Indian clinical practice consensus guidelines for the management of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck.

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are malignant tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract and are the sixth most common cancer worldwide. In India, around 30-40% of all cancers are HNCs. Even though there are global guidelines or recommendations for the management of HNCs, these may not be appropriate for Indian scenarios. In an effort to discuss current practices, latest developments and to come to a consensus to recommend management strategies for different anatomical subsites of HNCs for Indian patients, a group of experts (medical, surgical and radiation oncologists and dentists) was formed. A review of literature from medical databases was conducted to provide the best possible evidence base, which was reviewed by experts during a consensus group meeting (January, 2019) to provide recommendations.

Renewal of driving license in India and glaucoma: A study of prevalent practice and its lacunae.

PURPOSE: Glaucoma affects different aspects of vision including visual field. This prospective observational study aims to collect details of driving license (DL) renewal procedure (in an urban metro in India) among patients with diagnosed glaucoma and the method of reporting of vision-related requirements during renewal. METHODS: One-hundred patients with diagnosed glaucoma above 40 years, having valid DL (with at least one renewal cycle), were included. Patients with other ocular comorbidities were excluded. Driving Habits Questionnaire and a questionnaire about license renewal were administered. Driving eligibility was compared to international guidelines. RESULTS: Study population included patients with 69% early, 29% moderate, and 2% advanced glaucoma. Sixteen percent of patients had stopped driving. Legal license renewal procedure was bypassed by 45%. Form-1 was not submitted by 43% and 49% did not submit Form-1A at the time of renewal. Only 7.01% mentioned about glaucoma in the self-declaration form. None were asked about their visual field during renewal. Among 61 patients who submitted a medical certificate, the undersigning doctor was an ophthalmologist in only six patients. Thirty percent patients with valid Indian DL would not have satisfied International College of Ophthalmologists guidelines. Driving difficulties were experienced by 44%, more so in advanced glaucoma (F (1, 82) = 22.12, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Vision-related testing at the time of renewal of DL is inadequate in India. Chronic eye diseases such as glaucoma are commonly not self-declared or detected at pre-renewal testing. Clear-cut guidelines about visual requirements and implementation are required to prevent road traffic events because of vision-related errors.

Indian guidelines on neurosurgical interventions in psychiatric disorders.

Neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders (NPD) has been practiced for >80 years. However, the interests have waxed and waned, from 1000s of surgeries in 1940-1950s to handful of surgery in 60-80s. This changed with the application of deep brain stimulation surgery, a surgery, considered to be "reversible" there has been a resurgence in interest. The Indian society for stereotactic and functional neurosurgery (ISSFN) and the world society for stereotactic and functional neurosurgery took the note of the past experiences and decided to form the guidelines for NPD. In 2011, an international task force was formed to develop the guidelines, which got published in 2013. In 2018, eminent psychiatrists from India, functional neurosurgeon representing The Neuromodulation Society and ISSFN came-together to deliberate on the current status, need, and legal aspects of NPD. In May 2018, Mental Health Act also came in to force in India, which had laid down the requirements to be fulfilled for NPD. In light of this after taking inputs from all stakeholders and review of the literature, the group has proposed the guidelines for NPD that can help to steer these surgery and its progress in India.

Consensus Statement for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Urticaria: A 2017 Update.

This article is developed by the Skin Allergy Research Society of India for an updated evidence-based consensus statement for the management of urticaria, with a special reference to the Indian context. This guideline includes updated definition, causes, classification, and management of urticaria. Urticaria has a profound impact on the quality of life and causes immense distress to patients, necessitating effective treatment. One approach to manage urticaria is by identification and elimination of the underlying cause(s) and/or eliciting trigger(s) while the second one is by treatment for providing symptomatic relief. This guideline recommends the use of second-generation nonsedating H1-antihistamines as the first-line treatment. The dose can be increased up to four times to meet the expected results. In case patients still do not respond, appropriate treatment options can be selected depending on the associated medical condition, severity of the symptoms, affordability of the drugs, and accessibility of modern biologics such as omalizumab.

Management of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: ICMR Consensus Document.

Hitherto poor outcomes, paucity of data and heterogeneity in International approach to Pediatric NHL (Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma) prompted the need for guidelines for Indian population with vast variability in access, affordability and infrastructure across the country. These guidelines are based on consensus among the experts and best available evidence applicable to Indian setting. Evaluation of NHL should consist of easily doable and rapid tissue diagnosis (biopsy or flow cytometry of peripheral blood/malignant effusions), St Jude/IPNHLSS (International Pediatric Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Staging System) and risk grouping with CSF (Cerebro-spinal fluid), bone marrow, whole body imaging [CECT (Contrast enhanced computerized tomography) ± MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)] and blood investigations for LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase), TLS (Tumor lysis syndrome) and organ functions. Life threatening complications like SVCS (Superior vena cava syndrome)/Mediastinal syndrome and TLS need to pre-empted and promptly managed. All children with poor general condition, co-morbidities, metabolic or obstructive complications should receive a steroid or chemotherapy pro-phase first. For mature B-NHL (B cell - Non-Hodgkin lymphoma), in centres with good infrastructure and methotrexate levels, FAB-LMB-96 (French-American-British/Lymphomes Malins B) or BFM (Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster)-NHL-95 protocols may be used. In centres with limited infrastructure and/or no methotrexate levels; CHOP (Cyclophosphamide-hydroxydaunomycin-oncovin-prednisolone) (early stage) or MCP (Multi-centre protocol)-842 [all stages except CNS (Central nervous system) disease] may be used. Patients with poor early response should have escalated therapy. High-Risk B-NHL will benefit with addition of Rituximab to standard chemotherapy. Radiotherapy (RT) is not warranted. For lymphoblastic lymphoma, in centres with good infrastructure and methotrexate levels, BFM-95 protocol may be used. In centres with limited infrastructure and/or no methotrexate levels; modified MCP-841 with cytarabine, modified BFM-90 protocol with reduced-dose methotrexate or I-BFM 2009 protocol using Capizzi methotrexate may be considered. For ALCL (Anaplastic large cell lymphoma), in centres with good infrastructure and methotrexate levels, ALCL-99 protocol may be considered. In centres with limited infrastructure and/or no methotrexate levels; CHOP (limited-stage only), modified MCP-842 protocol or APO (Adriamycin-prednisolone-oncovin) regimen may be used.

Consensus and evidence-based Indian initiative on obstructive sleep apnea guidelines 2014 (first edition).

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are subsets of sleep-disordered breathing. Awareness about OSA and its consequences among the general public as well as the majority of primary care physicians across India is poor. This necessitated the development of the Indian initiative on obstructive sleep apnea (INOSA) guidelines under the auspices of Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. OSA is the occurrence of an average five or more episodes of obstructive respiratory events per hour of sleep with either sleep-related symptoms or co-morbidities or ≥15 such episodes without any sleep-related symptoms or co-morbidities. OSAS is defined as OSA associated with daytime symptoms, most often excessive sleepiness. Patients undergoing routine health check-up with snoring, daytime sleepiness, obesity, hypertension, motor vehicular accidents, and high-risk cases should undergo a comprehensive sleep evaluation. Medical examiners evaluating drivers, air pilots, railway drivers, and heavy machinery workers should be educated about OSA and should comprehensively evaluate applicants for OSA. Those suspected to have OSA on comprehensive sleep evaluation should be referred for a sleep study. Supervised overnight polysomnography is the "gold standard" for evaluation of OSA. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is the mainstay of treatment of OSA. Oral appliances (OA) are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate OSA who prefer OA to PAP, or who do not respond to PAP or who fail treatment attempts with PAP or behavioral measures. Surgical treatment is recommended in patients who have failed or are intolerant to PAP therapy.