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Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic affected cancer service delivery and the feasibility of following the standard treatment guidelines. The present paper describes the use of clinical care guidelines for cancer management in routine practice and the approach adopted towards cancer care during the COVID‐19 pandemic in India. Methods: A web‐based survey was done in 107 hospitals (including public and private health facilities) that hosted Hospital‐Based Cancer Registries under the National Cancer Registry Programme. The participants comprised Principal Investigators of these registries, who were also medical, surgical, and radiation oncology clinicians. The survey was done between May 1, 2021, and July 31, 2021. Participants were provided with a web link for the survey questionnaire, confidential login, and password. Results: The study found high utilization of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) during practice, with eight out of ten physicians constantly to referring them. The study reported lack of knowledge, skills, and training to administer the treatment based on the guidelines followed by organizational infrastructure and affordability of treatment by the patients as the factors hampering utilization. International clinical guidelines were preferred when compared to national guidelines. The COVID‐19 pandemic decreased the use of CPGs, wherein six out of ten clinicians reported their use. Conclusion: Stakeholders who formulate clinical guidelines must consider the practical aspects and feasibility of implementing such guidelines during a pandemic and similar situations. This should be coupled with adequate changes in care practice to ensure optimal care delivery and a continuum of cancer care in routine and pandemic‐imposed situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study describes the epidemiology, clinical extent at diagnosis, and treatment modalities for prostate cancer in India. Methodology: This study is a secondary analysis of primary prostate cancer data sourced from the National Cancer Registry Programme. Data from population-based cancer registry for the period 2012-2016 were used to estimate the incidence rates, including crude incidence rate (CR), age-adjusted incidence rate (AAR), age-specific rate, and cumulative risk. Trends in the AAR were assessed using join-point regression. Hospital-Based Cancer Registry data from 2012 to 2019 were used to describe the clinical extent of the cancer at diagnosis and the treatment modalities. Results: The incidence of prostate cancers was higher in urban registries such as Delhi, Kamrup Urban, and Mumbai (AAR of 11.8 per 100,000, 10.9 per 100,000, and 9.7 per 100,000, respectively). Prostate cancer incidence showed a rise after the age of 50, with a notable acceleration after age 64. The overall annual percentage change for prostate cancer incidence from 1982 to 2016 was 2.6. Around 43.0% of all prostate cancers were diagnosed at the distant metastatic stage. Surgery and radiotherapy, either as standalone treatments or in combination with other modalities, contributed to the treatment of 78.5% of localized cancer, 74.2% of locoregional cancer, and 57.2% of distant metastatic stage of prostate cancer. Conclusion: There is heterogeneity in the incidence of prostate cancer, as evidenced by urban registries. Additionally, there is a need for downstaging the disease, without risking overdiagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a global noncommunicable disease monitoring framework in 2013 with a target of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from four noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic respiratory disease (CRD) by 2025 compared to 2010. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target to reduce premature deaths from the four major NCDs by one‐third from 2015 to 2030. The objective of this study was to estimate the trend and reduction in premature mortality in India due to 4 major NCDs combined and separately between 2001 and 2030 and compare its progress toward the WHO and SDG target achievement. The publicly available data from the census for population and the Sample Registration System (SRS) for cause of death by 5‐year‐age groups were extracted. Age standardized premature mortality rates, unconditional probability of dying and annual percent change (APC) were computed. The premature mortality for four major NCDs decreased by −13.9% from 2010 to 2025 and by −15.6% from 2015 to 2030. The percentage changes in premature mortality from 2010 to 2025 were −33.9%, −17.4%, −9.3%, and 6.9% for CRD, cancer, CVD and diabetes respectively. For 2015–2030, these changes were −21.7%, −11.5%, −15.4%, and −15.1%. A significant reduction trend was observed for CRD with an average APC of −5.2%. The current reduction trend in premature mortality indicates that either the 25% reduction by 2025 or a one‐third reduction by 2030 will require intensive implementation of policies and program for NCD reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sufficient physical activity (PA) significantly contributes to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. This study aims to determine the prevalence of insufficient PA and associated sociodemographic and lifestyle factors among adults aged 18–69 years in India. Methods: A national population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted during 2017–2018 among 12,000 adults that adapted globally standard data collection tools. The data were weighted and analyzed using complex samples analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with insufficient PA. Results: Age standardized prevalence of insufficient PA among adults in India was 41.4%. A higher proportion of women (52.4%) and urban adults (51.7%) were not doing sufficient PA. Men (118.8 min) spent more time in PA per day than women (55.3 min). Higher odds of insufficient PA were significantly associated with unemployment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 6.45), highest wealth quintile (aOR = 1.86), presence of central obesity (aOR = 1.24), and raised blood pressure (aOR = 1.22). Conclusion: This study provides the baseline prevalence of insufficient PA to monitor the set PA targets for India by 2025. The identified associated factors can guide policy makers to plan tailored interventions targeting high-risk groups and a multisectoral approach to promote PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During disasters, people share their thoughts and emotions on social media and also provide information about the event. Mining the social media messages and updates can be helpful in understanding the emotional state of people during such unforeseen events as they are real-time data. The objective of this review is to explore the feasibility of using social media data for mental health surveillance as well as the techniques used for determining mental health using social media data during disasters. PubMed, PsycINFO, and PsycARTICLES databases were searched from 2009 to November 2018 for primary research studies. After screening and analyzing the records, 18 studies were included in this review. Twitter was the widely researched social media platform for understanding the mental health of people during a disaster. Psychological surveillance was done by identifying the sentiments expressed by people or the emotions they displayed in their social media posts. Classification of sentiments and emotions were done using lexicon-based or machine learning methods. It is not possible to conclude that a particular technique is the best performing one, because the performance of any method depends upon factors such as the disaster size, the volume of data, disaster setting, and the disaster web environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is well established that accelerated atherosclerosis occurs in middle-aged and elderly adults with family history of coronary artery disease (CAD). However similar data on younger population with genetic predisposition is lacking. As identifying and treating this target group at an early stage will help in postponing the disease progression and delay the onset of clinical events later in life. Aim: We undertook the present study to investigate whether structural vascular changes related to atherosclerosis are detectable in healthy young adults with family history of CAD by non-invasive high resolution scan of the carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT). Materials and Methods: Fifty healthy young adults of both sexes, aged 18-25 years with family history of CAD were taken as cases and fifty age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure matched subjects without family history of CAD served as control. All participants completed a standardized cardiovascular disease risk assessment questionnaire and resting blood pressure, pulse rate and BMI were recorded. None of the subjects were smoker or alcoholic. Both cases and controls were subjected to high resolution B-mode ultrasonographic evaluation of CIMT. Fasting blood samples were drawn for baseline investigations and lipid profile estimation. Results: Compared to control subjects, cases had increased CIMT (mean of combined sites 0.57 ± 0.08 mm vs 0.46 ± 0.05 mm in controls, p<0.001). Offspring with family history of CAD exhibited an unfavourable lipid profile. We observed a direct association between carotid intima media thickness and triglyceride concentration (Correlation coefficient =0.32). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed family history of CAD to be independent risk factor for CIMT (Odds ratio=5.36, confidence interval 1.84 - 10.53, p=0.003). Conclusion: Arterial wall abnormalities are present at an early age in offspring with family history of CAD. Identifying such high risk individuals is feasible with an easy, non-invasive and reproducible technique like CIMT measurement and hence is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To estimate the strength of the association between tobacco use and cancer incidence among the Indian population., Materials and Methods: Data from PubMed, Embase, and Virtual Health Library were searched from inception of databases till April 30, 2022. There were no restrictions except for English language and human study. Case-control and cohort studies on cancer incidence in relation to tobacco use were selected. Data were extracted independently by two investigators, and discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. The quality assessment was done using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale., Results: The majority were case-control designs (60, 89.6%), covering diverse geographic regions, with Maharashtra (18, 30%) and Kerala (12, 20%) being the most studied. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using the random-effects model, and forest plots were generated. The risk of any cancer associated with smoked and smokeless tobacco was 2.71 (95% CI, 2.25 to 3.16) and 2.68 (95% CI, 2.22 to 3.14), respectively, indicating similar risks. Gender-wise, smoked tobacco had an association of 2.35 (95% CI, 2.05 to 2.65) for males, whereas for smokeless tobacco, it was 1.77 (95% CI, 1.47 to 2.07) for males and 2.34 (95% CI, 1.26 to 3.42) for females. Regardless of gender, tobacco type, and affected body parts, the risk of cancer due to tobacco use was consistent in the Indian population. Site-specific analysis showed higher risks of respiratory system cancers of 4.97 (95% CI, 3.62 to 6.32) and head and neck cancers of 3.95 (95% CI, 3.48 to 4.42)., Conclusion: This study underscores that both smoked and smokeless tobacco are equally harmful to human health among the Indian population, providing insights for stakeholders and policymakers to arrive at tobacco-specific interventions.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the association between exposure to major ambient air pollutants and the incidence and mortality of lung cancer and some nonlung cancers., Methods: This meta-analysis used PubMed and EMBASE databases to access published studies that met the eligibility criteria. Primary analysis investigated the association between exposure to air pollutants and cancer incidence and mortality. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis was conducted using R software., Results: The meta-analysis included 61 studies, of which 53 were cohort studies and eight were case-control studies. Particulate matter 2.5 mm or less in diameter (PM 2.5 ) was the exposure pollutant in half (55.5%), and lung cancer was the most frequently studied cancer in 59% of the studies. A pooled analysis of exposure reported in cohort and case-control studies and cancer incidence demonstrated a significant relationship (relative risk [RR], 1.04 [95% CI, 1.02 to 1.05]; I 2 , 88.93%; P < .05). A significant association was observed between exposure to pollutants such as PM 2.5 (RR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.04 to 1.12]; I 2 , 68.52%) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) (RR, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.01 to 1.05]; I 2 , 73.52%) and lung cancer incidence. The relationship between exposure to the air pollutants and cancer mortality demonstrated a significant relationship (RR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.10]; I 2 , 94.77%; P < .001). Among the four pollutants, PM 2.5 (RR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.08 to 1.22]; I 2 , 95.33%) and NO 2 (RR, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.02 to 1.08]; I 2 , 89.98%) were associated with lung cancer mortality., Conclusion: The study confirms the association between air pollution exposure and lung cancer incidence and mortality. The meta-analysis results could contribute to community cancer prevention and diagnosis and help inform stakeholders and policymakers in decision making.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Biological aging has been associated with the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular outcomes; however, the underlying mechanism of this process remains unknown., Objectives: This study sought to evaluate if peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) senescence and endothelial biomarkers could influence cardiovascular (CV) risk and be suitable markers for the early detection of cardiovascular diseases in adults., Methods: In this cross-sectional study patients free of CVD were classified as lower (n=32) and higher Interheart Risk (IHR) scores (n=28). PBMC senescence was assessed by estimating the telomerase activity (TA) and detecting the presence of senescent cells and endothelial dysfunction by estimating the concentration of nitrite and nitrate and of total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). All p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: PBMC senescence 0.95 [p-value = 0.0001; 95% CI (0.874-1.026)] was a significant predictor of patients with higher IHR scores with a cut-off value of 21.65 with a sensitivity and specificity of 92% and 88% respectively. PBMC senescence, nitrite and nitrate and TA were found to be independently associated with high IHR scores., Conclusion: PBMC senescence, TA and nitrite, and nitrate status are suitable measures to predict high cardiovascular risk in adults with CV risk. Nevertheless, long-term follow-up studies are needed to confirm these findings. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; 116(1):37-47).