Search

Access, demand, and acceptance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing have varied globally. This study explored the sociodemographic and psychosocial risk factors that contribute to the uptake of COVID-19 testing in community settings in South Africa. This paper presents a cross-sectional secondary analysis using data from a cluster randomized controlled trial and a nested perception survey of COVID-19 antigen testing in communities located in urban (eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal) and rural settings (Worcester, Eastern Cape) in South Africa. Individuals who were reluctant to get tested participated in the perception survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression to assess linear associations and estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs). The analysis was conducted on 3,074 individuals, of whom 2,509 (81.6%) provided consent for COVID-19 testing. Among those, 2,505 (81.5%) tested negative, and 4 (0.1%) tested positive for COVID-19. The mean age of participants was 38 (SD = 14.61), and 57% were male. Females (OR: 1.27; 95% CI = 1-1.6), individuals older than 56 years (OR: 1.95; 95% CI = 1.24-3.07), and those who were vaccinated (OR: 1.99; 95% CI = 1.53-2.60) were more likely to consent. Individuals who had previously tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were less likely to consent to testing (OR: 0.64; 95% CI = 0.11-0.46). No link was found between depression, anxiety, substance use, and willingness to undergo COVID-19 testing. A perceptions survey involving 704 participants, which explored factors influencing testing willingness, found that older adults, and urban populations were less likely to undergo COVID-19 testing. Targeted health campaigns may improve testing rates. Larger-scale implementation research is required to explore best practices for improving testing rates and confidence in population-level detection within South Africa.

Pakistan is one of the five highest tuberculosis burden countries globally. We estimated prevalence of adult bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis and annual risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection in children aged 2-4 years in Karachi, Pakistan. The survey design enabled exploration of tuberculosis burden by whether the population had previously been exposed to widespread tuberculosis active case-finding (ACF) activities or not. We conducted a concurrent adult pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence survey and a child M. tuberculosis infection survey using interferon gamma release assays in four districts (Korangi, South, West and Central). A cluster-based unequal probability random sampling method was employed with the a priori plan to oversample Korangi district which had been the focus of tuberculosis ACF activities since 2011. We defined Korangi district as the 'prior ACF' zone and remaining districts as the 'no prior ACF' zone. Between March 2018 and May 2019, 34,962 adults (78·5% of those eligible) and 1,505 children (59·9%) participated. Overall estimated prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis was 387 cases per 100,000 population (95% CI 276-498) with a prevalence of 421 cases [95% CI 276-567] per 100,000 in the 'no prior ACF' and 279 cases [95% CI 155-403] per 100,000 in the 'prior ACF' zone. We estimated the annual risk of M. tuberculosis infection in children to be 1·1% (95% CI 0·7-1·5) in the 'no prior ACF' zone and 0·6% (95% CI 0·3-1·1) in the 'prior ACF' zone. We observed consistent differences in the population distribution of tuberculosis between the 'prior ACF' and 'no prior' ACF zones with a trend towards lower estimates of burden and M. tuberculosis transmission in the 'prior ACF' zone. A plausible explanation is that intensive ACF activities that have been ongoing in Korangi district for the preceding years have noticeably reduced the burden of tuberculosis and transmission., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Khan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare, severe, and often debilitating condition that can result in significant morbidity and mortality amongst the pediatric population. Eosinophilic myenteric ganglionitis (EMG) is a rare inflammatory neuropathy of the myenteric plexus with characteristic eosinophilic infiltration with and without hypogangliosis. The disorder has been previously documented as a cause of CIPO. We report the case of a 14-year-old male with no clear obstructive cause who, after multiple visits with a myriad of tests and workups, underwent surgical exploratory laparoscopy with the pathology returning a diagnosis of EMG with unique lymphocytic and eosinophilic cell components., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). JPGN Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Introduction: Infants are at a higher risk of severe illness with COVID-19 infection compared to older children. While COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended for young infants, they can acquire maternally-derived anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies passively through the placenta and breastmilk. We described the persistence of infection-induced maternal antibodies in infant circulation at 9-12 months of age., Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study nested within the INTERCOVID multinational cohort study. For each COVID positive pregnant woman, two unmatched consecutive COVID negative pregnant women were enrolled between April and September 2020. Women with a positive PCR test, radiographic signs consistent with COVID-19, or at least 2 predefined symptoms of COVID-19 were considered as COVID positive. For this nested cross-sectional study, all COVID positive and either one of the COVID negative participants recruited from the Aga Khan University, Pakistan were approached 9-12 months after delivery, and maternal and infant sera were collected for antibody detection., Results: Altogether, 83 mothers provided consent, of whom 32 (38.6 %) were COVID positive and 51 (61.4 %) were COVID negative during pregnancy. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were present in 13 (41 %) infants born to COVID positive and 19 (39 %) infants born to COVID negative mothers (p = 0.87). The presence of reactive antibodies in infants at follow-up was associated with maternal antibodies at follow-up (OR:9.50, 95 % CI:2.03-44.42; p = 0.004). COVID infection occurred in 3 (6 %) infants born to COVID negative mothers while no infant born to a COVID positive mother had a history of infection (p = 0.27)., Conclusion: The presence of reactive anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in infants at 9-12 months of age is associated with maternal seropositivity 9-12 months after delivery rather than maternal infection during pregnancy. Further studies are required to validate these findings and assess whether passive immunity in infants is protective against COVID-19 infection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Taiwan Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Existing models to increase TB case notifications from the private sector in Pakistan are financially unsustainable and have achieved modest success due to limited coverage., Objective: To evaluate the impact of a social enterprise model (SEM) intervention on TB case detection in Karachi, Pakistan, and to assess its financial sustainability., Methods: Purpose-built centres were established within the private sector that integrated TB screening, diagnostics and treatment and operated 12 hours per day with convenient locations to improve access. TB services were offered free of cost, and revenue generation took place through user fees from other diagnostics. Private providers with a focus on the informal sector were engaged through community workers to generate screening referrals., Results: Overall 171,488 people were screened and 18,683 cases were notified, including 197 individuals with drug-resistant TB. Annual TB notifications in Karachi increased from 18,105 in 2014 to a maximum of 25,840 (40% increase). The proportion of cases in Karachi notified by the centres grew to 27% in 2020. Commercial revenue reached USD288,065 and enabled operating cost recovery of 15%. Average cost per TB case notified was USD203., Conclusion: The SEM intervention contributed a large proportion of notifications in Karachi and achieved modest cost recovery., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: none declared., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Tolvaptan is the first disease-modifying drug proven to slow eGFR decline in high-risk patients with ADPKD. However, barriers from the patient perspective to its use in real-life settings have not been systemically examined in a large cohort. This was a single-center, retrospective study of 523 existing or new patients with ADPKD followed at the Center for Innovative Management of PKD in Toronto, Ontario, between January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. All patients underwent clinical assessment including total kidney volume measurements and Mayo Clinic Imaging Class (MCIC). Those who were deemed to be at high risk were offered tolvaptan with their preference (yes or no) and reasons for their choices recorded. Overall, 315/523 (60%) patients had MCIC 1C-1E; however, only 96 (30%) of them were treated with tolvaptan at their last follow-up. Among these high-risk patients, those not treated versus treated with tolvaptan were more likely to have a higher eGFR (82 ± 26 vs. 61 ± 27 ml/min/1.73 m 2 ), CKD stages 1-2 (79% vs. 41%), and MCIC 1C (63% vs. 31%). The most common reasons provided for not taking tolvaptan were lifestyle preference related to the aquaretic effect (51%), older age ≥ 60 (12%), and pregnancy/family planning (6%). In this real-world experience, at least 60% of patients with ADPKD considered to be at high risk for progression to ESKD by imaging were not treated with tolvaptan; most of them had early stages of CKD with well-preserved eGFR and as such, were prime targets for tolvaptan therapy to slow disease progression. Given that the most common reason for tolvaptan refusal was the concern for intolerability of the aquaretic side-effect, strategies to mitigate this may help to reduce this barrier to tolvaptan therapy., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Scaling up a shorter preventive regimen such as weekly isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP) for 3 months is a priority for tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment (TPT). However, there are limited data on 3HP acceptability and completion from high-burden-TB countries., Methods: We scaled up 3HP from 2018 to 2021 in 2 cities in Pakistan. Eligible participants were household contacts of persons diagnosed with TB disease. Participants were prescribed 3HP after ruling out TB disease. Treatment was self-administered. We analyzed the proportion who completed 3HP., Results: In Karachi, we verbally screened 22 054 household contacts of all ages. Of these, 83% were clinically evaluated and 3% were diagnosed with TB. Of household contacts without TB disease, 59% initiated the 3HP regimen, of which 69% completed treatment. In Peshawar, we verbally screened 6389 household contacts of all ages. We evaluated 95% of household contacts, of whom 2% were diagnosed with TB disease. Among those without TB disease, 65% initiated 3HP, of which 93% completed. Factors associated with higher 3HP completion included residence in Peshawar (risk ratio [RR], 1.35 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.32-1.37]), index patient being a male (RR, 1.03 [95% CI: 1.01-1.05]), and index patient with extrapulmonary TB compared to bacteriologically positive pulmonary TB (RR, 1.10 [95% CI: 1.06-1.14]). The age of the index patient was inversely associated with completion., Conclusions: We observed a high level of acceptance and completion of 3HP in programs implemented in 2 cities in Pakistan, with differences observed across the cities. These findings suggest that 3HP can be effectively scaled up in urban settings to improve the reach and impact of TPT., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. The authors: No reported conflicts of interest. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Age- and height-adjusted total kidney volume is currently considered the best prognosticator in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. We tested the ratio of urinary epidermal growth factor and monocyte chemotactic peptide 1 for the prediction of the Mayo Clinic Imaging Classes., Methods: Urinary epidermal growth factor and monocyte chemotactic peptide 1 levels were measured in two independent cohorts (discovery, n = 74 and validation set, n = 177) and healthy controls (n = 59) by immunological assay. Magnetic resonance imaging parameters were used for total kidney volume calculation and the Mayo Clinic Imaging Classification defined slow (1A-1B) and fast progressors (1C-1E). Microarray and quantitative gene expression analysis were used to test epidermal growth factor and monocyte chemotactic peptide 1 gene expression., Results: Baseline ratio of urinary epidermal growth factor and monocyte chemotactic peptide 1 correlated with total kidney volume adjusted for height (r = - 0.6, p < 0.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate (r = 0.69 p < 0.001), discriminated between Mayo Clinic Imaging Classes (p < 0.001), and predicted the variation of estimated glomerular filtration rate at 10 years (r = - 0.51, p < 0.001). Conditional Inference Trees identified cut-off levels of the ratio of urinary epidermal growth factor and monocyte chemotactic peptide 1 for slow and fast progressors at > 132 (100% slow) and < 25.76 (89% and 86% fast, according to age), with 94% sensitivity and 66% specificity (p = 6.51E-16). Further, the ratio of urinary epidermal growth factor and monocyte chemotactic peptide 1 at baseline showed a positive correlation (p = 0.006, r = 0.36) with renal outcome (delta-estimated glomerular filtration rate per year, over a mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 1.2 years). Changes in the urinary epidermal growth factor and monocyte chemotactic peptide 1 were mirrored by gene expression levels in both human kidney cysts (epidermal growth factor: - 5.6-fold, fdr = 0.001; monocyte chemotactic peptide 1: 3.1-fold, fdr = 0.03) and Pkd1 knock-out mouse kidney (Egf: - 14.8-fold, fdr = 2.37E-20, Mcp1: 2.8-fold, fdr = 6.82E-15)., Conclusion: The ratio of urinary epidermal growth factor and monocyte chemotactic peptide 1 is a non-invasive pathophysiological biomarker that can be used for clinical risk stratification in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: Knowledge regarding the short-term outcomes after same-day discharge (SDD) post primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is lacking. In this study, we evaluated 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among SDD patients after primary PCI., Design: 1-year follow-up analysis of a subset of patients from an existing prospective cohort study., Setting: Tertiary care cardiac hospital in Karachi, Pakistan., Participants: Consecutive patients, from August 2019 to July 2020, with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction who had undergone primary PCI with SDD (within 24 hours) after the procedure by the treating physician and with at least one successful follow-up up to 1 year., Outcome Measure: Cumulative MACE during follow-up at the intervals of 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year., Results: 489 patients were included, with a gender distribution of 83.2% (407) male patients and a mean age of 54.58±10.85 years. Overall MACE rate during the mean follow-up duration of 326.98±76.71 days was 10.8% (53), out of which 26.4% (14/53) events occurred within 6 months of discharge and the remaining 73.6% (39/53) occurred between 6 months and 1 year. MACE was significantly higher among patients with a Zwolle Risk Score (ZRS) ≥4 at baseline, with an incidence rate of 21.9% (16/73) vs 8.9% (37/416; p=0.001) in patients with ZRS≤3 (relative risk 2.88 (95% CI 1.5 to 5.5))., Conclusion: A significant burden of short-term MACE was identified among SDD patients after primary PCI; most of these events occurred after 6 months of SDD, mainly among patients with ZRS≥4. A systematic risk assessment based on risk stratification modalities such ZRS could be a viable option for SDD patients with primary PCI., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

In Pakistan, substantial changes to hepatitis C virus (HCV) programming and treatment have occurred since the 2008 nationwide serosurvey estimated a 4.8% anti-HCV prevalence. In the absence of an updated national study, this analysis uses provincial data to estimate a national prevalence and the interventions needed to achieve elimination. Using a Delphi process, epidemiologic HCV data for the four provinces of Pakistan (accounting for 97% of the population) were reviewed with 21 subject-matter experts in Pakistan. Province-level estimates were inputted into a mathematical model to estimate the national HCV disease burden in the absence of intervention (Base), and if the World Health Organization (WHO) elimination targets are achieved by 2030 (80% reduction in new infections, 90% diagnosis coverage, 80% treatment coverage, and 65% reduction in mortality: WHO Elimination). An estimated 9,746,000 (7,573,000-10,006,000) Pakistanis were living with viraemic HCV as of January 1, 2021; a viraemic prevalence of 4.3% (3.3-4.4). WHO Elimination would require an annual average of 18.8 million screens, 1.1 million treatments, and 46,700 new infections prevented anually between 2022 and 2030. Elimination would reduce total infections by 7,045,000, save 152,000 lives and prevent 104,000 incident cases of hepatocellular carcinoma from 2015 to 2030. Blood surveys, programmatic data, and expert panel input uncovered more HCV infections and lower treatment numbers in the provinces than estimated using national extrapolations, demonstrating the benefits of a bottom-up approach. Screening and treatment must increase 20 times and 5 times, respectively, to curb the HCV epidemic in Pakistan and achieve elimination by 2030., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of avoidable deaths from an infectious disease globally and a large of number of people who develop TB each year remain undiagnosed. Active case-finding has been recommended by the World Health Organization to bridge the case-detection gap for TB in high burden countries. However, concerns remain regarding their yield and cost-effectiveness. Data from mobile chest X-ray (CXR) supported active case-finding community camps conducted in Karachi, Pakistan from July 2018 to March 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. Frequency analysis was carried out at the camp-level and outcomes of interest for the spatial analyses were mycobacterium TB positivity (MTB+) and X-ray abnormality rates. The Global Moran's I statistic was used to test for spatial autocorrelation for MTB+ and abnormal X-rays within Union Councils (UCs) in Karachi. A total of 1161 (78.1%) camps yielded no MTB+ cases, 246 (16.5%) camps yielded 1 MTB+, 52 (3.5%) camps yielded 2 MTB+ and 27 (1.8%) yielded 3 or more MTB+. A total of 79 (5.3%) camps accounted for 193 (44.0%) of MTB+ cases detected. Statistically significant clustering for MTB positivity (Global Moran's I: 0.09) and abnormal chest X-rays (Global Moran's I: 0.36) rates was identified within UCs in Karachi. Clustering of UCs with high MTB positivity were identified in Karachi West district. Statistically significant spatial variation was identified in yield of bacteriologically positive TB cases and in abnormal CXR through active case-finding in Karachi. Cost-effectiveness of active case-finding programs can be improved by identifying and focusing interventions in hotspots and avoiding locations with no known TB cases reported through routine surveillance., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the predictive power of Shock Index (SI), TIMI Risk Index (TRI), LASH Score, and ACEF Score for the prediction of in-hospital mortality in a contemporary cohort of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at a tertiary care cardiac center of a developing country., Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with STEMI and undergoing primary PCI were included in this study. SI, TRI, LASH, and ACEF were computed and their predictive power was assessed as the area under the curve (AUC) on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis for in-hospital mortality., Results: We included 977 patients, 780 (79.8%) of which were male, and the mean age was 55.6 ± 11.5 years. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.3% (42). AUC for TRI was 0.669 (optimal cutoff: ≥17.5, sensitivity: 76.2%, specificity: 45.6%). AUC for SI was 0.595 (optimal cutoff: ≥0.9, sensitivity: 21.4%, specificity: 89.8%). AUC for LASH score was 0.745 (optimal cutoff: ≥0, sensitivity: 76.2%, specificity: 66.9%). AUC for the ACEF score was 0.786 (optimal cutoff: ≥1.66, sensitivity: 71.4%, specificity: 73.5%)., Conclusion: In conclusion, ACEF showed sufficiently high predictive power with good sensitivity and specificity compared to other three scores. These simplified indices based on readily available hemodynamic parameters can be reliable alternatives to the computational complex scoring systems for the risk stratification of STEMI patients., Competing Interests: None., (AJCD Copyright © 2022.)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the patterns of smoked and smokeless tobacco use among multimorbid and non-multimorbid middle-aged and older-aged individuals in Karachi, Pakistan., Study Design: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted during 2015-2016., Study Setting and Participants: A total of 3250 participants aged 30 years and above, residing in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal town, Karachi, Pakistan were enrolled in the study through systematic random sampling. The selected area of residence represents diverse socioeconomic and ethnic groups of the city. People who could speak and write English or Urdu, and those who provided written informed consent were included in the study., Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure of the study was to determine the differences in patterns of tobacco consumption among multimorbid and non-multimorbid adult individuals., Results: We found no difference in patterns of smoked (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.15, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.50, p=0.289) or smokeless tobacco (aOR 1.13, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.48, p= 0.379) use among multimorbid and non-multimorbid individuals. Individuals who perceived tobacco as a risk were less likely to consume smokeless tobacco products., Conclusion: There was no difference in tobacco consumption among individuals with and without multimorbidity. Evidenced-based guidelines are required to implement mental and behavioural interventions in patients with multiple chronic diseases to help them modify their behaviours., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Significant data gaps exist for children and adolescents with drug-resistant (DR) TB, particularly from high TB incidence settings. This report provides a descriptive analysis of programmatic outcomes among children and adolescents treated for DR-TB in Pakistan., Methods: We extracted programmatic data from January 2014 to December 2019 from a tertiary care hospital with specialised child and adolescent DR-TB services. A physician assessed all children and adolescents (0-19 years) with presumptive DR-TB, including details of exposure to DR-TB, medical history, radiology, and laboratory results. All patients received treatment as per national DR-TB management guidelines based on WHO recommendations., Results: There were 262 treatment episodes for 247 patients enrolled during the study period. The median age of the cohort was 16 years (IQR: 13-18 years) with 16 (6.1%) children being under 5 years; 237 (90.5%) patients had pulmonary TB. The majority of the patients (194 or 74.1%) experienced a favourable treatment outcome and 26 (9.9%) died while on treatment. Female patients (78.5%) were more likely to experience favourable outcomes compared to males (64.7%; chi-sqr p -value = 0.02)., Conclusions: We found high rates of favourable outcomes in children and adolescents treated for DR-TB. However, there were few young children in our cohort and there was a considerable gender gap that enhanced efforts to diagnose DR-TB in young children and to elucidate and mitigate the reasons for poor outcomes amongst males.

Background: High sound levels in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can alter preterm newborn hemodynamics and cause long-term neuro-developmental delays and hearing loss. The study aims to collate data on sound levels in a level IV NICU of a tertiary care hospital, identify the factors associated with them, and compare them with the international standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)., Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in NICU from 8th April 2019 to 30th June 2019. Sound levels were recorded for 480 h, using a portable sound meter, the Larson Davis 824. We captured sound levels on alternate days, during different shifts and shift changes and in open pods and single isolation rooms within the NICU. Additionally, we documented the total census, acuity of care, number of staff, number of procedures, and number of items of equipment used. The data was analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression., Results: The average sound level (Leq) and the maximum level (Lmax) recorded were 60.66 ± 2.99 dBA and 80.19 ± 2.63 dBA, respectively, which exceeds international recommendations. The sound level gradually decreased from morning to night hours. The major increase in sound was observed during nursing shift change. Similarly, a significant increase in sound was observed in open bays compared to isolation rooms. However, no difference in sound levels was recorded during weekdays and weekends. The number of healthcare professionals and the number of procedures performed were strongly associated with an increased noise level., Conclusion: Sound levels in NICU were beyond the safety range and international recommendations. We observed a significant sound increment during morning hours and at the time of nursing shift change. High sound levels were associated with increased number of healthcare workers and bedside procedures in NICU., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to report., (Copyright © 2022 Taiwan Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

BACKGROUND: We assessed treatment uptake and completion for 6 months of isoniazid (6H) and 3 months of isoniazid plus rifapentine weekly (3HP) in a programmatic setting in Pakistan. METHODS: All household contacts were clinically evaluated to rule out TB disease. 6H was used for TB preventive treatment (TPT) from October 2016 to April 2017; from May to September 2017, 3HP was used for contacts aged ≥2 years. We compared clinical evaluation, TPT uptake and completion rates between contacts aged ≥2 years in the 6H period and in the 3HP period. RESULTS: We identified 3,442 contacts for the 6H regimen. After clinical evaluation, 744/1,036 (72%) started treatment, while 46% completed treatment. In contrast, 3,722 contacts were identified for 3HP. After clinical evaluation, 990/1,366 (72%) started treatment, while 67% completed treatment. Uptake of TPT did not differ significantly between the 6H and 3HP groups (OR 1.03, 95%CI 0.86-1.24). However, people who initiated 3HP had 2.3 times greater odds (95% CI 1.9-2.8) of completing treatment than those who initiated 6H after adjusting for age and sex. CONCLUSION: In programmatic settings in a high-burden country, household contacts of all ages were more likely to complete TPT with shorter weekly regimens, although treatment uptake rate for the two regimens was similar.

Background and Objectives: Total kidney volume is a validated prognostic biomarker for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Total kidney volume by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and manual segmentation is considered the "reference standard," but it is time consuming and not readily accessible. By contrast, three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound provides a promising technology for total kidney volume measurements with unknown potential. Here, we report a comparative study of total kidney volume measurements by 3D ultrasound versus the conventional methods by ultrasound ellipsoid and MRI ellipsoid., Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: This single-center prospective study included 142 patients who completed a standardized 3D ultrasound and MRI. Total kidney volumes by 3D ultrasound and ultrasound ellipsoid were compared with those by MRI. We assessed the agreement of total kidney volume measurements by Bland-Altman plots and misclassification of the Mayo Clinic imaging classes between the different imaging methods, and we assessed prediction of Mayo Clinic imaging classes 1C-1E by average ultrasound kidney length >16.5 cm., Results: Compared with MRI manual segmentation, MRI ellipsoid, 3D ultrasound, and ultrasound ellipsoid underestimated total kidney volume (mean difference: -3%, -9%, and -11%, respectively), with Mayo Clinic imaging classes misclassified in 11%, 21%, and 22% of patients, respectively; most misclassified cases by MRI ellipsoid (11 of 16), 3D ultrasound (23 of 30), and ultrasound ellipsoid (26 of 31) were placed into a lower Mayo Clinic imaging class. Predictions of the high-risk Mayo Clinic imaging classes (1C-1E) by MRI ellipsoid, 3D ultrasound, and ultrasound ellipsoid all yielded high positive predictive value (96%, 95%, and 98%, respectively) and specificity (96%, 96%, and 99%, respectively). However, both negative predictive value (90%, 88%, and 95%, respectively) and sensitivity (88%, 85%, and 94%, respectively) were lower for 3D ultrasound and ultrasound ellipsoid compared with MRI ellipsoid. An average ultrasound kidney length >16.5 cm was highly predictive of Mayo Clinic imaging classes 1C-1E only in patients aged ≤45 years., Conclusions: Total kidney volume measurements in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease by 3D ultrasound and ultrasound ellipsoid displayed similar bias and variability and are less accurate than MRI ellipsoid. Prediction of high-risk Mayo Clinic imaging classes (1C-1E) by all three methods provides high positive predictive value, but ultrasound ellipsoid is simpler to use and more readily available., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Society of Nephrology.)

Background: Aim of this study was to perform quantitative evaluation of high thrombus burden (Grade ≥4) as an independent predictor of slow/no reflow phenomenon during primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)., Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study we included consecutive patients who have undergone primary PCI for STEMI at a tertiary care cardiac center of the Pakistan. High thrombus burden was defined as angiographic thrombus grade ≥4. The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow rate < III was defined as slow/no reflow phenomenon. Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis for slow/no reflow phenomenon were reported as odds ratio (OR)., Results: This analysis included 747 patients, 78.2% (584) patients were male and mean age was 55.82±11.54 years. High thrombus burden was observed in 68.1% (509) of the patients. Slow/no reflow phenomenon was observed in 33.6% (251) which was more common among patients in high thrombus burden group, 39.7% (202/509) vs. 20.6% (49/238); p<0.001. Adjusted OR of thrombus Grade ≥ 4 was 2.33 [1.6 -3.39]; p<0.001. Other significant variables were female gender (1.51 [1.01 -2.27]; p=0.045), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) ≥20 mmHg (2.34 [1.69 -3.26]; p<0.001), total lesion length ≥20 cm (1.54 [1.09-2.16]; p=0.014), and neutrophil count ≥8.8 cells/μL (1.72 [1.22 -2.43]; p=0.002)., Conclusions: High thrombus burden (Grade ≥4) is a significant and an independent predictor of the slow/no reflow phenomenon. While predicting slow/no reflow phenomenon, thrombus burden should be given due importance along with other significant factors such as gender, LVEDP, lesion length, and neutrophil counts.

We describe gender-based differences in a community-wide TB screening programme in Karachi, Pakistan, in which 311 732 individuals were screened in mobile camps using symptom questionnaires and van-mounted digital chest X-ray, between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019. Only 22.4% (69 869) of camp attendees were women. Female attendees were less likely to have sputum collected and tested (31.5% (95% CI 30.4% to 32.7%) vs 38.5% (95% CI 37.6% to 39.1%)) or to initiate TB treatment (75.9% (95% CI 68.1% to 82.6%) vs 82.8% (95% CI 78.9% to 86.2%)), when indicated. Among the participants, the age-standardised prevalence of active TB was higher among women (prevalence ratio 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.7). These findings underscore the importance of integrating gender into the design and monitoring of TB screening programmes to ensure that women and men benefit equally from this important intervention., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) struck Pakistan with a magnitude that required micro- and macro-level adjustments at national and provincial levels. Access to medical consultation became a challenge; hospitals were flooded with cases beyond their capacity and transport was halted due to lockdown. Global Health Directorate of The Indus Health Network supported the provincial government by rolling out several walk-in community-based testing initiatives across Karachi. Results were conveyed to the patients through each district government. With a disproportionate rise in cases, an increasing delay in reporting results was observed. Methods: To help the district government bridge this gap, two physicians were engaged to convey timely results to patients who tested positive, through a helpline. Subsequently, proactive teleconsultation was initiated. We present a retrospective review of data collected during teleconsultation for COVID-19 cases identified through community-based testing between April 5 and June 10, 2020. Results: A total of 4,279 tests were conducted, revealing a 28% positivity rate (1,196 cases). Out of these, 752 (62.9%) baseline positive patients were contactable. Most patients identified either a close contact (46.8%) or a household contact (30.1%) as the source of infection. 41.8% patients were asymptomatic, 52.9% had mild to moderate illness, and 1.1% needed referral to the emergency department. 82.7% patients reported no comorbidities. Conclusion: The rapid surge of cases could not be handled by a small team and an institutional strategy of integration into an existing call center service was adopted. We share our insights to help develop evidence-based policies to effectively tackle current or future threats in similar settings.

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is critical for proper care and identification of affected individuals. This led to early availability of many serological assays in the market, but with limited validation. In this study, we aimed to validate the serological assays based on different techniques. We evaluated 15 different assays based on four immunoassay techniques in 235 patients. The most sensitive kits employed were as follows: immunochromatography (Zybio severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] IgM/IgG Antibody Assay Kit - 83%), ELISA (Aeskulisa SARS-CoV-2 NP IgG -88.1%), chemiluminescence (Alinity SARS-CoV-2 IgG - 82.2%), and immunofluorescence (Lifotronic FA160 (Shenzhen SARS-CoV-2 Assay Kit [IgG]) - 88.9%). The kits by Uniper (Singuway Biotec COVID-19 IgM/IgG Presumptive Kit), Genrui 2019-nCoV IgM/IgG Test Kit, Wondfu SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test, and Aeskulisa SARS-CoV-2 NP IgG exhibited 100% specificity, whereas IgG assay using Lifotronic FA160 (Shenzhen SARS-CoV-2 Assay Kit) exhibited the lowest specificity at 58%. Maximum agreement was observed between Aeskulisa SARS-CoV-2 NP IgG and Alinity SARS-CoV-2 IgG at 94%. Serological tests are practical alternatives, but their reliability depends on critical validation. The COVID-19 pandemic warranted investment in healthcare research at both the national and international levels.

As the COVID-19 pandemic surged, lockdowns led to the cancellation of essential health services. As part of our Zero TB activities in Karachi, we adapted our approach to integrate activities for TB and COVID-19 to decrease the impact on diagnosis and linkage to care for TB treatment. We implemented the following: (1) integrated COVID-19 screening and testing within existing TB program activities, along with the use of an artificial intelligence (AI) software reader on digital chest X-rays; (2) home delivery of medication; (3) use of telehealth and mental health counseling; (4) provision of PPE; (5) burnout monitoring of health workers; and (6) patient safety and disinfectant protocol. We used programmatic data for six districts of Karachi from January 2018 to March 2021 to explore the time trends in case notifications, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and service adaptations in the city. The case notifications in all six districts in Karachi were over 80% of the trend-adjusted expected notifications with three districts having over 90% of the expected case notifications. Overall, Karachi reached 90% of the expected case notifications during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collaborative efforts by the provincial TB program and private sector partners facilitated this reduced loss in case notifications.

Objective: Promising results of CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score have been reported for the prediction of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, data of its predictive strength in the context of primary PCI are not available. Therefore, in this study, we have assessed predictive value of CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score for CI-AKI after primary PCI., Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2021 and June 2021 at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, Pakistan. Inclusion criteria of the study was consecutive adult patients who had undergone primary PCI. Baseline CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was calculated, and either a 25% or 0.5 mg/dL increase in post-procedure serum creatinine level as compared to baseline level was categorized as CI-AKI., Results: A total of 691 patients were included, of which 82.1% (567) were male. CI-AKI after primary PCI was observed in 63 (9.1%) patients, out of which 66.7% (42) of patients had CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score of ≥2. The area under the curve (AUC) for the score was 0.725 [0.662 to 0.788] with a sensitivity and specificity of 66.7% [63.1% to 70.2%] and 66.7% [53.7% to 78.1%], respectively, at a cut-off value of ≥2. In multivariable analysis, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30% and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc ≥2 were found to be independent predictors with adjusted odds ratios of 2.19 [1.06-4.5] and 2.13 [1.13-4.01], respectively., Conclusion: CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score has a good predictive value for the prediction of CI-AKI after primary PCI. Criteria of CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc ≥2 can be used for the risk stratification of CI-AKI after primary PCI., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2021 Kumar et al.)

Background: Significance of total ischemic time (TIT) in the context of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is still controversial. Therefore, in this study, we have evaluate the association of TIT with immediate outcomes in STEMI patients in whom recommended door to balloon (DTB) time of less than 90 min was achieved., Results: A total of 5730 patients were included in this study, out of which 80.9% were male and median age was 55 [61-48] years. The median DTB was observed to be 60 [75-45] min and onset of chest pain to emergency room (ER) arrival time was 180 [300-120] min. Prolonged TIT was associated with poor pre-procedure thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade (p = 0.022), number of diseased vessels (p = 0.002), use of intra-aortic balloon pump (p = 0.003), and in-hospital mortality (p = 0.002). Mortality rate was 4.5%, 5.7%, and 7.8% for the patients with TIT of ≤ 120 min, 121 to 240 min, and > 240 min, respectively. Thirty days' risk of mortality on TIMI score was 4.97 ± 7.09%, 5.01 ± 6.99%, and 7.12 ± 8.64% for the patients with TIT of ≤ 120 min, 121 to 240 min, and > 240 min, respectively., Conclusions: Prolonged total ischemic was associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Therefore, TIT can also be considered in the matrix of focus, along with DTB time and other clinical determinants to improve the survival from STEMI., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Assessment of the effectiveness of tuberculosis control strategies requires the periodic measurement of M. tuberculosis transmission in populations, which is notoriously difficult. One well-established method is to measure the prevalence of infectious pulmonary tuberculosis in the population which is then repeated at a second time point after a period of 'intervention', such as scale up of the Search-Treat-Prevent strategy of the Zero TB Cities initiative, allowing for a 'before and after' comparison.  Protocol: The concurrent adult pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence survey (using digital radiography and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra) and child M. tuberculosis infection survey (using QuantiFERON-TB® Gold Plus) will primarily provide a baseline measure of the burden of adult infectious tuberculosis in Karachi and assess whether a large-scale interferon gamma release assay survey in children aged 2 to 4 years is feasible. The target population for the prevalence survey is comprised of a stratified random sample of all adults aged 15 years and above and all children aged 2 to 4 years resident in four districts in Karachi. The survey procedures and analyses to estimate pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence are based on the World Health Organization methodology for tuberculosis prevalence surveys. Ethics and dissemination: The study protocol has been approved by the Interactive Research Development / The Indus Hospital Research Centre Research Ethics Committee in Karachi, Pakistan and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Research Ethics Committee. Due to non-representative sampling in this setting, where a large proportion of the population are illiterate and are reluctant to provide fingerprints due to concerns about personal security, verbal informed consent will be obtained from each eligible participant or guardian. Results will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals, presented at international conferences and shared with participating communities and with the Provincial and National TB programme., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2020 Khan PY et al.)

BACKGROUND: Systematic screening for TB using automated chest radiography (ACR) with computer-aided detection software (CAD4TB) has been implemented at scale in Karachi, Pakistan. Despite evidence supporting the use of ACR as a pre-screen prior to Xpert ® MTB/RIF diagnostic testing in presumptive TB patients, there has been no data published on its use in mass screening in real-world settings. METHOD: Screening was undertaken using mobile digital X-ray vehicles at hospital facilities and community camps. Chest X-rays were offered to individuals aged ≥15 years, regardless of symptoms. Those with a CAD4TB score of ≥70 were offered Xpert testing. The association between Xpert positivity and CAD4TB scores was examined using data collected between 1 January and 30 June 2018 using a custom-built data collection tool. RESULTS: Of the 127 062 individuals screened, 97.2% had a valid CAD4TB score; 11 184 (9.1%) individuals had a CAD4TB score ≥70. Prevalence of Xpert positivity rose from 0.7% in the <50 category to 23.5% in the >90 category. The strong linear association between CAD4TB score and Xpert positivity was found in both community and hospital settings. CONCLUSION: The strong association between CAD4TB scores and Xpert positivity provide evidence that an ACR-based pre-screening performs well when implemented at scale in a high-burden setting.

Introduction Cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for the development and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) and it is strongly related to cardiac morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the angiographic profile and immediate clinical outcomes in young male smokers and non-smokers without any other cardiac risk factors presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods This study includes young (≤40 years) male patients presented without cardiac risk factors other than smoking. Angiographic profile and immediate outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were collected from the hospital database. Results A total of 580 young male patients were included in this study, 51.2% (297) were smokers. Baseline characteristics and presentation were similar for smoker and non-smoker groups. Angiographic profile was not significantly different for smokers in terms of pre-procedure thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow (p = 0.373), the number of vessels involved (p = 0.813), infarct-related artery (p = 0.834), and left ventricular dysfunction (p = 0.311). Similarly, in-hospital outcomes of primary PCI were not significantly different in smokers. Post-procedure no-reflow was in 3.4% vs. 2.8%; p = 0.708, acute stent thrombosis in 1.7% vs. 0.4%; p = 0.114 and in-hospital mortality in 1.0% vs. 1.4%; p = 0.657 of the smoker and non-smoker group, respectively. Conclusion Our study concludes smoking has no significant impact on the angiographic profile and immediate clinical outcomes of primary PCI after STEMI in young males, without any other conventional cardiac risk factors. With these findings, further multicenter prospective studies are needed to identify other potential causes in such patients., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2020, Ahmed et al.)

Understanding key healthcare system challenges experienced by women during pregnancy and birth is crucial to scale up available interventions and reduce perinatal mortality. A community perspective about preferences and experience of care during this period can be used to improve community-based programs to reduce perinatal mortality. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, we examined women's experience of perinatal loss, aiming to understand the main factors, as perceived and experienced by women, leading to perinatal loss. Qualitative in-depth Interviews were conducted with 25 mothers with a recent perinatal loss, three family members, six healthcare officials, and two focus group discussions with 17 lady health workers. Data were analysed using inductive and deductive coding, by thematic analysis. Our findings revealed three distinct but interrelated themes, which include: 1) poor access to care during pregnancy and birth, 2) unavailability of appropriate healthcare services, and 3) poor quality of care during pregnancy and birth. Women frequently delayed seeking formal care around birth because of delays by themselves, their family members, or the local traditional birth attendants who frequently induced births at women's homes without recognising the dangers to the mothers or their babies. Preference for private care was common, however they often could not bear the cost of care when they needed caesarean section or in-patient care for their sick newborns because these services were absent in public health facilities of the district. Referral to the regional tertiary care hospital was often not officially arranged leading to risky births in small and crowded private clinics. Women's views about negative staff attitudes and the lack of attention given to them in public health facilities highlighted a lack of quality and respectful antenatal care. Improvement in women's access to essential care during pregnancy and around birth, availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care, improving the quality of maternal and newborn care in both public and private health facilities at the district level might reduce perinatal mortality in Pakistan., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: This study was conducted with the aim of providing a quantitative appraisal of clinical outcomes of trans-radial access for primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in patients with ST-segment evaluation myocardial infarction (STEMI)., Methods: In this study, we compared two propensity-matched cohorts of patients who underwent primary PCI via trans-radial (TRA) and trans-femoral access (TFA) in a 1:1 ratio. The profile of two cohorts was matched for gender, age, and body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, family history, and smoking. The outcomes of primary PCI were compared for the two cohorts which included all-cause in-hospital mortality, heart failure, re-infarction, cardiogenic shock, bleeding, transfusion, cerebrovascular accident, and dialysis., Results: This analysis was performed on a total of 2316 patients with 1158 patients each in the TRA and TFA group. We observed significantly lower rates of mortality, 0.8% (9) vs. 3.5% (41); p < 0.001 and bleeding, 0.5% (6) vs.1.6% (19); p = 0.009 with shorter hospital stay, 1.61 ± 1.39 vs. 1.98 ± 1.5 days, in trans-radial vs. trans-femoral. However, both fluoroscopic time and contrast volume were significantly higher in the TRA as compared to TFA group 15.57 ± 8.16 vs. 12.79 ± 7.82 min; p < 0.001 and 143.22 ± 45.33 vs. 133.78 ± 45.97; p < 0.001 respectively., Conclusions: Compared with TFA access, TRA for primary PCI is safe for patients with STEMI, it was found to be associated with a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality and bleeding complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors have none to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pakistan ranks fifth among high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries and also has seventh highest burden for diabetes mellitus (DM). DM increases the risk of developing TB and contributes to adverse TB treatment outcomes hence screening and integrated management for both diseases in high burden countries is suggested. Computer-Aided Detection for TB (CAD4TB) can potentially be used as triage tool in low resource settings to pre-screen individuals for Xpert MTB/RIF testing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and performance of CAD4TB software in people with diabetes (PWD) enrolled in a TB screening program in Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 694 individuals with a diagnosis of DM (of whom 31.1% were newly diagnosed) were screened with CAD4TB and simultaneously provided sputum for Xpert MTB/RIF testing. Of the 74 (10.7%) participants who had bacteriologically positive (MTB+) results on Xpert testing, 54 (73%) had a CAD4TB score >70; and 155 (25%) participants who tested MTB-negative had scores >70. The area under the receiver operator curve was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.77-0.80). Our study findings indicate that CAD4TB offers good diagnostic accuracy as a triage test for TB screening among PWD using Xpert MTB/RIF as the reference standard.

There is a growing interest in the automated analysis of chest X-Ray (CXR) as a sensitive and inexpensive means of screening susceptible populations for pulmonary tuberculosis. In this work we evaluate the latest version of CAD4TB, a commercial software platform designed for this purpose. Version 6 of CAD4TB was released in 2018 and is here tested on a fully independent dataset of 5565 CXR images with GeneXpert (Xpert) sputum test results available (854 Xpert positive subjects). A subset of 500 subjects (50% Xpert positive) was reviewed and annotated by 5 expert observers independently to obtain a radiological reference standard. The latest version of CAD4TB is found to outperform all previous versions in terms of area under receiver operating curve (ROC) with respect to both Xpert and radiological reference standards. Improvements with respect to Xpert are most apparent at high sensitivity levels with a specificity of 76% obtained at a fixed 90% sensitivity. When compared with the radiological reference standard, CAD4TB v6 also outperformed previous versions by a considerable margin and achieved 98% specificity at the 90% sensitivity setting. No substantial difference was found between the performance of CAD4TB v6 and any of the various expert observers against the Xpert reference standard. A cost and efficiency analysis on this dataset demonstrates that in a standard clinical situation, operating at 90% sensitivity, users of CAD4TB v6 can process 132 subjects per day at an average cost per screen of $5.95 per subject, while users of version 3 process only 85 subjects per day at a cost of $8.38 per subject. At all tested operating points version 6 is shown to be more efficient and cost effective than any other version.

Background: In the high-prevalence setting of Pakistan, screening, diagnosis and treatment services for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients are commonly offered in specialized facilities. We aimed to describe the cascade of care in a Médecins Sans Frontières primary health care clinic offering CHC care in an informal settlement in Karachi, Pakistan., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis using routinely collected data. Three different screening algorithms were assessed among patients with one or more CHC risk factors., Results: Among the 87 348 patients attending the outpatient clinic, 5003 (6%) presented with one or more risk factors. Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) positivity was 38% overall. Approximately 60% of the CHC patients across all risk categories were in the early stage of the disease, with an aspartate aminotransferase:platelet ratio index score <1. The sequential delays in the cascade differed between the three groups, with the interval between screening and treatment initiation being the shortest in the cohort tested with GeneXpert onsite., Conclusions: Delays between screening and treatment can be reduced by putting in place more patient-centric testing algorithms. New strategies, to better identify and treat the hidden at-risk populations, should be developed and implemented., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

In the original publication of this article [1], an author's name needs to be revised from Jacob Creswel to Jacob Creswell.

Introduction Environmental triggers of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have gained mounting evidence from various geographies of the world. However, due to geographic variations in seasonal temperature and other metrological parameters, it is difficult to generalize the findings in one population to another population with different climatic conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between meteorological parameters and the number of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures for AMI at a tertiary care cardiac hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods For this cross-sectional study, data was obtained on the number of primary PCI procedures conducted at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Karachi, Pakistan during 1 st June 2016 to 31 st May 2018. Daily meteorological data of the Karachi region for the same period was obtained from the Pakistan Meteorological Department. It consists of temperature, atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity. Based on the weather conditions of Karachi, the data was divided into two seasons; summer (April to October) and winter (November to March). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed taken the number of primary PCI performed as regressand and time trend, average temperature, temperature variation, and relative humidity as regressors. Results A total of 115,494 hospital admissions were recorded during the study period out of which rate of primary PCI was 10.5% (12,107). A negative relationship between average temperature and number of primary PCI was observed with standardized regression coefficients of -0.13 ( p  < 0.001) on the overall regression model. A similar significant negative relationship of average temperature was observed on the regression model for the cold season with standardized regression coefficients of -0.17 ( p  < 0.001). While no such relationship was observed for the warm season. Conclusion The average daily temperature was found to be negatively related to the number of primary PCI. Subgroup analysis revealed that the average daily temperature had a significant negative relationship with the number of primary PCI in the cold season; however, no such impact was observed in the warm season., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2019, Khowaja et al.)

Background: In Asia, over 50% of patients with symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) access health care from private providers. These patients are usually not notified to the National TB Control Programs, which contributes to low notification rates in many countries., Methods: From January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012, Karachi's Indus Hospital - a private sector partner to the National TB Programme - engaged 80 private family clinics in its catchment area in active case finding using health worker incentives to increase notification of TB disease. The costs incurred were estimated from the perspective of patients, health facility and the program providing TB services. A Markov decision tree model was developed to calculate the cost-effectiveness of the active case finding as compared to case detection through the routine passive TB centers. Pakistan has a large private health sector, which can be mobilized for TB screening using an incentivized active case finding strategy. Currently, TB screening is largely performed in specialist public TB centers through passive case finding. Active and passive case finding strategies are assumed to operate independently from each other., Results: The incentive-based active case finding program costed USD 223 per patient treated. In contrast, the center based non-incentive arm was 23.4% cheaper, costing USD 171 per patient treated. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the incentive-based active case finding program was more effective and less expensive per DALY averted when compared to the baseline passive case finding as it averts an additional 0.01966 DALYs and saved 15.74 US$ per patient treated., Conclusion: Both screening strategies appear to be cost-effective in an urban Pakistan context. Incentive driven active case findings of TB in the private sector costs less and averts more DALYs per health seeker than passive case finding, when both alternatives are compared to a common baseline situation of no screening.

Background: Many countries are facing overlapping epidemics of tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Diabetes increases the overall risk of developing Tuberculosis (TB) and contributes to adverse treatment outcomes. Active screening for both diseases can reduce TB transmission and prevent the development of complications of DM. We investigated bi-directional TB-DM screening in Karachi, Pakistan, a country that ranks fifth among high TB burden countries, and has the seventh highest country burden for DM., Methods: Between February to November 2014, community-based screeners identified presumptive TB and DM through verbal screening at private health clinics. Individuals with presumptive TB were referred for a chest X-ray and Xpert MTB/RIF. Presumptive DM cases had random blood glucose (RBS) tested. All individuals with bacteriologically positive TB were referred for diabetes testing (RBS). All pre-diabetics and diabetics were referred for a chest X-ray and Xpert MTB/RIF test. The primary outcomes of this study were uptake of TB and DM testing., Results: A total of 450,385 individuals were screened, of whom 18,109 had presumptive DM and 90,137 had presumptive TB. 14,550 of these individuals were presumptive for both DM and TB. The uptake of DM testing among those with presumptive diabetes was 26.1% while the uptake of TB testing among presumptive TB cases was 5.9%. Despite efforts to promote bi-directional screening of TB and DM, the uptake of TB testing among pre-diabetes and diabetes cases was only 4.7%, while the uptake of DM testing among MTB positive cases was 21.8%., Conclusion: While a high yield for TB was identified among pre-diabetics and diabetics along with a high yield of DM among individuals diagnosed with TB, there was a low uptake of TB testing amongst presumptive TB patients who were recorded as pre-diabetic or diabetic. Bi-directional screening for TB and DM which includes the integration of TB diagnostics, DM screening and TB-DM treatment within existing health care programs will need to address the operational challenges identified before implementing this as a strategy in public health programs.

The introduction of digital CXR with automated computer-aided interpretation, has given impetus to the role of CXR in TB screening, particularly in low resource, high-burden settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CAD4TB as a screening tool, implemented in the private sector in Karachi, Pakistan. This study analyzed retrospective data from CAD4TB and Xpert MTB/RIF testing carried out at two private TB treatment and diagnostic centers in Karachi. Sensitivity, specificity, potential Xperts saved, were computed and the receiver operator characteristic curves were constructed for four different models of CAD4TB. A total of 6,845 individuals with presumptive TB were enrolled in the study, 15.2% of which had MTB + ve result on Xpert. A high sensitivity (range 65.8-97.3%) and NPV (range 93.1-98.4%) were recorded for CAD4TB. The Area under the ROC curve (AUC) for CAD4TB was 0.79. CAD4TB with patient demographics (age and gender) gave an AUC of 0.83. CAD4TB offered high diagnostic accuracy. In low resource settings, CAD4TB, as a triage tool could minimize use of Xpert. Using CAD4TB in combination with age and gender data enhanced the performance of the software. Variations in demographic information generate different individual risk probabilities for the same CAD4TB scores.

Setting: Pakistan ranks fourth among the countries with a high burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), with only 19.2% of the 15 000 estimated incident cases being notified. Increasing treatment coverage for MDR-TB is a key priority for Pakistan's National Tuberculosis Programme. The World Health Organization recommends the use of the Xpert® MTB/RIF assay as the first-line diagnostic test for individuals with presumed TB., Objective: To describe a multifaceted case-finding intervention targeting public and private sector health care facilities that used the Xpert assay as a frontline diagnostic test for individuals with presumptive TB, in Karachi, Pakistan, and its impact on case notifications of MDR-TB., Design: Cross-sectional study., Results: A total of 51 168 individuals were tested using Xpert, of whom respectively 7581 and 1534 people were diagnosed with TB in the public sector (reverse public-private mix) and private sector (social business model) arms; 574 (6.3% of all TB cases) were identified as having rifampicin (RMP) resistance. A total of 517 (90.1%) people with RMP-resistant TB (RR-TB) identified through the project were initiated on second-line treatment. The intervention resulted in 194 additional cases of RR-TB, an increase of 43% over the baseline., Conclusion: This project, one of the largest Xpert testing programmes conducted at city level, resulted in significantly increased detection and treatment of MDR-TB.

Predictors of smear non-conversion at baseline can help identify cases at risk for failure of tuberculosis treatment. Retrospective data for smear-positive Category 1 patients in Karachi, Pakistan, was analyzed. Predictors of sputum conversion were determined using multiple logistic regression with sputum conversion as outcome variable and patient demographics, baseline weight, baseline sputum smear grade, case-finding approach as explanatory variables. Age ≥35 years, baseline sputum grade of 3+ were significantly associated with predicting sputum smear positivity at month 2 of treatment. Monitoring compliance to TB treatment should be considered amongst older patients and those with a high sputum grade at baseline., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Pakistan is classified as one of the high multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden countries. A poorly regulated private sector, over-prescription of antibiotics and self-medication has led to augmented rates of drug-resistance in the country. Pakistan's first national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey identified high prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance among MDR-TB patients. Further institutional evidence of fluoroquinolone drug-resistance can support re-evaluation of treatment regimens as well as invigorate efforts to control antibiotic resistance in the country., Findings: In this study, data for drug-susceptibility testing (DST) was retrospectively analyzed for a total of 133 patients receiving MDR-TB treatment at the Chest Department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, Pakistan. Frequency analyses for resistance patterns was carried out and association of fluoroquinolone (ofloxacin) resistance with demographics and past TB treatment category were assessed. Within first-line drugs, resistance to isoniazid was detected in 97.7% of cases, followed by rifampicin (96.9%), pyrazinamide (86.4%), ethambutol (69.2%) and streptomycin (64.6%). Within second-line drugs, ofloxacin resistance was detected in 34.6% of cases. Resistance to ethionamide and amikacin was 2.3% and 1.6%, respectively. Combined resistance of oflaxacin and isoniazid was detected in 33.9% of cases. Age, gender and past TB treatment category were not significantly associated with resistance to ofloxacin., Conclusion: Fluoroquinolone resistance was observed in an alarmingly high proportion of MDR-TB cases. Our results suggest caution in their use for empirical management of MDR-TB cases and recommended treatment regimens for MDR-TB may require re-evaluation. Greater engagement of private providers and stringent pharmacy regulations are urgently required.

Background: Given regional variability and minimal improvement in infant mortality rates in Pakistan, this study aimed to explicate sociocultural influences impacting mothers' efforts to maintain or improve newborn health., Methods: We used a qualitative phenomenological approach. A total of 10 mothers and 8 fathers from a fishing village in Karachi, Pakistan were purposefully sampled and interviewed individually. A focus group was undertaken with four grandmothers (primary decision makers). Transcripts were independently reviewed using interpretive thematic analysis., Results: A multigenerational approach was used in infant care, but mothers did not have a voice in decision-making. Parents connected breast milk to infant health, and crying was used as cue to initiate feeding. Participants perceived that newborns required early supplementation, given poor milk supply and to improve health. There were tensions between traditional (i.e., home) remedies and current medical practices. Equal importance was given to sons and daughters., Conclusion: Findings suggest that social and cultural influences within families and the community must be considered in developing interventions to improve newborn health. Introducing non-breast milk substances into newborn diets may reduce the duration of exclusive or partial breastfeeding and increase risks to infant health.

Setting: Urban Karachi, Pakistan., Objective: To describe the yield of a contact investigation protocol implemented among children living with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients., Design: We implemented a contact investigation protocol in households of DR-TB patients treated at the Indus Hospital, Karachi, between January 2008 and April 2011. This included a detailed history and physical examination, tuberculin skin test, chest radiograph, smear microscopy and culture of sputum or gastric aspirate specimens, and drug susceptibility testing. Treatment supporters who visited DR-TB patients at home referred all child contacts for baseline evaluation and performed monthly assessments. We evaluated two age groups: 1) children aged <5 years, and 2) those aged 5-14 years., Results: Among 133 children aged <15 years in 40 households, 40.4% (51/125) were moderately to severely underweight (weight-for-age Z-score <-2). Overall, 7.5% (10/133) had TB disease. This proportion was 6.5% (2/31) in those aged <5 years and 7.8% (8/102) in those aged 5-14 years. Seven (7/10) were smear-positive, and 4/10 had culture-confirmed multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Conclusion: We detected a high prevalence of TB in children who live with DR-TB patients, regardless of the age of the child. Child contacts of DR-TB patients are a high-yield population for detecting TB cases.

Background: In Pakistan, like many Asian countries, a large proportion of healthcare is provided through the private sector. We evaluated a systematic screening strategy to identify people with tuberculosis in private facilities in Karachi and assessed the approaches' ability to diagnose patients earlier in their disease progression., Methods and Findings: Lay workers at 89 private clinics and a large hospital outpatient department screened all attendees for tuberculosis using a mobile phone-based questionnaire during one year. The number needed to screen to detect a case of tuberculosis was calculated. To evaluate early diagnosis, we tested for differences in cough duration and smear grading by screening facility. 529,447 people were screened, 1,010 smear-positive tuberculosis cases were detected and 942 (93.3%) started treatment, representing 58.7% of all smear-positive cases notified in the intervention area. The number needed to screen to detect a smear-positive case was 124 (prevalence 806/100,000) at the hospital and 763 (prevalence 131/100,000) at the clinics; however, ten times the number of individuals were screened in clinics. People with smear-positive TB detected at the hospital were less likely to report cough lasting 2-3 weeks (RR 0.66 95%CI [0.49-0.90]) and more likely to report cough duration >3 weeks (RR 1.10 95%CI [1.03-1.18]). Smear-positive cases at the clinics were less likely to have a +3 grade (RR 0.76 95%CI [0.63-0.92]) and more likely to have +1 smear grade (RR 1.24 95%CI [1.02-1.51])., Conclusions: Tuberculosis screening at private facilities is acceptable and can yield large numbers of previously undiagnosed cases. Screening at general practitioner clinics may find cases earlier than at hospitals although more people must be screened to identify a case of tuberculosis. Limitations include lack of culture testing, therefore underestimating true TB prevalence. Using more sensitive and specific screening and diagnostic tests such as chest x-ray and Xpert MTB/RIF may improve results.

Background:  Immunization coverage data and determinants for completion are not well described for Pakistan. This study determines immunization coverage rates and timeliness based on the 2006-07 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and identifies determinants for completion of immunizations., Methods:  DHS data from 9177 randomly selected households from across Pakistan were analyzed to assess immunization coverage and timeliness for children aged 0-5 years, and to investigate determinants of immunization completion through logistic regressions., Results:  The proportion of children immunized for a third dose of the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV3) was 80.3%, and combination diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines (DTP3) was 55.9%. Measles coverage was 62.5%. Late immunizations were most likely to occur for third doses of the OPV (65.5%) and DTP series (65.5%). Early doses were most likely to be administered for measles (21.9%). The proportion of children not immunized for any vaccine was 6.2%. Receiving a dose of maternal tetanus was a major determinant for immunization completion for OPV3 (OR 1.35, 95% CI: 1.14-1.60), DTP3 (OR 2.54, 95% CI: 2.13-3.02), and measles (OR 2.78, 95% CI: 2.27-3.40). Other independent variables associated with improved immunization completion included higher household wealth and maternal education., Conclusion:  Poor routine immunization coverage and timeliness were identified through the DHS in Pakistan. Encouraging maternal tetanus uptake among women of child-bearing age and greater integration of immunization services with antenatal care may help improve childhood immunization completion.