Addressing the Challenge: A Review of Effective Prevention Strategies for Childhood Obesity in India.

Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern in India, with rising prevalence rates and associated health risks. This review examines effective prevention strategies for addressing this issue. Through a comprehensive analysis of research findings, policy initiatives, and community-based interventions, the review identifies critical components of successful prevention efforts. These include multi-sectoral collaborations, tailored interventions addressing socioeconomic and cultural factors, and the involvement of families and healthcare professionals. The importance of addressing childhood obesity in India is underscored, given its significant impact on health outcomes, healthcare costs, and quality of life. The review concludes with a call to action for stakeholders and policymakers to prioritise prevention efforts, allocate resources, and implement evidence-based interventions to combat childhood obesity effectively. By working together, India can mitigate the adverse effects of childhood obesity and promote a healthier future for its children.

Nonlinear effect of employee ownership on organizational financial misdeeds: The moderating role of organizational size.

We used threshold theory to investigate the relationship between employee ownership and financial misdeeds. In particular, we theorized that monitoring and incentive benefits of employee ownership coupled with longer term orientation are two primary theoretical drivers for decreasing the incidence of financial misdeeds in employee-owned firms. Using a sample of 388 investment firms representing 3,421 firm-year observations between 2000 and 2015, we found that employee ownership has an inverted-J-shaped relationship with organizational financial misdeeds such that the negative effect of employee ownership is significant only at medium-to-high levels. We also found that the inverted-J-shaped relationship was stronger when an organization was smaller or practiced giving short-term incentives. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Relative bed allocation for COVID-19 patients, EHR investments, and COVID-19 mortality outcomes.

Managing flexibility in the relative bed allocation for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients was a key challenge for hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on organizational information processing theory (OIPT), we propose that the local electronic health record (EHR) systems could improve patient outcomes through improved bed allocation in the local area. In an empirical analysis of county-level weekly hospital data in the US, relative capacity of beds in hospitals with higher EHR was associated with lower 7-, 14-, and 21-day forward-looking COVID-19 death rate at the county-level. Testing for cross-state variation in non-pharmaceutical interventions along contiguous county border-pair analysis to control for spatial correlation varying between state variations in non-pharmaceutical intervention policies, 2SLS analysis using quality ratings, and using foot-traffic data at the US hospitals our findings are generally supported. The findings have implications for policymakers and stakeholders of the local healthcare supply chains and EHR systems.

Serum Periostin Level in Children with Asthma.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the average serum periostin level in children with asthma between 6 and 16 y of age, and to find out if the levels correlated with markers of eosinophilic inflammation, asthma control, and severity. METHODS: Children under follow-up at a tertiary care centre were enrolled. Children with conditions causing elevated serum periostin other than asthma, or history of systemic steroid use in the past 6 mo were excluded. Serum total IgE and periostin were estimated by ELISA. RESULTS: The median (IQR) serum periostin level was 52.6 (45.4, 58.3) ng/mL. Levels did not vary with age, gender, duration of symptoms, positive family history, or history of exacerbations in the last 6 mo. There was no significant correlation with anthropometric parameters or their z scores, or markers of eosinophilic inflammation in blood including serum total IgE, eosinophil percentage or absolute eosinophil count. There was no difference in median periostin levels of children with different asthma symptom control or asthma severity. CONCLUSIONS: In a group of 26 Indian children with physician-diagnosed asthma, serum periostin showed no significant correlation to markers of eosinophilic inflammation.

Epidemiology, Clinical Profile, Intensive Care Needs and Outcome in Children with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Admitted to a Tertiary Hospital During the First and Second Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in India.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the epidemiological, clinical profile, intensive care needs and outcome of children hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first and second waves of the pandemic. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all children between 1 mo and 14 y, admitted to a dedicated COVID-19 hospital (DCH) during the first (1st June to 31st December 2020) and second waves (1st March to 30th June 2021). RESULTS: Of 217 children, 104 (48%) and 113 (52%) were admitted during the first and second waves respectively. One hundred fifty-two (70%) had incidentally detected SARS-CoV-2 infection, while 65 (30%) had symptomatic COVID-19. Comorbidities were noted in 137 (63%) children. Fifty-nine (27%) and 66 (30%) children required high-dependency unit (HDU) and ICU care respectively. Severity of infection and ICU needs were similar during both waves. High-flow oxygen (n = 5, 2%), noninvasive ventilation [CPAP (n = 34, 16%) and BiPAP (n = 8, 5%)] and invasive ventilation (n = 45, 21%) were respiratory support therapies needed. NIV use was more during the second wave (26% vs. 13%; p = 0.02). The median (IQR) length (days) of DCH stay among survivors was longer during the first wave [8 (6-10) vs. 5.5 (3-8); p = 0.0001]. CONCLUSIONS: Disease severity, associated comorbidities, PICU and organ support need and mortality were similar in the first and second waves of the pandemic. Children admitted during the second wave were younger, had higher proportion of NIV use and shorter length of COVID-19 hospital stay.

Right of association and new business entry: country-level evidence from the market sector.

Labor market institutions (LMIs) could enable new firm entry by lowering burdens to attracting and retaining human capital or restrict new firm entry by increasing concerns of additional demands on ventures facing liabilities of newness and smallness. In this study, we focus on the LMI of the right of association, and whether its relationship with new business entry depends on the vertical ordering of bargaining (represented in the centralization of collective bargaining) or the horizontal synchronization of wage-setting (represented in the coordination of wage-setting). In a panel of 44 countries covering the period 2005-2019, we find that the right of association in the market sector is positively associated with new business entry; however, with increasing centralization of collective bargaining, the association becomes negative. Coordination of wage-setting does not significantly affect the relationship between the right of association and new business entry. The results are robust to accounting for both serial correlation and cross-sectional correlation in the panel regressions and carry implications for policymakers regarding the effects of LMIs on new business creation.

Incidence of lymphadenitis following Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination in north Indian children.

INTRODUCTION: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination is given as a part of the national immunization schedule in India and its most common complication is BCG lymphadenitis. The reported incidence of BCG lymphadenitis ranges from 0.1 to 9.9% in various studies. In our country, though most babies get BCG vaccination during the neonatal period, the incidence of BCG lymphadenitis is not studied well. AIMS: To study the incidence of lymphadenitis following BCG vaccination at tertiary care hospital in North India. METHODS: It was a prospective longitudinal observational study. All newborns weighing ≥1.5 kg at birth without any significant illness who received BCG vaccination at our institute were enrolled and followed up for 16 weeks after vaccination. Babies were examined at 6, 10 and 14 weeks for the development of lymphadenopathy. Meta-analysis of studies evaluating incidence of BCG adenitis in children was also performed. RESULTS: Out of 817 babies vaccinated during the enrolment period, 605 babies could be followed up till 16.2 ± 0.9 weeks post BCG vaccination. One case of BCG lymphadenitis was detected at 14 weeks. Thus, the observed incidence of BCG lymphadenitis was 0.16% (95% CI of 0.004%-0.92%). Meta-analysis of 21 studies showed mean incidence estimate of 0.336% (95% CI: 0.315%-0.358%) using fixed effect model whereas random effect model showed mean incidence of 4.45% (95% CI: 3.02%-6.15%). CONCLUSION: The lower incidence of lymphadenitis in our study can probably be attributed to a less immunogenic vaccine (Danish 1331), proper technique, experience of the vaccinator and good storage facilities available at our institute.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hours lost by self-employed racial minorities: evidence from Brazil.

Drawing on minority enclave theory and resilience theory in entrepreneurship, we test whether, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the self-employed lost more hours than the employed and whether traditionally disadvantaged self-employed racial minorities faced harsher penalties in the form of reduced hours of work. Though spatially concentrated ethnic minority colocations could improve business outcomes in the non-crisis period, with the pandemic affecting all the members in the enclave, the very dependencies in minority enclaves could be a liability. Using a large-scale survey during the COVID-19 pandemic conducted by the Brazilian government, we draw on a one-to-one nearest neighbor matched pair sample of 19,626 employed (public or private sector) and self-employed individuals, and control for industry-sector-interview-location fixed effects. The results show that self-employed people, compared to employed, reported a greater loss of hours. At the sample level, black self-employed people on aggregate lost 9,051 hours per month, and mixed race self-employed people on aggregate lost 27,880 hours per month. The disproportionate loss of work hours by the self-employed from racial minority groups during the COVID-19 pandemic in a developing country context calls for a closer examination and assessment of the long-term impact of COVID-19 on racial minorities.

Flexible Fibreoptic Bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar Lavage for Confirmation of Pulmonary Hydatid Disease in Children: A Case Series.

Hydatid disease of the lungs is common in endemic regions. It can be suspected clinically by non-specific respiratory symptoms in children living in endemic regions, especially when they are close to sheep or dogs. Chest imaging X-ray or computed tomography may show characteristic cysts in some cases, but typical findings are absent in many children. Hydatid serology may contribute to the diagnosis, but does not have sufficient sensitivity for pulmonary cysts. Thus, there is no confirmatory diagnostic test, other than surgical excision and histopathologic examination. Hence, there is a need for more reliable diagnostic tests. We present a series of children, both with and without suspected pulmonary hydatid, wherein flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FFOB) performed under conscious sedation, revealed hydatid membranes in the airways. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis revealed hydatid in most of them. Thus the diagnosis could be confirmed even before surgical excision of cysts was performed. We propose that FFOB with BAL could be useful to confirm the diagnosis of pulmonary hydatid in children. This will be particularly helpful in children without characteristic radiological or serological findings. To the best of our knowledge, this is a completely novel approach to the condition with potential to alter the diagnostic paradigm Lay summary Hydatid disease of the lungs is commonly encountered in endemic regions. However, there is no confirmatory diagnostic test for pulmonary hydatid cyst, other than surgical excision and histopathologic examination. Imaging including chest X-ray and computed tomography may not be typical, especially in complicated cysts and hydatid serology does not have a satisfactory sensitivity for diagnosing lung cysts. Thus, there is a need for more reliable diagnostic tests. We present a series of children, both with and without suspected pulmonary hydatid, wherein flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FFOB) under conscious sedation, revealed hydatid membranes in the airways. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis confirmed hydatid in most of them. We propose FFOB with BAL as a useful diagnostic modality to confirm pulmonary hydatid in children, prior to surgical excision. To the best of our knowledge, this is a completely novel approach to the condition with potential to alter the diagnostic paradigm.

Plasma and Urinary Amino Acid Profile in Children with Infantile Tremor Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Infantile Tremor Syndrome (ITS) is a disorder of infancy, and characterized by developmental delay and/or regression, pallor, skin hyperpigmentation and hypopigmented hair. It is commonly seen in infants in whom exclusive breastfeeding is given inappropriately for longer durations than recommended. ITS is predominantly reported from the Indian subcontinent and in children from a lower socioeconomic background. It is a clinical diagnosis and vitamin B12 deficiency is the most commonly accepted etiology of this entity. OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives of study were to compare the plasma and urine amino acid levels among children with ITS spectrum with those of healthy children. The secondary objectives were to compare the plasma and urine amino acid levels among children with ITS and Pre-ITS. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional, observational study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital in North India. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 50 children aged < 36 months with ITS/Pre-ITS were enrolled. Children with Pre-ITS and ITS were compared with healthy age-matched study subjects. RESULTS: Thirty-nine (78%) cases and twelve (24%) healthy children had low serum vitamin B12 levels. Folate levels were normal in all the controls, while only one case had folate deficiency. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the values of 32 amino acids in plasma. Among 44 urinary amino acids, levels of 30 amino acids were significantly different in the cases compared with the controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Several changes in amino acids in the children suffering from ITS were observed. These changes may be a reflection of the metabolic derangements in ITS.

Comparison of performances of loop-mediated isothermal amplification, XPERT MTB/RIF and BACTEC MGIT in the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis.

AIM: Key to the successful management of paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) lies in the early detection and proper treatment. We evaluated the performances of modern diagnostic tests: loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP-IS6110), Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid) and mycobacteria growth indicator tube (BACTEC MGIT 960 culture) against a modified version of international consensus diagnostic definition (i.e. composite reference standard (CRS)). METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in North India from July 2016 to December 2017 involving 100 children <14 years with suspected PTB. Respiratory specimens (sputum, gastric lavage and/or bronchoalveolar lavage) were collected and subjected to LAMP-IS6110, Xpert MTB/RIF and BACTEC MGIT 960 culture assay. RESULTS: Fifty-five children had confirmed and probable TB according to the CRS (prevalence = 58.5%). The sensitivity of BACTEC MGIT 960 culture, Xpert MTB/RIF and LAMP-IS6110 assay was 14%, 9.1% and 10.91%, respectively, when compared against the predefined CRS. The specificity for all these tests was 100%. When compared with BACTEC MGIT 960 culture as the gold standard, the LAMP-IS6110 assay and Xpert MTB/RIF assay had the sensitivity of 85.71% (95% CI: 42.13-99.64%) and 71.43% (95% CI: 29.04-96.33%), respectively. The specificity of both assays was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: We noted that LAMP-IS6110 performed better than Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid) in terms of sensitivity when compared against BACTEC MGIT 960 culture as reference standard, though specificity of both the tests was comparable. The diagnostic performance of BACTEC MGIT 960 culture was better than LAMP-IS6110 and Xpert MTB/RIF in paediatric PTB, when compared against CRS.

Fibrosing Mediastinitis Associated With Tuberculosis in Children.

Two children developed fibrosing mediastinitis following past tuberculosis disease. Both were microbiologically negative for tuberculosis at presentation. One was treated with steroids and supportive therapy, but developed active tuberculosis with complications. He ultimately succumbed to healthcare-associated infection. The other recovered with steroids, administered along with antituberculosis treatment.

Change in psychological distress in response to changes in reduced mobility during the early 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence of modest effects from the U.S.

RATIONALE: During the early 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, several US states had implemented stay-in-place orders (SIPOs) with varying degrees of stringency which resulted in inter-state differences in mobility (i.e., longer presence at home). We test whether the inter-state differences in mobility influenced changes in reported psychological distress. Our study is not on the surge in COVID-19 in the later part of 2020. OBJECTIVE: To identify whether the change in state-level mobility is associated with the change in individuals' reported psychological distress during the early COVID-19 pandemic and whether the intensity of the association varies by older individuals, females, and nonwhites. METHODS: We use differences in state-level mobility and change in reported psychological distress between the two dates of interviews of 5,132 individuals who participated in March and April 2020 waves of Understanding America Study (UAS). RESULTS: We find support for modest effects, i.e., a one standard deviation decline in mobility was associated with a 3.02% higher psychological distress [95% CI: 0.4%-5.64%], and the effects are robust to controlling for reported changes in exercise intensity, alcohol consumption, cannabis use, recreational drug use, and meditation intensity. We also find support for a stronger association for females, but not for older individuals or non-whites. Further, we do not find support for the mediation effects from change in chance of running out of money or change in chance of getting COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that reduced mobility from lockdowns during the early COVID-19 wave in the US is associated with a modest increase in reported psychological distress, especially for females. However, these conclusions should not be construed as a small increase in psychological distress in general, as a variety of non-mobility related factors associated with COVID-19 could have exacerbated psychological distress during the early COVID-19 wave in the US.

Coronavirus disease 2019 in children: Clinical & epidemiological implications.

Despite the global spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, there are limited data emerging in children. This review provides an update on clinical features, diagnosis, epidemiology, management and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children. Specific characteristics noted in children and their implications in disease management as well as transmission control are highlighted. Besides respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal and atypical features such as chilblains, neurological symptoms and multisystem inflammation are also reported. Younger infants and those with comorbidity were found to be at risk of severe illness. Infected pregnant women and neonates were reported to have good prognosis. It is possible to manage the children with mild disease at home, with strict infection prevention control measures; severely affected require respiratory support and intensive care management. There are anecdotal reports of using antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs, benefit of which needs to be confirmed in clinical trials. A significant percentage of asymptomatic infection in children has epidemiological implication as these may act as links in transmission chain in the community. There is a need for systematic data on extra-pulmonary manifestations and atypical features, risk factors of severity, role of imaging and biomarkers, testing and management strategies and trials with antivirals and immunomodulatory drugs in children. The psychosocial effects of quarantine, closure of schools, lack of play activities and impact of lockdown need to be addressed. Understanding the biological basis for the profound age-dependent differential outcome of COVID-19 infection is important. Elucidating the protective mechanisms in children may aid in developing novel treatment strategies.

Effectiveness of stay-in-place-orders during COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from US border counties.

Recent studies on US counties, with varying effect sizes, show that stay-in-place-orders (SIPOs) are associated with a decline in new COVID-19 cases. Our estimation approach relies on county-pairs across state-borders where one state has SIPO whereas the other state does not, controls for matched county-pair fixed effects and day of observation fixed-effects. The county-pair sample from southern, mid-western, and mountain region states (from March 1, 2020 to April 25, 2020) shows that daily COVID-19 incidence case growth rate is 1.994 percentage points lower for counties in SIPO states relative to those bordering in non-SIPO states. Specifically, we find SIPO reduced daily growth rates by 1.97, 2.14, 2.03, and 2.27 percentage points after 1 to 5 days, 6 to 10 days, 11 to 15 days, and 16 to 20 days, respectively. Our effect sizes are much smaller than in the previous studies with the caveat that states in the northeast and on the west coast could not be included in the border county-pair specification. We find limited evidence of heterogeneous effects in counties with a higher population density, percentage of black or Hispanic residents, proportion of population over 65 years, and social association rates in a county. Nor do we find evidence of meaningful differences in effects of SIPO by county Gini index, unemployment, or GDP. The results of this study could further inform policymakers in making decisions on SIPO extensions or lifting of such orders. JELH75; I18