No abstract

The prevalence of biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis varies according to the geographic area, socioeconomic condition, race, age, demography and indication of renal biopsy. This study analyzed the distribution of biopsy-proven renal disease (BPRD) and its changing pattern over a period of 19 years from a tertiary care hospital in south India. All the renal biopsies performed from 1990 to 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Biopsies were evaluated by light microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy and also special stains when warranted. A total of 1849 biopsies were analyzed. The mean patient age was 32.27 ± 18.38 (range 10-80) years. The male:female ratio was 1.4:1. The most common indications of renal biopsy were nephrotic syndrome (49%), followed by chronic renal failure (13.6%) and rapidly progressive renal failure (12%). Primary glomerulonephritis (PGN) comprised 1278 (69.1%) of the total patients. Among the PGN cases, the most common one was minimal change disease (21.8%), followed by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis [FSGS (15.3%)], membranous glomerulonephritis (10%), chronic glomerulonephritis (9.7%), postinfectious glomerulonephritis (8.1%), mesengioproliferative glomerulonephritis (7.5%), diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (6.7%), crescentic glomerulonephritis (6.5%), IgA nephropathy [IgAN (6.3%)], membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (5.7%), focal proliferative glomerulonephritis (1.6%) and IgM nephropathy (0.5). Secondary glomerular disease (SGN) accounted for 337 (18.2%) of the cases. The most common SGN was lupus nephritis (80.1%), followed by amyloidosis (8%) and diabetic nephropathy (6.5%). Tubulointerstitial disease [124 (6.7%)] and vascular disease [60 (3.2%)] were less common. End-stage changes and miscellaneous disease were found in 37 (2%) and 13 (0.7%) cases, respectively. The incidence of FSGS and IgAN has been increasing since 1999. This study provides descriptive biopsy data and highlights the changing incidence of renal disease which is probably contributed by an increase referral due to increased awareness together with increased manpower and infrastructure.

The health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to disproportionately impact residents of lower-middle income countries. Understanding the psychological impact of the pandemic is important to guide outreach interventions. In this study, we examined people’s awareness of COVID-19 symptoms, risk perception, and changes in behaviors and stress levels during the lockdown in peri-urban Tamil Nadu India. Field workers conducted phone call surveys (included n = 2044) in 26 communities from 20–25 May 2020. The majority perceived no (60%) or low (23%) level of risk of personally contracting coronavirus. Common fears were related to health and economic concerns, including loss of income (62%), inability to travel freely (46%), and becoming sick (46%). Residents were well aware of the common symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever (66%) and dry cough (57%), but not the asymptomatic transmission (24%). The majority experienced increased stress about finance (79%) and the lockdown (51%). Our findings emphasize the need to develop context-adequate education and communication programs to raise vigilance about asymptomatic transmission and to sustain preventative behaviors. The evidence on fear and changes in stress levels could inform designing coping strategies and programs focused on mental well-being.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), established in 1975, provides evidence-based policy solutions to sustainably end hunger and malnutrition and reduce poverty. The Institute conducts research, communicates results, optimizes partnerships, and builds capacity to ensure sustainable food production, promote healthy food systems, improve markets and trade, transform agriculture, build resilience, and strengthen institutions and governance. Gender is considered in all of the Institute's work. IFPRI collaborates with partners around the world, including development implementers, public institutions, the private sector, and farmers' organizations, to ensure that local, national, regional, and global food policies are based on evidence.