A randomized controlled trial of burping for the prevention of colic and regurgitation in healthy infants.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of burping in lowering colic and regurgitation episodes in healthy term babies lacks evidence in literature. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare efficacy of burping versus no-burping in 71 mother-baby dyads in community setting. Primary outcome was reduction in event rates of colic and regurgitation episodes over 3 months. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in two groups. Difference in incidence rates of colic between the control and burping group was 1.57 episodes/infant/100 weeks [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.63 to 3.76]. There was statistically no significant reduction in colic episodes between burping and non-burping study subjects during 3 months of follow-up (adjusted relative risk 0.64; 95% CI: 0.22-1.86, P-value 0.41). Incidence rate difference of regurgitation episodes/infant/week between burping and control group was 4.36 (95% CI: 4.04 to 4.69) and there was statistically significant increase in burping group (adjusted relative risk 2.05; 95% CI: 1.92-2.18, P-value < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although burping is a rite of passage, our study showed that burping did not significantly lower colic events and there was significant increase in regurgitation episodes in healthy term infants up to 3 months of follow-up.

Influence of shift work on sleep quality and circadian patterns of heart rate variability among nurses.

Background: Shift work implementation is essential for providing continuous patient care in hospitals. However, working in shifts on a routine basis may disrupt the circadian pattern and alter the sleep-wakefulness cycle in nurses. Stress due to shift work can influence the adaptability of the cardiovascular system, produce psychophysiological strain and deteriorate work performance in female nurses. Objective: This study investigated the effect of morning and night shift work on sleep quality and circadian patterns governing heart rate variability (HRV) in female nurses working in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: Thirty-eight healthy female nurses were recruited. Frequency and time domain parameters of HRV were recorded as markers of cardiac autonomic function. A student t-test was used to investigate differences in HRV between morning and night shift workers. Mann-Whitney non-parametric test was applied for the difference between Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores in the two groups. Results: Standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN) (msec), total power (ms2) and high-frequency (HF) band power (ms2) were significantly reduced in night shift nurses than in morning shift nurses. The low-frequency (LF)/HF ratio was significantly increased in night shift nurses. The differences in standard deviation of the averages of NN intervals (SDaNN) (msec), root mean square of successive differences between adjacent NN intervals (RMSSD), mean NN, very low-frequency (VLF) band power (ms2) and LF band power (ms2) were not statistically significant. The global PSQI score was significantly higher among night shift workers than in morning shifts. Conclusion: Inadequate sleep can disrupt the body's ability to regulate heart rhythm and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality. The research suggests a propensity for autonomic imbalance in night shift workers when compared to their counterparts on morning shifts.

Development of a Group-Based Community Health Worker Intervention to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Latinos.

INTRODUCTION: Latinos are at higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality than non-Hispanic Whites due, in part, to disparities in cancer screening. There is a need to evaluate community-based CRC interventions as they may reach underinsured communities and those at highest risk for CRC. This article describes the development of a group-based CRC intervention (Juntos contra el Cancer). METHOD: Purposive sampling was used to recruit Latino men and women aged 50 to 75 years not-up-to-date with CRC screening. The development of the intervention was guided by the socioecologic framework, a community needs assessment, literature reviews, five focus groups (n = 39) from the target community and feedback from a Community Advisory Board. RESULTS: Findings from focus groups suggested that a group-based, promotor or community health worker (CHW) led, cancer prevention education with linkages to care would address barriers to CRC screening. CONCLUSION: Development of community-based CRC screening interventions should be informed by early and sustained community engagement. Interventions led by CHWs with linkages to care are feasible and can reach populations not connected to health care settings.

Magnetic field-driven assembly and reconfiguration of multicomponent supraparticles.

Suprastructures at the colloidal scale must be assembled with precise control over local interactions to accurately mimic biological complexes. The toughest design requirements include breaking the symmetry of assembly in a simple and reversible fashion to unlock functions and properties so far limited to living matter. We demonstrate a simple experimental technique to program magnetic field-induced interactions between metallodielectric patchy particles and isotropic, nonmagnetic "satellite" particles. By controlling the connectivity, composition, and distribution of building blocks, we show the assembly of three-dimensional, multicomponent supraparticles that can dynamically reconfigure in response to change in external field strength. The local arrangement of building blocks and their reconfigurability are governed by a balance of attraction and repulsion between oppositely polarized domains, which we illustrate theoretically and tune experimentally. Tunable, bulk assembly of colloidal matter with predefined symmetry provides a platform to design functional microstructured materials with preprogrammable physical and chemical properties.

Impact of the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines on the prevalence of hypertension among Indian adults: Results from a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for diagnosis and management of hypertension on the prevalence of hypertension in India is unknown. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Cardiac Prevent 2015 survey to estimate the change in the prevalence of hypertension. The JNC8 guidelines defined hypertension as a systolic blood pressure of ≥140 â€‹mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 â€‹mmHg. The 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines define hypertension as a systolic blood pressure of ≥130 â€‹mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of ≥80 â€‹mmHg. We standardized the prevalence as per the 2011 census population of India. We also calculated the prevalence as per the World Health Organization (WHO) World Standard Population (2000-2025). RESULTS: Among 180,335 participants (33.2% women), the mean age was 40.6 â€‹± â€‹14.9 years (41.1 â€‹± â€‹15.0 and 39.7 â€‹± â€‹14.7 years in men and women, respectively). Among them, 8,898 (4.9%), 99,791 (55.3%), 35,694 (11.9%), 23,084 (12.8%), 9,989 (5.5%) and 2,878 (1.6%) participants belonged to age group 18-19, 20-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74 and â€‹≥ â€‹75 years respectively. The prevalence of hypertension according to the JNC8 and 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines was 29.7% and 63.8%, respectively- an increase of 115%. With the 2011 census population of India, this suggests that currently, 486 million Indian adults have hypertension according to the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines, an addition of 260 million as compared to the JNC8 guidelines. CONCLUSION: According to the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines, 3 in every 5 Indian adults have hypertension.

Prevalence of hypertension among Indian adults: Results from the great India blood pressure survey.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is limited data on hypertension prevalence in India. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of hypertension among Indian adults. METHODS: A national level survey was conducted with fixed one-day blood pressure measurement camps across 24 states and union territories of India. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140 mmHg or a diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg or on treatment for hypertension. The prevalence was age- and gender-standardized according to the 2011 census population of India. RESULTS: Blood pressure was recorded for 180,335 participants (33.2% women; mean age 40.6 ± 14.9 years). Among them, 8,898 (4.9%), 99,791 (55.3%), 35,694 (11.9%), 23,084 (12.8%), 9,989 (5.5%), and 2,878 (1.6%) participants were of the age group 18-19, 20-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, and ≥ 75 years, respectively. Overall prevalence of hypertension was 30.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.5, 30.9) and the prevalence among women was 23.7% (95% CI: 23.3, 24). Prevalence adjusted for 2011 census population and the WHO reference population was 29.7% and 32.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of hypertension, with almost one in every three Indian adult affected.

Premature coronary artery disease in North India: an angiography study of 1971 patients.

BACKGROUND: South Asians, specially Indians, show increased risk for atherosclerosis and have the highest mortality rates due to coronary artery disease amongst all ethnic groups studied so far. We aimed to find out the differences in clinical-biochemical and angiographic profile of young patients versus older patients with angiographically proven atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Group I (n=828) consisted of patients with age above 55 years (mean age: 63.15 +/- 5.76 years), group II (n=924, mean age: 49.13 +/- 4.25 years) consisted of patients between age 41-55 years and group III (n=219) consisted of patients with age < or = 40 years (mean age: 37.37 +/- 2.92 years). Among the conventional risk factors, smoking was significantly more frequent in group III, while diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension were more prevalent in groups II and I. Q wave myocardial infarction was more frequently present in groups II and III. Only about one-third of the entire patient population in the myocardial infarction group received thrombolytic therapy. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in younger patients (groups II and III), while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly low in whole cohort but more so in older patients. Single vessel involvement was more common in group III, while multi-vessel involvement, diffuse disease and fluoroscopic calcium were more common in groups I and II. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were observed in the clinical, biochemical and angiographic profile of young patients with coronary artery disease as compared to elderly patients. The younger cohort had more atherogenic lipid profile, higher prevalence of smoking and more frequent single vessel disease. We observed that total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio was a better predictor of coronary artery disease as compared to individual lipid levels.

A tertiary care hospital-based study of conventional risk factors including lipid profile in proven coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and mortality rates of coronary artery disease have been known to be higher in the Indian than the Western population. Most data on lipid levels in Indians have been obtained from studies on migrant Asian Indians. There are insufficient data on lipid profile and other conventional risk factors in Indian patients living within India. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 2656 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography between March 1998 and February 2002. Of these, 2399 subjects had angiographically proven coronary artery disease (group 1) while 257 had normal coronary arteries (group 2). Lipid values were measured in the fasting state on the morning the coronary angiography was done. Patients receiving lipid-lowering agents, those having renal, hepatic or thyroid disorders, patients presenting within 8 weeks after acute myocardial infarction, and patients who were taking noncardiac drugs that affect the lipid profile were excluded from the study. Other conventional risk factors were also recorded. In subjects with coronary artery disease and normal coronary arteries, the levels of mean total cholesterol recorded were 178.5+/-42.1 mg/dl v. 154.1+/-40.2 mg/dl (p<0.001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 30.6+/-9 mg/dl v. 27.3+/-6.8 mg/dl (p<0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 109.8+/-35.4 mg/dl v 93.6+/-33.9 mg/dl (p<0.001), and triglyceride 190.7+/-95.4 mg/dl v. 157.6+/-73.5 mg/dl (p<0.001), respectively. In subgroup analysis by age, the younger coronary artery disease group (< or = 40 years) had significantly higher total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the older group (> 40 years), viz. 194.6+/-51.4 mg/dl v. 176.3+/-40.2 mg/dl (p<0.001), and 118.3+/-39.6 mg/dl v. 108.7+/-36.1 mg/dl (p=0.001). Triglyceride levels were not significantly different [211.7+/-105.1 mg/dl v. 187.8+/-93.6 mg/dl (p=ns)], being equally high in both subgroups and, although high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were different, this difference was minimal, being equally low in both [32.7+/-9.5 mg/dl v. 30.3+/-9.0 mg/dl (p=ns)]. In the subgroup analysis of those with coronary artery disease, diabetics had significantly lower total cholesterol [174+/-41.1 mg/dl v. 180.4+/-42.4 mg/dl (p<0.001)] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels [105.8+/-34 mg/dl v. 111.5+/-35.8 mg/dl (p<0.001)] than non-diabetics, whereas triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were not significantly different, triglycerides being equally high in both [186.2+/-95.5 mg/dl v. 192.5+/-95.2 mg/dl (p=ns)], and high-density lipoprotein equally low in both [30.9+/-9.3 mg/dl v. 30.5+/-9 mg/dl (p=ns)]. The commonest associated conventional risk factor in diabetics was hypertension and, in the younger age group (< or = 40 years), it was smoking and a positive family history of premature coronary artery disease. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in north Indians, coronary artery disease occurs at much lower levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than other populations, and high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein levels are more of a universal phenomenon in this population. Younger patients have a more atherogenic lipid profile than the older subgroup with coronary artery disease, and smoking and a family history of premature coronary artery disease are the most common associated risk factors. Total cholesterol levels seem to play a lesser role in the occurrence of coronary artery disease in diabetics, the presence of which is in itself overwhelming for the occurrence of coronary artery disease.

Potential risk of hypoxaemia in patients with severe pneumonia but no hypoxaemia on initial assessment: a prospective pilot trial.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends oxygen therapy for children under 5 years of age with pneumonia and lower chest indrawing. In patients with severe pneumonia who are initially normoxaemic, there is little information on the risk of subsequently developing hypoxaemia and the benefit of routine oxygen therapy. OBJECTIVES: To study the incidence of subsequent hypoxaemia in initially normoxaemic children with pneumonia and lower chest indrawing. METHODS: Children (n = 58, 3-59 mths) with pneumonia, lower chest indrawing and normoxaemia (SpO(2) >90%) were randomly assigned to receive supplemental oxygen (nasal prongs, 1-2 L/min flow) (n = 29) or room air (n = 29). Vital signs and SpO(2) were monitored continuously and recorded every 6 hours. Outcome variables were incidence of hypoxaemia, length of tachypnoea and lower chest indrawing. RESULTS: The two groups had similar demographic and clinical profiles. Thirty-one patients (53%) developed hypoxaemia later, without significant differences between the two arms (RR 0·61, 95% CI 0·36-1·04). Patients who developed hypoxaemia later were similar to those who did not, except for a lower SpO(2) on enrolment. However, they took more time to recover from tachypnoea (P<0·05), chest indrawing (P<0·05) and fever, indicating that they had more severe disease. Early oxygen therapy did not alter the course of disease. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the normoxaemic patients with severe pneumonia developed hypoxaemia after enrolment, indicating a significant potential risk. Children hospitaled with severe pneumonia might benefit from routine oxygen therapy. Alternatively, oxygen might be provided to those who develop hypoxaemia identified by a pulse oximeter.

Ventricular tachycardia in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Severe hyperkalaemia in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia in association with aggravating factors such as acidosis and hypocalcaemia can cause life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Treatment of the underlying cause may be the only modality required in such cases. We report a 20-day-old male presenting with ventricular tachycardia due to electrolyte abnormalities in salt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Sudden cardiac deaths reported earlier in such cases thus gain credence.

Assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recognizing the paucity of data regarding echocardiographic studies of Left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), a study was carried out to study these parameters in these subjects. SETTINGS, DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with JRA and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls were studied by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: Patients with JRA had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures, resting heart rates, LV systolic (26.9+/-4.3 vs. 22.4 +/- 4.1 mm, p=0.001) and diastolic size (42.3+/-4.6 vs. 35.4+/-3.8 mm, p< 0.001) and volumes. Though ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) were normal, they were lower in those with JRA as compared to controls (EF: 62.9+/-4.47 vs. 67.5+/-3.63 %, p< 0.001; FS: 36.4+/-4.5 vs. 38.5 +/- 6.87, p=0.2). On Doppler analysis the JRA group had lower peak E velocity, higher peak A velocity, higher A VTI and more prolonged IVRT. Male patients had higher A VTI and IVRT as compared to females. Those with longer duration of disease had larger LV systolic (r=0.517, p=0.01) and diastolic dimension (r=0.40, p=0.05) and lower FS (r=-0.506, p=0.01). Patients with polyarticular JRA had higher E and A VTI as compared to those with systemic or oligoarticular types. CONCLUSION: Despite an asymptomatic cardiac status, significant systolic and diastolic functional abnormalities exist in patients with JRA. The duration of the disease, mode of presentation, patient's age and gender have a significant impact on the left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions in patients with JRA.