Assessing breakthrough infections: Covishield (late schedule) versus Covaxin - A prospective comparative analysis in the general population.

Introduction: Breakthrough infections (BTI) threaten the progress of the COVID-19 vaccination program towards pandemic control. To better understand the future vaccine, knowing the BTI in the general population over a while is important.

Aims And Objectives: The study aimed to compare the BTI among the general population after 1 year of completion of the primary series of Covishield and Covaxin.

Assessment of the acute encephalitis surveillance system in Bongaigaon district of Assam, India, 2020.

Introduction: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a significant cause of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Asia, with Northeast India, particularly Assam, being a hotspot. Effective surveillance is crucial for disease control. This study aims to describe the AES surveillance system in Bongaigaon district, Assam, assess its attributes, and provide recommendations for improvement.

IAPSM's Position Paper on Typhoid Vaccines for Adult Immunization in India.

Typhoid is a major public health concern in India, particularly among those dwelling in urban slums with poor sanitation. The disease caused by spread majorly through contaminated food and water. The economic burden of the disease is catastrophic and affects both families and the government making a strong case for including typhoid vaccines in the national immunization schedule.

IAPSM's Position Paper on the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine for Adult Immunization in India.

Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer in women in India, primarily caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Given its long latent period, secondary prevention through screening and early detection is essential. However, fear and stigma associated with cancers and the costs involved in disease management are the prominent barriers to its uptake.

IAPSM's Position Paper on Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV) for Adult Immunization in India.

Pneumococcal infection among adults is associated with invasive disease and poor outcomes. Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) introduction has significantly reduced disease burden, invasive disease and reduced the rates of antimicrobial resistance. Of the various vaccines licensed, PCV 13 and PPSV 23 are available for use in India.

IAPSM's Position Paper on Influenza Vaccines for Adult Immunization in India.

Influenza causes significant morbidity, hospitalizations, and mortality due to lower respiratory tract infections in India. This paper reviews the current evidence regarding influenza epidemiology, the need for vaccination, immunogenicity, and efficacy of available vaccines and provides recommendations for influenza vaccination for adults by the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM). The risk group among adults includes people with chronic disease, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, travelers, and healthcare workers.

Workplace sexual harassment and violence among women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective of the current systematic review and meta analysis was to assess workplace sexual violence among women, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue's magnitude and implications across various professional sectors and geographical locations. A systematic search of six electronic databases was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, including studies published up to April 15, 2023. The JBI Critical Appraisal Tool was used for quality assessment, and a random-effects model calculated the pooled prevalence.

Exploring USFDA-Approved Imidazole-Based Small Molecules in Drug Discovery: A Mini Perspective.

In the present work, we have explored the importance of the imidazole ring and its importance in drug discovery, citing the key approvals in the present decade (2013-2024). The pharmacological attribution for the approved drugs revealed that out of 20 approved drugs, 45% of the approvals were made as anti-infectives, followed by approvals under the category of genetic and metabolic disorders, sexual endocrine disorders, anticancer, and to treat blood pressure, gastrointestinal disorders, and neurological conditions. Most approved drugs were dispensed through solid dosage forms (13) and thus had predominantly oral routes beside others.

Distribution and association of depression with tobacco consumption among middle-aged and elderly Indian population: nested multilevel modelling analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

Background: Research on the distribution and association of depression with tobacco consumption among young population is commonly prioritised in India, while studies on tobacco use among middle-aged (45-59 years) and elderly (≥ 60 years) adults are noticeably lacking. Thus, we conducted this study with the objectives of estimating the prevalence, distribution and determining the association of depression and tobacco consumption among middle-aged and elderly Indian population; overall and stratified into age group, gender, and geographical location.

Methods: Using dataset from Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), a bivariate analysis was conducted among middle-aged (45-59 years) and elderly (≥ 60 years) Indians to estimate the prevalence of depression and tobacco consumption.

A review on pyrimidine-based pharmacophore as a template for the development of hybrid drugs with anticancer potential.

The low efficacy and toxicity of traditional chemotherapy, led by drug resistance of targeted anticancer therapies, have mandated the exploration and development of anticancer molecules. In this league, hybrid drugs, owing to their peculiar multitargeted functionality and structural diversity, could serve as vital leads in this quest for drug discovery. They are plausibly found to offer added advantages considering the improved efficacy, low toxicity, and improved patient compliance.

Effect of the COVID-19 vaccination on feto-maternal outcomes: A prospective cohort study among Indian pregnant women.

Background & objectives Studies on the effects of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women in Asian settings, more specifically in India, are scarce. The present study evaluated the feto-maternal outcomes among Indian pregnant women who received the COVID-19 vaccine. Methods A prospective cohort study was undertaken among 430 pregnant women from two primary health centres (PHC) in Chandigarh, India during 2021-2022.

Medicinal chemistry-based perspectives on thiophene and its derivatives: exploring structural insights to discover plausible druggable leads.

Thiophene is a privileged pharmacophore in medicinal chemistry owing to its diversified biological attributes. The thiophene moiety has been ranked 4th in the US FDA drug approval of small drug molecules, with around 7 drug approvals over the last decade. The present review covers USFDA-approved drugs possessing a thiophene ring system.

Repurposing of USFDA-approved drugs to identify leads for inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme: a plausible utility as an anti-Alzheimer agent.

In the quest to identify new anti-Alzheimer agents, we employed drug repositioning or drug repositioning techniques on approved USFDA small molecules. Herein, we report the structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) of 1880 USFDA-approved drugs. The -based identification was followed by calculating Prime MMGB-SA binding energy and molecular dynamics simulation studies.

Prevalence of HIV Self-Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Evidence Synthesis by Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) plays a significant role in addressing the health care needs of high-risk populations, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM). The present systematic review and meta-analysis provide an assessment of the prevalence of HIVST among MSM within the last 5 years. Seven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, EMBASE, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost) were searched systematically from January 1, 2018 to March 10, 2023.

Exploring anticancer properties of the phytoconstituents and comparative analysis of their chemical space parameters with USFDA-approved synthetic anticancer agents.

The present review article thoroughly analyses natural products and their derived phytoconstituents as a rich source of plausible anticancer drugs. The study thoroughly explores the chemical components derived from various natural sources, thus emphasizing their unique structural characteristics and therapeutic potential as an anticancer agent. The review contains the critical chemical constituents' in-depth molecular mechanisms, their source's chemical structures and the categories.

Pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole fused spirooxindole-linked 1,2,3-triazoles as antioxidant agents: Exploring their utility in the development of antidiabetic drugs via inhibition of α-amylase and DPP4 activity.

Environment-benign, multicomponent synthetic methodologies are vital in modern pharmaceutical research and facilitates multi-targeted drug development via synergistic approach. Herein, we reported green and efficient synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole fused spirooxindole linked 1,2,3-triazoles using a tea waste supported copper catalyst (TWCu). The synthetic approach involves a one-pot, five-component reaction using N-propargylated isatin, hydrazine hydrate, ethyl acetoacetate, malononitrile/ethyl cyanoacetate and aryl azides as model substrates.

Internet Addiction and Its Association with Demographic Variables, Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Well-being in College Students.

Background: Internet is an integral part of the daily life of everyone. Internet addiction (IA) is one of the major concerns, specifically among young adults. The association between IA, depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being (PWB) is least studied in young adults.

A decade of USFDA-approved small molecules as anti-inflammatory agents: Recent trends and Commentaries on the "industrial" perspective.

Inflammation is the human body's defence process against various pathogens, toxic substances, irradiation, and physically injured cells that have been damaged. Inflammation is characterized by swelling, pain, redness, heat, as well as diminished tissue function. Multiple important inflammatory markers determine the prognosis of inflammatory processes, which include likes of pro-inflammatory cytokines which are controlled by nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway, all of which are activated in response to the stimulation of specific receptors.

Outbreak investigation of acute febrile illness from the Himalayan foothills: Solving the puzzle of fever.

In September 2022, Panchkula Civil Hospital reported an outbreak of acute febrile illness (AFI) in Pinjore, located in the Himalayan foothills, Haryana, North India. There was an upsurge of fever cases. Blood samples were taken from suspected patients ( = 58) with AFI and subjected to serology of dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and scrub typhus.

Awareness Regarding Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Prescribing Behavior among Physicians: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in India.

(1) Background: Understanding the physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and antimicrobial prescribing behavior is a crucial step towards designing strategies for the optimal use of these agents. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among clinicians across India between May and July 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire in English comprising 35 questions pertaining to demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practices domains. (3) Results: A total of 544 responses were received from 710 physicians contacted.

Imidazoles as Serotonin Receptor Modulators for Treatment of Depression: Structural Insights and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies.

Serotoninergic signaling is identified as a crucial player in psychiatric disorders (notably depression), presenting it as a significant therapeutic target for treating such conditions. Inhibitors of serotoninergic signaling (especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)) are prominently selected as first-line therapy for the treatment of depression, which benefits via increasing low serotonin levels and norepinephrine by blocking serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake and thereby increasing activity. While developing newer heterocyclic scaffolds to target/modulate the serotonergic systems, imidazole-bearing pharmacophores have emerged.

Psychological distress and related factors regarding COVID-19 among the ancillary hospital staff: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the front line of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak response. They have faced great risks to both physical and mental health. We aimed to assess the psychological effect of COVID-19 among ancillary hospital staff.