Digital Therapeutics (DTx) represent a novel category of medical interventions that utilize software applications to prevent, manage, or treat various health conditions. Global evidence from nations like Germany, the United States, and Japan have demonstrated the effectiveness of digital therapeutics (DTx) in the healthcare systems. India needs to implement a comprehensive policy strategy to integrate the (DTx) in the public health ecosystem. Initially, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) ought to officially acknowledge Digital Therapeutics (DTx) as a separate category within Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). Next, the National Health Authority (NHA) should test reimbursement models under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). Additionally, it is essential for DTx platforms to comply with the interoperability standards established by the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Furthermore, the challenge of human resources needs to be considered within the policy structure. Lastly, attention should be given to the pace and evolution of development to incorporate Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). Thus, it can be concluded that the process of integrating digital therapeutics (DTx) into the public health systems has the potential to improve operational efficiency, stimulate better engagement on the side of patients, and lower the long-term cost of healthcare delivery.

Background: In India, despite major investments in maternal health, the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) is suboptimal. This study explores the predictors of less than adequate ANC among Indian women, guided by Andersen's Behavioral Model. Methods: The study included a nationally representative subsample of 19,089 women from NFHS-5 (2019-21), of whom 13,670 (71.6%) had adequate ANC (≥4 visits) and 5,419 (28.4%) inadequate ANC. Suboptimal ANC was defined as less than 4 pregnancy visits. Associated factors were determined by chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Insufficient ANC coverage was found in 28.4% of the participants. College or university attendance was a strong predictor of adequate care versus none. The use of the poorest quintiles was poorer than that of the richest for women. Urban place of residence was protective as opposed to rural. ANC use was higher in the South than in the North. Long distances to water sources (>30 minutes) were associated with poor care. The main obstacles were distance to the facilities (32.03%), financial difficulties (27.07%), and transportation problems (23.95%). Conclusions: There is enormous inequity in the utilization of ANC along socioeconomic, geographic, and demographic lines in India. Integrated interventions are needed to mitigate supply and demand-side prerequisites for maternal healthcare, focusing on the most socially and geographically excluded to enhance both access to and use of maternal healthcare services.

Background: Mental health concerns during the perinatal period are a growing global issue, particularly in low-resource settings like India, where cultural and social factors shape women's responses to emotional distress. The study aimed to examine help-seeking behaviours among perinatal women with depression in rural and urban areas of Khordha district, Odisha, and to identify barriers to accessing both formal and informal sources of support. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between August and November 2024 among 642 pregnant and postpartum women aged 18 years and above, selected through multistage sampling. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used for screening and assessment. Of the total, 193 women with depressive symptoms were included for analysing help-seeking patterns using SPSS version 25. Results: Rural women were more likely to seek support from healthcare providers and family members, while both groups reported barriers such as stigma, lack of awareness, and distance to health facilities. Emotional distress was frequently linked to financial concerns, overthinking, and family disputes. Conclusion: Addressing maternal mental health requires context-specific strategies that reduce stigma, increase awareness, and improve access to care in both urban and rural communities.

Medical research has following phases- planning, performance, documentation, analysis, and publication. Evaluation of research can be summative (i.e. evaluations of research results) vs formative (i.e. evaluation used for improving scientific processes), quantitative vs qualitative and individual vs institute/departments. Understanding the usefulness and impact of science is important; Peer review mechanisms for objectively processing protocols should be there to produce quality research. Research committees should be established at the institute level to monitor the progress of research. Publication of research findings in high-quality international and peer-reviewed scientific journals should be emphasized apart from using the research for patient care, policy and programs. For improved decision-making in biomedical research, evaluation should be based on both bibliometric methods and peer review. For capacity building and skills development in research, researchers involved in the biomedical field require rigorous and methodological training to appraise the quality of evidence available critically and not trust all published literature. This narrative review aims to synthesize parameters for assessing medical research quality beyond outcomes and publications, focusing on LMICs like India. This review is narrative and non-systematic, subjective in nature and potentially subject to selection bias.

Background: Sleep disturbance is the most detrimental non-auditory effect of noise exposure. Study aims to assess perceived stress and sleep quality across different occupational and noise exposure environments, and to identify sociodemographic and occupational predictors of poor sleep. Methodology: A cross-sectional study in Surat included 160 participants from three work environments based on noise exposure: New Civil Hospital Surat (30-50 dB), the urban field practice area (50-70 dB), and textile industries (>70 dB) using stratified, systematic, and simple random sampling methods, respectively. Univariate analysis using Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis H tests identified associations, while binary logistic regression determined independent predictors. Results: Textile workers reported the highest poor sleep quality (88.9%). Significant differences in sleep quality (p=0.001), but not stress (p=0.650), were observed across groups. Poor sleep was significantly associated with education, occupation, socioeconomic class, and shift work. Logistic regression revealed age, postgraduate education, and higher socioeconomic status as independent predictors of poor sleep. Conclusion: Sleep quality is influenced by education, job type, socioeconomic class, and shift work, with poorer sleep in older, educated, and wealthier individuals. No significant association was found for perceived stress.

Introduction and Methodology: This systematic review and meta-analysis, following PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42025645593), searched Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Sciences and Google Scholar for studies on low-calorie or very-low-calorie or other special diets (VLC/KD) in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Results: From 16 RCTs involving 1232 patients, the meta-analysis found reductions with standardised mean difference in weight (-0.59; 95% CI, -1.05: -0.13), waist (-0.72; 95% CI, -1.80: 0.37), BMI (-0.93; 95% CI, -1.56; -0.29), Hba1c (-0.67; 95% CI, -0.94: -0.40), fasting (-0.82; 95% CI, -1.35: -0.29) and post-prandial blood sugar (-0.45; 95% CI, -4.06: 3.16), Total cholesterol (-0.37; 95% CI, -0.76: 0.03), LDL cholesterol (-0.16; 95% CI, -0.45: 0.14), HDL cholesterol (0.19; 95% CI, -0.03: 0.41), systolic blood pressure (-0.55; 95% CI, -0.89: -0.22), and diastolic blood pressure (-0.52; 95% CI, -0.92: -0.13) after a long-term intake of low/very-low calorie or other special diets. High heterogeneity (I² >50%) was observed in most outcomes, warranting cautious interpretation. Conclusions: These results support incorporating high-fibre, low-glycemic index foods and Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) over Saturated Fatty Acids in energy-balanced diets for DM management.

Background: Between 1970-1975, DR was the 20th cause of blindness, and today, it is the 6th most common cause of blindness in India. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of DR among type 2 diabetes patients and identify associated socio-demographic determinants. Methods: Total of 316 type 2 diabetics patients through systematic random sampling were enrolled. Fundus examination was performed using Volk iNview iPhone fundus camera following ETDRS protocol. Data on demographics, anthropometric measurements, and clinical parameters were collected. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and logistic regression to identify the risk factors. Results: Prevalence of any grade of DR was 35.4% (95% CI: 30%-41.5%) which included mild non-proliferative (15.5%), moderate non-proliferative (11.7%), severe non-proliferative (3.8%), proliferative (1.6%), and diabetic macular edema (2.8%). Multivariate analysis identified significant independent risk factors: age >60 years (adjusted OR=1.11), diabetes duration >5 years (adjusted OR=1.20), uncontrolled glycemia (adjusted OR=2.25), hypertension (adjusted OR=1.04), previous cataract surgery (adjusted OR=1.76), and overweight/obesity (adjusted OR=1.202). Conclusion: Predominance of early-stage disease highlights the opportunity for early intervention through community-based screening initiatives. The findings emphasize the importance of integrated diabetes management addressing multiple risk domains, particularly glycemic control, blood pressure management, and weight optimization, for effective DR prevention and management.

Background: Prediabetes is a critical stage in the progression to type 2 diabetes, where preventive lifestyle changes can be most effective. However, many adults with prediabetes do not adhere to recommended health behaviors such as physical activity, healthy dietary practices, and medication adherence. This study aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the factors influencing health behaviors among adults with prediabetes. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 framework. A comprehensive search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies were published in English and focused on determinants of health behaviors in adults with prediabetes. Results: Fourteen (14) studies met the inclusion criteria. Factors influencing health behaviors were grouped into three categories: (1) sociodemographic and health-related factors (e.g., age, gender, education, body weight), (2) cognitive and perceptual factors (e.g., self-efficacy, perceived benefits and barriers, knowledge, health literacy), and (3) motivational and social factors (e.g., types of motivation, attitudes, cues to action, social support). Meta-analysis demonstrated that higher self-efficacy and greater knowledge were significantly associated with healthier behaviors, although heterogeneity was high for self-efficacy (I² >75%). Limitations included the small number of eligible studies and methodological variability. Conclusion: This review concludes that cognitive and motivational factors play a central role in shaping health behaviors. Tailored, patient-centered interventions focusing on these factors are essential for diabetes prevention. Interventions that strengthen self-efficacy, such as skills-based training and behavioral counseling are recommended to promote sustainable lifestyle change and support diabetes prevention.

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the effect of smoking intensity (pack-years) and duration on hearing thresholds and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurrence among adult Iraqi males. Methods: 100 males (50 smokers, 50 non-smokers), aged 18-45 years, were recruited at Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq. Data collected from September 2024 to January 2025 included demographics, smoking history (pack-years), and nicotine dependence (Fagerström Test). Participants underwent otoscopic and physical examination, tympanometry, and pure-tone audiometry, measuring hearing thresholds at low frequencies (500-2000 Hz) and high frequencies (3000-8000 Hz). Logistic regression was used to assess smoking’s association with SNHL. Results: SNHL was detected in 16% of smokers and none of the non-smokers (p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that smoking duration (AOR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.04-1.45; p = 0.011) and pack-years (AOR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.07-1.88; p = 0.021) independently predicted SNHL, after adjusting for age and occupation. Smokers had poorer hearing thresholds, especially at high frequencies (3000-8000 Hz). A smoking duration ≥24.5 years predicted SNHL with 87.5% sensitivity and 90.5% specificity, though this cutoff is exploratory due to the small number of SNHL cases (n=8). Fagerström Test results showed no significant association between nicotine dependence and SNHL. Conclusion: Smoking duration and intensity are associated with elevated hearing thresholds and high-frequency SNHL in adult males. The findings highlight smoking’s harmful auditory effects, but the small sample size and cross-sectional design limit causality. Generalizability may be limited as only male participants were included. Further longitudinal studies including both genders are needed to confirm these findings.