: A Lifestyle Medicine Approach
Authors: Wani Rabbanie Tariq , Khader Khalid , Udawat Priyanka
Published: July 2024

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is a major global health concern. Lifestyle interventions have emerged as effective nonpharmacological approaches for managing hypertension. The role of lifestyle interventions in hypertension, including dietary modifications, physical activity, weight management, stress reduction, and alcohol and tobacco cessation, is enormous and is pivotal in the reduction of the burden of noncommunicable diseases including hypertension.
Discourse on Diabetes Mellitus in the Indian Parliament: A Thematic Analysis of Questions Posed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha between 1999 and 2019
Authors: Devani Jainil , Chavda Paragkumar , Mohapatra Archisman
Published: July 2024

Background:

Analysis of discourse on diabetes mellitus in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha could give insight on the priority attention of policy-makers.

Objective:

Our aim was to elicit trends in discourse on diabetes mellitus in the Indian Parliament that could have shaped and/or resulted from policy and programmatic action over the past two decades, by thematically analyzing the content of Indian parliamentary questions posed to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India on diabetes mellitus during 1999–2019.

Methods:

This descriptive study sourced the records of Parliamentary questions from the websites of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the period of 13th to 16th Lok Sabha (November 1999 to February 2019). Using the keyword, “Diabet,” we sampled relevant questions posed to/by MOHFW in this study including their text and other relevant information and used a combination of content as well as thematic analyses approaches to synthesize and interpret the results.

Results:

We derived a total of 232 question bundles featuring 930 questions. The frequency of questions on diabetes saw an increasing trend over the two decades. Four themes emerged: epidemiology and surveillance, population health programs, policy initiatives, and Research and Development (R and D). Questions posed in the latter years were more specific and solution-oriented unlike the initial years when these were rather broad-based and problem enumerative in nature. Within these themes, parliamentarians focused on the diabetes burden in the community, need for raising awareness, expanding testing facilities, strengthening drug regulation, and improving treatment affordability. There were fewer questions in R and D, rehabilitation, and integration of services themes.

Conclusion:

Trends in the questions posed in both the Houses of the Indian Parliament indicate India’s increasing attention to diabetes mellitus in its legislative discourse. However, the number of questions on diabetes taken up in the Parliament is too low to infer on consistent trends in their impact on programmatic and policy action.
Review of Primary Care Treatment Protocols for Hypertension in Various States of India
Authors: Subramanian Muthathal , Kamble Bhushan Dattatray , Panda Meely , Kundapur Rashmi , Kona Chandralekha
Published: July 2024

Over the past few decades, hypertension (HTN) has affected both young and old people. The public health problem has an enormous economic impact on societies as well. The present review aimed to understand and compare the differences from the available literature on HTN treatment at the primary care level in various states and at the national level in India. We reviewed the latest international, national, and state guidelines/protocols available for the treatment of HTN. In addition, we also searched the PubMed database with relevant Medical Subject Headings terms and included the articles published in the last 5 years. A total of 204 articles were screened and finally, eligible 5 articles were included in the review. International guidelines preferred thiazide diuretics as a drug of choice. While the state protocols and national guidelines preferred calcium channel blockers, followed by angiotensin receptor blockers as the drug of choice. All these guidelines focused on low-dose monotherapy. These guidelines also summarized additional drugs required in case of comorbid conditions. However, the new Essential Medicine List published by the World Health Organization prefers low-dose fixed-drug combination (two-drug regimen) at the primary care level for treatment of HTN. There was not much cost difference between monotherapy and fixed-drug regimens based on the published studies. With due rise in HTN cases, the standardized protocol is ubiquitously needed for better application, comparison, and streamline of the program. Fixed-drug combination therapy can be considered for better control rates among hypertensives by improving adherence and efficacy.
Developing and Validating Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Dietary Vitamin D Intake among Adults in Indian Population
Authors: Priyadharshini M. Annie Monica , Gayathri G. , Mahadevan Shriraam
Published: July 2024

The objective of this study is to create and validate a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for the assessment of Vitamin D intake among adults in Indian population. A quantitative FFQ was developed consisting of Vitamin D dietary-rich sources selected from IFCT, 2017. Further, the FFQ was validated against 24-h dietary recall from randomly selected 385 adults, both men and women above 25 years of age. The mean dietary Vitamin D intake estimated using quantitative FFQ was 402.61 ± 101.21 IU/day and that from 24-h dietary recall was 392.83 ± 120.86 IU/day. The coefficient of correlation between these two methods was 0.86 (P < 0.001) suggestive of high correlation between the two dietary assessment tools. This indicates that Vitamin D intake from FFQ and 24-h recall was similar. This efficient FFQ can assess adult Vitamin D intake in epidemiological studies, offering convenience, and ease of evaluation.
Socioeconomic Disparity and Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases: Analysis of Longitudinal Ageing Study in India using a Decomposition Approach
Authors: Annapurna  , Aftab Afifa , Kansal Sangeeta , Kumar Alok
Published: July 2024

Introduction:

Many countries prioritize health-related research and policy around socioeconomic inequality. In India, data on socioeconomic disparity and risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are limited. The study provides empirical information on socioeconomic disparities in NCD risk factors in India as part of a preventative and policy initiative.

Methods:

The study used nationally representative data from wave 1 of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India which adopted a multistage random sampling design. To achieve the objectives of the study, binary logistic regression was used to demonstrate the association between socioeconomic status and NCD risk factors, and further analysis was conducted employing the decomposition method approach using STATA 14 software to assess socioeconomic disparity.

Results:

Concentration Indices (CIs) revealed that overweight/obesity (CI = 0.157) was more prevalent among the nonpoor, whereas smoking (CI = −0.067) and alcohol consumption (CI = −0.014) were more prevalent among the poor. Wealth status was identified as the primary contributor to socioeconomic inequality for all of the risk factors of NCDs. Education was also the leading cause of socioeconomic inequality with respect to alcohol, smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Conclusion:

Identifying the specific needs of impoverished and nonpoor populations is necessary for addressing NCD risk factors and inequalities. It is essential to implement interventions that address the underlying social determinants of health and promote health equality to reduce the burden of NCDs and enhance health outcomes for all.
Stakeholder Analysis for Hypertension Management in the Context of the Indian Public Health System
Authors: Ghosh Nilanjana , Karthikeyan Venkatesh , Das Shubhabrata , Boro Pallavi , Chakraborty Sasthi Narayan
Published: July 2024

Background:

Hypertension (HTN) portends a significant public health burden in India and calls for multi-stakeholder action.

Objectives:

We aimed to analyze the role of key stakeholder constituencies implicated in managing HTN across different levels of care within the public health system in India, alongside the enablers and barriers for effective program implementation.

Methods:

We reviewed 45 articles and policy documents, and 17 consenting stakeholder representatives scored the stakeholder constituencies for “power,” “position” and “interest.” They ranked enablers and barriers to noncommunicable disease programs in each of the six building blocks of the WHO Health System Strengthening Framework. Data were analyzed on Jamovi 2.2.2.

Results:

Policymakers/program managers emerged as the most critical stakeholder in influencing policy implementation (score for power: 23.3 ± 8.5, position: 25.4 ± 6.9, and interest: 22.1 ± 8.3). Beneficiaries ranked lowest (power: 10 ± 5.1, position: 12.3 ± 4.5, and interest: 19.4 ± 4.2). Effective “on-ground” implementation (“service delivery”) was the most important enabler (17.9 ± 3.3) as well as a barrier (17.6 ± 9.2). The health workforce (19.2 ± 4.8) emerged as a top barrier.

Conclusion:

To bring around impactful efficiency in the health system, provider-side interventions, especially those at the point of delivery, emerged as the need of the hour. Policymakers and program managers could lead using a top-down leadership and Governance Approach, focusing on deploying an adequately trained and motivated health workforce to deliver HTN services. For ensuring better performance of the health system for HTN care, the health workforce/seemed to be the “obligatory pivot.” Health-care providers could serve as the “point of convergence” of efforts made by all the stakeholder constituencies.
Adverse Drug Reaction Patterns of First-line Anti-tubercular Drugs among Saharia Tuberculosis Patients: An Observational Study in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group of Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Mishra Prashant , Bhat Jyothi , Yadav Rajiv , Sharma Ravendra Kumar , Rao Vikas Gangadhar
Published: July 2024

The Saharia tribe of Madhya Pradesh has a very high tuberculosis (TB) burden. However, there is no report of adverse drug reaction (ADR) available in patients receiving anti-TB chemotherapy in the community. Reporting and monitoring of ADRs among TB patients is still rare in marginalized communities. An observational prospective study was performed from November 2019 to June 2020 to assess the patterns of ADRs in 250 Saharia TB patients, who were prescribed Category-I daily DOTS (HRZE) by the physician. Both male and female participants equally experienced ADR during the treatment, but relatively more females (92.6%) than males (88.6%) reported ADR during Phase I. Out of 250 patients, 224 patients (89.6%) experienced one or more ADRs in Phase I. The central nervous system-related (75.6%) ADR was mostly reported followed by any gastrointestinal (74.4%), cardiovascular (49.2%) and any dermatological related (44.4%) ADRs. It is paramount to timely monitor and proactively manages ADRs pertaining to anti-TB drug treatment with minimal alteration in the treatment course.
Strengthening Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Bharat: Role of Demand and Supply-side Interventions
Authors: Purohit Neha , Goyal Aarti , Rairker Atul Bhanu , Balasubramanya M. A. , Kotwal Atul , Prinja Shankar
Published: July 2024

Background:

Comprehensive primary health care (CPHC) is an effective way to respond to the challenges of changing epidemiology, growing population expectations, and universal health coverage. A set of demand and supply improvement strategies was developed to support primary health center provision and pilot tested in three model health and wellness centers (HWCs) in Punjab.

Objective:

The study aimed to assess the early effects of interventions on the inputs, processes, and outputs for optimal implementation of the Ayushman
Bharat-HWC (AB-HWC) program.

Materials and Methods:

Cross-sectional facility assessments were conducted using a standardized methodology at three time points to identify the changes in inputs and processes at subcenter-HWCs from 2019 to 2021. In addition, daily and month-wise service utilization data of model HWCs and nonmodel HWCs in the intervention block and control block in a district of Punjab from the AB-HWC portal were analyzed from May 2020 to April 2021.

Results:

The difference-in-difference analysis indicated that the CPHC strengthening interventions in the model HWCs improved the mean number of people screened for noncommunicable diseases, mean newly diagnosed patients with hypertension and diabetes, mean hypertensive and diabetic patients on treatment, mean outpatient attendance, and mean number of wellness sessions by 265.71, 21.31, 29.48, 102.17, and 4.88 units per month, compared to control HWCs.

Conclusion:

The success of the initiatives can be attributed to an integrated approach encompassing multistakeholder planning of interventions, community involvement, empowerment of service providers, and consistent supportive supervision. The long-term success will be contingent on the quality of training, team dynamics, community participation, social accountability, and supervision support.
An octad of fumarate hydratase-deficient uterine leiomyomas: Case series with review of literature from a single institution
Authors: Batra Nishtha , Rekhi Bharat , Menon Santosh , Mittal Neha , Deodhar Kedar K.
Published: July 2024

Background:

Fumarate hydratase (FH)-deficient (FH-d) leiomyomas are included in the recent World Health Organization fascicle of the female genital tumors. These are known to be associated with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) syndrome. The tumors can be diagnosed based on certain histopathological features, along with loss of immunohistochemical expression of FH immunostain in most tumors. Currently, there is no documentation on these tumors from our subcontinent.

Aims:

We analyzed eight FH-d leiomyomas diagnosed at our institute.

Results:

The most common presentation was vaginal bleeding (menorrhagia). Pelvic ultrasonogram revealed multiple fibroids in most patients except in two, who harbored a single fibroid. The size of these fibroids ranged from 3 to 19 cm. Five patients underwent myomectomies, while three underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salphino-ophorectomy. The most consistently observed histopathological features were hemangiopericytomatous vascular patterns, cytoplasmic globules, increased cellularity, distinct eosinophilic nucleoli, and cytological atypia (8/8, 100% tumors), followed by multinucleate giant cells and perivascular edema, seen in 62% and 50% tumors, respectively. Immunohistochemically, all tumors were positive for desmin, smooth muscle actin, and h-caldesmon and showed loss of FH immunostain, along with low Ki-67/MIB1. None of those patients had any renal or cutaneous manifestations.

Conclusions:

This constitutes the first such study from the Indian subcontinent and reinforces that although uterine leiomyomas constitute an integral component of the diagnosis of HLRCC syndrome, these occur in the absence of renal or cutaneous manifestations. FH-d uterine leiomyomas are more likely sporadic and could be a false alarm to raise the possibility of HLRCC with their exclusive presence.
Application of liquid biopsy in lung cancer management
Authors: Satapathy Shraddhanjali , Thirunavukkarasu Balamurugan , Jain Deepali
Published: July 2024

Current advances in the understanding of the lung cancer landscape have drastically changed the approach to treating a patient with lung carcinoma. The field has progressed from analyzing single gene to using advanced techniques like next-generation sequencing and microarray technology. While a tumor tissue sample is considered the gold standard, it has several limitations. The limitations of invasive procedures, long processing periods, inaccessibility, and sample inadequacy are being addressed by sampling biofluids, termed ‘liquid biopsy,’ which offers a less invasive and more accessible way to obtain tumor-related information. Liquid biopsy has transformed the care of lung cancer patients by directly targeting somatic alterations from tumors. This article provides insights into the biology, technical aspects, limitations, and practical applications of ‘liquid biopsy,’ focusing on cell-free DNA and circulating tumor DNA in the context of lung cancer.
Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge to Sustainable Development Goals and Targets: A One-Health Perspective
Authors: Gurung Deepak , Bhardwaj Vinay Kumar , Fotedar Shailee
Published: July 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest challenges to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Antimicrobial resistance is primarily associated with misuse, abuse, or overuse of antimicrobials, resulting in no effect of antibiotics on microorganisms in humans, animals, and the environment in the domain of One Health. AMR directly affects Sustainable Development (SDG) Goals 1,3, and 4 related to wellbeing considered the inner component, SDG Goals 2, 6, 8, 9, and 12 the infrastructural middle component, and SDG Goal 17 the related component of cooperation and coordination. AMR indirectly affects SDG Goals 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16. This interpretation is based on the dynamic interaction of various components that leads to direct or indirect tradeoff in achieving SDG goals based on the One-Health approach. Thus, understanding this dynamic interaction among various components of One Health is important to underscore the importance of AMR challenging Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Antimicrobial resistance extends beyond misuse, abuse, or overuse in healthcare settings, encompassing inadequate access to clean water, substandard practices in human and animal sanitation and hygiene, limited availability of early diagnostic tools, and insufficient legislation addressing the issue. Notably, a widespread lack of awareness and understanding regarding the issue poses a potential threat to SDGs. Hence, efforts must encompass strategic and synchronized actions across various tiers of the systems, coupled with evidence-based policy formulation, to yield sustainable outcomes on a global scale with the transdisciplinary approach of One Heath.
Human–river interaction and perceived morbidities: A cross-sectional study on River Killi, Kerala
Authors: Waheed Rinsa , Nayar Kesavan Rajasekharan , Grace Chitra
Published: July 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Almost all water resources around the world have been polluted by human activities. River pollution from industries and agricultural/domestic areas is ultimately affecting human life. It is important to understand such a problem from a public health angle as well as from the perspective of the river bank population.

OBJECTIVE:

The study examines the public health dimensions of human-river interaction in relation to the riverbank population and to assess their morbidity profile with respect to river Killi in Trivandrum district, Kerala.

METHODOLOGY:

The full stretch of the river was divided into grids for every 3 kms. and houses from alternate grids within 50 meters from the river edge were selected for the study. Data collection among 302 riverbank residents was done based on a pre-tested, semi-structured interview schedule in addition to in-depth interviews among 15 stakeholders.

RESULTS:

The study results showed that 161 (53.3%) households belonged to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and 169 (56%) respondents were from low socioeconomic status. The human-river interaction was significantly associated with the place of residence (rural/urban) and their economic status. Common self-reported morbidities include itching on the skin (16.2%) and fungal infections (12.9%). The riverbank population also stated their vulnerability to flooding during the rainy season and the unavailability of fresh water during dry summer. The cleaning program by the government had a positive impact on river cleanliness. However, in many places along the stretch of the river, sewage drainage, waste dumping and aquatic weeds are still a problem.

CONCLUSION:

This study shows several factors that disturbed the positive human-river interaction. A collaborative approach including stakeholders and the riverbank population for better river management and persistent surveillance on river water quality and health evaluation of the riverbank population are needed.
Neuroprotective effect of ischemic postconditioning against hyperperfusion and its mechanisms of neuroprotection
Authors: Bagheri Seyyed Majid , Allahtavakoli Mohammad , Hakimizadeh Elham
Published: July 2024

Background:

In recent years, stroke and ischemia–reperfusion injury has motivated researchers to find new ways to reduce the complications. Although reperfusion is essential for brain survival, it is like a double-edged sword that may cause further damage to the brain. Ischemic postconditioning (IPostC) refers to the control of blood flow in postischemia–reperfusion that can reduce ischemia-reperfusion injuries.

Materials and Methods:

Articles were collected by searching for the terms: Ischemic postconditioning and neuroprotective and ischemic postconditioning and hyperperfusion. Suitable articles were collected from electronic databases, including ISI Web of Knowledge, Medline/PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, Scopus, Biological Abstract, Chemical Abstract, and Google Scholar.

Results:

New investigations show that IPostC has protection against hyperperfusion by reducing the amount of blood flow during reperfusion and thus reducing infarction volume, preventing the blood–brain barrier damage, and reducing the rate of apoptosis through the activation of innate protective systems. Numerous mechanisms have been suggested for IPostC, which include reduction of free radical production, apoptosis, inflammatory factors, and activation of endogenous protective pathways.

Conclusion:

It seems that postconditioning can prevent damage to the brain by reducing the flow and blood pressure caused by hyperperfusion. It can protect the brain against damages such as stroke and hyperperfusion by activating various endogenous protection systems. In the present review article, we tried to evaluate both useful aspects of IPostC, neuroprotective effects, and fight against hyperperfusion.
Diagnostic value of ultrasonography in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review
Authors: Eftekharsadat Bina , Khakbiz Saideh , Badali Ahmadreza , Nasiri Ehsan , Babaei-Ghazani Arash
Published: July 2024

Background:

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most expected diagnosis for an arthropathy that causes discomfort and disability in older adults. Radiography is frequently used to assess patients with KOA and there have been few prior research evaluating the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasonography (US). The current study sought to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the US in identifying various characteristics of KOA in the scientific literature.

Materials and Methods:

This study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses statement. A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases was completed in March 2023. This study focused on the diagnostic value of US in KOA, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.

Results:

Out of 552 records of database searches, finally, two studies met this systematic review’s eligibility criteria and were included in the study. Both of the included studies were cross sectional studies. US demonstrated remarkable sensitivity with adequate specificity for the detection of radiographic knee OA; however, it was found not to be an appropriate method for the detection of early KOA.

Conclusion:

This study as the first systematic review aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of US in detecting KOA. These findings shed light on the importance of investigating the different US features in the evaluation of KOA to reach appropriate sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis
The relationship between oxidative stress markers and temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Eslami Hosein , Katebi Katayoun , Ghaffaripour Saleh Sevil , Mirizadeh Lalehsan , Hashemi Mohsen
Published: July 2024

Background:

Oxidative stress has a role in many pathologic conditions, including oral diseases and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) pathophysiology. This study compared the selected oxidative biomarkers’ levels in TMD patients and healthy controls in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Materials and Methods:

Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase were systematically searched for English articles up to October 2022 using MeSH and free keywords. Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to assess the risk of bias. Differences between biomarker levels in TMD patients were compared to the control group.

Results:

Ten case–control studies were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria with a total of 659 patients: 314 with TMD and 345 healthy controls. The studies investigated 15 markers, including total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status, and malondialdehyde (MDA). There was a significant difference in the salivary MDA of patients with TMD in comparison with healthy people; standard mean difference = 3.22 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28–6.16); I
2 = 96.0%). The Antioxidant status in serum was significantly lower in patients with TMD in comparison with healthy people; weighted mean difference = −0.52 (95% CI: −0.90 to −0.14; I
2 = 97.0%). The result of TOS was inconclusive.

Conclusion:

Salivary MDA and serum total antioxidative status measurements may be used as a biomarker for diagnosing TMD. Due to the lack of sufficient evidence, it is not possible to express a definite relation between the amount and type of marker and TMD diagnosis, which suggests that more case–control studies with larger sample sizes are required.
Lipophilic fluorescent products as a potential biomarker of oxidative stress: A link between central (brain) and peripheral (blood)
Authors: Tarbali Sepideh , Dadkhah Masoomeh , Saadati Hakimeh
Published: July 2024

Oxidative stress plays a key role in brain damage because of the sensitivity of brain tissue to oxidative damage. Biomarkers with easy measurement can be a candidate for reflecting the oxidative stress issue in humans. For this reason, we need to focus on specific metabolic products of the brain. End products of free radical reactions such as malondialdehydes form fluorescent products known as lipophilic fluorescent products (LFPs). The distinctive feature of LFPs is their autofluorescent properties. LFPs are detectable in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, because of the diffusion into the bloodstream, these lipophilic molecules can be detected in the blood. Accumulations of these compounds produce more reactive oxygen species and increase the sensitivity of cells to oxidative damage. Hence, LFPs can be considered a danger signal for neurons and can be introduced as a strong index of oxidative damage both in the central and in the peripheral.
Technology-based suicide prevention: An umbrella review
Authors: Siadat Sima , Farajzadegan Ziba , Motamedi Narges , Nouri Rasool , Eizadi-Mood Nastaran
Published: July 2024

Background:

The objective is to summarize evidence from systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and meta-analyses evaluating the effects of any format of Internet-based, mobile-, or telephone-based intervention as a technology-based intervention in suicide prevention.

Materials and Methods:

This is an umbrella review, that followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement guidelines. An electronic search was done on September 29, 2022. Data were extracted by reviewers and then methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed by A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2. Statistical analysis was done by STATA version 17. Standard mean difference was extracted from these studies and by random effect model, the overall pooled effect size (ES) was calculated. I2 statistic was used to assess the heterogeneity between studies. For publication bias, the Egger test was used.

Results:

Six reviews were included in our study, all with moderate quality. The overall sample size was 24631. The ES for standard mean differences of the studies is calculated as − 0.20 with a confidence interval of (−0.26, −0.14). The heterogeneity is found as 58.14%, indicating a moderate-to-substantial one. The Egger test shows publication bias.

Conclusion:

Our results show that technology-based interventions are effective. We propose more rigorous randomized controlled trials with different control groups to assess the effectiveness of these interventions.
E-cadherin Expression in Invasive Mammary Carcinoma
Authors: Abdulrazaq Alaa Abdulqader
Published: July 2024

Background:

E-cadherin is an adhesion molecule that is frequently expressed in normal epithelial tissues. It is essential for many cellular processes, including organ formation, stratification, and epithelial polarization.

Objective:

This study examines E-cadherin expression for subclassifying invasive breast cancer. E-cadherin expression also decreased with age, histopathological type, grade, and stage.

Materials and Methods:

This prospective study included 249 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery at a private facility in Baghdad, Iraq. The patients’ clinical data were analyzed, focusing on age, histopathological type, tumor grade, and tumor stage. Immunohistochemical and histopathological processing and staining were performed to evaluate E-cadherin status in the tumor cells.

Results:

Mean age of patients 47.92 ± 10.79 years, most age group 40–49 (35.7%), most histopathological type of breast cancer invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC; 81.1%), grade II (67.9%), and stage II (78.3%). Patients have +3 E-cadherin (79.5%). Grade III breast cancer patients have 98% +3 E-cadherin. E-cadherin is unrelated to age, histopathological type, or stage.

Conclusion:

Decreased E-cadherin expression in breast cancer is associated with higher tumor grade and estrogen receptor status. However, its significance as a prognostic or predictive marker is limited in IDC and special varieties. The study found no significant correlation between E-cadherin expression and age group, histopathological type, or breast cancer stage.
Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Role as Antioxidant
Authors: Abdulsattar Sura A.
Published: July 2024

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (NPs), also known as ceria NPs, are particles of cerium oxide with sizes in the nanometer range. Cerium oxide (CeO2) is a compound composed of cerium and oxygen, and when it is reduced to NPs, it exhibits unique properties and applications. Cerium oxide NPs possess excellent catalytic properties. Cerium oxide NPs can switch between different oxidation states, Ce+4 and Ce+3, by gaining or losing oxygen atoms. This redox activity enables them to scavenge and neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen species through their ability to cycle between these states and reduce oxidative stress in cells and tissues.