Novel genomic variants related to visceral adiposity index (VAI) and body adiposity index (BAI) in Indian sib-pairs.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is among the leading public health threats globally. Over the last few years, visceral adiposity index (VAI), and body adiposity index (BAI), derived from anthropometric, and biochemical measures, have gained importance as a measure of obesity. However, unlike other common indices like body mass index, and waist circumference, the genetic predisposition of VAI, and BAI under-examined. METHODS: 2265 sib-pairs from Indian Migration Study were used for examining the association of genetic variants from the Cardio-Metabochip array with VAI, and BAI. Mixed linear regression models were run, and all inferences were based on the within-sib component of the Fulker's association models. Gene-environment/lifestyle interaction analyses were also undertaken. RESULTS: rs6659428 at LOC400796 | SEC16B (ß = 0.26, SE = 0.05), and rs7611535 at DRD3 | LOC645180 (ß = 0.18, SE = 0.04) were associated with VAI at suggestive significance value of <8.21 × 10-6. For BAI, rs73300702 at JAZF1-AS1 (ß = 0.27, SE = 0.06), was the top hit at p value < 8.21 × 10-6. Further, rs6659428 showed marginal effect modification with rural/urban location (ß = 0.26, SE = 0.13, p value = 0.047), and rs73300702 with physical activity (ß = -0.29,SE = 0.14, p value = 0.034). CONCLUSION: We report three novel genetic loci for VAI, and BAI in Indians that are important indicators of adiposity. These findings need to be replicated and validated with larger samples from different ethnicities. Further, functional studies for understanding the biological mechanisms of these adiposity indices need to be undertaken to understand the underlying pathophysiology.

Genetic architecture of adiposity measures among Asians: Findings from GWAS.

Adiposity has gradually become a global public threat over the years with drastic increase in the attributable deaths and disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Given an increased metabolic risk among Asians as compared to Europeans for any given body mass index (BMI) and considering the differences in genetic architecture between them, the present review aims to summarize the findings from genome-wide scans for various adiposity indices and related anthropometric measures from Asian populations. The search for related studies, published till February 2022, were made on PubMed and GWAS Catalog using search strategy built with relevant keywords joined by Boolean operators. It was recorded that out of a total of 47 identified studies, maximum studies are from Korean population (n = 14), followed by Chinese (n = 7), and Japanese (n = 6). Nearly 200 loci have been identified for BMI, 660 for height, 16 for weight, 28 for circumferences (waist and hip), 32 for ratios (waist hip ratio [WHR] and thoracic hip ratio [THR]), 5 for body fat, 16 for obesity, and 28 for adiposity-related blood markers among Asians. It was observed that though, most of the loci were unique for each trait, there were 3 loci in common to BMI and WHR. Apart from validation of variants identified in European setting, there were many novel loci discovered in Asian populations. Notably, 125 novel loci form Asian studies have been reported for BMI, 47 for height, 5 for waist circumference, and 2 for adiponectin level to the existing knowledge of the genetic framework of adiposity and related measures. It is necessary to examine more advanced adiposity measures, specifically of relevance to abdominal adiposity, a major risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders among Asians. Moreover, in spite of being one continent, there is diversity among different ethnicities across Asia in terms of lifestyle, climate, geography, genetic structure and consequently the phenotypic manifestations. Hence, it is also important to consider ethnic specific studies for identifying and validating reliable genetic variants of adiposity measures among Asians.

Deciphering the COVID-19 cytokine storm: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus pandemic has affected more than 20 million people so far. Elevated cytokines and suppressed immune responses have been hypothesized to set off a cytokine storm, contributing to ARDS, multiple-organ failure and, in the most severe cases, death. We aimed to quantify the differences in the circulating levels of major inflammatory and immunological markers between severe and nonsevere COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS and preprint servers. Risk of bias was assessed for each study, using appropriate checklists. All studies were described qualitatively and a subset was included in the meta-analysis, using forest plots. RESULTS: Based on 23 studies, mean cytokine levels were significantly higher (IL-6: MD, 19.55 pg/mL; CI, 14.80, 24.30; IL-8: MD, 19.18 pg/mL; CI, 2.94, 35.43; IL-10: MD, 3.66 pg/mL; CI, 2.41, 4.92; IL-2R: MD, 521.36 U/mL; CI, 87.15, 955.57; and TNF-alpha: MD, 1.11 pg/mL; CI, 0.07, 2.15) and T-lymphocyte levels were significantly lower (CD4+ T cells: MD, -165.28 cells/µL; CI, -207.58, -122.97; CD8+ T cells: MD, -106.51 cells/µL; CI, -128.59, -84.43) among severe cases as compared to nonsevere ones. There was heterogeneity across studies due to small sample sizes and nonuniformity in outcome assessment and varied definitions of disease severity. The overall quality of studies was sub-optimal. CONCLUSION: Severe COVID-19 is characterized by significantly increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced T lymphocytes. Well-designed and adequately powered prospective studies are needed to amplify the current evidence and provide definitive answers to dilemmas regarding timing and type of anti-COVID-19 therapy particularly in severe patients.

Relative contribution of diet and physical activity to increased adiposity among rural to urban migrants in India: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In common with many other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), rural to urban migrants in India are at increased risk of obesity, but it is unclear whether this is due to increased energy intake, reduced energy expenditure, or both. Knowing this and the relative contribution of specific dietary and physical activity behaviours to greater adiposity among urban migrants could inform policies for control of the obesity epidemic in India and other urbanising LMICs. In the Indian Migration Study, we previously found that urban migrants had greater prevalence of obesity and diabetes compared with their nonmigrant rural-dwelling siblings. In this study, we investigated the relative contribution of energy intake and expenditure and specific diet and activity behaviours to greater adiposity among urban migrants in India. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The Indian Migration Study was conducted between 2005 and 2007. Factory workers and their spouses from four cities in north, central, and south of India, together with their rural-dwelling siblings, were surveyed. Self-reported data on diet and physical activity was collected using validated questionnaires, and adiposity was estimated from thickness of skinfolds. The association of differences in dietary intake, physical activity, and adiposity between siblings was examined using multivariable linear regression. Data on 2,464 participants (median age 43 years) comprised of 1,232 sibling pairs (urban migrant and their rural-dwelling sibling) of the same sex (31% female) were analysed. Compared with the rural siblings, urban migrants had 18% greater adiposity, 12% (360 calories/day) more energy intake, and 18% (11 kilojoules/kg/day) less energy expenditure (P < 0.001 for all). Energy intake and expenditure were independently associated with increased adiposity of urban siblings, accounting for 4% and 6.5% of adiposity difference between siblings, respectively. Difference in dietary fat/oil (10 g/day), time spent engaged in moderate or vigorous activity (69 minutes/day), and watching television (30 minutes/day) were associated with difference in adiposity between siblings, but no clear association was observed for intake of fruits and vegetables, sugary foods and sweets, cereals, animal and dairy products, and sedentary time. The limitations of this study include a cross-sectional design, systematic differences in premigration characteristics of migrants and nonmigrants, low response rate, and measurement error in estimating diet and activity from questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: We found that increased energy intake and reduced energy expenditure contributed equally to greater adiposity among urban migrants in India. Policies aimed at controlling the rising prevalence of obesity in India and potentially other urbanising LMICs need to be multicomponent, target both energy intake and expenditure, and focus particularly on behaviours such as dietary fat/oil intake, time spent on watching television, and time spent engaged in moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity.

Satisfaction With Statin Treatment Among Adult Coronary Artery Disease Patients: An Experience From a Resource-Constrained Setting.

BACKGROUND: Statins are the most widely prescribed hypolipidaemic drugs for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, but have been found to cause muscle and nerve related adverse effects which can affect patient satisfaction with treatment. Literature on treatment satisfaction among statin users, especially from resource-limited settings is inadequate. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the level of satisfaction with treatment among statin users and evaluate the relationship between adverse effects experienced by patients and their satisfaction with the medication. METHODS: This study included 300 adult CAD patients visiting the cardiology department of a tertiary care hospital in the northern region of India, who were prescribed statins for their diagnoses. An interviewer administered, validated and standardised Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (version 1.4) was used for data collection. RESULTS: Around three quarters of the population reported being overall satisfied with their medication. Mean scores were calculated for Effectiveness, Convenience, Side-Effects and Global Satisfaction. The patients reported high scores (above 60%) for all domains. Those experiencing any adverse effect were found to be more likely to report lower effectiveness. Additionally, medication effectiveness showed a positive correlation with overall treatment satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that treatment satisfaction is critical to gauge patient experiences with the treatment which can impact medication adherence and compliance. It's a crucial measure especially among CAD and other chronic disease patients since greater satisfaction can improve clinical outcomes. More research is warranted to better understand the relationship between medication effectiveness and treatment satisfaction.

Statin related adverse effects and patient education: a study from resource limited settings.

BACKGROUND: Statins are the most widely prescribed class of drugs for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and yet literature on the prevalence of statin related adverse effects (AEs) and gaps in patient education is quite limited especially in resource-limited settings of developing world. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of myopathy (muscle ailments) and other statin associated adverse effects among CAD patients on statin therapy. The study also aimed to assess patient perceptions, attitudes and awareness concerning the use of statins. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among 300 adult CAD patients visiting the out-patient department of a tertiary care hospital in North India, who were receiving statins for their diagnosis. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on statin use among patients and adverse effects experienced. RESULTS: Myopathy or muscle related ailments like muscle pain, cramps and muscle weakness were the most prevalent (32, 34 and 47%, respectively), followed by numbness, tingling and burning in the extremities (31%). Joint pain and cognitive impairments were seen in nearly 20% of the patients. The level of awareness among participants regarding the use of statins was sub-optimal. Lack of knowledge and under-reporting of adverse effects were major concerns. CONCLUSION: The study shows that a considerable proportion of statin users experience adverse effects and knowledge and awareness amongst patients is inadequate. Awareness programmes and counselling for patients, sensitisation of healthcare professionals and better screening systems for monitoring AEs can help improve the scenario.

Contribution of indigenous foods towards nutrient intakes and nutritional status of women in the Santhal tribal community of Jharkhand, India.

OBJECTIVE: The indigenous food environment, dietary intake and nutritional status of women in the Santhal tribal community of Jharkhand were assessed. Contribution of indigenous foods to nutritional status and nutrient intakes was explored. DESIGN: Exploratory cross-sectional study with a longitudinal dietary intake assessment component. Household and dietary surveys were conducted to elicit information on socio-economic and demographic profile and food consumption patterns at household level. A 24 h dietary recall for two consecutive days (repeat surveys in two more seasons) and anthropometric assessments were carried out on one woman per household. SETTING: Households (n 151) with at least one woman of reproductive age in four villages of Godda district of Jharkhand, India. SUBJECTS: Women aged 15-49 years. RESULTS: Almost all households owned agricultural land and grew fruits and vegetables in backyards for household consumption. A wide variety of indigenous foods were reported but dietary recalls revealed low intake. Women consumed adequate energy and protein but micronutrient intake was inadequate (less than 66 % of recommended) in the majority (more than 50 %) for Ca, Fe, vitamin B2, folate and vitamin B12. Women consuming indigenous foods in the past 2 d had significantly higher intakes of Ca (P=0·008) and Fe (P=0·010) than those who did not. Varying degrees of underweight were observed in 50 % of women with no significant association between underweight and consumption of indigenous foods. CONCLUSIONS: Promotion of preferential cultivation of nutrient-dense indigenous food sources and effective nutrition education on their importance may facilitate better micronutrient intakes among women in Santhal community of Jharkhand.

Field based research in the era of the pandemic in resource limited settings: challenges and lessons for the future.

The coronavirus pandemic that began in December 2019, has had an unprecedented impact on the global economy, health systems and infrastructure, in addition to being responsible for significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. The "new normal" has brought along, unforeseen challenges for the scientific community, owing to obstructions in conducting field-based research in lieu of minimizing exposure through in-person contact. This has had greater ramifications for the LMICs, adding to the already existing concerns. As a response to COVID-19 related movement restrictions, public health researchers across countries had to switch to remote data collections methods. However, impediments like lack of awareness and skepticism among participants, dependence on paper-based prescriptions, dearth of digitized patient records, gaps in connectivity, reliance on smart phones, concerns with participant privacy at home and greater loss to follow-up act as hurdles to carrying out a research study virtually, especially in resource-limited settings. Promoting health literacy through science communication, ensuring digitization of health records in hospitals, and employing measures to encourage research participation among the general public are some steps to tackle barriers to remote research in the long term. COVID-19 may not be a health emergency anymore, but we are not immune to future pandemics. A more holistic approach to research by turning obstacles into opportunities will not just ensure a more comprehensive public health response in the coming time, but also bolster the existing infrastructure for a stronger healthcare system for countries.

Relationship between serum lipids and depression: A cross sectional survey among adults in Haryana, India.

Introduction: Dyslipidemia and mental illnesses are significant contributors to the global noncommunicable disease burden and studies suggest an association between them. Aim: Using data from a noncommunicable disease risk factor survey conducted in Haryana, India, we undertook a secondary data analysis to examine the association between lipids and depressive symptoms. Methods: The survey involved 5,078 participants and followed the World Health Organisation STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance approach. Biochemical assessments were undertaken in a subset of participants. Lipid markers were measured using wet chemistry methods. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Descriptive statistics were presented for all variables; logistic regression was used for association analyses. Results: The mean age of the study population was 38 years and 55% of them were females. A majority of the participants belonged to a rural background. The mean total cholesterol was 176 mg/dL and approximately 5% of the participants were found to have moderate to severe depression. The association of total cholesterol (odds ratio [OR] 0.99, P = 0.84), LDL-cholesterol (OR = 1.00, P = 0.19), HDL-cholesterol (OR = 0.99, P = .76), and triglycerides (OR 1.00, P = .12) with depressive symptoms was not significant. Conclusion: This study did not find any association between lipids and depressive symptoms. However, further investigations using prospective designs are warranted to understand this relationship and complex interactions with other mediating factors better.

Guidelines for dyslipidemia management in India: A review of the current scenario and gaps in research.

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) have a high disease burden in India. Dyslipidemia, a major CVD risk factor, requires effective management. Our review describes the appropriateness of the international dyslipidemia guidelines in the Indian context. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library and Science Direct to obtain relevant articles. Dyslipidemia management guidelines by western medical associations are based on their studies, with ethnic minorities underrepresented and biological features of other racial groups inadequately incorporated. The Lipid Association of India (LAI) came up with a consensus statement guided by an expert panel to adapt the western guidelines to Indians. However, absence of Indian guidelines has led to physicians basing treatment on individual preference, contributing to heterogeneity. Our review underscores the need for formulating Indian dyslipidemia management guidelines and CV risk estimation algorithms, highlighting the scope for further research. This could supplement the clinical expertise of LAI and enhance patient experience.

Factors associated with differential COVID-19 mortality rates in the SEAR nations: a narrative review.

Objectives: Since December 2019, the world has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused severe loss of lives, the breakdown of health infrastructure, and disruption of the global economy. There is growing evidence on mortality patterns in high-income countries. However, similar evidence from low/middle-income nations is lacking. Our review aimed to describe COVID-19 mortality patterns in the WHO-SEAR nations, and explore the associated factors in order to explain such trends. Methods: A systematic and comprehensive search was undertaken in PubMed and Google Scholar to obtain maximum hits on COVID-19 mortality and its determinants in the SEAR, using a combination of MeSH terms and Boolean operators. The data were narratively synthesized in detail under appropriate themes. Results: Our search identified 6411 unique records. Mortality patterns were described in terms of important demographical and epidemiological indicators. Gaps in available evidence and paucity of adequate research in this area were also highlighted. Conclusions: This review examined significant contributors to COVID-19 mortality across SEAR nations, while emphasizing issues relating to insufficient studies and data quality, and reporting challenges and other concerns in resource-constrained settings. There is a compelling need for more work in this area, to help inform decision making and improve public-health response.

Association between urban life-years and cardiometabolic risk: the Indian migration study.

Urban living is associated with an increase in cardiometabolic risks, but the speed at which these risks are accrued over time is unknown. Using a cross-sectional sibling-pair design, the authors surveyed migrant factory workers and their spouses from 4 cities in India together with their rural-dwelling siblings and examined the associations between urban life-years and cardiometabolic risk factors. Data on 4,221 participants (39% women; mean age = 41 years) were available (2005-2007). In regression models, a 2-slope pattern for body fat (with a marked shift at 10 years) was found, whereas a common slope could be accepted for other risk factors. In men, the regression coefficients (per decade of urban life) were 2.5% in the first decade and 0.1% thereafter for body fat; 1.4 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure; and 7% for fasting insulin. Age, gender, marital status, household structure, and occupation did not influence the patterns appreciably; however, stronger gradients for adiposity were noted in migrants from lower socioeconomic positions. The findings suggest that body fat increases rapidly when one first moves to an urban environment, whereas other cardiometabolic risk factors evolve gradually. Public health interventions focused on the control of obesity in newer migrants to urban areas, particularly those from lower socioeconomic positions, may be beneficial.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Study of Health Risks Among E-waste Recyclers in Delhi.

BACKGROUND: India is the fifth biggest producer of e-waste in the world, discarding 1.7 million tons in 2014. E-waste gets recycled mainly in the informal sector which means activities are largely unaccounted for. Hazardous chemicals and metals are released during recycling processes (lead (Pb) being the most common). Compared to other developing countries, there are few studies from India on the awareness of recyclers of health risks related to e-waste recycling. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of health-related risks and behaviors among e-waste workers/recyclers belonging to the informal sector in Delhi and to determine the concentration of Pb levels in hair samples from a subset of workers from selected recycling sites. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three e-waste informal recycling sites of Delhi: Seelampur, Mustafabad and Mandoli using an interviewer administered questionnaire among 220 e-waste workers. Percentages were presented for each KAP indicator. Analyses were computed using the statistical software STATA 14.2. RESULTS: It was observed that 24% of participants had knowledge of the meaning of e-waste and 36% knew the chemicals that could be released from e-waste handling. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by only 12% of the workers. Twenty-six percent (26%) perceived occupational injuries (cuts or burns) as mild and 20% perceived coughing immediately after work as mild. Explorative analysis showed a link between worker education level and the type of work practices employed. The median level of Pb concentration among hair samples was 8 mg/kg with inter-quartile range between 5.8 to 12.4 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge and practices among e-waste workers regarding the health hazards associated with e-waste recycling were poor with little knowledge of or attention to health risks. A comprehensive remediation package covering sensitization and awareness-building strategies of the health risks associated with informal e-waste recycling should be an urgent priority. PARTICIPANT CONSENT: Obtained. ETHICS APPROVAL: Ethics approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC), Indian Institute of Public Health-Delhi. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

The effect of rural-to-urban migration on obesity and diabetes in India: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Migration from rural areas of India contributes to urbanisation and may increase the risk of obesity and diabetes. We tested the hypotheses that rural-to-urban migrants have a higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes than rural nonmigrants, that migrants would have an intermediate prevalence of obesity and diabetes compared with life-long urban and rural dwellers, and that longer time since migration would be associated with a higher prevalence of obesity and of diabetes. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The place of origin of people working in factories in north, central, and south India was identified. Migrants of rural origin, their rural dwelling sibs, and those of urban origin together with their urban dwelling sibs were assessed by interview, examination, and fasting blood samples. Obesity, diabetes, and other cardiovascular risk factors were compared. A total of 6,510 participants (42% women) were recruited. Among urban, migrant, and rural men the age- and factory-adjusted percentages classified as obese (body mass index [BMI] >25 kg/m(2)) were 41.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 39.1-44.7), 37.8% (95% CI 35.0-40.6), and 19.0% (95% CI 17.0-21.0), respectively, and as diabetic were 13.5% (95% CI 11.6-15.4), 14.3% (95% CI 12.2-16.4), and 6.2% (95% CI 5.0-7.4), respectively. Findings for women showed similar patterns. Rural men had lower blood pressure, lipids, and fasting blood glucose than urban and migrant men, whereas no differences were seen in women. Among migrant men, but not women, there was weak evidence for a lower prevalence of both diabetes and obesity among more recent (

Assessment of physical activity using accelerometry, an activity diary, the heart rate method and the Indian migration study questionnaire in south Indian adults.

OBJECTIVE: To validate questionnaire-based physical activity level (PAL) against accelerometry and a 24 h physical activity diary (24 h AD) as reference methods (Protocol 2), after validating these reference methods against the heart rate-oxygen consumption (HRVO2) method (Protocol 1). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Two villages in Andhra Pradesh state and Bangalore city, South India. SUBJECTS: Ninety-four participants (fifty males, forty-four females) for Protocol 2; thirteen males for Protocol 1. RESULTS: In Protocol 2, mean PAL derived from the questionnaire (1.72 (sd 0.20)) was comparable to that from the 24 h AD (1.78 (sd 0.20)) but significantly higher than the mean PAL derived from accelerometry (1.36 (sd 0.20); P < 0.001). Mean bias of PAL from the questionnaire was larger against the accelerometer (0.36) than against the 24 h AD (-0.06), but with large limits of agreement against both. Correlations of PAL from the questionnaire with that of the accelerometer (r = 0.28; P = 0.01) and the 24 h AD (r = 0.30; P = 0.006) were modest. In Protocol 1, mean PAL from the 24 h AD (1.65 (sd 0.18)) was comparable, while that from the accelerometer (1.51 (sd 0.23)) was significantly lower (P < 0.001), than mean PAL obtained from the HRVO2 method (1.69 (sd 0.21)). CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire showed acceptable validity with the reference methods in a group with a wide range of physical activity levels. The accelerometer underestimated PAL in comparison with the HRVO2 method.

Statin use and safety concerns: an overview of the past, present, and the future.

INTRODUCTION: Dyslipidemia is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disorders and contributes to significant morbidity and mortality associated with CAD and stroke worldwide. Statins are the most commonly prescribed drugs for the prevention and management of dyslipidemia globally. Although they provide immense therapeutic benefit, they are associated with clinically significant adverse effects, predominantly muscle, nerve, liver, and cognition-related besides new-onset diabetes. This has sparked various controversies, bringing to the fore, ambiguities that continue to exist in the scientific evidence, in relation to statin-associated harms. Therefore, it becomes essential to have a better understanding of safety issues related to statin use in various populations. AREAS COVERED: This review describes the most common adverse effects of statins, examines available evidence and highlights the role of ethnicity, lipophilicity and other biological factors that could mediate and/or influence the relationship. MEDLINE was searched via PubMed to obtain relevant articles on dyslipidemia and statin safety. EXPERT OPINION: The effectiveness of statins is presently unmatched. Further research is warranted to gain insights into the diverse pharmacological effects of statins in various population subgroups. This would assist prescribers in making better informed decisions. Specific treatment strategies for vulnerable groups can significantly attenuate harms, improve risk-benefit ratios, and ultimately enhance patient experience.

Low lung function in the developing world is analogous to stunting: a review of the evidence.

Background: Low vital capacity, one of the consequences of restricted lung growth, is a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality. Vital capacity is lower in the developing world than the developed world, even after adjusting for height, weight and gender. This difference is typically dismissed as ethnic variation, adjusted for by redefining normal. Whether this is a consequence of stunted lung growth, rather than genetically smaller lungs, has not been investigated in detail. Therefore, we sought to compare factors implicated in both stunting and lung development, particularly in the developing world. Methods: We conducted a manual screen of articles identified through Google Scholar and assessed risk of bias. No language restrictions were applied, so long as there was an associated English abstract. We queried VizHub (Global Burden of Disease Visualization Tool) and Google Dataset search engines for disease burden and genome wide association studies.  The scope of the article and the heterogeneity of the outcome measures reported required a narrative review of available evidence. To the extent possible, the review follows PRISMA reporting guidelines. Results: Early life influences operate in synergism with environmental and nutritional factors to influence lung growth and development in children.  Low lung function and stunting have common anthropometric, environmental and nutritional correlates originating during early development. Similar anthropometric correlates and shared chronic inflammatory pathways indicated that the two conditions were analogous. Conclusion: The analogy between poor lung function and stunting is conspicuous in the developing world, where malnutrition lies at the center of non -achievement of growth potential, susceptibility to infectious diseases and intrauterine programming for metabolic syndrome. The common pathological mechanisms governing stunting and lung function deficits counter the idea of redefining the normal for lung function measurements.

Validation of hindi version of Edinburgh postnatal depression scale as a screening tool for antenatal depression.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal depression is recognized as one of the strongest predictors of postnatal depression, which itself is a strong predictor of mental disorders. The detection of antenatal depression is important and requires an accurate and valid screening tool. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is one of the most extensively studied screening instruments for assessing postnatal depression. AIM: To validate a linguistically and contextually appropriate Hindi version of the EPDS for use in women attending antenatal care in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A rigorously translated and modified Hindi version of the EPDS was developed and validated using the Hindi version of the PHQ-9 as a gold standard. A consecutive sample of women (n = 100) attending antenatal check-ups in healthcare facilities in Sehore district were interviewed. RESULTS: The validity measure of Receiver Operator Characteristic curve was plotted for different cutoffs of EPDS. The optimal cutoff score for the Hindi validation of the EPDS was 9/10 for antenatal depression with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 65.38%, 79.73%, 53.13%, and 86.76% respectively and area under the curve 0.7346. The internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha was 0.86 indicating good homogeneity. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that the Hindi version of the EPDS can be used as a valid measure to screen antenatal depression in India.

Causal relationships between lipid and glycemic levels in an Indian population: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia and abnormal glycemic traits are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Although the association between the two traits is well established, there still exists a gap in the evidence for the direction of causality. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the direction of the causal relationship between lipids and glycemic traits in an Indian population using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (BMR). METHODS: The BMR analysis was conducted on 4900 individuals (2450 sib-pairs) from the Indian Migration Study. Instrument variables were generated for each lipid and glycemic trait (fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, HOMA-ß, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides) to examine the causal relationship by applying two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression in both directions. RESULTS: Lipid and glycemic traits were found to be associated observationally, however, results from 2SLS showed that only triglycerides, defined by weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) of 3 SNPs (rs662799 at APOAV, rs780094 at GCKR and rs4420638 at APOE/C1/C4), were observed to be causally effecting 1.15% variation in HOMA-IR (SE = 0.22, P = 0.010), 1.53% in HOMA- ß (SE = 0.21, P = 0.001) and 1.18% in fasting insulin (SE = 0.23, P = 0.009). No evidence for a causal effect was observed in the reverse direction or between any other lipid and glycemic traits. CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that triglycerides may causally impact various glycemic traits. However, the findings need to be replicated in larger studies.

Non-communicable diseases risk factors and their determinants: A cross-sectional state-wide STEPS survey, Haryana, North India.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have documented high variation in epidemiologic transition levels among Indian states with noncommunicable disease epidemic rising swiftly. However, the estimates suffer from non-availability of reliable data for NCDs from sub populations. In order to fill the knowledge gap, the distribution and determinants of NCD risk factors were studied along with awareness, treatment and control of NCDs among the adult population in Haryana, India. METHODS: NCD risk factors survey was conducted among 5078 residents, aged 18-69 years during 2016-17. Behavioural risk factors were assessed using STEPS instrument, administered through an android software (mSTEPS). This was followed by physical measurements using standard protocols. Finally, biological risk factors were determined through the analysis of serum and urine samples. RESULTS: Males were found to be consuming tobacco and alcohol at higher rates of 38.9% (95% CI: 35.3-42.4) and 18.8% (95% CI: 15.8-21.8). One- tenth (11%) (95% CI: 8.6-13.4) of the respondents did not meet the specified WHO recommendations for physical activity for health. Around 35.2% (95%CI: 32.6-37.7) were overweight or obese. Hypertension and diabetes were prevalent at 26.2% (95% CI: 24.6-27.8) and 15.5% (95% CI: 11.0-20.0). 91.3% (95% CI: 89.3-93.3) of the population had higher salt intake than recommended 5gms per day. CONCLUSION: The documentation of strikingly high and uniform distribution of different NCDs and their risk factors in state warrants urgent need for evidence based interventions and advocacy of policy measures.