Assessing the robustness of normality tests under varying skewness and kurtosis: a practical checklist for public health researchers.

Background: Many statistical methods used in public health research, namely t-tests, ANOVA correlation and regression, rely on the assumption of normality. Violation of the normality assumption can severely lead to biased parameter estimates, reduced test power, and impact the reliability and validity of the findings, impacting the real-world evidence. An attempt to provide guidelines for choice of appropriate tests for assessment in public health data analytics is being made in this article.

Compliance to Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Ban in Four Regions of a Southern Indian State - A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Tobacco advertising and promotion influences youth smoking initiation and regular use. India's Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, bans tobacco advertising and promotion but allows Point of Sale (PoS) advertisements under specific conditions. This study aimed to assess compliance with the ban on tobacco advertising at the PoS in the Karnataka state of Southern India.

CSF biomarkers in leak detection: A systematic review & meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks result from dural tears due to traumatic and non-traumatic causes, potentially leading to meningitis, intracranial infections, subdural hematomas, and even death. Neuroimaging is still the standard diagnostic tool but presents economic and logistical challenges. Non-invasive biochemical methods offer valuable first-line diagnostics.

Technology-based comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation therapy for women in a middle-income setting: a randomized controlled trial.

Aims: Women are under-represented in cardiac rehabilitation (CR), especially in lower-income settings. This study tested Technology-bAsed Cardiac rehabilitation Therapy (TaCT) on functional capacity, risk factors, quality of life (QoL; MacNew), heart-health behaviours (e.g.

A bibliometric review of functional ingredients and their efficacy in developing functional biscuits.

Introduction: Numerous studies have concluded that the functional ingredients benefit human health. Similarly, present times have seen exponential growth in functional food in bakery product segments like breads and biscuits. However, there is a lack of information on functional ingredients and their usefulness in developing functional bakery products.

Effectiveness of "Sukhi Hrudaya - heart health guide for women" on heart health awareness in a tertiary care setting of Manipal.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major global burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, leading to higher rates of chronic CVDs and increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Offering women a comprehensive Information, Education, and Communication health guide can significantly help combat CVDs by enhancing their awareness regarding heart health. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of "Sukhi Hrudaya - heart health guide for women" on awareness regarding heart health.

Effects of Yoga on Stress in Pregnant Women.

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes physiological and metabolic changes to nourish the developing fetus. Every woman experiences pregnancy-related stress differently, with symptoms and difficulties ranging from mild to severe. However, various therapies are available to help reduce stress levels.

Effect of chronic kidney disease on adverse drug reactions to anti-tubercular treatment: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). These patients may also be at higher risk of developing antitubercular treatment (ATT)-associated adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Although dose modification has been recommended, data regarding the impact of impaired kidney function on ATT-associated ADRs is sparse.

Sepsis Research Using Omics Technology in the European Union and the United Kingdom: Maps, Trends, and Future Implications.

High-throughput omics technologies have become valuable tools for systems science research and clinical management of sepsis. This article analyzes sepsis research using omics technologies in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom from 1990 to May 2023 using bibliometric data from the Web of Science database. Using VOSviewer for network analysis, we examined the distribution patterns, funding characteristics, and collaborations among the states, noting trends of convergence and divergence.

Corrigendum: Degenerate Beta autoregressive model for proportion time-series with zeros or ones: an application to antimicrobial resistance rate using R shiny app.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.

Prospective study of exposure to smoking imagery in films and changes in susceptibility to smoking in a cohort of school students in Southern India.

Introduction: India has unique tobacco-free film and TV rules designed to prevent tobacco uptake. In this study, we examined the potential influence of exposure to smoking imagery in regionally famous films, on susceptibility to smoke in teenagers enrolled in schools in a district in Southern India.

Methods: A longitudinal survey of students, in grades 6 to 8 at baseline in 2017 and grades 7 to 9 one year later in 2018, ascertained prospective incident susceptibility to smoking during the study period in relation to baseline exposure to 27 locally popular films with actual or implied smoking imagery.

Correlation of Cyclic Threshold Values Generated by GeneXpert Ultra MTB/RIF and Fluorescence Microscopy to Predict Mycobacterial Burden in Suspected Cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Background: Smear microscopy for acid-fast bacilli visualization is important to assess the infectivity rate in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), but it has limited sensitivity; hence, it is important to find an alternative strategy. The aim of our study was to compare the fluorescence microscopy grading by Auramine O phenol staining technique of respiratory samples with the cyclic threshold (Ct) values of GeneXpert Ultra (Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin [MTB/RIF]) and assess the diagnostic efficacy of GeneXpert Ultra (MTB/RIF) compared to microscopy in suspected cases of PTB.

Methods: The study was conducted in the Mycobacteriology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, in Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.

Awareness, attitudes and practices relating to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control among members of tobacco control committees in a southern Indian state.

Background And Objectives: The tobacco industry (TI) has undermined tobacco control policy for decades. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Article 5.3 implementation guidelines provide guidance for preventing TI interference.

Perceptions of novel warnings compared with current warning on tobacco packs, and warnings on cigarette sticks: A cross-sectional survey of college students in Southern India.

Introduction: In India there is insufficient knowledge of the risks associated with tobacco use. Increasing awareness of these risks is critical, with pictorial warnings on tobacco packs a cost-effective way to communicate this information. We explored perceptions of the current warning, 'Tobacco causes cancer', displayed on packs in India and four novel warnings about other potential impacts of tobacco use including social, financial, and environmental, but also complications with diabetes.

Outcome of structured health education intervention for obesity-risk reduction among junior high school students: Stratified cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) in South India.

Background: Obesity has been identified as a serious global health concern whose prevalence doubles almost every 10 years. Health education regarding physical activity and healthy diet imparted to adolescents could prove to be fruitful in reducing obesity-risk. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of health education intervention on knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding obesity-risk reduction and to estimate the postinterventional change in body mass index (BMI) and total body fat (%) among adolescent school children in South India.

Implementation of Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: A Subnational Assessment.

Background: Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control necessitates the governments to take measures to protect health policy from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry (TI). Considering the vast geographical area and diversity between states within India, it is necessary to evaluate the level of implementation of Article 5.

Degenerate Beta autoregressive model for proportion time-series with zeros or ones: An application to antimicrobial resistance rate using R shiny app.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the foremost public health troubles of the 21st century. This has ended in a public health disaster of the global situation, which threatens the exercise of present-day remedy. There is an urgent requirement for a cost-effective strategy to reduce antimicrobial resistance.

Maternal Serum Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, and Iron in Spontaneous Abortions.

Twenty five percent of pregnant women have some degree of vaginal bleeding during the first trimester, and about 50% of those pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion (SA) because the fetus is not developing typically. As studies have reported that inadequacies of trace metals such as Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Magnesium (Mg) can predispose to various adverse pregnancy outcomes (PO); multiple micronutrient (MMN) supplementations are given without justifying their deficiency and toxicities on the fetus. Earlier studies on effects of MMN supplementations during pregnancy have not considered the need, duration, dose, and time of initiation of supplementations leading to inconclusive results.

Determinants of Adherence to Antihypertensives Among Elderly: A Multifactorial Concern.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the predictors of adherence among elderly on antihypertensives and to examine the difference in adherence among males and females.

Patients And Methods: Cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. The data were collected from 800 patients of age 60 years and above using demographic proforma, clinical proforma and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) with due approval from the institutional ethical clearance committee and written informed consent from the participants.

Technology-based Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapy (TaCT) for women with cardiovascular disease in a middle-income setting: A randomized controlled trial protocol.

Women are underrepresented in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) despite the benefits, and this is exacerbated in lower-resource settings where CR is insufficiently available. In this randomized controlled trial, the effectiveness of the Technology-based Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapy (TaCT) electronic cardiac rehabilitation (eCR) intervention on functional capacity, risk factors, quality of life, heart-health behaviors, symptoms, and morbidity will be tested among women with CVD in a middle-income country. Following a pilot study, a single-center, single-blinded, 2 parallel-arm (1:1 SNOSE) superiority trial comparing an eCR intervention (TaCT) to usual care, with assessments pre-intervention and at 3 and 6 months will be undertaken.

Micro-Raman spectroscopy study of optically trapped erythrocytes in malaria, dengue and leptospirosis infections.

Malaria, dengue and leptospirosis are three tropical infectious diseases that present with severe hematological derangement causing significant morbidity and mortality, especially during the seasonal monsoons. During the course of these infectious diseases, circulating red blood cells are imperiled to the direct ill-effects of the infectious pathogen in the body as well as to the pro-inflammatory cytokines generated as a consequence of the infection. RBCs when exposed to such inflammatory and/or pathogenic milieu are susceptible to injuries such as RBC programmed or RBC programmed .

Association of Low-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol and Its Small, Dense Phenotype with Six-Month Cardiovascular Morbidity.

Background: Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death and disability. Elevated low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and more specifically, elevation of its small, dense phenotype (sdLDL-C) has been regarded as the key modifiable risk factors associated with atherogenesis. This study aimed to determine the association of LDL-C and sdLDL-C with the development of CVDs in the next six months to establish their predictive efficacy.

Psychological well-being and coping strategies among secondary school teachers: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Educators, academicians, and teachers are responsible for the development of the nation's human capital. Teacher coping methods are becoming more widely recognized as a key factor in determining teacher effectiveness. The aim of this study was to identify the various coping strategies adopted by high school teachers in Southern India.