Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,Government of India

Childhood multimorbidity, defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions, is an emerging yet underexplored global health concern. Unlike adult multimorbidity, which is predominantly linked to ageing, childhood multimorbidity affects critical developmental phases, impacting physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. Despite increasing recognition, its prevalence, correlates, and long-term implications remain inadequately understood. This systematic review aims to synthesize existing evidence on the prevalence, correlates, and outcomes of childhood multimorbidity in the general paediatric population. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL (EBSCO) to identify observational studies published up to May 31, 2024. Studies were included if they reported multimorbidity prevalence among children aged 0–18 years. Owing to high heterogeneity across studies, a meta-analysis was not performed, and the results were synthesized narratively. Nine studies, covering diverse paediatric populations, met the inclusion criteria. The individual study prevalence varied widely, ranging from 1.26

BACKGROUND:Online education gained its popularity in the education system during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The online platform, including social media, was institutionalized globally for the purpose of tutoring to keep the education process ongoing under feasible circumstances. However, the post-pandemic continuation of online education and prolonged usage of electronic devices imposed a greater risk of health issues related to sensory impairment. Our study aimed to determine the impact of online education on students' hearing status and its associated factors. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1030 students of 11th grade and above who were undergoing online education in Dhaka and Chattogram. Data were collected through the online administration of a structured questionnaire containing questions on sociodemographic status, family history of diseases, personal history of diseases, information related to screentime exposure, and SSQ-12 (Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing -12) scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square test, two independent sample t-tests, and multiple linear regression analysis were employed to obtain the results. RESULT:The mean SSQ score of the study participants was 7.74 ± 1.37. In bivariate analysis, gender, family income, family history of diseases (e.g., obesity, headache, hearing problem), personal history of diseases (e.g., obesity, insomnia), device type (mobile/tablet, computer), average daily screen time with sound, and break pattern during online learning were significantly (p < 0.05 for all) associated with hearing status. In multivariate analysis, being female (coefficient -0.293, p = 0.001), using mobile/tablet (coefficient -0.836, p = 0.001), and continuous screen use (coefficient -0.348, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with poor hearing status. CONCLUSION:This current study indicates the detrimental effect of online education on the hearing of young students in Bangladesh. Future studies should explore the long-term hearing effects of online education and guide the policy makers towards necessary preventive approaches.

Abstract Background Neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are particularly susceptible to acquiring healthcare-associated infections because of factors such as prematurity, prolonged hospital stays, and need for invasive support devices. A longitudinal study in a Bangladeshi NICU demonstrated a high burden of bloodstream infections (BSIs) and rectal colonization with carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs). We aimed to assess the impact of infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions on BSIs and CRO colonization in this NICU. Methods We conducted a quasi-experimental study in a 38-bed NICU of a tertiary care referral hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Following a baseline assessment in December 2023-January 2024, an IPC intervention was carried out during February-September 2024, with a pause during June-August because of political instability. NICU staff, including environmental cleaners, received multimodal IPC training with an emphasis on hand hygiene and environmental cleaning. Compliance was monitored through covert observation of hand hygiene and use of fluorescent markers on environmental surfaces. Colonization with CROs was evaluated through twice monthly point prevalence surveys using rectal swabs plated on selective media followed by Vitek 2 confirmatory testing. BSIs were assessed based on recovery of pathogenic organisms from blood cultures, and mortality rates were determined based on the number of deaths per 100 admissions. We assessed for trends in process and outcome measures over time using the Mann-Kendall test. Results Over the course of the IPC intervention, hygiene compliance improved from 13% to 69% (p < 0.001) while environmental cleaning improved from 10% to 87% (p < 0.001). We sampled 363 neonates across 12 point prevalence surveys. CRO colonization was similar at the beginning of the intervention compared with the endline (88% vs. 81%, p = 0.45). However, BSI incidence decreased from 28 to 4 per 100 admissions (p = 0.034), representing an 86% reduction. Similarly, mortality decreased from 26 to 4 per 100 admissions (p = 0.064), though this change was not statistically significant. Conclusions Enhancing basic IPC practices may be effective in reducing adverse outcomes in low-resource settings with a high burden of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). However, the lack of impact on CRO colonization suggests the need for additional IPC and/or antibiotic stewardship interventions to further mitigate MDRO transmission and the selective pressures driving MDRO proliferation in this NICU.

Background: A marginal farmer’s income is inadequate to sustain a decent living. Hence, they work in brick fields or similar jobs during the lean season, which generates respirable dust containing silica. Lungs are sensitised. Lung already sensitised to crystalline silica, and the lack of use of personal protection equipment during this work worsen the symptoms. Objectives: Evaluate the actual cumulative period of exposure in brick fields and ramming mass industry. Combine the Direct Acyclic Graph and Bradford Hill Graph to identify the causal pathway. To find out the epidemiological pathway, follow a characteristic pathway. Results: Twenty-five workers are affected by Silicosis; two medical officers of the local hospital and one interviewee have been interviewed in depth. Thematic content analysis using open, axial, and selective has been used for coding. Interviews have been coded as explained, and reached saturation. Objectives has been achieved by eight interviews. Data Triangulated with ILO/WHO radiographic grade (mostly 1/2/3), health camp data, and DAG modelling of confounders such as chronic malnutrition. Worked in the brickfield for some years, not recorded, the only record is of the brickfield lung already affected by respirable crystalline silica only worsens even for a short time. . ILO ratings indicated moderate to severe profusion; all Bradford Hill requirements were satisfied, affirming cumulative RCS as the causative factor inside migratory chains from farms to kilns through intermediaries. Conclusion: Gradual improvement in the social and economic context and advocacy for active community nutrition, promotion of personal protective equipment and screening may prevent silicosis.

Introduction: An 18F-FDG PET-CT scan is increasingly used in the evaluation of treatment response for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a conventional way using SUVmax and a total body survey. The aim of this study was to evaluate responses in NSCLC patients by using PERCIST 1.0 and RECIST 1.1. Patients and methods: Retrospective data analysis of five patients with NSCLC over a 1.5-year period was done. The assessment included baseline and therapeutic response measurements using 18F-FDG PET-CTimaging at National Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (NINMAS) after treatment completion, independent of the type of medication administered. Results: Three patients were male and two were female, with the mean age being 57 yrs ± 14.76 yrs (mean ± SD). All of them were diagnosed at advanced stages of NSCLC. The mean duration of response evaluation after finishing therapy was 76.6 days. Four out of five patients showed stable disease (SD) after RECIST 1.1, and one showed a complete response (CR). PERCIST 1.0 evaluation showed progressive metabolic disease (PMD) in two patients and partial metabolic response (PMR) in two patients. The patient with CR on RECIST was also found to have a complete metabolic response (CMR) on PERCIST. Conclusion: Utilizing PERCIST 1.0 and RECIST 1.1 with hybrid imaging allows for a non-invasive assessment of metabolic and morphologic responses, providing clinicians with enhanced information for managing advanced NSCLC patients. Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 29(1): 50-57, 2026