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Background: High HIV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) remains a cause of concern and are considered key drivers of concentrated epidemic in India. The present paper aims to assess the effectiveness of the targeted intervention (TI) program on the risk behaviors among IDUs across regions of India. Materials and Methods: This paper used the data from the integrated biological and behavioral surveillance 2014–2015 among the IDUs in India. Descriptive statistics and propensity score matching analysis was carried out to understand the effectiveness of the TI program on the new needle/syringe used and needle/syringe shared in the last injecting episode by accounting for the covariates. Results: The matched samples estimate, i.e., average treatment effect on treated of new needles/syringe used and shared in the last injecting episode by those who received needles/syringes from peer educator or outreach workers (PE/ORWs) and those who did not receive was 2.8% (confidence interval [CI]: 0.05–5.6) increase in the use of new needles/syringes and 6.5% (CI: −9.7–−3.3) decrease in the needles/syringes shared in last injecting episode indicating that IDUs who received new needles/syringes from PE/ORWs are more likely to use new needle/syringe and less likely to share needle/syringes to those who did not receive needles/syringes. The results vary across the different regions of India. Conclusion: TI program proves to be an effective initiative in the behavior change among IDUs as substantiated by use of new needles/syringes and decreased sharing of needles/syringes. TI program coverage varies from region to region and may further be expanded to accelerate the program services to prevent HIV/AIDS.
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Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) have significant effect on the mental health of the patient. and. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of depression, and the quality of life among patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension who attended a secondary care hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 618 patients who had DM and/or HT. PHQ-9 and WHO-BREF QOL questionnaire were administered to assess depression and health related quality of life respectively. Results: More than 2/3rd of patients had depression. Among those who had depression, nearly half (46%) had moderate depression and 2.1% had severe depression. The proportion of severely depressed patients was higher in diabetes mellitus group compared to the hypertension group. Patients that were depressed had poorer quality of life compared to non-depressed, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension may be screened for depression and managed accordingly
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@#Introduction: Osteosynthesis by plate fixation of humeral shaft fractures as a gold standard for fracture fixation has been proven beyond doubt. However, during conventional anterolateral plating Radial nerve injury may occur which can be avoided by applying plate on the medial flat surface. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of application of plate on the flat medial surface of humerus rather than the conventional anterolateral surface. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted between Oct 2010 to Dec 2015. One-hundred-fifty fracture shafts of the humerus were treated with the anteromedial plating through the anterolateral approach. Results: One-hundred-fifty patients with a fracture shaft of the humerus were treated with anteromedial plating. Twenty were female (mean ±SD,28 years±4.5) and 130 were male (mean ± SD, 38 years±5.6). One hundred and forty-eight out of 150 (98.6%) patients achieved union at 12 months. Two of three patients developed a superficial infection, both of which were treated successfully by antibiotics and one developed a deep infection, which was treated by wound debridement, prolonged antibiotics with the removal of the plate and subsequently by delayed plating and bone grafting. Conclusion: In the present study, we applied plate on the anteromedial flat surface of humerus using the anterolateral approach. It is an easier and quicker fixation as compared to anterolateral plating because later involved much more dissection than a medial application of the plate and this application of plate on a medial flat surface, does not required Radial nerve exposure and palsy post-operatively. The significant improvement in elbow flexion without brachialis dissection is also a potential benefit of this approach. Based on our results, we recommend the application of an anteromedial plate for treatment of midshaft fractures humerus.
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Background: Adolescents (10–19 years) constitute about one-fifth (21.4%) of India’s population. It has been identified as one of the vulnerable periods of life when the various health problems may occur. The prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents in India varies from 8.7% to 31.2% as shown in different studies. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of mental health issues, violence, bullying, and unintentional injuries among adolescents. Materials and Methods: The present study is an observational descriptive study. After obtaining ethical clearance from the institutional ethics committee, 100 students from rural and 100 from urban areas of both sexes were randomly selected. A questionnaire based on global school-based student health survey was prepared. Responses obtained from self-administered questionnaire were entered into Microsoft Excel. Data were analyzed in Microsoft Excel using simple proportions and Chi-square test to find statistical significance if any. Results: About 11% felt lonely most of times, 13.5% had difficulty in sleeping at most of nights, and 2.5% even considered of attempting suicide. Girls (15%) reported being bullied more as compared to boys who reported it to be 9%. Furthermore, reports were more for urban area (15%) than for rural one (9%). Conclusion: Adolescents are being bullied or get involved in a physical fight (17%). Mental health issues are also widely prevalent among them. About 28% felt lonely, 30.5% could not sleep at night, and 2.5% even considered attempting suicide.
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Historical specimens collected from hospitalized children were tested for the following 13 viruses: influenza A and B; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); parainfluenza viruses 1� human metapneumovirus; rhinovirus; coronaviruses 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1 and Adenovirus using monoplex real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). They were retested using TaqMan Array Card (TAC), a micro-fluidic system, capable of simultaneous multi-pathogen testing, to evaluate its sensitivity and specificity against monoplex rRT-PCR. TAC showed high sensitivity (71%�0%) and specificity (98%�0%) for these viruses in comparison to monoplex rRT-PCR. Multi-specimen detection with high sensitivity and specificity makes TAC a potentially useful tool for both surveillance and outbreak investigations.