Yield of coeliac screening in children with non-specific functional abdominal pain: A cross-sectional study from North India.

A significant group of children suffer from non-specific functional abdominal pain. We argue that the prevalence of coeliac disease is higher in this group than the general population; thus, screening in this group is justified.

The ever -present need for biopsy to diagnose coeliac disease safely.

Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy which occurs in genetically predisposed individuals on exposure to gluten. The recommended diagnostic approach includes serological screening by Anti-tissue Transglutaminase antibody (anti-tTG) followed by a small intestinal biopsy. As high anti-tTG antibody is expected to be significantly associated with MARSH III histopathological changes in the small intestine, it has now become the basis for a biopsy-free approach to diagnose CD.

Association of Anti-tissue Transglutaminase Antibody Titers and Duodenal Biopsy Findings in Pediatric Patients of Celiac Disease.

Aims & Objectives To ascertain the association of serum anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibody titers with the severity of duodenal mucosal damage on histology andto predict a possible cut-off value of anti-tTG antibody titers for the diagnosis of Celiac disease. Marsh grading greater than two in conjunction with clinical assessment, which may help avert an invasive endoscopic procedure, especially in medically unfit children. Materials & Methods A retrospective study was designed wherein demographic and laboratory data of children aged less than 12 years with raised anti-tTG antibody titers with available histopathology of duodenal biopsies were extracted from the hospital medical records and reviewed.

Response to single oral dose vitamin D in obese vs non-obese vitamin D-deficient children.

Obese individuals are prone to vitamin D deficiency because of sequestration of vitamin D in their body fat. We planned to evaluate the rise in serum 25(OH)D levels in vitamin D-deficient obese vs normal body mass index(BMI) children, after administration of identical single dose of vitamin D. Twenty-two obese and 22 normal BMI children with serum 25 (OH)D < 20 ng/mL were given single oral dose 150,000 IU vitamin D, and 25 (OH)D levels were measured at 1 week and 1 month post-intervention.

Cytological diagnosis in a clinically unsuspected case of disseminated BCGosis: A case report.

Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is administered worldwide to neonates and considered safe. Serious complications like disseminated BCGosis are extremely rare occurrences (<1 per million vaccinations). A 6 months male was brought to paediatric outpatient department with fever and swelling over the dorsum of the left hand for 5 days.

Poly-β-Hydroxybutyrate Production by the Cyanobacterium Bharadwaja under Varying Environmental Conditions.

The production of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) under varying environmental conditions (pH, temperature and carbon sources) was examined in the cyanobacterium Scytonema geitleri Bharadwaja isolated from the roof-top of a building. The S. geitleri produced PHB and the production of PHB was linear with the growth of cyanobacterium.

Deciphering the salinity adaptation mechanism in Penicilliopsis clavariiformis AP, a rare salt tolerant fungus from mangrove.

Penicilliopsis clavariiformis AP, a rare salt tolerant fungus reported for the first time from India was identified through polyphasic taxonomy. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the fungus has unique features such as biverticillate penicilli bearing masses of oval to ellipsoidal conidia. The fungus has been characterized for salt tolerance and to understand the relevance of central carbon metabolism in salt stress adaptation.

Neuroimaging in cerebral palsy - report from north India.

Objective: Only few Indian reports exist on neuroimaging abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy (CP) from India.

Materials & Methods: We studied the clinico-radiological profile of 98 children diagnosed as CP at a tertiary centre in North India. Relevant investigations were carried out to determine the etiology.

Clinical profile of children with developmental delay and microcephaly.

Aim: To study the profile of children with developmental delay and microcephaly.

Materials And Methods: Children attending child development clinic with developmental delay were evaluated as per protocol. Z scores of head circumference were calculated using WHO charts.

The Antiinflammatory and Antiarthritic Properties of Ethanol Extract of Hedera helix.

The ethanol Hedera helix plant extract was tested for its antiinflammatory properties. Intraperitoneal injections of 7.5 ml/kg wt ethanol extract showed antiinflammatory activity with 88.

A rare lethal case of chondrodysplasia punctata with extensive airway involvement.

Stippled cartilaginous calcification, an important radiologic sign, is described as ''chondrodysplasia punctata'' when seen in association with limb shortening and maxillofacial hypoplasia. We report chondrodysplasia punctata in a male neonate who presented with limb shortening, midfacial hypoplasia, and laryngeal stenosis leading to death within a few minutes of birth. A post-mortem radiograph revealed generalized punctate calcification of cartilaginous structures, including airways, rib ends, spine, long bone epiphyses, tarsus and pinna, and brachytelephalangy.

Comparative efficacy and safety of intravenous valproate and phenytoin in children.

Intravenous loading is required to reach therapeutic levels of antiepileptic drugs. Valproate, the drug of choice for most epilepsy, may be a better option than phenytoin. In total, 100 children (aged 3-12 years) with motor focal seizures or generalized seizures (second episode) were randomized to receive valproate (20 mg/kg) or phenytoin (20 mg/kg).

Homing of radiolabelled recombinant interleukin-2 activated natural killer cells and their efficacy in adoptive immunotherapy against murine fibrosarcoma.

Natural killer (NK) cells are spontaneously cytotoxic against tumour target cells. Their number was found to be four times more in the spleen of tumour-bearing Swiss albino mice. After activation with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), NK cells were tested and found to seek out the tumour site when injected intravenously in tumour-bearing mice.