Evaluating the Gaps in the Diagnosis and Treatment in Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Under National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) Guidelines: A Multicentric Cohort Study.

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) can affect any organ of the body, producing a wide variety of clinical manifestations that make the diagnosis and treatment of EPTB challenging. The optimum treatment varies depending on the site of EPTB, its severity, and response to treatment. There is often uncertainty about the best management practices, with a significant departure from national guidelines.

Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation on functional exercise capacity & health related quality of life (HRQOL) among individuals with post tuberculosis lung disease: A multicentric pre & post-interventional study.

Background & objectives Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been extensively studied and proven beneficial in various respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Individuals with post-tuberculosis lung disease (P-TBLD) have limited exercise tolerance and a significant disability affecting daily living, much like those with COPD. Hence, they appear to be good candidates for PR.

A randomised trial to assess the efficacy of add on therapy with aspirin or clopidogrel to the standard medical therapy alone in patients with tubercular meningitis: ACT TBM.

Background: Benefit of antiplatelet therapy for stroke prevention or treatment among patients of Tubercular meningitis (TBM) is uncertain. We hypothesised that add-on therapy with aspirin or clopidogrel to standard treatment will be safe and effective in reducing clinical stroke and/or cerebral infarction in patients with TBM.

Methods: This was a randomised, open-label, superiority trial with blinded outcome assessment.

Risk factors for asthma across India: Results from global asthma network (GAN) phase I study.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the risk factors and triggers predisposing to asthma in Indian children and adults.

Methods: The Global Asthma Network Phase I study was a multicentre, international, school, and questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted across the world with nine centers in India from 2017-18, the current study being analysis of the Indian data.

Results: There were 20084 children, 25887 adolescents, and 81296 adults from 9 sites across India.

Forecasting the Global Economic and Health Burden of COPD From 2025 Through 2050.

Background: Studies have reported estimates of the economic and health burden of COPD. They have been limited largely to current-day estimates or relatively short-term future projections.

Research Question: How will the regional and global economic and health burden of COPD evolve from 2025 to 2050, considering trends in COPD risk factors and an expanding population?

Study Design And Methods: To project the economic and health burden of COPD to 2050, an open cohort Markov model was developed.

Conservation of Putative Liquid-Liquid Phase Separating Proteins in Multiple Drug-Resistant : Role in Host-Pathogen Interactions?

We observed a high proportion of proteins in pathogenic species that can potentially undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) mediated biomolecular condensate formation, compared to nonpathogenic species. These proteins mainly include the PE-PPE and PE-PGRS families of proteins that have nucleic acid and protein-protein binding functions, typical of LLPS proteins. We also mapped identified LLPS proteins in (M.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients With Prior Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Study on the Burden, Clinic-Radiological Features, Treatment Outcomes and Comparison With Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis and Post-Tubercular Lung Disease Patients.

Background: Post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) is a precursor to Aspergillus-related lung diseases. While Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA) has been extensively studied in the background of tuberculosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) has been reported sporadically with limited information on its prevalence, clinical-radiological features, and treatment outcomes.

Objective: This study, conducted in a high TB burden setting, aimed to address this knowledge gap by systematically evaluating ABPA in PTLD patients.

Study of the upper airway anatomy using magnetic resonance imaging in Indian obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea - A pilot study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is very common in obese patients. However, why some obese patients have severe OSA while others do not is unclear. Research is limited regarding which structures contribute to upper airway narrowing, especially in Asian patients where bony restrictions is thought to be important.

Effect of volume of instillate on the diagnostic utility of bronchoalveolar lavage galactomannan in patients with suspected chronic pulmonary aspergillosis-A pilot study.

Background: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) galactomannan (GM) is commonly used to diagnose Aspergillus-related lung diseases. However, unlike serum GM, which is measured in undiluted blood, BAL-GM is estimated using variable aliquots and cumulative volume of instillates during bronchoscopy.

Objective: Since different studies have reported varying diagnostic accuracy and cut-offs for BAL-GM in CPA, we hypothesized that the total volume of instillate and 'order/label' of aliquots significantly affects the BAL-GM values, which was evaluated as part of this study.

Evaluation of kit-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification (TB-LAMP) assay in the diagnosis of tubercular lymphadenitis.

Background: The rapid and accurate diagnosis of tubercular lymphadenitis remains a challenging task today. The World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the LoopAMP MTBC kit (TB-LAMP) as a replacement for sputum smear microscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). However, no prospective diagnostic accuracy study of TB-LAMP for tubercular lymphadenitis in adults has been performed yet.

Global Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Through 2050.

Importance: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory condition that is associated with significant health and economic burden worldwide. Previous studies assessed the global current-day prevalence of COPD, but to better facilitate resource planning and intervention development, long-term projections are needed.

Objective: To assess the global burden of COPD through 2050, considering COPD risk factors.

The Utility of Galactomannan and Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays in Bronchoalveolar Lavage for Diagnosis of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

The diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is established by combined clinic-radio-microbiological criteria. Out of the different microbiological criteria, a positive serology for Aspergillus-specific IgG levels is the cornerstone of diagnosis. Alternatively, other microbiological evidence are sometimes sought viz.

Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections: Effect of Patient and Pathogen Factors on Outcome.

Introduction: Patients on central lines are often having multiple morbidities, and invasive devices provide a niche for biofilm formation, which makes central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), a serious concern in health-care settings, as the infections difficult to treat. In this study, we evaluated the common bacteria causing CLABSI, and various patient and pathogen factors affecting the clinical outcome.

Methods: In the prospective observational study, patients diagnosed with CLABSI were recruited.

Cardiopulmonary Outcomes in Covid-19 Patients Discharged From a Tertiary Care Center: A Prospective Study.

To determine the cardiopulmonary changes in the survivors of acute COVID-19 infection at 3-6 month and 6-12 month. We followed up 53 patients out of which 28 (52%) had mild COVID-19 and 25 (48%) had severe COVID-19. The first follow-up was between 3 month after diagnosis up to 6 month and second follow-up between 6 and 12 month from the date of diagnosis of acute COVID-19.

Efficacy of Rifaximin in Patients With Abdominal Bloating or Distension: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Abdominal bloating is a common complaint in patients with functional and organic bowel disease. Rifaximin, a nonabsorbable antibiotic, has been tried for the treatment of this disease. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to study the efficacy of rifaximin in abdominal bloating and distension in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID).

Innate immune pathway modulator screen identifies STING pathway activation as a strategy to inhibit multiple families of arbo and respiratory viruses.

RNA viruses continue to remain a threat for potential pandemics due to their rapid evolution. Potentiating host antiviral pathways to prevent or limit viral infections is a promising strategy. Thus, by testing a library of innate immune agonists targeting pathogen recognition receptors, we observe that Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), stimulator of interferon genes (STING), TLR8, and Dectin-1 ligands inhibit arboviruses, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), West Nile virus, and Zika virus to varying degrees.

Prevention of relapse in drug sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis patients with and without vitamin D3 supplementation: A double blinded randomized control clinical trial.

Background: The immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D are widely recognized and a few studies have been conducted to determine its utility in the treatment of tuberculosis, with mixed results. This study was conducted to see if vitamin D supplementation in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the Indian population contributed to sputum smear and culture conversion as well as the prevention of relapse.

Methods: This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in three sites in India.

Survival of Persons Living With HIV/AIDS: A Multicentric Study From India.

Background: It has been more than 17 years since the introduction of free ART in India. At this point, it would be prudent to look at the factors associated with the survival of persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLHA) who are already enrolled in the ART program.

Methods: PLHAs enrolled from antiretroviral therapy (ART) centers located in three different cities in India - Delhi, Pune and Kolkata, and were followed up at six monthly intervals monitoring the WHO stage, CD4 counts, complete blood counts, and liver and kidney function tests, for a duration of three years.

Broad-spectrum antiviral inhibitors targeting pandemic potential RNA viruses.

RNA viruses continue to remain a clear and present threat for potential pandemics due to their rapid evolution. To mitigate their impact, we urgently require antiviral agents that can inhibit multiple families of disease-causing viruses, such as arthropod-borne and respiratory pathogens. Potentiating host antiviral pathways can prevent or limit viral infections before escalating into a major outbreak.

Morphometric Study of the Nutrient Foramen of the Humerus in the Population of Bihar.

Introduction:  Fracture or surgical intervention of fracture of the shaft of the humerus may cause injury to the nutrient artery leading to the nonunion or delayed union of the fracture. It is important to find the number and location of the nutrient artery. So the knowledge regarding the nutrient foramen helps to protect them during any operative procedure of the shaft of the humerus.