Research productivity regarding psychosocial aspects of diabetes from India

Introduction: psychosocial factors play an important role in chronic ailments like diabetes. Unfortunately, there is limited research in the area of diabetes and the published literature is scanty from India. In this study, we assessed the research productivity on psychosocial aspects of diabetes from India.

Materials and Methods: the online database of PUBMED was searched using the search terms ‘psychosocial′, ‘diabetes’ in any field and ‘India’ in the author affiliation field. The available articles were studied further for analyzing the research productivity.

Results: the number of available articles dealing with the psychosocial aspect of diabetes are 16 that constitute only 0.08% of the total papers in PUBMED. The articles were mostly in the form of original articles (13 out of 16) and the remaining three constituted a case report, review, and medical hypothesis. The majority of the articles originated from Delhi, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam.

Conclusion: the research productivity from India is lacking in the psychosocial aspects of diabetes. The imbalance is marked as we have the highest disease burden and urgent measures are required to cover the gaps in the research.

Monostotic fibrous dysplasia with Raynaud′s phenomenon

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a benign bone disorder characterized by alteration in bone morphology. Monostotic FD is the commonest variant and affects the craniofacial bones. Raynaud's phenomenon is recurrent vasospasm of the fingers and toes due to cold exposure. The disease is usually idiopathic or secondary to connective tissue disorders. Raynaud's phenomenon is not described previously with FD. We recently encountered two interesting patients of craniofacial monostotic FD with Raynaud's phenomenon and report the same in this report.

Comparison of curcumin with intralesional steroid injections in Oral Submucous Fibrosis - A randomized, open-label interventional study

INTRODUCTION

Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is precancerous condition caused by areca nut chewing characterized by restricted mouth opening, burning sensation and stiffness & blanching of oral mucosa. Complete regression of the condition had not been achieved in all cases with any of the present treatment regimens. Curcumin is (diferuloylmethane), a yellow pigment in curry powder, exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic activities. Hence an interventional study was undertaken to establish the efficacy of curcumin in OSMF patients.

SETTINGS & DESIGN

A randomized open label, interventional study was conducted in forty patients with clinically and histologically proven Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Forty patients with clinically and histologically proven Oral Submucous Fibrosis were selected for the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups. The first group was treated with weekly intralesional injection of 4 mg Dexamethasone & 1500 I.U Hyaluronidase and the second group by oral administration of two Curcumin tablets (Turmix 300 mg) per day for 3 months each. Improvement of burning sensation, interincisal distance and tongue protrusion was evaluated on a weekly basis.

RESULTS

Burning sensation improved in both the groups from early to late stages. Complete resolution of burning sensation was noted with turmix. The mean increase in interincisal distance was 3.13 mm and 1.25 mm respectively in groups 1 &2. The interincisal distance improved in both the groups, with significant results at the end of first month. Tongue protrusion showed greater recovery at the end of 1st month in group 1 when compared with group 2.

CONCLUSION

Turmix is beneficial and effective in reducing burning sensation in early OSMF patients.

Publication trends of a biomedical journal from India

BACKGROUND

The details about the research productivity of the biomedical journals published from India is lacking. We analyzed the publishing trends and the research productivity of the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (JAPI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a bibliometric analysis of a biomedical journal. The data was obtained from the website of JAPI about the publications between 2000 and 2011. The articles were analyzed for the type (original article, case reports, correspondence, pictorial image, reviews, editorials, philately and miscellaneous), subspecialty (endocrinology, cardiology, etc), and place of the research work (Mumbai, Delhi, etc). Descriptive statistics giving data in numbers and percentages were used.

RESULTS

JAPI published 2977 articles over last 12 years (12 volumes and 134 issues). Case reports (29.5%), original articles (22.6%), and correspondence (20.5%) constitute 3/4 of the published articles. JAPI showed a gradual declining trend of published articles per issue (29.5 in 2000 to 17 in 2011). The data about 1798 research articles was analyzed further. Most of the articles belong to the Endocrinology, neurology, and infectious diseases. Mumbai is the leader over past 12 years in contributing toward the articles followed by other three metros.

CONCLUSION

JAPI showed a declining trend in the number of published articles over last decade. Metro cities contributed the maximum research articles and the subspecialty coverage skewed in favor of Endocrinology.

Prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis among habitual gutkha and areca nut chewers in Moradabad district

BACKGROUND

To determine the prevalence and severity of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) among habitual gutkha, areca nut and pan chewers of Moradabad, India.

METHOD

A survey was conducted for a period of one year in east, west, north and south zones of Moradabad district, Uttar Pradesh. One thousand habitual chewers were selected as study participants, using a stratified random sampling technique, between the ages of 11-40 yrs, with a habit of chewing gutkha, areca nut, pan for over a year. A detailed history was recorded and meticulous clinical examination was conducted. Evaluation of taste sensation, hearing, interincisal distance, clinical staging was done in the OSMF patients found amongst habitual chewers. The obtained data was statistically analyzed using an SPSS 16.5 version soft ware.

RESULTS

The prevalence of OSMF was 6.3% (63/1000) and gutkha chewing was the most common abusive habit (42/63) amongst OSMF patients. Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3 OSMF was seen in 28, 19 and 16 patients respectively. Restricted mouth opening, altered taste perception and defective hearing was observed in 37/63 (58.7%), 24/63 (38.09%) and 14/63 (22.22%) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows a prevalence of 6.3% OSMF among habitual chewers of Moradabad. Prevalence and severity were more in urban and rural patients respectively.

The readability of editorials in popular Indian medical journals

INTRODUCTION

The essence of communication is to convey a message, and readability tests have been developed to quantify this aspect of language. There is limited research on the readability tests of journal contents from India. In this study, we performed readability tests on the editorials of four popular Indian medical journals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

THE READABILITY TESTS (FLESCH SCORE, FLESCH GRADE, AND TEXT STATISTICS) WERE CALCULATED FROM THE FOLLOWING JOURNALS: Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism (IJEM), Journal of Association of Physicians of India (JAPI), Journal of Indian Medical Association (JIMA), and International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries (IJDDC). The editorials published in these journals over the last 2 tears were included in this analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 64 editorials (IJEM - 19, JAPI - 18, JIMA - 16, IJDDC - 11) were analyzed in this study. The mean readability score was (IJEM 34.8 ± 9.5; JAPI 31.4 ± 11.4; JIMA 29.6 ± 10.1; IJDDC 26.1 ± 17.7) not different between the journals (P = 0.2666). Flesch score was less variable in IJEM an d JIMA than in JAPI and IJDDC (P = 0.0167). The editorials from IJEM and JAPI had a lower Flesch grade than the remaining two journals (P = 0.0253). The readability score was directly proportional to the sentence count and inversely proportional to the words per sentence (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the editorials from all the medical journals have equal readability scores. The sentence count and words per sentence are important to achieve a high readability score while writing for a journal.

Comparison of research productivity between metro and non-metro cities in a biomedical journal from India

BACKGROUND

The research productivity of a place depends on doctors, patients and available infrastructure to carry research activities.

AIMS

We aimed to study the publishing trends and research productivity of metro and non-metro cities in the Journal of the Association of Physi cians of India (JAPI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bibliometric analysis of research articles published in JAPI between 2000 and 2011was undertaken. The four types of articles (original articles including brief reports, case reports, correspondence and pictorial image) were studied for research productivity. They were analyzed according to subspecialty, publication times and type of research work from both places. Comparison between groups was done using Fisher exact and Mann-Whitney U test. Descriptive statistics were used and a P < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Of a total of 2977 articles, 1798 were available for analysis. Metros published 46% (825/1798) and non-metros 54% (973/1798). Original articles and case reports constituted 3/4(th) of the published literature from both places. Pictorial images were seen more from non-metro cities (P = 0.03). Mumbai and Delhi were leading from the metros, whereas Varanasi and Chandigarh were leading from the non-metro places. Endocrinology, Neurology, Cardiology and Infectious Diseases constituted the top four subspecialties from both places. Neurology articles were published more from non-metros (P = 0.03). The timelines from submission to publication varied between 12 and 15 months, and were lesser for articles from the metros (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Metros and non-metro cities are comparable in publishing trends and research productivity. Places with post-graduate institutes contribute majority of the research articles. Faster publication timelines from metros indicate better manuscript content and preparation.

Oral lichen planus - Review on etiopathogenesis

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous disease of uncertain etiopathogenesis. Several factors including stress, genetics, systemic diseases, viruses, dental restorative materials and drugs have been implicated as causative agents. The disease seems to be mediated by an antigen specific mechanism, activating cytotoxic T cells, and non specific mechanisms like mast cell degranulation and matrix metalloproteinase activation. Further clarity on the pathogenesis will aid in modifying therapeutic interventions, thus significantly reducing the morbidity of OLP patients.

Publication trends of research articles from infectious diseases specialty in a medical journal from India

BACKGROUND

Details about research productivity in the infectious diseases specialty from India are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse publishing trends and research productivity of articles related to infectious diseases in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (JAPI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out bibliometric analysis of articles related to infectious diseases specialty from JAPI published between 2000 and 2011. Data were derived from the journal's website and the articles were analysed for type (original article, case reports, etc.), microorganism (bacterial, viral, etc.) place of the research and timelines for publication.

RESULTS

Out of 2977 articles published in JAPI over last 12 years, 256 articles belong to infectious diseases subspecialty. Infectious diseases contributed 11-18% of the published articles per year in JAPI during the last decade. Original articles (31%), case reports (38%) and correspondence (22%) constitute the majority of article types, while remaining 9% was made up by images. Bacterial (22%), protozoal and helminthic (20%), HIV (15%) and mycobacterial (16%) diseases lead the type of microorganisms represented in the research articles. Mumbai (16%), Delhi (9%) and Kolkata (7%) are the top three places contributing to the articles, followed by Chandigarh and Chennai. Original articles and case reports took approximately 14 months for publication, as compared to 6 months for an image (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Infectious diseases specialty contributes about 15% of articles per annum in JAPI. HIV and tuberculosis together account for 30% of published literature with fair representation from other organisms. Mumbai and Delhi are the leading contributors towards research productivity in this specialty.

Publication trends of neurology articles in a biomedical journal from India

Background:

The details about the research productivity in the neurology specialty from India is lacking. We analyzed the publishing trends and the research productivity of neurology-related articles in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (JAPI).

Materials and Methods:

We carried the bibliometric analysis of articles related to neurology specialty from JAPI published between 2000 and 2011. Data were derived from the journal's website and the articles were analyzed for type (original article, case reports, etc.), disease (infection, vascular, etc.), place, and timelines for publication.

Results:

Out of total 2977 articles published, 256 articles belong to neurology. Neurology contributed to 7--20% of the published articles per year in JAPI. Case reports (52%) constitute the majority type of articles followed by Original Articles (20%), Correspondence and Images (15% each). Infections (27%), structural disorders (19%), cerebrovascular and peripheral nervous system disorders (16% each) contribute the majority of research articles in Neurology. Mumbai (15%), Delhi (13%), and Chennai (9%) are the top three contributors followed by Lucknow and Varanasi. All types of articles took about 9--10 months for acceptance and another 4--5 months for publication. Letters to the Editor were published faster when compared to other articles (P=0.0035).

Conclusion:

Neurology specialty contributes an average 14% of articles per annum in JAPI. Infections, vascular, structural, and peripheral nervous system disorders together account for 80% of published literature with a small representation from other diseases. Mumbai and Delhi are the leading contributors toward research productivity in neurology.