Association of Nail Psoriasis with Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome is a forerunner for adverse cardiovascular events. Its association with nail psoriasis has not been much explored. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate metabolic syndrome in patients with nail psoriasis as compared to psoriasis patients without nail involvement and healthy controls.

Glutamine Mouthwash for Preventing Methotrexate-Induced Mucositis in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of glutamine mouthwash versus standard oral hygiene protocol (SOHP) in reducing the overall incidence, duration and severity of oral mucositis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receiving High Dose Methotrexate (HDMTX).

Methods: In this cross-over trial, children with ALL due to receive four courses of HDMTX (2 g/m/dose) (on days 8, 22, 36, and 50 of consolidation) were randomized to receive two consecutive courses of HDMTX with glutamine mouthwash plus SOHP, followed by two HDMTX courses with SOHP only; or vice-versa. Glutamine suspension was administered twice daily by swish and swallow technique, starting one day before the course of HDMTX and continued upto 7 days or till mucositis persisted.

Correlation of serum Adenosine Deaminase levels with microbiological parameters in Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Accurate diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis is largely based on sputum smear microscopy, culture, and GeneXpert MTB/RIF tests; culture being the gold standard. All these diagnostic tests require sputum sample to be positive for , while many active TB patients often do not present with positive sputum. Biochemical markers play an important role in early diagnosis, disease prevention, and drug response in tuberculosis.

Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in patients with nail psoriasis: A cross-sectional study.

Background Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disorder affecting all aspects of a patient's life. Nail involvement is frequent, but little is known about its associated inflammatory biomarker profile, including similarities or differences from cutaneous disease. Aims We conducted this cross-sectional study to evaluate serum levels of inflammatory cytokines [tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin -17 (IL-17)] in patients with nail psoriasis and compared these to psoriasis patients without nail involvement, as well as in non-psoriatic healthy controls.

Utility of a Clinical Scoring System (Bandim TB Score and Karnofsky Performance Score) to Assess Mycobacterial Burden in Terms of Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) Cycle Threshold Values Among Pulmonary TB Patients.

Aim: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a global public health problem. Physicians fail to clearly interpret cycle threshold (Ct) values as a measure of mycobacterial burden due to the paucity of literature correlating Ct values with the clinical scoring. This study aims to correlate the clinical scoring parameters (Bandim TB score and Karnofsky Performance score (KPS)) with Ct values obtained by Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT).

Missed phenotypic drug resistance in pediatric tuberculosis: A cause of concern in a resource-limited setting.

Background: Multi-drug resistance (MDR) in pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is a growing global threat. Unavailability of conventional or molecular drug susceptibility test (DST) in resource-limited settings often impede the determination of the extent of first line anti-tubercular drugs deployed in national programs.

Materials And Method: Pulmonary and extra pulmonary specimens were collected from clinically suspected pediatric TB cases, who were microbiologically confirmed.

Seroprotection With Three Dose vs Four Dose Schedule for Hepatitis B Vaccination in Children Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Follow-up Data at 36-42 Months From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the long-term seroprotection (anti-HBs ≥10 IU/L) in children living with HIV (CLHIV) receiving a 3- or 4-dose double-strength (20 µg) recombinant Hepatitis B virus (rHBV) vaccination.

Methods: We present anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic based follow-up data collected from January, 2021 to August, 2022, from CLHIV who had received either 3-dose or 4-dose double-strength (20 µg) rHBV vaccination, after 36-42 months and assessed for anti-HBs titres, naïve and memory T-helper lymphocytes, CD4 counts and HIV viral load. Children found unprotected after primary immunization, were administered a single double-strength rHBV vaccine booster dose (20 µg) and seroprotection was reassessed after 4 and 12 weeks.

The Association of Psychosocial Manifestations and Quality of Life With Inflammatory Markers in SARS-CoV-2 Patients: A Study From a Dedicated COVID-19 Tertiary Care Hospital.

Aim: The second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic adversely affected an individual's physical and psychological well-being. Events such as nationwide lockdown, isolation, social distancing, loss of jobs, and mortality among close contacts and the neighborhood had a dreadful impact on the psychological well-being of the population. At the time of conducting the present study, limited literature was available on the psychosocial manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the Indian population.

Assessing Pulmonary Tuberculosis Using Bandim Tuberculosis and Karnofsky Performance Scale Scores with Serum Adenosine Deaminase Levels.

Background: Elevated pulmonary serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels signify lung tissue damage and severe tuberculosis (TB). Serum ADA assays can be used as an additional criterion for assessing TB treatment response and as a prognostic marker in patients with pulmonary TB. The Bandim TB and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores were developed based on available clinical data and investigations to allow physicians to evaluate disease treatment and response.

Utility of rapid chromatographic Immunoassay to rule out typhoid Fever among malaria negative patients.

Enteric fever, an endemic disease, is a significant health problem in developing low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We studied the utility of Typhoid IgM/IgG assay in Widal titre positive samples among malaria negative patients. A total of 30 febrile patients were included.

Detection of on stool specimens by PCR among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: To detect on stool specimens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Detection of complex in sputum forms the basis of diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, some patients tend to swallow sputum and some are unable to produce sputum.

Change in granulation tissue coverage and bacteriological load using Low Cost Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in acute musculoskeletal wounds.

Background: Low cost Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) dressings have been considered as an alternative to traditional daily dressings. There is scanty literature evaluating the change in the percentage area of wound covered by granulation tissue following application of low-cost NPWT. The change in the bacteriological flora following application of low-cost NPWT devices has also not been evaluated.

Socio-clinico-radiological profile of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in association with sputum conversion and baseline hsCRP levels.

Our was an observational follow-up study where the aim was to assess the baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in 50 smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in association with socio-clinico-radiological profile and microbiological conversion. Smear and culture conversion of sputum samples at the end of intensive phase of anti-tubercular treatment were recorded. Baseline serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein estimation was done by ELISA.

Three vs Four Dose Schedule of Double Strength Recombinant Hepatitis-B Vaccine in HIV-infected Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare seroprotection rates and the anti-HBs titers following primary immunization with double strength (20 µg) recombinant hepatitis B virus (rHBV) vaccine administered intramuscularly (IM) in a 3-dose (0, 1 and 6 months) vs 4-dose (0, 1, 2 and 6 months) schedule in HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). An accelerated 3-dose schedule (0, 1, 2 months) within the 4-dose group was also compared.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Clinico-immunological profile in a case of hepatic tubercular abscess: A rare manifestation of extrapulmonary TB in an immunocompetent child.

Tubercular liver abscess is a rare entity even in an endemic area for TB. We report here a rare case of pediatric tuberculous liver abscess, the etiology of which was established using recently introduced Cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT). A 7 years old male child presented with vomiting, pain abdomen and fever.

Diagnostic utility of serology and polymerase chain reaction for detection of and in paediatric community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections.

Purpose: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) play a significant role in children of all ages with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs).

High Sensitivity C Reactive Protein: An Adjunct Diagnosis in Ruling Out Pediatric Tuberculosis.

The utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of disease severity, therapeutic response and prognosis in tuberculosis has been suggested. This study aims to determine the levels of high sensitivity CRP (hs CRP) among the pediatric tuberculosis cases. A case control study was conducted on 60 clinically diagnosed (clinical findings and radiography and/or contact history and/or Mantoux test) or microbiologically confirmed (smear and/or culture and/or Cartridge based Nucleic Acid Amplification test positive) pediatric tuberculosis cases ≤ 12 years.

Phenotypic isoniazid resistance and associated mutations in pediatric tuberculosis.

Background And Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most challenging global health problems as resistance to first-line antimycobacterial drugs continues to rise in many countries worldwide. Isoniazid-resistant TB without MDR-TB poses a serious threat to the management and control of TB across the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of katG315 and inhA-15 mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from pediatric TB patients from a tertiary care hospital.

Cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test: a novel rapid diagnostic tool to study the burden of tuberculosis from a tertiary care hospital.

Despite efforts to limit the morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis (TB), it continues to be an important cause of death. There is an urgent need for a diagnostic test that accurately and quickly diagnoses TB, especially if it is also a near-point-of-care test. The GeneXpert polymerase chain reaction test (known in India as CBNAAT [cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test] and is capable of diagnosing TB and rifampicin resistance within 2 h) is a promising tool.

Evaluation of Hemagglutination Assay among Varying Titers of the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory Test.

Background And Objective: Syphilis, besides being a significant cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, is a substantial cause of adult morbidity. A discordant serological result can present a diagnostic challenge; hence, a fundamental knowledge about the diagnostic limitations or interpretation of these assays becomes imperative for the clinicians to avoid management dilemma. The study was proposed to see the usefulness and correlation of hemagglutination assay (TPHA) with varying titers of Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test.

Ophthalmic Presentation of Disseminated Tuberculosis with Relapse-Immunological Profile.

TB as the cause of uveitis varies from 0.5 to 10.5%; low sensitivity of confirmatory laboratory investigations and inconsistency of diagnostic criteria leads to paucity of data.