Implementation of smartphone application for reporting adverse events following immunization by the treating doctors in tertiary care teaching hospitals in Chennai, India: Pilot and feasibility study.

Background: Under-reporting of severe and serious Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) from tertiary care teaching hospitals is a pressing issue in India. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a smartphone-based reporting intervention to enhance AEFI surveillance by treating doctors in four public teaching hospitals in Chennai, India.

Methods: From August 2023 to March 2024, a digital intervention was implemented across four medical college hospitals involving pediatrics, community medicine, and pharmacology departments.

Process evaluation of a complex, multilevel, multicomponent scheme for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Tamil Nadu, India: A mixed-methods protocol.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in India, necessitating development of multilevel and multicomponent interventions. (MTM) is a complex multilevel, multicomponent intervention developed and implemented by the south Indian State of Tamil Nadu. The scheme aims to deliver services for preventing and controlling diabetes, and hypertension at doorstep.

Prevalence of Noncommunicable Disease (NCDs) risk factors in Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu STEPS Survey (TN STEPS), 2020.

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for nearly 75% of all deaths in Tamil Nadu. The government of Tamil Nadu has initiated several strategies to control NCDs under the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Reform Program (TNHSRP). We aimed to estimate the prevalence of NCD risk factors and determine the predictors of diabetes and hypertension, which will be helpful for planning and serve as a baseline for evaluating the impact of interventions.

Protocol for the formative phase of a trial (SHE-CAN) to test co-designed implementation strategies for HPV-based cervical screening among vulnerable women in two diverse settings in India.

Background: In view of the WHO's call for the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, and current low screening coverage, Indian policy makers need evidence on how to effectively implement cervical screening programmes, ensuring equity in access. Our study will follow the INSPIRE implementation framework to co-design and test HPV-based screening approaches in two states of India with different health system organisation, based on understanding the status of screening as currently implemented, readiness and challenges to transition to HPV-based screening, and preferences of key stakeholders. Here, we describe our protocol for the formative phase of the study (SHE-CAN).

SARS-CoV-2 cluster among security guards, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, June-July 2020.

Congregate work settings are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission and predispose to super spreader events. We investigated a COVID-19 outbreak among security guards to identify the risk factors and propose recommendations. We defined a COVID-19 case as a laboratory-confirmed reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-positive case.

Secondary attack rate of COVID-19 among contacts and risk factors, Tamil Nadu, March-May 2020: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of contacts of patients with COVID-19 case in terms of time, place and person, to calculate the secondary attack rate (SAR) and factors associated with COVID-19 infection among contacts.

Design: A retrospective cohort study SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Contacts of cases identified by the health department from 14 March 2020to 30 May 2020, in 9 of 38 administrative districts of Tamil Nadu. Significant proportion of cases attended a religious congregation.

Referral mechanism and beneficiary adherence in cervical cancer screening program in Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu state, India, 2012-2015.

Background: A screening program for cervical cancer was established in 2011 in Tamil Nadu. Since the inception of the program, coverage, and dropout of screening has not been analyzed. We conducted a study to describe the referral mechanism in the cervical cancer screening program implemented in Tamil Nadu, to estimate the level of adherence to the referral process by the beneficiaries, and to identify strengths and weaknesses related to the referral mechanism in the program.

Infants With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Are at Risk for Hypercalcemia, Hypercalciuria, and Nephrocalcinosis.

Context: Hypercalcemia is reported as a rare finding in adrenal insufficiency, but is not well described in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with CAH diagnosed before the age of 2 years who had at least one recorded serum calcium measurement. Data from birth to 6 years of age were reviewed.

Etiology and treatment of hypogonadism in adolescents.

Adequate functioning at all levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is necessary for normal gonadal development and subsequent sex steroid production. Deficiencies at any level of the axis can lead to a hypogonadal state. The causes of hypogonadism are heterogeneous and may involve any level of the reproductive system.

Pituitary hormone dysfunction after proton beam radiation therapy in children with brain tumors.

Objective: To characterize endocrine dysfunction in pediatric patients with brain tumors who received proton beam (PB) radiation therapy and to compare those treated with PB radiotherapy only versus combined conventional and PB irradiation.

Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of patients ≤18 years of age who received PB radiation therapy for a brain tumor between 2000 and 2008 was performed. Variables analyzed included patient demographics, tumor type, therapeutic modalities, radiation doses, and types and timing of endocrine dysfunction.

The utility of hemoglobin A1c at diagnosis for prediction of future glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes.

Introduction: We evaluated the relationships of hemoglobin A1c (A1c) at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) to future glycemic control and to a series of clinical variables in children with T1DM.

Materials And Methods: Patients <18 years old diagnosed with T1DM during a one year period who had an A1c at diagnosis and at least one follow-up visit at our center were eligible for inclusion. Baseline variables examined included age, race, gender, symptom duration, admission acuity, anthropometrics, bicarbonate, and A1c.

Etiology and treatment of hypogonadism in adolescents.

Adequate functioning at all levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is necessary for normal gonadal development and subsequent sex steroid production. Deficiencies at any level of the axis can lead to a hypogonadal state. The causes of hypogonadism are heterogeneous and may involve any level of the reproductive system.