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Background and objectives:Obesity and overweight is a growing pandemic affecting millions of adolescents in developed as well as developing countries. Obesity is associated with the onset of major chronic diseases leading to complications and also psychosocial problems in adolescents. The greater concern is that the risks of obesity during childhood will persist into adolescence and adulthood. The objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of being overweight and obesity and to study the associated risk factors.Materials and Methods:1900 adolescents in the age group of 10–19 years were included in the study. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire which included the variables such as going to school by bus or cycle, eating habits, playing video/computer games or outdoor games and sibling count were recorded. Body weight and height were recorded in subjects for calculating body mass index (BMI). International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) classification was used for the estimation of being overweight and obese.Results:The mean age of the study subjects was 14.84 years (SD = 2.81). Mean weight increased from 34.7 to 55.09 kg from the age group 10–13 to 17–19 years. Mean height also increased from 1.34 to 1.57 m from the age group 10–13 to 17–19 years. Similarly, the mean body mass index was 19.23 at 10–13 years, followed by 21.11 at 14–16 years and 22.46 at 17–19 years. On binary logistic regression analysis, female gender, bus as a mode of transport, not playing games, and single sibling were found to have independent association with prevalence of being overweight.

Majority of global deaths are attributed to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Along with the ageing population, burden of non-communicable diseases is also rising. India shares more than two-third of the total deaths due to NCDs in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) of WHO. Since the awareness level about the chronic diseases and their risk factors is still limited in the low and middle income countries, it is expected that the health education based primary prevention interventions could be as successful as the first generation community oriented primary care (COPC) models. Community health workers (CHWs) are central to the primary health care approach towards health care utilization in India but do they have sufficient training.The first step in primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases is to identify individuals at high cardiovascular risk. A number of methods have been devised to calculate individual risks based on risk factor levels. Under NPCDCS in India, there is a three tier structure of NCD Clinic at block, district and state level. At the village level in Subcentre, only opportunistic screening is being done to those who visit the subcentre and are above 30 years of age. There is no provision of active screening of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors under the programme. There is no dedicated health worker at thegrassroot level for the NCDs. Thus the authors envisages that there is a direneed for the provision of new band of community based health functionary dedicated to control the burden of NCDs.

Objective: To identify different Candida spp along with antifungal susceptibility pattern and risk factors associated with candidemia. Design, setting, and patients: This retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary-care academic hospital in Jaipur, Western India, for 3 years (July 2017–June 2020). Methods: Blood cultures were performed according to standard microbiological methods, and only 1 isolate per patient was included in the study. Isolates of Candida spp were identified using a VITEK-2 automated system and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed using the broth microdilution assay according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Results: Of 3,443 blood cultures received from suspected sepsis cases, candidemia was identified in 95 (2.8%). In addition to Candida tropicalis (n = 36; 38%) and Candida parapsilosis (n = 17; 18%), 10 isolates of Candida auris comprised the fourth most common cause of candidemia. Presence of central venous catheter and diabetes were statistically significant risk factors for development of candidemia by NAC. Resistance to fluconazole was 36%, resistance to voriconazole was 20%, resistance to 5-flucytosine was 4%, and resistance to amphotericin-B was 7%. C. auris isolates were more resistant than other NAC spp. We detected no resistance among the echinocandins. Conclusions: The emergence of highly resistant isolates like C. auris emphasizes the need for constant monitoring of candidemia cases for species identification and routine antifungal susceptibility so that appropriate measures can be taken to reduce the related morbidity and mortality.

Background and Objective:Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a dermal manifestation caused by various species of Leishmania. This is the most common Leishmanial syndrome seen worldwide and is emerging as and threatens to become an uncontrollable disease. The present study was planned to understand the current epidemiology of CL in the conventionally endemic area of Bikaner, Rajasthan. Species characterization was also done.Material and Methods:The diagnostic modalities used in the study were microscopy, histopathologic examination, antigen testing and confirmation and species characterization by PCR. Field evaluation of the new antigen detection kit approved by FDA in 2016 CL Detect™ IC-RDT was done and its results compared with other available diagnostic tests.Results:A total of 14 cases with 25 skin lesions presented to the Skin OPD during the six month study period (January to June 2018). Out of these, 5 were males and 9 were females, average age being 32 yrs. Students and housewives of poor socio economic group were the most frequently affected groups. Lesions were found on the exposed areas of the body, mainly on the upper limbs and facial region. Majority of them were ulcerated plaques. Out of 14 cases under study, antigen test confirmed 7 positives; thereby yielding a positive rate of 50% against 71.4% for microscopy, 72.7% for PCR and a mere 38.5% for histopathology. Species characterization revealed Leishmania tropica as the causative organism.Interpretation and Conclusion:The study indicates that the number of cases have declined substantially over the past decade in Bikaner. Despite being the oldest technique used, microscopy still is a good option for diagnosis. Combined with PCR, diagnostic accuracy and hence utility is increased multifold. In its current form, IC-RDT may not be very useful.

Present experimental research was planned to measure the percentage change in angle of cervical and shoulder posture of students due to carriage of different weights of backpack. For the above purpose total 30 students (15 boys and 15 girls) from the CBSE affiliated school of Meerut were selected by using the random and purposive sampling method. All the students were from the 7th class and belonged to the age group of 10-13 years. To measure the percentage change in cervical and spinal angle in terms of extension, flexion and range of motion (ROM), six experimental conditions were planned. These experimental conditions were as (1) change in cervical and spinal region in unloaded state without backpack, (2) with backpack on right shoulder, (3) with backpack on the both shoulder, (4) with backpack of 10 % reference body weight, (5) with backpack of 15 % reference body weight and (6) with backpack of 20 % reference body weight. These experiments were conducted by using by using inclinometer (Dualar IQ). Furthermore results were analyzed by using the mean, standard deviation (SD), range and ANOVA test.In result, it was found that the value of cervical and spinal region angles in static condition was increased with increase in weight of back pack i.e. 10 %, 15 % and 20 % of reference body weight in the girls and boys. Whereas, the angle of deviation of spinal and cervical region especially flexion and extension of boys and girls in dynamic condition was found to be decreasing with increase in 10 %, 15 % and 20 % body weight of backpack. Based on current study results, a schoolbag should not be more than 5% or body weight among the girl students and 10 % of body weight among boy students. Otherwise, it will be a risk factor for postural problems either immediately or during adulthood that needs to be cured urgently.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals have an important role in tackling the growing menace of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) and Antibiotic Resistance (ABR). Regular trainings imparted early in career can result in better understanding of these crucial issues. Aim: To identify the baseline Knowledge Attitude and Practices (KAP) of 5th semester MBBS undergraduate students of a University Medical College in Rajasthan, India, and to determine the changes in these parameters after the implementation of a vigorous “HAI and ABR Awareness campaign”. Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study involved 86, 5th semester MBBS undergraduate students. The study instrument was a preformed pretested 30 item self-administered questionnaire. The study intervention included a series of lectures, role plays, poster competition; and an audio-visual quiz. The performance of individual participants before and after the intervention was then statistically analysed with Microsoft Excel and software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: The pre-intervention overall KAP score of each student was found to be poor in 17.4%, average in 61.6%, and excellent in 20.9% in study participants. Post-intervention grades were found to be poor, average, and excellent in 1.1%, 8.14%, and 90.7% study participants, respectively. A statistically significant decrease in the percentage of students with poor grade and a significant increase in those with excellent grade were observed. Conclusion: There is a need for suitable amendments in current MBBS curriculum to include modules which comprehensively address the core issues of ABR, HAIs and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS). This would help to bring out attitude and behavioural changes in students at the very grass-root level.

Background: Macrosomia affects 1-10% of all pregnancies. The macrosomia is reportedly associated with neonatal morbidity, neonatal injury, maternal injury and cesarean delivery. The present study was aimed at finding out prevalence and assessing association of maternal risk factors with macrosomia. Methods: This community based retrospective and cross-sectional study was carried out in 23 rural sub-centres of block Beri, district Jhajjar (Haryana, India) among 920 mothers. A predesigned pretested semistructured questionnaire was used to collect information. Univariate analysis along with logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: The prevalence of macrosomia among live births was 1.3% (n=12). In the present study, mothers from upper and upper middle socio-economic status had six times higher odds of delivering a large baby. Diabetic mothers had seventeen times higher incidence of macrosomia as compared to non-diabetic mothers. Mothers who consumed full course of iron folic acid (IFA) tablets during antenatal period had 24% lesser chances of macrosomia in live births as compared to mothers who did not consume the full course. Conclusions:The findings of the present study emphasize that incidence of macrosomia can be reduced by strengthening antenatal monitoring, prevention of complications, early diagnosis and appropriate and adequate management of treatable risk factors in mothers.