The severity of non-smoking chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is correlated with biomass fuel exposure and COPD assessment test score.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tobacco smoking is an established risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Current evidence suggests that non-tobacco-related risk factors vary geographically and are less understood than smoking. This study aims to compare the risk factors, symptoms, and clinical features of smoking (S-COPD) and non-smoking (NS-COPD) in a COPD population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 489 COPD patients were screened. Data on socio-demographics, smoking and medical history, other risk factors, symptoms, and clinical characteristics including COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, and Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale were examined. RESULTS: Of the total selected 416 COPD patients, 35.34% were NS-COPD while 64.66% were S-COPD. S-COPD was predominant in males, whereas NS-COPD was predominant in females (P < 0.0001). In NS-COPD, biomass fuel exposure was a major risk factor (P < 0.0001), and 61% of subjects had a biomass fuel exposure index of >60. In bivariate and multivariate analyses, no risk factors were correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)% predicted, while among clinical features, duration of illness (P = 0.001) was correlated with lower values of FEV1 in the multivariate table of S-COPD. In the multivariate analysis, biomass fuel exposure (P = 0.039) and CAT score (P < 0.0001) were correlated with FEV1(%) in NS-COPD. CONCLUSION: Biomass fuel exposure is a substantial risk factor for NS-COPD and was correlated with FEV1(%) predicted. In addition, the CAT score correlated with disease severity in patients with NS-COPD. The development of COPD in non-smokers is being recognized as a separate phenotype and it should be managed according to risk factors.

Evaluation of Metronomic Therapy as a Low-Cost, Sustainable, Standard-of-Care Option in Desmoid Fibromatosis: Real-World Data From a Tertiary Care Center in India.

PURPOSE: Desmoid fibromatosis (DF) is a locally aggressive tumor with low mortality but significant morbidity. There is a lack of standard of care, and existing therapies are associated with significant barriers including access, cost, and toxicities. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of the metronomic therapy (MT) in DF in a large, homogenous cohort from India. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study involved histologically confirmed DF cases treated with MT comprising vinblastine (6 mg) and methotrexate (15 mg) both once a week, and tamoxifen (40 mg/m2) in two divided doses once daily between 2002 and 2018. RESULTS: There were 315 patients with a median age of 27 years; the commonest site was extremity (142 of 315; 45.0%). There were 159 (50.1%) male patients. Of the 123 (39.0%) prior treated patients, 119 had surgery. Of 315 patients, 263 (83.5%) received treatment at our institute (MT-151, 77-local treatment, 9-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and 26 were observed). Among the MT cohort (n = 163, 61.2%), at a median follow-up of 36 (0.5-186) months, the 3-year progression-free and overall survival were 81.1% (95% CI, 74.3 to 88.4) and 99.2% (95% CI, 97.6 to 100), respectively. There were 35% partial responses. Ninety-two patients (56.4%) completed 1-year therapy, which was an independent prognosticator (P < .0001; hazard ratio, 0.177 [95% CI, 0.083 to 0.377]). MT was well tolerated. Predominant grade ≥3 toxicities were febrile neutropenia, 12 (7.4%) without any chemotoxicity-related death. The annual cost of MT was $130 US dollars. CONCLUSION: The novel, low-cost MT qualifies as one of the effective, less toxic, sustainable, standard-of-care options for the treatment of DF with global reach and merits wide recognition.

Gender climate in Indian oncology: national survey report.

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence of under-representation of women in leadership roles and publications in oncology. However, there is little knowledge about their perceptions of professional environment, unique challenges and opportunities compared with male counterparts. The problem is more prominent in lower-income and middle-income countries like India and merits exploration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey, 'Exploratory Study on the Challenges of Female Oncologists in India', was conducted among oncology professionals. We included questions on demography, working team details, role at work, perceived challenges for advancement of career, gender-related values brought into the team and the measures for improvement of gender disparity. Lead authorship data were collected from two Indian oncology journals. RESULTS: Of the 324 respondents, 198 (61.1%) were women. Majority of the respondents were medical oncologists (46.3%), ≤45 years old (69.4%) and working in universities and corporate hospitals (71.6%). One hundred eighty-nine (58.3%) respondents worked in teams with male majority, 50 (15.4%) in women-majority teams, while 85 (26.2%) worked in teams with gender equality. Of the 324 respondents, 218 (67.3%) had men managers, while 106 (32.7%) had women managers. Men led 160 (84.7%) male-majority teams; 45 (52.9%) gender-equal teams; and 13 (26%) female-majority teams (p<0.00001). Age >45 years was found to be associated with a leadership role (43% vs 25%, p=0.0012). The most significant barrier perceived for advancement of career for women was finding a work-life balance. Most respondents suggested provision of flexible training programmes to improve the disparity. Of the 558 journal publications inspected, 145 (26%) articles had a female first or corresponding author. CONCLUSIONS: The study brought out the current figures regarding gender climate in oncology practice and academia across India. We identified lead thrust areas and schemes to improve the gender bias. There needs to be action at international, national and personal levels to bring about an efficient gender-neutral workforce.

User preferences for a contraceptive microarray patch in India and Nigeria: Qualitative research on what women want.

BACKGROUND: A new contraceptive microarray patch (MAP) for women is in development. Input on this method from potential end-users early in the product development process is important to guide design decisions. This paper presents the qualitative component of a broader study exploring initial acceptability of the MAP and selected product features. The qualitative research was intended to identify product features that are most salient to end-users and to contextualize preferences around them with subsequent research planned to assess quantitatively the relative importance of those features. METHODS: We conducted 16 focus group discussions and 20 in-depth interviews with women and 20 IDIs with family planning providers in New Delhi, India, and Ibadan, Nigeria. Input from the MAP developer served to identify plausible features of the MAP to include in the focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed into English, coded, and analyzed to examine key dimensions of MAP features. RESULTS: Many participants viewed the MAP as potentially easy to use. Interest in self-application after learning correct use was high, especially in India. Participants favored formulations affording protection from pregnancy for three or six months, if not longer. Interest in a shorter-acting MAP was particularly low in Nigeria. Non-desirable MAP features included a potential localized skin rash and pain at application. Views on patch size and location of application were related to the potential for rash and pain, with a desire to permit discreet use and minimize pain. Results indicate that the side effect profile, effectiveness, and pricing are also important factors for acceptability and uptake of a future product. CONCLUSION: Study findings indicate that a contraceptive MAP is of potential interest to women and that specific MAP attributes will be important to acceptability.