Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): diagnosis using biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements during the first trimester in the Indian population.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to use anthropometric measurements (age, BMI, and subcutaneous fat) in conjunction with biochemical parameters (sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glucose, serum insulin, and total cholesterol) to predict the probability of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the first trimester.

Methods: The study enrolled 48 pregnant women with GDM and 64 high-risk pregnant women without GDM. During the first-trimester examination, maternal blood samples were collected to measure SHBG, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, and total cholesterol levels.

The study of the role of insulin resistance as etiological factor in polycystic ovarian syndrome: a case control study.

Objectives: The relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been consistently shown by several studies but what is the cause and what is the effect remained an unsolved issue. In recent years, IR has been suggested to be a key etiological factor which contributes to the severity of metabolic and reproductive features in PCOS. The aim of the present study is to determine the etiological role of IR in PCOS.

Prevalence and Complications of Subclinical and Overt Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy at North Indian Tertiary Care Center.

Background: Thyroid disorders are one of the commonest endocrine problems among pregnant women. It is often argued that it is not only overt, but subclinical thyroid dysfunction also has similar adverse effects on maternal and fetal outcomes. There is a huge deficiency of data from the Indian population to assess the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of India with Carpenter-Coustan and National Diabetes Data Group Criteria for Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Correlation with Fetomaternal Outcome.

Background: No previous study compared ACOG and DIPSI criteria for diagnosing gestational diabetes (GDM). This study compared diagnostic accuracy of Diabetes in pregnancy study group of India (DIPSI) with Carpenter-Coustan (CC) and National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria for diagnosis of GDM and correlation with fetomaternal outcome.

Methods: A total of 1029 pregnant women underwent 2 h 75 g OGTT in non-fasting state.

Prevalence and management of vitamin D deficiency in children with newly diagnosed coeliac disease: cohort study.

Background: Coeliac disease (CD) causes deficiency of various micronutrients including vitamin D, and there are no specific guidelines for treatment.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children newly diagnosed with CD and the role of oral high-dose vitamin D in its treatment.

Methods: Calcium intake, sun exposure and biochemical and radiological parameters related to vitamin D deficiency were compared between 60 children aged 0-18 years diagnosed with CD and 60 healthy age- and sex-matched controls.

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Root Extract (ERr 731) for Menopausal Symptoms in Perimenopausal Indian Women: An Interim Analysis.

Background: Hormonal therapy for menopause has been found to be the most efficacious treatment, but it may be associated with adverse effects in some of the women. Rheum rhaponticum root extract ("ERr 731"), which is available worldwide, is a natural, reliable, effective, and well-tolerated remedy for women in perimenopausal women with menopausal symptoms (MSs), but there is no Indian study demonstrating its efficacy, safety, and tolerability till date.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ERr 731 in alleviating MSs in perimenopausal Indian women.

Brief Report: Subclinical Kidney Dysfunction in HIV-Infected Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Most of the kidney dysfunction in HIV-positive children receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is attributed to tenofovir. There is a paucity of data on kidney dysfunction in tenofovir-naive children. The primary objective was to know the point prevalence of albuminuria and β2-microglobulinuria in HIV-infected children aged 3-18 years receiving ART.

Trends of folate, vitamin B , and homocysteine levels in different trimesters of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of folate and vitamin B levels on pregnancy progression and outcomes.

Methods: The present study is a prospective follow up study of 100 pregnant women. Biochemical investigations (plasma homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B levels) were performed on all pregnant women in first, second, and third trimesters.

Incidence of vincristine induced neurotoxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its correlation with nutritional deficiencies.

Injection vincristine is an important component of therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). An important adverse effect of vincristine is neurotoxicity. The incidence of this adverse effect is well studied.

Visceral Adiposity Index: Simple Tool for Assessing Cardiometabolic Risk in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Aim: To study visceral adiposity index (VAI) and its association with cardiometabolic risk in different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Materials And Methods: It is a case-control cross-sectional study where 100 reproductive age (18-35 years) women with PCOS were classified in different phenotypes as per Rotterdam criteria and compared with age and Body mass index (BMI) matched 50 eumenorrheic and nonhirsute women. Various anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, and hormonal parameters were measured in both women with PCOS and controls.

Vitamin B Deficiency in Children With Infantile Spasms: A Case-Control Study.

There have been few case reports showing association of vitamin B deficiency with infantile spasms. We planned this study to see if there was an association of serum vitamin B deficiency in children with development of infantile spasms. Cases included children with infantile spasms of ages 6 months to 3 years.

Interaction of iNOS Gene (C150T) Polymorphism and Endothelial Dysfunction in Pathophysiology of Metabolic Syndrome.

Objective: To study the endothelial dysfunction by measuring Nitric Oxide and Endothelin-1, and inter-genotypic variation of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase gene (C150T) polymorphism among the study subjects.

Methods: 50 diagnosed cases of metabolic syndrome as per International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria and 50 healthy volunteers as control were enrolled. Nitric Oxide, Endothelin were measured and PCR-RFLP was done to identify the iNOS gene C150T polymorphism and its effect on serum nitric oxide levels.

A study of serum vascular endothelial growth factor in infantile hemangiomas.

Background: Though infantile hemangiomas are the most common benign tumor of infancy, their etiopathogenesis is not fully understood. Some studies report a diagnostic role for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but such studies are lacking from India.

Aims: To study the clinicoepidemiological profile of infantile hemangiomas, to estimate and compare the serum levels of VEGF in infantile hemangiomas and controls, and to determine correlations between serum levels of VEGF and growth characteristics of infantile hemangiomas.

Evaluation of Brainstorming Session as a Teaching-learning Tool among Postgraduate Medical Biochemistry Students.

Background: The thrust for postgraduate teaching should be self-directed learning with equal participation by all students in academic discussions. Group discussions involve conduction of the discourse by a leader who guides the discussion as well as points out any wrong information. This discourages quieter students from participation with the fear of rebuke.

Yoga Offers Cardiovascular Protection in Early Postmenopausal Women.

Context: Postmenopause, an estrogen deficient state comes with increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). has been described as having a beneficial effect on heart rate variability (HRV), a marker for cardiac autonomic activity which can assess cardiovascular risk, in various populations.

Aim: the aim of the study was to study the effect of 3-month long practice on HRV in early postmenopausal women.

Association of prothrombotic adipokine (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) with TSH in metabolic syndrome: a case control study.

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) involves a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, including abnormal lipids, insulin resistance and hypertension. The aim of the present study is to investigate associations between thyroid profile and the pro-thrombotic mediator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), in MetS and identify associated biochemical markers. Materials and methods The present study was a case control study and consisted of 50 diagnosed cases of MetS and 50 healthy volunteers as controls.

A Study of Controlled Ovarian Stimulation with Clomiphene Citrate or Letrozole in Combination with Gonadotropins and IUI in Unexplained Infertility.

Aim: To compare the effect of clomiphene citrate (CC) + human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) with letrozole + hMG on size, number of follicles, endometrial thickness, serum levels of oestradiol and progesterone and pregnancy rate.

Settings And Design: Non-randomised interventional study.

Patients And Methods: A total number of 60 patients in the age group of 20-35 years with unexplained infertility were divided into two groups, 30 in each.

Role of Sub Clinical Hypothyroidism in Association with Adiponectin Levels Causing Insulin Resistance in Metabolic Syndrome: A Case Control Study.

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome (Met S) is reported to be associated with sub clinical hypothyroidism (SCH). The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of SCH in association with adiponectin levels causing insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome.

Materials And Method: We recruited 100 study subjects; out of which 50 were cases of Met S, which were further divided into two groups based on presence and absence of SCH and 50 were healthy controls.

Raised TSH is associated with endothelial dysfunction in Metabolic Syndrome: A case control study.

Introduction: Endothelial dysfunction has been considered as one of the important factors in pathogenesis of Metabolic Syndrome (Met S). Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has also been reported to be associated with Met S. The aim of our study is to evaluate the association of raised TSH with mediators of endothelial dysfunction in Met S with Subclinical hypothyroidism as compared to healthy controls.

A Comparison of the Hormonal Profile of Early Androgenetic Alopecia in Men With the Phenotypic Equivalent of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Women.

Importance: Early androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is patterned hair loss occurring before age 30 years. Early AGA in men is frequently reported as the phenotypic equivalent of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women, which carries the risk of developing obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. Very few studies have been conducted to evaluate this.

Study of Association of Leptin and Insulin Resistance Markers in Patients of PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinological disorder among women of the reproductive age group with long term sequelae which include diabetes mellitus, hypertension and CAD. The present study was conducted to evaluate the association of leptin-an adipokine playing an important role in carbohydrate metabolism and markers of insulin resistance among women with PCOS. Sixty diagnosed cases of PCOS as per Rotterdam criteria were enrolled in this study after informed written consent.

The study of markers of endothelial dysfunction in metabolic syndrome.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) consists of a constellation of metabolic abnormalities that confer increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Endothelial dysfunction is one of the key components of MetS which is caused by imbalance between vasodilatory substances like nitric oxide (NO) and vaso-constrictive substances like endothelin and prothrombotic factors like plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).

Objective: To study the markers of endothelial dysfunction (NO and endothelin) and prothrombotic markers (PAI-1) among the study subjects.

Determinants of Nutritional Anemia in Adolescents.

Objectives: To associate the severity of nutritional anaemia with serum levels of ferritin, vitamin B12 and folate; and to determine demographic, socio-economic and nutritional correlates for nutritional anemia in adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional hospital-based study among 200 adolescents (10-18 y) with anemia. Dietary intake (24-h recall), and serum levels of folate, vitamin B12 and ferritin were estimated.