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Hand hygiene remains one of the most effective methods of preventing healthcare-associated infections. Hand drying is the end point of hand hygiene. Hand drying after hand hygiene is less explored, and the practice varies in different facilities. This explorative study was done to know the various hand-drying methods and practices of healthcare workers in Indian settings. This was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based observational study initiated from a tertiary care setup in Uttarakhand. Healthcare workers over 18 years of age directly involved in patient care were enrolled. A semi-structured questionnaire with both open-ended and close-ended questions was used with snowballing sampling technique. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Out of the eligible 395 respondents, 62.8% were female. The mean age of the respondents was 31.34 ± 8.44 years and average working hours were 8.87 ± 2.97 (range 4-24) hours. Only 72.7% did hand hygiene always before touching a patient. Nurses were more compliant about hand hygiene than doctors (P < 0.0001). A total of 82.8% were aware of appropriate hand-drying methods. Staff in the Intensive care unit Intensive care unit (ICU) setup were more aware of hand drying practices (P = 0.033). A total of 21.8% wiped their hands on their clothing to dry their hands. This was more in staff from paraclinical departments (P = 0.001). A total of 35.7% used handkerchiefs to dry hands. Resident doctors used handkerchiefs more than senior doctors or nursing staff (P = 0.01). A total of 49.9% of respondents spent less than 10 seconds in hand drying. Hand-hygiene knowledge is high among healthcare workers in India, but the knowledge of appropriate hand-drying practices is lacking. There is wide variation in the practice of hand drying. Better hand drying guidelines and incorporating hand drying as the essential endpoint of the hand hygiene ritual are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a major public health concern among Indian adolescents. Pre- and post-natal depression can often alter fetal development and have negative consequences on the physical and mental health of the mother. This paper aims to draw attention to the prevalence of depression and its correlates among currently married, ever-pregnant adolescents from two Indian States, i.e. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Methods: This study utilizes data from a subsample (n = 3116) of the prospective cohort study Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) among 10 to 19 year-old adolescents. Bivariate analysis was performed to assess the prevalence of depression by sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. To further access the predictors associated with depression a logistic regression model was applied. Results: Around one-tenth (9%) of pregnant adolescents had depression. Regression analysis indicated that substance use, religion, autonomy, considering attempting suicide, premarital relationship, violence, dowry, adverse pregnancy outcome, menstrual problem, and parental pressure for the child immediately after marriage were significantly associated with depression. Conclusions: This study confirms the pre-existing annotation that teen pregnancy is linked with depression. Findings indicate that Adolescent mothers experiencing violence, and a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes are at increased risk of developing depression. These study findings call for an urgent need to address depression among adolescent mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Almost 70% of women residing in urban areas and 48% of women in rural areas use sanitary napkins in India. According to menstrual health alliance India (MHAI), single sanitary pad will take about 500-800 years to decompose as the plastic used in manufacturing is nonbiodegradable and causes severe noxious effects contributing to global warming through the production of planet warming fuels which eventually have severe impact on environment sustainability. Hence, the study was undertaken to contribute the evidence for the "Clean and Green India". Aim: To know the perception and practice of disposal of sanitary napkins among young college-going females in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted throughout the country employing a self-administered questionnaire using a survey link sent through social media. Data collected were analyzed and interpreted using SPSS version 20.0. Result: The study population comprised 484 young college girls with a mean age of 20.92 ± 1.86 years and 96.9% of them are using sanitary napkins as menstrual absorbent aids. The most common method employed for the disposal of sanitary napkins was dumping them in the bin (87.4%). About 63.2% of them had no knowledge about sanitary napkin-burning machines. Around 92% think that improper disposal of sanitary napkins can cause health problems. Conclusion: The findings from the study revealed that a significant number of women were practicing noneco-friendly disposal methods and menstrual hygiene aids which are a bane to the ecosystem. Study warrants the education and training of females to achieve a green and clean sustainable India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This research paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of gender identification utilizing palatal rugae. Materials and Methods: The size of the sample that was selected included 100 people. They were made up of 50 men and 50 women, all in between the ages of 18 and 25. To examine their palatal rugae patterns, casts were made after taking maxillary impressions. Based on the size and rugae amount found on the left as well as the right sides, the palatal rugae patterns were investigated. Rugae patterns have been recognized based on the categorization provided by Thomas and Kotze (1983). Statistical Analysis: Chi-square analysis has been used. Results: There were comparative variations in the shape of rugae patterns among male and female individuals. The study revealed that the circular pattern was higher in males (P < 0.01) as compared to females and the unification pattern was comparatively greater in females (P < 0.05) as compared to males. The most predominant pattern that was seen in both genders was the wavy pattern that was seen to be present in 57.17% of males and 53.42% of females. The rugae number on the right and left sides did not exhibit any significant variations. Conclusions: This research thus exhibits a relevant difference in patterns of rugae and also confirms the uniqueness of patterns in each individual. Hence, it could be utilized as an adjunct to other tools for identification in the forensic sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of age in children and teenagers is significantly influenced by dental maturity. It has been shown that estimating age by examining the calcification of permanent teeth yields precise and accurate methods and outcomes. It has become a vital instrument in forensics. In pediatric dentistry, age estimate is important for identifying developmental milestones. It may also be used to determine the child's age in cases when the date of birth is unknown, which is important for treatment planning. Understanding the existence of different abnormalities, such as oligodontia and congenital lack of teeth or teeth, is also made easier with an understanding of dental age. There is no study in the literature on dental age estimation that is done in the Bengal Population. This population-based cross-sectional study estimates the chronological age, and dental age using Willems's and Cameriere's age estimation methods. The study is a comparative evaluation among all the groups and the paper will include the descriptive methodology, results based on the data that is yet to be subjected to statistical analysis, followed by conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUNDS: Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) application is among presurgical management (PSM) techniques used for infants with cleft lip and palate (CLP). It helps to approximate the palatal cleft and to reshape the nasoalveolar complex prior to primary lip repair. This study aimed to explore types of PSM and the dental speciality provision for infants with CLP in Baghdad. The status of NAM usage and surgeons' perceptions toward NAM usage were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional paper-based questionnaire study that collected responses of surgeons perform primary lip and nose repair regarding PSM. The questionnaire was distributed amongst public and private hospitals in Baghdad. Twenty surgeons were enrolled (only those surgeons who perform primary repair for infants with CLP); two females and eighteen males. RESULTS: The majority of participants' responses suggested that the majority of infants with CLP were provided with baby feeding plates and lip straps. Six surgeons reported that a percentage of their patients who have been provided with NAM. PSM in Baghdad was mostly supplied by orthodontists and plastic surgeons, and the next most likely providers were prosthodontists. 82.35% of the surgeons found that primary surgical repair procedures were easier with NAM than for the other infants. The rest have not perceived any differences. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontists, surgeons and prosthodontists were involved in providing PSM. Baby feeding plates and lip straps were the most common PSM in Baghdad, although NAM is not uncommon. Most surgeons believe that using NAM made surgical procedures easier and permitted the prediction of surgical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a condition that affects nearly 3--9% of the women in the reproductive age during the luteal phase of each menstrual cycle characterized by symptoms varying in severity and affecting the quality of life. Earlier research studies conducted have reported independent relationships between PvuII-ESR1-polymorphism and psychological traits in PMDD and risk for cognitive, behavioral, and affective symptoms. However, as the studies are few in number and the results are not consistent, there is a need for our study to link between the PvuII-ESR1gene and PMDD. Methodology: All nonpregnant women aged between 18 and 45 years and attending the OBG or Medicine or Psychiatry OPD for a routine health checkup were recruited into the study. The cross-sectional study recruited 35 samples each in the control and PMDD groups using a validated screening PMDD Assessment Scale Questionnaire (PMDDASQ). Mann--Whitney's U test and Chi-square test were used to calculate P values for the continuous and categorical variables. Tetra-primer--amplification refractory mutation system--polymerase chain reaction was used to identify the PvuII-ESR1gene polymorphism after isolation of genomic DNA from the whole blood. Results: Data-Analysis Pak tool and Med-Calc software were used for data analysis. The PvuII-ESR1 genotype distribution was in Hardy--Weinberg equilibrium in both PMDD and controls. The PMDDASQ scoring showed a significance with P ≤ 0.05. Pearson's Chi-Squared test performed for genotypes and alleles did not show any significant association with the phenotype. Conclusion: PvuII-ESR1 SNP (T/C rs2234693) does not show any association with phenotype between the control and PMDD. However, PMDDAS questionnaire can be used to differentiate the women who are controls from PMDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents in low-middle-income countries face increasing physical and mental health challenges. The present study aimed to assess status of injury, verbal abuse, substance use, and emotional behavior of adolescents of Uttarakhand, India, and evaluate the importance of each component. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents in 13 government schools in Uttarakhand using the Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS). Categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA) using Varimax rotation was performed to analyze principal components among two domains of GSHS (substance abuse domain and verbal abuse and emotional behavior domain). Factorability was assessed using Kaiser--Meyer--Olkin and Bartlett's test. Variance Accounted For index was used to evaluate the importance of each component. Results: A total of 634 adolescents completed the questionnaire. 41.3% students suffered from serious injury with a significant difference (P < 0.0001) between both genders. Girls were more likely to report having felt lonely most of the time or always in the past 12 months (11.0% vs 4.6%, P = 0.018). Boys were more likely to miss classes on 3 or more days (9.9% vs 4.9%, P = 0.043). Initiation of smoking cigarettes (9.6% vs 1.2%, P <0.0001) and tobacco chewing (3.4% vs 0.3%, P = 0.001) was more likely in 12--15-year-old boys. One-third of the students reported male guardians to use either alcohol or some form of tobacco. CATPCA yielded an 11-factor model accounting for 58.26% of variances with the most important principal component named "Tobacco (Smoking and Chewing): Initiation, Frequency and Attempt to Stop" (eigenvalue: 4.109). Conclusion: Significant differences in various items of injury, verbal abuse, substance use, and emotional behavior were recorded between boys and girls. CATPCA revealed patterns among injury, verbal abuse, emotional behavior, and substance abuse domains of GSHS by categorizing them into 11 components. On the basis of these patterns, prioritizing and development of appropriate school-based interventions may be implemented by various stakeholders of Uttarakhand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smile esthetics can be subjective. This study aims to assess the effect of culture/geographic location on judging smile esthetics by comparing the perception of smile characteristics between American laypersons (Western culture) and Iranians (Eastern). Materials and Methods: One hundred residents from each country were recruited for this analytical cross-sectional study. A frontal picture of a posed smile with standard norms which are mentioned in the Contemporary Orthodontics textbook by William R. Proffit was selected. Adobe Photoshop 7 was used to alter midline diastema, gingival display (GD), maxillary midline-to-face discrepancy, buccal corridor (BC), and smile arc. Images were given to groups to determine the most attractive and acceptable smile. Data were analyzed by Chi-square, Mann–Whitney, and Spearman correlation coefficient in SPSS-22 (α =0.05). Results: Americans were less critical in judging diastema (P < 0.001), GD (P = 0.013), and BC (P = 0.004) for smile attractiveness than Iranians. No difference was between the two groups in choosing the acceptability threshold and determining the most attractive smile except for BC (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Overall, Americans were more tolerant of variations in smile characteristics than Iranians. Both groups agreed on most smiles. Therefore, it seems that it is reasonable to use similar standards for smile characteristics while considering the small differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Construction workers are prone to develop musculoskeletal problems and it is a leading cause for the morbidity due to their work type. This study aimed to assess the body mechanics practice and perceived musculoskeletal problems of construction workers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2019 and July 2020 among 390 construction workers at construction sites under selected villages of Udupi District, Karnataka by using by proportionate method. Villages were selected using a simple random sampling method and samples were collected by convenience sampling. Samples were mason helpers between 20 and 50 years of age, without any history of chronic musculoskeletal problems. Tools used were demographic proforma, self-reported body mechanics practice questionnaire, and modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. Analysis done with descriptive and inferential statistics by using SPSS Version 16.0. Results: Majority 144 (36.9%) of the participants were in the age group between 41 and 50 years. Most 376 (96.4%) of them were men and majority of them 309 (79%) followed fair body mechanics practice and 191 (49%) of the participants had low back problems and were responsible for their activity restrictions. Body mechanic practice of the construction workers was found to be significantly associated with unhealthy practice (P ≤ 0.001) and health problems (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study concluded that the body mechanic practice of the construction workers was found to be significantly associated with unhealthy practices and health problems. The study recommends that educating construction workers about the importance of following proper body mechanics at the workplace and during day-to-day activities is crucial to prevent musculoskeletal problems and improve quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged hours of sitting in sustained posture is a common job requirement of desk job workers. Potential risk of iliopsoas muscle shortening leading to lumbar hyperlordosis, which in turn may cause low-back pain was identified. Thus, this study determined association between iliopsoas muscle length and lumbar lordosis in desk job workers. Methods and Material: This cross-sectional study was conducted on forty-six desk job workers working for 5 hrs/day for at least 5 years. Workers were assessed for iliopsoas muscle length using Modified Thomas test and flexi-ruler was used to measure lumbar lordosis. Pearson's correlation was operated for association of iliopsoas length with lumbar lordosis. Results: Lumbar lordosis demonstrated moderate positive correlation with both right (r = 0.628) and left Iliopsoas muscle length (r = 0.647). Conclusion: This study concluded workers with higher degree of lumbar lordosis presented with shorter iliopsoas length. Timely intervention to maintain the length of this muscle will ensure low incidence of low-back pain among desk job workers thereby safeguarding their spine due to cumulative trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The mining sector plays a pivotal role in meeting global resource demands, necessitating the extensive use of heavy earth-moving machinery (HEMM). Among these, load-haul-dump (LHD) mining vehicles are vital but expose operators to whole-body vibration (WBV) and shocks during their duties. Research indicates potential health risks associated with occupational WBV exposure, including musculoskeletal disorders. Evaluating these risks typically employs ISO 2631-1:1997, which, however, has limitations in addressing long-term exposure and shock effects. Methods: This study quantifies the health risks of LHD operators in Indian underground coal mines using ISO 2631-5:2018 and compares it to ISO 2631-1:1997. The methods for risk quantification from WBV vary between the two standards, leading to a comprehensive comparison. In addition, a cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess self-reported musculoskeletal pain among LHD operators. Results: The results were compared in accordance with frequency-weighted root mean square (RMS) values, vibration dose values (VDV), daily compressive dose (SdA), and the risk of injury (RA) factor. The assessment using A(8), VDV, SdA, and RA produced diverse evaluations, influencing varying perspectives on occupational health despite significant risks. ISO 2631-5:2018 consistently suggested a lower health risk for LHD operators as opposed to ISO 2631-1:1997. Seat effective amplitude transmissibility (SEAT) values showed amplification of vibration in the range of 4-8 Hz. Self-reported musculoskeletal pain indicated the prevalence of discomfort among operators. Conclusion: The study emphasizes a cautious approach when interpreting results and shaping guidelines to ensure sustainable development through the well-being of mining industry workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to assess sleep disorders among secondary school adolescents and explore the relationship between sociodemographic factors (age, gender, household income, and sleep duration) and the occurrence of these disorders. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, was conducted from November 20th, 2022, to May 25th, 2023, involving 200 secondary school students selected through convenience sampling. Data collection utilized a structured questionnaire divided into sociodemographic and sleep disorder sections. Validity was ensured by a panel of ten experts, and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's Alpha (0.77). Statistical analysis employed SPSS version 26. Results: Findings revealed that a majority of participants (70.5%) had low-level sleep disorders, followed by moderate disorders represented (29%). Significant associations were found between sleep disorders and gender (P = 0.000), economic status for family (P = 0.020), and nightly sleep duration (P = 0.016). However, no significant relationship was observed between sleep disorders and family structure or age (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The study highlights that most secondary school students experience mild sleep disorders, followed by moderate disorders. Notably, gender, income, and sleep duration showed significant correlations with sleep disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mutations affecting transcription, translation, or beta-globin stability, among other stages of beta-globin production, cause beta-thalassemia. Methods: Beta-thalassemia results in a high red blood cell count with a low mean corpuscular volume (60-70fl) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (19-23pg), and Naked Eye Single Tube Red Cell Osmotic Fragility Test (NESTROFT) is recommended for mass screening of populations. Among tribals in Dharmapuri district, this cross-sectional analysis evaluated the efficacy of RBC and NESTROFT against HPLC, regarded as the gold standard, in a study involving 484 subjects. Results: Findings indicated that out of the 484 samples, 73 tested positive for the beta-thalassemia trait through HPLC. The NESTROFT test demonstrated 87% sensitivity, 98.5% specificity, a positive predictive value of 99.3%, and a negative predictive value of 73.3%. In the multivariate analysis, NESTROFT and hemoglobin showed high significance with P values of 0.003 and 0.000, respectively. Conclusion: NESTROFT's high sensitivity is particularly noteworthy due to the absence of research among the Malayali tribes in the Dharmapuri district. Adoption of this preliminary test shows promise in detecting the disease at the local level, providing important information for early detection, especially considering the sizeable tribal population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Very few studies have compared different diagnostic approaches to diagnose depression in patients with cancers. Aim: To compare the different diagnostic approaches used for diagnosing depression in patients with cancers. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 200 patients (diagnosed with cancer at least 3 months prior to recruitment) attending the outpatient services who were assessed on diagnostic and statistical manual, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for depression. Additionally, these patients were also assessed using the inclusive, exclusive, and substitutive criteria for depression using a semistructured interview. Patients completed Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.28 years (S.D. M14.11). Females outnumbered males. The mean age of onset of malignancy was 47 years (S.D 14.03), and the mean time since diagnosis of cancer was 35.45 years (S.D 36.87). The prevalence of depression was the highest (38.5%) when estimated using the PHQ-9 and was the lowest (21.5%) when assessed using exclusive criteria for depression. All approaches had high degree of concordance with the DSM-5 criteria for depression. Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients with cancer suffer from depression, and the prevalence is influenced by the diagnostic method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several observational studies have reported the prevalence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and their risk factors in an elderly population. Any information in this regard is currently lacking from India. Aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, risk factors of CMBs, and association with cognition in an Indian urban population aged 50 years and above. Methods: Household surveys were conducted as part of ongoing Longitudinal Cognition and Aging Research on Population of the National Capital Region (LoCARPoN) study in areas of urban Delhi. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed in 2599 participants. Using standard neuropsychological battery, mean Z-scores for each domain (memory, executive, information) were derived. Binary and stepwise logistic regression models were used to determine associated risk factors for the presence of CMB and its association with cognitive domains. Results: The prevalence of CMBs was 14.42% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.06-15.73). Of these, 203 (7.81%) participants had single CMBs and 172 (6.61%) had multiple microbleeds (≥2). Higher prevalence was observed in older age (6070 years: odds ratio [OR]: 1.25 [95% CI: 0.93-1.67]; 70-80 years: OR: 2.05 [95% CI: 1.48-2.84]; ≥80 years: OR: 3.27 [95% CI: 1.97-5.44]) compared to individuals in the age group 50-60 years. History of stroke (OR: 2.97 [95% CI: 1.56-5.66]), hypertension (OR: 1.36 [95% CI: 1.05-1.75]), and smoking (OR: 1.43 [95% CI: 1.11-1.85]) was associated with at least one CMB. Multiple CMBs were associated with worse scores in memory and executive domains. Conclusion: Older age, hypertension, history of stroke, and history of smoking emerged as important risk factors for the presence of multiple CMBs. Follow-up study is required to determine implications of CMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The study's purpose is to improve the quality of care for both local residents and travelers in the Kurnool district by identifying and addressing gaps and barriers. The main objective of the research was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practical implementation of travel medicine among primary health-care physicians working in the Kurnool district. Materials and Methods: The research utilized a descriptive cross-sectional study design. A total of 397 primary care doctors in the Kurnool area participated. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, which covered sociodemographic factors, travel medicine knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results: The study revealed that a significant portion (around 79.5%) of the participants reported providing travel health advice at some point. The primary source of information on travel medicine for most participants (66%) was the Ministry of Health's travel guides. However, the study identified a knowledge gap, as 11.4% of individuals were unaware of the origin of typhoid infection. The most common health issues reported during posttrip consultations were diarrhea and respiratory infections. Conclusion: The study's findings suggested that the general practitioners in the Kurnool district had insufficient knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning travel medicine. This underscores the need for additional education and training in travel medicine to improve traveler health care and reduce the risk of preventable diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With the rapid rise of the Internet, it has become an indispensable part of adolescents’ learning and lives. To promote sustainable development of the Internet, fostering good Internet moral literacy among adolescents is particularly important. Given the current absence of a Chinese version of the Internet Moral Literacy Scale suitable for adolescents, this study translated and conducted two studies on the scale developed by Lau and Yuen. Methods: In Study 1, item analysis and factor validity analysis of the scale were conducted with 343 adolescents from China. In Study 2, a large‑scale cross‑sectional survey was conducted to analyze descriptive statistics, factor validity, measurement invariance across genders, difference analysis, and concurrent validity of the scale. The study 2 involved 7837 Chinese adolescents. Results: The results from study 1 showed that most items met the specified criteria. However, one item exhibited higher internal consistency than the overall Cronbach’s alpha value when removed. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a more suitable two‑dimensional model, with one item showing cross‑loading issues. Study 2 revealed that the Internet Moral Literacy Scale had good internal reliability, and the two‑factor structure exhibited excellent factor validity. In addition, significant gender differences in Internet moral literacy levels were identified, with males scoring lower than females. A significant negative correlation was found between Internet moral literacy and both cyberbullying (r = −0.87, P < 0.001) and moral disengagement (r = −0.75, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Chinese version of the Internet Moral Literacy Scale has good psychometric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several journals are launched every month. The authors need to stay updated regarding selecting and publishing their research work in the right journal, considering the number of predatory journals present now. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst academicians, clinicians and post-graduate students from the speciality of periodontology in India by using a valid questionnaire to understand the knowledge regarding the choice, publisher details, peer review system, indexing, archiving and publication fee guidelines. Inferential statistics and descriptive statistics were performed for the analysis. Results: The survey included academicians (n = 1832), clinicians (n = 370) and post-graduate students (n = 969) who consented to take part in the survey. Overall, the results showed that the post-graduate students had better knowledge regarding the selection and publication of articles in journals. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that the participants have an understanding of publication in niche speciality journals with a little ambiguity in the names of the journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: User satisfaction in healthcare is an important measure of the quality of services provided to the patient and their carers. Since treatment of psychiatric patients requires long follow-up periods, and this long follow-up treatment patients depends on their initial experience with health service,therefor user satisfaction is of increasing importance in the mental health field. Aims and Objectives: Assess the user satisfaction and perceptions of the attitude of emergency health- care professionals (including paramedical staff and physicians of respective specialties) toward psychiatric and nonpsychiatric patients as experienced by the patients and carers. To compare the user satisfaction and perceived attitude of emergency staff in patients with psychiatric illness and nonpsychiatric illness. To determine the service users' decision to revisit the same health-care facility in case of the same problem. Materials and Methods: This study was done in the hospital wing of a tertiary care teaching university hospital in northern India, and ethics approval was obtained from the institutional ethics committee patients' sociodemographic details and psychiatric and other relevant medical history after obtaining informed consent. The psychiatric diagnosis was made according to the ICD-10. A self-report questionnaire, comprising 9 questions, and was designed to assess the perceived attitudes of health-care workers toward the patient of psychiatric illness. The questionnaire was designed in Hindi. Descriptive statistics for categorical variables were done. Inferential statistics were calculated using the Chi-square test. Results: Out of a total of 95 respondents, 69 patients were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder and the remaining 26 patients had medical illness or other non-psychiatric disorders. Females were a majority in both groups. Our study majorly showed that service users perceived the attitudes of medical and paramedical staff in emergency units mostly as satisfactory or extremely satisfactory, as well as the majority of service users reported that they were satisfied with the reaction of emergency paramedical staff towards the emotional well-being of the patient. Conclusions: The major strengths of this study were the quantitative analysis of health workers' attitudes toward patients with psychiatric illnesses, which showed user-rated satisfactory attitudes. There was less stigma and more of a positive impact noted. The semi-structured questionnaire was designed in the local language and tailored to cover topics such as emotional well-being and psychoeducation that can all affect the user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multidrug‑resistant bacterial infections are still a global challenge and successful antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) requires multidisciplinary collaborative partnership. Studies have highlighted the knowledge and perceptions of pharmacists, but there is a paucity of data about practices of pharmacists in teaching hospitals in Nigeria. We set out to determine the knowledge and practices of pharmacists in a major tertiary health facility (THF) in Lagos, Nigeria, before starting an AMS intervention program. Methods: This cross‑sectional survey used electronic forms to find out the knowledge and practices of pharmacists employed in a large tertiary health facility. Data were collected during a Commonwealth Partnerships for AMS program to support low‑ and middle‑income countries to produce antimicrobial consumption surveillance data, quality improvement initiatives, and infection prevention and control (IPC) processes. Results: Two‑thirds of respondents knew that antibiotics were effective against bacteria, and 48.6% knew the causes of antimicrobial resistance. Almost all (97.1%) agreed that AMS must be done, IPC is important, and they were confident to point out inappropriate prescribing. Three‑quarters had advised colleagues or been involved in AMS activities; however, 62.9% had fully or mostly changed their practices based on information received, and 26.5% had participated in World Antibiotic Awareness Week. Conclusion: There are still gaps in knowledge and practices, which underscore the need to entrench regular training on the job. However, there is overall awareness of AMS and a desire for it to be carried out at all levels. Pharmacists are useful for choosing appropriate antibiotics and can play a vital role in AMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Decades of conflict and cycles of disasters in Afghanistan have caused enormous impacts on health, the economy, and even national security. Objectives: We aimed to assess the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms and their determinants among Afghan healthcare workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 830 Afghan healthcare workers working in public and private hospitals was conducted between May and July 2021. We employed a non-probability sampling method to select our subjects. The questionnaire was composed of sections on sociodemographic information, working conditions, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Multivariable linear regression models were fitted using SPSS 21 to identify determinants of mental health symptoms among Afghan healthcare workers at a 5% significance level. Results: Of all participants, 52.3% (435) had symptoms of depression, 48.8% (405) anxiety, and 46.9% (389) stress. The likelihood of mental health symptoms was higher among those who worked in an urban setting (P = 0.001), were physically inactive (P = <0.001), had a decrease in income or an unpaid salary in the past six months (P = <0.001), thinking of leaving Afghanistan (P = <0.001), had medical comorbidity (P = <0.001), and being single (P = 0.048)]. Conclusion: This study highlights the important findings about the psychological health of healthcare workers in Afghanistan. These findings suggest rapid, actionable, and locally relevant interventions to assure potential improvements in working and living conditions for the health staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leptospirosis is a reemerging zoonosis affecting humans and animals worldwide in tropical and subtropical countries. The study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in high-risk occupational groups (cattle farm workers, poultry farm workers, and slaughterhouse workers) in the state of Gujarat and to determine related risk factors for leptospirosis. Methods: Using an interview-guided questionnaire, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 123 people in high-risk occupational groups (namely, cattle farm workers, poultry farm workers, and slaughterhouse workers) from five districts of the state of Gujarat, India. The participants' serum samples were screened for antileptospiral antibodies by using Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) followed by a microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The Chi-square (χ²) test and odds ratio were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA) to ascertain the associated risk factors. Results: Regarding demographic information, this study included 104 men and 19 women in high-risk occupational groups. The overall seroprevalence of antileptospiral antibodies in these high-risk workers was 46.3%. The seroprevalence was the highest among poultry farm workers (56.6%), followed by cattle farm workers (54.5%) and slaughterhouse workers (25.6%). The MAT in combination with IgM is adequate for the serological diagnosis of leptospirosis, but we have also employed IgG ELISA to understand the chronic infection in these high-risk occupational groups as exposure was both past and present. Tests were conducted for antibodies against various Leptospira serovars in the major serogroups; frequent serovars included Hurstbridge, Panama, Javanica, Tarassovi, Copenhageni, Pomona, and Weaveri, among others. The significant (P < 0.05) risk factors associated with leptospirosis in these high-risk occupations reported to be living in field areas, the presence of livestock in the neighborhood, working in slaughterhouses, drinking water from natural water resources, contact with animals such as dogs or livestock, and wounds during occupational practice. Conclusion: Considering the high seroprevalence of leptospirosis, high-risk occupational groups should be regularly screened for potential development of the fatal disease. Hurstbridge was found to be the most prevalent serovar in the studied population, followed by Panama, Javanica, and Tarassovi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The nasal septum is crucial in the development of the craniofacial structures. Deviated nasal septum is one of the anatomical causes of mouth breathing which in turn lead to malocclusion. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the dentofacial and cephalometric characteristics in individuals with nasal breathing obstruction brought on by nasal septal deviation, as well as the relationship between these defects and various malocclusions and the degree of facial asymmetry. Materials and Methods: A two-point evaluation was adopted for the selected patients, one at the ENT department using clinical examination and CT-PNS and the severity classified according to the Mladina classification and another at the dental department, using clinical examinations, PA cephalograms, lateral cephalograms, and facial photographs. Results and Discussion: The association between malocclusion and various grades of septal deviation was statistically significant with a P value of 0.006. Results showed that 13 patients are with Class I skeletal pattern, 20 patients with Class II, and 7 patients with Class III skeletal pattern. None of the grade 7 nasal septal deviation patients had class I malocclusion and none of the grade 2 nasal septal deviation patients had class III malocclusion. Class II division I malocclusion was the most common type noted in patients with nasal septal deviation. Grade 7 nasal septal deviation was associated with the maximum amount of ANS and mentioned deviation indicating significant facial asymmetry. Conclusion: Class-II Division-1 malocclusion was the most common type noted and Class III malocclusion was more common in higher grades of nasal septal deviation. Maxillary and mandibular asymmetry worsens significantly with an increase in the grade of nasal septal deviation and is one of the significant factors in causing facial asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fordyce granules, sometimes referred to as Fordyce dots, are aberrant sebaceous glands that present as diminutive, non-painful, elevated lesions exhibiting a yellowish or whitish hue, measuring 1 to 3 mm in diameter, and manifesting inside the oral cavity. Likewise, these particles may also be seen in the vaginal region and inside the oral cavity. Aim: The primary objective of the current study is to evaluate the potential association between Fordyce granules and the skin type of individuals who seek dental care at the Dental Clinics of Qassim University. Materials and Methods: The current cross-sectional research was undertaken at the Dental Clinics of Qassim University, with a sample of 87 patients diagnosed with Fordyce's granules. The research consisted of a heterogeneous sample of participants, including individuals of all genders, ranging in age from 18 to 85 years. The study included a comprehensive evaluation of several anatomical regions to identify the existence of Fordyce's granules. This examination was conducted by a single examiner who had undergone calibration. Additionally, the participants' skin types were established using the Baumann Skin Typing System questionnaire. The data that was gathered was afterward analyzed utilizing statistical methods via the use of SPSS software. A pre-set significance level was established at P < 0.05. Results: The distribution of skin types among the study participants with Fordyce's granules were found to be oily skin (51.3%), dry skin (47.9%), sensitive skin (49.3%), and resistant skin (56.3%). The results of the research showed that there was no statistically significant correlation between the two variables, i.e. skin type and the presence of Fordyce's granules. This conclusion is supported by the increased P values of 0.941 for those with oily skin and 0.785 for individuals with dry skin. Conclusion: No relation between skin type and Fordyce's granules in the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the current status of barriers to exercise participation (EP) among patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted on 277 outpatients undergoing MHD in 2 tertiary first‑class hospitals in Beijing from February 2023 to June 2023 who were selected using convenience sampling method. The data of patients on MHD were collected using the general information questionnaire, Physical Activity Rating Scale, Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS), and Exercise Self‑Efficacy Scale (ESES). The relationship between EP and barriers to EP was analyzed through univariate and multivariate linear regression models. Results: Patients on MHD had a low exercise volume score of 13.71 ± 0.68 points and a medium EBBS score of 63.36 ± 0.40 points. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that exercise volume was significantly related to the following four aspects, including low monthly household income per capita (odds ratio [OR] = 86.741, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.164–6.465], P = 0.042), primary underlying disease of diabetic nephropathy (OR = 45.993, 95% CI [1.353–1.564], P = 0.033), the belief that “fatigue in lower extremities hinders exercise” (OR = 4.697, 95% CI [1.127–19.585], P = 0.034), and the belief that “physical exercise bringing optimistic and positive life attitude” (OR = 0.074, 95% CI [0.007–0.830], P = 0.035). Conclusions: Since patients on MHD had low physical exercise volume, the health‑care provider should pay more attention on the controllable factors that affect the EP of patients on MHD. Therefore, feasible and effective intervention measures can be formulated based on ESES in clinical nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As red henna interferes with the working principles of pulse oximetry, it affects peripheral oxygen saturation readings. This study was conducted to determine the effect of henna on the pulse oximetry of sick children admitted to the emergency department (ED). Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective observational study on 100 sick children admitted to ED. The red henna was applied on the right index finger and right toe, while the left index finger and left toe served as control. SpO2 readings for the upper limbs and lower limbs were recorded simultaneously and compared. Results: The median (interquartile range) age was 4.0 (2.0--8.6) years. There was no significant difference between SpO2 (95.9±4.2 vs. 95.4±4.4) for the upper limb finger (t = 1.147, P = 0.254) and Spo2 (95.3% ±4.9% vs. 95.7% ±3.9%) for lower limb finger (t = 0.954, P = 0.342) with henna and their corresponding pair without henna. However, the SpO2 of children with hypoxia (92.12% ±5.6% vs. 86.88% ±9.6%) for upper limb finger (92.00% ±5.7% vs. 88.41% ±5.5%) and for the toe was significantly higher on digits with henna compared with their pairs without henna (t = 3.167, P = 0.006 upper limb pair; t = 6.351, P = 0.013 for lower limb pair). Conclusions: Red henna application does not significantly affect the reading of pulse oximetry among children without hypoxia but significantly overestimates the oximetry reading in hypoxic children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The amount and frequency of internet use are often used to forecast its pros and cons, with mixed findings. After COVID-19, technological advances and sociological upheavals have shown the internet's ability to support numerous activities, necessitating a change in internet use. Beyond internet use frequency, it has been advised to examine why people use it and how it affects their well-being. Hence, we aimed to investigate the various mediators and moderators in the relationship between the quality of internet use (type of activity) and well-being. Further, we investigated whether user attributes such as initial age and frequency of internet use moderate the influence of internet use quality on problematic internet use, loneliness, and well-being. Methods: 131 students in Manipur who were 18 years old were included in this cross-sectional study. Self-rated measures of the Adult Internet Usage questionnaire, Internet Addiction Test, and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form assessed internet use, dependence, and well-being. Results: Loneliness mediates the association between well-being and internet behaviors related to personal use-self-actualization (BootSE = .53, BootLLCI = .10, BootULCI = 2.18), cultural use-belonging (BootSE =.57, BootLLCI = -2.23, BootULCI = -.02). Average online hours moderate economic use-education, loneliness, and well-being (BootSE =.13, BootLLCI = -.55, BootULCI = -.04). Conclusion: To conclude, the effectiveness of internet use affects well-being differently depending on the type of activity. After a certain point, even seemingly good internet activities may have diminishing returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women's empowerment, a precondition of sustainable development, is a multidimensional and complex concept, often described with three interrelated components: resources, agency, and achievement. There is no universal construct for women's empowerment; rather, it has been assessed based on the context. It had been hardly explored in rural West Bengal. Objectives: This study was formulated to construct a women's empowerment index (WEI), in rural West Bengal, and assess the reliability of the index. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study focusing on Women's Empowerment, Child Health and Nutrition (WE-CHANT) was conducted in a community development block in West Bengal. Mother (of reproductive age)--child (6--59 months) pairs were recruited from 20 villages by two-stage sampling (n = 268). Mothers were interviewed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with oblique rotation was conducted with 25 measurement variables to construct the WEI. The internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's alpha, item-rest, average inter-item, inter-domain, and domain-to-index correlation. Results: A 12-item (factor loading ≥0.40) WEI comprising three domains--decision-making power, attitude toward gender-based violence (GBV), and social independence--was constructed with acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.747). The multidimensionality of the index was also observed. Conclusion: A concise agency-based WEI was constructed, where decision-making power was explored as the major domain. This index in the context of rural West Bengal could be further utilized to assess women's empowerment and elicit its association with resources and achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The WHO defines LBW as "Birth weight less than 2500 grams" regardless of gestational age. Being born with a low birth weight also incurs enormous economic costs, including higher medical expenditures and social service expenses, and decreased productivity in adulthood. Objective: To study distribution of newborns' according to pregnancy related factors and its association with newborns' birth weight. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study. New-borns delivered at study institute were considered as study participants. Estimated final sample size was 500. Guardians (mothers) were face-to-face interviewed and also recorded data were collected from the case file and Mother and Child Protection Card. Results: Prevalence of LBW newborns was higher in mothers with late ANC registration, <4 ANC visits, chronic medical conditions, infection during pregnancy, PIH, anemia, consuming tobacco, exposure to second hand smoke, LSCS/Assisted delivery, in female newborns', current pregnancy birth order number more than 2, in pre term newborns' and mothers with bad obstetric history. Conclusion: Create awareness and adoption of suitable family planning methods. Need to do early (within 12 weeks) ANC registration with minimum four ANC visits for better pregnancy outcome. Effective tracking and suitable intervention provided to improve current pregnancy outcome. Health care professional should pay special attention to high-risk pregnancy. Develop social culture in such a way that females are neither addicted nor exposed to any tobacco containing products in their life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small-scale fishers of Indian Sundarbans depend on open-water fisheries for their livelihoods. They often face health, occupational, and safety issues in their profession due to environmental, socio-economic, and policy changes. The morbidity pattern and related risk factors are important indicators of well-being for any community, hence applicable to small-scale fishers of Sundarbans. The present study was designed to assess patterns of morbidities, associated risk factors including occupational health hazards, and treatment-seeking behavior of small-scale fishers in the Indian Sundarbans. Material and Methods: Household surveys, focused group discussions, and personal interviews were conducted through a predesigned pretested structured questionnaire. Associated risk factors and the nature of seeking treatment were considered during the data collection covering 650 individuals from 132 fishers' families. Results: Morbidities were more frequent in males (39.33%) than in females (28.5%). The fever (31%) was the most dominant reason for morbidities followed by ocular ailments (23%), musculoskeletal disorder (20%), dermatological ailments (17%), and respiratory illness (9%). The highest morbidities (25%) were recorded in the age group of 21-30 years in males while that was 20% in the 11-20 years age group in the case of the females. Physical labor for fishing activities predisposes to health ailments of the studied population. Conclusions: The prevalence of morbidity among the fishermen community was found to be 28.5%. The understanding of the morbidity profile of a population in general and specific age groups of both sexes in specific sheds light on the vulnerability of working groups that will help for effective healthcare planning and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is prone to opportunistic infections, including toxoplasmosis, due to an immunodeficiency system. This study aimed to evaluate the serum of people with T2DM to determine the titer of anti-toxoplasma antibodies in patients and compare it with the control group. Materials and Methods: 720 blood samples have been carried out between October and the end of January 2017 in Sistan, and Baluchestan provinces in southeastern Iran, of these, 360 samples were related to healthy individuals (control), and 360 samples were related to T2DM individuals. The immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods have been used to detect toxoplasmosis. The data were analyzed using SPSS-19, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact test to compare statistical parameters. Results: In this cross-sectional study, out of 360 samples of T2DM by ELISA method, 60% samples in diabetic patients and 48.1% in control group were IgG positive (P < 0.05). Nearly 2.5% samples in diabetic patients and 0.3% in control group were IgM positive (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Anti-toxoplasma antibodies including IgG and IgM were higher in diabetic patient in comparison to control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has created a major global health crisis in recent years. Despite this, there have been few studies that have utilized reliable methods to assess changes in taste and smell perception. Therefore, our study aims at the number of fungiform papillae and objective measures of taste perception relationship among COVID-19 patients with olfactory and gustatory disorders. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study in which 57 COVID-19 patients were recruited who confirmed the dysfunction of taste and smell. Objective assessment of the sense of taste was evaluated using four different standardized solution preparations, and the scores were given according to the patient's statements. Digitalized quantification of fungiform papillae was counted. The data were analyzed with the Pearson's correlation coefficient using the SPSS version. 23 [Licensed JSSAHER, Mysuru, Karnataka, India], and the level of significance was set at <0.001. Results: In terms of altered or reduced taste and smell, male patients exhibited a higher incidence compared to females. Compared to the sour taste, a substantial number of COVID-19 patients have displayed a notable decrease in their ability to taste sweet, salty, and bitter flavors. However, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between taste scores and fungiform papillae density (r = 0.518, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our Study demonstrated that the quantitative evaluation of taste perception and the count of fungiform papillae can serve as important indicators of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and could potentially help in the early detection and treatment of COVID-19 patients, as reduced taste function is a significant marker of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC beta-lactamase (AmpC-BL) in Enterobacteriaceae are a global threat. Coproduction of AmpC-BL and ESBL reduces therapeutic options, with more resistance against cephamycin and beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations. This study determines the proportion, incidence, and distribution of AmpC-BL-resistant genes in clinically isolated ESBL-producing Escherichia coli , completing its scarce data in Indonesia. Methods: The samples in this study were ESBL-producing E. coli from blood and urine specimens, confirmed by BD Phoenix semiautomatic examination combined with cefoxitin disk screening method. Confirmation tests of AmpC-BL used the AmpC-disk method and the polymerase chain reaction method. Results: Thirteen (27.8%) of 108 E. coli isolates were nonsusceptible to cefoxitin, and 3 (11.5%) isolates were confirmed to produce AmpC-BL and contained AmpC-BL CITM gene. Of the 3 AmpC-BL and ESBL coproduction isolates, one isolate was a copresentation of ESBL and AmpC-BL genes, namely blaTEM and CITM. Fisher's exact test showed that the coproduction of AmpC-BL in ESBL-producing isolates was associated with reduced susceptibility to cefoxitin (P = 0.020) and amoxicillin-clavulanate (P = 0.048) compared to isolates producing ESBL alone. The effect of ESBL and AmpC-BL coproduction on reducing susceptibility to carbapenems needs further investigation. Conclusions: AmpC coproduction was found in 3 (2.8%) of 108 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates, and one isolate copresented AmpC-BL and ESBL coding genes blaTEM and CITM. These three isolates were associated with widened antibiotic resistance to cefoxitin and amoxicillin--clavulanate compared to isolates producing ESBL alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONTEXT: Pottery is defined as clay that has been fashioned into the desired shape and then dried to reduce its water content before being fried or baked to fix its form. The artisans living in traditional societies are normally influenced by their environment as well as by their myths, legends, rituals, ceremonies, festivals, social organization, and cultural norms which are reflected in their creations. The poor environmental conditions and the lack of protective equipment in these pottery workshops are key contributing factors to the development of these occupational diseases. Most pottery industries are small- to medium-scale industries and have longer and irregular working hours, a higher percentage of elderly employees, limited opportunities for health education or health inspection, and insufficient health promotion facilities compared with large companies. These factors are considered to play an important part in the development of occupational diseases and some nonspecific diseases such as psychosomatic, cardiovascular, and locomotor diseases among pottery workers. Traditional pottery making has its unique method of potter-work where it demands prolonged squatting without back support for hours which can develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). AIMS: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD) among traditional pottery makers at selected places in Bengaluru. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two rural communities of Bengaluru. One hundred and ten traditional pottery makers were randomly selected. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were screened for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD) using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, following which the pottery makers who reported low back pain (LBP) were screened for the severity of disability using the Modified Oswestry LBP Disability Questionnaire (M-OSW). The results obtained were statistically analyzed using SPSS 25.0. RESULTS: The result showed the highest prevalence of MSDs in the lower back, the findings of this study confirmed the work-related stress on traditional pottery makers. In the present study, the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder was found in the lower back, of which had trouble in the last 12 months, 56.36% were having trouble during the last 7 days, and 19.09% were prevented from doing normal activities during the last 12 months. The prevalence of MSDs during the last 12 months revealed that the maximum of them, i.e., 24.54%, were having pain in the lower back. The present study also found MSDs prevalent in the hip joint and knee joint due to the occupational need to complete the work on prolonged squatting. CONCLUSIONS: This study concluded that prolonged work exposure and awkward work postural demand increase the incidence of MSD among traditional pottery makers in Bengaluru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Through three neurocritical care unit (NCCU) surveys in China, we tried to understand the development status of neurocritical care and clarify its future development. METHODS: Using a cross‑sectional survey method and self‑report questionnaires, the number and quality of NCCUs were investigated through three steps: administering the questionnaire, sorting the survey data, and analyzing the survey data. RESULTS: At the second and third surveys, the number of NCCUs (76/112/206) increased by 47% and 84%, respectively. The NCCUs were located in tertiary grade A hospitals or teaching hospitals (65/100/181) in most provinces (24/28/29). The numbers of full‑time doctors (359/668/1337) and full‑time nurses (904/1623/207) in the NCCUs increased, but the doctor–bed ratio and nurse–bed ratio were still insufficient (0.4:1 and 1.3:1). CONCLUSION: In the past 20 years, the growth rate of NCCUs in China has accelerated, while the allocation of medical staff has been insufficient. Although most NCCU hospital bed facilities and instruments and equipment tend to be adequate, there are obvious defects in some aspects of NCCUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anemia is an important nutritional disorder with major public health importance. In India, anemia prevalence among adult males was 25.0% (NFHS-5, 2020-2021). Being rich in iron and other micronutrients camel milk might decrease the nutritional anemia prevalence. The objective was to determine the prevalence of anemia among adult male camel milk consumers (CMC) versus nonconsumers in rural Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: A community-based study was conducted among 30 CMC adult male. All the participants meeting the eligibility criteria were recruited. The same numbers of non-CMC (NCMC) adult males were recruited with respect to similar age, sex, and residence. After obtaining informed consent a semi-structured interview schedule containing sociodemographic, dietary characteristics were introduced to all participants in June 2013. The participants were assessed for their hemoglobin (Hb) level from fingertip capillary blood using the Cyanmet Hb method as suggested by Dacie and Lewis. The prevalence of anemia in each group was compared. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel version 2013 and analyzed in Stata version 13. Results: The prevalence of anemia was more (26.6%) among nonconsumers than CMCs (16.6%). There was a significant difference between these groups (P < 0.001). The mean (standard deviation) Hb (g/dL) level of the male in the CMC and NCMC categories was found to be 13.0 (0.99) and 12.22 (1.51) in adult males, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.021). Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia among CMC adult males was lower than nonconsumers with relatively higher levels of Hb in the former group. Future studies are recommended for further inference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The study looked into emergency department family members' (FMs) views on being present during resuscitation and contributing to end-of-life care. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 467 FM volunteers of mildly injured or ill patients was conducted at a research hospital between October 2021 and May 2022. Data were collected using a questionnaire administered by a clinical psychologist. The analysis employed SPSS 22.0 with a significance threshold of P < 0.05. The study was conducted according to the STROBE criteria. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean FMs' age was 34.3 ± 10.43; 64.2% were male, 62.1% were married, and 76.9% had nuclear families. About 61% wanted the option of being present during resuscitation, with 47.5% desiring participation in both resuscitation and end-of-life care. Significant differences were observed in opinions based on education, work status, and resuscitation training (P = 0.015, P = 0.001, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Many FMs sought the choice to be present during resuscitation, and nearly half preferred participation in both resuscitation and end-of-life care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food insecurity is a matter of public health concern as it is associated with adverse health outcomes particularly among vulnerable population. Accessibility and availability of nutritious and culturally appropriate food is paramount to achieve zero hunger. To assess the prevalence of household food insecurity, to estimate the household dietary diversity and its association with household food insecurity. Material and Methods: Using multistage sampling 381 rural households were surveyed. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and House hold Dietary Diversity Scale were used as study instruments. Chi square test was used to compare the two groups and P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Prevalence of household insecurity was 33.3% (127) among the surveyed households and 8.1% (31) had severe food insecurity. The mean HFIS score was 6.85 ± 4.82. The household Dietary diversity score was 8.14 ± 1.54 for food secure and 6.51 ± 1.38 for severely food insecure households. There was a statistically significant difference in intake of milk and milk products, fruits, eggs and meat/poultry among food secure and insecure households (P < 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Food insecurity was high in rural households and was associated with lower dietary intake of foods from protein group, necessitating a need to reinforce the food security programmes in rural India with focus to enhance protein rich diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social and community participation are major indicators to assess the adequacy of treatment and rehabilitation in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study examined the relationship between functional independence, level of disability, and social and community participation among people with SCI in India. Materials and Method: In this cross sectional study, 110 persons with SCI, aged 18 years and above participated in a community setting, in Karnataka, India. Spinal Cord Independence Measure Version III-self-reporting (SCIM III-SR), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART), and WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) were the clinical outcome measures. Spearman's correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression were done to determine association and identify the factors determining the community participation of people with SCI. Results: CHART physical independence had a positive correlation with SCIM self-care (R = 0.446) and SCIM mobility (r = 0.434). CHART cognitive independence (R = -0.38) and CHART mobility (R = -0.396) had a weak correlation with WHODAS. SCIM self-care and SCIM mobility (R² = 0.34) were determinants of CHART cognitive independence. SCIM respiratory and sphincter management and SCIM self-care (R² = 0.327) were determinants of CHART mobility. Conclusion: Self-care and mobility of people with SCI determine their ability to successfully reintegrate into the community, warranting a comprehensive community rehabilitation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Lip prints just like fingerprints follow unique patterns in every individual and are said to vary significantly even within the same family. Lip prints can be recognized from 6th week of intrauterine life and remain unchanged throughout their life. The objective of the present study was to evaluate personal identification through lip print patterns with additional reference to twins and members of the same family. Materials and Methods: Lips of 75 males, 75 females, and 30 twins were studied in various quadrants. In addition, the pattern in the middle 10 mm of the lower lip was also evaluated to note the pattern distribution and dominance of the type of pattern in different genders. Lip print patterns in five families across three generations (eight members each of the same family) were observed for the existence of inheritance of patterns from their ancestors. Results: Among males and females, the most common pattern in the middle 10 mm of the lower lip is Type III (34.66%) and Type IV (32%), respectively. In the middle 10 mm of the lower lip, 33.33% of twins have similar lip patterns but with differences in its arrangements. The result showed different lip print patterns even in twins and among the members of the same family across three generations, with some similar patterns which suggesting hereditary influences in lip prints. Conclusion: In the present, we can see that lip prints are unique and permanent for every human being even among twins and individuals of the same family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing profession requires strength and resilience not just physically, but emotionally as well which requires them to adapt in stressful situations that they are often exposed to in their work environment. Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of emotional intelligence (EI) and occupational stress (OS) among the nursing professionals from selected tertiary care hospitals in Bangalore, India. Methods: This was a multi-centric, cross-sectional study done among nurses with more than 1year of work experience and they were randomly selected from four tertiary care hospitals in Bangalore. The EI and OS were assessed using the Emotional intelligence scale (EIS) and Occupational Stress Index (OSI). Data was collected, both online and offline, owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The data was analyzed using SPSS v21.0 to calculate the mean, associations, and regression. Results: Out of the total 294, the mean age of the study participants was 27±4.92years. A total of 75 (25.5%) nurses had poor EI and 245 (83.3%) had moderate OSI. None of the participants had high OSI. There was a significant association between the severity grades of EI and OSI (P = 0.010) and a binary logistic regression showed that those staff with high EI had a lesser odd (OR 0.531, 95% CI 0.282-0.999) of developing occupational stress as compared to those with low EI. Conclusion: EI plays a significant role in reversing the effect of one's occupational stress. Thereby, the training curriculum should include skills and measures of resilience to facilitate their EI improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents are at risk of various psychosocial problems, due to pressure from parents, educational agencies, peers, and society. Often, it is not recognized and goes unnoticed. There is an immense need to screen this group for early detection and proper management. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of psychosocial problems among adolescents and to determine their risk factors. Methodology: The study employed a nonexperimental, exploratory, cross-sectional research design with a quantitative approach. Using a two-stage random sampling technique, a total of 2030 adolescents from 37 schools were chosen. The data collection tool for study participants consisted of three parts: (a) A sociodemographic proforma, (b) a pediatric symptom checklist-youth report, and (c) a checklist for assessing determinants of psychosocial problems. Results: Three hundred five (15.02%) of the 2030 respondents had significant impairment to internalizing problems, 350 (17.24%) to attention deficit problems, and 378 (18.62%) to externalizing problems. Pediatric symptom checklist scores and academic performance showed a moderately positive correlation. There is a significant association between psychosocial problems and adolescent characteristics at a P = 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: Adolescents have a high prevalence of psychosocial problems such as anxiety and attention deficit. Periodic screening, counseling, and referral to psychotherapy can help to lessen the severity of the condition and improve psychosocial well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity. To deal with this magnitude of cancers and their diagnostic and prognostics, a multitude of prognostic biomarkers for various cancers have been explored over the decades, with detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood being one of them. This study was undertaken to explore the routine procedure of cell block in the cytopathology lab to isolate and detect CTCs. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 112 peripheral blood samples sent for routine blood investigations of various cancer patients were utilized for the preparation of cell block. The sections from the cell block were stained routinely and evaluated for the presence of CTCs. The statistical analysis was done using Mac Statplus software version 8.0. Results: The malignancies were tabulated as per the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3). The maximum number of cases were from C 50 (breast) - 41/112 (36.6%), followed by C15–C26 (Digestive organs) - 19/112 (16.9%), and C00–C14 (lip, oral cavity, and pharynx) - 18/112 (16.07%) cases. CTC was detected in six (5.35%) out of 112 cases, out of which three were from the breast and one each from category C6.9 (mouth), C32.0 (glottis), and C53.8 (cervix uteri). Conclusion: Among various advanced and molecular techniques available for the detection of CTCs, the cell block technique proves to be one of the effective methods, especially in resource-limited settings as these can further be utilized for additional diagnostic techniques similar to the ones employed for routine paraffin blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Mood and anxiety disorders appear to be overrepresented in adults with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). These disorders have been associated with poorer biopsychosocial outcomes in this population. Mood and anxiety disorders often co-occur, but the prevalence of this comorbidity and their potential additive effects in patients with CVD remain understudied. Aims: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and co-occurrence rates of mood and anxiety disorders in the general adult population living with CVD. Associations between mood and anxiety disorder status and sociodemographic characteristics, somatic comorbidities, perceived mental health, and health-care service use were also investigated. Methods: A total of 6,792 adults aged 25 years or older and living with CVD were selected from the 2015-2016 Canadian Community Health Survey. Mood and anxiety disorders were identified based on self-report diagnoses made by a qualified health professional. All other variables were assessed using questionnaires. Results: An estimated 17.7% of the studied population reported having been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder. More precisely, 6.6% reported a mood disorder, 5.5% reported an anxiety disorder, and an additional 5.6% reported both. The presence of mood or anxiety disorders was associated with poorer perceived mental health and higher health-care service use, and these associations were stronger when mood and anxiety co-occurred. Conclusions: Approximately one in six adults with CVD reported suffering from mood or anxiety disorders, and a third of them presented both conditions. This study also suggests that co-occurring anxiety and mood disorders lead to greater vulnerability than either disorder in adults with CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tobacco is a public health concern at global and national levels. The state of Gujarat has 28.6% prevalence of tobacco use, 22% in males and 8% in females. Rajkot, the fourth largest and fastest growing city in Gujarat, is not free from the burden of tobacco use. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the patterns of tobacco use and utilization of tobacco cessation services in the city of Rajkot. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted on adult tobacco users attending rural and urban primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Rajkot. At least 16 participants were recruited from all 75 PHCs (a total of 1152) using probability sampling. Study instruments comprised semi-structured proforma, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, and readiness to change questionnaire. Responses were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: A total of 1161 participants were included. Smokeless tobacco (n = 967, 83.3%) was preferred over smoking. Mava was the most common smokeless tobacco preparation consumed. The median age of onset was 28 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 22-37), and the median duration of use was 5 years (IQR: 4-10). Males had a significantly greater duration of abstinence (U = 1218.6, P = 0.002), greater readiness to quit (χ² [df] = 35.66 [8], P = 0.001), and anticipated success (χ² [df] = 28.71 [8], P = 0.004) in abstaining. While utilization of tobacco cessation services was poor overall, counseling (32.5%) and nicotine replacement therapy (19%) were the most commonly used. Conclusion: There is a need for in-depth research on tobacco use among smaller communities, upscaling harm reduction services for tobacco use. Prevention and IEC initiatives need to be revamped considering the special needs of female tobacco users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study objective was to translate, validate, and test the reliability of the original kidney disease and quality of life-36 (KDQOL-36™) instruments in Odia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional design with a purposive sampling technique was used. According to RAND Corporation guidelines, initially, the items of the KDQOL-36™ questionnaires were translated into Odia by two independent, bilingual, professional translators, and then back-translated to English, followed by tryout and field testing. The experts validated the KDQOL-36™ instrument review committee for review related to kidney health conditions. The tool was implemented among 180 patients undergoing "maintenance" hemodialysis. The following tests evaluated reliability and validity: test-retest reliability with Cronbach's alpha correlation (stability), (reliability) internal consistency, and contents validity index. Results: The Cronbach's alpha value and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) score of all five domains, namely "physical component summary, mental component summary (MCS), the burden of kidney disease, symptoms and problems of kidney disease, and effects of kidney disease" of both KDQOL-36™ English and Odia (KDQOL-36-E™ and KDQOL-36-O™) version, recommended excellent homogeneity. A high positive correlation (r = 0.998) was found between the Odia version of KDQOL-36™ and the English version KDQOL-36™ questionnaire. The ICC score ranges from 0.889 to 0.997 at a 95% confidence interval for test-retest reliability, and Cronbach's alpha was 0.832. Conclusion: This study explores the Odia version of KDQOL-36™ psychometric properties, depicted at an acceptable level of internal consistency. The KDQOL-36-O™ instrument is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the kidney disease-related quality of life in Odia-speaking hemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital disorder of unknown etiology affecting the enteric nervous system (ENS). Since the early gestational development of the ENS is dependent on the prenatal maternal metabolic environment, the objective of this pilot study was to explore the role of specific maternal plasma metabolites in the etiology of HSCR. Methods: In this cross sectional study, postnatal (as a surrogate for prenatal) plasma samples were obtained from mothers of children diagnosed with HSCR (n = 7) and age-matched mothers of normal children (n = 6). The plasma metabolome was analyzed by ultra high pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Metabolites were identified by mzCloud using Compound Discoverer software. Using an untargeted metabolomics workflow, metabolites with case versus control group differences were identified. Results: A total of 268 unique plasma metabolites were identified and annotated in maternal plasma. Of these, 57 were significantly different between case and control groups (P < 0.05, t-test). Using a false discovery rate corrected cutoff of 10% to adjust for multiple comparisons, 19 metabolites were significantly different in HSCR cases, including carnitines, medium-chain fatty acids, and glutamic acid. Pathways affected were for amino acid and lipid metabolism. Conclusion: Disordered prenatal metabolic pathways may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of HSCR in the developing fetus. This is the first study to assess maternal plasma metabolomics in HSCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The child patient is exposed to the dental environment that triggers the natural fear response, so behavior management strategies are required to meet their needs. Objective: To identify the most common behavior management techniques adopted by pediatric dentists. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, convenient sampling will be applied to pediatric dentists. Standard questionnaires will be prepared and distributed to all dentists in the pediatric specialty. They will be designed to record participants' demographic and practice information and their current use of behavior management techniques for each patient's age. Results: Ongoing study. Conclusion: Yet to arrive at a conclusion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]