Men who have sex with men (MSM) in India face unique psychosocial and HIV-related stressors. Collective self-esteem (CSE) may be a particularly important protective factor for this population given Indian collectivist cultural values. This study examined potential effects of CSE sequentially on individual self-esteem (ISE), depression and, in turn, sexual behavior and health outcomes longitudinally among Indian MSM. Three hundred and one Indian MSM were surveyed at baseline, and at 4, 8, and 12 months. Assessments included the CSE scale, Rosenberg ISE, clinically significant depressive symptoms, condomless anal sex (CAS), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). After confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the CSE scale, path models were estimated to examine longitudinal associations of CSE on outcomes via serial mediation. One of the three collective self-esteem factors from the CFA, public view of group, significantly predicted outcomes. This factor, a higher public view of group, predicted increased ISE 4 months later, which in turn via mediation, predicted fewer clinically significant depressive symptoms at 8 months (B = −0.685, β = −0.048, 95
Active Case Finding (ACF) in tuberculosis (TB) is a provider-initiated, systematic, community-based screening process that targets high-risk populations and is deployed across India, including Himachal Pradesh, as a strategy to eliminate TB. Himachal Pradesh reports a disproportionately high proportion of extra-pulmonary TB (EP-TB) compared with the national average. An implementation study deploying portable digital X-ray devices in Kangra district identified structural barriers to case detection following which a barrier decomposition framework was applied to quantify each barrier’s contribution to the observed yield gap. One hundred and forty-six villages of Block Dadasibha (population 1,15,766) in Kangra district were covered through preliminary screening of 20,207 high-risk individuals by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), followed by screening camps using handheld X-ray devices and sputum smear examination. Camps were conducted on weekdays using a fixed-facility and outreach approach. All X-rays were read by a single pulmonologist. NIKSHAY portal data for Kangra District (Year 2024, N = 2,921 notified cases) were used to benchmark expected prevalence and disease-type distribution. A notification rate of 193 per 100,000 (2011 Census denominator) was applied to the screened population to derive expected cases. The barrier decomposition framework attributed the expected-vs.-detected deficit to four pre-specified structural barriers using NIKSHAY age, sex, and site distributions as denominators. 7,464 people (770 chest-symptomatic and 6,694 high-risk individuals) attended TB screening camps. Of these, 7,409 (99
Ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy is a well-documented adverse reaction, the severity of which depends on drug serum concentration in the body. The recent dose-frequency modification for ethambutol from thrice-weekly regimen to daily-dose regimen might have opened doors for increased drug toxicity, resulting in increasing incidence of ocular toxicity. A retrospective, post-market observational study was conducted using data collected from VigiBase® until Jan 2026, using mapped terms under Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). Of 49,327 ethambutol-suspected adverse event cases reported globally, 4,748 cases were reported under the system organ class (SOC) eye disorders, of which 220 blindness cases were reported globally. Within South-East Asia Region (SEAR), India (n = 820, 79.8
Sarcoidosis is a multiorgan, granulomatous disease of an unknown etiology. The characteristic feature of the disease is the formation of noncaseating granulomas. Spontaneous resolution occurs in most patients, but the clinical course may be chronic or progressive, complicated by pulmonary fibrosis, which is a major cause of mortality in sarcoidosis. Recent studies have provided new information on the immunological mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis. Its pathogenesis includes the alteration of lymphocyte activity and the imbalance between their subpopulations, the polarization of macrophages to the profibrotic phenotype, and an imbalance between the activity of metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors. A multidisciplinary approach is required for the optimal management of fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis. Clinical symptoms, serum biomarkers, imaging, pulmonary function test results, other organ involvement, comorbidities, and complications should be considered when assessing disease activity and selecting the most appropriate treatment. The use of anti-inflammatory drugs is often discussed. There has been no consensus reached on whether antifibrotic agents should be added or used in monotherapy as initial treatment in such cases. This article will review all the information on fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis and present factors associated with fibrosis development, prognosis, and treatment options.
