Introduction: Seven district-level Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) in Bihar, India provide clinical and nutritional care for children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Aim: To assess whether intensified case finding (ICF) strategies at NRCs can lead to pediatric case detection among SAM children and link them to TB treatment under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included medical record reviews of SAM children registered for TB screening and RNTCP care during July-December 2012. Results: Among 440 SAM children screened, 39 (8.8%) were diagnosed with TB. Among these, 34 (87%) initiated TB treatment and 18 (53%) were registered with the RNTCP. Of 16 children not registered under the RNTCP, nine (56%) weighed below six kilograms-the current weight requirement for receiving drugs under RNTCP. Conclusion: ICF approaches are feasible at NRCs; however, screening for TB entails diagnostic challenges, especially among SAM children. However, only half of the children diagnosed with TB were treated by the RNTCP. More effort is needed to link this vulnerable population to TB services in addition to introducing child-friendly drug formulations for covering children weighing less than six kilograms.

Background Diverse strategies, including addressing various social barriers, especially among key vulnerable populations, are needed to accelerate efforts to achieve India’s goal of ending TB by 2025. In this direction, a baseline study was conducted covering migrant, tribal, tea garden, urban and mining/industrial populations in four Indian states: Assam, Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka. This study aimed to generate evidence about tuberculosis-related knowledge, levels of stigma, and health-seeking behaviour in these population groups. Methods The mixed methods study involved 189 cross-sectional polling-booth surveys with 8–10 adult male and female participants in each, 32 focus group discussions and 195 in-depth interviews among persons with TB, family members/caregivers, community members/structures from vulnerable groups, and National TB Elimination Programme staff during June-November 2021. The polling booth survey covered 2,507 respondents, and the data were analysed using bivariate, multivariate and qualitative techniques. Results Comprehensive knowledge of tuberculosis was highest among migrants (57%) and lowest among the mining/industrial population (16%). While over half of the participants, who themselves or a family member have had TB, experienced stigma from communities and health facilities, urban and mining/industrial populations expressed the highest self-perceived stigma. Immediate health-seeking for persistent cough of > 2 weeks was highest among tea-garden workers, tribal and migrants and lowest among urban and mining/industrial groups. FGDs/IDIs highlighted that superstitious beliefs and preferences for traditional healers delayed timely treatment-seeking. Discontinuation of treatment was predominantly due to high pill burden, adverse drug reactions, and initial signs of recovery. In the multivariate analysis, education, use of social media, comprehensive knowledge and low stigma were shown to promote improved health-seeking behaviour among migrants, mining/industrial and tea garden populations. Conclusions Vulnerable groups have different levels of knowledge about TB, ‘experienced stigma’, and preferences for the health sector. Programs focusing on customized communication strategies and behaviour change solutions to improve knowledge and dissipate stigma can help to improve early access to health care and create an enabling environment for persons with TB.

The KRAS p.G12C mutation occurs in seen in 13% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and in approximately 1%–3% of colorectal and other cancers. Until the last decade, there were no approved therapies for targeting the KRAS mutation, but recently, drugs targeting the mutation have been discovered. KRAS is a small protein structurally without any deep pockets making it almost impossible to target. Furthermore, it binds in its active state with the GTP protein, with remarkably close affinity making blockage of the KRAS mutation challenging. Sotorasib is a nanomolecule that selectively and irreversibly targets the KRAS mutation. The phase 2 trial (CodeBreaK100) conducted in a total of 129 patients with advanced solid tumors harboring the KRAS p.G12C mutation showed anticancer activity in patients following multiple lines of treatment. We searched for the articles published online between 2018 and May 2021 with keywords, “KRAS mutation,” “lung cancer,” and “sotorasib.” In this review article, we have discussed the history, pharmacokinetics, dosing, important studies, toxicities, and other pertinent details of sotorasib.