Noncommunicable and Communicable Diseases: Finding Common Ground

As the world grapples with unprecedented health challenges, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and now monkeypox, the focus on traditional concerns, like maternal and child health, and relatively newer pandemics, e.g., diabetes and obesity tend to get diluted. This is especially concerning in countries which face a dual challenge of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). In this article, we list the factors that are common to both communicable disease and NCDs, and suggest measures to integrate procedures for their screening, management and prevention.

Conformance of the Food Vendor Carts Design to the Prescribed Standards as per Food Safety and Standards Regulations: Assessment from an Urban Area of North India

Background: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, is mandated with disseminating evidence-based standards, regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of street food, for ensuring the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and matters connected in addition to that or incidental to that. Hence, this study was conducted to ascertain the conformance of the design of street food vendor’s carts to the prescribed standards. Methods: We conducted a cross?sectional study in Chandigarh between July 2017 and March 2018 among 400 street food vendors. The primary dependent variable of the study was conformance. The carts were evaluated for their conformance to the standard recommended design based upon a checklist designed using the guidelines of Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. Results: Almost half of the respondents had an experience of 6–15 years (48.5%) and were earning between Rs. 500 and 1000/day (56.3%). The majority of them (95%) were migrants from other states. Only 26.3% were using mobile vending sites. On regression analysis, better cart score was predicted by age, education, increasing experience, higher income, when food was prepared at home only, and with assistance in the form of helpers. Conclusions: This study indicates that although the policy was formulated 8 years back, the standards of street food carts were still below par in Chandigarh. The government should give technical specifications and ensure uniformity at the national level.

Adult Immunization

Vaccination is accepted as an integral part of preventive and community health. However, adult vaccination has not received the same attention as childhood immunization. This communication describes the advantages of adult immunization, and lists high priority populations for the same. It highlights the need to focus on health care workers, sanitation workers and food workers for effective prevention of disease through vaccination.

Noncommunicable and Communicable Diseases: Finding Common Ground

As the world grapples with unprecedented health challenges, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and now monkeypox, the focus on traditional concerns, like maternal and child health, and relatively newer pandemics, e.g., diabetes and obesity tend to get diluted. This is especially concerning in countries which face a dual challenge of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). In this article, we list the factors that are common to both communicable disease and NCDs, and suggest measures to integrate procedures for their screening, management and prevention.

Clinical correlates and profile of patients on antiretroviral therapy: A hospital-based cross-sectional study from a tertiary care institution of North India

HIV/AIDS as a global pandemic has affected each and every region of the world. The HIV epidemic is dynamic in nature with relation to temporal changes, geographic distribution, and modes of transmission. India, though in the declining phase, is still confronting with the varied nature of the spread of the disease. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among four hundred people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) attending the antiretroviral therapy (ART) center of a tertiary care institute of North India. Data were collected from the patients using a predesigned pretested questionnaire maintaining confidentiality. The data were analyzed using simple proportion and percentages. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 32.8 ± 7.4 years. The mean duration of ART intake was 24.5 ± 14.4 months. There was a significant improvement in clinical staging and CD4 count with ART intake among PLHIV. The most prevalent possible route of transmission was found to be heterosexual (85.5%) route. Conclusion: The spread among the population, particularly in the younger age group, reinforces the fact that preventive strategies need to be initiated within the target population at an early stage. Health education and social campaigns are the mainstays for “getting to zero” target.

Early thrombolysis is associated with decreased operative mortality in postinfarction ventricular septal rupture

Background Post myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture (PMI-VSR) is a dreaded mechanical complication of acute coronary syndromes. Given that surgical mortality approaches 50%, it is pragmatic that the risk factors for mortality and outcomes after surgical correction of PMI- VSR are carefully scrutinized. Methods We performed a single-center, retrospective cohort study of 35 patients presenting for surgical closure of post myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture over six years. We reviewed patient characteristics, clinical, echocardiographic, angiographic and perioperative risk factors which may affect mortality after surgical repair of PMIVSR and 30 day and one year mortality rates of these patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic and cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to identify predictors of operative and overall mortality. Long term survival was presented with Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve. Results Sixteen patients (46%) were in cardiogenic shock. Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was done in 22 patients (63%) but did not influence survival. Preoperative thrombolysis was done in 12 patients (34%) out of which 10 (53%) survived Operative mortality was 46% and one-year mortality was 49%. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative thrombolysis: Hazards ratio, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-0.61; p value of 0.01, as significant independent predictor of survival in PMIVSR cohort. Conclusions Preoperative thrombolysis is associated with decreased odds of operative and overall mortality after surgical repair in PMIVSR patients.